Inventing Victoria had so many excellent pieces, it was a little disappointing to see it wrapped together in such a flat bow. The plot idea, historical information, and beautiful descriptions were all top-notch and highly needed. Unfortunately, a terse pace and light-handed characterization didn't make this good book into an excellent one. I would still recommend it to many libraries to purchase and will be looking for more of Tonya Bolden's work.

I need more historical fiction that is not WWII based. The post-Civil War setting was refreshing and the pacing kept me turning pages.

Thanks NetGalley for this incredible ARC, in exchange for an honest review. This is my first book by Bolden, Jesus, I was not ready! This book was AMAZING. It felt like this was a labor of love! The level of commitment to the research needed to capture the fullness of this time, astounding. I have to read it again, just to see how exactly one can fit so much life, love, heartache, joy, hope, betrayal, just everything into 251 pages. I’m so glad to have been able to preview this book, I’m so inspired!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

A well-researched book of the struggles of black people in the early 1900s. Victoria is a young girl seeking to escape the life of her mother in Charleston and moves to Baltimore to begin anew.

Bolden
I'll teach them that it makes no never mind how a body starts out in life.
​It matters that you reach for something, elevate, exalt yourself.
Picture
Essie, daughter of a Savannah prostitute, spent her childhood nights sequestered in an attic above her mother' bedroom. At the age of fourteen Essie found work as a domestic, taught herself to read, and escaped a life of despair.
Dorcas Vashon, a frequent guest in Savannah, notices this servant and offers her the opportunity to move to Baltimore and start a new life. Essie changes her name to Victoria and commences a rigorous regime of training in the art of becoming a lady of refinement. It is difficult, but she is inspired by the writings of Frederick Douglass.
If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
Our young heroine successfully blends into the Black aristocracy in Washington D. C. However, she is haunted by her past and fears that her former identity may compromise her social standing. Then she falls in love and must make a difficult choice.
Bolden's homage to literary themes adds richness and depth to the narrative. "Patience" and "Fortitude" are Victoria's mantras during her endless training sessions. A phoenix rising from the ashes is painted on the fine porcelain and symbolizes metamorphosis. George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, and the Broadway musical My Fair Lady recount the story of an uneducated girl who is strictly tutored in the art of becoming a lady and succeeds in gaining acceptance into society.
While there is a fairytale-like quality to Victoria’s transformation from impoverished domestic to woman of high society, Tonya Bolden doesn’t shy away from addressing the issues of poverty, inequality, and racism. Victoria's early years of want and misery form the foundation for her resolve to succeed. One the most poignant scenes is adult Victoria's realization that she probably misjudged her mother.
Looking for a Cinderella story with complex characters and an introduction to important social issues? Inventing Victoria is historical fiction that is equal parts enchanting, inspiring, and eye-opening
Bringing History to Life
This meticulously researched novel of Black aristocracy is a portrait of genteel life, refined manners, glittering receptions and, sumptuous meals. While some individuals fill their days with idle pursuits, others study and advance to positions of importance and influence. Victoria determines that she will devote herself to helping others.
​I must contribute! I must say thank you for this blessing of a wider world!
Bolden introduces some of the influential people living and working in our nation's capital in the 1880's. Readers will want to learn more about these remarkable individuals.

Absolutely worth any and all hype that is being said about the book. Also worth a re-read to savor it all again.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but won't be reviewing this title. I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

I never read the companion novel for this book, but I wanted to know how a black girl would go about reinventing herself at a time in history when you can just shake off an old name and get a new one. But it's not without a huge struggle for our main character. I loved bringing in some historical figures of the time to inspire and shepherd Victoria along her path. All the things that happen to her are written about so clearly, I remember the little details of this book as she goes through her days, some of which are boring and tortuous. There is some romance, which I was surprised by but couldn't help but enjoy. It's not a blockbuster of a book, but it's a good book if you're interested in reinvention.

I wanted to love this one, I really truly did. It gave me upper-class post-slavery, moving on up vibes--while it delivered that, in a languid pace--it left me wanting.

I'm just going to start right off when the things I didn't like. The story itself seemed on a path to something that by the end it didn't quite meet. It was aimless and plot-less if I can say so.

The writing itself is magnificent--engaging and truly believable for the time it was set in. From the dress and the language, it read like a Langston Hughes--Harlem Renaissance era novel. But as far as the intentions and the direction, it was a little muddled.

What I did enjoy however was the rags-to-riches side of the story. The main character did not allow a less than stellar upbringing deter her from creating the life she felt she deserved--and I am all for a heroine pulling herself up by the bootstraps and going for it.

I also rather enjoyed the look into post-slavery. It felt very realistic--and was easy to follow. The colorism and the ever-present distaste for black people, in general, was fitting for the time it was written in and was all too real for right now.

This author clearly has something. Her writing is on point but the story itself though again beautifully written was lacking a certain something to take it over. I'm definitely open to more--but there's more to be said here.

The format to which the story was set up was to confusing for me. I couldn't tell if I was reading a story or a poem. "Weird place for a chapter break" I kept thinking

Dorcas Vashon has given Essie a chance to better her life, by becoming Victoria. The process is slow and painful, but Victoria perseveres, even though it means leaving behind everything that she has ever known. Will Victoria be happy with her new life, or will she miss the family and friends she left behind?

I thought this was an interesting story about society of the time and how women were perceived. I also felt that it was educational about how life was like for black people during this era.

So, this was hard to rate for a few reasons.

First of all, I really loved how this was a story about wealthy black people in the 1800's because there are honestly not many stories about that, especially in YA. It was refreshing deviation from the usual slave story that will oftentimes be oversaturated in the publishing world.

In all honestly, this story was a little boring. The beginning was actually the best part. We are thrown into Essie's world in which she lives in a house of ill repute owned by her mother. We get to read about Essie's struggles as she is raised in such a house. With barely any education or skills, Essie also has to fend off some touchy clients of her mother's. It was a gripping and raw portrait of how women in such houses were. The middle where Essie, now Victoria, begins her lessons as a wealthy lady in black society were the most tedious. It was a lot of info dumping of etiquette, classes, Victoria contemplating her old life, and her daily life in the house.

Also, everything felt too simplified. It didn't need to be overly complex, but I think the writing could have done a lot more considering it was a story about rising from the ranks. I also felt that because it was in third person I didn't get to connect to Victoria like I might have. She just felt very emotionless to me.

The nod to actual people in history was nice, as Victoria got to meet Frederick Douglass, who was one of the most famed blacks in history. His rise from slavery was documented in many historical accounts, and it was nice to have some actual history in this title.

Overall I think fans of historical fiction will enjoy this title, but it might not rise to meet the expectations that readers have when it comes to diverse books.

I think Inventing Victoria is a case of a really great concept with a mediocre execution. The story follows a young black woman raised in poverty who is given the opportunity to reinvent herself and join black high society in Post-Reconstruction America. It is chock full of black history from that era, highlighting key events and figures often left out of textbooks. It's the sort of thing that could be great as assigned reading for a high school history class (and would add some much needed dimension to the curriculum!). Unfortunately, the overly didactic narrative and heavy emphasis on unnecessary description cause it to be rather dull as a novel.

Essie/Victoria is compelling as a character, as is her journey toward self-betterment, purpose, and love. But while we get bits of that, it all takes a backseat historical information and detailed accounts of things like clothing, fabric, table settings, etiquette, and architecture. All of which could have added color and interest to the narrative if deftly woven in, but the application is very heavy-handed and it reads like an odd blending of textbook and fictional narrative. Again, this sort of book certainly has its place in terms of educational value, but I found myself skipping over unnecessary passages and wondering why the interesting relational parts (like the beginning of a romance) are given such short shrift.

So while I am very much in favor of elevating black history in this period and like what the author is trying to do, I can't wholeheartedly recommend this as an enjoyable read. I think if you are looking for a way to learn more about this period without reading nonfiction, it is a good option. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Could not read due to ebook formatting. I was deeply looking forward to reading it and am disappointed I won't be able to. I will still purchase the book when it is released.

I read Crossing Ebenezer Creek and found it really compelling. Had I not read Tonya Bolden before, I might not have picked this book up based on the cover. I wouldn’t normally read something about high society. However, I knew I liked Bolden’s storytelling and this book did not disappoint. You don’t have to have read Crossing Ebenezer Creek first, but if you did it’s nice because this book takes place after those events and lightly includes secondary characters from Sherman’s March that we met in that book. Essie is young black woman in 1880’s Savannah. She struggles living with her mother and has found solace in Ma Clara who looks out for her and helps her find good work in a boarding house away from her mother. While working at the boarding house a black woman of culture makes Essie an offer she can’t refuse to make a new life for herself.

Essie’s education is ripe with people of historical significance, which is educational for the character and the reader. She meets people like Frederick Douglas. The story started out a bit disjointed with flashbacks, but once past the first quarter of the book it found its rhythm and I was fully invested in joining Essie on her journey. She is a fiercely determined and an engaging character that faces challenging decisions. This is an interesting look at post-Reconstruction America prior to Jim Crow Laws. Short chapters make for rapid page turning. Some romance. Don’t judge the book by its cover. This is good historical fiction

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!