Description: "Born in West Africa, Adbaraya Toya was one of Dahomey's legendary female warriors. Kidnapped and sold into slavery in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, she became a healer and an authority figure for the enslaved. Among the motherless children she helped raise was the revolutionary Jean-Jacques Dessalines. When the enslaved people rose up, Toya was at the forefront of the rebellion that changed the course of history. A free woman of color, Marie-Claire Bonheur was raised with privilege and security in a society steeped in racial and economic injustices. Falling in love with Jean-Jacques Dessalines, an enslaved man, was never the plan, yet their paths continued to cross and intertwine. Despite their differences, the two women join forces, bringing tremendous courage and resilience to the revolution, along with countless other women whose stories have been overlooked."--Page 4 of cover.
Brief description:
In addition to being a novelist, Vanessa Riley holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and both a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State. She currently juggles mothering an architect, baking her Trinidadian grandmother's desserts, hugging her retired military husband, and speaking at women's and STEM events. You can often find her writing from the comfort of her Georgia porch, tea or latte in hand.
Review Quotes:
"Thrilling and utterly engrossing...Riley's prose is breathlessly beautiful, the lines clean and vibrant, her images raw and real. A gripping animation of the first successful Black-led democracy in the West as well as a moving exploration of loyalty, passion, and grief, this book sears itself on the consciousness. Highly recommended." - Historical Novel Society
"Sweeping, powerful...Riley has written a well-researched gripping novel about an enslaved people gaining freedom, with the emotional connections among the main players as its beating heart." - Library Journal (starred review)
"An impeccably researched, powerfully reimagined tale of sacrifice and success, love and selfishness, and war and independence...Riley's storytelling skills shine." - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Riveting and transformative...evocative and immersive...by turns vibrant and bold and wise...discovering Dorothy's story is a singular pleasure." - New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) on Island Queen
"This book is not only a one-sitting read, it's a slice of history that needs to be told. Utterly brilliant, powerful, and inspiring." - Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of Always the Last to Know
"Riley...delivers a spirited narrative of an enslaved woman turned Caribbean power broker, based on a historical figure...Riley has made a fascinating character out of Dorothy." - Publishers Weekly on Island Queen
"A riveting read! Richly imagined, meticulously researched, and fast-paced...Vanessa Riley encourages us to rethink history through fresh eyes." - Myriam J. A. Chancy, author of What Storm, What Thunder
"A gripping tale celebrating the strength and resilience of exceptional Black women...emotionally rich, deeply detailed, and unforgettable." - Booklist
"Dazzling...compelling...Riley combines in-depth research with passionate and frank storytelling, The experiences and achievements of powerful women, especially those whose lives began among the enslaved, are too often overlooked, and Riley's richly engaging novel is a ringing reminder of how much we miss when these stories remain untold." - Booklist on Island Queen
"Island Queen is what you would get if you were to drop Olivia Pope and all the men who lusted after her into the 18th Century Caribbean. . . With prose that reads like poetry, Vanessa Riley expertly steers the reader through Dolly's heartbreaking lows all the way into her triumphant emergence as the richest free woman of color in the islands. Passionate, headstrong, and loyal, Riley's version of the real-life Dorothy Kirwan Thomas legend will make readers fall in love with this overlooked "hidden" queen. - Kaia Alderson, author of Sisters in Arms
"Richly detailed, vividly depicted, and sweeping in scope, Island Queen is historical fiction at its absolute finest. A stunning must-read!" - Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba
"Island Queen is the magnificently reconstructed life story of Dorothy 'Doll' Kirwan Thomas, whose fascinating legacy of grit and success desperately deserves to be better known. With lush prose and raw emotion, Riley vividly captures the complexity of bringing to life a time of rebellion and possibility." - New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Stephanie Dray