I really enjoyed this book! I always love a good historical fiction book and the time traveling theme was really interesting. Loved the characters as well.

The Fallen Fruit is historical fiction with a time travel twist. The Bridge family are cursed where one in every family of the male line falls back in time. The story follows several generations of the Bridge family and the effects the curse has on them.
For me some of the story dragged though I appreciated the attention to detail and historical accuracy. I found the bits of farm life slow and hard to get through. I did like Amelia/Emily 's story the most at the end of the book. I was even a little bit surprised by the choices she made.
I could feel the mothers anxiety at watching her children not knowing which one she would lose. In each story I could feel the grief of loss and having to move forward. It was very touching
All the thoughts and feelings expressed are my own. Thank you to net galley for this arc.

Thank you to Net Galley and publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of this book. I’m often a sucker for historical fiction. I think it helps my brain latch on to history a bit more.

This book particularly centers around the idea that one family has a course of losing a child per family line to falling back in time. As free Black families, the fear of traveling back in time would be particularly terrifying. To help with this, the Bridge family always has their freedom
papers at the ready. But this doesn’t help if you “fall” back so far those papers don’t make sense.

This is a really interesting concept and I mostly liked it. But it was a bit slow for me. I found some of the early chapters dragging on. And the back and forth jumping between times and characters felt like a lot to track at times. And ultimately the story felt a little convoluted. Like some things just weren’t tracking for me completely. But all in all, I enjoyed this book and blew through it. It was an easy book to read and easy to get sucked in once you got the premise in your mind.

“The Fallen Fruit” by Shawntelle Madison is an epic story of a family plagued by a generational curse where one offspring vanishes back in time. This book has all the elements that I enjoy reading, time travel and a familial generational curse. Unfortunately for me, I had a hard time relating to the characters so it was slow very slow read for me which is the reason for the 3* rating. The writing style is well done and very descriptive so I think many others will enjoy the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Amistad for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for an advanced reader copy for review. All opinions are my own honest viewpoints and will not provide spoilers.

Shawntelle Madison has woven a historical fiction story that has the reader waiting with bated breath for the conclusion. While this novel features time travel, it is uniquely done with characters of African American descent. As the reader follows the journey of the Bridges’ family and the curse that plagues them, there was one question that arose in my mind, “How would you survive?” The Fallen Fruit is a compelling read that makes you want to know about one’s own family history and what it means to know the land that your ancestors come from.

I am not sure about this I think it fell flat for me!

It was hard connecting to the characters and following the story!

Thanks NetGalley

This one was not for me. The storyline didn’t flow well and I could not connect with the characters.
****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

This was a brilliant book. The interconnectivity of time was clever and well thought out, the characters are robust. Extremely well written.

I loved this book. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. When I read that this was touted to be similar to Kindred in the time travel aspect, I knew I had to read it. While the time travel and the connection between the Bridges was more complex than in Kindred, I really enjoyed how it all wove together. I cannot imagine disappearing and falling back in time, possibly into danger. As a child even! Thank goodness some of the characters had studied their family history and knew the land so well in their current time so they could figure things out once they fell.

What a beautifully written story. I highly recommend this!

"On a rainy day in May 1964," Cecily Bridge-Davis embarks on a captivating quest to unravel the mysteries hidden within the sixty-five acres of land she inherited. In this enthralling tale, the author skillfully weaves together history, time travel, and family secrets, creating a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The discovery of a dark family secret sets the stage for a compelling journey. The rules laid out for each generation of the Bridge family add layers of intrigue, creating a sense of urgency and consequence. The prohibition against interfering with past events and the necessity of carrying free Negro papers add a historical depth that grounds the story in the turbulent times it traverses.

The author's attention to detail is commendable, as Cecily uses a family Bible and a map marked with mysterious container locations in her pursuit of the truth. As she ventures through time, encountering a circle of ancestors, each with their own trials and tribulations, the narrative unfolds into a rich tapestry of interconnected lives.

The characters are vividly portrayed, from the courageous Sabrina Humbles to the resilient Luke Bridge, whose journey takes him through battlefields, slavery, and the twists of time itself. The challenges faced by Rebecca Bridge and the burden carried by Amelia Bridge add emotional depth to the storyline.

The race against time and the clock to uncover the origins of the curse and find a way to break it keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The intricate plot, coupled with the well-developed characters, makes for a truly immersive experience. The story not only entertains but also prompts reflection on themes of courage, family bonds, and the enduring impact of choices made across generations.

In "A Race Through Time," the author has crafted a compelling narrative that seamlessly blends historical fiction with elements of mystery and time travel. The result is a captivating journey that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages to uncover the answers that will ultimately free Cecily's family forever.

I kept waking up to read just one more chapter.
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.

A wonderfully beautiful historical saga that shows how terrifying time travel could be for one African American family. So many questions I had never even pondered. How could you prove you were free if you were suddenly swept back to times where slavery was rampant? How would you handle having nothing and no way to provide for yourself? How would you deal with losing all the freedoms you had fought so hard for along with your whole family all at once?

This book opened my eyes in a good way to another side of time travel fiction and kept the twists coming. The characters drew me in and made me care about their fates. I am already contemplating reading this again just in case I missed another subtle detail. Just an amazing read.

Special thanks to net galley, Amistad publishing, and Shawntelle Madison for this digital ARC.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book and the imagery present in each chapter. The idea was very original and kept my interest throughout. The book started out a little slow but quickly picked up and maintained my attention. I either love books and finish them in a matter or days or struggle to complete them. That was definitely not the case with this book, I devoured it.