Wow! I read a lot of historical fiction, and this was excellent. Well written, well researched, with amazingly believable characters. The first third is set in Amsterdam, where a young girl trying to escape a hard home life and living on the streets manages to snag a job as a maid for a wealthy ship investor and his daughter. There were shades of "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and "The Miniaturist" here, but then tragedy strikes, and the only way for the girl and her master's daughter to survive is to board a company ship to Indonesia.

The next third of the story takes place on ship, where we learn about the hard life of the "company daughters" who have also been forced into this emigration. Having read lots of book with a similar theme where the protagonists were travelling to New Zealand or Australia, the Dutch theme and the focus on the lives of women really made this story stand out. The two women realise they are in love, in a beautifully described building up of their relationship, which only makes it sadder when they arrive in Batavia (Jakarta) and are married off to the colonists. T

he last third of the book describes their life there, with a particular focus on the female indigenous slaves, particularly the widows. A really fresh look at the history of the time, through an unusual lens.

The Company Daughters was so much more than I was expecting it to be. It's a story of both forbidden love, and the incredible resilience of the human spirit.

Jana is a young Dutch girl alone and in desperate poverty. One day she finds herself on the Reynst doorstep and is taken on as a servant for kind but absent minded Master Reynst and his daughter Sontje. The first quarter of the novel details her life in Amsterdam, working for the Reynsts and battling her growing confusing feelings for Sontje. When Master Reynst loses his fortune and then dies, Sontje signs up as a Company Daughter - to travel by ship to Batavia (modern day Jakarta) to be married off to a Dutch settler there. Jana, unwilling to imagine life without Sontje, joins her.

The second quarter details their rough ten month boat journey to Batavia, and the second half of the book their life in this new,  unfamiliar land.

I loved Jana as a character. I loved how she always made the best she could of things, even in the most difficult circumstances, and her stoic, hardworking nature. Sontje annoyed me at times but she did undergo some decent character growth.

The writing was beautiful. It swept you along just like a boat rocking on the ocean, never feeling heavy or tiresome, with some truly poignant moments. I felt so invested in Jana's story and wished so much for a bit of happiness for her.

This is a truly affecting, moving, beautiful story, I highly recommend it.

Thank you, Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Company Daughters is a sweeping tale of what it means to be a woman in a world where the odds are always stacked against them. Samantha Rajaram is, without a doubt, talented in spinning stories by drawing inspiration from real-life events. The accounts were, in my opinion, well-researched to provide an authentic portrayal of the conditions of a colonized nation. It also depicts the circumstances of the women who were taken from their home countries to serve the settler men. I have been reading so many character-driven historical fiction stories based on true-events talking about the effects of colonization on communities and the women as well. This novel had similar themes, and I have to say it did not disappoint either in delivering a compelling story with a strong protagonist.

Samantha Rajaram through The Company Daughters tells us the story of Jana, who escaped the violence of her father only to be thrust, into employment in the city brothels. Her life is full of hardship, and her goal is to stay employed to escape the choices put on her. Life hasn't been kind to her at all, and despite all of her horrible experiences, she doesn't let them deter her from earning an honest living without sacrificing her soul. She gets hired as a servant for the Reynst household, where she encounters a kind employer, a welcome change from her past. Things change for the best, and Jana hopes for a better future. Unfortunately, the good things never last, and Master Reynst loses his fortune in a bad investment leaving Jana and Sontje - Master Reynst's daughter destitute. The two of them decide to sign-up for the Dutch East India Company's Company Daughters system to escape their dire circumstances. The orphan daughters are taken to the colonial outposts as mail order brides to be married off to the settlers. Life in Batavia is not what they were promised, and they have to adjust to the new world and a distinct way of life. The story is brimming with hope, tragedies, and harsh realities of life. It talks about women's resistance against an oppressive system that is, designed to benefit only men.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I had a good time reading the book. I believe these untold and lesser-known colonial history needs to be brought to the attention of people. The unflinching and brutally honest portrayal of slavery, effects of colonization, cruelties inflicted on women, exploitation of minor groups, racism, and the superior attitude of the settlers is something that shines through the pages. The horrors and realities of poverty are also depicted truthfully, taking the readers through the lives of the characters. If you love slower-paced historical fiction featuring strong protagonists striving for a better life and rising from their challenging situations, then this story is for you. It is an inspiring story of the resistance of woman and their survival in a world where men define them and rule them. I loved the beautiful writing and elaborate descriptions. The story is a testament to the courage, strength, and perseverance of strong-minded women in a harsh world. I gave the book 4 stars, and I highly recommend checking it out. If you love learning more about colonial history, I recommend picking this one up.

I love historical novels, and this one just exceeded my expectations. Such a fantastic debut and a brilliant voice in historical fiction.

The novel is inspired by real events in history and the story will keep you engaged throughout. The characters are well fleshed out. You can really relate to the characters as they are not hollow but three dimensional.

Jana Is the narrator of the story. She is a girl who has struggled and gone through hardships all her life. Her path is intertwined with that of the rich and beautiful Sontje. Thus begins their complicated relationship and they go forward into a future unknown when Sontje’s father looses all his fortune.

I would definitely recommend this book for people who like the historical fiction genre and even history in general. It is a fascinating look into the past.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader’s copy of this book for an honest review.

A masterpiece. I cannot believe this is a debut. Such beautiful writing that sparkles and transports and wows! One read is not enough! This is a book to treasure, cherish, reread, admire, quote from and recommend. Stunning. Everyone must read it. If you don't you're doing yourself a disservice. I not only lost myself in this book but also learned so very much
Beautifully researched, brilliantly written. A masterpiece.

Six girls, mostly orphans, are sent to Batavia to marry the men of the East India Company. Jana is a survivor and quite lonely so when she falls is love she wants to hold on to it. Even if that means marrying a stranger to stay near Sontje, the woman she loves. Along the way she experiences love, heartbreak and grief, while finding family, freedom and purpose.

When I read historical fiction I try to go in with no expectations and just enjoy the journey. That was so easy to do with "The Company Daughters'. I never felt like I was reading a book, I felt like I was living it. The entire book is from Jana's perspective so we get a good look at how she, as a woman, never feels truly free. There is a lovely romance within this story but it is not a romantic book. It is the story of Jana's life, from an abused child runaway to liberated young mother. The writing was beautiful, it painted the setting and atmosphere perfectly without being overly flowery or boring. And what a lovely hopeful vision that ending was.

Company Daughters is a Brilliant historical Fiction. It's the tale of two women who are shipped off across the globe to be brides of unknown Dutch East Indies Company associates in Batavia(modern day Jakarta).
An absorbing, gripping, heartbreaking tale with blend of unique and complex characters, highlighting the struggles of being a women in 17th century. Various aspects of human emotions and hardships were splendidly demonstrated. Poverty, Discrimination,Racism, Misogyny, Sexism and other social anarchy of 17th Century Dutch Colony was potrayed perfectly. The way the author put emphasis on these factors is highly appreciated. The story is so unpredictable, you'll never really know for sure what the writer is planning next. Everytime I was amazed by her skills, considering it's her debut novel it's really incredible. I was so captivated in the story of both the girls and what was stored for them. I honestly didn't see the plot unwinding like this, it was totally unexpected, still amazingly presented by the Author.
The characters Jana, Sontje, Mattheus and Tobias were seriously notable. I adored Jana's Courage, Love, Integrity and Determination. I wish Tobias was more included in the story. Nevertheless and amazing book indeed.

''It's odd how we learn to like certain things because we are expected to. Makes me wonder sometimes if I truly like anything I think I like.''

I was immediately drawn in by the cover and then locked in by the synopsis. I love historical settings, places, and times I didn't get to see or experience. Once you bite into the cake that's called historical-fiction, you're forever hungry for more.

Inspired by real events and a time when women were bought and sold like objects and transported to Batavia, a Dutch colony, this book is a time-machine that transports you three centuries back.

When Jana meets Sontje, the breathtaking daughter of Jana's kind master, her already turbulent life changes forever. But when Sontje's father dies, she decides to leave Amsterdam and travel to marry a colonist in Batavia, Jana's love for Sontje takes her to Batavia as well. They, along with other Company Daughters, other poor or orphaned women with no other options, sail to the colonial outpost to forget their old lives and establish new ones. Unfortunately, it isn't the paradise island they all want it to be.

I knew from the start it's going to break my heart and instill hope in me simultaneously. I am, without a doubt, in love with this story.

It is slow-paced but easy to read and follow as it is divided into four main parts, each part containing about 20 chapters. Short, easy to digest chapters.

This is a story of one woman, and of them all. Of women that are put in a cage and oppressed by colonialism and patriarchy. As if women were unworthy of their concern and attention, and capable of anything else apart from giving birth and cleaning the floor. We also touch on the themes of slavery and sexual assault, on several occasions, but we don't dive in as deep with these two.

Jana is inspiring. Her thoughts made me cry, her life story made me cry. The way she describes her emotions is touching and wonderful. She always thought she wasn't special or worthy because she is just a servant but on the contrary. However, she is strong, rebellious, resilient, and an example of so many women who give up everything for love, but also for the right to live life how they want to live.

''They don't want us to desire much. Only little things. Brooches and pearl earrings and ribbons for our coiled hair. And after some time, we stop wanting more than that. But the hunger for those little things just grows and grows. Because we never really desired them, but forget how to want the things that mattered to us.''

Jana and Sontje find comfort and love in each other. They find a companion and confidant in each other, something they have never had before and will never have again. Not like that. Unfortunately, Jana's story isn't all rainbows and unicorns, but I am glad to see that in the end, she saw some justice. This is exactly what I expected and wanted for her character.

Sontje was a great character, but I personally related more to Jana. Tobias was a perfect gentleman, and I wished I had more Tobias - Jana scenes, simply because he was one of the first ones, if not the first one to see something in Jana. Plus, he was a gentleman, kind and gentle, and a representation of everything Jana deserved but never had.

I was enraged at how women were treated by men, but even more, enraged with how SOME women treated other women. Petty, sad women who degrade other women to feel better about themselves
and their own pain, instead of supporting each other. Sad, but we see these things happen even three centuries later.

This book will make you think. You will relate to it no matter where you are. It touches on so many serious issues, where seemingly they belong to the past, but when you start peeling off the layers you will realise that some of them are rooted so deeply, and still exist today.

This is a beautiful and heartcrushing story. Rajaram tells a story with a light touch but doesn't gloss over the bad parts of life. This is the story of the power of women.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

I enjoyed this read.
This is a historical fiction story, a sad but heartwarming story about two women from different backgrounds who end up in the same circumstances. Jana has had a hard life working as anything that she can in order to stay out of the brothels and streets. She meets Sonje after becoming the housekeeper for her father.
Their story unfolds further as they both sign to join the Company Daughters - sent to a different colony across seas to become wives to men they have never met before.
It took me awhile to get into the story, but when they get to the other colony I was ready to read their story. I really enjoyed Jana and Sonje's dynamic and how they grew together and yet apart. It wasn't the happy ending I think anyone was really hoping for, but I appreciated the ending based off of how the story unfolded.

I found this to be a very absorbing and page turning read that I just couldn't put down. I can never resist historical books about ordinary women in difficult situations and have read many books about mail order brides and settlers in new territories overseas.

However this one manages to be quite a bit different, it begins in 17th century Amsterdam, features a wonderful heroine Jana, who drags herself up by the bootstraps ending up in service to the enigmatic Sontje and her kindly father.

When tragedy strikes they end up as mail order brides being sent to the colonies in an outpost known as Batavia (later to become Jakarta) Indonesia is a beautiful and exotic destination and the book is well researched, compelling and very atmospheric, introducing me to a time and place in history I hadn't come across previously.

Jana finds tragedy can also lead to love and a tender love story is played out whilst harsh and desperate measures are playing out around Jana.

Its hard to believe this is a debut novel as the writing is just superbly accomplished and the story is absorbing and mesmerizing. If, like me you like your women strong when facing tragedy yet believably emotional too, you'll fall in love with Jana and be rooting for her as she builds a new life in the oppressive heat and colonial ex-pat lifestyle in Batavia.

Published by the wonderful Bookouture in October 2020 this is one historical debut not be missed by fellow enthusiasts for this genre.

I liked this book overall and it was a fairly quick read. I wasn't as excited by the story and the characters as I thought I would be, making it fall a little flat for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy.

Wow - what a wonderful whirlwind of humanity, love, adventure, and just overall life all wrapped up in this debut book. This book has quickly jumped to one of my favorites.

The story starts in Amsterdam during the 17th century, where we begin to learn about the protagonist and narrator, Jana. We quickly learn that Jana has not had it easy in her life so far, having run away from an abusive and broken household, and been on her own searching for work and trying to survive. She finally finds work with the Reynst household, and things begin to look up for her - Master Reynst and his daughter Sontja are very kind to her, despite her being their servant. Unfortunately a series of events leads to Jana and Sontja out of a home and no future in sight. Out of options, they sign up with the East India Company as Company Daughters, where they will become brides of male settlers in Batavia.

As we go through the story, it's impressive how much Jana has gone through and how she overcomes, but makes mistakes and fails like a normal person. This makes the story so much more realistic and beautiful.

The author really brought out the settings and made all the characters so realistic, I could not put it down - I had to read the whole book in a night. I am extremely excited to read more from this author.

Thank you so much Net Galley and the publisher Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Jana is on her own and struggling to stay alive on the streets of Amsterdam in 1616. Luck brings her to the door of Sontje and her kind father, who hire her as a servant. After Sontje’s father dies, with no other options available to either, Jana decides to follow her now-impoverished friend to Batavia (present day Jakarta) to be brides for the men of the East India Company.

Beautifully written and as heartbreaking as it is uplifting. The paths available for women in this world are limited but the troubles mirror the issues women still face today. Jana is a well-developed character and I empathized with her experiences. Oddly, the “daughters” don’t even leave for the colony until halfway through the book, which surprised me. While the story told before they leave is very interesting, I found it much more compelling once they set sail and after they arrive in Batavia. An impressive debut novel and I look forward to many more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this book.

Interesting blend of complex characters. who really came to life. Gave marvelous insight into the plight of single women. in that period of time who have to rely on their own resources in order to stay alive. It draws the reader into every page.

From the moment I started reading The Company Daughters, I was captivated by this historical tale. Although it does contain a love story, it's not a romance and there is far more going on than that. The book is told from the point of view of Jana. It follows her from her role as a maid in Amsterdam, halfway across the world to Batavia as a 'Company Daughter' with the Dutch East India Company. Batavia was the Danish city where their trade was based, modern-day Jakarta. In an attempt to build a European city in Indonesia, poor women were shipped out to marry the men who had settled and were trading there. These were women who were impoverished and looking for a better life, but in many ways found themselves in just as difficult a position once they arrived.
The book is split into a number of parts, we, first of all, see Jana as a maid in a wealthy household in Amsterdam. When circumstances change we follow her gruelling journey of nearly a year at sea to reach her new home. Finally, we see the life that she has there.
There is love here, but as I said before, it's not a normal romance. Jana finds love where society at the time doesn't approve of. It's this and her own circumstances which make it difficult for her to love.
This was a gripping read and I found myself lost in Jana's world and life. It's a little different to anything that I've read recently and I think that just added to my enjoyment.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love historical fiction, and this book touched on a topic and time I knew nearly nothing about.
I love reading about women and all they have endured and how strong they can be in spite of it. There’s love, there’s loss, there’s surviving, there’s thriving.
This story is separated into 4 different sectionS. I enjoyed each section because they were so different (albeit, all pretty sad).
We never get a huge reprieve of sadness, but there are always moments of hope.
It was a very beautiful book. Great debut. I look forward to the authors future work.

*special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC copy!

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookoutre and Sarah Rajaram for this advanced copy in return for my honest review. I'm a massive fan of historical fiction so i jumped at the opportunity to read this book. Such strong, assured writing, it's hard to fathom how this is a debut. A tender and poignant story with well developed characters and a stunningly crafted story.

The Company Daughters is a beautifully written love story and a testimonial to the struggle of women throughout time to find their own voices and place in society. The setting is Denmark early 17th century where we meet our narrator Jana Beil. She is a young girl who has escaped her abusive family home on the outskirts of Amsterdam. She is struggling to survive and feed herself in the dead of an Amsterdam winter. She at first is lured into what she believes out of her young immaturity to be a stranger leading her to a safe place to find work, but instead finds herself a worker in the oldest occupation females were able to hold, prostitution. She spends years at the brothel until she finally makes her escape with only the clothes on her back.

Jana finds herself on the doorstep of a wealthy family in Amsterdam begging for service work in exchange for food and board. Here she meets Sontje, the lady of the house, who introduces her to her father, Peiter Reynst. From the very beginning of their meeting Sontje is the spoiled rich girl with servants and nice clothes and she treats Jana as just another servant in her household. Jana tries not to let Sontje's judgments get to her by forgiving her thinking she is the way she is because of the way she has grown up. Sontje and Jana couldn't be from two more different worlds.

Jana finds her place comfortably in the Reynst household keeping their home clean. She even feels a sense of belonging when Mr. Reynst shares his skill of map reading with her. No one ever tried to teach Jana anything and this attention makes her feel like a person with worth. Sontje even warms up to Jana asking her questions about her life and how it is to live not knowing from one day to the next where you will eat or sleep. At first, Jana takes offense to these questions thinking that Sontje is just ridiculing her as usual, but then comes to understand that she genuinely wants to know about Jana's life. At this point Jana begins to have feelings for Sontje and begins imagining how sweet her lips would taste. Sontje, however, has no eyes or time for Jana. Sontje has a suitor and is looking forward to her upcoming engagement. Mr. Reynst, being a member of a ship company, is busy readying a ship for an upcoming voyage that is going to make them even richer and more famous throughout Amsterdam. Unfortunately, Mr. Reynst ship sinks on its maiden voyage taking Mr. Reynst whole fortune and all of Sontje's future with it. Once news gets back to Amsterdam of the ship sinking Sontje finds herself abandoned by her fiancé and her father falls into an alcoholic stupor ultimately causing his death.

Jana once again finds herself without a home or food for her belly and Sontje finds herself just like Jana, no home, no money and no future. Sontje sees her only way of hope being to take an offer by the company her father worked for as a "company daughter". These women are mainly orphans with no family ties that are shipped off to a colony owned by the Dutch called Batavia. The company promises these young girls a dowry, as well as, the cost of their passage and a husband and a new life in a place way away from Amsterdam. The voyage takes ten months and during this time Jana and Sontje form a beautiful relationship, they come to understand that the heart loves who the heart loves no matter the gender, race or class of a person. The love these two share is so beautiful but at the same time unfortunate because they have to hide their love from everyone else’s judgment. It is a sad thought that after four hundred years there are still people in our society that have to hide their love for one another because their relationship is not of the "norm".

The company daughters arrive in Batavia and are soon sold off to their husbands. Sontje is taken first and receives a hateful husband that is an outcast from the rest of the colony. Jana is then taken by an older man that she is revolted by but comes to admire for his wisdom. Jana pines for Sontje, her heart is completely broken, and she never sees her because her husband doesn't allow her out in public. Jana soon confides in her husband her love for Sontje, and her husband forbids her to have anything more to do with Sontje telling her that the only thing she can do now is to forget her completely. Jana tries but her heart has found the person it loves and she cannot just forget her.

Jana goes through so much in this novel. Once her life looks like she may have a moment of happiness something tragic always happens. Instead of Jana focusing on all of the horrible situations she finds herself in and the heartbreak she experiences, she tries to focus on the good things she has in her life no matter how small or trivial they may seem to the reader. Jana's character is a perfect example of the power of human will and the endurance and hope that love can give a person. Her strong will to survive in a man's colonial society is an inspiration to any woman, that you can do whatever you set your mind to no matter your gender, race or class in life.

Thanks so much to Net Galley and Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

"The Company Daughters" by Samantha Rajaram takes place in the 1620s Netherlands and in its colony Batavia in Indonesia and follows the young woman Jana Beil who works as a house maid in rich households. It happens she starts work in the home of the shipper/merchant Pieter Reynst and his daughter Sontje. For a time all is well for both women, Jana works hard and Sontje is engaged to be married, but fortune is not on their side, and they join a project to be shipped over the seas to the colony in Batavia (Indonesia, the area around Jakarta) to be married off to the unmarried colonists there.

Both before and during the journey these two women develope a close bond which turns into a really sweet love story. As a person who usually dislike romance quite a lot, I must say I was pleasantly surprised that I very much enjoyed Jana's and Sontje's love. I think it was because it wasn't "instalove" or thrown in my face, but rather felt very natural and like a very believable way of falling in love - in a mutual companionship and with much caring for one another.

Not knowing much about Dutch history at all this also proved to be interesting in that aspect, and made me wanting to know more about that part of history. Being Swedish the most things I know about the 1600s have to do with the 30 Year War, the death of Gustavus Adolphus and Queen Kristina .- even though I know there SO MUCH MORE to this century.