A good novel. An interesting historical novel based on real events. Good characters, and pretty well paced. The style takes a little getting used to (it's a type of Creole patois), so if you're typically put off by non-traditional/straight-forward writing styles then you might struggle with this one. It's worth sticking with it, though.

I love historical fiction and Sugar Money did not disappoint. This is set in 1765 when 13 year old Lucien is sent back to Grenada with his brother, by their French master to steal 42 slaves from their English masters and bring them back Martinique to work for him. As one can anticipate this was never going to be a simple task. The writing and language is superb. Throughout we get a sense and feel for the dialect of the slaves, their native Creole thrown into the mix regularly and their grammar and turns of phrase visible throughout. It really is a remarkable piece of work combining action and adventure with the horrors endured by so many enslaved people while the trading and possession of human beings was legal. I highly recommend this text. It will remain with me for a long time to com.

This book transports you to a time and place that is wholly its own with characters you won't soon forget. It is a masterpiece of historical fiction that feels wholly real. As soon as I finished reading I wanted to read it again. It is tense, sincere, and familiar.

I love historical fiction, but this one didn't cut it for me. Despite the very interesting plot with a mission and a lot of adventure and romance, I couldn't get into the book. I am not sure why, but I was quite bored by the language and the characters. It's a pity, because it does sound very interesting, but I could not finish it.

First I have to thank Jane Harris as the author of “Sugar Money”, also thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley for sharing the soft copy.

From the first page I met a sad story, about inhumane behavior towards slaves in the islands of Grenada and Martinique. I finally found out about those horrible stories. There is also a sheet with a little French and English without structure. I think that’s what happened at that time. The slaves always face punishment even though the mistake is small. What really makes my heart broken.

The main characters in this story are two brothers, Emile and Lucien. They became slaves and the writer succeeded in telling the plot very strongly. Even though this is a heartbreaking story but actually it has been written very well. This story will be easily impregnated so that several times my eyes also tear.

Emile (28 years) and Lucien (12 years) become slaves in Martinique, which is an area located in the Western Antilles. At that time they were both ordered by monks to go to Granada by sea, these two slave brothers had a special plan to free the slaves who were made prisoners by the British and bring them back to Martinique. Why? Because at that time Martinique was a warehouse that produced sugar. That is the title “Sugar Money”. But this story does sound easier than having to do it yourself.

Then what happens next is surprising. They have different goals. When they arrived in Granada, when they were hiding, they secretly connected slaves with their own homes. This is a very dangerous escape. Time becomes their life. This goal becomes heavier to achieve from the actual mission. These slaves have a choice, just live or die.

I am really proud of Jane Harris’s efforts. For the sake of this story, she went to Granada to do a brief but deep research. Of course with the results of her research, finally, the story of Sugar Money is so fascinating. A very strong narrative and a character that is so strong, even though it is always under threat.

Challenging, terrible, real and very honest.

Based on actual events, Sugar Money by Jane Harris introduces me to a history I did not know and brings to life yet another aspect of the brutality of slavery. The narrator's language scattered between French, English, and Caribbean Creole makes the book a challenge to read at times. The voice of an adolescent narrator also superimposes on the horror of slavery a certain innocence. It is an interesting contrast at times and accentuates the brutality when the descriptions do come.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/07/sugar-money.html

Reviewed for NetGalley

Excellent historical fiction. Exciting, well written and researched, the story of slavery in the French and British colonial islands of Martinique and Grenada in the mid 1700’s is fascinating, enlightening and sad. Harris knows her subject well but her writing is not over burdened with exposition as if in a lecture. She surely shows -not tells. I read a lot of historical fiction-some feature great storytelling, some feature excellent writing and command of the subject matter—few contain both—Sugar Money does. Read it.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

From the blurb, "Martinique, 1765, and brothers Emile and Lucien are charged by their French master, Father Cleophas, with a mission".

The language was absolutely unique to this story, using pieces and fragments of Creole (Kréyòl), a sprinkle of French and a dose of clipped English (no past tense, no plurals).

Good book.
4☆

A tough, and almost gruelling read for me - the two brothers, forced to travel back to incite slaves to escape in order that the order of friars who own them may have more slaves for their purposes. It is all so grim, and people treat each other badly in ways that are unimaginable. Frankly i was glad when it was ended - i had to skip through the last quarter ... it did grip me however. Wow. Don't take it too hard! Worthy and well written , i will certainly look out for other work of this writer

I learned a great deal about slavery in Grenada and Martinique--a region and history I knew little about.

This book, though it's historical fiction, is based on facts and actual events on the islands.
I was horrified reading about the punishments and I wished for freedom for the characters. So many times I wished I, as a reader, could swoop in and assist.

This was initially difficult for me to get into, and there were points in the first half I almost stopped but once I was hooked, I was rooting and cheering them on in their journey.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

At first I was reluctant to request Sugar Money because I'm a weakling at handling slavery stories sometimes. I turn into a puddle of sobs. But, despite being quite detailed about the hardships of slave life in 1765, it was a very engaging read. It doesn't have a very happy ending, as you might surmise, but it tells a story worth hearing, told very soberly and matter-of-factly.
Two slave brothers, Emile and Lucien, are charged with a daring mission - their owners, French monks who keep a hospital, have no money to reclaim the slaves that were lost during the English invasion of some years back, so they want Emile to talk the slaves into escaping. As if it's an easy feat, the brothers have to sneak onto an island where nobody is allowed to speak their language anymore and pull of a stunt to get all the slaves - able bodied or not - across half the island to a ship to escape. This is the story of how this goes, and it's one based on true historical events.

The Story Is Very Soberly Told

Despite being a slavery story, it doesn't contain a lot of drama. Pain, suffering and despair are usually the things that destroy me in slavery stories - but in this book, it's all told so soberly. In the end, it makes sense that even though life is pretty damn horrifying, those people would not be alive if they didn't learn to live with it - the human spirit doesn't fare well, unless it adjusts. A person can't keep reacting to horror dramatically. I felt like it made the story extra believable - it being told like that. The story is also told through Lucien's point of view, and he is a young teen when the events take place. I feel like telling it that way really works well for a male character's point of view as well.
The Actual 'Happening' Part Is Very Tense

I was listening to this book on text to speech, and actually, as I was going, I had to pretty much max out the speed - so I could just find out what happens. The story really does keep you on edge, when things start rolling! At times, it was even a little bit much. But definitely in an enjoyable way - I could just not put it down.

Not Dramatic, But Definitely Emotional

Despite not containing a lot of drama, like I said earlier, there's still emotion. The author has walked a whole 'nother mile, creating backstories to Sugar Money. The stories of why the slaves are where they are. Of why the main characters have these memories, these feelings. Of who they grew up with, who they fell in love with, and... lost. All of these paint a really engrossing image of the community and life for these people. It will also tug at your heartstrings for sure. I really loved the backstory of Emile and Celeste. It also gave me all the #FEELS.

It's Kind Of Between Fiction And Nonfiction

If you're a nonfiction fan, I think you would really enjoy this story. It's definitely still fiction - but it's based on true events and it doesn't feel like the story strays too far from them. You can truly feel the research the author has done, and all the settings are painted in good detail. The sober tone that I've mentioned before really does give it a feel of reading a history book, but not a dry one at all. It's also an important topic to talk about, so I feel like the author has picked an amazing setting and historical event to write this based on. In the end, the point it makes is that even if a slave trusts their owner, it's just an owner - and they will sell them out. Owning a slave and treating them well is not a merit - in the end, it's still just owning a slave. And owning another person is not something a human being should do.

But Beware Of The Triggers

Well, obviously - it's a slavery book. Expect rape, murder, torture, bodily harm and all that. I don't feel like I need to go in more detail. It's not told dramatically, but it's told in detail (although no rape happpens, it's just talked about as an event that took part in the past.)

I thank Arcade Publishing for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange to my honest opinion. Receiving the book for free does not affect my opinion.

I mainly picked this book up because it is longlisted for the Walter Scott Award in 2018. I am fairly certain, I would have not picked it up otherwise as the other two books by Jane Harris were just ok for me. I am so glad, that I did pick it up though because this certainly had the wow factor for me. The story focuses on two slaves who have been charged by their owner to retrieve some slaves from a neighboring island which is now under British rule. It is a fool's errand and dangerous, but being slaves they have no way of saying no or getting out of it. The story is told in a way that breaks your heart but does not allow you to wallow in any melodrama, there is no sugar sweetness here, no tear jerking, no cry buttons that are being pressed. And I guess that's why some people found the characters to be remote, we are so used to that type of horrific historical fiction to trigger a "weep" response. This is not a tear jerker, this is a book that shows you what the reality of those lives could have been like. Horrific, brutal, de-humanising. Not an easy read, well worth being longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize.

This is one of those books that you have to keep reading even though you are biting your nails to the wick and you read some very difficult passages. Harris uses actual letters to tell the story of two Brother’s places with an impossible quest. Eighteenth century Martinique and Grenada has many enslaved persons working for the French/English on the lucrative product of sugar cane. The treatment was horrific. This is one of those books you are glad to read as it opens your eyes. I also was impressed with Harris’ use of three different languages in this book.

** spoiler alert **
A book not to be missed. I Recommend to anyone who enjoys history and learning about slavery in different lands. It’s a punch in the gut page turner. Ms. Harris, unlike many others who write about the slave trade, didn't leave out the gore and deplorable treatment of the slaves. She showed how manipulations of the greedy Friars led others to their deaths. Harris writes where you can understand and sympathize with the slaves, like when they decide not to escape to Martinique. It is a well written story that I won't soon forget. You will be on pins and needles rooting for Emile, Lucien and Celeste. Emile! Emile! I find myself calling him as well.

Fascinating historical fiction. This is not always the easiest read, both because of the subject matter and because no matter how wonderful Lucien the narrator is, the prose is rendered in a combination of English, French, and Creole. Once you find the rhythm, however, it moves quickly. Lucien and his older brother Emile have been sent to free slaves on Grenada and return them to Martinique. The monks funding and forcing this are not entirely altruistic, btw. This is a part of history I'd not encountered and I found it appalling. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

Firstly, what an utterly gorgeous cover. It glistens.

I enjoyed that the narrator was a younger voice, which provided a fresh take. However, I think it contributed to the tone feeling a little light? This clashed with the broader social and economic themes and made Sugar Money not as brutal as Homegoing or The Long Song. Whilst I love historical fiction I often struggle when it is written of the time. Golden Hill, for example, I really struggled to engage with. Sugar Money is written in a style of it's time, but in a very 21st-reader-friendly (or maybe just Katy-friendly!) way.

Overall, I am glad I read it but it wasn't as memorable as other historical fiction pieces which address slavery.

I admire Jane Harris' ability to make compulsive page turners out of hefty historical fictions. Unfortunately, here her nonchalant narrative style somewhat clashes with the brutality of slavery. A heartbreaking story, but too lighthearted in tone compared to something like Homegoing or The Book of Night Women.

Gripping, horrific, well-written story set during the Carribean slave trading days in the 1700s. Absolutely worth reading. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a Review copy.

This was a suspenseful story. I love historical fiction and this one was a great read. I am somewhat familiar with the Caribbeans history, but this book just brought it all home. If you enjoy reading about the 18th and 19th century triangular trade , slavery, tropical ports, intrigues, you';; enjoy this tale!

Emile and Lucien are brothers, enslaved by French monks on the island of Martinique in the mid 18th century. They are sent by the monks to Grenada in order to persuade the slaves there to escape and return to their former masters in Martinique. Jane Harris creates a powerful atmosphere with her descriptions of the island environment and the lilting Creole patois of the slaves. A story based on historical truths, it's a compelling, cruel and memorable read.