If you have ancestors that you’ve wondered about and know they may have lived around the time of this raid or was involved in it, read. This. Book.

If you want a more factual, document-like telling of a part of American history, read. This. Book.

I felt more like I was reading documents than hearing a story but talk about extremely extensive and thorough details pre raid, of the raid and post raid.

The most beautiful part of this novel is the names. Something tells me the majority of the names given throughout are not well known whatsoever and are of the many slaves, freed, fighting Black Americans of this country’s history. Although we hear much about Harriet Tubman, which drew me to the novel in the first place, I felt that a legacy was given to all those named, maybe some for the first time in a public work.

This is such an important story of our own history. I am grateful to have listened to Tubman's narrative and learn more about the origins of Combee and it's influence on the river collective.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. I loved the deep history with true oral accounts. I writer's passion and love for this is felt in ever word. Once I understood the relationship of the writer to the situation, my love grew exponentially. It did read like a typical history book. That does not take away from the charm, as long as you enjoy the knowledge gained. Highly recommend for my history buff fans!

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Dr. Eddie L. Fields-Black, RB Media, and NetGalley.

This is so much more than a history of the Combahee River Raid. This covers the history of the area from colonization until 1863 and beyond. It also goes over the basic laws that governed the Transatlantic Slave Trade and how that functioned on the West African coast as well as in English colonies and later the United States. To label this as 'thorough' does not do it justice. This is unbelievably meticulous. Dr. Fields-Black outdid herself with this. I'm blown away.

This offers a fascinating look at Harriet Tubman and her family, of course. Also, other Black folks of this era and beyond are discussed: Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth come immediately to mind. This isn't a biography of Tubman. There already exist at least two very thorough biographies of her, as the author herself points out. This does give some biographical information on other participants in the Combahee River Raid.
This really offers a tremendous education not only on this particular Raid but also how chattel slavery functioned during the Antebellum period full stop.

I pre-ordered this in book form as soon as I read about it, though this review is based on the audiobook. After listening to this, I also ordered a copy from Audible. I look forward to rereading this. This is information dense, and I need to return to it to see what it can add to my own personal studies of US chattel slavery. The information is organized in logical ways, and the narrative flows smoothly.
I highly recommend this for my abolitionist friends as well as my history friends. This offers something for everyone.
Harriet Tubman was amazing. She has been a personal hero of mine my entire life. May she rest in power♥️

The narrator of this history book is Machelle Williams. Her voice is crisp, educated, and relaxed. Her skill with narration makes this feel not at all long or like a history lecture. Well done.

Thank you to Dr. Eddie L. Fields-Black, RBMedia, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

Combee is a meticulously researched and compellingly written account of a pivotal moment in American history. Cate Lineberry successfully brings to light the bravery and strategic brilliance of Harriet Tubman, offering readers a deeper appreciation of her legacy and the impact of the Combahee River Raid. This book is a valuable addition to Civil War literature and an inspiring read for anyone interested in the history of Black freedom and resistance.

5 Stars!!!!! Combee, by Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black is a well researched history about the extraordinary Harriet Tubman, and one of her most important accomplishments, the Combahee River raid. This incredible true story is not boring, or dry, it is an engaging audio book that had me memorized from beginning to end. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing this exceptional book to life.