GLORY OVER EVERYTHING

By Kathleen Grissom

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½ (Goodreads: 4.29)

GENRE: Historical Fiction

PART OF A SERIES? Yes {The Kitchen House #2}

WORTH READING? Yes

SUMMARY:

It is the year 1830 and Jamie Pyke – who we first encountered in ‘The Kitchen House’ – is keeping a potentially lethal secret. For years, Jamie has been successfully living as a white, aristocratic silversmith named James Burton. Years earlier he was a runaway slave, but with his own cunning and the help of a kind and generous man, Henry, he was now an accomplished and popular member of white society.

James is trying to navigate the treacherous position of making his married girlfriend, Caroline, pregnant - and of what will happen if their child arrives with dark skin - when Henry comes to James for help because his young son (Pan) is missing. James knows he mustn’t refuse… for without Henry’s help, he would not be where he was now. We follow James as he embarks on a highly dangerous trip to recover Pan from a life of slavery on a plantation, pursued by ruthless and vindictive men. 

Opening line: 'Robert’s familiar rap on the door came as I was studying a miniature portrait of myself.'

James (aka Jamie) has fought for years to cut ties with his heritage, until he gradually warms up to a little Negro boy by the name of Pan. Pan’s inquisitive and enthusiastic nature reminds James of himself when he was younger.

Chapters move amongst 1820 and 1830 and follow several characters, including James, Caroline, Pan and Sukey. Although one might think that could be confusing, the reverse was true for me. Grissom has an incredible talent for writing characters of all ages and gender with very distinct voices.

I would say Love is the central theme of Glory Over Everything. Initially between James and Caroline, but eventually between James and other important people in his life, and between Henry and Pan. I confess I am not a romance reader, but the romance here didn’t bother me at all; I found it quite beautiful. I believe this is because Grissom is such a talented storyteller and brings her characters to life so vividly.

Grissom’s writing is so immersive. I became totally absorbed with the lives of these characters and rode up and down the rollercoaster with them. This story is at times heartwrenching and at times glorious, showing that “…the goodness in humanity can survive through the most difficult challenges.”

This book has a simmering, simpering tension, as the reader can sense just how tenuous James’ hold over his new life is. The tension builds and builds, until the day James is forced to confess his negro blood and look within to reflect on the privileged position in which he has been. The pacing is brilliant, with a feeling of constant forward motion.

I did find what could be construed as a slight continuity issue in this book. Basically, one of the characters says that it doesn’t matter how light-skinned one might be, Negro blood will always show through. Whilst Grissom does have her main character question the credibility of this statement, it bugged me a little, because James does in fact successfully pass himself off as white for years.

The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything are both character-driven and plot-driven books.

Whilst Glory Over Everything could theoretically stand alone, I’d highly encourage you to read The Kitchen House first, because I feel like that really sets the scene and reading it will provide a more enriching reading experience overall for you.

This is a truly wonderful historical fiction series and is about an era of which I really should read more.

If you’d like to read The Kitchen House:

Click here to buy on Amazon

If you’d like to follow it with the equally poignant sequel, Glory Over Everything:

Click here to buy on Amazon