I wanted to read this book because I'm a huge fan of books that are both historical fiction and fantasy or science fiction. The protagonist, setting, and concept of this book reminded me of an Octavia Butler book, but the author, Dr. Rita Woods, has created something a little more unique and all her own.
Remembrance doesn't really contain time travel per se but does span two centuries, and it connects the lives of four distinct women over time. The struggles and circumstances that bond them are the meat of the story, but the author doesn't waste any time letting us know that this is going to be a supernatural type adventure when Gaelle seems to have a superpower and a special bond with a mysterious Jane Doe patient at the nursing center. From that point I was pretty much hooked.
As the story develops and starts time jumping, we meet slaves and eternal entities and even entities who cannot be described really. The author seems to be able to keep all of this going without risking believability. I actually want to believe these people and supernatural beings exist.
Where this book falls a little short for me is in the world building and the background information. There should be more and it should be richer and less forced. I think there could have been more research done into the eras and how the cities really were but since it's fantasy and alternate reality a lot is forgivable.
Also, I didn't feel a bond or connection with any of the characters. I simply wanted to know how the story ended. When I read a similar book by Octavia Butler I was absolutely transported and it felt like I was reading the story of my ancestors and their deliverance. I wanted to feel that here and I didn't. But I still got a really good story.
I would definitely read this author again.
Remembrance doesn't really contain time travel per se but does span two centuries, and it connects the lives of four distinct women over time. The struggles and circumstances that bond them are the meat of the story, but the author doesn't waste any time letting us know that this is going to be a supernatural type adventure when Gaelle seems to have a superpower and a special bond with a mysterious Jane Doe patient at the nursing center. From that point I was pretty much hooked.
As the story develops and starts time jumping, we meet slaves and eternal entities and even entities who cannot be described really. The author seems to be able to keep all of this going without risking believability. I actually want to believe these people and supernatural beings exist.
Where this book falls a little short for me is in the world building and the background information. There should be more and it should be richer and less forced. I think there could have been more research done into the eras and how the cities really were but since it's fantasy and alternate reality a lot is forgivable.
Also, I didn't feel a bond or connection with any of the characters. I simply wanted to know how the story ended. When I read a similar book by Octavia Butler I was absolutely transported and it felt like I was reading the story of my ancestors and their deliverance. I wanted to feel that here and I didn't. But I still got a really good story.
I would definitely read this author again.