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fiction_aficionado 's review for:
Keturah
by Lisa T. Bergren
A novel set in the West Indies in the late 1700s is just begging to be read, in my opinion. I love discovering new times and places in the pages of a novel, and I’ve never come across one with this setting before. That said, there are some harsh aspects to this setting—most notably, slavery—that I want to mention up front. As the author noted in her historical notes, it would have been unrealistic for Keturah and her sisters to run a sugar plantation without slaves. I thought the author did a good job of showing slave trading for the horror it was, while at the same time portraying Keturah and her sisters as beacons of compassion within a horribly unjust situation, but if that sounds like it’s going to bother you, then this might not be the book for you.
I ended up enjoying the historical aspect of this novel more than the romantic thread between Keturah and Gray. The Banning sisters found that running their father’s plantation was only half of their struggle as they came up against fierce, and at times unsavoury, interference from other plantation owners and overseers. The tensions of the task set before them and the obstacles they had to overcome easily carried the story for me and kept my interest.
On the other hand, while I could admire Keturah, I found her difficult to warm to. In some ways, her character was understandable—although only twenty-three, she’s widowed following an abusive marriage, and she’s determined never to be in that position again. But it made her annoyingly independent at times, particularly when it came to accepting any form of help from Gray (whom I was much quicker to warm to!) When the romantic side to their relationship did begin to develop, it felt like a sudden about-face for her emotionally, and even came across—dare I say it—as being a little cheesy.
But despite that, I enjoyed this read. I loved the setting and the way in which I’ve been forced to think about some aspects of that time from different perspectives, and I admire the Banning sisters for their grit and determination, even if they did start out from a place of naivety. I look forward to seeing what’s next for the sisters.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I ended up enjoying the historical aspect of this novel more than the romantic thread between Keturah and Gray. The Banning sisters found that running their father’s plantation was only half of their struggle as they came up against fierce, and at times unsavoury, interference from other plantation owners and overseers. The tensions of the task set before them and the obstacles they had to overcome easily carried the story for me and kept my interest.
On the other hand, while I could admire Keturah, I found her difficult to warm to. In some ways, her character was understandable—although only twenty-three, she’s widowed following an abusive marriage, and she’s determined never to be in that position again. But it made her annoyingly independent at times, particularly when it came to accepting any form of help from Gray (whom I was much quicker to warm to!) When the romantic side to their relationship did begin to develop, it felt like a sudden about-face for her emotionally, and even came across—dare I say it—as being a little cheesy.
But despite that, I enjoyed this read. I loved the setting and the way in which I’ve been forced to think about some aspects of that time from different perspectives, and I admire the Banning sisters for their grit and determination, even if they did start out from a place of naivety. I look forward to seeing what’s next for the sisters.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.