Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa

“To be black and a slave and be born in this place is to know nothing but darkness. To be black and a slave who remembers the time before, is to carry a double wound, living in the darkness while constantly remembering the light. This warrior woman is wounded, lost, and still struggling against the dark. The light, not yet gone, still flickers in her eyes.”

A Woman of Endurance is a historical fiction by Puerto Rican author Dahlma Llanos-Figuero, the second book in a series, which can be read as a stand-alone story. It explores the 19th century Transatlantic slave trade to plantations in Puerto Rico.

Pola was born Keera, a Yoruba woman of West Africa. She is stolen from her home and people, and subjected to horrific conditions of the Middle Passage. Her life on the plantation is one of repeated trauma and brutality, being abused and used as a breeder of babies that are wrenched away from her at birth. She then moves to a second plantation where she finally experiences a little humanity and through a lost girl called Chachita finally rediscovers a place in her heart for love.

The story gives a vivid picture of life on the Hacienda. I found Pola to be a fairly passive character in the story. Although her suffering is detailed very explicitly and she endures, I didn’t feel we really got to know her. The romance is clearly with a man of worth and character but was not completely convincing for me. If you struggle with reading about abuse of women I would avoid this one, as this forms a large part of the text. Overall 3.5 stars for me.… (meer)

Pola, a slave, is used for breeding. As soon as she give birth, her child is taken into the unknown. No longer able to endure, she tries to flee, but is caught and beaten near death. Sold, she finds herself in a different plantation, where she is given the opportunity to work with the house slaves rather than in the cane fields.

This novel was heartbreaking. Pola was a very dynamic character, who I found myself cheering for throughout the story. This author is an excellent writer, her words painted a picture in my mind. I found myself unable to put the book down, needing to know what happened with Pola. Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.… (meer)