What a book, is a retelling of the story of 4 characters suffering as slaves on south America. While it's raw and have lots of topics I find difficult to read but I believe is important know those events and don't forget the life of people who fought against. And is relevant to read this book now more than ever before

This one's tough. I couldn't get through it; I couldn't put it down. I wouldn't let myself read other things until I was done.

Fair warning: There's gore and psychological torment.

If I had to choose one word to describe this story it would be: catharsis. This is a revenge fantasy, a reimagining of slavery in the American context. You might be surprised when I say it's impeccably researched. Don't skip the author notes.

I won't comment on whether a text like this should exist or not, who should read it, or what value it has. Cane covers the gamut of American racism, chiselling the narrative with a vicious knife. Every archetype is covered and gets it due. The horrors are horrific. The descriptions stomach-churning. And yet ... a meagre dab of hope.

"This house was built on our blood. Tonight, it burns with yours."

A historical fiction that needs to be read by everyone. If you’re looking to learn more about the atrocities of slavery, but not keen on a nonfiction account, this book is for you. The author takes true stories and molds them into one. Each incident/chapter is based on truth. Yes, it may be the truth of five individuals told as one story, but it all happened. The last chapter was intense. I applaud for author for writing that storyline. It was extremely difficult but needed to be told.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing/Dafina and NetGalley for this ARC of Clay Cane's 'Burn Down Master's House.'

This is a very powerful and brutal reminder of what slavery in the US looked liked and uses real events and individuals from history to weave a story of abuse and revenge. Stretching across about 20-25 years and culminating in the latter years of the American Civil War we come across several stories of how the enslaved people rose up and 'burned down the master's house' but literally and figuratively. Each of the four chapters deals with a different setting, each one several years or more after the previous one, but there are characters linking each one so it forms a coherent whole.

The acts of revenge were brutal, justified, and - I have to say - sweet. It felt good to read these accounts of enslaved people taking their rage and the rage of their peers out on the people who've taken their liberty, treated them worse than animals, but could not break their souls or spirits. It doesn't shy away from addressing collusion and slave-owning by fellow black people, former slaves themselves, but puts it in its correct context in a way that's rarely done by people on the right who use the existence of a relative handful of black slave owners as a justification of slavery as an institution.

Very good.

Burn Down Master’s House is a book that refuses to offer comfort. Instead, it lays bare the relentless violence and dehumanization faced by enslaved people, centering characters like Luke, Henri, Charity, and Larkin. Through them, the novel gives shape to the silenced voices of countless others.

Reading it often felt like standing in the room as history unfolded,unavoidable, uncomfortable, and necessary. The story reveals the machinery of enslavement in all its cruelty while also acknowledging the complicated, sometimes fleeting moments of humanity within it. Charity and Larkin’s experiences, in particular, were devastating to witness; their resilience made the injustice inflicted on them feel even more unbearable.
This novel carries both anguish and truth, and it will echo long after I finished the book. This was by far one of the best books I have read this year.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy.

"This house was built on our blood. Tonight, it burns with yours."
~This is a story that consists of 4 interwoven chapters that each deal with seperate, but interconnected , characters and their journey through the horrors of slavery and how they overcame them and took back their worth.
~The story opens with a powerful scene in which Henri is faced with a situation in which he cannot bring himself to violate Suzie. For me, the significance of this scene highlights how one's morals and respect can override the necessity of a situation if it just goes against what you stand for.

~I think everyone should read this book because when one thinks of the history of African Americans, their minds immediately go to slavery. And though slavery does form part of AA history, we tend to immediately think of the negative connotations it holds (not that there was anything positive about slavery) but we tend to forget the resilience, the determination and absolute strength that many of them had in order to regain the freedom they never had to lose and beg back for in the first place.

~Through Clara we see the inner turmoil some white people went through during this era. A fight between doing what your people thought was right and their privelege or actually doing what was morally correct as humans rights and freedom should never be up for discussion. I liked seeing the slight character development through her character.

~I love how all the black women in these stories were held very highly by the black males and were praised for their importance and resilience instead of being seen as just useless women. They were regarded as mothers, sister, leaders, care givers, and guardians.

~What stood out about this book for me was though the topic was one that is sensitive, slavery, it focused on how the black people fought back their hardest, how they didn't give up, how they continued to strike back and refused to be broken, how they held on to hope even when they weren't certain of tomorrow. A hope such as that of waiting for Godot. A hope that promised them tomorrow and tomorrow and the many more tomorrows of freedom.
~In this book, these people aren't painted as broken, hopeless, shells of people that are the product of their unfortunate circumstanced but rather as justified rebels, as people who took revenge into their own hands because they realized no Godot was coming. They became their own Godot. And even when they did become these hollow shells, something deep down kept burning until it eventually resurfaced.
~I would love to give a deep dive into character analysis and how they made me feel but I fear that would spoil alot. So if you're eager to know, read the book!

~The only thing that burnt hotter than the masters houses was the unwavering courage and determination in all their souls.
~This broke me, and mended me, and broke me again.I would recommend this book to every soul.

This is not an easy book to read nor is it meant to be. Burn Down Master’s House is a raw, unflinching portrayal of the heinous cruelties endured by enslaved people like Luke, Henri, Charity, and Larkin. Their stories gave voices to millions like them.

At times it felt less like a novel and more like bearing witness. It forces you to see the system, the cruelty, and humanity, all at once.
The writing doesn’t shy away from brutality, nor does it paint morality in black and white. Some moments were heartbreaking to bear, like Charity and Larkin's😭. They worked so hard yet treated like that.
We see glimpses of kindness, but still, the sheer injustice and cruelity lingers.

This is a story that speaks with pain and power, one that lingers long after you close the last page. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the e-ARC.

DNF
this unfortunately could not bring me out of my reading slump. I found the book to be a bit slow and inconsistent. The characters also felt a bit flat. I wish I liked this so much more but I could not get through this.

(I rate all DNFs 3 stars)

If you like stories that include enslaved black people raising up against their enslaver, this would be the book for you. These are four interconnected stories based on true instances, they are all quite interesting, though a tad graphic in some cases. Each story follows individuals (or group of) who are tired of their situation in life, the Civil War is looming, but nothing appears to be changing or going to change, so the individuals take matters into their own hands. There are some rather gruesome depictions of what they do and what is done to them (rape, beatings, having body parts removed, etc), None of the people who ran these plantations were nice, they were all bad, this is no Gone with the Wind that's for sure. there is a common theme of hope that runs through the stories, and that light at the end of the tunnel kept me reading. I was somewhat surprised these were all based on true, or in some cases, rumored have happened, the way these people were treated was horrific. I would recommend, especially if you enjoy historical books. Thanks to #Netgalley and Dafina for the ARC.

Four brutal and raw stories that don’t hold any punches and don’t sugarcoat this part of history. But it’s not a simple description of people being miserable either - these is a strength and empowerment in each of these stories.
None of the stories is too long, but their message will stay with me for a long time.

From the history and researched background I know of about that time, I can say that I enjoyed the storyline of this book. It was an enjoyment to see the characters interact they way they did and it made me understand the setting more with the main characters. They fought back against the owners as you would expect them to fight for what is right in any other race play story. The justice in the resistance that they needed to have against the owners were everything that was expected just from the title of the book alone.

I knew within the first two pages that this would be an unforgettable novel. Inspired by true events, it brings to life the voices of enslaved individuals who refused to conform, who would not remain silent in the face of relentless suffering, and who were willing to risk everything in the pursuit of justice and revenge. The story honors their courage and resilience, illuminating the human spirit’s capacity to resist oppression and demand recognition, even under the most brutal circumstances. It’s a searing, unforgettable narrative that stays with you long after the last page.

Clay Cane’s Burn Down Master’s House is a haunting, uncompromising work of historical fiction that keeps the memory of the dark epoche of slavery in the USA alive. With unflinching honesty, Cane confronts the brutalities of slavery, refusing to soften or sanitize the violence inflicted on enslaved bodies.

Yet the novel is far more than an account of suffering: it is a hymn of resistance, told through vividly drawn characters whose humanity pierces through the darkness. Divided into four interwoven narratives, the book introduces Luke, the literate dreamer; Henri, whose defiance burns as fiercely as his bond with Luke; Josephine, whose vow of memory reverberates long after the page; and Nathaniel, the chilling figure of a Black slaveholder, embodying contradictions that fracture the system from within. Each character is rendered with depth, complexity, and dignity, their voices resonant with both pain and defiance. Cane’s prose is raw yet lyrical, blending historical research with ancestral truth to create a story at once devastating and luminous.

Burn Down Master’s House is not an easy reading, nor should it be. It is brutal but yet necessary, urgent, and unforgettable, a narrative that compels us to reckon with the past while listening for echoes of freedom in the present and never let it happen again.

This book is meant to make you uncomfortable. To make you sit with the horrors that unfolded in the US. But it is a powerful account of rebellion, of resistance in acts great and small, and of legacy.

The novel is in 4 parts but they’re all connected in a way that’s so satisfying… It is well-researched, extremely well-written, and clearly meant to honor all who lived through the atrocities of chattel slavery, especially through its careful use of language. The author makes it clear why he did not use the n-word through the novel. It doesn’t hold back from its brutal descriptions, but it also highlighted the strength and dignity of its characters.

I am extremely grateful to NetGalley for the e-ARC and I will definitely be recommending this book to others. One of the best books I’ve read in 2025.

I am really enjoying reading Burn Down Master’s House. Clay Cane is so gifted in the way he describes each characters emotions which has brought me to tears. Who knew he is as talented writing fiction as he is nonfiction! A copy of The Grift sits prominently on my bookshelf.

Burn Down Master’s House was just as vicious, violent, and satisfying as the title. In the foreword, Proia writes, “In these trying political and cultural times, Burn Down Master’s House is my literary resistance against those who would erase the truth… This book isn’t just a reckoning with history; it’s a call to action. To confront. To break free. To build something new from the ashes.” This sentiment rings true in this collection of stories of necessary retribution and justice during the time of slavery, especially as the characters were based on real historical figures. We follow generations of people who are enslaved, and their very literal fight for freedom and integrity. This novel reckons with the (white) man-made concepts of freedom, justice, and humanity in a country that benefits from enslavement. There is no fluff in this story, no sweet acts of forgiveness or mercy. Instead, there are complex stories of justice and love and resistance in the Black and enslaved communities. This novel pays impeccable attention to historical details, including legislation, culture in the north and south, and experiences of those working in the house and outside. Overall, I found this novel to be necessary for honoring historical acts of resistance, and making sure that this country’s gruesome history is never erased.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

Through the eyes of a group of slaves, we see a dehumanizing world and reality that countless people had to live. This book is inspired by true stores and takes place during the Civil War, when freedoms were starting to emerge for enslaved people and all hoped to escape to the northern colonies. The stories of these people are interconnected, and the end of the book wraps them all up together at the culmination of the union taking back southern lands.

Not only is the writing of this book immersive and extremely well done, but each and every story grabs your rapt attention. As a reader I absolutely could not put this book down and finished it (admittedly) in just one night. Through Clay Cane's descriptions, you can see the plantations and their horrible owners come to life. Each of them egotistical, unkind and self-important; privy to the sufferings of those they employ, but uncaring about what that means to them. It was so satisfying to reach the end of the book and see many of the characters we fell in love with come back together in a final reunion; those that knew each other, and new friends connected by old ties. Everyone should read this book, its brutal and heart-wrenching retelling of the soul's lives and fall into the stories just as I did.

Clay Cane added to this book his own entries with an introduction, citations and a recount of the laws that made up the world at this time. It was interesting to learn more beyond just the retelling and about the truth behind each one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC.

A historical retelling of 4 different stories of the enslaved amid the Civil War in the American South. It did not shy away from the horrors and brutality. The dehumanization is disgusting. The 4 stories are of those who are attempting to escape. While its horrific it did show the strength, hope, and sheer willpower. They fought, it was gruesome, violent, and tragic. The way this was written was incredible. I felt so many emotions, it showed both sides of the coin in a raw and terrifying way. They seek vengeance and it was just as violent. It was so descriptive and powerful. Inspired by true events, it had my heart in a million pieces.

Thank you so much for the e arc
I will be back to add more links once released

Burn down masters house by clay cane is inspired by true stories of enslaved people with true resilience. All I can say is:
What a fantastic read! It started off a little slow for me and I almost dnf’d it but decided to keep on reading. So glad that I did! This follows 4 different stories from slaves that were at the Magnolia Row plantation in Virginia. It follows Henri and Luke, Josephine, Charity and Nathanial. Larkin and Charity’s story was so heartfelt and that story of Nathanial had me like holy Moses he deserved every bit of what he got! Luke and Henri’s story was one that I never would have thought of yet it started the entire book off running. This book took real people, real events/cases and it created one heck of a historical fiction history lesson and really just blew my wig straight off! Clay had me on google looking up these people or events and their court cases. I give this a 4.5 star rating.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC read! This is a must read historical fiction for 2026!!!

This book was amazing.

A powerful novel about those who had the spark in them to fight back against slavery. Told through four interconnected stories, it follows characters like Henri, Luke, Josephine, Larkin, Charity and Solomon as they inspire one another and deliver justice to those that owned them. While the shifting perspectives can feel inconsistent at times, the message that one spark can ignite change remains throughout the novel. Very violent and graphic (if you’re a bit squeamish just keep this in mind and skim over it.) and unforgettable.