A heavy read, a bit slow at times but beautifully written. The prose and descriptions of setting were beautiful, and the character development was integral to much of the novel. There were times that the development was written out very explicitly, which some people may not like, but I appreciated not having to guess.

Rachel's story is equal parks heartbreaking, beautiful, courageous, and devastating. The author does NOT shy away from the ugly parts of slavery in the novel, but also writes beautiful depictions of all the different ways that freedom was found by Carribean enslaved and formerly-enslaved people. I really loved the character development Rachel went through throughout the novel as she found what freedom meant not just to her but also to her children. And the last scene of the novel was *chef's kiss* so so beautiful. 

An important history that deserves to be told of the fight for freedom, and all that it means, that ensued in the Caribbean in the wake of "emancipation".