John A. and Marguerite E. W. (aliennightbird) reviewed on 7/14/2009 + 40 more book reviews

Although this book was about subjects which interests me, the Antislavery Movement and slave freedom in the pre-Civil-War movement, and, overall, the plot was adequite although not what I expected, the characters were fairly well-developed, although, in my opinion, could have been deeper and more complex, overall the action was good and quick when it happened, and there was a nice feeling of intrigue and tension starting from about the middle of the book, still the overall writing style was a disappointment.

The story was told primarily through dialogue. A dialog-based writing style can be quite well done and dynamic, but, for the most part, this wasn't the case with this book. Much of the dialog sounded more like narrative rather than the way people actually speak. Also, much of the dialog, especially in the beginning, was used to bring up things that happened in previous novels as well as a sounding board for politics, attitudes about slavery and other issues of the day. Much of this came off (to me, at least) as artificial. I felt that most of this information could have been woven gradually into the narrative. In conclusion, to me, much (not all) of the dialog sounded stilted and phoney.

Also, although the story was interesting, I felt that it could have been far more inteeresting if it had been told in part from the slave woman who had been freed, then kidnapped by slave hunters while living up north, apparently to be sold again (although that thread of the story was dropped when her free husband went South to find her, although in doing so, he put himself in danger of being kidnapped and sold himself.)

Instead, the main character of the novel, a Southern woman with now lives in the North, and is a staunch supporter of the antislavery movement and the Underground Railroad, is taking care of the freed couple's son. The little boy looks white, and she wants to adopt him.

Which leads me to my final complaint. I suppose the husband's and wife's story may be continued in the next novel in the series. But, I hate "To Be Continueds"!

In conclusion, although the book had many good points, it also had too many flaws for me to recommend it.

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