HarperCollins Remember, Remember.

by Elle Machray

Gunpowder, treason and a plot to destroy the British Empire…

1770. Delphine lives in the shadows of London: a secret, vibrant world of smugglers, courtesans and small rebellions. Four years ago, she escaped enslavement at great personal cost. Now, she must help her brother Vincent do the same.

While Britain’s highest court fails to administer justice for Vincent, little rebellions are no longer enough. What’s needed is a big, explosive plot – one that will strike at the heart of the transatlantic slave trade. But can one Black woman, one fuse and one match bring down an Empire?

An incendiary alternative history, Remember, Remember is a gripping story of conscience, conspiracy, queer identity and courage in the face of injustice.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Lesbian, LGBT, Queer, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

First published February 29, 2024

Reviews

[Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC as a winning from the Books for Palestine auction.

The story is about Vincent and Delphine, two black people who were enslaved by the cruel lord Henry. While Delphine had managed to run away from her master, Vincent was working towards his freedom, believing in the promise that Lord Henry made with him. But after the Lord refused to follow on his part of the deal, Vincent had to go through the legal system to get his justice.

I loved it!! It was bleak but hopeful. I ugly cried through a lot of the parts. I acknowledge how important what happened to Vincent is to the revolution, but I hated it. And what happens to Delphine throughout was also heartbreaking. The plot twists were nice and not over the top, and I just love Colin and Jules, I wish they had more parts in the book. I really liked Delphine's character development, and the ending was perfect. I loved being inside Vincent and Delphine's heads, the way they had to keep their rage in as they were humiliated, dehumanised, and/or ignored. The way they had to keep quiet as even their friends unintentionally treated them like they were less. It was a good kind of frustration to read about the injustice and inequality they suffered and just think about it. I like that there was no white-savior throughout the book, but still, the good white characters had a contribution to the cause. Nick was the hardest for me to like, he was the typical "good" white man, doing what he thinks is right but only if it doesn't risk his career or his life and expecting people to be grateful for any good deed he does, also only thinking about himself, I'm glad that there were some changes towards the end but he still had ulterior motives and I'm wondering if his intentions are completely pure.

[Bronwyn Eley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember I was standing at the bus stop when one of this novel’s big moments hit. I looked up at the elderly lady standing nearby, seeking comfort, seeking someone else to talk to about the moment that just crushed my heart. Because that’s this book. Remember, Remember is the kind of book you read at any available moment. The kind of book that makes you want to cry (in the best way) even if you’re in public. The kind of book I want to tell everyone - and I do mean everyone - to read immediately.

This book has all the elements I love. Action, adventure, romance, a kickass heroine, heart wrenching moments, heart rate *raising* moments. And to top it all off - an ending I wasn’t expecting.

Above all, author Elle Machray did what every great author should be able to do (but not all can do): they got me thinking. Their words, their story, their message… each step of the way I was challenged. And that is exactly what I want from a book like Remember, Remember. I can see this book being devoured by book clubs and discussed over a bottle or two of vino. I can see this book stealing the attention of students on the bus on the way to school, dutifully ignoring their boring prescribed texts. I can see this book being on every shelf of every reader I know. And it should be on yours.

[Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 40%

This will probably be an unpopular review but I think the scope of this book was too great for this debut author’s writing ability. For such an emotional plot, I couldn’t bring myself to care about the main character. This is in no way saying that I don’t care about the subject matter, I just wasn’t compelled to pick up this book and continue reading, which was a shame as this plot-based novel could have been so exciting.

I think where it went bad for me was that I couldn’t believe the MC’s grief after Vincent’s death. I also didn’t understand that with so many well wishers surrounding him, the death of an experienced boxer at the hands of thugs couldn’t have been prevented. It was like something didn’t add up.

I understand the importance of writing about the book’s many themes (they drew me to this book in the first place) but I don’t think the author was experienced enough to take them all on at once. It was a good attempt but disappointing and I think the book has so much praise due to its themes rather than its execution (pardon the pun!).

Thank you to HarperNorth and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remember, Remember begins as a campaign for justice, moves - after a pivotal event - to a quest for vengeance and, latterly, to a daring plan to bring about radical social change.

Vincent's trial, which forms the first section of the book and is inspired by an actual case, exposes the conflict between the right to personal liberty and the financial interests of those who have profited from slavery and the products of slavery. But if you're rich and powerful, perhaps you can ignore the findings of a court and impose your own form of justice, with even Parliament unable to uphold an individual's democratic rights.

Contemporary resonances are not difficult to find; the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement being the obvious ones. At the same, the reader is immersed in the world of 18th century London from gentleman's clubs to brothels, from wide streets to stinking alleys. Although the book possesses many of the hallmarks of a period adventure story - a secret conspiracy, underground tunnels, deception, betrayal and perilous escapes - its cast of characters is distinctively diverse in terms of race and sexuality.

The cruelty of slave owners towards those they view as their 'property' is epitomised by Lord Harvey. Ruthless, implacable and sadistic, I felt the author managed - just - to keep him from being a pantomime villain. I found some of the scenes towards the end of the book in which his true nature is revealed difficult to read.

Initially focused on achieving justice for Vincent, Delphine gradually has her eyes opened to the many other injustices in society, things that are also in desperate need of change. But when peaceful protest brings no results or is suppressed, what other options do you have? The radical solution at which Delphine eventually arrives brings a moral dilemma; essentially, do the ends ever justify the means? Personally, I found her decision problematic and its result just a little too convenient. Having said that, Remember, Remember is a bold and inventive debut novel, even if it does get a little bogged down in places

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember, Remember has got to be one of the most powerful, evocative and important novels I have read this year. It is historical fiction and, in this stunning debut, Elle Machray shines a light on some of the more problematic elements of Britain's Colonial past, from our role in the abhorrent slave trade, to the long-lasting, ripple effects of racism, segregation, misogyny and unadulterated greed.

In this novel, we follow the fearless and loyal Delphine who, having recently escaped slavery, is committed to helping her beloved brother Vincent do the same. Vincent is a kind and generous soul, and believes in achieving freedom through honourable means, specifically relying on an unwitnessed contract with his master, the duplicitous and rotten Lord Harvey, which outlines Vincent's ability to buy his freedom when he's earned his weight in coins. These coins are to be acquired through winning boxing endeavours (the fact that men were forced to fight in this way horrifies me). When Lord Harvey reneges on his promise, Delphine and Vincent have to rely on the Law to help Vincent secure freedom, with the aid of an unlikely ally, Lord Harvey's nephew Nicholas, who is a young MP, a veracious reader, and an eternal optimist. Will the law help them achieve justice, or will they have to resort to more drastic acts of rebellion and anarchy? You'll need to read the book to find out but I encourage you to consider the title, Remember, Remember, which references the infamous Gunpowder plot of Guy Fawkes and his conspirators, who sought to blow up the Houses of Parliament to change the political and religious landscape of their time.

Remember, Remember is quite simply wonderful: A modern classic. The writing is beautiful, the characters are diverse and impactful and, thematically, this book delivers powerful content, reminding us all that privilege enables us to view history through rose-tinted spectacles but, to truly learn from the past, we need to acknowledge the full extent of the barbarous acts committed in the name of Empire and make a conscious effort to stand up against social injustice whenever we bare witness to it.

[Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember Remember had my brain and heart aching. I was so happy to have received this ARC from Netgalley and HarperNorth as it was one of those requests I was absolutely crossing my fingers on

The book is a reimagining of the Gunpowder plot but instead centered on colonial slavery and a black couple, Vincent and Delphine. Vincent is lead to believe that he has secured his freedom in a deal with his "Master" the evil Lord Henry, but Henry reneges on the deal, which in turn forces Vincent to try and secure his freedomm through the legal system (almost echoes the story of Amistaad in this sense and will likely be just as great)

When a book hurts your heart and makes you think, it is definitively going to be a great piece of literature. I really enjoyed how people were working together to resolve the case, black and white and then so much more

You will not be able to second guess Elle Machray's narrative flow and the plot is utterly unpredictable. Yes, it is a reimagining, but it also flips what you assumed on its head

Read this book. Read it the minute you can get your hands on it. It is truly incredible


Thank you to NetGalley and HarperNorth for this truly exceptional story. My review is left of my own volition an dall opinions are my own

[Phoebe Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[C.L. Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things I liked about Remember, Remember:
💣 You can tell the author did a lot of research into 18th century London and the legal & moral debates around slavery at the time
💣 Though the novel is compared to Babel, I think it does a better job of portraying a range of white & Black characters the reader views on a sliding scale of sympathy. Characters like lawyer/MP Nick, with infuriating blind spots and privilege. There aren’t any caricatures here.

On the minus side, I think I was expecting more “alternate” history (the story tacked very close to actual historical events and outcomes; with books marketed as alt history I often expect major changes in the fabric of history/the setting) and shenanigans with gunpowder. The first 40% of the story is more like a historical legal thriller (which I wouldn’t have expected from the blurb), making the conspiracy part with smugglers and revolutionaries feel a little…squished.

That said, as a character study this story is great, and the way the author drew parallels between 18th century abolitionists and modern BLM protests was intriguing. The story reminded me of A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians: also an alt history novel where 18th century figures used (and circumvented) the British legal/political system to challenge the slave trade, and grappled with the ethics of action/inaction in the face of injustice. Albeit that’s a book with more vampires!

Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy.

[Clbplym · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it difficult to really get into this book. I found the description of what happened to Vincent at the end of part one very moving but otherwise I just read enough to find out what happened. For me, the decisions made were not the right ones.

[Giel Schelfhout · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for this book.

Very well written and I was anxious te read the rest of the story.
Only thing i thought to be a bit off, was the ending. This felt too rushed imo.

[MidgeB · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ great debut novel with tough to read topics . Delphine was a great strong FMC and the subject matter was really important and very thought provoking . Great book

[Tessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed the second half much more than the first. Well written, only a low rating because it's not a genre I typically enjoy

[Klaire Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember, remember is a novel full of wonderful characters who are very well written, they seem like real people.

I don't know if enjoyed is the correct word for this book as there are some scenes that are hard to read, however I think the descriptions of violence etc could have been much more graphic. I think Elle Machray got the balance between not shying away from the brutality but not overdoing it either, perfectly.

I'm excited to see what books they release in the future.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the forty-minute walk across London, a new rhyme of her invention plays in Delphine’s mind. Remember, remember the fifth of November; the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever have been stopped.

This book featured in the 2024 version of the influential and frequently literary-prize-prescient annual Observer Best Debut Novelist feature (last year included Tom Crewe. Michael Magee and Jacqueline Crooks – and recent years have featured Natasha Brown, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Douglas Stuart, Sally Rooney, Bonnie Garmus, Gail Honeyman among many others).

The 2019 list featured Sara Collins for “The Confessions of Frannie Langton” – with which I think this novel will draw comparisons. Collins is of course a 2024 Booker judge as is the Guardian Book editor Justin Jordan: although this feels like a much more natural Women’s Prize or Nero Book Award contender as a fairly straightforwardly written but engrossing piece of alternative historical fiction.

There are two main strands to this second half 18th Century novel – a historical one and an alternative historical one.

The first – which dominates the first 40% or so of the novel - is explained in the foreword to the novel

Four generations after a failed attempt to destroy the British Parliament, an enslaved man, James Somerset, was to be transported from London to a Caribbean plantation. He refused. Somerset’s case was brought to trial in a time of social unrest. A revolution was brewing in America. Britain was rapidly industrialising, and its streets were fraught with protests against government corruption and unfair working conditions. He won. Somerset’s rebellion marked the beginning of the end of the transatlantic slave trade, altering the fates of approximately twenty thousand Black people living in Britain at the time and millions across the British Empire.

See here for more details (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerse...)

The second – which takes up the remainder of the book - is set out in the Observer article: Elle Machray’s enthralling debut came to life in an unconventional way. They were on the sofa with their partner playing a game of “what if” and landed on the idea – “what if someone tried to recreate the gunpowder plot?”

The opening protagonists of the novel are Delphine and her half-brother Vincent Mouriere. Vincent was effectively adopted by Delphine’s medicine-healer mother on the Harvey plantation in St Lucia after Vincent’s mother (herself a free woman but in having had a son by a slave) decided to abandon him and regain her freedom. The two were then taken a few years later to London to serve (and be educated, but while still being slaves) in Lord Harvey’s London household.

Delphine is given to Harvey’s daughter Pearl and over the years the two start a friendship and later an affair. Plotting to elope together ahead of an aristocratic marriage for Pearl in 1766, Pearl gets cold feet and Delphine decides to run away; working as a herbal healer/doctor in a London brothel for four years; later hearing that Pearl was killed in a highway robbery after her eventual marriage.

Vincent proves to be a great prize fighter and the book begins in 1770 on what he hopes to be his last fight – as Lord Harvey promised him that when he won his weight in prizes he would be given his freedom.

When Harvey reneges on his deal and decides to have Vincent sent back to the plantations, Delphine at Vincent’s urgings contacts Nick – Vincent’s estranged son and a radical MP in his father’s old seat (his father now in the Lords) and Vincent, increasingly aided (and at times guided) by the articulate and insightful Delphine, fights a legal case to argue for Vincent’s freedom, hoping further for it to set case law that slavery on English soil is illegal.

But when justice does not work out as Delphine had hoped and she realises the weight of commercial and economic self-interest upholding slavery (as well as many other injustices in society from the disenfranchisement of Catholics, to a lack of women’s and worker’s rights) she embarks first on a route of impactful but peacefully-intended protest and when that in turn only attracts more opposition and violence, on a more weaponised and radical route altogether, attempting to co-opt both Nick and a set of smugglers to join her plot.

If am being honest, the actual language of the novel is fairly pedestrian – perhaps just as one example our very first introduction to Vincent has him opening with the rather trite observation that “The problem with time …is there are always too many seconds when you don’t want them and never enough when you need them”.

This is very much a novel where language/writing is the service of action, explanatory dialogue and plot twists – which is not really my ideal sort of book.

The language can also feel anachronistic at times – for example at one stage we read: “Delphine takes a controlled breath in and reaches into her pocket, very, very slowly – an instinct that comes from generations of Negroes moving too quickly around white men and their guns” : but that was more deliberate and impressive for me. The author’s clear intent here is to link (across both time and geography) anger against injustice as well as the silencing of women and black voices (or worse violence directed towards them) when they try to fight it – the George Floyd BLM protests of 2020 being what drew her to writing.

And I must admit that I struggled a little with Delphine’s radicalisation – and in both the ethics and the efficacy of her weaponised plot.

However the author in her Observer interview does talk about creating a character who is compassionate and values life and then exploring “how far they can be pushed before doing something terrible”. And ultimately it is clear that the author is wanting to confront the reader with precisely the issues that caused my difficulties.

A worthwhile and thought provoking read – best I think for fans of alternative historical fiction.

My thanks to Harper North for an ARC via NetGalley

[Sally Anfilogoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of two halves and is a solid effort from a debut writer. The first half concentrates on the trial of Vincent, a slave promised his freedom, and his sister, Delphine, an escaped slave who has educated herself enough to act as an assistant to an MP who is a barrister. This was a strong, interesting and engaging narrative. Where the author lost me was the second half which sadly felt plodding and much less engaging for me. I struggled to find the motivation to finish as it all felt so unlikely.

I'd read this author again and hope this book is successful for her. Our history is shaming and novels about that period should be widely read.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well plotted and thought provokin alt-history novel, a good example of speculative fiction that bring us to London in the XVII century and deals with issues like slavery, injustice and what meant to live on the border.
Great characters, excellent storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Charlotte reads history · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember, Remember tells the tale of a brother and sister by choice, who are enslaved in St Lucia and taken away from their mothers to London to serve Lord Harvey and his family. Vincent is a clerk and a boxer earning money towards his promised freedom, and Delphine has escaped enslavement but lives in hiding as a healer and servant in an 'exotic' brothel.

When Lord Harvey reneges on his promise to free Vincent and has him arrested, Delphine enlists the help of Lord Harvey's nephew Nick, a radical MP and lawyer who fights the case for Vincent's freedom but also for the wider fight against slavery. This fight continues long after the court case and escalates to a stunning crescendo in the book - whilst revealing the secrets and limits of a society where profit counts for more than people.

Elle Machray pulls us headfirst into the world of Delphine and Vincent, using real historical events to set the scene before creating her alternate ending.

Vincent's legal trial closely resembles and sometimes even quotes the landmark 1772 case of Somerset vs Stewart, where Lord Mansfield (who was chief justice of England at the time) ruled that Charles Stewart could not legally transport the enslaved James Somerset forcibly out of England. Mansfield meant the ruling to be narrowly interpreted, but it was perceived by many to mean that slavery had been made illegal in England.

The parallels between the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and the importance of Parliament as an imperfect centre of progress and also a symbol of oppression across time were also cleverly done.

I also really enjoyed the complicated and diverse characters within the book. There weren't clear cut good and bad people - everyone had histories and motivations which coloured their actions, especially those who had so much to lose. There was also a significant amount of growth and change in the thoughts and attitudes of the characters - especially the white allies of Delphine which was heartening.

This was a book about race with a firmly intersectional approach - Machray deftly highlighted the problems for LGBTQIA people at the time as well as touching on class, economic standing and neurodivergence too.

I found the weaving of real events and the subsequent fictional turn the story took to be a thought-provoking approach - Machray harnesses the complex furies and hopes of many oppressed and/or enslaved people into a vision of what the late 1700s and beyond could have been if things had gone differently.

Note: The publisher sent me an advanced reader copy of this book for review but all opinions are my own.

[Philippa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to a netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me this free ebook in return for a review.

I’m a real sucker for alternative history and that was what caught my eye about this book. Although having read it most of the alternative part of the history is at the end and not really covered in the central plot.

We follow Delphine and Vincent who have been brought to London by Lord Harvey the owner of the St Lucian plantation where they were born and how they are fighting for their freedom. One of the things I loved about this book was its desire to face the truth about how black people were treated in the UK in the 18th century - a topic that really isn’t covered often in fiction. And the fact is that despite there being “no slavery” on English soil at this time, in practice there was. Delphine is a runaway slave and Vincent is working as a boxer for his owner. Working towards freedom that is sadly denied that.

The main thrust of the story is the idea of creating a gunpowder plot that was successful. But rather than considering what would the world be like if 160 years after Guy Fawkes someone did it, the narrative works towards the new gunpowder plot and only gives us a little insight into what might be the aftermath - which to be honest, I found a little be disappointing.

I also kind of felt that, there’s a reason that there’s never been a second attempt at Fawkes’ plan; during the English Revolution and the times of turmoil for the country when our European neighbours were revolting we never attempted a wholesale destruction of our institutions. Why not? This book misses something by not explaining that adequately.

However the thing that makes it 5 stars for me is the characters. I loved them all, particularly Delphine of course and Colin who is just great! The concept of following black people centre stage in London in 1770s who have escaped slavery and do have their own agency is just so intriguing that this fresh perspective makes up for someone of the more negative aspects. It reminds me of the film Belle which is about the mixed race niece of Lord Mansfield who appears in this novel, which is one of my favourite ever films. If we are to learn the history of people who are black and British it is important that novels and films like these are made and consumed. I also loved that the British empire was the enemy. Not something to be proud of, or pretend didn’t happen, but something we need to address as the source of our nation’s continued wealth.

So overall, I genuinely recommend this and will be looking out for other books by this writer.

[Emma Ferrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book since November 2022 and it did not disappoint.

Remember, Remember was gripping, heart wrenching, and full of hope. It was engaging and kept me hooked - I have never felt tension in a book like when reading Vincent's trial. This book could have taken so many turns and I never knew where we'd go and loved every second.
I attended the launch event this evening, and like Elle mentioned there, I am not usually one for quotes to open chapters, however the inclusion of real articles and quotes from the time were really impactful and I truly felt I was there.
This was one of those books where I could see every moment - I could see the movie in my mind playing out (and god I'd love this to be a movie, which is saying a lot given I rarely watch them!). It just felt... right?

Reading this felt similar to me as to when I read Les Miserables, and not just because of the themes of revolution. I am very much a light reader. I enjoy fast paced, quick reads that don't simmer. I like to get to the point and the action, no slow building, no setting up (even though it leads to a good reward, typically). But every so often a "simmer" book finds it's way to me and I relish in sitting, taking the story in bit by bit, allowing things to build up. I don't know what makes me latch on to some and not others, but Remember, Remember, like Les Mis (but significantly shorter and definitely much faster paced than the Brick!) had whatever it is I need.

Every character felt real. I cared about them - even if we only met briefly - and of course loathed some! For an author who has only been writing in this style since lockdown, this is beyond a talent. This reads like an author who has honed their craft for decades. I would be green with envy if I wasn't just so thrilled for them.
I cannot wait to read more from Elle Machray (I know it's one day post publication but can we have more now, please?)

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember, Remember is a book of two halves, and I enjoyed each half greatly, even if it did eventually feel like reading two different books.

The first half is a semi-fictional legal drama, going through the legal proceedings that lead to the abolition of slavery. I found it incredibly absorbing and fascinating, and would get incredibly angry and frustrated alongside the characters as they were coming up against the full force and corruption of the empire. It was so moving and powerful, and I would have loved to know more about how much of the trial was based in the truth of what really happened.

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The second half of the book is about rebellion, radical protest, and sometimes violent action. Again, it was a gripping read, although the pace did start to lag towards the end.

I really like the idea of having both sides of the activism coin in the same book. It laid out so clearly the connection between them, seeing how the main character Delphine lost all faith in peaceful activism – understandably so given what she goes through – and turns to violence. It just didn’t feel very cohesive. I think perhaps if the two threads had been written as dual timelines that might have worked better, but especially given how many new characters were introduced at the halfway point, I did feel like I’d read two books rather than one.

Nevertheless, this was still a great read, that prioritised the voices of Black enslaved people over the white abolitionists who are almost always put front and centre.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember, remember is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time.

It is so evocative, powerful and important. Whilst it is historical fiction it is inspired by James Somerset, the man (enslaved) whose court case was pivotal in confirming that slavery was illegal in England and Wales.

Delphine and Vincent are brother and sister by choice. Delphine has escaped slavery, now she must help her brother escape too.
Lord Henry, his ‘master’, reneges on his promise to free Vincent after he has earned his freedom- payment via the boxing matches he wins which Lord Henry sets up.
Delphine enlists the help of lawyer Nick, Lord Henry’s nephew to fight Vincent’s case and give him the freedom he deserves as well as the wider war against slavery.

Whilst Vincent is freed from slavery, the war battles on long after the gavel is hit and Delphine is forced to address these issues (and many others!) head on with the gumption and intelligence she is often forced to ignore. Highlighting the ever present theme that money and profit wins over human beings and morality.

The way that Elle Machray puts us in the middle of London in the 1770s following a pair of amazing siblings who long for their freedom is just amazing.
For us white people to better understand what happened to black slaves in history we need more stories like this!
More stories from the perspective of those who were treated appallingly and whose worth was completely diminished.

I won’t spoil the main part of the story but the parallels between The Gunpowder Plot of Guy Fawkes in 1605 and the importance of Parliament as an imperfect centre of potential progress whilst also being a symbol of oppression and injustice is extremely well executed in this incredible piece of literature.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover the locations in the novel here

I had a feeling this was going to be good and it was. I wanted to read more about the slave trade but have read a few books that feel similar. This one felt very unique and insightful.

The themes of the book are very serious – not that the plot to blow up parliament wasn’t – and it’s inspired by the real life tale of a man named James Somerset who was supposed to be transported to a slave colony in St Lucia but he refused. This has the feels of Amistaad for me since it’s a novel centered on the lack of justice and the struggle for it. Vincent is the man in question who thinks his lord and master will give him his freedom. However, he is forced to go down the legal route instead.

I loved how this was inspired by a real case as it made it all the more insightful and…well, horrific. Some scenes were violent and awful but the author was careful with that – telling you and showing you without it being too much. Still, it’s very much a major part of the story – this cold unjust world that Black people faced.

It’s quite epic in scope and the language perfectly fitting for the time period. It feels so much accomplished than a debut – Hats off to Elle! This really was a very fleshed out and all encompassing novel that examined so much in its short chapters. There’s a lot to love here and a lot to unpick – book clubs would love it!

[Sam Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

No fireworks here.
This book started off very well introducing its characters and their background. Vincent is a slave and a boxer, his Master Lord Harvey has promised him he will be released from slavery if he wins his next match, he does win but the Lord goes back on his promise imprisoning Vincent on a slave ship. Delphine was another of the Lord's slaves, bought as a companion for his daughter Pearl, the two girls were friends and eventually lovers, they were set to run away together but Pearl backed out, Delphine has now been free for four years. Delphine and Vincent regard themselves as Brother and Sister as they were raised together. Vincent manages to escape but is caught and goes on trial as to whether he should be a free man or if he is still the property of Lord Harvey. Nick is Lord Harvey's nephew, he defends Vincent as people are paid to testify against him. A sympathetic and fair minded judge pronounces Vincent to be a free man after a long and complicated trial. As Vincent walks free to the cheers of many other slaves and liberals he is attacked.
Delphine is so upset about Vincent's fate that she plans to blow up the houses of parliament, this is where the plot seemed to get unreal for me. After many trials and tribulations Delphine manages to get a gang of smugglers on her side and tries to put her plan into action.
Their were pieces of philosophy throughout the book which drew attention to the plight of slaves, these were thought provoking.
Thank you Elle and NetGalley.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 1770 and Delphine's world consists of slavery, brutality and abuse.
In retaliation she falls in with a group of smugglers and prostitutes, an underground gang that seek justice against the world's wrongs.
She escaped her own enslavement four years previously and is now intent on helping her brother Vincent too attain his liberty too.
But Britain's court services are of course at this time biased towards a person of colour so justice was never on the cards.
Small, petty acts of rebellion now just won't do.
Delphine is looking for something bigger.
Something to emulate the Guy Fawkes failed plot.
She wants to hit society where it hurts, the heart of the slave trade and thereby pave the way for other similar changes for those desperately oppressed.
But can one determined, ex slave and a rag tag band be enough to bring the houses of parliament this time and effect sweeping alterations in laws?
This was a fantastic debut novel, very hard hitting and a totally different take on the gunpowder plot told from the people's point of view giving an alternative slant to the well known story.
I love this, the tale was immersive, the whole plot engaging and the characters likeable, sometimes flawed and very honest.
A great read.

[Camilla_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an utterly fantastic piece of speculative historical fiction, with a brilliantly reimagined Gunpowder Plot through a queer, Black lens. It features political intrigue, plots and schemes, amateur detective work, unlikely allies, smugglers, abolitionists, and at the centre - one young woman defying all the odds stacked against her.

Exploring themes of social justice in 18th century London, the story follows Delphine - an escaped slave. She is quick, clever, compassionate and so easy to read. The supporting cast is just as wonderful, I felt very attached to them by the end of the book.

While written in a style I'm not used to (third person present tense), the story was so engaging I very quickly didn't even notice this.

I'd recommend this to anyone who would enjoy a thought-provoking story centred around Black liberation and queer identity, and can't wait to read more from this author.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed the themes and what this book strives to do, and it raises a lot of important topics, but I think the pacing/marketing of this book slightly hindered my enjoyment. The blurb pretty much spoils an important plot point, which threw me off right from the beginning, and it’s marketed as an alternate retelling of the gunpowder plot which it isn’t, the main character is just inspired by it.

In the end, I think I actually enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second, which was not what I was expecting, but I really loved Vincent as a character and I found the trial fascinating and the basis of it was really well-researched, even if the dialogue was a little bit far-fetched at times.

It’s a shame that I feel so conflicted about this because on paper I really expected to adore it. Nevertheless, it’s a solid debut and I am interested in what the author does next.

[Christy Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and visceral re-imagining of the Gunpowder Plot, Remember, Remember is one of those books that will haunt the reader long after they have read the final page. The harsh, unflinching critique of racism and slavery in colonial England, the deep and heartbreaking examination of fraternal and sororal bond, the ruthless exposition of how obscenely flawed the political justice system is and how horribly it has failed marginalized communities throughout history -- it is not a pleasant read by any means, but a deeply necessary one. The antagonist remains one of the most villainous and despicable characters I have yet to encounter, while Delphine is a fiercely drawn heroine, one whom any sister with a deeply beloved brother will adore from the start. Highly recommend this book to any fans of alternate history!

[Tea Leaves and Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful, humbling and extremely entertaining re-imagining of the Gunpowder Plot, this is a read that at times had a great amount of humour, and at other times was incredibly harrowing. The chapters are haunting, the characters will grip you, and the setting is… frankly quite frightening.

You will read this book with half a mind on the fictional aspects but also the reality that this isn’t all fiction. The failures for marginalised communities are intrinsically woven into our history as are the flaws of the political justice system, both then, and now.

Despite the harrowing nature of much of this book, I absolutely adored it, and I was completely entranced by the main characters, particularly Delphine, from start to finish. A brilliant, powerful read, Elle Machray is not afraid to address the dark past of racism and slavery in colonial England.

[Kristine Booksandstuff123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Remember, Remember' by Elle Machray.
1770. Delphine lives in the shadows of London: a secret, vibrant world of smugglers, courtesans and small rebellions. Four years ago, she escaped enslavement at great personal cost. Now, she must help her brother Vincent do the same.
While Britain’s highest court fails to administer justice for Vincent, little rebellions are no longer enough. What’s needed is a big, explosive plot – one that will strike at the heart of the transatlantic slave trade. But can one woman, one fuse and one match bring down an Empire?
I could not put this book down, I read the last 200 pages in one go. This book was heartbreaking in places and full of hope in others. The book shows that it can just take one very determined individual to start a revolution.
The book is so beautifully written, I cried in parts. I will definitely read more by the author.
5 out of 5 stars.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delphine is an escaped slave, eking a living in a brothel that caters for the exotic. Her brother has been promised his freedom if he succeeds as a boxer but this is denied him. His vicious master intends to send Vincent back to the West Indies so Delphine and a sympathetic MP decide to take the case to court. When justice does not prevail Delphine is set on a journey of revenge.
There are parts of this novel that are absolutely brilliant and I can forgive the 'alternative history' plot. However what spoils it is the the slight overemphasis on the LGBTQ aspect which just seemed a plot device too far. The research of 18th century politics is great, weaving real characters with fiction, and there is a passion in the writing that serves the novel well.