This book is stunningly written, from start to finish. It singlehandedly brought me out of my reading slump! It is filled with characters that you can't help but love, and shows the painful reality of what it was like to be a former slave living during the Civil War, and how complicated and ever-changing relationships can be, from romantic relationships to familial ones. The story was clearly inspired by Little Women, but it took different turns with it, and it was a truly amazing and different story, with the characters being different than Louisa Alcott's version (and the father's name being Alcott was a nice touch!). The characters were interesting and three-dimensional, and the characters blazed their own paths in the world and were their own people. The setting was well done and beautifully written, and the environment and the tentative hope in such a dark time was beautifully written. I definitely recommend if you like this author's previous (also stunning) books, A Song Below Water and A Chorus Rises, and/or the original Little Women. 5/5 stars from me!