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One Brilliant Flame
A nineteenth-century utopia becomes a powder keg of political intrigue and betrayal in an enthralling historical novel—inspired by actual events—by the author of Flight Risk.
Key West, 1886. The booming cigar industry makes it the most prosperous city in Florida. As a rebel base for the anticolonial insurgency in Cuba, it’s also a tinderbox for six young friends with ambitious dreams.
They all brim with secrets: Zenaida, the daughter of an assassinated Havana journalist; power-hungry Sofia, who plots a fast track to success; Chaveta, Zenaida’s loyal comrade in arms who fearlessly flouts tradition; Feliciano, a charismatic Spanish anarchist; Libano, the cafetero, silent and watchful; and Maceo, a daring guerrilla soldier who fights a brutal undertow. As lives intertwine, revolution smolders, and passions ignite, the bustling coral island is set to explode.
Against the backdrop of the Great Fire of Key West, One Brilliant Flame explores the luminous fates of consuming passion and encroaching peril in the face of insurrection, sacrifice, and inextinguishable hope.
Key West, 1886. The booming cigar industry makes it the most prosperous city in Florida. As a rebel base for the anticolonial insurgency in Cuba, it’s also a tinderbox for six young friends with ambitious dreams.
They all brim with secrets: Zenaida, the daughter of an assassinated Havana journalist; power-hungry Sofia, who plots a fast track to success; Chaveta, Zenaida’s loyal comrade in arms who fearlessly flouts tradition; Feliciano, a charismatic Spanish anarchist; Libano, the cafetero, silent and watchful; and Maceo, a daring guerrilla soldier who fights a brutal undertow. As lives intertwine, revolution smolders, and passions ignite, the bustling coral island is set to explode.
Against the backdrop of the Great Fire of Key West, One Brilliant Flame explores the luminous fates of consuming passion and encroaching peril in the face of insurrection, sacrifice, and inextinguishable hope.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 3, 2023
The key to your happiness should not be in someone else's pocket.
Joy Castro brings this image to life in her novel One Brilliant Flame. The story is told mainly through the voices of her six lead characters. And they have quite the story to tell dealing with Key West on the fringe of The Great Fire of 1886. Key West served as a hub between those revolutionists in Cuba fighting for their freedom, the city of Tampa on the mainland, and the heavy footprint of Spain impeding their advancement.
Life in Key West circled around the cigar rollers who worked long hours at the Las Flores Cubanas factory where millions of cigars were expertly assembled. A reader, poet, and journalist, Feliciano Galvan, read novels and newspapers to the workers to speed production. Chaveta, named for a sharp blade, was one of their finest workers. Chaveta took to cutting her hair short and wearing men's trousers. As long as she produced, no one even questioned her attire.
Sofia Robles was the daughter of a rich businessman who owned sugar mills and cigar factories. We'll observe a great change in Sofia's persona as time passes. She is friends with Zenaida who gives English and Spanish lessons and works at her mother's boardinghouse. Zenaida is on a far lower social rung than Sofia and their friendship soon comes under question.
Libano manages things at the cigar factory. He notices great changes in the social climate as the unrest in Cuba is felt in Key West. Maceo is one of the most complicated of these characters. He is a product of his experiences in Cuba as a guerilla fighter. He's come to Key West to heal from his wounds. His relationship with Zenaida is tightly wound and will nearly be his downfall.
One Brilliant Flame was a 3.5 Stars kicked up to 4 Stars because of the solid research by Joy Castro. Her Author's Notes at the end describes her familial connection to Cuba and Key West. The first half of the novel carried more weight for me than the last half. Nearing the end, Castro implements long dissertations in which key characters reflect on war, slavery, women's rights and so on. Actions would have carried more weight. But the subject matter is rightfully intense and the time period was filled with righteous anger and discontent including the U.S. entering into the Spanish American War. Joy Castro should be applauded for One Brilliant Flame.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Lake Union Publishers and to Joy Castro for the opportunity.
Joy Castro brings this image to life in her novel One Brilliant Flame. The story is told mainly through the voices of her six lead characters. And they have quite the story to tell dealing with Key West on the fringe of The Great Fire of 1886. Key West served as a hub between those revolutionists in Cuba fighting for their freedom, the city of Tampa on the mainland, and the heavy footprint of Spain impeding their advancement.
Life in Key West circled around the cigar rollers who worked long hours at the Las Flores Cubanas factory where millions of cigars were expertly assembled. A reader, poet, and journalist, Feliciano Galvan, read novels and newspapers to the workers to speed production. Chaveta, named for a sharp blade, was one of their finest workers. Chaveta took to cutting her hair short and wearing men's trousers. As long as she produced, no one even questioned her attire.
Sofia Robles was the daughter of a rich businessman who owned sugar mills and cigar factories. We'll observe a great change in Sofia's persona as time passes. She is friends with Zenaida who gives English and Spanish lessons and works at her mother's boardinghouse. Zenaida is on a far lower social rung than Sofia and their friendship soon comes under question.
Libano manages things at the cigar factory. He notices great changes in the social climate as the unrest in Cuba is felt in Key West. Maceo is one of the most complicated of these characters. He is a product of his experiences in Cuba as a guerilla fighter. He's come to Key West to heal from his wounds. His relationship with Zenaida is tightly wound and will nearly be his downfall.
One Brilliant Flame was a 3.5 Stars kicked up to 4 Stars because of the solid research by Joy Castro. Her Author's Notes at the end describes her familial connection to Cuba and Key West. The first half of the novel carried more weight for me than the last half. Nearing the end, Castro implements long dissertations in which key characters reflect on war, slavery, women's rights and so on. Actions would have carried more weight. But the subject matter is rightfully intense and the time period was filled with righteous anger and discontent including the U.S. entering into the Spanish American War. Joy Castro should be applauded for One Brilliant Flame.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Lake Union Publishers and to Joy Castro for the opportunity.
May 19, 2023
Since when are sentence fragments en vogue? Absurdly short chapters--one page!--while head-hopping first person POV between 6+ characters. The dialogue is absurd (people don't talk like this, oh my daughter! ah, my daughter!" Short paragraphs, one sentence and quite needlessly so (the author thinks her readers are dimwits? I feel insulted reading this crap.)
We GET it, you've read Les Miserables--so has everyone! Congratulations now shuddup about it long enough to tell your own story.
"I was old enough to understand that everything had its natural arc; I'd read Shelley's 'Ozymandias.'" Truly a tremendous fucking achievement.
As for the plot, it's a dressed-up YA romance. The bookish girl competing against her friends, one for each archetype, for the attention of a mysterious young man from out of town. It's not inventing anything new here. If you disregard the infuriating writing style and the lackluster plot, the setting itself is interesting enough to hold your attention.
The three girls are, despite this being set in the late 1800s, all of modern feminist sensibilities. One repeats often that she "works like a man, therefore will eat like one," another wants to be a businesswoman entrepreneur, and the third wants to be a poet-revolutionist. None of them want to get married or make babies, as they all go out of their way to state to the reader, so we know they aren't, quote, "broodmares". What a coincidence that all three feel the same.
So the revolutionist poet girl gets caught out because--you will never guess this--she speaks out loud in iambic pentameter. Yes, she speaks in poem format in casual conversation and gets caught. I'm reading a children's cartoon. I'm glad I didn't pay to read this crap.
We GET it, you've read Les Miserables--so has everyone! Congratulations now shuddup about it long enough to tell your own story.
"I was old enough to understand that everything had its natural arc; I'd read Shelley's 'Ozymandias.'" Truly a tremendous fucking achievement.
As for the plot, it's a dressed-up YA romance. The bookish girl competing against her friends, one for each archetype, for the attention of a mysterious young man from out of town. It's not inventing anything new here. If you disregard the infuriating writing style and the lackluster plot, the setting itself is interesting enough to hold your attention.
The three girls are, despite this being set in the late 1800s, all of modern feminist sensibilities. One repeats often that she "works like a man, therefore will eat like one," another wants to be a businesswoman entrepreneur, and the third wants to be a poet-revolutionist. None of them want to get married or make babies, as they all go out of their way to state to the reader, so we know they aren't, quote, "broodmares". What a coincidence that all three feel the same.
So the revolutionist poet girl gets caught out because--you will never guess this--she speaks out loud in iambic pentameter. Yes, she speaks in poem format in casual conversation and gets caught. I'm reading a children's cartoon. I'm glad I didn't pay to read this crap.
October 9, 2022
Joy Castro did an excellent job at transporting the reader to Key West back in the 1800s. I knew almost nothing about the area during this time period, but she was able to paint.a vivid picture of what things may have been like.The story bounces around between multiple characters’ points of view, though we spend the most time with Zenaida, Sofia, and Chaveta, three young friends from very different backgrounds. Each woman, and the young men that also have their own chapters, have very distinctive voices. Without seeing who was the narrator of a chapter, it was easy to guess who was speaking within the first couple of sentences. I think that was one of the strongest points of the book. My favorite character was definitely Chaveta. She is bold and seemed to be so different from all the women surrounding her. The only downside of the novel was how rushed the ending felt. Most of the novel went at a slow and steady pace, but during the last fifth or so, we were just hit with revelation and twist after twist. Looking back, I could see some of the events coming, but it also simultaneously felt like it came from nowhere. That’s not to say that the ending was unenjoyable; I still thought that it was well written, it just felt like the pacing was from a completely different book.Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a copy of this eARC.
March 31, 2023
Joy Castro is one of my favorite writers because of the way that she so subtly weaves quite complex political analyses and an almost eerie level of insight into human psyches into captivating stories. I worry a little that the publisher's description of this book might make potential readers imagine that a simple historical romance is on offer, when in fact (while there is action and romance galore), what's in store for you if you read it is far more queer. If I had to describe it, I would call One Brilliant Flame a place-based ecofeminist novel in which readers confront the intersections of racism, sexism, classism, and intergenerational trauma as they are experienced by everyday people rather than theorized by academics. I not only would but have recommended it to activists and artists whose own lives and works are similarly situated.
January 1, 2023
This is a character driven history of a time in Key West and Cuba. The readers hired for the cigar rolling factories are something I knew nothing about. Three girl friends of different socioeconomic backgrounds showcase the political upheaval and the social classes. The men as main characters are as well drawn as the women. Fine historical fiction with some unexpected twists and plenty of literary references make this an enjoyable read.
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
April 1, 2023
Castro creates a vivid picture of Key West at the turn of the century, addressing the difficulties of colonial rule on Cuba and those who escaped their oppressors. The multi-narrator format allowed the reader insight into the various economic classes on the island; however, I think it would have been more effective to focus on the three girls and how they interacted with each other. I felt at times the author was too ambitious and trying to address too many elements of the story when I was craving a deeper connection with the girls.
April 3, 2023
Read this book for Read Across the US challenge. It was ok. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. I didn’t know any kind of history of Key West and Cuba and did find that somewhat interesting but didn’t connect with any of the characters.
February 1, 2023
Had no idea what to expect but enjoyed learning more of the Cubans history in USA. I was surprised how late the Spanish influence was there, but thinking about the british empire, I shouldn’t have been.
April 7, 2023
Really 3.5
October 14, 2022
I owe my thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me the opportunity to read this, prior to the release date of 3 January 2023.
In the spirit of candidness, historical fiction is not typically a genre that I engage with. But something about this one drew me in. Perhaps the fact that, admittedly, I was fairly ignorant as to the history behind this tale - being born, raised and educated in the UK, our history classes focus on Europe, touching on on American history with regards to the civil rights movement, and the consumerism of the 20th century. I was so enthralled by the rich, vibrant history portrayed here that I was encouraged to research as I read, enveloping myself further into the culture.
But a backdrop can only do so much. Whilst the chosen setting and time period is, undoubtedly, a selling point for this book, it is Castro's affinity for weaving a story with beautiful prose and a poetic nature that truly does it justice. As a reader, I felt as though I was being transported there; I could feel the build up, this undercurrent through the whole story that feels like electricity; suspense escalating as you get closer and closer to the end. You know something colossal is going to happen; you simply don't know what.
Throughout, the descriptive writing inspires feelings of humor, sadness, shock and awe. It's a beautifully crafted story.
Told primarily through the switching POV's of Zenaida, Chaveta and Sofia (with a few cameos from the mens' POV too), the characters feel impossibly real. Each of them is brought to life upon the page, and there are no two-dimensional characters here. All complicated, with their own desires, agendas and thoughts. From Sofia, who seems little more than shallow and selfish at first, before the calculating, cunning nature of hers is bared for the reader; to Zenaida, quiet and dutiful, but burning with the revolutionary passion of her father within; and Chaveta, named for the knife with which she works, as sharp and fierce as any blade.
There were moments that truly shocked me, with twists and turns that I truly did not anticipate. I think that is rare for a book, these days. And there were moments that left me feeling raw, and desperate for what they were going through. But there was also a great deal of warmth; of optimism; of the belief in a better future.
I absolutely adored this in a way that I didn't expect to. Not least because of the genre, but also because of how little I knew about the history going in. But Joy Castro's writing is stirring, powerful and an absolute joy to read; her characters each relatable in some way or another, and the story itself cleverly and engagingly told.
An easy 5/5 stars; an an easy recommendation to anyone who even considers reading this one. Do it. You won't regret it.
In the spirit of candidness, historical fiction is not typically a genre that I engage with. But something about this one drew me in. Perhaps the fact that, admittedly, I was fairly ignorant as to the history behind this tale - being born, raised and educated in the UK, our history classes focus on Europe, touching on on American history with regards to the civil rights movement, and the consumerism of the 20th century. I was so enthralled by the rich, vibrant history portrayed here that I was encouraged to research as I read, enveloping myself further into the culture.
But a backdrop can only do so much. Whilst the chosen setting and time period is, undoubtedly, a selling point for this book, it is Castro's affinity for weaving a story with beautiful prose and a poetic nature that truly does it justice. As a reader, I felt as though I was being transported there; I could feel the build up, this undercurrent through the whole story that feels like electricity; suspense escalating as you get closer and closer to the end. You know something colossal is going to happen; you simply don't know what.
Throughout, the descriptive writing inspires feelings of humor, sadness, shock and awe. It's a beautifully crafted story.
Told primarily through the switching POV's of Zenaida, Chaveta and Sofia (with a few cameos from the mens' POV too), the characters feel impossibly real. Each of them is brought to life upon the page, and there are no two-dimensional characters here. All complicated, with their own desires, agendas and thoughts. From Sofia, who seems little more than shallow and selfish at first, before the calculating, cunning nature of hers is bared for the reader; to Zenaida, quiet and dutiful, but burning with the revolutionary passion of her father within; and Chaveta, named for the knife with which she works, as sharp and fierce as any blade.
There were moments that truly shocked me, with twists and turns that I truly did not anticipate. I think that is rare for a book, these days. And there were moments that left me feeling raw, and desperate for what they were going through. But there was also a great deal of warmth; of optimism; of the belief in a better future.
I absolutely adored this in a way that I didn't expect to. Not least because of the genre, but also because of how little I knew about the history going in. But Joy Castro's writing is stirring, powerful and an absolute joy to read; her characters each relatable in some way or another, and the story itself cleverly and engagingly told.
An easy 5/5 stars; an an easy recommendation to anyone who even considers reading this one. Do it. You won't regret it.
October 29, 2025
The history of Cubans in Key West was interesting and not anything I knew about. I’m not sure I know a lot more now, but it’s something I can explore more on my own.
I liked the short chapters and some of the characters.
I found the dialogue not terribly believable and the ending and the way the relationships (primarily romantic) played out felt a bit overwrought.
Perhaps the author was trying to do too much in one book.
I liked the short chapters and some of the characters.
I found the dialogue not terribly believable and the ending and the way the relationships (primarily romantic) played out felt a bit overwrought.
Perhaps the author was trying to do too much in one book.
April 5, 2023
I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, but the cover and description of this book pulled me in. And I'm so glad it did! Castro paints a vivid and detailed picture of life in the cigar factories of Key West in the 19th century. I didn't want the story to end, and I wanted to keep reading about all the characters!
The story is told from many points of view, alternating between chapters. Each character is richly developed along the way. There was just enough suspense and intrigue to keep me reading curiously, but at the same time, I wanted to read slowly so the book wouldn't end.
Castro's writing is breathtaking. The lectors' speeches, the poets' poems, and the political debates of the war between Cuba and Spain were woven together to create a rich story of the 6 main characters. Knowing it was based in part on the author's family history made it that much more intriguing to read.
Definitely one to pick up!
The story is told from many points of view, alternating between chapters. Each character is richly developed along the way. There was just enough suspense and intrigue to keep me reading curiously, but at the same time, I wanted to read slowly so the book wouldn't end.
Castro's writing is breathtaking. The lectors' speeches, the poets' poems, and the political debates of the war between Cuba and Spain were woven together to create a rich story of the 6 main characters. Knowing it was based in part on the author's family history made it that much more intriguing to read.
Definitely one to pick up!
December 28, 2022
This was not the book for me. Although I enjoy Historical fiction I couldn’t get past some of the characters. The book was well written and based on true events. I’m not familiar with the events in Key West during this time period. I would like to learn more about it. Sadly this was not the book to start with. I wanted to DNF it as I was not comfortable with some of the content.
April 16, 2024
I found this book to be strange. It is set in 1886 but it feels more modern. It also didn't seem to know what genre it wanted to be, romance, historical fiction, history. I just didn't love it.
We meet Zenaida, who is the daughter of a former slave, and her friends, Sofia, a rich girl whose father owns the local cigar factory, and Chaveta, who works at the factory and has very modern, feminist sensibilities. They all live in Key West which has become a refuge for those displaced by the war for independence in Cuba. Feliciano, a Spanish anarchist, is in town as is Maceo, a rebel fighter from Cuba. They are both staying at the boarding house run by Zenaida and her mother. Tensions are swirling with the unrest in Cuba and the threat of strikes at the factories and people are trying to figure out if the men are in town to help or to stir up trouble. Not a lot happens for much of the book. There are many discussions in bars and cafes about the revolution and debates about slavery and race relations and labor uprisings. The young people all have crushes on one another, Zenaida on Maceo, Chaveta on Zenaida, Feliciano on Chaveta, Maceo on Feliciano, Sofia on Feliciano, that it is dizzying to keep up with. Sofia is a dangerous one who has little regard for those beneath her, which includes those of color and lower economic rank, and plots to become financially independent so that she can move to NYC and open a tea shop. Zenaida, the daughter of a man killed for his journalism, is secretly writing revolutionary poems and posting them around town. Chaveta is railing against the establishment and the societal norms for women, culminating with her dressing like a man and denouncing the beauty contest as sexist. Maceo is a wild card, a loner who seems to be searching for a place to belong. Feliciano, stymied by Chaveta's lack of interest in him, begins having an affair with Sofia's mother, who asks him to kill her husband. Everything comes to a head when Maceo, embarrassed by Feliciano's rejection of him, starts a fight in a bar that leads to a fire that burns half the buildings in town, including the cigar factory. The fire scatters everyone. Maceo and Chaveta board a boat to Cuba to join the fighting, the rest join a boat to Tampa where other cigar factories are looking for workers. In the end, it turns out that Maceo was a double agent of sorts having been taken in by the Spanish when he abandoned the rebels. He knows that he cannot return to Cuba so he jumps off of the ship. Zenaida is the only one who remains in Key West.
We meet Zenaida, who is the daughter of a former slave, and her friends, Sofia, a rich girl whose father owns the local cigar factory, and Chaveta, who works at the factory and has very modern, feminist sensibilities. They all live in Key West which has become a refuge for those displaced by the war for independence in Cuba. Feliciano, a Spanish anarchist, is in town as is Maceo, a rebel fighter from Cuba. They are both staying at the boarding house run by Zenaida and her mother. Tensions are swirling with the unrest in Cuba and the threat of strikes at the factories and people are trying to figure out if the men are in town to help or to stir up trouble. Not a lot happens for much of the book. There are many discussions in bars and cafes about the revolution and debates about slavery and race relations and labor uprisings. The young people all have crushes on one another, Zenaida on Maceo, Chaveta on Zenaida, Feliciano on Chaveta, Maceo on Feliciano, Sofia on Feliciano, that it is dizzying to keep up with. Sofia is a dangerous one who has little regard for those beneath her, which includes those of color and lower economic rank, and plots to become financially independent so that she can move to NYC and open a tea shop. Zenaida, the daughter of a man killed for his journalism, is secretly writing revolutionary poems and posting them around town. Chaveta is railing against the establishment and the societal norms for women, culminating with her dressing like a man and denouncing the beauty contest as sexist. Maceo is a wild card, a loner who seems to be searching for a place to belong. Feliciano, stymied by Chaveta's lack of interest in him, begins having an affair with Sofia's mother, who asks him to kill her husband. Everything comes to a head when Maceo, embarrassed by Feliciano's rejection of him, starts a fight in a bar that leads to a fire that burns half the buildings in town, including the cigar factory. The fire scatters everyone. Maceo and Chaveta board a boat to Cuba to join the fighting, the rest join a boat to Tampa where other cigar factories are looking for workers. In the end, it turns out that Maceo was a double agent of sorts having been taken in by the Spanish when he abandoned the rebels. He knows that he cannot return to Cuba so he jumps off of the ship. Zenaida is the only one who remains in Key West.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2023
“These so-called gentlemen on this little spit of sand. Unrefined and coarse, always shouting about politics and weapons and raising funds for Cuba.”
.
It’s the 1880s in Key West, and a spark is igniting in the young Cuban immigrants who live on the Florida island, but still consider the one 90 miles away to be home. The cigar rollers are growing restless, and women are starting to wonder why, if men are so passionate about freeing a country from Spanish rule, that they themselves are not freed from like patriarchy rule? All it takes is some tinder for the fire to spread; the spark is already there.
.
Leant to me by my mother (who loves Key West), I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. She loves British history, while I avoid it as best as I can. I love thrillers that mess with my head, while she probably wonders how I can sleep at night. This, however, punched the book card for both of us. “One Brilliant Flame” details the events that led up to the great fire in Key West, and not the events post-fire. Reflecting on this book, I think that was one of my favorite things about it! Too often, historical fiction can focus on the after, rather than the before, and the six points of view leading up to the crescendo held the narrative from a wide viewpoint: haves, have-nots, feminism, anti-racism, blatant racism, LGBTQ issues, and those who are drunk on power. This is a rare occasion where I’ll say I wish the book had been longer. I went into this not knowing much about the political history of Key West, and this book left me wanting to know more - which is great! I also wish it had given a little bit more. Of the multi-viewpoints, some were well carved out in the narrative, while others seemed like shallow enigmas themselves; the latter could have been fleshed out a bit more, as I wasn’t always sure why they were included in the story, aside from the quick perspective from them here or there. If you liked “Of Women and Salt,” you’ll like this one. I dawdled in reading only because I’ve had a few busy days; you could easily finish this in a day or two by the pool or on the beach. 3.5/5 stars; rounding up to 4 for Goodreads.
.
It’s the 1880s in Key West, and a spark is igniting in the young Cuban immigrants who live on the Florida island, but still consider the one 90 miles away to be home. The cigar rollers are growing restless, and women are starting to wonder why, if men are so passionate about freeing a country from Spanish rule, that they themselves are not freed from like patriarchy rule? All it takes is some tinder for the fire to spread; the spark is already there.
.
Leant to me by my mother (who loves Key West), I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. She loves British history, while I avoid it as best as I can. I love thrillers that mess with my head, while she probably wonders how I can sleep at night. This, however, punched the book card for both of us. “One Brilliant Flame” details the events that led up to the great fire in Key West, and not the events post-fire. Reflecting on this book, I think that was one of my favorite things about it! Too often, historical fiction can focus on the after, rather than the before, and the six points of view leading up to the crescendo held the narrative from a wide viewpoint: haves, have-nots, feminism, anti-racism, blatant racism, LGBTQ issues, and those who are drunk on power. This is a rare occasion where I’ll say I wish the book had been longer. I went into this not knowing much about the political history of Key West, and this book left me wanting to know more - which is great! I also wish it had given a little bit more. Of the multi-viewpoints, some were well carved out in the narrative, while others seemed like shallow enigmas themselves; the latter could have been fleshed out a bit more, as I wasn’t always sure why they were included in the story, aside from the quick perspective from them here or there. If you liked “Of Women and Salt,” you’ll like this one. I dawdled in reading only because I’ve had a few busy days; you could easily finish this in a day or two by the pool or on the beach. 3.5/5 stars; rounding up to 4 for Goodreads.
August 16, 2024
The characters were all caricatures: the rich girl who doesn’t want the life she’s destined for, the poet who is smarter than she appears, and the rebellious girl who dresses like a boy and wants to live life like a man. Yes, there are great characters who do fall into those tropes, but these characters were nowhere near developed enough. And those are just the female characters; the male characters had no point in being a POV given how little we got of them. The relationships in this book were unbelievable as well; I could not feel a connection between the characters.
The writer obviously did a lot of research on her depiction of Key West in the 19th century, and I did learn a lot from that. However, the writing was choppy and fast-paced, with a ton of run-on sentences.
This book was extremely informative on American and Cuban relations in the 19th century and on the Spanish-American War, which is a conflict I did not learn much about in school. One thing that annoyed me, though, was the endless references to popular 19th-century literature. We get it: these characters love books and they’re in the 19th century, but if I heard "Les Mis" or "Anna Karenina" mentioned one more time… I had no intrigue to find out what would happen to the characters. However, I did want to know what would happen to Key West overall and what the history was there. As you can see, this book did not do much for me, and I wouldn’t recommend it.
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November 1, 2023I was interested in the setting of this book as I had never read any historical fiction about the Cuban revolution. It was well researched, and I feel like I learned a lot about the time period. That’s an aspect of historical fiction that I truly enjoy.
The characters were developed to different extents. Zenaida is the character who is the most developed, however, even she is an archetype of a character. Each character represents a different social class, and they are written to tell the story of the revolution and the different kinds of people who were involved in it (I.e. soldier, wealthy factory owner, cigar factory worker, former slave, servants, etc).
It’s an interesting narrative, but the plot is more subtle than I would like. It’s also a stretch to call the six POVs represented in the story all “friends” as the story synopsis describes them. A few of them are friends, but mostly they’re acquaintances. The story tells you a lot about the city of Key West during this period and you get to glimpse into the lives of some of the people who might have been alive then.
I thinks it’s worth the read. Castro is a very talented writer, and I enjoy her style. This was a very fast read for me. The short chapters made the book move very quickly.
The characters were developed to different extents. Zenaida is the character who is the most developed, however, even she is an archetype of a character. Each character represents a different social class, and they are written to tell the story of the revolution and the different kinds of people who were involved in it (I.e. soldier, wealthy factory owner, cigar factory worker, former slave, servants, etc).
It’s an interesting narrative, but the plot is more subtle than I would like. It’s also a stretch to call the six POVs represented in the story all “friends” as the story synopsis describes them. A few of them are friends, but mostly they’re acquaintances. The story tells you a lot about the city of Key West during this period and you get to glimpse into the lives of some of the people who might have been alive then.
I thinks it’s worth the read. Castro is a very talented writer, and I enjoy her style. This was a very fast read for me. The short chapters made the book move very quickly.
December 3, 2022
This novel is about the expat Cuban population in Key West in the late 19th century. Plots to overthrow the Spanish abound. Many people on the island work for cigar factories, and the workers hire "lectors" to read to them while they work.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. While the characters are richly drawn and interesting, it's not clear in the beginning of the novel how they are related. However, the novel picks up and becomes quite interesting after the first chapter or so. There's all kinds of plot twists. Some of them seem a bit too modern for this time period. However, overall, this was an interesting read and taught me something about American/Cuban history I didn't know before.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. While the characters are richly drawn and interesting, it's not clear in the beginning of the novel how they are related. However, the novel picks up and becomes quite interesting after the first chapter or so. There's all kinds of plot twists. Some of them seem a bit too modern for this time period. However, overall, this was an interesting read and taught me something about American/Cuban history I didn't know before.
December 23, 2022
Interesting historical fiction. Set in Key West in 1886, this is narrated by six young people all wrapped in plans for the future of Cuba at a time of unrest and dissatisfaction. Zenaida, Sofia and Chaveta have the loudest voices but the men Feliciano, Libano, and Maceo have their say as well. Don't worry if you like me struggle a bit at first to keep everyone straight as each character quickly develops. It's very atmospheric- you'll feel the cigar factory and hear the lectors reading to the workers, I learned something about the period and the region- always a postive. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.
January 21, 2023
The bright cover brought this book to my attention while the description intrigued me-1880s Key West with it's cigar based economy and the movement to free Cuba from Spain-not a subject I had ever read about. And I became caught up in the characters and their stories and motivations-especially Zenaida's. Each chapter was from a different character's perspective so it was easy to see everyone's emotions and desires. Sofia's character was too much of an evil manipulative b*tch (and that's not a term I use lightly) to really fit in well with the overall theme of the hope for Cuban independence.
January 11, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A well written historical account of the cigar industry in Key West, Florida, circa 1886. The lives of 3 young women are presented with Zenaida, a daughter of a former slave, helping to run her mother's boarding house; Sofia, daughter of a rich factory owner in search of love; and Chaveta a talented cigar roller searching for her place in a man's world. Thoroughly researched and with flowing words, the talent of this author is showcased. Recommended reading.
A well written historical account of the cigar industry in Key West, Florida, circa 1886. The lives of 3 young women are presented with Zenaida, a daughter of a former slave, helping to run her mother's boarding house; Sofia, daughter of a rich factory owner in search of love; and Chaveta a talented cigar roller searching for her place in a man's world. Thoroughly researched and with flowing words, the talent of this author is showcased. Recommended reading.
March 13, 2023
⭐⭐⭐ -- Love the cover on this one.
To be honest, this one was a bit of a slog for me to get through. I found the history of Key West fascinating. It's ties to revolutionists in Cuba. The cigar workers, etc. This is where this book really shined. However, the characters themselves and their stories was just not compelling enough and I found myself struggling to get through this book. 🤷🏻♀️
**ARC Via NetGalley**
To be honest, this one was a bit of a slog for me to get through. I found the history of Key West fascinating. It's ties to revolutionists in Cuba. The cigar workers, etc. This is where this book really shined. However, the characters themselves and their stories was just not compelling enough and I found myself struggling to get through this book. 🤷🏻♀️
**ARC Via NetGalley**
July 20, 2023
It was very hard to rate this book.
1) The author did a tremendous job with character development
2) Unfortunately, the development was so good that it dragged the story out
3): This is an era in time that I haven't read about before, so that part of it kept my interest
4) The plot took too long to develop
5)It had a strong ending
6) The audio performance was very good
7) if you like historical fiction and you want a change from WWII, you will enjoy this.
1) The author did a tremendous job with character development
2) Unfortunately, the development was so good that it dragged the story out
3): This is an era in time that I haven't read about before, so that part of it kept my interest
4) The plot took too long to develop
5)It had a strong ending
6) The audio performance was very good
7) if you like historical fiction and you want a change from WWII, you will enjoy this.
Read
September 3, 2023I dnf’ed at page 80.
What is the plot? We just have characters going about their lives, lamenting how it’s difficult to be a woman.
Like… that’s it. And there’s really not much Key West history I feel like.
The way the povs are written, it doesn’t feel like there’s any continuation. It doesn’t even feel like they’re in the same timeline.
That and I honestly just have no reason to give a singular damn about any of the characters.
What is the plot? We just have characters going about their lives, lamenting how it’s difficult to be a woman.
Like… that’s it. And there’s really not much Key West history I feel like.
The way the povs are written, it doesn’t feel like there’s any continuation. It doesn’t even feel like they’re in the same timeline.
That and I honestly just have no reason to give a singular damn about any of the characters.
November 30, 2024
After a slow start, a stunning race to the end.
With grace and a deft sensibility to motivations and their subtle as well as loud contradictions, Joy Castro tells the story of her people which now becomes the story of all people. Struggle, passion, irrepressible youth and longings fulfilled and unfulfilled line her pages with people stories, irresistible in their universality, the tug of another human soul on each page.
With grace and a deft sensibility to motivations and their subtle as well as loud contradictions, Joy Castro tells the story of her people which now becomes the story of all people. Struggle, passion, irrepressible youth and longings fulfilled and unfulfilled line her pages with people stories, irresistible in their universality, the tug of another human soul on each page.
December 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️- Very in depth historical attention, but ending was unsatisfying.
✅️ 6 main characters from extremely different backgrounds to explore the Cuban history of Key West.
*Would have love to see how characters interacted with non-Cuban Key Westers
✅️ There are twists at the end that I didnt see coming, but in hindsight should have.
❌️ The relationship between the characters ended unsatisfying.
⚠️ More sexual content than expected. (PG 13)
✅️ 6 main characters from extremely different backgrounds to explore the Cuban history of Key West.
*Would have love to see how characters interacted with non-Cuban Key Westers
✅️ There are twists at the end that I didnt see coming, but in hindsight should have.
❌️ The relationship between the characters ended unsatisfying.
⚠️ More sexual content than expected. (PG 13)
January 2, 2023
I desperately wanted to like this book. I pushed through longer than I usually would before giving up on a book. But no matter how much I read I never began to care about the characters. And in spite of being excited to be reading about a historical set of events I don't know much about I had to walk away because I didn't care about the characters.
January 16, 2023
Not something I would have chosen, but something I enjoyed
I was gifted this book through a drawing. As it is not something I would have chosen for myself, I found my interest grow with each page. I liked getting the different points of view throughout the book, which I was unsure about when I read the intro.
I am happy to add this type of book to my TBR list!
I was gifted this book through a drawing. As it is not something I would have chosen for myself, I found my interest grow with each page. I liked getting the different points of view throughout the book, which I was unsure about when I read the intro.
I am happy to add this type of book to my TBR list!
February 14, 2023
DNF-made it to 25%. I just couldn't get into the characters. I love Key West and was looking forward to learning through historical fiction but I just couldn't. I was listening on unlimited audio and it never grabbed me.
I quit shortly after one of the characters buys rubbers and the whole blood thing. It seems some like it but it failed to pull me in enough to push through.
I quit shortly after one of the characters buys rubbers and the whole blood thing. It seems some like it but it failed to pull me in enough to push through.
March 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. It is the rarely known story of Key West and the political unrest faces by Cuban immigration.
Since I've been to Key West numerous times I was eager to read about its beginnings along with its ties to Cuba. Sadly I found this book wanting. It was too political for my tastes.
Since I've been to Key West numerous times I was eager to read about its beginnings along with its ties to Cuba. Sadly I found this book wanting. It was too political for my tastes.
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