Although I mostly lacked the historical and geographical background to properly appreciate the setting, I enjoyed the plot all the same. The characters were well-rounded and multidimensional. Each one of them, regardless of colour, had their own belief systems and goals so as to why they did what they did (even the despicable ones). I loved how the author added depth and a semblance of morality to some of the slaveholders/traders without glorifying the horror that slavery was. And the Code! I understand it was not historically canon, but it was just so sneaky and genius and I will definitely need to do more research on this bit. On the other hand, I disliked the seemingly random shift of narrative. I had to break the flow and reread entire paragraphs because I could not immediately tell whose POV was being projected: this is a personal preference and not an objective flaw in the writing, but I just don't like the all-knowing voice in narration. Also,

Spoiler

the end felt abrupt and incomplete; what Liz was initially running from and to were never properly revealed. It felt to me like she never had a real purpose whatsoever, and why in the world did she kill the Woolman who helped her repeatedly in favour of a slave catcher who was sent to hunt her?