Chains of Fate: A Novel - Book Review


Chains of Fate: A Novel
by Melissa Cole

The transatlantic slave trade was widespread between the 17th and 18th centuries, primarily due to the burgeoning large plantations in North and South America. To reduce costs and maximize profits, plantation owners had to employ slaves. Most of these slaves were shipped from Africa, although there might have been others transported from different countries. In the book "Chains of Fate," the indentured slaves were taken from London.

Chains of Fate follows the life journey of an orphan in London named Thomas Everhart. Thomas lives on the streets with a few other kids. One night, while they were sleeping, some thugs came to their squalid dwelling and announced their intent. The thugs told them that they had been recruited for the New World. Defenseless, the orphans were forcibly taken from their place and shoved into a vehicle.

The orphans, including Emily, the only girl in the group, were put on a ship to Jamestown, Virginia, and eventually sold to a tobacco plantation owner. Life had been extremely difficult for the slaves. They had to toil day in and day out. From time to time, Thomas, who had special skills, was assigned to different tasks other than plantation labor, although life was never easier in the other fields.
Although they were indentured slaves, the laborers from London could no longer wait for their day of freedom. And so, Thomas and his friends started planning to escape. In a sudden twist of fate, they got the support of someone who made their escape easier.

The Book and the Author
Chains of Fate is an eye-opening book, especially for the present generation who may have been shielded from the grim truth of an era where forced labor was enforced. Descendants of the victims of the slave trade may have kept the memories of the dark past that their loved ones went through.

Melissa Cole's book honors the courage and perseverance of those who suffered from injustice in the past. Although a work of fiction, the author strives to make her story closest to reality. I appreciate how the author described the situations her central characters experienced and consistently built their respective personas throughout the story. The book is well-presented based on the real-life experiences of the slaves.

Overall, I give Chains of Fate a rating of 5 out of 5 stars and recommend this book to readers aged 16 and above.

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