The Renegade Queen

Rebellious Times #1

by Eva Flynn

Two Renegades So Controversial They Were Erased From History Discarded by society, she led a social revolution. Disgusted by war, he sought a new world.

She was the first women to run for President, campaigning before women could vote.

He was the Hero of Vicksburg, disillusioned with the government after witnessing the devastating carnage of the Civil War.

Their social revolution attracted the unwanted who were left out of the new wealth: the freed slaves, the new immigrants, and women.

Who were they?

This is the true story of Victoria Woodhull and the love of her life, James Blood.

Adored by the poor, hated by the powerful, forced into hiding during their lifetimes and erased from history after death, the legend of their love lives on.

It’s 1869 and Victoria has a choice to make. She can stay in an abusive marriage and continue to work as a psychic, or she can take the offer of support from handsome Civil War general James Blood and set about to turn society upside down. Victoria chooses revolution.

But revolutions are expensive, and Victoria needs money. James introduces Victoria to one of the wealthiest man in America”"Commodore Vanderbilt. Along with her loose and scandalous sister, Tennessee, Victoria manipulates Vanderbilt and together they conspire to crash the stock market”"and profit from it. Victoria then parlays her fortune into the first female-owned brokerage firm.

When her idol Susan B. Anthony publishes scandalous rumors about Victoria’s past, Victoria enters into a fierce rivalry with Susan to control the women’s movement. James supports Victoria's efforts despite his deep fears that she may lose more than the battle. She might lose part of herself.

Victoria starts her own newspaper, testifies to Congress, and even announces her candidacy for President. But when Victoria adopts James's radical ideas and free love beliefs, she ignites new, bruising, battles with Susan B. Anthony and the powerful Reverend Henry Beecher. These skirmishes turn into an all-out war, with Victoria facing prejudice, prosecution, and imprisonment. Ultimately, Victoria and James face the hardest choice of all: the choice between their country and their love.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Literary Fiction, Biographical Fiction

415 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2015

About the author

Eva was raised on bedtime stories of feminists (the tooth fairy even brought Susan B. Anthony dollars) and daytime lessons on American politics. On one fateful day years ago when knowledge was found on bound paper, she discovered two paragraphs about Victoria Woodhull in the WXYZ volume of the World Book Encyclopedia. When she realized that neither of her brilliant parents (a conservative political science professor and a liberal feminist) had never heard of her, it was the beginning of a lifelong fascination not only with Victoria Woodhull but in discovering the stories that the history books do not tell. Brave battles fought, new worlds sought, loves lost all in the name of some future glory have led her to spend years researching the period of Reconstruction. Her first book, The Renegade Queen , explores the forgotten trailblazer Victoria Woodhull and her rivalry with Susan B. Anthony.

Eva was born and raised in Tennessee, earned her B.A. in Political Science from DePauw in Greencastle, Indiana and still lives in Indiana. Eva is a member of the Authors Guild and the Historical Novel Society. Eva enjoys reading, classic movies, and travelling. She loves to hear from readers, you may reach her at eva@rebellioustimes.com.

Reviews

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. "The Renegade Queen" is the story of Victoria Woodhull, a suffragist who wanted more than just the vote for women but she wanted women to run for President, which she did herself. Even though, I fancy myself knowledgeable about history, particularly American history, I did not know much about Woodhull at all and for good reason. Some of the other great suffragettes of the time essentially had her erased from history. This is the first of a new series.

Recently I've been obsessed with the musical, "Hamilton." A lot of the musical focuses on who will write Hamilton's story when he's gone so that he's remembered. It reminds the audience that history isn't always pure fact - it can be flavored by those that tell the stories. This sentiment certainly rings true for Woodhull. This woman, who had a huge personality and tried to do so many things with her life, is rarely mentioned in the history books. This book covers from her childhood, which was incredibly sad, through her adult life. It was so fantastic to see how Victoria goes from a unpromising childhood to making waves in American society and politics.

The book is told from the perspective of Victoria, which I really liked. Being able to have a front row seat to all of the different directions that she goes, really pulled me into the story. I was rooting her through the book. It's clear that the author did a lot of research to bring Victoria and the other historical figures to life (Susan B. Anthony! Cornelius Vanderbilt! There are so many more!) in the book. I love historical fiction but I especially love reading histfic that introduces me to new-to-me historical figures!

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have won this book by goodreads. I most honsestly say I did never hear before about Victoria Woodfull but what an interesting person she was! I am so glad to have the opportunity to get to know her a bit by this book. A woman who wanted to be president of America so she could change live for women. She did run for president. With a negro as the man to be her vice-president.
The book is written out of the eyes of Victoria. I did like this a lot. I could become Victoria for a few hours.

I still have to let it sink in a little bit. What a special lady she was. Life was not to kind to her. Born in a line of 10 children as the sevent they had an enormous hard life. Her father started to abused her from early age. Her mother did not do anything a bout it. At a young age she found out live is not honest. She did lost her sister to yellow fever. Also a neighbour. These people come to her as spirit ghosts. Her parents react like:
"Devil ore Angel, I know not, but she sees the dead". "Humbring?"Father crouches down so he wan look me in the eye. "You have a gift." Father starts to turn her to good account and makes money out of it.

Victoria has two men in her life that are her partners. Her husband and later on in live a friend.
They could not be more different from eath other than this two men where. Aldo they both try to do their best to help her the both abandon her. Her son is born an idiot. Probably by the elixer her husband drinks. Her daughter Zulu is her light in live.

And she keept a fighter. She did see that when something has to change for women and womens rights they had to vote and have an opinion. Women had no rights in her days. They where totaly dependant of men. They could not have their own money or property. Men where allowed everything but women had no rights. She wanted to change that. That is the reason that she wanted to get to vote and lead. Of course their was a long road ahead of her.

After years she did find her sister Tennesseee again who helped in her own way to fight the men who had a problem with the opinion of Victoria. They even trow her in the Tombs. They did not break her spirit. She left America out of love and out of love she left America and went to England. Still holding on to her love and her believes. The last line in this book:
"I raise my gaze and seach the thinning crowd for a familiar face, desperately seeking the one that I ache for my alpha, my omega. "

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A strange fictionalized biography of a suffragist (back when the difference between a suffragist and a suffragette was serious business)

Coming from poor beginnings, she worked as a spiritualist and this gave entry into high society, where she took full advantage of her position to run for President. The line between charlatanism and activism are blurry sometimes.

Biography of a weird person who had an interesting life.

[Debra Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads and this is my honest opinion of The Renegade Queen. Victoria was the sixth child out of ten born into poverty. Their father had total control of the family. Their mother was there but not as any support to her children. Buck Claflin, Victoria's father began to abuse her at an early age. He made his children work to support the family. Victoria and her younger sister, Tennessee, were advertised as clairvoyants. Victoria married Canning Woodhull after one date to escape her home life. However, she only ends up trading one set of problems for another. Canning is an alcoholic and opium addict. In those days, the 1850's, anyone could go to a store or bar and buy a bottle of opium elixir! When Victoria was finally able to go back home to get Tennessee, she'd become a whore and an opium addict Eventually, Victoria kicked Canning out of the home. She was living with her mentally challenged son, Byron and her daughter, Zulu. She and Tennessee were running a business from the house. They were continuing their clairvoyant predictions. Victoria also fell in love with James, a Civil War hero, and he began to live with them, too. She started to study the laws and the Constitution after she had payed taxes. Victoria realized that she had "taxation without representation" just as the early Americans had had!! Victoria felt that if the 15th Amendment gave black men the vote; why shouldn't an educated white woman be able to vote too? She became friends with Elizabeth Stanton Cady, Susan Anthony, and various Congressmen. Somewhere things went wrong, because Victoria Woodhull has been written out of the suffragette history of the USA. Why? Eva Flynn is a very literate author and this book is difficult to understand in certain areas. She is also historically realistic and the realism of the times is emotionally tormenting. So this book may not be for everyone! I found it quite interesting and learned a lot.

[Donna Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Renegade Queen was a total disappointment for me. I read the book's description, and I thought this would be an interesting read, especially as we have a woman running for president. I was a US History teacher, and I have a particular interest in the reform movements of the 19th century and how they came to affect so many areas of public life.
I think Ms. Flynn does her subject--Victoria Woodhull--a disservice. While the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father is an integral part of her life, Ms. Flynn did not have to present it in such a graphic manner. The abuse becomes sensationalized and that takes away from the damage that was done to Woodhull. The graphic sexual content takes away from, what I thought was the premise of the book, Woodhull's triumph over her childhood and her participation in the reform movements. There was no warning that the sexual content would be so graphic. Or the language so rough. I realize this is a work of fiction, but Ms. Flynn should have done more research on the manners, morals, and mores of the time.
I read several of the other reviews, and they were glowing. That is not the book I read. The writing, itself, was average, at best. The subject sensationalized. The causes Mrs. Woodhull fought for secondary to the sexual content. I will research Victoria Woodhull on my own. I will also skip any other books in the Rebellious Times series.

[Sally Wragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know very little about American history so this book was an unusual choice for me. However, I do like to step out of my comfort zone and I'm very glad that I did. The book was concerned with the true story of the controversial figure of American feminist, Victoria Woodhull and her struggle for women's rights, at a time in history when women generally were treated as second class citizens. Her life was hard and full of mishap but Eva Flynn brings her character vividly to life, and the general gloom of her lot is occasionally lightened by a surprising humour, especially when her sister, Tennessee, appears in the story. Eventually, Victoria was driven to flee to England and it says much for my admiration of this work that I was disappointed that the book finished here. I was thus happy to hear that the author is currently working on a sequel, involving Victoria's time in England and when it appears, I shall definitely be putting it on my to-read list. I thought 'The Renegade Queen' was informative, well-written and extremely well-researched and very interesting for me, personally, to compare it with what happened to the suffragette movement over here - it appears that historically speaking, woman's lot was not a happy one on either side of the pond!

[Holly Bryan]

This. Sounds. AMAZING!! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! Historical fiction and feminism?? I'm sold!!!!

[Erin Al-Mehairi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read a book I much anticipated, The Renegade Queen by Eva Flynn, which was about the life of the forgotten American feminist Victoria Woodhull. Even though her voice was strong it has been quieted to the nation, even in history books. It was a little surprising that Woodhull was born in Licking County, Ohio, which is the state in which I reside. I've read so much about famous people from Ohio in the 1800s lately, it was interesting to add her to the list.

I vaguely remember hearing of Victoria Woodhull in my university history degree pursuits, yet then again in my research when I was looking into a project on the women's suffrage movement. However, to most people, the author of the book is correct, she's been highly swept under the rug for the legendary Susan B. Anthony and group to take the limelight as the suffragettes of history. You'll find out why within the pages of the book.

As this novel represents, Woodhull did quite a bit of TRUE campaigning for women's rights without a care for social etiquette, and not only the right to vote, but the right to marry, divorce, and have children without government interference. Even Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton did not publicly stand for these rights for fear of being chastised. She became a leader for the women's suffrage movement and took on anyone and anything that stood in her way.

First of all, I want to state that this book gave huge insight into Woodhull's beliefs, motivations, and her determined ways to make women equal in all regards. Flynn showcased how her views and pursuits were similar to the movement, but yet, also how they differed and the way she believed they needed to go about getting the progress they needed. Secondly, Flynn made Woodhull endearing in an empowering way, truly allowing her to shine and progress in our vision.

Not only in this matter, but in all things, Flynn did a tremendous amount of research and it carries though the book within her representation of Woodhull. What I didn't know, or remember, is that Woodhull was the first woman to run for President of the United States in 1872, with Frederick Douglass as her running mate. However, Flynn doesn't just focus on that part of her life. She takes readers to the very beginning of Woodhull's life, as a girl, showing us her trauma of a childhood of abuse and neglect, her father using her clairvoyant talents to fool people out of money, and not even allowing them to wear shoes. When her first husband came to take her away after seeing her abuse, he has to buy her from her father, which left a lasting impression on Woodhull especially when that husband turned out to be an alcoholic, a womanizer, and also abusive. It's important for readers to be drawn into her story, to see where she came from, so that we can better understand her beliefs and what drove her to fight with such an extreme fervor. She was proven to be a woman of survival in this novel, and in that right, Flynn does her a great justice in history.

This isn't only a women's rights book though, or a story of the first woman to run for President, it is the story of how Woodhull fought for social norms such as the capitalist elite and in favor of the working class. I believe her motivations to point out that an all male political system made up of those with money was corrupt is a point that we are still espousing on to this day. Her voice caused stirs, as anything worth doing should, and many of her methods and suggestions for reform have been implemented. Her drive to care not only for women, but for the poor and the working class, has left a lasting legacy even if most people don't realize her efforts.

As a business woman she and her sister became the first female stockbrokers on Wall Street in 1870 and dubbed "queens of finance." With their money made, they were some of the first women to found a newspaper as well (now that's cool too for me, because as a journalist, I've been apt to study anything about the history of journalism-I was so intrigued by this) in order to support her candidacy, but it ended up being a place for them to showcase their opinions and alternate views, as well as ideals for labor reform.

I could go on repetitively about Woodhull and not even touch the amount of learning that is encased inside Flynn's book. In fact, a good portion of it pertains to her second husband and their work together, and how their voices put them and their love in harms way. The ending of their story and this book is a bit heart wrenching, however, I don't feel it would be a spoiler to say that Woodhull is off to England at the end and that I'm much looking forward to Flynn's second book where she'll write about this next part of Woodhull's life.

Eloquently written with depth of character, intrigue, and emotion, The Renegade Queen is a book that will entrance you into knowing the woman called Victoria Woodhull. Eva Flynn has done extreme justice for this extraordinary woman in history and will inspire a new nation of women when they read it. Highly recommended for readers and to stock library and school shelves everywhere.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come...

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria Claflin, later Victoria Woodhull who with no formal education, except for a few years, grew up in poverty and where Victoria and her siblings had to earn money for the family. Born of a father who was a con artist and a mother who was off in la-la land most of the time, Victoria and one of her siblings had to put up with their father's tyrannical behavior. Her father also sexually and physically abuses Victoria and her sister Tennessee and forces Victoria to perform as a clairvoyant. At the age of 15 Victoria marries a man who is a doctor, but it is soon revealed that he is a hopeless alcoholic, unfaithful to his marriage vows and unreliable as a husband to Victoria. She gave birth to a son who was mentally challenged, probably due to her husband's alcoholism. She also had a daughter.
Victoria became a woman's advocate and a proponent of free love which made her an outcast in Victorian times. One tough lady, though, she persevered and became a newspaper publisher, dabbled as a philanthropist, a lady stockbroker with her sister Tennessee, public speaking, all before women had the right to vote. She lobbied so that woman could vote. She had very influential friends such as Commodore Vanderbilt and also made many enemies including other women. She was often at loggerheads with Susan B. Anthony. She presented her views in front of a congressional committee stating that women already had the right to vote from within the 14th and 15th amendments
During this time she met and fell in love with James Blood, a Civil War Commander of the 6th Missouri Volunteer Infantry in the Union Army and Victoria's second husband. This marriage was a match made in heaven for them both but things don't always go as planned.
Most significant was her run for the first woman president. As we know, she didn't win but she paved the way for a lot of women's rights that we enjoy today. On the eve of President Grants election, Woodhull published an article in her newspaper aimed at exposing popular preacher Henry Ward Beecher as an adulterous hypocrite. In retaliation, she was sent to jail where she was charged along with Tennessee for sending obscene literature through the mail. Her and sister were eventually exonerated. Because of the backlash from the charges she was called Mrs. Satan and forced from her home. At the end of the story, she leaves the US and moves to England.
The Renegade Queen is a fascinating look at the life of one of the most influential woman along with Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and other brave women who put up with being ostracized in a man's world. Without these women, we would not be enjoying the equal rights we have now. Every woman should read this story. Not only is this a fictionalized story of a great influential woman but it is also a love story between Victoria and James. A love story that is a bit heart wrenching. I look forward to reading the next installment of this debut historical novel by Eva Flynn.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating fictional historical novel of the most controversial of the early feminists, Victoria Woodhull. This book is the first of a promised series and covers Victoria's life from her unlikely conception in a whore's tent at an evangelical revival camp meeting to her arrival in England as a more-or-less political refugee after her history making run for president of the United States in 1872. Victoria's childhood was one of abuse and neglect. A sad story and often difficult about which to read. Her father is contemptible, her mother, unbalanced and aloof. She and her siblings are used in every way imaginable before escaping into poor marriages or prostitution. Victoria's story is nothing if not captivating as it is difficult to imagine anyone enduring this life and still managing to survive, much less succeed. The history is well researched and any deviations from the true narrative are explained at the back of the book. Numerous quotes from Victoria's newspaper are integrated into the story and give true voice to this unique and passionate woman. I was most pleased that the history was not in any way modernized into a political statement for today. There is almost no anachronism evident in the book. Almost unheard of in our present politically charged culture. This is honest history with no angling for a modern cause. And as a result it made for a stimulating and informative read. I would have given the book five stars, but I just could not bear the intensely overt sexual descriptions that endured throughout the book. I could understand the intense sexual descriptions at the beginning of the story in order to shock the reader into understanding the level of abuse that Victoria suffered as a child, but later, it was just sex and seemed needlessly detailed. There were people I would have wanted to share this book with and I cannot do so because of the overt and prevalent sexual content that served no purpose. I look forward to the next installment.

[Clarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know when you’re reading a book and you’re enjoying it….then a few hours later, you’ve finished it? This was one of those books for me. It was an all night read for me, actually, but I didn’t mind sacrificing sleep to read about this very fascinating woman. I had never heard of Ms. Woodhull, which is what I think was the point, to take her from the annals of history and to finally give her a much deserved spotlight. We often hear of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, but Victoria Woodhull deserves her place right beside them, if not even more in front of them, seeing as she ran for president with Frederick Douglass as her running mate.

I was struck by Victoria’s tenacity and desire to rise above her ‘station’ and to become a warrior for women, if you will. She was just as much a part of trying to get equal rights for women as the above mentioned women. One can’t help but wonder what she would think about Hillary Clinton running today. I was struck by how the world seemed to work against her, how her ambition seemed to cost her dearly. Yet, she preservered and never wavered, no matter the cost.

I wish I had learned about her in school, but we barely even touched on Ms. Anthony and all of her efforts. I feel this is a disservice as I think it’s important for young women especially to learn about the women who paved the way for us in today’s world.

Ms. Flynn did an outstanding job in giving Victoria a voice and her research is displayed vibrantly and with a passion that I think would match Ms. Woodhull’s own. I was delighted to learn about her and I hope to read more about her in the future.

Yay for feminism!

[Raven Haired Girl]

Visit Raven Haired Girl for more reviews & giveaways

Victoria Woodhull is a woman known to few, I find this astonishing but not completely surprised since poignant women in history are rarely introduced in classroom environments.

Flynn does a wonderful job of introducing and reintroducing this amazing woman. Woodhull was a product of a controversial and horrifically dysfuntional family. Constantly battling obstacles she carved a path for herself and became a 'first' in many positions unheard of for women. Her passion and commitment along with numerous sacrifices led to championing for the right for women to vote. Her relentless efforts cost her dearly, despite what written history states Woodhull was a major player in gaining voting rights for women, truly an unsung hero against the backdrop of more familiar and known names - Stanton, Anthony, Hooker.

With an election looming, you can't help but pause and give a sigh of gratitude for this woman and for the other pioneering women fighting for the female right to vote.

Flynn's research and display really create a riveting read, you understand the toughness and determination possessed by memorable Woodhull. Great read for those seeking to learn more of women in history and those familiar with this trailblazing fearless spitfire.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
When I read books like "The Renegade Queen (Rebellious Times Book) by Eva Flynn I want to stand up and cheer for historical fiction authors. They really do fill in so much of history that gets left behind. I have never heard of Victoria Woodhull and I have definitely missed out. I really enjoyed learning about her and her incredible life. I think it's so appropriate to this time with elections happening-it is also a bit disheartening that since her time we have had very few "Victoria Woodhull's- women that ran for president. To say that Woodhull ran for president is an understatement. She light fires where ever she went. Radically influenced by James Blood whom she shared many things with, Victoria is a true blazer. She pushes the limits and is fearless in the face of all she sets her mind to. I learned so much that I really had no idea about previous to reading this amazing woman's life. She faced incredible personal obstacle and despite these hardships she grew stronger instead of weaker. Needless to say this was a very engligtening read. There was never a dual moment- how coudl there be with such a renaissance woman. I was glad to see that this is a part of a series and I can't wait to see what else Flynn has in store.

[Angela Palm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is required reading for anyone interested in a more accurate understanding of the history of women’s right to vote, especially as it relates to the timeline of African American voting rights. Despite the book being fiction, it connects the political dots for me in a way that memorizing historical dates and facts out of textbooks never could. Before reading The Renegade Queen, I had no idea a woman other than Hillary Clinton had ever run for president. It seems an egregious act of erasure that I just now learned of this—one that Eva Flynn addresses and explains in the author’s note at the end of the book. Flynn exquisitely renders the life and times of Victoria Woodhull and her contemporaries. She doesn’t shy away from difficult scenes, controversial topics, or potentially unpopular truths about historical figures. What I love most about this book is its bravery, its honesty, and its obvious dedication to undoing the erasure of female voices and their impact on history as we know it. Ironically, women seem to have had a hand in this erasure themselves. We can all learn something from this. But the book isn’t all history—its plot is very engaging and its characters are compelling and complex.

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways*

Although the author states in her Author's note that she took the sympathetic point of view towards the novel's heroine, Victoria Woodhull, Victoria as portrayed in this novel is actually a hard character to feel sympathetic with at times. Even though she and her sister Tennessee suffered greatly from their father and their husbands, by the time they are grown and taking control of their own lives they don't really seem to be all that much better. Perhaps it would have been nearly impossible for their characters to develop otherwise but it does make them less than sympathetic in my view.

[Christine Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fascinating! I had never heard of Victoria Woodhull before I read this story. I cannot believe that her efforts were written out of suffrage cause! The author is eloquent and uses language that fits this historical time. She portrays a historically accurate picture of women during this time period, while graphic and may be a hard read for some, I appreciate that she did not gloss things over and chose to be thruthfull and accurate for these women. Would have given it a 4.5 but couldn't.

[Mallory]

I just won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. It looks amazing and I can't wait to read it. Full review to come!!

[Karen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be an absolutely fascinating story about a historical figure I had never heard of. The author was correct when she said the victors write out of history the people they don't like. Victoria Woodhull was a major figure in the women's rights movement that took place after the civil war up until women were granted the right to vote. Victoria started out from an extremely poor family. She had a terrible childhood. She lost some of her siblings to illnesses as children, her father raped and abused her repeatedly and turned her into a freak show saying she could talk to the dead. I am certain no one will ever know for sure if Victoria believed she could talk to the dead or not but the author of the book decided that she could. Victoria often found strength and companionship in her conversations with the dead. Victoria is rescued from her abusive father at the age of 14 by Canning Woodhull, a doctor who marries her. Unfortunately for Victoria, Canning is only marginally better than her father. He expects certain rights as a husband and thinks nothing of going to the whorehouse and drinking to excess. He also engages in opium throughout his life. Through all of this, Victoria remains strong and works towards a better life. She ends up moving to New York City and meeting with Commodore Vanderbilt who she works with to engineer a wall street crash making both of them rich in the process. Victoria then starts her own wall street business and later a newspaper. Her ultimate goal in everything she does is to gain equal rights for women. After her abusive childhood and husband she doesn't believe any woman should have to put up with that kind of life. She goes so far as to divorce her husband and remarry a man she loves (although she refuses to change her name a second time). She is very outspoken and becomes a controversial voice for women's rights. She meets with people like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She ends up speaking before congress and running against Grant for president of the US. Because she is a poor, working class commoner she is often shunned by the higher class ladies working towards getting women the vote and she ends up in prison. She is eventually exiled to England (The author claims she is writing a second book about Victoria's time in England - I can't wait to read it).
This was a great book talking about a time that isn't covered much in our history classes and about a person who is never recognized who significantly contributed to the women's rights movement.

[Orion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva Flynn's The Renegade Queen is a novel told in the first person about the life of Victoria Woodhull, one of the most amazing women of the 19th Century who, because of her radical positions, has been written out of many historical accounts of the time. There are several excellent biographies of Victoria that have built up the details of her life from the published sources of the time. Benefiting from all that research this novel, by telling her story in the first person, breathes life into the character and personage of Victoria Woodhull. What Eva Flynn has done most admirably in this book is to "channel" the spirit of Victoria's character so the reader can glimpse, not only what she accomplished, but why she did all the things she did in the fields of Spiritualism, Women's Rights, Civil Rights, Commerce, Publishing, Free Love, Politics, and so many others.

The Renegade Queen won the 2016 Independent Publisher Gold "IPPY" Award for Best Adult Fiction E-Book and I can see why. Not only does Flynn bring Victoria Woodhull to life, but she does the same for her two husbands Canning Woodhull and James Blood, her sister Tenny C. Claflin, her father “Buck” Claflin, Susan B. Anthony, Commodore Vanderbilt, Massachusetts Congressman Benjamin Butler, and a host of others. I feel the author has immersed herself in the Civil War and Reconstruction period and used her knowledge to create great depth in the characters and the settings of the novel. If you have ever wanted to learn more about Victoria Woodhull, this novel is a very enjoyable way to do that.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this from a Goodreads Giveaway.

I love history and historical fiction books. I had never heard of Victoria Woodhull. She wasn't mentioned in history classes when I was in school. Everyone has heard of Susan B. Anthony, but few of Victoria Woodhull.

What's so special about her? She was the first female stockbroker, the first woman to testify in front of Congress, and the first woman to run for President of the United States all during the 1870's. But she's not taught about in school. She was a feminist before that was a thing. Woodhull advocated for divorce laws, due to herself being married to an alcoholic and beaten, the criminalization of marital rape, for an 8 hour work day, and for women's right to vote as well as to own and have money. For everything she did, Woodhull was asked to leave the country.

Flynn wrote a well researched book. A book I think women should read. I learned so many things I never knew. In my opinion, after reading this book, Woodhull should be celebrated as much if not more than Susan B. Anthony. I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to read about the rest of her life. Eva Flynn get to writing!

Thanks to Goodreads, Flynn and Omega Press for the E-BOOK. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#goodreadsgiveaway #evaflynn #omegapress #therenegadequeen #readaway2024

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficulty in rating this book as it was not what I expected.

The author has a very good bibliography in the back, but admits to changing some of the history (thus making this historical fiction). I knew Victoria as the first female to run for President. My partner knew that Victoria and her sister were backed by Vanderbilt to run a brokerage on Wall Street. Both of those were included in the book, even if how those happened disagrees with Wiki, but relying on Wiki as a source has its own issues.

But, there needs to be some HUGE trigger warnings - alcohol abuse and rape were mentioned quite a lot (along with crude language) in the first few pages that I wondered how the book summary & this beginning were discussing the same book.

I won a Kindle edition of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. The book has a number of grammatical errors (and the section divider being an A and omega took me the longest time to realize that it was intentional, although I’ve never seen A used to denote the symbol alpha before).

This is the first part in a proposed series. I might read the next book because I find Victoria’s story interesting, but The style of writing I found not as to my taste as I had hoped.

[Zara West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eva Flynn has written a very intimate take on the life of Victoria Woodhull. Using first person present, we are taken deeply into Victoria's rough upbringing and her struggle to escape and survive and to find love in a time when women had very little freedom and where rumor could destroy in an instant. The book is strongest at the beginning, where Victoria is shown to be exceptional in her determination to make something of herself and to care for her children as best she can. Her actions are not always totally explainable and often draw the ire of society down on her head. At times, she comes across in the novel as unlikeable and impulsive. Yet despite everything, she manages to make a mark on history as the first woman to run for president and the first woman to trade on the stock market. I can't wait for the second volume in this series.

[Miriam · Rating 1 out of 5]

i bought the book because the reviews were so glowing. i don't know why; the book doesn't deserve the glow.
i was a high school librarian who guided 100s of students through women's history projects, so i know a fair amount about both susan b. anthony and victoria woodhull. it took the author so long to get around introducing her main character as victoria, that i was bored and disappointed before i reached the interminable battle with ms. anthony and her (victoria's) "hold" on mr. vanderbilt. too much background; too little history.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because white men were the record-keepers, we don't know much about Victoria Woodhull's lived experience. She stood by her principles regardless of society's expectations at a time when this was even less acceptable than it is today. History sees her as a charlatan and a whore. She was a nasty woman in a time when a woman couldn't embrace that particular attempt at an epithet.

Eva Flynn does a wonderful job of imagining what Victoria's inner life was like and the thoughts that drove her to foment change in a time ripe for change.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. If I were to rate it on the quality of the writing it would get five stars. The writers style is so impressive. The story itself was very interesting. I had never heard of Victoria Woodhull and was surprised to find out about her. Unfortunately the writer continued to bring up rape, incest and prostitutes. While this was an integral part of the story I got the picture the first dozen or so times, no need to beat a dead horse. If she ever comes out with the sequel I would be interested in reading it.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Victoria who?

Interesting to find so much information was left out in history books about this woman. Sad to think our world treated women as property similar to slaves. But yet African Americans were given right before women. Victoria played a huge role in the movement for women's right to vote.

[Laura Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this fictional account of the life of Victoria Woodhull (I won a Kindle copy in a Goodreads Giveaway) but came away somewhat disappointed. It's like the book couldn't decide what it wanted to be... a serious biography? A romance? A melodrama? I think I'd be more interested in a nonfiction account of her life.

[Sekhar N Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

I heard the name of Victoria Woodhull and had a vague idea about her. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and could not put it down once I stared. A really good history lesson in the guise of story telling.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical fiction. I have no idea how much of it is true, but it is a fascinating, if somewhat depressing, account of a hard life and an uphill struggle. It is certainly filled with vibrant characters, most of whom you have never seen in this light before.