Many thanks to my partner @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook.  

 

“…that all-consuming will of a mother to be with her child”

  

Raw.  Heartbreaking.  And yet deeply hopeful.   This portrait of a mother’s courage, crafted from one of the most abhorrent periods in history, transcends time.

 

Born a slave, Rachel had never known autonomy.  Even the children birthed from her very own body were stolen away and sold.  But a mother’s love knows no bounds.  And so when the law declared her free from slavery, Rachel ran towards the one thing that could give her the kind of independence she had always yearned.  Rachel must find what remains of her children.  

 

This poignant rendering of heartbreak and hope moved me in a way that’s hard to encapsulate.  Above all, this was an intimate journey through the soul.  One that had been pushed to its outermost limits: broken, abused, oppressed.  And yet, a kernel of faith remained alongside a deep well of love.  As Rachel’s story unfolded, it felt as though my heart interlaced with hers.  This wasn’t just her search.  I felt a palpable desperation for her children to be found.  To feel her arms wrapped around their shoulders.  I was as invested as though her children were my very own.  

 

From the multilayered, complex characters to the lyrical prose and the foundation of research, this is a beautifully redemptive story and an all-around well executed debut.  

 

⭐️Make sure to check out the author’s note at the end. 

 

🎧The audiobook narration superbly depicts the accent and tone of the Caribbean. Performed by Debra Michaels, her execution exuded the fierceness and love at the core of this story.  And yet, to properly absorb the beauty in the prose, I found myself turning to the physical copy.  The passages resonated with power and felt more dynamic in print.  My recommendation:  combine the audio and print for a truly formidable experience.