This book is why anyone who loves historical fiction does so. Cathy Williams is a force to be reckoned with, even so long after her death, and you really can't help but cheer for her at every turn. A newly-freed slave, Cathy was raised by a fierce mother and a warrior grandmother with memories of the glories of Africa. They were captives, not slaves, and Cathy's whole experience in the last years of the American Civil War and those afterwards as she fooled her way into the famous Buffalo Soldiers, the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, by dressing as a male soldier.

Cathy's entire experience shows a lot of growth from a character standpoint but she never loses that brash confidence of when we first meet her, despite the incredible trials she endures throughout the story. Her personality is so enjoyable, even at its most abrasive, and every secondary character only enhances her. I thought the plot structure is good though I will admit to feeling a slight lag around the halfway point. It's barely worth mentioning though because I really couldn't put the book down. I liked how all the characters kind of stick with Cathy and the story even if they aren't physically present and, of the secondary characters, I most enjoyed Solomon. The portrayal of General Sheridan was also fantastic; as one of my favorite generals of the time, it was a lot of fun to see him come alive in a fictional setting.

It's one of those stories that sticks with you for a simple reason: hope. Cathy never took what was handed to her. She scraps and fights and makes things happen for herself by herself. It's the kind of person we all hope to be and Bird did such a great job bringing Cathy to us with so much life and passion. Highly recommend this one to historical fiction fans but even those outside of the genre will find something here with this intense, unapologetic, brave woman and her story.

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Press, and the author Sarah Bird for the opportunity to do so.

I didn’t finish this. I didn’t care for it. I may just not have been in the mood for historical fiction at the time.

Cathy had always had a strong personality and character. Perhaps it came from her mama. After all, her mama always said that she was the daughter of a daughter of a queen... even if right now she, she was being held captive on a slave plantation in Little Dixie, MO. When Cathy is given the chance to leave her life on the plantation by becoming a cook's helper for an army chef, she accepts that fate willingly. She exchanges one bond for another and begins to forge a new life for herself. Eventually, she disguises herself as a man and heads west as a Buffalo Soldier.

My attention was first captured by the title of this novel. I was intrigued and wanted to know more; after reading the back cover of the book, I knew that I wanted to read this book. This was the first novel that I read by Sarah Bird. I was quite impressed. In my opinion, Sarah Bird is an excellent researcher, dreamer, and writer. She takes only slightly known pieces of history and brings them to life though research and imagination. In The Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen, Sarah brings Cathy Williams to life, a slave who became a soldier and served with the renown Buffalo Soldiers. Sarah has definitely done her research. The writing was rich and engaging; I felt like I was there. If you like history (and good writing), I would recommend this book to you.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press who provided a free copy of this book to me for review through NetGalley. All opinions above are my own.

Born into servitude Cathy Williams always considered herself above all the rest. When the opportunity for freedom came, she took it and entered into service under the veteran Sheridan. When she had to return home, she refused to enter into any kind of service again and disguising herself as a man joined the Buffalo Soldiers.

Now fighting for just survival, Cathy is bent on finding her mother and her younger brother and also the love of her life. Based on a true story which I realised only much later this was a tale that could only be described as swashbuckling.

A good very descriptive history lesson especially for those not American, the story of Private Williams is a fascinating one.

There’s so much to talk about when it comes to this book. It’s been a while since I last felt this burst of passion and excitement in making a review. I never expected that this book would pull out those emotions in me! Sarah Bird’s book is one of those books that grips you. So I guess I’m adding historical fiction in my list of weakness now. NOTE: This is a lengthy review, so read at your own risk.

STORY PREVIEW
Cathy Williams was raised with the mindset of a warrior. She was not to consider herself a slave, for she was a descendant of an African queen. Rather, she was kept captive in a farm in Little Dixie, Missouri. When Union General Philip Henry Sheridan showed up with his men, who ravaged and burned the farm she was born in and took her in as his cook’s assistant, Cathy found herself alone in the world, but closer to freedom. Her survival depended on her wit. Just as the war ended, an opportunity at being a part of the United States Army arose. Cathy knew she was born for it. Having found ways to hide her true nature, she joined the ranks of men.

A Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird is like the fairy tale, “Mulan”. Inspired from the true life story of Cathy Williams, the first African-American woman to enlist in the United States Army, this book tells the tale of hope, a discovery of one’s strength, and to an extent, a rags to riches story. But unlike Mulan, this is no story for those who look for fairy tales.

The Thoughts
I have TWO reasons to read A Daughter of a Daughter of A Queen:

1. The book cover. The color palette is sooo beautiful in this one. It has this gorgeous vintage effect to it and what stops you from reaching for it?? On a closer inspection, the left side shows a soldier’s blue suit while on the right, there’s a frilly/lacy clothing, probably part of a woman’s garment (this is what I am seeing but please correct if I’m wrong!). I once thought that the parchment paper at the center meant pirates were involved in the stories. LOL. How far away can my imagination go???
2. The title. I mean, read the title again if it isn’t a catchy one. In all honesty, I was actually looking forward to read about castles and princes and/or princesses and “Your Highnesses”. Another LOL moment.
With that said, I must have missed reading the synopsis. All those expectations are sooo out of line and very out of topic. Oh, man.

THE WRITING
Sarah Bird’s fantastic writing will deliver emotions right to your door step. The story has that capability to bring you back to the past, as if you’re living there, flesh and bone, amid soldiers. Although most would find it uncomfortable, one particular thing that I enjoyed in the book is the informality and accent and how the characters speak. I love accents and would sometimes watch vloggers do the “Accent Challenge” tag so reading this book had me acting out like I got the accent too. It also has these blank spaces where curse words should be and filling out those spaces with the curse word I see fit somehow makes it fun. Being creative with your “cursed” adjective is hilarious, trust me. Just be creative 😉

THE CHARACTERS
Each character were interestingly written and had their own strength and essence in them. I would like to highlight the two characters that I liked the most:

There is so much to talk about Cathy William’s character but I’m not sure if I can cover all of it. Cathy Williams (Williams Cathay – her enlisted name) is a character to love. She has this fierce, hopeful, kind, passionate, strong heart within her. Cathy’s voice is clearly heard throughout the book. How she finds ways of proving she is a man to her fellow soldiers is astounding that in one of those ideas she thought of, I nearly choked on a laugh. Cunning and will are her two mighty strengths in surviving the field of men around her. I felt her struggling and getting bamboozled through her life. I felt her disappointment everytime she was fooled. But she isn’t a giver. She fights. Simply put, Cathy Williams is a tough-skinned, kind-hearted woman.

Solomon is one of our guys here and is my favourite. He is straightforward but he has his point. Which is also good, in my opinion, because in a world where war is the main event, you can’t just say “Ah, it’s a world of unicorns and rainbows”. You can’t sugarcoat reality like that. It’s a tough world and the way to survive is facing what’s in front of you.

THE PLOT
If I were to rate the plot, it would be an 8 out of 10. You’d think that the plot is where the book’s highest thrilling moment is but really, it’s about the aftermath of the plot. Where the story should give you the relaxing that you need, NO, IT HAD TO KEEP YOUR HEART GALLOPING. Not sure if I’m hearing things, but it feels like the book is purring in my head, “You’d think I’ll let you sleep tonight, don’tcha? Wait till you finish me.” Well, darn it but someone began cutting onions beside me because I am not crying. Nope. You are.



Anyhow, this review is not enough to explain how fantastic this book, and justice can only be brought to it if you read it. So go and grab A Daughter of A Daughter of A Queen now!

I could not finish this book. It was very confusing. I read at least a hundred pages and could not keep up. This book was a;; over the place.

The Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen was a very fascinating read. Told from the first-person account of one of the characters, the story really drew me. I felt almost as though I were there right along with the characters and could see everything happening as it unfolded. I have always been interested in this period of history, and the author does a great job of detailing the lives of the characters and really bringing them to life. I really enjoyed Cathy's story and admired her strength and perseverance throughout all of the hardships that she faced in her life. I admire the strong sense of family values that are woven into the story through Cathy's eyes. The was a rather long read but one that I most definitely enjoyed.

This book is historical fiction but is based on a real person. Cathy Williams was a slave who managed to pass herself off as a man and join the Union Army during the Civil War. Her story is amazing and inspiring: a strong woman who never gave up and was determined to be in charge of her own life. The author did a good job of bringing Cathy and the time period itself to life. Perfect for fans of strong female protagonists, Civil War-era historical fiction, and people overcoming long odds.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.

Daughter of a Daughter of a King was everything I never knew I was looking for. I will warn any future readers: this book took me a while to get into. It was a slow start. HOWEVER. It was 10,000% worth it. As I read, I didn't immediately realize that this was more than just historical fiction due to setting and general events. This is the story of a real woman. A former slave who became a Buffalo Soldier with the American military. Now, the author of course took liberties in telling her story, but the fact that this woman ever existed at all is amazing.
The whole time I was reading (before realizing the character once existed) I kept thinking "THIS IS SO COOL! SHE'S LIKE POST CIVIL WAR MULAN! THIS IS ALL I EVER WANTED TO READ!" And really, what more do you need to know than that this is post civil war, former slave, Mulan? I loved this book so much. I found myself dreading closing the book because I needed to spend more time with these characters.

Love love loved it. Read it. Its amazing. You won't regret it.

This was a good story and I learned a lot about a subject that I had no prior knowledge about, but it was not written in such a way as to draw me into it. I never managed to connect with the characters. I would recommend it as informative, but not for entertainment.

Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird, an absorbing African American Civil War story told from a former female slave’s point of view, is a powerful testimony. I love books that illustrate a woman’s strength amongst her trials. Highly recommend this novel to those who love fictionalized history.

I was immediately drawn in by the main character’s voice. In the beginning, Cathy Williams tells her story to an injured soldier, Private Wager Swayne, to occupy his time and ease his pain. Cathy has just been taken from her family, and the only home she knows, to be a cook’s assistant for Sheridan’s army. She had been raised to appreciate her heritage as the great-grand-daughter of an Amazon warrior queen. That fact also hit my preferences as I love reading about these mystical, courageous women.

What was also intriguing from the very beginning is that the reader realizes the protagonist is not perfect. She is a handful, and not afraid to avenge her family when they’re done wrong. She’s also very laugh-out-loud funny, so be prepared to be thoroughly entertained by her spunk and shocked by her rage.

Cathy does eventually fight for the Buffalo Soldiers as a man known as Private Williams, but her early life with Sheridan is fascinating as well. The American Civil War ends, and Cathy seems to have decided on a plan with her friend that is perfect. It made me smile and hope. What came next was devastating. Like a roller coaster, the reader’s emotions are dipped up and down, slow, then fast, pulling us along to discover how Cathy survives this next chapter of her life.

Although there is a beautiful romance toward the end of the book, there are many unknowns that may irk the strictest of romance book lovers. Based on a true story, the end came too quickly for me which makes me hope for a sequel, imaginary or not, that will give me what I crave.

Per the author’s note, this novel takes place 150 years before women could legally serve in combat. The historical detail is wonderful mixed in with the story. I felt as if I was a fly on the wall watching it happen. The writing is beautiful, evocative and mesmerizing.

Even though I adored most of this book, sometimes it seemed to wander, and I couldn’t fathom where it was going. The rambling inside Cathy’s head seemed to be the culprit. Some details are horrific, so you believe she’s not worthy of love because she’s so twisted. Yet, you want it for her, hoping it will soften what the pain and sadness of her life has done. She’s a character you can root for even when you can’t believe what she has just done.

The only thing I found odd were the number of blanks in my Advanced Reading Copy, which I assume were for cusswords. It made me curious about what landed in the final text. My advanced copy was clean of off-color words, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t violence and abuse. This is a realistic historical novel for the time period, including all its good and bad occurrences. It isn’t pretty, but it sure is gripping.

I read this book while traveling last summer and took copious notes. I finally got to putting it all together into a review, so I hope it makes sense months later. My apology for the delay. I did reread some of it to help revive my memories.

To author Sarah Bird – you have a new fan, even though the end made me want to scream. Yes, I get it. I’m hopeful. But why couldn’t you veer off historical accuracy to give me my solid fantasy? Clever, brilliant, and even though you made me a bit crazy, I can’t wait for your next book.

If you’ve read numerous fictional tales that take place during the American Civil War, and think you’ve read it all, think again and try this novel. This is a big book at 416 pages, but I could have read another 200 from this gifted author. Sarah Bird writes about the Civil War into the years after its end with fresh incite. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com.

What Did I Think?
Daughter Of A Daughter Of A Queen by Sarah Bird is such a compelling audiobook. Bird's book takes place during the Civil War and then during the time after during the seizure of the West. It is about this Black woman named Cathy Williams who ends up joining the Union army as a cook's assistant. Then, eventually she ends up as a solider and a part of the Buffalo soldiers. She was the only woman to have ever served with the Buffalo soldiers. Cathy was born into slavery, but her mother made it so she never considered herself a slave, but rather, a "daughter of a daughter of a queen." Anyways, while she's off spending time as a Buffalo soldier, she still tries to find her mother and sister. She also falls in love. There are definitely dangers associated with her dressing as a man - whether she is caught out as a woman or whether she is accused of being a gay man. You feel this sort of nervousness while reading the book and just hope that things will end up okay for Cathy.

So, okay, I do want to be a little bit upfront with you all. I have a hard time rating this five stars, because of certain views that I hold. Those views being that I feel like white authors should not tell the stories of Black women. From what I understand via Twitter, there are not as many opportunities for Black women in publishing. Therefore, when a white woman has a story from the point of view of a Black woman, it takes away a slot from a Black woman - as publishers do not publish an unlimited amount of books. So, you know, that was something that I have to point out because I am trying to be more conscious of this aspect of publishing and reading.


How's The Narration?
The audiobook of Daughter Of A Daughter Of A Queen is narrated by Bahni Turpin. Turpin is one of the best narrators. I think she really excels in narration of this book. Her voice and cadence is perfect for Cathy Williams. Plus, she just has this really engaging and compelling way of narrating. It makes the 16.5 hours of audiobook just fly on by. If you are desperate to read this book, I think that you absolutely must listen to the audiobook.

Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird

Brief Summary: This book tells the real life story of Cathy Williams, a former slave who was the first woman to serve with the Buffalo Soldiers.

As a historical fiction (especially civil war) and military lit fan, I was really excited about this book but ultimately disappointed. I found some aspects utterly fascinating but others incredibly boring to read. Bear with me as this is a tough review to write. I almost gave up on this novel several times and it almost went into my DNF pile; which is incredibly rare for me, but something kept me going.

Highlights: The most interesting aspect was the lengths that she went through to keep her gender a secret as women were not allowed to be soldiers at the time. Another interesting aspect was the introspective into why a woman would choose that path. The romance, military culture, and racial issues were other positive aspects.

What makes this book unique? I also loved that it is based on a real person and it’s definitely a story worth telling. The experience of African Americans in the army after the civil war and the barriers they faced was new and interesting learning for me.

Explanation of Rating: 3/5: Unfortunately this book really drags especially in the middle and was not enticing to finish. Ultimately, the ending though interesting was not satisfying.

For those who live in the world of “too many books too little time” this is one I can’t recommend. If you are looking to learn about the history of racial and ethnic challenges in the military pick it up. Cathy Williams is a heroine that I won’t forget and other women soldiers couldn’t legally forge her path until the 21st century.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

This story is based on a real woman by the name of Cathy Williams. Her Mama never let her forget she was the daughter of a daughter of a queen. No one can say she wasn't a strong woman, she served as the only known female Buffalo solider disguised as a man for 2 years. Hard to put down book!
Pub Date 04 Sep 2018
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

Told from the perspective of an African royal during the Civil War and Reconstruction, Bird gives Cathy’s character a strong and unique and voice. This story of hard times, heartache and rising above will have you nodding in solidarity and cheering with hope.

Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird is a compelling look at the story of Private Williams of the Buffalo Soldiers. Born a slave Cathy Williams is urged by her mother to release herself from bondage. The story of this young woman’s journey through the American Army disguised as a man is an amazing testament to her fortitude and unwavering dedication to finding her family. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Loved this book. I didn’t think I would because it started off slightly slow, but it picked up a few chapters in. It kind of went up and down for me, but overall, it was a great read.

The stuff of legends!

Cathy Williams' story is an inspiring example of rising beyond one's circumstances, of taking risks and making choices that take courage and determination without any guarantees. Her journey from slavery to serving with the Buffalo Soldiers disguised as a man is the stuff of legends.
Unfortunately I found the telling of her story not as engaging as it deserves to be.
I loved the cover! That took my 2.5 stars to 3!

A NetGalley ARC

<b>Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen</b> tells the story of Cathy Williams the first African-American woman to serve in the peacetime Army. I love when I come across an historical fiction that calls back bits of our forgotten past. Although there is not much written about this woman who posed as a man in order to enlist, Sarah Bird's account has the right amount of intrigue and romance to make a captivating story. Add to that the narrative genius of Bahni Turpin and you can't go wrong.

<img src="https://aaregistry.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Cathy-Williams-1868-.jpg"/>

This was an interesting, exciting story told from the perspective of an emancipated female slave who successfully pretended to be a man to join the US Army after the conclusion of the Civil War. Such a cool interpretation of this time period. It was riveting! However, the ending almost ruined it for me. Without giving too much away, it basically had three distinct possible endings and instead of choosing one of those endings, the author chose to use all three. It was such a let-down from an emotionally powerful story to go out with an eye-roll instead of a bang. This would have been a 5-star read for me until the end.

It was based on a true story, as far as I can tell from the epilogue, although I'm sure a significant amount of creative license was necessary to construct the narrative. I think book clubs would love this as there are so many great discussion points brought up.