Freedom Dues by Indra Zuno shares the lives of two indentured servants brought to the United States from England. As you read about their lives, you see they are basically treated as slaves for seven years, with no rights and no voice about the way they are treated.
The author did a lot of research and it show. I learned so much about the lives of these indentured servants and I began to get angry at the treatment they received. This is well researched, thought provoking and depressing as you learn more about an area in history I didn't know very much about.

I tried at least four different times to get into this book and I failed each one. I can't exactly pinpoint why so read the reviews of those who actually enjoyed it enough to get further than 20 %, I guess.

Indra Zuno's book Freedom Dues is the perfect blend of historical fiction and suspense.

At every turn, I got more and more engrossed in the challenges faced by the characters, Blair Eakins of Ireland and Mallie Ambrose of England. Over a decade of time, their story is told alternatingly.

Zuno took great care to research what life was like for indentured servants in America during the early 1720s and 1730s. You can see it in the rich details and complicated stories. Despite this story being fiction, I felt like I learned more about life in the early days of the USA.

My favorite stories are those that make me feel invested in the characters. When they win, I'm thrilled, and when they lose, I'm heartbroken. Through carefully crafted character development, Zuno gave me all that and more. With each chapter, her characters came to life in a realistic, if heartbreaking way. There was never a dull moment.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. I have never read A book about indentured servants. I learned a lot about the hard life that they suffer at the hands of their masters. If you are interested in learning about the life of indentured servants and slavery, this book is for you.

This is one of the harder reviews I've ever written.
In many ways Freedom Dues by debuting author Indra Zuno is a great book. It however has one, if you ask me, rather big issue for me that makes me scratch my head in frustration - both while I was reading the ebook version of the paperback AND now, while I'm considering its amount of stars.

Let me start by the beginning. Freedom Dues, a title that refers to the clothing former indentured servants get once they've ended their X-year term, is a story about two young Brits from early 1700s. One is Blair, an Irish Protestant teenager living in Scotland with his poor family. The other, Malvina, or Mallie, an 11yo orphan girl who is part of a gang of pickpockets, trying to snatch valuables off rich Londoners in the hopes of being able to buy food.

Blairs family is failing to make ends meet and the future seems bleak in many many ways. Hoping to marry and take care of his sweetheart, 15yo Blair reluctantly follows his brother onto a supposedly well stocked ship to the promised land: the Americas. Colonies that seem to make, if not rich, then certainly well off men of those who go -based on letters and stories by Blairs neighbours. In exchange for passage they sign up for 4 years of indenture: working for free, with the tradesmen or landowners who buy them. That Blair had a big wallop of foresight when he feels something is off about the nice stories they're being fed about their upcoming ship's voyage becomes clear the minute he tries to get off. It only gets worse after that...

Orphan Mallie finds herself in dire straits when she and her fellow pickpockets get caught trying to steal from a gentleman at a London market. Branded a thief, she's sentenced to several years of indenture in the colonies. But not before she experiences the horrors of prison life as poor girl...

Freedom Dues is historical fiction; fiction that has an undoubtedly well-researched base. Most people with an interest in history know at least something about the beginnings of the Land of The Free - in this regard a rather ironic title - so the fact that prisoners were often shipped off to the colonies and that many sought to make a better life for themselves in this faraway place won't come as a surprise. But Zuno gives an array of small and big details on her pages, that makes the early prison system of London, the long voyage to the Americas as an indentured, working as such, living together with slaves, the early meetings and trade with the Native tribes... all feel real. And makes the book, in its own gruesome way, informative at times.

Despite the fact I'm a contemporary historian and more interested in the Europe of 1933-1990 most of this particular past isn't unknown to me. But I still had "Ooooh" moments, or "What?!!!" thoughts. And if an historical fiction book can do that, it's always a bonus.

Freedom Dues follows Blair and Mallie on their respective journeys. On their way to and while in - I can't say it any other way - the clutches of their masters. Through their own eyes we see who they meet, by whom they're bought and how they're treated. Until the pair meets. And yes people, by that time we get a "true love"-story. If it's a happy one, only readers will know. (I always try to write reviews with as little spoilers as I can.) Anyway, all of the above is what made me think quite positive about Freedom Dues once I finished the book. But there is, as said before, something that bugs me. A lot.

For most of the book Blair and Mallie have their own, alternate chapters. It's when we're already over 2/3rds of the book when their lives intersect and what you're reading affects both of them. While it isn't uncommon for an author to choose two point of views, and to change that perspective chapter by chapter, that usually happens when there is *one* storyline in which both participate. You just get to see both their thoughts within the situation at play. Because that isn't the case in Freedom Dues it makes it - at times - a little harder to get attached to Zuno's characters.

And that's made worse by the true issue I have with this novel. What bothered me, and even made me stop reading and grab a different book at 60%, was the no holds barred, no break, constant suffering and agony. I rarely quit a book. Certainly not one I'm bound to write a review for! So why?

Freedom Dues lacks, for the most part, balance. It is, to put it simply, one giant bucket of utter misery. For both of them, but Mallie, as a young and pretty girl, is worse off than her male counterparts. Indentured servants could be treated, if unlucky, as bad a slaves. Think every horrible thing that *could* happen to an indentured servant in the Americas and it does in this book. Now, this might very well have been truth for many, but in a novel you can show that and still add depth in other areas, other moments to off set the bad and ugly. For good reason. As a result there is little character growth in the book, despite the fact both are legally adults at the end.
As a reader you do not get a breather. (This might also be a good time to give a general, fair warning: this book can trigger people as it describes abuse and rape and such).

And that's what made me force one. A breather. By reading a nice supernatural cozy mystery series in between. I am happy I finished Freedom Dues, because the title of the book was picked for good reason. And I dislike not knowing how a book ends that started so well. But I wish there had been more moments in which to pull the characters into my heart, to get to know them, see who they become because or despite of their hardship. A so-called 'lull' with some actual happiness could and probably would in effect also create an interesting tension- "its this going to last?" When is the sh*t hitting the fan again??" - or shock for when dark things would enter their lives again.

Yes, it makes every new bit of suffering worse, but every bit of joy equally great. It makes a person, but certainly the story, come to life more. And as a result I, the reader, would most likely be crying and smiling with them.
It's not as if I wasn't rooting for them - what they go through and what was supposedly a justice system, was appalling. I'm a very empathic person and therefore easy to jump up in defense of people, to get angry on their behalf - even when they're fictional. But it didn't run deep. I never really felt as if Blair and Mallie we're 'my friends', as one is wont to do with book characters that capture you. I won't truly miss them either.

The end of the novel was unexpected. Unexpected in a way that sudden luck was created and before I knew it, I hit the last page. Huh? While the ending in itself was a nice find, it missed a lot of the possible tension. One moment main character 1 is in utter panic and despair, with MC2 waiting another possible horror and then... done. We immediately know what is happening and in a mere extra pages their story ends.
It wasn't in style with the rest of the book and seemed rushed. Almost as if Zuno also thought “Okay, I've had enough of all this misery. Let's finish the thing! “ Ironically enough... just when I needed, wànted a little (extra) misery to make the ending really count, I didn't get it.

CONCLUSION & RATING
Indra Zuno has written a good debut in many ways. As said earlier, her research is showing, and I enjoyed that. It's well written in the way that she made scenes come to life. I was able to see the mid 1700s right before my eyes, learnt some things, and the author definitely managed to evoke some emotion in me, as explained before.

Said emotion was predominantly impotent rage: I've truly wanted to go back in time to hit, or you know, c*strate a few (non-existent) people. Freedom Dues show us that the history and early beginnings of the United States have many a black page - and a lot of them are shown, through main- and side characters.

It is because of the above-mentioned points that I would easily give this book 4 stars. Unfortunately I can't overlook the fact this might have been a DNF in different circumstances. True, I'm happy I finished it. Leaving Mallie and Blair with an eased mind felt much better, so I'll hereby tell you to do the same: finish it if you encountered the same issue. Open endings are annoying, right?

However, I'm conflicted as a result. What do I give a book that's part good historical fiction worthy of 4 stars, but also part serious lack of balance & character growth + sudden lacklustre ending?
Three then. 3***.
On the 1.00 to 10 scale that I prefer for its nuance, I'd give it a 6.5. Lower than I had anticipated starting the book, and knowing what authors put in books like these lower than I'd hoped to give. However, compared to another 3 star-review I just gave, probably fair.

NB: I might be rather critical in this review, but that doesn't mean I'll give up on Indra Zuno. Despite my criticism I understand why this book was published. And I'm sure many will disagree with my opinion as well. Based on the many qualities I did see, Zuno is an author to watch out for. And to try again if she publishes a new book. And I will. Try anew. After all... no matter how honest you try to be, reviewing is a subjective art. Which means a new book others won't like that much, I might love. I gave part of this book 4 stars, maybe the next novel gets them as a whole.

<i>I was given an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

REVIEWS POSTED
I've posted my review on Goodreads, Bookbub, and Amazon.nl but the latter won't show it . I have the same issue with a review for Booksprout, but I'll keep trying.

This is a long and winding historical fiction but having said that it is a book I am glad I have read.

Based in 1729 Ireland it is a story of hardship, famine and friendship. This is a book of courage, strength and beginning again in a new country. This is a story the has been well researched and takes you on a journey from Ireland to America, from freedom to slavery, from loss to the fight for a better life.

Heartbreaking but well worth the read even though I did find it a bit long and a bit depressing to a point. But that is what this story is about.

A great read and highly recommend to those who love a good historical, hard facts fiction.

This was a heavy read, not much happiness to be found here.
I gave it 3/5 stars because I love historical fiction, and it does seem to have been researched, and there is a story to tell here, but I didn't really care for how it was told.
Pacing was off.
Many many instances of "Four hours later..." and "A half hour later..." There has to be a better way for these transitions.

I have never seen this topic before in a novel. This book was well researched and had very solid writing. The subject of indentured servitude in the US before the American Revolution was very interesting and thought provoking.

Often readers will Have a nostalgic view of what life was like in colonial America. Freedom Dues washes away those rose tinted glasses in the first few paragraphs. I found the story to be earthy, gritty, and very realistic. It covers two characters, Blair and Mallie, and their experiences with being indentured servants. Beaten, abused, and cheated, the narrative is not for every reader. However, I think the lack of romantic polish makes it a worthwhile read. It is a testament to all the survivors of servitude; their lot was harsh and endurance not always possible.

An engaging, well-told historical fiction tale. I enjoyed the MC and other characters, and the writing style, as well as a sense of being in the room many times. Recommended.

I really appreciate the free review copy!!

This is such a good book, it provides a snapshot into how it must have been for slaves during this time by providing the reader with vivid and well researched descriptions and rich imagery allowing the plight, terror, horror and sorrow to leap of the page. It was well written with good characters and a good storyline from a horrific part of history. I really enjoyed it.

The little told story of indentured immigrants takes us on the frustrating journey of evil forces and devastating circumstances. As Mallie and Blair attempt to overcome incredible and unimaginable cruelty they are bound together by the slightest glimmer of hope which captivates our attention. This story will stick with the reader.

In the early 1700s, Irishman Blair Eakins travels to America, to be an indentured slave until his term is up and he can start to establish a new life for himself. The brutality and horror of being indentured is so much more than he had expected, but his will to live and find a new beginning is strong.

I really enjoyed this book. A lot of interesting characters and a very troubling story about slavery. The author was able to convey what slaves had to endure through this awful episode which made me sadden over and over. This book kept me engaged till the last page. I can definitely recommend reading it.

This is a review of the audiobook.

A beautiful debut historical novel that is richly textured, has intriguing characters, and does a great job of integrating historical information into the story line. I really liked this book and am looking forward to seeing more from this author.

Freedom Dues, by Indra Zuno, is a compelling look at indentured servitude in 1700s America. The story is written in such a way that the reader might feel almost like they're "experiencing" this life through the eyes of the two main characters.
Blair Eakins is a 15yo living in Ireland with his family. The famine is well under way so he decides to go with his brother to find a better life in Philadelphia. In order to pay for passage he must commit to being an indentured servant 4 years.
Mallie Ambrose is a young pickpocket living in London. After she's caught stealing a handkerchief she's sentenced to 7yrs of indentured servitude and sent to Maryland.
They're both forced to endure inhumane treatment. Years later they meet after they've been bought by the same owner. Eventually they escape and find unexpected help from the Delaware Native Americans. Despite the kindness that they receive, they live in constant fear of being caught.

*sigh*

I had high hopes for this book. I love period stories and the setting of this one had me intrigued.

However, I only read about 8% of the book before I DNF’d (did not finish) and the primary reason was the dialogue. It was smart, I guess. It was seamless, I think. The problem is I had trouble reading what the characters were saying.

Maybe it’s a personal preference but I really, really HATE when authors write dialogue in an accent. Trying to decipher the accent and what was actually being said kept distracting me from the story and I just never really was able to get into the story. Unfortunately, it lead to me being mad as reading this book became a chore.

I’ve read stories set all over the world. I’ve seen authors stay true to colloquialisms of a time period or geographical area and I’m completely fine with that. I also love when authors simply state, “he said, in his thick accent” leaving it to my own imagination.

Perhaps one day, I’ll get over this and pick this up again as I see the reviews are wonderful but for now, it’s a serious no.