The American Queen: A Novel Based on the True Story of Appalachia’s Kingdom of the Happy Land 

🧠 Themes That Stood Out:

• Forgiveness as survival

• Faith under pressure

• Building community after enslavement

• The cost of love

• Black legacy and historical erasure

• Seeing people clearly vs. seeing what we want

💬 Favorite Line or Moment:

The scripture Abigail read: “I would have fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” That verse echoed throughout the story and stuck with me—especially as Luella wrestled with forgiveness. Her struggle felt incredibly real and relatable.

🔍 Reflections:

Reading stories about slavery always requires emotional space for me. Though this book wasn’t overly graphic, it still stirred up a deep tenderness. Watching Luella navigate impossible circumstances while clinging to her faith and her sense of self—it moved me. I’ve never experienced anything close to what she went through, and yet, I saw myself in her internal fight to forgive, to stay soft, to choose love.

Also? Robert tested every nerve I had. I never really found compassion for him, even in the end. His selfishness came at a cost to everyone, and it reminded me how dangerous it is when people choose ego over responsibility. I also struggled with King William’s inability to see his brother for who he was. That kind of blind loyalty does more harm than good.

🔚 The Ending:

The ending was satisfying, leaning toward a “hopeful” resolution. While the pacing throughout the book moved quickly and didn’t always allow time for deeper character development (especially for side characters), the conclusion tied things together in a way that felt respectful to the historical reality.

🌟 Final Thoughts:

This wasn’t a perfect novel, but it was an important one. I learned about a piece of Black history I had never heard of, and that alone makes it a worthy read. It may not be a “standout” in the literary sense, but the story, the history, and the faith themes all landed for me in a meaningful way. If you’re looking for historical fiction that honors resilience, centers Black community, and challenges your thoughts on forgiveness, The American Queen is worth your time.