Publisher: Bloomsbury
Series: None
Format: e-ARC
Source: Netgalley
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As a young black woman in 1880s Savannah, Essie's dreams are very much at odds with her reality. Ashamed of her beginnings, but unwilling to accept the path currently available to her, Essie is trapped between the life she has and the life she wants.
Until she meets a lady named Dorcas Vashon, the richest and most cultured black woman she's ever encountered. When Dorcas makes Essie an offer she can't refuse, she becomes Victoria. Transformed by a fine wardrobe, a classic education, and the rules of etiquette, Victoria is soon welcomed in the upper echelons of black society in Washington, D. C. But when the life she desires is finally within her grasp, Victoria must decide how much of herself she is truly willing to surrender.
So, this was hard to rate for a few reasons.
First of all, I really loved how this was a story about wealthy black people in the 1800's because there are honestly not many stories about that, especially in YA. It was refreshing deviation from the usual slave story that will oftentimes be oversaturated in the publishing world.
In all honestly, this story was a little boring. The beginning was actually the best part. We are thrown into Essie's world in which she lives in a house of ill repute owned by her mother. We get to read about Essie's struggles as she is raised in such a house. With barely any education or skills, Essie also has to fend off some touchy clients of her mother's. It was a gripping and raw portrait of how women in such houses were. The middle where Essie, now Victoria, begins her lessons as a wealthy lady in black society were the most tedious. It was a lot of info dumping of etiquette, classes, Victoria contemplating her old life, and her daily life in the house.
Also, everything felt too simplified. It didn't need to be overly complex, but I think the writing could have done a lot more considering it was a story about rising from the ranks. I also felt that because it was in third person I didn't get to connect to Victoria like I might have. She just felt very emotionless to me.
The nod to actual people in history was nice, as Victoria got to meet Frederick Douglass, who was one of the most famed blacks in history. His rise from slavery was documented in many historical accounts, and it was nice to have some actual history in this title.
Overall I think fans of historical fiction will enjoy this title, but it might not rise to meet the expectations that readers have when it comes to diverse books.
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