I was so excited when I was given this ARC. The only thing I knew about Sarah, Queen Victoria's "Goddaughter" is what I saw on the TV show Victoria, which is just she existed and other people raised her. Sarah was a daughter of an African King. Her family was murdered and for some reason she was spared but she became a slave of the new king. The British were trying to stop slavery and calm all of the fighting in Africa, as well as turn them all into Christians. The African king handed over one of the slaves as a present to Queen Victoria. Sarah was maybe six-ish when this happened. Queen Victoria just dictated that now she would live with this family, and now that family and also dictated whom she would marry. She was even sent back to Africa to do missionary work, which seems like that would have been traumatizing for her. While Sarah always had a roof over her head and new clothes, she had no choice in her life at all. It was a sad existence as she knew she always had to do whatever the Queen wanted. I could not put the book down. It was a great story. Obviously this is a fictionalized account but it has made me want to read more about Sarah which is why I love historical fiction.

-A child's mind can only hold on to tragedy for so long.

-"I wish he weren't dead, but most of the people I've known have died, so I expect death to come more often than not."

-"You are going to meet the queen of England. That is not a difficult girl's life but a brilliant child's future."

-I might have shared his enthusiasm if I hadn't been forced to change my name, clothing, and gods and become a gift to a queen I'd never heard of until a few days before.

-At twelve years old, I'd lived a hundred years and died a thousand deaths.

-I was a thing to be scrutinized, judged, and criticized.

-There was always someone somewhere, a queen or a king, who held my life like a puppeteer, making me dance on the stage with no music or audience to cheer me on.

-"Bad things always happen when you love too deeply."

I was so excited to read the real life story (told in a fictionalized novel) of Aina, a West African princess named Sarah Forbes Bonetta by Queen Victoria. The Queen's ward, Aina/Sarah endures much heartbreak and joy over the course of her life. Parts of the story were hard to read (and thus, hard to endure), including the murder of her entire family as a young child.

This book is a great introduction to this little-known story. Personally, I felt the story lacked depth at time and the pacing was a little weird. It ended pretty abruptly, but that is likely due to the amount of historical record we have about Aina/Sarah's life during that period. This book has inspired me to learn more about her life!

I felt that the writing in this novel was very good, with beautiful descriptions of life throughout Africa, on ships, and in England. Made me want to travel! As a scholar of Africa (in another life) I also felt that the author used appropriate terminology for the time period (i.e. tribes) and not demeaning or dehumanizing terms to discuss colonialism, warfare, etc.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and William Morrow, William Morrow Paperbacks. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Publishing: October 3, 2023
Series: Standalone
Pages: 400

This is a first time read by Denny S. Bryce, new author to this reader. Loving all things royal, I was delighted to have the opportunity to read “The Other Princess”. Having very little knowledge of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, I found the book very interesting but only touching on the surface of her life…not much depth. African Princess Aina witnessed the death of her entire family. Afterwards, she was taken captive by a sea captain and later rescued by Queen Victoria of England. She is then renamed Sarach, educated as an English woman and designated the godchild of the Queen. The book is based on a biographical/factual account of her life and how she faced adversities…even in situations concerning the Queen. If not already knowledgeable reading this African ward of Queen Victoria, this will be a book to consider although I wanted to have read a bit more depth into her life.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I wanted to be able to give this a better review as I was very interested to learn more about Sarah. Unfortunately, I found the story very surface-level. There was no depth to any of the character and not as much historical detail as I would have expected, which made it difficult for the reader to become immersed in the story. I am not entirely sure, but I think it may have been better if it wasn’t written in the first person.

Imagine witnessing your royal family’s slaughter at only five years old, being enslaved for two years, and then traveling by ship to England to become Queen Victoria’s ward. Imagine being renamed, never truly having your own home, and having limited choices. Yes, Sarah was Queen Victoria’s ward. She was African royalty, but she was also essentially a prisoner to other people’s ideas of who she should be. Sarah Bonetta Forbes was a fascinating person. I am so glad to know this book is in the world. It will lead to rich discussions in many book clubs.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Other Princess tells the story of a young girl who was rescued from certain death and brought to England to be Queen Victoria’s “goddaughter”. This comes with a lot of perks, but it also comes with a lot of responsibilities and expectations.

I knew very little about this real-life woman, so it was interesting in that perspective, but I feel like a lot was added for dramatic effect that might not have been necessary. And there were times that the narrative arc felt off. For example, there was one time when Sarah was very excited about a ball and we saw a lot of the preparations and discussions leading up to it, but then we don’t get to see anything of the ball itself. There were several other similar incidents. The story was okay overall and again, I did like learning about Sarah.

I was vaguely aware of Sarah Forbes Bonetta before reading this work but I found this work very interesting and I want to learn more about her story. I also enjoyed the fact that it overlapped in region and time with the movie The Woman King. I liked seeing the Agojie and Dahomey from an outsider's perspective. There is little fiction set in the pre-colonial/early colonial period in Africa so this work is a novel addition.

Aina was a princess in Africa whosefamily and tribe were killed by another tribe. She was taken prisoner but was singled out by a British sea captain and taken back to England. She there became a god daughter to the Queen of England but she also became a political pawn. She survived heartache after heartache but kept a good attitude.

Compelling historical fiction about an African Princess who was youngest child of an African King and the godchild of Queen Victoria. Princess Aina is strong willed and determined to win from birth. When civil war erupts among the African tribes, her father, chief of the tribe and the whole family is slaughtered. Luckily, Princess Aina is taken captive and is rescued by the colonial representative of Queen Victoria who takes her back to England. She is renamed Sarah Forbes Bonnetta, educated in English ways and is designated as the godchild of the Queen. The book is an amazing biographical account of Sarah's life, her grit and determination in the face of manifold adversities. I loved the way Sarah/Aina held her own through various situations even against the obdurate Queen. A must-read for anybody inclined to historical fiction. I loved it!!

Thank you Netgalley, William Morrow and Denny S Bryce for the ARC!!

What a story of a young girl, daughter of an African tribal king, who survives the massacre of her family and enslavement to become the goddaughter of the queen of England. Somehow, I couldn’t like or connect with the main character whose youthful personality was so off-putting. Add to that the large amount of time spent describing galas, balls, weddings, etc. and the really condensed time spent on her adult life, I was left wanting something meatier.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC to read and review.

This four-part saga is told in first person and based on the life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, an African princess who became the ward of Queen Victoria. Author Denny Bryce has completed impeccable research to bring this little-known historical figure to life. Bryce uses a blue pendant throughout the novel as a tangible, emotional touch point connecting readers to the haunting, tragic loss of the royal family of the princess. Bryce’s vivid descriptions of West Africa, Windsor Castle, Sierra Leone and Lagos Colony take the reader from the brink of seven-year-old Princess Aina’s execution to Queen Victoria’s death almost six decades later. Fans of the PBS series, Victoria, will appreciate the vivid details of Queen Victoria’s household, including the death of Prince Albert, and the wedding of Princess Alice. The superb storytelling, analogies, and wisdom expressed through Sarah’s thoughts and travels across continents reveals the rich history and political situations in Africa and England spanning 1843-1900. Denny S. Bryce has created a gripping account of an intelligent young girl with no choices who becomes a royal insider; a bold woman fighting for independence, love, family, and home.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I had never heard of Sarah Forbes Bonetta prior to picking up The Other Princess, although I was aware to some extent of her “colonial godchildren,” even if it was due to references in passing. So I am so happy Denny S. Btyce did the work to bring Sarah’s story to life.
Sarah began her life as an African princess named Aina, and she ends up first being kidnapped and enslaved, then rescued from enslavement to be “gifted” to Queen Victoria. These experiences can be quite difficult to read, and I appreciate that Bryce handled them with care, while centering Aina/Sarah’s complex emotions through it all, carrying the baggage from her past, as she deals with racism and has to learn to adjust to the new world around her, being taken in by the British Royal family. There’s a great contrast between the harsh, bigoted judgments of her society and the love Queen Victoria and some other members of the BRF show her, creating an intriguing parallel not just to the the modern Royals and their alleged treatment of Meghan, but also to Western society and its complicated relationship with its colonial past more broadly.
I’ve often spoken about how fictional biographies can be somewhat hit-or-miss for me, given how it impacts pacing. However, I did not have an issue with that here, as while this book does expand on admittedly limited information, it works on a narrative level, making me feel engaged with her throughout. I never felt like there were parts that dragged out just for the sake of it, and the timeline made sense. And the end felt even more bittersweet, given it coincides with her death, coming far too young.
This is a beautiful tribute to Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a woman that should be known in her own right. I’d recommend this to readers looking for more historical fiction about Black women, especially if you’re also a fan of books by authors like Vanessa Riley.

The Other Princess tells the fictionalized account of Sarah Forbes Davies, an African-born princess raised as Queen Victoria's ward. This is one of those remarkable stories mostly lost to modern historical accounts of the time. Because this is such a unique story, I recommend the book to lovers of historical fiction.
Bryce captured Sarah's early years the best, perhaps because there is a more extensive historical record of that time - multiple contemporaneously published stories of her rescue from the Dahomians and her early time in England exist.
Where the novel boggs down, for me, is in the accounting of Sarah's betrothal to Mr. Davies. Bryce bases the details of Sarah's life on public accounts; however, the dialogue feels too contemporary. It felt like a GenZ teen rebelling against the constraints of Victorian England. Also, the book seemed to switch genres from historical fiction to romance midway - and it turned into a rather melodramatic to swoony romance, which is not my literary preference. Bryce breezes through most of Sarah's post-marriage years, but this is where the author could have expanded on the historical account available and provided the reader with a more detailed and embellished story.
Readers looking for a female-oriented, unique historical tale - and who enjoy romantic fiction and don't mind modernish dialogue in their historical characters - will enjoy this book. Most readers will be shocked that they knew nothing about Queen Victoria's African ward. That, alone, makes this book worthy of consideration. Book clubs would find a lot to discuss within the novel's themes.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.

After her entire family is slaughtered, African Princess Aina is rescued from death by Captain Forbes and presented to Queen Victoria as a gift. Renamed Sarah and taught to be English, she initially lives with the loving Forbes family. She is introduced to Queen Victoria and begins a confusing journey between households. Living between two worlds, Sarah must decide who she is, and who she wants to become.

Overall this was a well written and engaging story. I enjoyed reading the passages about Africa, I've read very little about the continent. I felt for Sarah, at the same time seeing the advantages her connection with the royal family brought. Overall, well worth reading!

This is truly a touching story.

At times it's very hard to read, but it a part of history that has been hidden and needs to be shared.

I found myself having to put to down at time from feeling the weight of the story, but then I was so connect to what was happening I would rush back when I could to see what unfolding.

I highly recommend reading this book if you enjoy learning about hidden stories in history.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoy stories about women hidden from history, and this novel about Queen Victoria’s African goddaughter brought to life a woman I had never heard of before. Born an African princess, Sarah Forbes Bonetta, was saved from enslavement and brought to England. I loved how the author portrayed Sarah as someone who is constantly at the whims of others but was a fighter who insisted upon writing her own narrative. She made her own way in life and found the love and control she yearned for, which is admirable. She was a strong woman and should be remembered in history.

Following the massacre of her family a seven year old African princess is saved from enslavement and possible execution by a British official. He takes the newly renamed Sarah to London as a gift for Queen Victoria. The queen takes a personal interest in Sarah. What folllows is a tale of a very resourceful young woman's fight for survival in uncertain circumstances. She becomes adept at reading people and adapting. Based on a true story this is Sarah's tale, she survives, even thrives but is she ever free?
Thanks to NetGalley for an eGalley of this title.

A fascinating tale coming from Victorian times! This is not your average princess story. I enjoyed getting to read this story. Sarah is a force to be reckoned with and she does the best she can with the lot she has been given. This is not a sugarcoated, fluffy princess story. It does a very good job of capturing the spirit of a woman who has survived many traumas from a young age, and been forced into new worlds without being given a chance to process her grief and PTSD.

The Other Princess follows the life of Sarah Forbes Bonetta. Her story beings with the slaughter of her family, being enslaved by a neighboring tribe and rescued moments before she was “sacrificed” by her captor. Her story continues as she is given as a “gift” to Queen Victoria. Her story continues as she is moved around as Queen Victoria sees fit. She seeks safety and a home but the nightmare of her past continues to appear.
This was my first knowledge of Sarah Forbes Bonetta’s story. Denny S. Bryce does an amazing work of describing the scenery that the reader can see the river and villages in Africa, feel the storm on the ship during the long journey across the sea to England and even laugh at seeing a young girl hiding behind the curtain at Windsor Castle. Bryce developed Bonnetta’s character to the point that it was easy to feel what she was feeling with each move and each new obstacle put in her way. My only negative comment was the abrupt ending of her story. It left me wondering who was with her in the end and where is her final resting place. Did she make it home? Thank you, NetGalley, William Morrow Paperbacks and Denny Bryce for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars

I received a complimentary Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Denny S. Bryce, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is my first book by this author who has multiple books. I enjoyed the historical aspect of this book so very much. I had no clue about Aina Sarah Forbes Bonetta. She was an African princess and enslaved child until her rescue by a British commander. An African warlord "gifted" her to Queen Victoria who became her guardian and "godmother".

This story is fascinating and captivating. It is most interesting as it happens as the British are ending slavery and it shows much of the same issues in our society over race and Africa have not changed one bit. Sad, but true.

RECOMMEND!