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Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite
In 1858, Virginia, Earl Cadbury is forced to sell two of his slaves, Moses and Venus, to a brutal slave trader to save his plantation. When they hear of their destiny from Cadbury's wife, Moses decides to leave his family and make his escape to Canada. Venus decides to remain and accept her fate. As Moses makes his way to Canada, he dreams that one day he can be reunited with his wife and children. His journey is perilous as the slave catchers are never far away. Moses must learn quickly who he can and cannot trust. Meanwhile, Venus is sold many times before she finds an owner who treats her with dignity. Tibus and his son Adam see Venus as more than a commodity and make plans for her future freedom. But as events take a dreadful turn, Venus faces her worse nightmare and it seems freedom will never be hers in Venus' Story by Dickie Erman.
Venus' Story by Dickie Erman is such a fascinating read and the lives of Moses and Venus will take you on an emotional journey that you will never forget. The characteristics and mindsets of some of the characters are chilling, their brutality and inhumane treatment of the slaves is hard to believe. The language they use will make you gasp in horror and the terror felt by the slaves comes across vividly. The detail in the story really brings gritty realism to the plot, such as separating children from their parents, branding the slaves like cattle and breeding the slaves like animals. The areas of conflict were spectacular and the tension throughout was gripping. I loved the relationship between Adam and Venus; their bond was so strong and it really touched me. I have learned so much about the dreadful slave trade and it brought a horrific time in our history to life. This book will leave its mark on you emotionally but it is a story that needs to be told.
