Heaven Hill Plantation, upriver from Georgetown, South Carolina, 1807: Sixteen-year-old Alexandra Degambia walks a tightrope stretched between her parents’ ambitions. Her father, a prosperous planter, wants to preserve the heritage of his African ancestors. But her mother, who can pass for white, seeks to distance herself from her African roots and position herself in the elite society of … wealthy free-women-of-color.
Alexandra dreams of establishing her own place in the world as an accomplished violinist. She assumes her talent and her family’s wealth will pave her way to success.
When her ambitions spiral into a life-or-death struggle, she learns sometimes destiny has its own plans.
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Dorothea Hubble Bonneau is a master storyteller and character builder, who was Inspired to write her book by a true story and one of her ancestors. Readers will viscerally experience the sudden and tragic turn of events for sixteen-year-old Alexandra Degambia, the daughter of a wealthy African-American planter and a social-climbing mother who can pass for White. The young, educated violinist leads a privileged existence in 1807 South Carolina. But when her parents die, she endures captivity and suffers humiliation and loss beyond her wildest nightmares. Is there any escape? Can she maintain the courage and grace necessary to save her life and the lives of others? Prepare to learn. Prepare to be astonished.
Alexandra is the daughter of an African-American planter and a cruel woman who can pass for white. Her mother sits in the big house on the plantation, passing judgment and punishment on the slaves that serve her. She is a strict woman who dotes on her son, but not her daughter. Perhaps it’s because Alexandra reminds her of what she’s hiding from. When situations change in the south, Alexandra and her younger brother are no longer safe. No one of color is safe.
Alexandra grows by leaps and bounds throughout the book. From being sharp-tongued and defiant to losing not only the only home she has ever known but her freedom as she’s forced into slavery. She matures with each new distressing situation. Once in a Blood Moon is a heartbreaking and emotional read from a descendant of one of the characters. It’s a wonderful piece of historical fiction. Bonneau is raw and honest in her storytelling, she doesn’t hold back. If you feel uncomfortable reading this, then her storytelling has been successful. Nicely done.
Once in a Blood Moon by Dorothea Hubble Bonneau is an excellent historical fiction that weaves a tale that is breathtaking, intriguing, and yet difficult to read at the same time.
I loved the story of Alexandra and her life that takes place in the early 1800s in South Carolina. I loved her complex character and how she grew as a person as the story progressed. She could have easily given up and given in with all of the horrific events that were hurdled her way, but she persevered and came out stronger and changed in the end.
I also liked that the author gave historical insight and the true events that served as a basis for her story.
This book while gorgeous, intricate, and beautiful also consisted of very heavy and serious subject matter. To see what slavery did to so many innocent souls and how widespread it was, is very, very hard to read. I feel it is important to learn from these blights in history, and we need to honor those whose lives were lost and affected by this injustice.
This was an excellent story that was a serious read, but yet had a ray of hope and inspiration threaded within to create an unforgettable tale.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Acorn Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.