Remember, Remember

Remember Remember had my brain and heart aching. I was so happy to have received this ARC from Netgalley and HarperNorth as it was one of those requests I was absolutely crossing my fingers on

The book is a reimagining of the Gunpowder plot but instead centered on colonial slavery and a black couple, Vincent and Delphine. Vincent is lead to believe that he has secured his freedom in a deal with his "Master" the evil Lord Henry, but Henry reneges on the deal, which in turn forces Vincent to try and secure his freedomm through the legal system (almost echoes the story of Amistaad in this sense and will likely be just as great)

When a book hurts your heart and makes you think, it is definitively going to be a great piece of literature. I really enjoyed how people were working together to resolve the case, black and white and then so much more

You will not be able to second guess Elle Machray's narrative flow and the plot is utterly unpredictable. Yes, it is a reimagining, but it also flips what you assumed on its head

Read this book. Read it the minute you can get your hands on it. It is truly incredible


Thank you to NetGalley and HarperNorth for this truly exceptional story. My review is left of my own volition an dall opinions are my own

What an astonishing book - beautiful, powerful and inspiring.

Vincent and Delphine are colonial slaves brought to England on a cruel master's whim from their place in St Lucia. Their stories unfold and are intertwined with real and imagined changes to the law and English attitudes along the way.

Especially Delphine's story is inventive and inspiring, and as she follows her path the novel highlights the plight of many others in Georgian London and beyond.

This book will stay with me for its simple and direct writing, its well-rounded and believable characters, and its unbreakable belief in hope.

Thank you to a netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me this free ebook in return for a review.

I’m a real sucker for alternative history and that was what caught my eye about this book. Although having read it most of the alternative part of the history is at the end and not really covered in the central plot.

We follow Delphine and Vincent who have been brought to London by Lord Harvey the owner of the St Lucian plantation where they were born and how they are fighting for their freedom. One of the things I loved about this book was its desire to face the truth about how black people were treated in the UK in the 18th century - a topic that really isn’t covered often in fiction. And the fact is that despite there being “no slavery” on English soil at this time, in practice there was. Delphine is a runaway slave and Vincent is working as a boxer for his owner. Working towards freedom that is sadly denied that.

The main thrust of the story is the idea of creating a gunpowder plot that was successful. But rather than considering what would the world be like if 160 years after Guy Fawkes someone did it, the narrative works towards the new gunpowder plot and only gives us a little insight into what might be the aftermath - which to be honest, I found a little be disappointing.

I also kind of felt that, there’s a reason that there’s never been a second attempt at Fawkes’ plan; during the English Revolution and the times of turmoil for the country when our European neighbours were revolting we never attempted a wholesale destruction of our institutions. Why not? This book misses something by not explaining that adequately.

However the thing that makes it 5 stars for me is the characters. I loved them all, particularly Delphine of course and Colin who is just great! The concept of following black people centre stage in London in 1770s who have escaped slavery and do have their own agency is just so intriguing that this fresh perspective makes up for someone of the more negative aspects. It reminds me of the film Belle which is about the mixed race niece of Lord Mansfield who appears in this novel, which is one of my favourite ever films. If we are to learn the history of people who are black and British it is important that novels and films like these are made and consumed. I also loved that the British empire was the enemy. Not something to be proud of, or pretend didn’t happen, but something we need to address as the source of our nation’s continued wealth.

So overall, I genuinely recommend this and will be looking out for other books by this writer.