*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

In HESTER, author Laurie Lico Albanese tries to answer the question "What if The Scarlet Letter had been based in truth?". It's fact that Hawthorne's inspiration for his other works came from his own experiences, but very little is known about the origin of his most famous piece of literature.

This book, however, is a work of fiction, but it's a beautiful one. The main character, Isobel, struggles to conceal her synesthesia but is able to express the colors she sees in her work as an embroiderer. At first, she is conscripted to a life of white on white embroidery, but through the initially advantageous marriage to the local apothecary, she's able to create her art in piece. After seizing the opportunity to create a new life in the New World, Isobel follows her husband to Salem, Massachusetts-- where she finds a market for her illustrious work and a new love.

HESTER is a story as rich, and embellished, as a hand-woven tapestry. The descriptions are beautiful, and it was so easy to lose myself in the world Albanese created. Albanese discusses very heavy topics of American history-- namely the Salem Witch Trials, during which innocent men, women, and children were falsely accused of witchcraft and some killed, and the Underground Railroad, a group of men and women who risked their lives to help slaves find freedom in the North.

This story, at its root, is a tale of strong women forging their own path in a world not accepting of independence. It was a wonderful book, and I look forward to reading some of Albanese's other work soon!