Eugenia O'Neal has built a superb book. Dido aka Domingo has had a life probably typical of many if not most female slaves. Raped from the age of eight until she was twelve and got too old for her Massa. Separated from her family. At the whim of whatever her owners decided they want. When her latest Master dies his vile wife renigs on promise to let her buy freedom, sells or just dumps the very old and very young who can't work in the fields.. Dido shows herself to be a woman of honor and ingenuity. She helps people injured in battle, comes up with plans to help in taking what the sailors thought was a rich city, rescues those who help her and ultimately brings out the best in El Negro.

Many secondary characters make the story believable, and help show the courage of many who have little except their honor but hold onto that no matter what. Ian is a young boy who befriends Domingo, helps her sign on a pirate and then helps to save her and El Negro. Yacahüey the Taino knows her secret aboard ship but doesn‘t divulge it, instead he helps her, guides her in many ways. Anna the seamstress, Ernestina, Dido’s mother Unmi, all are the kind of people with more courage than so many who thought they were brave but had no where near as much courage as these people showed in their every day lives.

I really enjoyed this book. It‘s full of history, an excellent love story, humor in the face of adversity and some really well done suspense.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual

Reviewer: Dee Dailey
October 27, 2008