This is a highly effectual narrative, to say the least. There has been much historical fiction written on American slavery, and what sets The Underground Railroad apart are both its incredibly well-developed characters, and its ultimate lack of catharsis.

When presented with a strong protagonist like Cora - who survives against all odds due to a strong personal fortitude, the kindness of a few good people, and a bit of luck - you are really left pulling for her to have some sort of "happy ending," or at least a breath of relief upon reaching that magical utopia of freedom.

Instead, whether she is enslaved or not, she is met with ever increasing horrors and heart-wrenching losses. She survives, but what is a life solely based on surviving? Certainly not one of personal sovereignty, chains or no chains.

People tend to search for meaning in suffering, else the pain of trauma can be overwhelming. But there is no meaning in Cora's suffering, just as there was no meaning in the atrocity of American chattel slavery. While the ending was shocking to read, given the reality of history, it really should not have been a surprising outcome.

Ultimately, the palpability of Cora's lived experience and the intense emptiness felt at the story's close, while hard to digest, is what makes this an excellent historical narrative that well lives up to its hype.