Review of Rebirth in Acadi

khaulah · Post by **khaulah** » 09 Oct 2021, 08:36

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Rebirth in Acadi" by Susan Swanson.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Elizabeth Bancroft, an African American woman, light-skinned enough to pass for white, decides to start life anew. She relocates to the river town of Acadi, where one of her direct ancestors was embroiled in a duel during the Civil War. Would she be successful in severing ties to the past and hiding the truth from her racist fiance? Margaret Bohr, an older woman, settles in the town after purchasing an acre of land to build her dream home. The lives of two women who couldn't be any more different intertwine beautifully in Rebirth in Acadi.

Rebirth in Acadi is based on a true event published in a newspaper article about one of Louisiana's last duels in the 1800s. It is a unique account because the reasons for the duel were unclear. Using this historical incident as the backdrop, Susan Swanson has created an engaging story with compelling characters. The book does incorporate the factual details of the actual event, but never at the expense of readability. Both the incident and the imagined elements fit together naturally without seeming like a forced narrative around the event.

It's rare to see aged characters portrayed as crucial to the plot, and that's where this novel shines the brightest. Margaret's character is not reduced to a caricature of an elderly woman serving only as a minor character. Her presence is significant and contributes to the story. She is portrayed as a self-confident person who has a full life going on. For example, she is actively involved in the construction of their home, often being assertive and talking to the builder and the architect. She, like any other aging human, has health difficulties, but they remain only an aspect of her life, not who she is.

I won't say the book delves into great detail about passing, but the author handled the topic well. It demonstrates why someone would want to hide their identity, as well as how this may affect those you leave behind. Aside from the core characters, Elizabeth and Margaret, there is a wide range of supporting characters. Each character is distinct with their thoughts and motivations so that the reader shares their frustrations, hopes, and triumphs.

Rebirth in Acadi serves as a good illustration that something as mundane as house construction can become a gripping story. It takes the readers to the heart of the building of a house with all its day-to-day challenges. The only negative aspect I can point out about the book is its sluggish start. It took some time to get into the book. However, it is a slow burn of a book that does not lose its momentum till the end.

With an engaging story and well-written characters, Rebirth in Acadi was a satisfying read for me. I didn't come across any grammatical errors at all. I gladly award this book 4 out of 4 stars. There are no sexually explicit details. The use of non-borderline slang words was minimal, occurring merely twice.

I would recommend Rebirth in Acadi to people who like reading historical fiction with fully developed female characters.

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Rebirth in Acadi
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Kingsley Emodi · Post by **Kingsley Emodi** » 11 Oct 2021, 02:57

Historical fiction isn't my favorite genre but your review draws me to this one. Great review.

khaulah · Post by **khaulah** » 11 Oct 2021, 07:08

Kingsley Emodi wrote: ↑11 Oct 2021, 02:57 Historical fiction isn't my favorite genre but your review draws me to this one. Great review.

Thank you so much!

NancyDrew12 · Post by **NancyDrew12** » 12 Oct 2021, 16:19

I'm not a fan of historical fiction but I do like fully developed female characters. Elizabeth's fiancée sounds like a character id dislike during my read. Wonderful review!

khaulah · Post by **khaulah** » 12 Oct 2021, 21:43

Rashawn Carter wrote: ↑12 Oct 2021, 16:19 I'm not a fan of historical fiction but I do like fully developed female characters. Elizabeth's fiancée sounds like a character id dislike during my read. Wonderful review!

I'm sure you would@Rashawn Carter! Thank you so much

Tarie07 · Post by **Tarie07** » 17 Oct 2021, 09:13

I would love to see how things turn out between Elizabeth and her fiancé considering he is racist. Thanks for the great review.

khaulah · Post by **khaulah** » 17 Oct 2021, 11:00

Tarie07 wrote: ↑17 Oct 2021, 09:13 I would love to see how things turn out between Elizabeth and her fiancé considering he is racist. Thanks for the great review.

Thank you for stopping by!

Ellylion · Post by **Ellylion** » 19 Oct 2021, 07:37

Wow, this sounds like a very powerful read! I would love to check it out! Thank you very much for this amazing review

khaulah · Post by **khaulah** » 19 Oct 2021, 11:56

Ellylion wrote: ↑19 Oct 2021, 07:37 Wow, this sounds like a very powerful read! I would love to check it out! Thank you very much for this amazing review

You're always welcome @ellylion.Thanks for stopping by!

Unosthetic · Post by **Unosthetic** » 21 Oct 2021, 20:23

This book will bring us back to time. I'm excited to know more about this book. Thanks for your great review.

khaulah · Post by **khaulah** » 22 Oct 2021, 03:09

Unosthetic wrote: ↑21 Oct 2021, 20:23 This book will bring us back to time. I'm excited to know more about this book. Thanks for your great review.

Thank you for your kind words @Unosthetic !

Brenda Creech · Post by **Brenda Creech** » 08 Apr 2022, 07:01

Historical fiction is my favorite genre. I especially enjoy it when there is a strong female character like Margaret! This sounds like a nice read, so I will check it out! Thanks for the informative review!

Ferdinand_Otieno · Post by **Ferdinand_Otieno** » 08 Apr 2022, 07:29

This is a captivating historical fiction thriller highlighting racial discrimination, suspense, and uniquely engaging characterization. The book is temporarily free on Amazon Kindle and has a masterfully-crafted OnlineBookClub review. Congrats @swoverby on the BOTD selection.

Deval Sodha · Post by **Deval Sodha** » 08 Apr 2022, 07:36

The book is a gripping historical fiction. The story is based on a true event published in a newspaper article about one of Louisiana's last duels in the 1800s. It is a unique account because the reasons for the duel were unclear.
The review is wonderful.
Congratulations on Botd