A review by annamontana
Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A couple of years ago I read my first Isabel Allende novel and have been slowly making my say through her books. I enjoy her writing. Beautiful, poetic, ethereal. I don't quite get the magical realism that she is supposed to be writing but I enjoy her books anyway.

This story centers on Zarite and Valmorain. Slave and slave owner. We get to know Zarite through those who love her and through those she loves, through her children, through those that will aid and assist her, through her slavery and her emancipation. It is, as one can guess with a story centered on slavery, heartbreaking but beautiful.

It is a bit of a slow beginning and there are quite a few characters to keep track of, but it picked up soon and the characters keep showing up through the book. There are quite a few trigger warnings so look them up if you need to.