A review by moonlightjuju
Island Queen by Vanessa Riley

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Island Queen by Vanessa Riley moved me deeply. I found myself crying throughout—it was incredibly beautiful and hard to get through at times because of its emotional weight. As a historian from a biracial family with roots in Barbados, this story hit home and offered a profound portrayal of slavery in the Caribbean.

The book follows Dolly Thomas, and Riley does a remarkable job bringing her story to life. She captures not only Dolly’s resilience in the face of unimaginable hardships and losses, but also the complex intersections of race and gender that defined her experiences. Throughout her life, Dolly faced relentless challenges from men who took advantage of her, both sexually and psychologically.
This book kept me awake at night with its intensity, and I want to note there are graphic depictions of rape, abuse, and child loss, including family separation. Dolly’s journey from slavery to freedom is powerful, and the character development is exceptional. This story needs to be adapted into a film—Vanessa Riley’s writing is outstanding, and I’m grateful to have found this book. I’d read it again someday once I’ve healed from this first experience.
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