I was supposed to read this title through NetGalley a few months ago, unfortunately the e-file did not work properly, so I had to wait until it was available from the library.

It was worth the wait.

The characters were well created with multidimensional facets that showed the many sides of a person with respect to situational circumstances.

It was refreshing to read a story set in the 1920’s from the point of view of a young woman with a black father and a white mother.

The secondary characters are equally complex and help address a variety of very intense and difficult issues that were all too real and prevalent during an aggressively charged time.

The plot is straight forward, but contains many twists and turns that keep the reader’s sense of suspense and interest without feeling overwhelmed.

I kept getting sidetracked by comparing this story to Shakespeare’s Othello attempting to find similarities between the two stories, stealing some of my attention, since this story deserves the reader’s complete focus.

Winters’ writing is as always: clear, concise, flows effortlessly and always engages the reader. The writing was perfect for a binge read of 200 pages without causing headaches or a sense of unease from reading for such a long time.

I read a few reviews that mention a decline in Winters’ writing and storytelling and even though this story, compared to her debut In the Shadow of Blackbirds, which is a masterpiece in creating a sense of complete sadness of the heart, is a marvelous feat of storytelling, this story focuses on a different aspect of misery and sadness of the heart.

Overall, another great and wonderful novel by Winter and I would definitely recommend it.

What an... interesting retelling of Hamlet! While this book had clear parallels to Shakespeare's play, Winters definitely adds her own twist to the tragedy and it makes for an intricate reimagination and I adored every bit of it!

It is no question that I adore novels written by Cat Winters. Her plot always speaks to me, and I always find my heart wrenched out of my chest upon finishing. This novel was no different and yet it was resonating in a different way. Cat Winters doesn’t shy away from the tough topics and in this novel she takes on many prejudices that we still face today.

Winters writes in a way that really transforms your reading experience, the setting is vibrant and you fall in love with the characters so that when they are hurting, so too are you. It was enraging and heartbreaking to read of the cruel mistreatment that these characters – and so many people daily – must face.

I found this to be a very important and resonating novel. I loved the nods to Hamlet, the mystery, the relationships, and the hard truths. It was another brilliant novel by Cat Winters filled with intrigue, strong women, issues relevant to the past and present, and beautiful relationships of all kinds. Definitely recommended.