unsuccessfulbookclub's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
An Unconditional Freedom is the third and final installment in the Loyal League series and perhaps the slowest moving plot while also being the most stressful to read? In this book, we follow Daniel, a free Black man who was training to be a lawyer when he was abducted and enslaved, and Janeta, a free Afro-Latina woman from Cuba who is the daughter of an enslaver and his second wife.
The stress in this book comes from all sides. First, Janeta starts out in this story working for the Confederacy (!!!). We are in her head so we know how she begins to understand the truth of her existence and the world around her but it is so painful to read - for her, but also because she is supposed to be working with Daniel as a Union operative…
…and Daniel is dealing with intense PTSD due to his time being enslaved as well as a VERY STRESSFUL job. He trusts no one, which is great because he really shouldn’t trust Janeta. Like at all.
This is a rare slow burn where I was really worried this couple was going to get together before *I* was ready. I spent so much of the book wondering how Alyssa Cole was going to bring these two people together and get me on board with it. And she succeeded, but not a page too soon!!
👍🏻RECOMMENDED! I have so much more to say about this series as a whole - look for a deeper dive/series review from me soon as I digest. That said, I enthusiastically recommend this book. These are not light reads but they are important ones. Alyssa Cole’s emotional labor cannot be overstated, nor can the talent she displays in this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual content
barefootsong's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read (and liked) the first two in this series quite a while ago now, but I put this one off because reading about Daniel (who seemed annoying in Elle's flashbacks and would be dealing with PTSD in this story) sounded less appealing and then his love interest is a Confederate spy and Cole had said this book broke her. Now that I finally read this, though, I think it's my favorite of the series! I fell in love with both Daniel and Janeta almost immediately and I loved reading about how they came to terms with their pasts and learned new ways of being themselves. This is dark and complicated, but it's also hopeful. Alyssa Cole is amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
Moderate: Violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse
mandkips's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Confinement
Moderate: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Racial slurs
amibo's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Torture, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
naika's review
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.25
I quickly became engrossed with this story; I thoroughly enjoy books where there is a deep exploration of each character's thoughts, motives, desires, etc.
Daniel has gone through it - being born free to ultimately being thrown into enslavement by some nefarious individuals pretending to be abolitionists. He had hopes and dreams (to be a lawyer, to be married) that were fractured as a result. Daniel manages to escape his enslavement, but his once charming and warm demeanor changed to a colder, distant, more brooding persona. But who could blame him for feeling angered and jaded when the country he is fighting for has continuously fought against him.
It makes sense as to why he was suspicious of and none too pleased to be assigned to work with Janeta, a new Loyal League agent. Janeta is of Cuban descent, having grown up enslaved herself, but ultimately freed when her father (the plantation owner) marries her mother. Janet has some skewed understandings of race, class, justice, and freedom. She enters the Loyal League service with heavy secrets that threaten not just her and Daniel's missions an safety, but everything she knew about herself. For a significant amount of time, I found myself utterly annoyed by Janeta. But she was supposed to be flawed and grating. She is the type of character that forces you to check your own biases.
There was so much character development and inner monologuing that there were times I forgot I was reading a romance, and not a general historical fiction. That isn't necessarily a bad thing; I liked the storyline, enjoyed the history lessons, and felt the action scenes were well done. But the slow burn may have been stretched out a bit too much for me. And this is saying a lot as I tend to prefer slow burn romances. So as much as I liked their individual character work, I was not completely sold on the idea of a romance between Daniel and Janeta.
Despite this, An Unconditional Freedom was yet another well-crafted book by Alyssa Cole. There is a reason why I keep coming back for more.
Daniel has gone through it - being born free to ultimately being thrown into enslavement by some nefarious individuals pretending to be abolitionists. He had hopes and dreams (to be a lawyer, to be married) that were fractured as a result. Daniel manages to escape his enslavement, but his once charming and warm demeanor changed to a colder, distant, more brooding persona. But who could blame him for feeling angered and jaded when the country he is fighting for has continuously fought against him.
It makes sense as to why he was suspicious of and none too pleased to be assigned to work with Janeta, a new Loyal League agent. Janeta is of Cuban descent, having grown up enslaved herself, but ultimately freed when her father (the plantation owner) marries her mother. Janet has some skewed understandings of race, class, justice, and freedom. She enters the Loyal League service with heavy secrets that threaten not just her and Daniel's missions an safety, but everything she knew about herself. For a significant amount of time, I found myself utterly annoyed by Janeta. But she was supposed to be flawed and grating. She is the type of character that forces you to check your own biases.
There was so much character development and inner monologuing that there were times I forgot I was reading a romance, and not a general historical fiction. That isn't necessarily a bad thing; I liked the storyline, enjoyed the history lessons, and felt the action scenes were well done. But the slow burn may have been stretched out a bit too much for me. And this is saying a lot as I tend to prefer slow burn romances. So as much as I liked their individual character work, I was not completely sold on the idea of a romance between Daniel and Janeta.
Despite this, An Unconditional Freedom was yet another well-crafted book by Alyssa Cole. There is a reason why I keep coming back for more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
Moderate: Death and Grief
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