A review by hexatrance
Blood & Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

challenging dark mysterious medium-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? No

4.25

Between a 4 and a 4.5. I have to admit, it took me a bit to get into it because I knew right off the bat, based on historical context, what was going to be the reveal for the first part of the plot. However, the second half did keep me on my toes and I found myself not wanting to put it down. This is a really clever use of historical context in a way that truly encapsulates what it means to be historical fiction. The approach towards using the slave trade as the background and focus of the book was done very well. It created a fictional plot without having to fictionalised the facts or contexts of the time. The historical note was also very good with some good boon recs. I would have liked to have seen more of Caro and Corsham's relationship, and a lot of things are forwarded by a repetitive use of bribery, but other than that, it was a great read. I've also bought the next book that focuses on his wife Caro and the murder of a prostitute. 
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