Reviews with content warning for Slavery - La isla bajo el mar

This is a sweeping story which centers around Zarité, or Tété, who is held as a slave by Valmorain. Their paths cross when Valmorain buys Tété to have her be a servent to his wife. The story takes place over many decades, in Haiti before it became independent, throughout the revolution of the black population and then in New Orleans while it is under French, then Spanish, then US rule.

There are so many interesting characters whose lives intermingle in various ways, many hardships, many children who get shuffled around to be taken care of by two, one or none of their biological parents. The characters are rich and morally gray, even if they play a minor role. Their lives are being shaped by the historical events taking place. I was looking up a lot of information, for example more information on the Haitian vodou deities and spirits and the current maps of the locations.

This book left me wanting more, for example a follow up story about Justin. Will he play a role in the abolistionist movement / civil war in the US, inspired by his ancestry?

Content Warnings

jmitchell20's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

tmidge22's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

annavk's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

katebowie's review against another edition

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challenging emotional 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? No

3.75

Content Warnings

marabender's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

Content Warnings

sofipitch's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I really enjoyed this book till the end half. In some parts it can be unclear what Allende's position on things are. She dedicates so much time to Valmorian I thought she was going to have Tete forgive him (she didn't) and she includes the half-siblings getting married which I can see as a symbolic consequence of Valmorian never claiming Rosette but she doesn't seem to outright condemn them. Like in some parts she's heavy handed on how racism and slavery are bad and some parts it's not so it made me feel worried.
Another criticism is that while Tete is the main character, it doesn't really feel like it. I've read some of Allende's novels so I know she never focuses on the perspective of one character but like I said, giving so much time to the slave owner is exhausting because I only care about what goes on in his life as it affects Tete.
I also wouldn't file this book under magical realism. Just because Allende is known for that genre it doesn't mean all her books are. This is historical fiction.

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