A review by atsundarsingh
The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph

challenging dark emotional lighthearted reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

I think this book needed to exist, and I'm glad I read it, but it defies easy categorization or review. It's hard to say what about the tone made it a difficult thing to place, but basically, I was caught off guard by the fact that the tone was not as dismal as I thought it would be. Ultimately, it's a good thing, as it's not avoiding the horrors of slavery, but it's a different take on the voice of the formerly enslaved. That being said I think it can make the story hard to come to terms with or process. The writing is good, but this is definitely a challenging read rather than just a new perspective.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC*