This novel was indeed an interesting read and really tackled some uncomfortable yet informative facts when handling racism in the eighteenth century. I was super proud of myself that I took the time to read this novel. It was indeed remarkable and it raised awareness to some of the difficult situations of the time period.
Our main characters Daniel and Pearl are slaves in Jamaica however the plantation burns down one night and they flee to Revolutionary war America where Daniel serves under the British as King George decreed that any man of color who serves will be allowed absolute freedom in England. He saves the life of one solider who offers both Daniel and Pearl a home with his brother.
However, along the way the Solider dies and to make matters worse his brother does not take kindly to Daniel and Pearl and casts them out onto the street. From there Daniel and Pearl end up meeting an interesting cast of characters who have also been looked down on in society. From there they will learn to take care of themselves while trying to make a living in this unfamiliar place.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

This book is dark and immersive, well-written but too slow-paced for me. It lingers on every misfortune. DNF ~14%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

A hard, but triumphant story of a young man trying to protect his sister amid the discrimination of Georgian England, with hints of the beginnings of the end for the slave trade.

This historical story with a hint of mystery is about mostly Daniel, a freed man and a soldier with hope. He crosses the Atlantic with Pearl who is his life. In England the pair meet a colorful cast of characters such as Musa, Jen, Sally and worst of all Elias the 'king' of the rookery. This man is evil, but Daniel agrees to work for him. While Daniel boxes, Pearl (who considers herself much grown at fifteen/sixteen) sings. Daniel is bothered by her independence and thinks harm will come to her. All the while he holds on to the memory of his first love, A princess named Adanna who he believes dies on the night they escaped the plantation.
There are a lot of characters in this story, but I did not mind that at all. I like when books feel populated. However, I was not drawn too Daniel as a character. You find out he had a double reason to want to protect Pearl, but his actions put her at risk anyway as he was dealing with dangerous people. Also there seemed to be an endless circle of Daniel getting upset over something Pearl did, being told it was nothing or not her fault, insulting Jen, making up and then doing the whole thing over again. I think I would have liked the story if we had Pearl's point of view as well just to balance it out. Harsh language is spread throughout this book, including "F" and "B" and other words to insult women. SA of a child/ children is also talked about.

Such a good read. I read tons of historical fiction but I've never read about this. This book is definitely a must read for history lovers!

As the book tag says, this is the novel Dickens was meant to write. And more than that, the authors, neither of whom I have read, have expertly crafted a coordinated, authentic and compelling 18th-century London. The Blackbirds in this case are Daniel and Pearl Garrett (surname from the plantation where they were enslaved in Jamaica.) Although assured of a fine life in London by way of an army friend making Daniel full heir to his fortune, the older brother refuses to honour the will and Daniel and his sister are out on the streets with nowhere to go other than the wretched slums of St. Giles.
Historical novels involving London’s 18th and 19th-century Black population are rare, although the British slave trade is the subject of various books. I recommend Gregory’s “A Respectable Trade” (of course, it is anything but!) and Paterson Joseph’s novel about “Charles Ignatius Sancho” (a look at Black boys as playthings!)
I absolutely loved “Blackbirds of St Giles”. It might be the most historically informative book I’ve read this year (out of 53 so far). Characters are brought to life; the gristly settings raise goosepimples; and the King of the Rookery is an outstandingly brutal creature. Wonderful, wonderful in every aspect and highly recommended with lots of twists I didn’t foresee.

Overall, the story was captivating and led me down a historical rabbit hole of the Black British community.

The characters were well-developed, though for some, it felt unnecessary and wordy. In Daniel's case, the complexity was refreshing, although his decision-making was very questionable at times (I found myself sighing at his flares of machismo).

Lastly, I’ll say I was disappointed by the closure. Yes, moving forward is the way the world works, but it did seem as though justice would never truly come for the people banishing lives, hopes, and dreams to the rookery. On the other hand, remembering the love and not the lack is a through line many Black people face.

The story of a Georgian Spartacus
Through acts of courage and honour, ex-slave Daniel arrives in Georgian London to claim his inheritance. But Daniel’s first mistake is naivety in assuming all men have the same moral standards. Instead of a being welcomed, he and his sister Pearl are tricked, drugged, and beaten up. Daniel wakes to find himself in dire of circumstances; penniless, without even the clothes on his back, and dependent on the goodwill of the poorest of the poor in the Maze beneath St Giles.
As the story unwinds we are introduced to the poverty of St Giles and a community governed by a cruel and abusive ‘king’ called Elias. Daniel’s most immediate concern is to protect his sister, a girl on the cusp of womanhood who is independent minded and not inclined to be protected. But as a man of unusual strength of character Daniel comes to the notice of a secret society, The Blackbirds of St Giles, who long for a fairer future and a leader to topple Elias. In Daniel, they believe they have found such a man.
I was desperate to read this book for many different reasons. I loved Kate Griffith’s (co-author) book ‘Fyneshade’ so I had confidence the writing would be good. I was also interested to see how in a work of historical fiction the subjects of slavery and people of colour in Georgian England were handled. What I found was a balanced view that avoided stereotypes for both the white and black characters. The main character, Daniel, is an ex-slave and in the early part of the book we learn of the desperation that led to some slaves to rebel, harming some of their own in the process. If you excuse the pun, this is not a black & white story; there are both good and bad people of all colours, with the emphasis being on personal choices (or lack of) and the effect of money on making those decisions.
On a different note, Elias has a pet cheetah. The author references claws clicking on the floor and purring. I had to check this out as it pulled me out of the story (I thought big cats can’t purr, and as a feline surely a cheetah had retractable claws?) However, the author is correct. Cheetahs are one of the few big cats able to purr and their claws are only semi-retractable and so if they were overly long could tap on the floor. So now I can sleep at night…

The Blackbirds of St. Giles is a captivating read. The story centers around Daniel and Pearl as they escape a Jamaican plantation and head to the US where Daniel makes a place for themselves where he serves as a soldier.

Because of his friendship and character, he becomes the heir of his captain and friend but things do not go as expected and Daniel and his sister Pearl find themselves in London, destitute and alone.

They become blackbirds in The Rookery of St. Giles and must learn to navigate the underworld as well as the city of London.

The book includes a colorful cast of characters and the storyline integrates romance, action, crime, and more. There were a few twists to the story that were a bit predictable, but overall I enjoyed this tale. It reminded me of a mix between Dickens and Six of Crows, and I would definitely recommend it.

‘Think of the future, not the past.’

A historical fiction tale that brings to life a reality that many of us might not have been aware about and one that doesn’t shy away from the grim realities of the time.

From the first page, I was captured into the narrative of this novel. With the slave revolt on the Garnett Plantation forcing Daniel to make a terrible choice - to save his sister or his love - we follow the rest of his journey as he lives with the choices he’s made to keep his sister safe above all else. Choosing to serve the British army in the American War for Independence with the promise of freedom after the war, a terrible set of circumstances instead leave him and his sister destitute on the streets of St. Giles.

Daniel is an honorable main character, and as we are taken on his journey with him we cannot help but want to root for him to find success against all odds. Everything he does is with his sister in the forefront of his mind, and he wants nothing else but to protect her from the horrors of the reality they’ve found themselves in. I found Pearl to be, at times, almost naively unaware of the reasons for Daniel’s wanting to shelter her, but with her growing into a young woman and wanting some independence of her own, I could never fault her for her choices. Together they form a bond that keeps them together through hardship and loss, and despite their circumstances they both work to try to better themselves.

While the streets of St. Giles could be harsh and violent - lead by a violent man named Elias who calls himself the King of the Rookery - they still find community and safety among the same streets. I liked the intricacies of the many areas and people they meet within the streets - those who would betray them at any moment, and those who risk their lives to ensure their safety - and no person or station within this novel was simply one-dimensional.

Filled with drama, trauma, and even a bit of romance - this novel will captivate you until the last page. Any fan of historical fiction would love this novel, and you can tell a great deal of research was put into its creation. There were quite a lot of characters, but I found their introductions and inclusions to be easy enough to follow. While not the fastest paced novel, I was invested from the start and loved entering this world I had never even known existed before. With Daniel trying to turn their fortunes, a romance hovering in the background, and a surprise from the past arriving with a mystery to solve, this book was a great read from beginning to end.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Kensington Publishing for providing this e-ARC.

I think this book has a great general message and provides amazing insight into what freed slaves may have experienced. It shows the bad and the ugly without sugarcoating, which I feel that many authors do.

Unfortunately, this was so hard for me to get into. I picked it up and put omit down so many times because I just wasn’t getting hooked like I hoped.

Dark book on the plight of slaves and the corruption of those whose seek power at the expense of others . The network of underground tunnels that existed in London in 1780 and housed the poorest of poor was well described although difficult to comprehend. The book had a maze of characters most vile and unsavoury but some had redeeming qualities that showed goodness can exist . The bond of family and friends existed in this book but was often overshadowed by all the despair . The ending showed promise of a change for the better .

This one started off strong for me. I was intrigued with he story and the freedom given after the MC service in America for the British Army. I liked the the glimpse into the treatment and lives of the so called free blacks in London during the 18th century. The book seems well researched and is written well. With all that said I did start to loose interest and get bored. Maybe it was the amount of characters I had to keep up with I am not sure. I do appreciate the detail into each character and the backgrounds provided. It does add to the imagery of the story. It also helps with the attachments to the characters and their hardships. I will also say that sometimes Daniel frustrated me with his decisions but I am ok with that because I think that made him more real to me and helped show is dedication to Pearl (his sister) and enhanced the hardships they both had to over come.

Over all this was a good and interesting read.

Jamaica, 1780. Daniel and younger sister Pearl escape from a sugar plantation during a violent uprising where they lose the rest of their family and Daniel's one true love Adanna. Fast forward a decade later Daniel finds himself in New York as a former slave fighting for Britain in the War of Independence against America. For his bravery in saving Major Edward Fitzallen during the battle Daniel is bequeathed the Major's inheritance on his deathbed as they return back to England. But Daniel's promised good fortune is not to be when he is tricked by the Major's brother and the document proving his inheritance is burnt. Left suddenly homeless and penniless Daniel and Pearl begin their journey of survival through the mazes beneath St. Giles Rookery, a place where poverty, hunger and crime run rampant and no one is to be trusted. But seeking their survival comes with a price and that is by the hand of Elias a powerful underground king of sorts who rules the crypts of the rookery and Daniel finds himself fighting for his and Pearl's life against the brutal Elias in a fight he didn't choose.
Was very excited to be approved to read this by Edelweiss and NetGalley, this was very atmospheric and I must admit that when I read this, in my mind's eye I saw Daniel as the utterly handsome Rege-Jean Page of Bridgerton fame and it made this read even the more enjoyable. Recommended

Thank you to author Lila Cain and NetGalley for approving me for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review

This book has a lot of background details of each character. Which is great. You see where that person comes from, and then how they got to their current position.
Daniel who was a freed from serving in His Majesties military, was caught in a very bad situation where his Captain couldn't help him due to the Captain's death. Daniel and Pearl then went from living a nice cushion life to living in a run down used room.
I really tried to get into this book, I just couldn't keep track of all the characters and then their current state. I will try again in a few months. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the advance copy.

This was a real eye opener! Set in the 1780s , Daniel and Pearl arrive in London. Daniel had been a slave and fought in the Civil War. Cheated and betrayed in a city not kind to poor and different people, they end up at St. Giles. This is story of poverty, prejudice and hardship, but it also a story about honour, love, loyalty and strong friendships. It was great to read a story from a different perspective, and the author captured the historical tone well. The portrayal of London was atmospheric. Then there is the plight of women and the choices they are forced into. Having devoured this in an afternoon, I will be eagerly awaiting any more books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for. the chance to read and review this book.

A very interesting read about freed slaves and fellow black people living in London during the late 1700's.
Whilst I enjoyed reading the background history of St Giles (Covent Garden) and the surrounding area; as well as the underground boxing. How the different lifestyles/classes interacted with each other as a means to an end.
I personally felt the book dragged on.
The relationship with the main characters was heartfelt and that came through the writing.

The book follows two survivors from a Jamaican plantation, and believe me, the descriptions are vivid and compelling. It is very well researched and the narration is easy to follow. I enjoyed the writing style. Thanks Netgalley for my Arc!

Born on a sugar plantation in Jamaica, Daniel and his little sister Pearl escaped to make a better life for themselves. Daniel made a career and a name for himself in the Kings army fighting in America. When the pair make their way to England after the war the life they were promised is snatched away from them. Penniless and homeless they are taken into the Rookery where others like themselves have created a community under the streets of London. Determined to restore their fortunes Daniel will make a deal with the terrifying king of the Rookery, Elias, in an attempt to gain the siblings freedom. But there are others who would also like to be free and Daniel will have to decide how far he is willing to go for freedom.
This one took me a second to get into but once I did I was in it. I always enjoy imperfect characters and Daniel made a great flawed and complicated character. I loved how the author looked at freedom on a micro and macro level. I truly enjoyed this book.
Thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for letting me have a copy for review. Look for #theblackbirdsofstgiles May 27 2025
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This book sounds important and it does talk about important themes but not in a way that I find engaging