I enjoyed the format of the book. Alternating between Handful's and Sarah's points of view chapter by chapter allowed me, as the reader, to keep spot-on perspective of all that was happening in their daily lives. How courageous these women were! How strong of character! I consider slavery to be a dark time in American history. This book profiles, however, that despite the horrendous cruelty of some folks toward their fellow man, the goodness of others prevails in the end. The book also addresses the issue of women being enslaved by the mores of the day. It is a reminder that suppression of all persons is wrong. Everyone should be not only be allowed but should also be encouraged to spread his/her wings and fly.

I found it very hard to connect with the main character Ani, even once I learned her back story. I feel like this book is a combined reworking of parts of "Gone Girl" and "Nineteen Minutes." I am somewhat surprised that this may be coming out as a movie. I won't go see it. To be fair, I believe Jessica Knoll has the ability to write well, but this book was not engaging. For me, some scenes were too graphic. Trust the reader to know. Not everything has to be explicitly expressed on the page. This is difficult to do. Kristin Hannah handled a rape scene so well in "The Nightingale" without giving a play-by-play description of the physical act. I, the reader, understood and felt Vianne's anguish and pain. I hope Jessica Knoll will write something "new" with a fresh perspective.