While I’m not a historical fiction fan normally the fantasy element pulled me in. If one thing is gonna get me interested in something it’s time travel.

That being said even the time travel trope wasn’t enough to pull me in. It’s slow paced but also over complicated so you have to pay really close attention to tons of information and characters being dumped on you while the plot itself goes in slow motion.

But if slow paced, character centric, historical fiction with a time travel twist sounds like something you may like then give it a try.

An outstanding multigenerational read of a family cursed to fall through time. This is a story of love, the bonds of family, and the inevitably of fate. I loved the non-linear plot, time jumps, and really enjoyed how it all came together at the end. I highly enjoyed the Black history and bipoc characters and the complications it added for the family since most of the story took place in a time of slavery. Overall, it is a very compelling read. I felt it lacked in description and could have painted a better visual image. I wish it had some visual imagery, something to reference the timelines, too. I would have loved a visual of the family tree, the Bible that was referenced, or even some of the research notes that were talked about.

The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison is a historical fiction fantasy novel that spans generations of Bridge family that is plagued with a curse through which one member of each family unit (through the male line) falls back in time. The story opens in 1964 with Cecily Bridge who inherits her father's family's farm and uncovers evidence of the curse and then is on a mission to figure things out before she too succumbs to the curse.

I originally wanted to read this book because I like history and I'm starting to enjoy historical fiction. This book having a fantasy spin also added to my interest levels because while I know the genre blend exists, I have not read many by black authors. Generally speaking, though the pacing is slow, the story is an enjoyable read because you get to learn about the various moments of Bridge history and real history, gaining small pieces of the puzzle that Cecily is trying to figure out. This book is better suited to a physical copy or in conjunction with a reading journal because there are a lot of dates (the story is not told linearly), and though the chapters are linked in the ebook, it is still a hassle to go back-and-forth when you want to get your bearings on the passage of time. Also, without the family tree available in the beginning, I was lost on how the characters were related because there were so many to remember and some who seemed to barely be mentioned, if at all. I personally would have liked an image of the record in the family bible that marked the Bridge family.

There were loose ends in this story that frustrated me to no end. I admit that they may have been explained or alluded to and I missed it. The ending itself left me a bit unsatisfied because I personally felt like the answers I was seeking weren't answered. However, I can also admit that this may also be done by design. Black people attempting to research their family history and piece together stories further back than 1 or 2 generations can be difficult and my frustration may mirror the frustration Cecily felt throughout her research (though she had some minor advantages of family members who kept their own records). Still, some things were never tied up and, as a reader, I wish they were. I did also find some areas where the logic of the curse did not make sense to me once some key findings were revealed.

The book's title and cover image also seem to allude to the bible story of Adam and Eve, which is supposed to be the story of mankind. The Bridges also kept pieces of their story (the records of family members) in a bible. The curse is also passed down through the male line just as sin was passed down through Adam. There were also some things that I think lend to this idea, but they'd be spoilers, so I won't put them here.

Overall, it was a decent read that I should probably read again at some point because I'm sure there are things I've missed.

Cicely Bridge-Davis is a history professor who begins a race against time to relieve her family of a curse that has quite literally fallen upon them. It is a captivating and thought provoking novel that explores the themes of family, love, and sacrifice. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become emotionally invested in each of their journeys. I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to award this book a 5-star rating, but I will hold off until I have the physical copy in my possession. It is truly deserving of a re-read, especially considering how the story jumps between timelines! I sincerely appreciated the time travel aspect of the book. Reading it in digital format made it challenging to keep up with the dates as we travel back and forth between time, so if that's your choice, pay attention! I am sure having the physical copy will make a much better experience with this book! That and the fact that it left me wanting more at the end is my only gripe!

a gorgeous time travel story with a very nice motif. i really enjoyed this book a lot, if you're into historical fantasy it was a great choice. thanks for the arc.

I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley. I requested this book when it came up under the keyword time travel. The time travel aspect of this story exists, but not in the way any typical time travel adventure or story tends to happen. If you are looking for a Back to the Future, Doctor Who, or even Bill & Ted style story - this is not your book.
If you'd like a story that crosses generations, explores family stories (curses) and traditions of people in the southern US, this may be more your speed. This is more of the "multi-generational epic" -time travel is present, but as a method to move through the family generations, and as a thread that haunts them all.
The book follows the Bridge family, plagued by a curse that sends a child born from the male line back in time. Randomly. There isn't a goal to the time travel, nor a reason as to why a male or female travels. Just that it happens. And then the traveler needs to do what they can to survive. Some of the people who travel make their journey as adults, though some as children. The preparation, the confusion, the legend that surrounds the curse is really interesting.
I was pulled in to the characters, each time period, and their connections to the family history. I enjoyed the book for what it was, but was disappointed that there was no goal or true reasoning for the time travel. The resolution of the story fell flat for me. I think, had I gone into this with different expectations, I may have appreciated it more. Good book, good story, just not for me.

"The Fallen Fruit" by Shawntelle Madison offers a captivating journey through fictional history as Cecily Bridge — Davis unravels her families darkest secrets on inherited land. White the story is a bit slow and the characters challenging to connect with, the historical depth adds a unique flavor. The E-Reader experience might pose some challenges, but the intriguing narrative earned it a solid 4 stars. Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishing, and Shawntelle Madison for this ARC.

This book is an excellent story of family, heartbreak, overcoming hardship and prejudice, and so much more. The Bridge family is cursed to where one child born from every generation is sent back in time, and they never know when it will happen or what time period they will be sent to.

I will say that the timelines were a bit hard to follow throughout the story, but this is the case with every piece of media involving time travel that I’ve read or seen. I would often have to look back and reference the beginnings of the chapter and previous parts of the book to remember which time I was currently reading about. However, the characters were distinctive and well written enough that it was easy enough to figure out what was going on after doing so.

I enjoyed the mystery elements to the story, and trying to piece together bit by bit what’s really going on with this family and how, if ever, they will stop the curse. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it to others. 4/5 stars.

This book was EVERYTHING to me. It spoke to me in so many ways. I will recommend to any and everyone. It spoke to me about knowing where you came from. It’s so important to know the story of your people in order to break these generational curses and I believe this story explained that in one of the most creative ways possible.

I love historical fiction and fantasy, so the combination of the Bridge family history and time travel was compelling to me. The idea of following this free black family that is trying to navigate the difficulties of falling back in time is unique and also so intriguing because that would be a truly terrifying experience in the history of the United States. The one reason I am taking a star off of my rating is because I wanted to connect more with the characters. This book has storylines that should have made me cry, but the devastation and anguish that I would expect of the main characters did not come through for me. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others interested in historical fiction and light fantasy.

Never interfere with past events. Always carry your free Negro papers. Search for the survival family packs in the orchard and surrounding forest. The ribbon on the pack designates the decade the pack was made to orient you in time. Do not speak to strangers unless absolutely necessary..


The story had a great basis and it failed. There were so many characters it was overwhelming. The switching from one date to the next wasn’t seamless and left me trying to reference who was who and what time period we were now in. I think this book could be great however it needs work.

I loved this book so much! Thank you for allowing me to read it. I will be recommending it to everyone I know. My review is linked below!!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6115726235

I knew just because of the description that I would love to read a book like this, the idea is truly amazing an I'm ashamed to say I haven't read one like this before. I'll admit I almost laughed out of suprise an had to reread the word 'daddy longlegs' to make sure I wasn't just misreading the sentence. I've never been much of a fan for time travel nor have I real liked a book so much that had it but I loved the mix of the bridge family an time travel mashed together. I deeply appreciated the details of this book that made me hyperfocus on it.

I would definitely recommend for the ones that are interested to hop on this book 😊

Fascinating historical fiction/mystery with a surprising twist.
A time traveling family curse: The Bridge family curse: means living half in this world, and disappearing into another leads to a family conundrum.
Switching between the 18th CAD thru the 20th CAD, a family mystery is cleverly revealed and a resolution is ultimately pursued. Told from a unique perspective of a “free” African American family in the USA, the culture, education, and historical lifestyle are revealed. Will a modern well educated mother find a way to end the curse?
I couldn’t put this book down. I was fascinated with Millie’s story. The writing style was tight and clean. Well done, Ms. Madison. I am a new loyal fan

I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I am a huge fan of The Time Traveler's wife and the concept of time travel is my favorite so I was excited to start reading this; however, this story did not measure up to my expectations. The pacing was very slow and there was excessive exposition.

I was really excited about the premise of this story and loved that it was time travel/historical fiction combined, while focusing on an aspect of historical fiction that there aren't as many books about, vs. other historical times/events.
While overall this was enjoyable, it wasn't a top read for me - it was somewhat difficult to keep track of characters/time.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

On a rainy day in May 1964, history professor Cecily Bridge-Davis begins to search for the sixty-five acres of land she inherited from her father’s family. The quest leads her to uncover a dark secret: In every generation, one offspring from each Bridge family unit vanishes—and is mysteriously whisked back in time. Rules have been established that must be followed to prevent dire consequences:

Never interfere with past events. Always carry your free Negro papers. Search for the survival family packs in the orchard and surrounding forest. The ribbon on the pack designates the decade the pack was made to orient you in time. Do not speak to strangers unless absolutely necessary.

Fascinating premise. This was well-written, but I often felt like there were too many people/pieces in play and it was hard to keep track of everything without a visual. It would be nice if there was a family tree or something visual to refer back to. Very interesting read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to love this one so badly! Madison had a great premise for her debut historical fiction/ fantasy novel and the beginning of story really pulled me in. After the first couple chapters, I began to find issues. The flow of the storyline was so hard to follow and the amount of characters being thrown in was incredibly overwhelming. It is a very slow-paced book that requires a lot of attention. Maybe had it been a physical copy that I could refer back to previous chapters easily, I would have an easier time digesting all of the details.

The good:
The premise and story was interesting and engaging. It was detailed and I thoroughly enjoyed the writing.

The less good:
First of all, I think this needs to be digested in a hard copy format. There are so many dates and names that you will want to go back and forth to reference and the was impossible on the kindle. I also would have loved to view the family tree, but couldn’t because you can’t zoom in on kindle. I thought it would be really cool to include a “copy” of the birth and death ledger from the family bible at the end as well, just a thought.

The bad:
I felt unsatisfied by the ending. I get it, but I was bummed.
I also am left with so many unanswered questions.

Overall I still liked it. Like a 3.5-3.75 stars.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley

The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison is a historical novel with a bit of time travel. The Bridge family has been traveling back in time for generations, with one child from each Bridge man cursed to do so, but no one knows which child it will be or when.

The narrative is broken up into different time periods where we see the disappearance of several family members through the eyes of others (Rebecca and Amelia) and their own forced jump in time (Luke and Cecily). We open with Amelia who knows that either her or her brother will go back but they aren’t sure which one. Because of this, her brother carries a pack with him at all times and freedom papers. When he jumps back in time, Amelia grieves but thinks she’s safe only to realize she could still be sent back in time.

Amelia goes to a university to study only to meet Cecily, her descendant who has made it her mission to prepare Amelia so they can change the course of the family curse.

The Fallen Fruit was very well-written and would appeal to fans of Kindred who are looking for more explorations of Black American families traveling back in time. Each POV felt distinct and their emotions were palpable. Rebecca was perhaps my favorite because she’s an intelligent woman who had something completely unexplained happen right before her and she’s trying to hold things together as everyone else is panicking.

I would recommend this to fans of Kindred or those looking for historical fiction with a light speculative touch.