Red Clay is a multigenerational story written about two families-- Parkers and the
Red Clay by Charles B. Fancher, set in a fictional town of Red Clay, Alabama, this is a multigenerational epic depicting the fate two families whom may live together, yet their lives are different. Charles B. Fancher in this wonderful work of historic fiction keeps you engaged as the stories of love, loyalty, and injustice with the back drop of a hot humid Red Clay, Alabama. Red Clay is one book that I would read over and over again.

Thank you Charles B Fancher for blessing me with this ARC copy.

'Red Clay' by Charles B. Fancher and narrated by Dion Grahamis my new favorite book of 2025! This is multigenerational family saga / historical fiction at its very best. It is uplifting and hopeful as well as horrifying and heart breaking all wrapped into one beautiful package. I loved all the characters - well not ALL, but they were all so well drawn and human. Slavery was a terrible institution and the author handled such a horrific subject with truth and honesty, there is no looking away. I can't recommend this debut novel highly enough. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was absolutely perfect with his rendition of all the characters. Read this book, you will not be disappointed. 5 solid stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for a chance to listen/read an ARC version of this audio book.

I only really started caring about this book 60% in and even then it was a bit of a slog. There were a few moving scenes and the book is an interesting source of information on slavery and Reconstruction if not necessarily an interesting book overall.

I'm not quite sure why it didn't work for me - perhaps a bit too descriptive. At points I was also unclear on how either of the women who were supposedly recounting Felix's story would have had the information being shared.

Some of the narration (e.g. when a character was whispering/grimacing etc) was basically indecipherable.

Red Clay is a multigenerational historical novel that traces the deep and often painful connections between an enslaved Black family and their white people whom enslaved them in post-Civil War Alabama. The story opens in 1943 when an elderly white woman, Adelaide Parker, visits the home of Felix H. Parker, a Black man whose family was once enslaved by hers. This meeting unearths a long-buried history of resilience, oppression, and uneasy coexistence.


Fancher’s meticulous historical detail and rich character development make Red Clay an immersive read and stands as a thoughtful and moving contribution to historical fiction, shedding light on America’s racial past through personal, deeply human stories.

This debut is a wonderful treasure to read and what a great story it told! I applaud you Mr. Charles B Fancher! I listened to the audiobook narrated by Dion Graham and what a phenomenal job he did as well! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine a funeral, and an old woman shows up to say her family used to own your deceased family member!
Red Clay is that story!
This audio book is so engaging and is performed perfectly by one of my favorite audio book narrators Dion Graham.
Adelaide Parker showed up to a funeral with a story to tell, that of her family and the deceased Felix Parker.
She shares this story of ambition, betrayal, violence, family commitment and redemption with Felix's Grand/great granddaughters.
Felix is born into slavery but is still young when Reconstruction starts. We follow his life through Reconstruction, as he and his father, struggle with finding their footing in this new era. The ups and downs will keep you on the edge of your seat.
An engaging story, performed by a narrator who rings even more life into this excellent book!
If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is one you should not miss!

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the complimentary audiobook for review.

What a powerful novel about slavery, emancipation, sharecropping, and Jim Crow era Alabama from both the perspective of the white plantation owning family and from the black slaves that worked there.

✨ Review ✨ Red Clay by Charles B. Fancher, Narrated by Dion Graham

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This story starts in 1865 near the end of the Civil War with an enslaved and enslaver family in Red Clay Alabama, and shows the post-war period of sharecropping and negotiation of rights, the rise of the Klan and the violence that ensues. This multi-POV story features Felix, a Black enslaved child, and his family, as well as the family who has enslaved them and people who surround their stories.

This was brilliantly written, and is a fully immersive story, bringing you into this world. However, it has a bit of an abrupt ending, and I wanted the end a bit more fleshed out. There are also a few layers of complexity that maybe could have been trimmed, and I'm not sure it needed all of these things to still function.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: historical fiction
Setting: Red Clay, Alabama, starts in 1865
Length: 10 hours 34 minutes
Reminds me of: Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine, Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Pub Date: Feb 04 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ stories featured Black enslaved folks, from their POV
⭕️ pre/post Civil War historical fiction, looking at the lives of everyday people
⭕️ deep examination of gender, race, class, and power relations
⭕️ complex narrative with multi-POV and dual timeline

This follows the two Parker families- one white and one black- from the 1860s through the 1940s. Mostly centered around Felix's family, we start with him as a young boy- son to a cook and valet. Both families go through ups and downs as they are interconnected for decades- even after Felix's family is freed.

I enjoyed reading about Felix and his family (well, as much as one can enjoy reading a story told from the point of view of slaves). The family's resilience was beautiful.

I really only had two criticisms- I did notice several colloquialisms that were very likely not used when the book was set. And the 1940s ("present day" for the book) was not really necessary and didn't add to the story.

Dion Graham narrates the audiobook. I am not familiar with his work, but I really enjoyed the narration. His voice/tone reminded me a lot of Jason George (the actor who plays Ben Warren on Grey's Anatomy/Station 19).

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! It's thoughtfully written and I can already imagine it as a movie. From the start, it was easy to connect with and understand the storyline and where it was going while keeping the reader engaged.

4.5 stars ✮⋆˙

this book was so good!
historical fiction isn’t my typical go-to book choice but this was a really well written novel. it is extremely easy to follow and has so many well developed characters. i loved how well detailed the book was with everything that was happening around the characters. the narrator Dion Graham did an amazing job of bringing this book to life.

i loved that this was a novel focusing on the reconstruction era, i personally haven’t seen many novels touch on this era is historical fiction and i think that Charles B. Fancher does a really good job of displaying both the hopefulness & the dark side (greed, racism, prejudice, classism etc) of this era amongst the white & black communities during this era.

A wonderful family saga, though heartwrenching. I sometimes shy away from books that I know are going to be difficult, but this book does an adequate job of balancing joy and sadness. Despite the multi-perspective narration, I felt myself aligning with most of the characters and pulled in to read the next chapter to see who was up next, what time period we were in, and what was going to happen to them. The shorter chapters also helped with the momentum of the story. Most of the plot felt relevant, although I'm not sure how much Addy's separate storyline in Europe really added all that much. And some moments seemed a little unbelievable (no repercussions after the first attempt at burning down the school), but overall I thought this was very well done. I also listened to this on audio, and while I was a little nervous given one narrot for so many different characters, the narrator did a great job differentiating among them, so I was never lost. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Homegoing or Nickel Boys.

This is a mas-ter-piece! First, the narrator did an exceptional job bringing each character to life, voicing a diverse range of characters. His narration and the rich detail of every character, even those with the smallest roles, give this historical fiction a feeling of immersion and reality.

The emotional journey can't be understated, especially Felix and Addie's. We follow Felix as he goes from a child being treated as a pet until he's forced into the fields, who then must find his courage to stand up to bullies, and ultimately matures to a man who fights to protect his family's name and legacy. Addie's journey is just as emotional, she navigates heartbreak in multiple forms and must endure and grow, without much family support.

One of the most striking elements of Red Clay is its exploration of complicated relationships, particularly how racism and power dynamics shape them. Claude, once believed to be a friend of the family, ultimately betrays them. Not out of personal hatred, but because he is trapped in the toxic belief that Black people should never have more than Whites. His actions serve as a painful reminder of how deeply ingrained prejudices can turn supposed allies into oppressors.

Farmer captures the weight of history and the power of personal strength, delivering a story that stays with you from the first page through the last. Red Clay is a must-read!

*Much appreciation to Charles B. Fancher and Blackstone Publishing for providing this audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

This was sad but well-written. To think that this is a debut, I look forward to more books by Charles B. Fancher.
The narrator did a wonderful job. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A profound and personal multigenerational story of an enslaved Black family on an Alabama plantation as the Civil War ended and Reconstruction began and the impact on their lives and that of their white owners. There are many themes so realistically portrayed throughout this novel. The heartbreak and the fear felt by the slaves never knowing what next awaits them. The elation as they are freed but the anxiety of what is next for them. The white owner who can be charitable and kind to his slaves until they are free and then his resentment that they may now think they are equal to him. The Black laundress who sees a KKK robe in her employer’s laundry. The trauma and absolute injustice prevailed on people in a Jim Crow south as they just try to make a life for themselves.
A heart-wrenching and painful story, told so beautifully, with yet a thread of hope, perseverance, survival and love that ultimately endures.
The narration by Dion Graham was pure perfection! He has the perfect tone filled with emotion and flawlessly performed the various voices making each one distinguishable and succinct. His varying inflections, along with changes in pacing and pitch, provide for a tremendous experience.

This novel started as a family history of the author’s great-great grandfather who was born a slave and died a free man. However, during the writing (and rewriting), he decided to provide a more generalized look at surviving slavery in Alabama through the experience of his main character, Felix. Some of the tragic events, such as having two siblings sold by the plantation owner, received little discussion while much was made of the plantation owner’s daughter who insisted on having Felix sit behind her and eat out of her hand.
This well-written and well-narrated novel also spent too much time (in my opinion) on the return of this daughter and her swapping stories with Felix’s family. The stories are powerful enough without trying to make some connection to fit the narrative.
That being said, it is a sobering story of endurance, perseverance, and hope in the face of horrible circumstances.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook of #RedClay for review purposes. 4.4 rounded down.

I could not stop listening once I started! When the first chapter was coming to a close, and Adelaide popped in, I immediately needed to know everything. I really enjoyed this story, the resilience we see, and the history we learn. I think it was paced nicely, but think that some of the parts of Adelaide’s life took away from the rest of the story.

I received this Audio from Blackstone & Net Galley. The audiobook itself was great to follow- speaker was clear and easy to listen to.

I really enjoyed Red Clay. It’s a story told over multiple generations about a once enslaved family and their owners. Reading about slavery and the Jim Crow era is always difficult, but the author did a great job with this story.

The narrator was also great and fit perfectly with the story. I definitely recommend you check out Red Clay!

Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ALC!

Red Clay is definitely a 2025 favorite for me. We learn the stories of a formerly enslaved family and the family that owned them through a shared oral history that takes place in 1943 after the death of Felix Parker. Addie Parker, now 90, was a member of the Parker family who owned Felix. She seeks to share the story of his life up to his early manhood with his family and to learn of his life as a free man with a family and a carpenter shop. Most of the novel is about the past. All of the historical pieces we learn about are the stories each family has learned through direct experiences or as passed down to them. In the novel, they are told from a third person omniscient point of view and so we are in each period of the lives of the various characters. Although the book is told in multiple timelines, it chronologically runs from the last year or two of the Civil War to 1943, when Felix dies.

As the Civil War is plainly drawing to a close, John Parker, owner of Roads End Plantation carries out a plan to ensure his family's future when his slaves are likely to be freed and the family's wealth seriously impacted as a result. The plan involves little Felix, the only remaining child of Elmira and Pleasant and burdens him forever with a dark secret. Felix's older brother and sister were recently sold. Felix's family has the "easier" life of working in the house. His mother is the cook, his father a kind of factotum to the master. Felix, a favorite of Addie, the spoiled only girl child of the Parkers spends each meal sitting on a stool behind Addie while she fees him table scraps. The family's view of the people they enslave is somewhat tempered by the mistress, Marie Louise, who grew up in New Orleans where there are free Black people, many people of mixed race. Make no mistake, Roads End has wicked overseers, works their slaves as hard as any plantation and whips and disfigures those who try to run. When the master dies, Claude, the son who is most interested in and capable of taking over the plantation does so, although not in the way he expects. Yet, the master wishes to leave ten acres of land to Pleasant and these wishes are passed on to Claude through his mother when she passes away after her husband. That ten acres plays its own role in the story over and over again.

The Roads End enslaved population learns of their freedom while Claude is master. He takes steps to establish sharecropping for those who want to stay. In what he views as a savvy and very generous decision, Claude moves Pleasant, Elmira and Felix to the former overseer's house to work for wages. The complicated relationships between freed people and the town of Red Clay, Alabama evolves during postwar reconstruction to the violence perpetrated against Black people viewed as acting above their station. Fancher deftly illustrates both the petty and the deadly actions of the local plantation owners. The change influences Claude, who could be "benevolent" when he was in control, to an angry man who wants and cannot fully have control anymore.

While Claude manages Roads End after his father passes, his mother takes Addie to New Orleans. Addies life ends up exposing her to a broader view of the world, an unconventional turn related to her traveling abroad and a shift in her views of the formerly enslaved residents of Road's End and elsewhere. As she shares her story with Felix's descendants and they share his, the depth of their understanding and respect for one another grows in a lovely way.

Red Clay Alabama and the trajectory of its white and black populations never quite becomes stereotyped, but it is vividly drawn and at times, unbearably drawn. And that is as it should be. That there were people like Addie who grew and changed and brought a new perspective to the post-war south is indisputable and Fancher also keeps that real. Addie was a spoiled brat who would hurt Felix, the enslaved. Through life experience, she ends up at his funeral in 1943. He had lived a life that was by no means free of terrible suffering and danger due to her father's and brother's actions both during and after the times of slavery in the United States. While Fancher spares us nothing, he brings us much to ponder and appreciate about the possibilities that were there and that some achieved. Those enslaved people lucky enough to learn a trade let them fare better than others when they ventured off the plantation into post-slavery life. It is plain that those left to sharecropping were vulnerable to the quality of their harvests and were much more likely to lose everything.

In sum Red Clay shows us the varied stories about how people changed, for better or worse, when slavery ended, and does it to perfection. I have read a lot of history of this period and other historical fiction about this era. This book deserves a lot of attention. It is well researched, beautifully written and a nonstop compelling read. I read the audio version. The narrator, Dion Graham is astoundingly good. I looked him up and quickly realized I've listened to him narrate many other works of fiction. I need to add more of his work to my library. I strongly recommend that people who, like me, enjoy audiobooks read this one through Graham's narration, which is, as usual, impeccable.

5✨Felix Parker passed away in 1948, and at his door stands Adelaide Parker, the daughter of the man who once owned Felix during slavery. This historical novel, set during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, is a truly powerful story. Despite its heavy subject matter, I couldn’t put it down. Most importantly, I learned that formerly enslaved people often adopted the names of their slave masters, as our original names were stolen from us. I also discovered the existence of groups of Black people who protected one another during Jim Crow. Above all, I was reminded—reminded that my ancestors fought, and I too can fight. Read this book
Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy for my honest review.

#Blackreadingjoy.