This is historical fiction based on the true story of Cathy Williams, a former slave freed by General Sheridan to become a cook's assistant in the Union army during the Civil War. After the surrender is signed, she has nowhere else to go. She disguises herself as a man and serves as a Buffalo soldier for two years.
This story was fascinating to me. Cathy was such a strong and brave woman and her ingenuity helped her hold her disguise for a long time. I laughed so hard at the scene where she "pees" out of the kettle spout and the whorehouse scene with Mary the murderer. Thank you Sarah Bird, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a phenomenal and wonderfully written book full of details that create the perfect imagery in your head.

This book is about Cathy, a former slave who passes as a man to serve in the Civil War. What is most incredible is that the story is based on a real person. I literally went searching on Google to try and find who it was! This is one of those books that you will not want to put down. Although it is historical fiction, at times, with all of the events, I forgot it was actually fiction.

Props to the authors that can weave a beautiful story to pay homage to forgotten women that change the course of history. Five stars--can't wait to read another book by this author.

Although this book vividly described the Civil War and Sarah Bird cleverly depicted her heroine's life, this wasn't my kind of book because it was written in the vernacular. This is a brilliant idea but I didn't go on with the novel.

"The compelling, hidden story of Cathy Williams, a former slave and the only woman to ever serve with the legendary Buffalo Soldiers.

“Here’s the first thing you need to know about Miss Cathy Williams: I am the daughter of a daughter of queen and my mama never let me forget it.”

Though born into bondage on a “miserable tobacco farm” in Little Dixie, Missouri, Cathy Williams was never allowed to consider herself a slave. According to her mother, she was a captive, destined by her noble warrior blood to escape the enemy. Her chance at freedom presents itself with the arrival of Union general Phillip Henry “Smash ‘em Up” Sheridan, the outcast of West Point who takes the rawboned, prideful young woman into service. At war’s end, having tasted freedom, Cathy refuses to return to servitude and makes the monumental decision to disguise herself as a man and join the Army’s legendary Buffalo Soldiers.

Alone now in the ultimate man’s world, Cathy must fight not only for her survival and freedom, but she also vows to never give up on finding her mother, her little sister, and the love of the only man strong enough to win her heart. Inspired by the stunning, true story of Private Williams, this American heroine comes to vivid life in a sweeping and magnificent tale about one woman’s fight for freedom, respect and independence."

More historical fiction for this amazingly full first Tuesday in September!

I was thrilled to get the chance to read DAUGHTER OF A DAUGHTER OF A QUEEN. I was also amazed when I first heard about the book that it's based on a real story. Isn't it just amazing to learn that a former slave, a young girl served with the legendary Buffalo Soldiers?

Part of the story that really captured my interested was Cathy's African inheritance. The knowledge past down from her grandmother to her mother and finally to Cathy. As she Cathy said in the book, she was her mother's African child, while Cathy sister Clemmie was her American child. One a warrior child the other one more dainty (still tough). This book is not for the faint of heart. It's a bloody hard tale about a woman trying to pass for a man. And all through the book does she have to try to hide from everyone that she is a woman. And there are always eyes on her. She has her enemies and her fate is sealed if they ever find out the truth.

However, there are also moments of sweetness in the book. Even love. Although it really feels like Cathy has to fight for every scrap of happiness that easily could be taken from her. Loving a fellow soldier while she is passing for a man is both frustrating and dangerous for her.

Life as a soldier is not at all that Cathy imagined when she signed up. She's constantly at risk of being discovered and there are several moments in the book that I thought that she's done for it. How it all ends? Well, you have to find a copy of DAUGHTER OF A DAUGHTER OF A QUEEN and read it to find out. I will tell you this; I did get surprised at the end. Fabulous ending!

Title: Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen
Author: Sarah Bird
Publisher: St Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen" by Sarah Bird

My Thoughts.....

Even though "Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen was a good read I did find it wasn't a easy read where it was 'Human, emotional, touching and so very raw.' I will say that after reading this novel I did look up Cathy Williams/Williams Cathay and only found a little about her. Yes, she is a real person! "Her grandmother was a queen in Africa, but she was kidnapped and ended up in slavery in the southern U.S. Her daughter and granddaughter (Cathy) were born into slavery." Cathy was definitely a very interesting courageous strong black woman. Well, getting into the story we find that this strong black young lady Cathy Williams was torn from her family and taken by Union soldiers to help the cook General Phillip Sheridan's army where Black Americans faced 'many things not only racism but sexism. Later she joins up with the US Army as a male 'Buffalo Soldiers [the infantry]disguised as a male for several years changing her name to William Cathay. Cathy had done this after seeing how they were treated. In the end will Cathy find her family? I found this part of the read quite 'heartbreaking story to the very end.' I do understand that this was a historical fiction read where if you look this William Cathy up you will find that a lots of the details have been altered somewhat here in this story. This author gives the reader a fascinating and riveting historical read that you will find it hard to put down and that ending!

You will have to pick up this novel "Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen" to see how well this author delivers this storyline to the reader where you will vision these adventures, conflict, danger, heart wrenching, friendship, history details, romance, with some humor, twist and turns and some well developed memorable characters. In the end the reader will get one good read.

Available Sept. 4: Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird
**** 4 stars, Loved it: This pre- and during WWII-set novel is great for anyone.

 
 


Recommended readers:

If you like novels with Civil War history and drama
If you want an action-packed, historical read
If you like strong female characters
Here's my Rankings:

4.5/5 for characters
4/5 for plot
4.5/5 overall
REVIEW FROM BOOKS FOR HER:
This legendary, and sometimes heartbreaking story of Cathy Williams is truly epic. Williams escapes a tobacco farm during the Civil War with her mom and sister, is caught and separated from her family and becomes a cook for the union army. Despite her sometime insolence and strong will, she survives, and at the war's end to escape an even scarier time for freed slaves, she disguises herself as a man to join the elite Buffalo Soldiers.

Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen is sweeping, emotional and bittersweet story of perseverance, character and survival - during a volatile time in American's history. The struggles, wins and loses in Cathy's life are horrifying and sometimes tragic - and you'll feel equal parts of heartbreak and pride in hearing her story.

Available Sept. 4: Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird

I definitely enjoyed this story far more than I thought that I would. I thought it would a predictable story with boring characters but I was pleasantly surprised. The story and the characters are both well done.

All I can say is WOW! What a fascinating and fantastical tale!! Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen tells the gripping story of Cathy Williams, a former slave who works under General Sheridan as a cook’s helper towards the end of the civil war, and then once the civil war ends, serves in the US Army for 2 years disguised as a man. I was blown away by her strength and determination.

The story is well written and the plot moves along at a good speed. Cathy’s character is superbly developed as we get a first hand glimpse of her hopes, fears, vulnerabilities and strengths. The time span that this book focuses on was fairly new to me. I’ve read quite a bit about the civil war but not much about the years directly following it. I found the historical bits to be riveting and felt as though I learned a lot about this time period and what it was like being in the first coloured US Army cavalry regiment. Talk about a hard life and precarious situation...

Although a longer book, I found myself immersed in the prose and intricate descriptions. The author does a fabulous job of bringing the reader into the folds of the life of Cathy Williams and William Cathay. Lots of suspense and even some unexpected twists. Absolutely recommend this historical saga.

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Sarah Bird for an advanced copy. Publication date is September 4.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

“Here's the first thing you need to know about Miss Cathy Williams: I am the daughter of a daughter of a queen and my Mama never let me forget it."

Based on a real historical figure. I liked this book, it did get a bit drawn out but overall a very readable story.

3.25 - 3.5 stars

Such a fabulous read. A story with strong women characters and a wonderful plot. An engrossing read.

This is an interesting story about a young girl’s adventures and life during the Civil War era. Cathy Williams is recruited forcibly by General Philip Sheridan and put to work as a cook’s assistant in his unit. Cathy is a strong, outspoken person, who works hard. She vows to some day be reunited with her mother and younger sister, after having to leave them behind. Cathy’s somewhat masculine features lead her to often be mistaken for a man—which later helps her out in life. During her travels to her job with Sheridan, Cathy falls for a gravely wounded man, who is the first to touch her heart while comforting her. Cathy’s time with the Union Army is not that long, as she is conscripted shortly before the war ended. Afterward, she joins the Buffalo soldiers, managing to pass herself off as a man. Cathy’s life, though a good mixture of fact, fiction and make-believe on the part of the author made for a pretty good story.

I found the book interesting. For me, a former service member, her ability to pass as a man in what is traditionally a man’s world caught my interest. The author manages to capture how life was for a woman disguised as a man in the military. However, the underlying ideas about what women were like in that time and how they lived also provided some very good insight. I was disappointed that the author fictionalized this life from bits and pieces of history, a good imagination and ability to put it all together, for I wanted this to be the story of the first woman to serve in the military. I guess that person was to come later. Still, Cathy’s life and story are definitely fascinating and interesting and gave the reader a good picture, as I said, of life during that era and the place of woman in society and life. This is a good historical novel and can interestingly present a good picture to any reader who is interested in this era. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

It's fair to say that I have very mixed feelings about this book. The synopsis on goodreads had me so excited to read about the first woman to ever serve in the US army. I'm all in when it comes to historical fiction that educates on real courageous women who don't get the recognition they deserve.

Cathy Williams is a former slave who grew up on a tobacco farm in Missouri, and was taken as what they called contraband by General Sheridan. During his destruction of the south called, "the burning" he scorched crops, homes, and livelihoods in order to starve out the competition. The slaves he confiscated and took with him helped to serve the Union forces. At the time that Cathy was brought on as a cook's helper in Sheridan's troop, former slaves were now getting wages from the Union. While she was happy to be freed from the cruel "Old Mister" and his wife, she was devastated to be ripped from her mother and sister at a moment's notice. On the way to camp, she travels with a gravely wounded man who gives her comfort, and becomes the first man to draw her eye and touch her heart.

I really enjoyed Cathy's sense of humor. Her narrative was a candidly wry voice, often giving us sharp and scathing observations of injustices that were a part of her reality during that time. She was a young woman who wasn't particularly romantically inclined, and her thoughts on men had me laughing out loud several times.

One thing that I found odd was the way in which she told Sheridan's words to the reader. Apparently, Cathy isn't a fan of swearing, because every single time his "salty vocabulary" crops up in conversation, we get dialogue with blank spots. Which can be a little odd and disruptive to the flow of reading. Maybe if we were told that she doesn't care to repeat what he said...or some other explanation beforehand? But we are only to assume why she's using the blank spots, which is honestly the first time I've ever seen that in a book.

Her time with Sheridan during the Civil War was relatively short, as she joined his camp at the tail end of the war. However, in that time, she showed her courage by defending the general when they were under attack. She was grudgingly given a modicum of respect by him, and it was perhaps one of the driving forces to compel her to join the Buffalo soldiers after the war ended. In addition to the guaranteed pay, and opportunity to leave the south where she didn't feel safe, it was a chance to feel seen and do something important. For so long she'd been stripped of her honor because of her race and gender. So she disguised herself as a man, and ventured into a dangerous ruse that could very well get her killed.

Not only was Cathy incredibly brave, but she was the most talented shooter out of all the recruits, and one very quick thinker when she got in a tight spot. Getting through her initial medical exam, and finding a way to relieve herself as "a man" in front of the others to curb their suspicions were just a couple of ways she fought for her place in the army. She was under constant threat of violence from racist and mysogynistic men around her, and lived in fear that she would be violated if her gender was discovered. I couldn't do anything but admire her grit and determination to do whatever it took to make it through her two years of service.

I must admit, the book was excruciatingly slow in the first half. That's not to say that it was boring necessarily, but the action didn't really kick in until the latter part of the book. At that point, I was able to fly through a huge chunk of the story in one day, and I was truly invested in what would become of Cathy. It seemed as if everyone around her with an ounce of power had a vendetta or malicious intent. Though she managed to wiggle out of trouble for the most part, you could feel her time slipping away the further you read. There's a feeling of certainty that all of her well crafted plans are going to come tumbling down like a house of cards at any moment. For that reason, I was unable to put the book down in the final pages. It was gripping, tense, and thrilling all at once, as you barreled toward the ending that Cathy had fought hard for. Through discrimination, hatred, violence, and never ending loss of loved ones, she resolutely stayed strong through it all.

And then the end happened.

Which, I'm going to be perfectly honest: Did not work for me in any way, shape, or form. I hesitate to even call it that, because there was no closure. Not only did it not make sense, but it angered me because everything she had gone through seemed to be all in vain. I'm not going to spoil anything, but let's just say that the twilight of her life was extremely disappointing, with an ambiguous ending that was nothing like I envisioned or hoped for.

There were some parts that were very slow, some that held me enthralled, and an ending that left me wanting much more. With so many protagonists who wished her ill will, at times the drama surrounding them felt over the top for my taste. I think the overall story had merit, but unfortunately it wasn't executed in a way that was uplifting or inspirational in the way that I had hoped. I did enjoy learning more about the only female Buffalo soldier, and I felt that she is an important historical figure we should all know more about. For that reason, I'm glad that I read Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen.

Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen is a page turning work of historical fiction! Cathy Williams was the daughter of a daughter of an African Queen sold into slavery. Cathy was taken from a plantation by a Yankee general to be an assistant to his cook. After the war granted freedom to slaves, Cathy then enlisted in the Army as a man and became the first and only female to enlist as a Buffalo Soldier. I was captivated by all the obstacles that she had to overcome just to survive! Sarah Bird's writing is beautifully descriptive and made me feel as if I was there along with Cathy.

I'll admit, I wasn't super pumped to read this book, but I'm glad I did. It's a little slow going in spots, but ultimately I found it to be truly original and enlightening. So much more than simply a "Civil War Mulan" story.

The book is loosely based on a real person, but is largely fiction. To a modern reader some parts of the book may seem unbelievable (Cathy passing herself off as a man, people randomly crossing paths with people they've met before, people you think are dead somehow coming back to life.) However, if you put yourself in Cathy's shoes--moving throughout in a small section of the country, mainly with other former slaves, never in a position of power knowing all the information-- it makes more sense.

Like the similarly strong, "White Houses" by Amy Bloom, it kind of didn't matter to me if this Cathy Williams was a real person or not. I liked hanging out with her nonetheless. I was rooting for her to find some happiness, to reconnect with her lost solider love, to survive as woman in a very man's world.

I found it enlightening to read more about the perspective of what it was like to be on the front lines of the Civil War, what it was like to be a freed slave after it was over, and how strange it must have been to establish a new life in a country where half the people you encounter want to return you to bondage. Also interesting to read about the racism within the army and the power dynamics between the Buffalo Soldiers.

Basically, I learned a lot reading this book, and enjoyed the story to boot.) That ending really packed a punch--in a good way.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I usually read two or three books at a time. With this one, I only read one! I did not want to take time away and focus on another book.
Characters based on real people and true actions. I loved the character of Cathy and Bill Cathey. Wager Swayne was an actual soldier born right here in Columbus, Ohio! Loved the mixture of fiction and fact..
I was stunned and shocked a few times in this story! I yelled out NO!! in a few spots.I was upset, but fully understand the direction of the story and these incidents just fed into the story line. I will not give out any spoilers! You will have to read this one yourself! I highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley and Sarah Bird!

This book took me quite a spell to finish because I just didn't want to finish it , but I have never been a quiter and I am glad I completed it .
The cover and plot is what initially intrigued me to pick this up . As most readers of HF and just Fiction period know , there are just NOT ENOUGH books wrote about AFRICAN-AMERICANS period . Their history has just as a HUGE NEED to be written about and remembered for future generations , so that was why I kept picking this back up . The lady of this story is hiding her identity so she can become one of the "west's Black Buffalo Soldiers ", who are all men . Where my problems lay in this story was how two black soldiers were very intelligent and the others were made to appear as dumb black ex-slaves period .I REALLY HATED how the story portrayed the Native Americans , they were plain savages to be rid of . Me being Native American myself is why I didn't want to finish the story .This book just lacked a ton of research about the Buffalo Soldiers , Native Americans their life style and just the whole 19th century in the west .Having more insight on the feelings of the readers also would be fantastic .Though I did somewhat like the storyline I was distracted about these other things . Thanks to Martin's Press and Netgalley for a free copy in return for my honest review .

Sometimes a book just surprises you...this phenomenal read was a huge surprise! I was hooked from the very beginning and left wanting more at the end. Cathy Williams was so courageous and strong. Some passages made me laugh, some made me cringe, some made me cry...but they all made me want to keep reading. I appreciated the love story woven throughout her life and hope that the real Cathy was lucky enough to have experienced that deep love. General Sheridan added so much to the storyline, particularly the ending. Vickers...the epitome of a true evil bully. Read this soon to be published (September 4th) book - you will love it! Many many thanks to Sarah Bird, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read this incredible book.

Told since childhood that she was not ‘just’ a slave, but the latest in a long-line of warrior women, destined to remember and fight against her captors, using determination and skill to fight her way to freedom. And Cathy William’s story is an intriguing one, the truth that is, although details are sparse. Yet Bird does attempt to bring some depth and not a little artistic license to the story, most of which works nicely, despite the general niggles of unease and rather stereotypical characterizations.

At first, Cathy’s story is intriguing, if she is a bit too ‘openly strong willed’ to feel authentic. Personal convictions are hard elements to illustrate, but the near-flippant attitude would NOT have gone over well in the time or situation. Perhaps it was her ‘intractability’ that led her to catch the eye of Union General Sheridan, the first taste of freedom, if still in domestic service, of her young life. With the war ended, and the south having {predictably} lost everything, she’s not planning to return to ‘domestic service’, knowing that her choices are limited. So, disguising herself as a man, she heads off to join the Buffalo soldiers, a unit of black soldiers in the still segregated Union {or US} Army.

There’s the general gist of the story, and an intriguing one. But there are several issues that I had with the development and progress that I feel took this book, and its potential, down several notches. First – the stereotypes, and they are glaring: each black man, woman and child encountered could have been snatched out of any southern newspaper’s reasons to justify slavery and subjugation. Ignorant, lazy, often leaning to the ‘disreputable’ edge of the spectrum, and the disrespect shown the men of the Buffalo soldiers. Many tracts and histories have been written about this unit, and those seem to have been brushed aside for artistic license and to serve the author’s vision. The Native Americans also received a brusque hand, little to no differentiation of tribe, reason or even any sort of conflict that would hint to the complexity of their social structure, beliefs, tribes or even their fight to hold onto a place in the world. Another element missed that could have brought this from meh to truly engaging and solidly relevant to the time. Lastly – the romance. I haven’t a clue why it was included but to draw in more moments to show readers another side of Cathy, but please don’t make me believe that this woman, so solidly self-sufficient, clever and determined HAD to have a man to be special and function. It just didn’t work.

What Bird did do, frequently, is provide a solid person in Cathy – one who actually came to life and felt human and plausible, if not entirely historic in the book. But the use of “dialect’ in speech, the stereotypical portrayals and romance that felt ‘unneeded’ to give the story it’s oomph – I can’t actually say that I didn’t struggle to move past the first half of the book, and did so only because I hoped that the errors in direction and characterization would be sorted out.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9Z7/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

This book was wonderful, painting a story first of the Civil War and later of the complex assault against the Western Native American with brutal honesty. Cathy, later William, is a trusty storyteller. Like her mama and beloved grandmother, Cathy tells it to you how it is. Cathy falls in love three times over the course of the story and seems cursed to never see it to fruition. Yet, Cathy is in every sense a fighter. She fights people’s prejudiced perceptions of her both as a person of color and as a woman. No one can tell Cathy no.
I truly enjoyed this story and feel like I know so much more about the setting and events of the Civil War. My only complaint is that Cathy and Wager belonged together and never got their chance. It would have been so much more of a satisfying ending to see them paired up, opening their store as partners, living the freedom they both longed for.