The American Queen
by Vanessa Miller
This novel is based on some historical evidence of a special
place where emancipated blacks formed a community to support each other, run by
their designated king and queen. It was
a fascinating account and highlights the struggles that black people
experienced before and then after the Civil War.
The author creates a strong and determined Louella
Montgomery as the queen of the Happy Land.
Her husband, King William, was by her side until his death and was then
replaced by his brother, Robert. William
and Louella were characters to admire as they grew in love and
forgiveness. They led their people well.
Although I enjoyed learning about this special community,
the writing style didn’t draw me in. It
was difficult for me to connect with the characters even though I admired them. I wonder if the author didn’t try to tell too
much of the story and in the process sacrificed the readers’ emotional
connection with the characters.
Nevertheless, this book has much to offer readers who enjoy knowing
the history of the Civil War period. I
am grateful to the publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for this my
honest review.
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