Burn Down Master’s House was a tough but amazing read. The four stories are sad and brutal but it makes you remember that our history is sad and brutal. The most incredible story was the one of Charity who “earned” her freedom after living in Philadelphia for a certain amount of time and then was captured and sold back into slavery with her free daughters. This made me so sad but it was good that she and her daughters were able to escape again and get back north. The stories of Luke and Henri were brutal and hard to read at some points, and the last story of the black master was awful - to think that he owned slaves and also sold them back to their owners was painful. The enslaved people fight back and do “burn down master’s house”. If you want an honest telling of this time in our history then pick up this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Burn Down Master’s House paints a nuanced, morally ambiguous, and powerful picture of our history. Clay Cane gifts us a new lens to see our ancestors and our shared past in fresh ways.

The main characters (Henri, Luke, Josephine, Charity, and Nathaniel) all approach the struggle for freedom from different angles. Our generation often forgets that there wasn’t a one-size-fits-all way to resist, overcome, and survive. I appreciate the discomfort some characters’ choices evoke, as it reminds me of the luxury it is to have options.

Cane wrote a story that, although historical, feels alive and timely. It reminds us to do what we can, when we can, and to never give up hope.

Thank you to Clay Cane for this masterpiece and for offering us a new and perhaps even better way of looking at our history. Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for letting me witness this house burning.

ARC from NetGalley

I am not immune to a spirited revenge story and expected to like this, but reading this book felt like a two-dimensional version of Django Unchained (a movie I loved) that focused on the revenge porn without the story to back it up. The characters, both black and white, come across just like caricatures, which undermines the story. There's no nuance in "slavery is evil" but there can be at least SOME nuance in how characters are written.

I read an ARC version, but there are a lot of character and storyline inconsistencies that pulled me out of it.

I think this book also could do without the forward with the author telling you how unique and important the book is.

NetGalley ARC copy - my first ever advanced reader copy of a book is exciting and I had the pleasure of reading ‘Burn Down Masters House’. This is “another slave” story that doesn’t hold any punches. Coincidentally I read ‘James’ by Percival Everett right before this and all I could think about at the beginning of this book was how gritty and raw it was in detail comparatively.

The book is broken up into 4 chapters and almost feels like interconnected short stories. Each story with similar progressions but each equally impactful in their own ways. As the author points out in his notes, these stories are pulled from historical records and he has either changed the name or combined real life situations into these characters.

This is, without question, a horrible time in history and the authors goal is for us to not forget or allow time to change history. We should continue to speak of the horrors that have existed in our past so we can continue to strive to be better for our future.

Difficult but important, especially in the political and social climate of today. Lifting voices and giving autonomy to those who have been denied it, 150 years ago and today. Brutal and rewarding in turn, blending horror with satisfaction, this is a must read in a time when the horrors of yesterday seem closer today than they have in many of our living memories.

A fellow Instagrammer recommended this book for fans of the movie Sinners (and before you ask, yes she was) and that is maybe the wildest thing I’ve ever heard.

I love Sinners but this has nothing supernatural going on and is in a league all its own. This book is the PDF attached to the definition of the term “righteous rage” in the dictionary.

It’s brutal, it’s not fun, it’s dark, but it’s sufficiently violent in its vengeful rage that it’s a deeply satisfying read.

Burn Down Master's House is a historical retelling of 4 different stories of enslaved people in the American south. While it does not shy away from the horrors, dehumanization and brutality of slavery, it also has an overriding theme of hope and violent rebellion. We don't often hear the stories of the slaves who fought back, who resorted to violence and destruction in the face of extraordinary violence. This book is masterful in the way that it draws a modern reader into a narrative in a way that will challenge us. Slave stories at one point were outright lies, whitewashing the horrors of the atrocities into a "Gone With the Wind" nostalgic sweet slavery story, Then we have the pitiful tragedies, 12 years a slave, "trauma porn"- although I don't love the term I don't have a better one. This type of scenario is much more empowering.

The scenarios are brutal, dehumanizing, violent and tragic. Gruesome. If you want to try this but have a difficult time with that, maybe read the introduction, skips Luke and Henri's story, and read the last 3 stories. If you are good you can go back to Luke and Henri, where we get the title "Burn Down Master's House."

This book is for those ready to confront the past with a righteous anger.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dafina for the ARC. Book to be published January 2026.

"Don't let them take away what they can't touch!"
5/5
Author, Clay Cane, takes real life past situations and creates a new empowering story that intertwines his characters until the end. He is right, this is not another slave book. Burn Down Master's House is powerful. It hits the nail on the head about misinformation and remembering so we can build a whole new house and just not rearrange the inside as the author put it. I could not put this book down. Please read the introduction. I know that it is typically skipped but its well worth it and gives insight into the thoughts going into this book. I liked the fact he included the articles of the real life situations. It has great quotes as well that will resonate. The ending came away tied together perfectly. It feels good to read a book and actually cheer on the slaves to rebel, fight back and kill. I will recommend a thousand times over.

This is not an easy read, nor a happy story. It is however an important story. The storyline keeps the characters connected along with their history and with history itself. It is painful and powerful. I had to stop every couple of chapters in order to just absorb the feelings and situations. The author did the research of not only the time period, but also to account for the horrendous crimes committed against the black community. I use the term black community, because that is what the characters truly were no matter what, a community. In light of our current history happening now, this story resonates so loud. The perseverance, love and survival is the heart of the story that you must always cling to while reading it. I have forever left a piece of myself with these characters and I will always keep their memory and story in my heart so I never forget the struggle.

Four and a half stars rounded up to five. This is a meticulously researched book, that encapsulates four stories of slaves who fought back. Each story builds on the one before .
Saying that I loved this book isn't entirely correct, but I do think it should be required reading. It's hard to stomach that some of the awful things that took place are based on the truth. A very sobering read. Highly, highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

an incredibly well researched, historically based rebellion story that reinvents the contemporary slave narrative genre. clay clearly poured his soul into this book, and he very clearly cares about the subject.

not only is the writing and characters excellent, you get immensely educated through both the introduction, author’s note, and various cited sources throughout the book.

unique in its framing, this collection of connected short stories is deeply personal, moving, and unflinching in its portrayal of the horror of slavery and the beauty in revenge.

highly recommend- and I can’t wait to see more of clays work!

This book. This book just hit all the right spots. Historical. Depth. Love. Pain..Reality. Truth. I am absolutely in love with this book. Stories of people who lived in Goochland, VA all connected by the same plantation.

Burn the Masters House down is going to be one of those books they need to teach in schools, Its one of those that tugs at your soul abd doesn't let go. I'm never going to forget about Larkin or Solomon, Henri , Charity, and the rest.

It really puts things into perspective when on May 15, 2025, a fire broke out at Nottoway Plantation in Louisiana. The building was pretty much destroyed. I remember seeing this on the news and shurugging, yes it's history- but slave owning should not be memorialized or celebrated. A memorial should stand for those who were enslaved and kept as literal property. People are not property.

My favorite line from Burn the Masters House Down : "Slavery isn’t just a story of brutality; it’s a story of power, resistance, and the structures that continue to shape our world.- we should be given the history of those who rebelled and faught back."

I should know more about this. I want to hear the histories. We can not hide behind "pretty buildings" and picturesque views. People suffered.

I really liked the author putting in their sources and even at the end going into depth thru thought process. This was amazing. Hands down 5 star.

Cane takes a journalistic approach in this tale of justice for and by the enslaved. I found Burn Down Master’s House to be a poignant and refreshingly new take on a subject that has been touched on by many writers.

Fans of Colson Whitehead and Toni Morrison will find themselves right at home with this book!

Burn Master’s House Down is an explosive, no-holds-barred masterpiece that grabs you by the collar and does not let go. From the very first chapter, the tension is razor-sharp and the storytelling is fearless. The author paints a vivid, gritty world full of layered characters, buried secrets, and jaw-dropping twists that had me yelling at the pages.

What I loved most is how raw and real this story felt. It’s not just about setting the world on fire—it’s about the cost of holding the match. Every character is complex, and the emotional stakes are sky-high. I was completely invested in their pain, their choices, and their hunger for justice, revenge, or survival—depending on who you ask.

The writing? Cinematic. Bold. Unapologetically Black. This book made me feel like I was right there in the heat of it all, heart racing, eyes wide.

This book was definitely not what I expected and thank god for this.
This book will stay with for the rest of my life. The beautifully tragic but raw stories of our main characters carry us though decades of sadness and yet I have never felt some moved by a story.
Couldn't put it down for a single moment. The Way it was written was so refreshing for stories that have been written before.
Think the whole world need to study this bolls cover to cover and at least try to understand the past to learn for the future

4,5/5, what a marvelous book!

“Misinformation is an old, strong tool; it distorts history, manipulates narratives, and fuels power”

I couldn’t stop reading it from the moment I picked it up. I’m incredibly grateful to have received a proof copy of this one. Slave narratives have always piqued my interest, especially since one of my university modules gave me the insight to fully appreciate them.

Burn Down Master’s House  is structured as four short stories about rebellion and resistance, all intertwined. We often hear tragic narratives when it comes to slavery, but few focus on the strength and resilience of those who suffered. Burn Down Master’s House highlights these stories — the ones about reclaiming freedom. It’s powerful and incredibly refreshing to see the power shift from the masters to the enslaved.

Knowing that each short story is based on true events and true people makes the book even more impactful. “Remembering is an act of resistance,” and I truly believe we need these types of narratives in today’s society. We must confront the atrocities of the past — and those that continue today. Clay Cane’s novel is essential reading. We need to reshape the narrative, to give credit to those who fought for their freedom, and not focus solely on the monsters. We need to remember the victims and honor how their bravery helped pave the way for others.

Easily one of my top books for this year. When a book hooks me in from the beginning like this, I know I'm in for a great read. It's a book with heavy themes but it was stellar. The multiple inter-connected stories always do it for me. Honestly no notes. Looking forward to purchase this in 2026.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of Burn Down Master’s House.

It is a story that starts in Magnolia Row. A plantation indulging in the horror of slavery and which features characters that will be found again in the next chapters of the novel.

I would strongly advise to be prepared before reading this book as the violence featured is quite explicit- especially in the first chapter. I liked that this book focused on slavery but did not tell the same story with different characters. There were different conditions and circumstances which was interesting to read about. The last chapter especially with a black man owning a plantation.

Even though it’s fiction, it still tells the story of what some people lived. It’s always delicate to rate these stories as it’s horrible and makes you mad.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Clay Cane’s Burn Down Master’s House is a powerful and haunting novel that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. Inspired by long-buried truths, this book offers a bold reimagining of resistance during one of the darkest chapters in American history. It doesn’t just revisit the past—it demands that we reckon with it.

What makes this story so unforgettable is the way Cane breathes life into his characters. Luke and Henri’s bond is at the heart of the novel, serving as a reminder of how hope, intellect, and sheer determination can exist even in the most brutal circumstances. Josephine, with her quiet power, lingers in your memory long after her final page. Charity’s complexity as a free woman navigating a world still shackled by oppression brings both tension and nuance, while Nathaniel’s role as a Black enslaver forces uncomfortable questions about power and complicity.

Cane’s writing is searing and unflinching. The brutality isn’t sensationalized—it’s presented as truth, and that truth is necessary. At the same time, the novel is layered with moments of tenderness, defiance, and even beauty. You feel the weight of history in every chapter, and yet, the story feels alive and urgent, speaking directly to today’s ongoing struggles with justice and identity.

This is not a passive read. It’s a book that challenges, moves, and transforms. For readers of Colson Whitehead or Jesmyn Ward, Burn Down Master’s House is essential—raw, righteous, and rooted in resistance.

Wow I mean just Wow! Don't think for one minute that this is just another book about slavery because this is so much more than that. From the very beginning I was invested with the people (refuse to call them characters). The book is broken into four chapters and focuses on four stories but each one relates to the one before. This book is raw, honest, and sometimes hard to read but it is as real as it gets. You will not be disappointed and I just can't explain the feeling I got when I finished. You have to experience it yourself. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.