Hester

I just reviewed Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

Isobel Gamble is a young seamstress with flaming red hair, married to the owner of an apothecary with a terrible addiction. After they lose everything in their home of Scotland in the 1800s they try their fortunes in the new world. After the Captain of the boat takes a shine to Isobel, he offers to take her husband on their next crossing as a medic in exchange for 1.5% of the total profits. Edward leaves but not before stealing a few gold coins from Isobel that her father had given her.
Isobel now has to find a way to take care of herself in a place where she knows no one.
She ends up meeting Nathanial Hawthorne, a man troubled by the legacy his family left behind. A legacy of sending innocent women to their deaths during the Salem witch trials. Unbeknown to him, Isobel has some extraordinary abilities that almost had her own ancestor killed. As the 2 are drawn together, something sinister is happening in the town of Salem. This time it's not witches being persecuted but the now freed people of color. Someone is hunting them to return them to their slave owners.
Her closeness to her neighbor compels Isobel to help in the only way she knows whilst walking away from her love for Nathaniel she becomes the unwitting lead in his published book, The Scarlet Letter.

This reimagining took my breath away. The author took this story and really made it their own. The story they wove had me enthralled from the first sentence and it still hasn't let me go. They breathed a magic so intoxicating that the words came alive right in front of my very eyes!

I wanted to reach out and hold Isobel's hand so many times through the book. I loved watching her story unfold and all the colors that exploded from her gift was a treasure I wanted to hold on to. Her life was mixed with such tragedy and wonder that it made you wonder where she found the strength. Not all women were as lucky as her but still the things she was put through and had to get through would break anyone I know. Being a woman was a dangerous time especially without the safety of a husband. Not that her husband was worth the marriage license. I couldn't stand Edward from the get go. I know addiction is ugly but I just got the creeps from him right from the start. She was worth a million of him. Don't get me wrong, I didn't like Nathanial either. I felt he was weak and quite disgraceful to do what he did but I also understand that they were in a unique situation.

I don't usually get crushes on book characters but Captain Darling really exemplified what a man should be and how to treat people in general.

I really felt the character building was top notch and I loved how the author covered how people of color were treated even after it was illegal to keep slaves in the north. It was cleverly done and I really feel that this book has checked every box for me.

If you love your historical fiction with a little magic and a dash of social issues, this is definitely the book for you! 5 stars!!