Clearly written by a historian. Sometimes there aren't enough documented facts to write a non-fiction book. Historical fiction can also be much more engaging to the reader by bringing the sights, smells and emotions of a time and place to life. I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, but I picked up this ARC because I'm familiar with Cuba, Key West and the Tortugas. Reading about these locations and the historical impact they had was a unique way to engage with the area. This time and place are not often written about. I also appreciated the sensitivity of the author to racist attitudes and the implications for current times as well.
The main characters are well developed although their inner thoughts felt very modern and a bit out of place to me. This is somewhat to be expected for a modern audience, but it felt forced at times. I didn't appreciate the romance and family quibbles, but I'm sure that's what a lot of readers will go for. There's plenty of historical context and plot to keep things moving along so I think most readers will enjoy this book.
The main characters are well developed although their inner thoughts felt very modern and a bit out of place to me. This is somewhat to be expected for a modern audience, but it felt forced at times. I didn't appreciate the romance and family quibbles, but I'm sure that's what a lot of readers will go for. There's plenty of historical context and plot to keep things moving along so I think most readers will enjoy this book.