3.5 ⭐️s rounded up. I learned a lot, and the story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta was fascinating, how she became the queen’s ward and I was surprised to learn how different England treated Africans and people of color in such stark contrast to America at the time.

I knew England didn’t utilize (African) slavery but I didn’t realize interracial marriage was no issue and an (almost) equal status was had by black people in Britain, and neither was restricted. Not that the white British attitude towards them wasn’t racist, believing they were the saviors to Africa, but looking back at how long it took America to abolish segregation alone, even after slavery, to see it not even a thing in Britain in the 1800s is crazy to me - and makes me enormously sad for America.

I did struggle a little with the writing; it felt stiff and the dialogue a little unnatural at times. And Sarah was so bitter and spiteful most of the book, I just didn’t care for her character. I liked her at the end though, when she was still candid and bold but not cutting and spiteful.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.