This was done very well. I love how Nalo tells a single story for so many different perspective and in a very unique way. I believe we were to look at the lives and hardships of folks during chattel slavery and supposedly freedom. I think each character was essential to move the plot forward and to show the reader how different people can experience something they have in common. I felt bad for the character who was a mistress to Charles. I felt bad for the spirit who just wanted to strive but thought their body hacking ways lead them to putting women in situations that was 100% consensual. I felt bad for the daughter who had for live with another woman because her step father didn’t want her. I felt for the young biracial girl who wanted her child to survive. There were moments in the book where I saw my relatives in the characters and their hardship.