yourbookishbff's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: War, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual assault
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
- 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
Graphic: Racial slurs, Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual content
barefootsong's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
Moderate: Violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse
mandkips's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Confinement
Moderate: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Racial slurs
e_flah's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Racial slurs
Spoiler
PTSDjoymhb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Slavery
amibo's review
- 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
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
4.25
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.
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
Moderate: Death and Grief