Member Reviews
Thank you Netgalley for the gifted copy, this was a great book! An emotional rollercoaster. I highly recommend this amazing book
📚Book Review 📚
Title: The American Queen 🇺🇸👑
Author: Vanessa Miller
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As I immerse myself in the captivating world of "The American Queen" by Vanessa Miller, I am transported to a realm where history unfolds in the most enthralling manner. As I read this book I found myself captivated by the story and literally visualizing the setting. This historical fiction masterpiece is a beacon of enlightenment, especially fitting for Black History Month.
At its heart, the narrative revolves around the remarkable Queen Louella, a beacon of strength and resilience, whose story pulsates with significance and poignancy. Miller masterfully weaves together the tapestry of Queen Louella’s life, the Kingdom of Happy land at the same time illuminating the narrative of Black royalty on American soil which is unknown to many.
This enchanting tale of the people of Happy Land is a revelation. It sheds light on the years post slavery where newly free black people are trying to determine their next steps. This chapter of history is too often relegated to the shadows. Through meticulous research, Miller brings their struggles, triumphs, and untold stories to life, inviting readers to bear witness to their journey.
"The American Queen" is not merely a book; it's a testament to the resilience of the Black race. As I turn the final page, I am left with a profound sense of gratitude for the opportunity to embark on this unforgettable literary journey. The author includes closing notes and acknowledgements that inspire you to continue on the quest to gain a deeper understanding of Queen Louella and The Kingdom of Happy land.
Thank you Thomas-Nelson publishers for providing me this Advanced Reader Copy!!
Courtesy of Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley, I received the ARC of The American Queen by Vanessa Miller. This well researched historical novel starts in 1865 on a Mississippi plantation where "freed"slaves are still subjected to oppression. Louella married Rev. William Montgomery and convinced him to walk north, leading friends and relatives on their nearly two year journey to the North/South Carolina border, where they settled and create a faith based socialist community. Designated King and Queen of the Kingdom of the Happy Land, they demonstrated resilience and dignity. What a perfect book for Black History Month!
4 Stars! Thank you, to the publisher, for this eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion!
The story touches on history, hardship, redemption, and hope at the center all under a historical lens. We come to learn the story of the American Queen and a kingdom not commonly known of. It is a very thought-provoking piece and I liked how the author wove in aspects of her Christian faith. I really enjoyed getting to know Louella and her story, and I also appreciated the uniqueness of the storyline. The novel was also well-written. Cannot recommend this enough, and I will be taking a look at Vanessa Miller’s other works.
I would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy historical and Christian fiction.
I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Although I was interested in reading this novel and learning from it, I found the story less engaging and the protagonist hard to identify with. It seemed her emotional reactions and vulnerability weren't really available to the reader and this made it difficult to enjoy.
I am a historical girlie, and trust, every one I have read has been hitting, including this one. This was such a great book. Although not much is known about the actual area, the author has given us such a vivid story that was so well written. I really loved reading about most of the Characters, and Queen Louella's Journey. There were many things I was surprised about as I was reading the story. I was so happy to read this book and black authors showing us our history that is constantly being challenged and erased. I was captivated from beginning to and and It took me on such an emotional ride.
The story of Louella Montgomery, also known as the American Queen, is based on a true story. The narrative weaves through her life, highlighting her fierce aversion to Oak trees - a symbol of pain and loss that she associated with them. This aversion became the driving force behind her vision for a place she fondly referred to as 'Happy Land,' a place of hope and growth.
This compelling saga, set in the tumultuous period following the Civil War, provides a lens into the life of Louella Bobo Montgomery. Life for Louella was a series of trials and tribulations, marked by considerable suffering and sacrifice. However, the narrative is far from gloomy. Instead, it becomes a beacon of hope, illuminating the remarkable resilience and unyielding spirit of this woman. Readers will find themselves awed by her ability to make tough compromises and her unwavering determination to better the world around her.
With her husband William’s strong faith and Louella’s vision, they are crowned king and queen of Happy Land. The way the community ran and assisted the people to grow, and flourish is indeed something to be celebrated. There are nuggets of wisdom to grab from their reign, demonstrating the power of collective effort and a shared vision.
This is an exceptionally penned story by Vanessa Miller. She deserves kudos for her ability to narrate such a complex and layered story in its uniqueness. This book is highly recommended as a must-read. It is a story that deserves to be read, shared, discussed, and celebrated. It offers a unique perspective into a period of our history that is often clouded by turmoil and strife, highlighting the unyielding spirit of humanity amidst adversity.
This book can be summed up in one word “phenomenal”. As a follower of this author I was looking forward to reading her newest book. When I discovered it was about a black queen on American soil I became quite intrigued. Having read the story of Queen Luella I can truly say this author did not disappoint. I found this book to be a complete page turner from start to finish. It was very obvious the author thoroughly researched this project. I completed this book in two days. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
I’m interested in hearing the audiobook to really see these characters come alive.
After being enslaved all of her life in the American South, Louella feels hate for the white race, the white overseer and white owners of her family and how her family has been devastated. Meeting William brings love into her life and her wish to lead her people to freedom is able to take on meaning. Finding joy in leading more than 500 people to the Happy Land and making their lives mean something, even surrounded by opposition, made her life a full one. Well written account of a real hero in times of great sorrow, recommended reading.
The American Queen is based on the true story of Queen Louella, the queen of the Happy Land people residing on the border of North and South Carolina. After hearing stories from her husband, William, about his mother and how her people lived in harmony back in the old country, Louella decides after the end of the Civil War to leave slavery on the Montgomery plantation and head out looking for their own promised land. This is a powerful story told over many decades of Louella, her life on the plantation, their journey out of Mississippi, and their joys and hardships creating and living in the Happy Land. I really enjoyed the author's note at the end and you can tell she spent a lot of time researching Louella and the Happy Land people. Once I got into this book, I couldn't put it down and kept wanting more. I highly recommend this historical fiction book.
Riveting and poignant are two words that immediately come to mind about this book. The author did a fantastic job of keeping the reader engaged while sharing a story that many will only come to learn about through this book. I learned so much from this book and it was told with boldness yet kindness. She managed to share the insufferable circumstances while highlighting the resiliency of our people. I appreciate the dedication to the research that the author must have had to tell this story. This is a book that I hope anyone will read to learn about the formerly enslaved people who despite all odds managed to create and thrive in Happy Land for a time.
Thank you Net Galley for this opportunity.
What an incredible book to illuminate an incredible part of history.
While it took me some time to get into the story, it was a quick, engaging and interesting read once I did. I appreciated the character Louella and her journey from slave to American queen. I also really liked the concept of the Happy Land and how everyone contributed to the development and care of others. I sometimes felt like it read more like a history textbook and less like a novel, which is why I deducted one star.
I also was really intrigued by how Louella was disrespected at times by her male peers, which added depth to the story and her arc and the reality Black women face. However, I expected it to be addressed a bit more on page and was left with questions when it wasn't.
Overall though, I really enjoyed and appreciated learning about this piece of incredible history and all the research that went into making this novel. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I had to wait to get the audio of this book because the ARC I received was so ill-formatted. I knew it was going to be a great read so I paused until I had a chance to finish it. I was set to laugh at American Royalty, then got to the end and the author's note and now it all makes sense. This is such a great work set in a rarely written about time between the end of enslavement and the beginning of the Civil Rights movement- the struggle of Sharecropping and facing discrimination, then hitting the road for a new life. This seemed to pass pretty quickly-- well written with great pacing. Now I want to read every book she mentions in the Afterword.
A mesmerizing piece of historicql.fixtion that draws you in from the first page. Luella is an intriguing, spirited, and passionate woman. This is one not to be missed.
I loved that this book was based on a true story and that story needed to be told. It is an intriguing look into the minds and hearts of those who were enslaved and how they came with Queen Louella to build a new community. It is a story that will stay with me a long time. Louella was an extraordinary woman and became strong for others.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was an interesting story and I am grateful to have learned about this part of American history. The only complaint I really have is that the story does not have a historical fiction feel to it. The characters -- their attitudes, their mannerisms, their vanacular...it all feels so modern and a bit immature.
I had never heard of this part of American History - The Kingdom of Happy Land. Although this is based on true events and a real person, the writer does have to fictionalize parts of the story because not everything is known about the whole journey, the people and the Kingdome. Louella (the Queen) suffers terribly under slavery as does many around her (and do many, many under slavery as we know). The author shows this in certain circumstances. She sets up the reasons why, after the Civil War, a group of former slaves, leave their plantation in Mississippi and head North to find a place where they can reside in peace. Louella has married William, a preacher, and together they are the leaders of this group. Louella is a very strong woman and needs to be because she suffers many tragedies in her life. William is more of a "put your faith in God" man and not a person of action like Louella! They are good for each other, but they do clash a lot in their marriage! They lead the people to eventually found the Kingdom of the Happy Land in South Carolina and build a society where it's a "all for one and one for all". For the most part they are happy but they do deal with challenges. William's brother, Robert, causes some big issues along with the Whites in the area - the KKK and broken promises, beatings, etc. There are problems within the community too - greed, sickness and jealousy. It was fantastic to learn about this part of American History I had never heard about! I am a history buff and can't believe I'd never heard about this! However, some parts of the story just didn't flow for me and some parts read as a YA novel. Enjoyable overall but a little too long for me too.
This was an epic story! Louella was quite a woman! The way the story is told is so well-done that I had to remind myself several times that is based on a true story. This is a story that everyone needs to read! Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Description
In 1869 a kingdom rose in the South. And Louella was its queen.
Over the twenty-four years she’s been enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to feel one thing: hate. Hate for the man who sold her mother. Hate for the overseer who left her daddy to hang from a noose. Hate so powerful there’s no room in her heart for love, not even for the honorable Reverend William, whom she likes and respects enough to marry.
But when William finally listens to Louella’s pleas and leads the formerly enslaved people out of their plantation, Louella begins to replace her hate with hope. Hope that they will find a place where they can live free from fear. Hope that despite her many unanswered prayers, she can learn to trust for new miracles.
Soon, William and Louella become the appointed king and queen of their self-proclaimed Kingdom of the Happy Land. And though they are still surrounded by opposition, they continue to share a message of joy and goodness—and fight for the freedom and dignity of all.
Transformative and breathtakingly honest, The American Queen shares the unsung true history of a kingdom built as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life.
My Take:
Like most true stories of Black American history, this is not a story or triumph-this is a story of how our struggle continues. While this is a story I would add to lists which house historical novels during Reconstruction, this feels like a story for academic discussion and not so much a book club.
Oh my goodness! This was such a good book! The American Queen was Louella Montgomery and her husband was William. They were born into slavery and lived on a plantation in Mississippi. William was massa Montgomery's son. When the slaves were emancipated, louella's plan was to get away from the plantation and to get away from Mississippi. William had told her stories about how his mother had told him stories about a happy land, where black people took care of and respected each other. So they packed up and left and took several ex slaves with them. They also took with them William's brother, Robert, who had been passing for white.
As they traveled from Mississippi to South Carolina, they ended up with 200 ex slaves. They were directed to the home of Serepta Davies, a white woman who had hundreds of acres of land that she was doing nothing with. On this land where acres and acres of oak trees. The ex slaves moved into the existing slave quarters and agreed to cut down the trees and sell the lumber so that they could purchase land from Mrs. Davies. With the purchase of the land, they built homes and a church that doubled as a school during the week. Luella and William could read and write so Louella taught the children and many of the adults how to read and write. Once the construction started, Louella and William we're dubbed queen and king of the Happy Land. They had an all-for-one and one for all mentality.
William was a minister and he pastored his flock well. Everything went as planned and the Happy Landers thrived. As it turns out, Robert wasn't a good person and Louella couldn't stand him. And he didn't think too highly of her. But he had his brother's ear, and William decided to make him his right hand man. Luella felt like he was pushing her aside.
And then sickness swept through the land claiming several lives, and William got sick. Luella did everything she could in nursing him back to health but it wasn't meant to be, and he died. He wasn't even cold in his grave yet when the community decided to make Robert king. This didn't go over well with Louella. They bickered and fought but in the end, Louella decided to give in and serve with him. Up until then Robert have been spending and exorbitant amount of time in Spartansburg where he was drinking and carousing. He had a daughter named Elmira that they picked up when they got to South Carolina. She had hoped that she and her dad could reestablish a relationship but that didn't happen. And it turns out that he has three other children in Spartansburg.
Robert had built a barn that Louella knew nothing about. There was a reverend Ezel who traveled throughout the Carolinas preaching. He had become good friends with William and whenever he was in town he preached at William's Church. After William died, the Reverend told Queen Louella about the fact that there were people from the Happy Land who had been selling corn whiskey. Luella new immediately that Robert was behind it, so she went out to the barn and found a still there where they had been making the corn whiskey. She made Robert tear it down.
Eventually, Robert got sick. On his deathbed, Robert confessed to Louella that he had borrowed $500 from a man in Spartansburg and the debt had come due. Robert didn't have the money. He had put the Happy Land up for collateral. Robert's name was on the deed but so was louella's. A few months after Robert's death the guy Robert was indebted to came to collect. He served papers on Louella for a court appearance. The plan was to auction off the land.
I found myself engrossed in this true story. The author did the characters justice by making them extremely believable. Oh, and Queen Louella and King William had three children. Their first daughter, Lily, died at birth. In Mississippi, louella's mother had been sold to a slave owner in South Carolina. She had told Reverend Ezel about this and ask him to keep his eye open for her mother.
What I liked most about this book was how these industrious black people created and enduring community. It was indeed what Queen Luella had prayed for: a community where people were well respected and looked out for each other. I gave this book five stars. I would have given it 10 if that were possible.