THE GREAT MISFORTUNE OF STELLA SEDGWICK

In this novel set in 1868 England featuring Black protagonists, a young woman’s desire for self-determination conflicts with societal constraints.

At 18, orphan Stella Sedgwick is expected to find a position as a servant for a wealthy family. Her 17-year-old biracial cousin, Olivia Witherson, received a small inheritance from her white vicar father, but if Stella is to achieve her dream of becoming a writer, she’ll need to make a smart marriage. When a letter arrives from her late mother’s former employer, Thomas Fitzroy, summoning her to his home, she’s confused. Stella’s mother, who was enslaved in the West Indies and later abandoned by Stella’s father, raised her daughter alongside Mr. Fitzroy’s grandchildren at Kendall Manor. Stella hasn’t heard from the family in the four years since her mother’s death, so she’s shocked to learn that she’ll inherit the estate following terminally ill Mr. Fitzroy’s death—but, given that only men can own property, the bequest requires her to marry. Stella wrestles with accepting this gift and its consequences—both matrimony and the reactions of Mr. Fitzroy’s family. Stella’s navigation of a society that is unwelcoming to non-white people is well written but would have benefited from more robust historical context. Still, the strong character development will help readers understand the complex choices each character faces. Strong pacing throughout culminates in a slightly lackluster ending.

Romance enthusiasts will enjoy this work, although history buffs will be left wanting more details.