This is a story of a beautiful slave, Pheby Delores Brown, and how she survives living in the famous slave jail in Virginia, Devil's Half-Acre.

Originally born in a plantation, Pheby is privileged and shielded because of her mother's position and her relationship with the Master's beloved sister. Pheby cannot wait until she is eighteen when she will be freed and finally get her happy-ever-after with her love, Essex Henry. But, the Master's wife hates Pheby and what she represents and soon Pheby finds herself thrown out of her the only home she has ever known and into the house of the Jailer. Life as she know it, has changed forever and she has to use her wits to survive and to help the people she cares about.

Whew! I have read other works by Sadeqa Johnson so I knew she had some serious writing chops. BUT, this historical fiction read was different from her other works. What a gritty, grueling depiction of life for enslaved women back then. I read this in hours - pausing to work and eat. Her descriptions made me visualize the depravity, the lack of humanity but also the moments of love. Pheby endured so much in this snapshot of her life that I wondered how she had the fortitude to survive - but love for others is a great motivator.

It is obvious from this read that Sadeqa did a lot of research to bring this character to life. Her experiences are not for the faint-hearted. It shows the horror of slavery with images that remain implanted in your mind long after reading. I felt how the quest for freedom is a powerful driving force and I applaud the author for taking this character through journeys of highs and lows that rocked me to the core. There wasn't a truth stone of this painful time in history that was left unturned.

Goodness. I have to take a moment to breathe. This was raw and real.

On a lighter note, what an apt title and beautiful cover. I can't wait to see what else this author brings.
Thank you #Netgalley

This book is absolutely heartbreaking and wonderful. It is such a stunning story of Pheby, a slave girl who has a different life than many slaves and is the child of a black slave and a white slave owner. She is sold and becomes the mistress of the house to Jailer, who owns a jail that is absolutely inhumane and where some slaves would go before being auctioned off. Pheby is the chosen one due to her "yellow" skin, but that does not make her life any easier. We are taken on a heartbreaking journey of love and loss and the power of a mother's love.

Many times I wanted to throw this book down and stop reading because it is so horrific. But then I had to pick it back up immediately as I needed to know what happened and how Pheby fared.

The story is inspired by true events and my heart broke more as I read the Author's Note at the end and learned more about history than I previously knew.

*THANK YOU to NetGalley, Sadeqa Johnson, and Simon & Schuster for my ebook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*

Posted on my goodreads account and will be on instagram shortly.

So, I just read a 5 STAR book by Sadeqa Johnson called THE YELLOW WIFE… it was so captivating!

Thank you Net Galley, Simon & Schuster, 37 Ink and Sadeqa Johnson for the advanced copy that will be available January 12, 2021. If you like historical fiction, this one is not to missed!

Pheby Delores Brown was born on the Bell Plantation and was favored by her Aunt Sally before she passed away. Aunt Sally taught Pheby how to play the piano and educated her like a white girl. However, Pheby was a product of her white plantation father and her black mother. It became clear that she was both pampered and the scorn of her fathers new wife. She also dreamed of a life with her lover, Essex Henry, who ran away. Their plan was to meet up in Massachusetts when Pheby’s father freed her on her 18th birthday.

Pheby’s father promised that she would be set free…However, when her father and mother get into an accident while traveling, the mistress and wife of her father sends her to “Devil’s Half Acre,”. This is a jail where the enslaved are living in the most inhumane situations, being tortured and beaten by a man who could be the devil himself. When “the jailer” takes Pheby on as his mistress, she finds herself willing to do anything to save her family.

This is a book about a mothers love in its finest form. Under difficult circumstances, Pheby proves to be a strong character and her manipulation of the jailer keeps you on the edge of your seat! Will she get caught trying to keep her family safe? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

There are difficult scenes in this story. The beatings are graphic and hard to read about. The author unquestionably makes the jailer out to be horrific! Someone that can evoke those emotions through pages alone has assuredly written an outstanding book.

Yellow Wife is an absolutely heartbreaking story of Pheby, a literate slave, who is sold to a new master, Jailer, after the death of her mother prior to her 18th birthday - a birthday in which she was promised freedom. Jailer, takes Pheby as his “yellow wife” and mistress of the slave prison, Devil’s Half Acre.

This story is a work of fiction but based on stories of private slave jails - jails I never knew existed. For me, this was equal parts educational and heartbreaking. The story was gripping, tough, and emotional and that was accentuated with excellent writing. The story flowed perfectly, although I found myself holding my breath several times during the most heartbreaking scenes.
Pheby was the definition of strength. All the characters were so well developed.

It’s impossible to say anything negative about this one given the subject matter and the beautiful storytelling. Make sure you’re in the right headspace to digest this one.

Pheby is born a slave, educated, and promised freedom on her 18th birthday. But those hopes and dreams are shattered when she is taken to a slave prison in Richmond, Virginia, where slaves are tortured and sold daily. The prison owner forces her to become his mistress and Pheby must rely on her inner strength and determination to her new life with a cruel man and ultimately to fight for the freedom of her children.

Inspired by and based on the pages of history that I knew little about - private slave jails, the men who owned them, and the women they called "wives" - this novel sweeps through the life of the main character with pain, heartbreak, desperation, grief, and endurance. Cue the tissues, this emotional story might just break your heart. And if it does, keep reading, because hope has a way of having the last word.

I really enjoyed this story and the strength of Pheby Delores Brown she never forgot who she was and wasn't defined by her situation. She gave strength and knowledge to her family and those she loved. She was able to secure passage and ensure the life for her children that she had been promised. The strength of the women before us grandma's, aunts, sisters, moms who have given more of themselves in hope of better for us. Legacies live on.

This book will have you on the edge of your seat from the beginning. Such a sad tale but yet full of hope through out the story.
I love stories like this. I stayed up late to finish reading it. But oh my! So worth the read! This author has done a remarkable job in keeping me spellbound! She's quite the storyteller and she's a new to me author.
Here's a favorite quote:
"Peace I leave you, my Peace I gives you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled and be not afraid." From our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
My favorite spiritual song:
There is a Balm in Gilead.
To save a sin sick soul. There is a balm in Gilead
Such an emotional song and so soothing to my soul as well.
I wanted to cry for the characters in this book. I love how the author has made them alive for me.
My heart went out to these people.
The only two things that I didn't like was the bedroom scenes so I skipped over those. I guess I'm weird in that way.
I didn't like how the overseers mistreatment of the slaves. Made me very sad.
But, overall a very good read. I wasn't disappointed.
I really love that Pheby gets to tell her story in her own way and from her point of view.
Oh and I love Pheby's full name. It's so pretty and unusual in my opinion.
July was the one that I liked. She was my friend throughout the story and I love her gentle ways with others.
I highly recommend this book.
This is a book where it's voices need to be heard and told.
I give five stars. Excellent writing and leaves the heart feeling satisfied.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson is the absolutely stunning story of Pheby, a young slave who, because of her mother, had a much different upbringing than other slaves. She is educated, can play the piano, read and write. Once her mother dies, she is sold to the cruel owner, Jailer, of Devil's Half Acre Jail. There, Pheby tries to endure life for her children.

The Yellow Wife had me captivated immediately! While it is not the normal storyline I would gravitate towards, I couldn't put it down. I found myself staying awake late at night to finish it or even sneaking in a page or two any chance I had so I could continue to stay in the story. This story was full of heartbreak, grief, desperation, love and endurance. A masterpiece.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinions.

I honestly don't know what to say. First off I was given a copy of this wonderful book from net galley. "The Yellow Wife" is truly amazing. I had not idea that this sort of thing in the book aka "Slave Jails" actually existed. I can't even imagine the terror and horror those poor people saw and endured. Everyone needs to read this book! #netgalley

A first person narrative. A fully realized historical rendering of life as a slave and life on the plantation. Pheby Dolores Brown born to a mother ,a slave who was a gifted seamstress. Pheby could read,write and play the piano. Factors which would ease her life on the plantation until her mother died following a accident. Her mother gone she is sold and finds herself at the mercy of a man she only refers to as the Jailor. The jail they refer to was the way station in town where slaves were held until sold or died. The driving force of life with the Jailor were her children. It was enduring a better life for her children that gave her life meaning and purpose. Pheby is a force when needed as she learns to use the Jailor’s lust for her to make inroads to a better life for her children. It is raw . It is eye opening. It is worth every minute you can spare. Happy reading