Scan barcode
A review by ashleerosereads
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I thought the premise of this book was interesting, and I thought that focuses on a prominent black family in the early 1900's Chicago would be unique as I haven't seen this premise before. I think Marquis's writing is well done, but as far as plot goes it was a bit repetitive. All 4 women want someone unobtainable in some way shape or form, and they are all trying to figure out if it's possible to be with that man. They were all essentially 4 sides of the same coin. Now this isn't to say that I didn't enjoy reading this book, but there wasn't enough to make me want to continue the series. However, since I did like Marquis's writing style, I would definitely give another book a chance outside of this series.
I also wish we got more on father Davenport! He was a freed slave who went from nothing to building a whole automobile empire - I think getting more history from him, and interactions between him and the Davenport women, would've done wonders in rounding out the story. Instead, he only shows up a handful of times, and is cemented in his horse and buggy ways and refuses to change with the times. It felt very counterintuitive for his character. Granted, I know nothing about C.R. Patterson who this story is loosely based on, so maybe he was the same way? But for someone to work so hard to get to where he's at, it felt almost like he was giving up on his empire for the sake of being a hinderance for Helen and her brother.
Outside of boy problems, I did like the glimpses of racism, coloroism, and the mixed-race experience of the early 1900's upper class, but we didn't delve too deeply into them which I think was a hinderance. This was mostly a historical romance - which in it of itself isn't a problem, but since the protagonists are all black women in high society in a time where black people weren't high society, I think we missed the mark since these topics were introduced but only at a very surface level.
All in all I enjoyed the writing and the romance was definitely written well and was enjoyable. But there was just a little <i> something </i> lacking and I wish we explored a little more of what I mentioned above.
Thank you to Krystal Marquis, Penguin Group, & NetGalley for the eARC!
I also wish we got more on father Davenport! He was a freed slave who went from nothing to building a whole automobile empire - I think getting more history from him, and interactions between him and the Davenport women, would've done wonders in rounding out the story. Instead, he only shows up a handful of times, and is cemented in his horse and buggy ways and refuses to change with the times. It felt very counterintuitive for his character. Granted, I know nothing about C.R. Patterson who this story is loosely based on, so maybe he was the same way? But for someone to work so hard to get to where he's at, it felt almost like he was giving up on his empire for the sake of being a hinderance for Helen and her brother.
Outside of boy problems, I did like the glimpses of racism, coloroism, and the mixed-race experience of the early 1900's upper class, but we didn't delve too deeply into them which I think was a hinderance. This was mostly a historical romance - which in it of itself isn't a problem, but since the protagonists are all black women in high society in a time where black people weren't high society, I think we missed the mark since these topics were introduced but only at a very surface level.
All in all I enjoyed the writing and the romance was definitely written well and was enjoyable. But there was just a little <i> something </i> lacking and I wish we explored a little more of what I mentioned above.
Thank you to Krystal Marquis, Penguin Group, & NetGalley for the eARC!