"Half-light and half-darkness. Like the best of lives."
Amsterdam, 1616, Jana Beil has worked hard to survive. Now, after tragedy leaves her without a position as a servant, she decides to accept the offer presented by the Dutch East Indies Company, or V.O.C. The Company will send her to Batavia on a long, dangerous journey by ship to become the bride of a settler in this Asian colony. Longing for security and a future, these Company Daughters will be married off to strange men and begin a new life on the other side of the world. Of course, nothing goes as expected and The Company promise isn't the answer to any hopes and dreams. Jana contents herself with a forbidden love but life does not come with any guarantees. NO SPOILERS.
I enjoyed this historical fiction novel and Jana's story. Jana is determined and diligently tries to improve her situation through many sorrows and travails. Although she and Sontje find mutual pleasure in their relationship, their moments are stolen and they are always at the mercy of men. Although I liked the story well enough, it seemed that much of it was centered on Jana's thoughts and reflections more than relating details that I was looking for in regard to life in the colony so it left me a bit disappointed in a vague way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone debut novel and is not part of any series.
Genre - historical fiction; LGBT literary fiction
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