Loved it so much. I’ve never heard of the community of The Happy Land, or the King and Queen of it, not too far away from me in North and South Carolina. I wish it was more well known with how amazing and unique it and Louella Montgomery were. 

The journey she and her people took after being freed from slavery, but still treated as such, was inspiring, as was the way she led her Kingdom, despite so many injustices - both with racism and violence, but also with others’ poor decisions. 

I realize that it’s a fictionalized version and much is filled in, but it was well done. It was moving and I was fully invested, wanting to know what was going to happen next. While I would have liked a little more of how Louella grew as a character rather than just understanding that she did, I loved how she stood up against injustice, wrestled with God when she didn’t understand him, or dealt with loss and grief. I loved her character so much and what she did as the Queen of Happy Land for as long as she did is truly amazing. Highly recommend. 

Thanks to Netgalley for and advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.