Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez – 294 pages

Situated in Ohio, a free territory before the Civil War, Tawawa House is an idyllic retreat for Southern white men who vacation there every summer with their enslaved black mistresses. It’s their open secret. Lizzie, Reenie, and Sweet are regulars at the resort, building strong friendships over the years. But when Mawu, as fearless as she is assured, comes along and starts talking of running away, things change. To run is to leave everything behind, and for some it also means escaping from the emotional and psychological bonds that bind them to their masters. When a fire on the resort sets off a string of tragedies, the women of Tawawa House soon learn that triumph and dehumanization are inseparable and that love exists even in the most inhuman, brutal of circumstances— all while they bear witness to the end of an era.

A fine story with characters that slowly became ones in which I cared about. I found the plot interesting and the concept of this place intriguing, which really did exist. The women created a family bond with one another and each of their circumstances were equally sad and tragic. An insiders look into slavery from a very unique perspective. Unfortunately, I didn’t love the author’s writing style.