As noted in the summary of this story, the chapters alternate between time-periods rather than characters/POV. I found both time-periods equally enthralling because of the enigma of characters and the lineage, thereof, involved. The love story, deceitful relationships, and family history is carefully crafted.
The focus of the slave(s) was on the innate character and the thoughts of the slave, rather than what was physically suffered and the explicit brutality that was endured. The notable and frequent grotesque nature of the physical treatment of slaves is not as detailed and accounted for as a result. Because of this focus, some of what was endured seems left out or ignored. The same is felt towards the topic of gender equality during this time; the subject was included but not explicitly detailed.
The time period was on point. So much so, that there are many words included from that time period that are uncommon today. I have included a picture of a couple of these, but the entire novel itself had a plethora of vernacular that I was unfamiliar with. (Because there are so many of these words used, I recommend reading the Kindle edition so that you can simply highlight the word on your Kindle and find the meaning instantly.)
The setting was a unique one, but was slightly missed. The author did describe what Barbados looked like, but the reader does not actually feel totally immersed in the actual Barbadian culture itself; this might be due to the bulk of the story happening on the plantation rather than within the city.
Through this story the author poses the following–Does blood make a family? What is the relationship between justice and justification? Does the law of nature trump the law of man? Does freedom primarily reside in the physical or the emotional?
Although there were some aspects that could have been better, this novel is still a 5 star. The story-line was so cultivating and the characters so carefully molded, it was definitely hard to stop reading.