A review by arisbookcorner
Daughters of a Nation: A Black Suffragette Historical Romance Anthology, by Kianna Alexander, Alyssa Cole, Lena Hart, Piper Huguley
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
"Many people would be glad if none of us in this room existed, and if we never got the right to vote. That would work out real nice for them, wouldn't it? If we never had the chance to take them to task for treating us like shit" (Bertha 291)
I decided to read this because I loved the concept (a Black suffragette romance anthology?! Sign me up) and I'd heard of Piper Hughuley and read quite a few Alyssa Cole romances (plus the thriller) so I was eager to read this. Unfortunately, with the exception of Cole's story, I found these romances lacking. Two of the stories had male love interests who didn't believe in women's right to vote and that issue is never resolved. I can somewhat understand wanting to be realistic and starting the story with skeptical male love interests but I needed them to redeem themselves and that doesn't happen. More frustratingly the Black suffragettes initially are upset over it and then never bring it up again. If that's an effort to be historically accurate than I need a little more fantasy in my romance. I also thought the characters were two dimensional and the stories were somewhat boring. I also wanted more historical detail especially about the washerwoman's strike. That story was particularly confusing as well because the main character had a famous mother,Frances Ellen Harper, but alternatively made references to her that gave off the impression that she was dead. I was very confused to read the author's note and realize she was alive during the time of the story and her somewhat absent maternal presence was far more interesting than her daughter's story (and problematic love interest). I didn't understand the point of including a non fictional Black woman suffragist but then choosing not make the story about them. I was the most frustrated with the first story though, I don't usually read trigger warnings but there's a lot of trauma in the first few chapters and it's never properly worked through (I know therapy wasn't a thing back then but I wanted the couple to open up more to each other or friends). I was also both amused and unamused that it never occured to this interracial couple that their marriage was going to be an issue. Why wouldn't they have known about miscegenation laws?? It was silly and made me side eye both of them.
Fortunately the final story is Alyssa Cole's and it is the bright spot of the anthology. I didn't think she could suck me in with a romance starring a woman named Bertha BUT SHE DID. I loved that Bertha was an unconventional romance heroine (businesswoman and former prositute), took on respectability politics in the Black suffragist movement and engaged in sharp banter with Amir. We know Cole can write banter and sufficiently infuse historical detail without the narrative becoming dry or overly academic and that is once again the case in her story. I was fully immersed in 1917 night club Harlem, Cole's writing is always so rich and picturesque, able to aptly convey a particular sense of time and place. I did appreciate all the historical details in each of the stories, they all left me wanting to read and learn more. This was especially the case for "A Radiant Soul" because I didn't know President Garfield's assassination was so momentous to the burgeoning civil rights movement/post Reconstruction period. I found that story boring overall (and it also had a problematic anti suffrage love interest who CAN JUST TELL SARAH IS A VIRGIN *insert massive eye roll*) but really appreciated the author bringing to the forefront this lesser known historical moment and its impact.
DAUGHTERS OF A NATION was a miss for me, I think stronger character development and more swoon worthy love interests would have made this a lot better. The characters and even the settings likely won't be memorable to me in a few weeks (aside from wanting to know more about real people and events such as Frances Harper and the ATL washerwoman's strike). I think it deserves a lot of praise for talking about an issue and group of women not often taught about in schools (Black suffragettes) but the execution of this memorable idea falls flat. Also this is not a critique but these romances are all very chaste (Cole's story the exception lol), so if you prefer your romance novels on the steamier side be warned. I wouldn't recommend anyone read this anthology but I wouldn't dissuade anyone either unless you're new to romance, in that case I think there are better historical and contemporary romances that feature Black women as love interests.
I decided to read this because I loved the concept (a Black suffragette romance anthology?! Sign me up) and I'd heard of Piper Hughuley and read quite a few Alyssa Cole romances (plus the thriller) so I was eager to read this. Unfortunately, with the exception of Cole's story, I found these romances lacking. Two of the stories had male love interests who didn't believe in women's right to vote and that issue is never resolved. I can somewhat understand wanting to be realistic and starting the story with skeptical male love interests but I needed them to redeem themselves and that doesn't happen. More frustratingly the Black suffragettes initially are upset over it and then never bring it up again. If that's an effort to be historically accurate than I need a little more fantasy in my romance. I also thought the characters were two dimensional and the stories were somewhat boring. I also wanted more historical detail especially about the washerwoman's strike. That story was particularly confusing as well because the main character had a famous mother,Frances Ellen Harper, but alternatively made references to her that gave off the impression that she was dead. I was very confused to read the author's note and realize she was alive during the time of the story and her somewhat absent maternal presence was far more interesting than her daughter's story (and problematic love interest). I didn't understand the point of including a non fictional Black woman suffragist but then choosing not make the story about them. I was the most frustrated with the first story though, I don't usually read trigger warnings but there's a lot of trauma in the first few chapters and it's never properly worked through (I know therapy wasn't a thing back then but I wanted the couple to open up more to each other or friends). I was also both amused and unamused that it never occured to this interracial couple that their marriage was going to be an issue. Why wouldn't they have known about miscegenation laws?? It was silly and made me side eye both of them.
Fortunately the final story is Alyssa Cole's and it is the bright spot of the anthology. I didn't think she could suck me in with a romance starring a woman named Bertha BUT SHE DID. I loved that Bertha was an unconventional romance heroine (businesswoman and former prositute), took on respectability politics in the Black suffragist movement and engaged in sharp banter with Amir. We know Cole can write banter and sufficiently infuse historical detail without the narrative becoming dry or overly academic and that is once again the case in her story. I was fully immersed in 1917 night club Harlem, Cole's writing is always so rich and picturesque, able to aptly convey a particular sense of time and place. I did appreciate all the historical details in each of the stories, they all left me wanting to read and learn more. This was especially the case for "A Radiant Soul" because I didn't know President Garfield's assassination was so momentous to the burgeoning civil rights movement/post Reconstruction period. I found that story boring overall (and it also had a problematic anti suffrage love interest who CAN JUST TELL SARAH IS A VIRGIN *insert massive eye roll*) but really appreciated the author bringing to the forefront this lesser known historical moment and its impact.
DAUGHTERS OF A NATION was a miss for me, I think stronger character development and more swoon worthy love interests would have made this a lot better. The characters and even the settings likely won't be memorable to me in a few weeks (aside from wanting to know more about real people and events such as Frances Harper and the ATL washerwoman's strike). I think it deserves a lot of praise for talking about an issue and group of women not often taught about in schools (Black suffragettes) but the execution of this memorable idea falls flat. Also this is not a critique but these romances are all very chaste (Cole's story the exception lol), so if you prefer your romance novels on the steamier side be warned. I wouldn't recommend anyone read this anthology but I wouldn't dissuade anyone either unless you're new to romance, in that case I think there are better historical and contemporary romances that feature Black women as love interests.