What do you think?
Rate this book
Invisible Chains
Jacqueline is a young Creole slave in antebellum New Orleans. An unusual stranger who has haunted her dreams since childhood comes to stay as a guest in her master’s house. Soon after his arrival, members of the household die mysteriously, and Jacqueline is suspected of murder. Despite her fear of the stranger, Jacqueline befriends him and he helps her escape. While running from the slave catchers, they meet conjurers, a loup-garou, and a traveling circus of supernatural freaks. She relies on ancestral magic to guide her and finds strength to conquer her fears on her journey.
350 pages, Hardcover
First published January 24, 2022
9 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Renee Lane
10 books42 followersMichelle Renee Lane holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She writes dark speculative fiction about identity politics and women of color battling their inner demons while fighting/falling in love with monsters. Her work includes elements of fantasy, horror, romance, and erotica. Her short fiction appears in the anthologies Terror Politico: A Screaming World in Chaos, The Monstrous Feminine: Dark Tales of Dangerous Women, The Dystopian States of America, Graveyard Smash, Dead Awake, Midnight & Indigo: Twenty-Two Speculative Stories by Black Women Writers, The One That Got Away, and In Trouble (2023), and has been featured on The Wicked Library podcast. Her Bram Stoker Award nominated debut novel, Invisible Chains (2019), is available from Haverhill House Publishing. The Spanish language translation, Cadenas Invisibles (2022), is available from Dilatando Mentes Editorial. Her nonfiction can be found at Medium, Speculative Chic, and in Writers Workshop of Horror 2 (2021).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 28, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Os dejo la reseña:
https://escaparateliterario.com/resen...
Os dejo la reseña:
https://escaparateliterario.com/resen...
May 14, 2019
INVISIBLE CHAINS is a perfect blend of history and magic. Although history, as presented in school, may be boring and dull, historical fiction tends to add color and context. Historical horror fiction has the added element of supernatural beings. In this case, the supernatural balances the true horror of slavery in the American South prior to the Civil War. Although written for an adult audience, mature teens could certainly benefit from reading this to better understand American history. The degree of authenticity in the depiction of depravity and cruelty to slaves is truly bloodcurdling. We can walk away from the supernatural aspects of the tale, brushing them aside as just a story. It is far more difficult to do the same with the history; at least it is for me.
Clarion prose and dynamic characters mark this debut novel as an excellent start to what should be a long an illustrious career. I found myself seeing the people and places described. I've walked on some of the mentioned streets in the French Quarter that remain timeless to this day.
I also found myself questioning just who is and who isn't a monster. Every character has two sides. This Janus-like quality is most obvious in the supernatural monsters making them easy to love and easy to fear at the same time. It is not so obvious in the white slave holders where the duality is more a two-faced nature… the face shown in white society, and the face of the bigoted slave owner.
Along with history and magic, this is a tale of our times. We see the us and them mentality every night on the news and in our social media. I find that a book such as INVISIBLE CHAINS clarifies and solidifies my own feelings that until we reach a time and place where all are truly equal we will continue to take two steps back for every forward stride.
There is no doubt that Michelle Renee Lane has made it to my 'authors I must read' list.
Clarion prose and dynamic characters mark this debut novel as an excellent start to what should be a long an illustrious career. I found myself seeing the people and places described. I've walked on some of the mentioned streets in the French Quarter that remain timeless to this day.
I also found myself questioning just who is and who isn't a monster. Every character has two sides. This Janus-like quality is most obvious in the supernatural monsters making them easy to love and easy to fear at the same time. It is not so obvious in the white slave holders where the duality is more a two-faced nature… the face shown in white society, and the face of the bigoted slave owner.
Along with history and magic, this is a tale of our times. We see the us and them mentality every night on the news and in our social media. I find that a book such as INVISIBLE CHAINS clarifies and solidifies my own feelings that until we reach a time and place where all are truly equal we will continue to take two steps back for every forward stride.
There is no doubt that Michelle Renee Lane has made it to my 'authors I must read' list.
November 17, 2019
As noted in the synopsis, this is a slice of historical fiction which follows the life of a young girl as she navigates the world as a slave in antebellum New Orleans. Mix in supernatural characters, blood magic, and so many trials and tribulations, and you have this horror/dark fantasy story.
This was such a good introduction to Lane’s writing. For the most part I was engaged and invested in finding out where this story would take the MC, Jacqueline. I loved cheering for her and lamenting the awful conditions and unfair situations she encountered. CW for rape and abuse for anyone who may need it. There are several scenes throughout the book that are, necessarily so, difficult to read.
I found myself wanting more in certain sections. There are jumps in the action which cut out scenes I would have loved to experience first hand. I get why they aren’t there, to perhaps keep the focus on a different narrative, but I missed them all the same.
Will I read another book or short fiction by Lane? Absolutely. And if historical, southern, horror-ish fiction is your jam, you’ll love this. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy for review consideration.
This was such a good introduction to Lane’s writing. For the most part I was engaged and invested in finding out where this story would take the MC, Jacqueline. I loved cheering for her and lamenting the awful conditions and unfair situations she encountered. CW for rape and abuse for anyone who may need it. There are several scenes throughout the book that are, necessarily so, difficult to read.
I found myself wanting more in certain sections. There are jumps in the action which cut out scenes I would have loved to experience first hand. I get why they aren’t there, to perhaps keep the focus on a different narrative, but I missed them all the same.
Will I read another book or short fiction by Lane? Absolutely. And if historical, southern, horror-ish fiction is your jam, you’ll love this. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy for review consideration.
February 2, 2022
Por aquí enlace a mi reseña:
https://consuleoluegoexisto.com/2022/...
https://consuleoluegoexisto.com/2022/...
Read
August 7, 2019Whoa. Invisible Chains is no mere paranormal romance; it is an interstitial horror novel that unravels the way power and desire overlap in dangerous and complex ways, particularly in relation to racial relations and cultural taboo. It's a smart book, infused with history, folklore about vampirism and voodoo, cultural studies, and psychological honesty... but it also is just a compelling read filled with the viciousness and gumption I appreciate from my horror writers. It'll set you back on your heels. The characters are unique yet I connected to their longings and struggles, and I admired the way Lane pulled it off. Michelle Lane makes you dream carefully alongside her protagonist, and it's a compelling, fascinating read. We need more books like this -- we need more Michelle Lane.
June 10, 2019
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author, who provided me with an advanced electronic version of this book for review.
This is the first book I've read in years to give me nightmares.
Lane's debut novel is an intricate and descriptive historical horror that encompasses some of my favorite tropes in speculative fiction. Jacqueline is a woman who does her best to surround herself with support against a world where those in power see her as less than nothing. And the monsters are murderous, bloodthirsty, and most of all, very human.
As a reader who shies away from most horror fiction, I'd classify the speculative elements in this book as closer to the realm of dark fantasy. This novel may contain a vampire and a werewolf, but it subverts many horror expectations regarding these creatures' roles in the story. The most terrifying moments in this novel often come at the hands of regular humans, which firmly pushes this story back into the domain of horror.
This novel is a dark and compelling read that brings to light aspects from the antebellum south that are often brushed under the rug. While it might be a historical tale, the underlying commentary on how men often see women is all too relevant in today's society. Most importantly, it also highlights how far we still have to come regarding racial and gender issues.
I'm not sure whether Lane plans a follow-up to this novel, but I would love to see Jacqueline continue to come into her own power, both magically and as a woman.
This is the first book I've read in years to give me nightmares.
Lane's debut novel is an intricate and descriptive historical horror that encompasses some of my favorite tropes in speculative fiction. Jacqueline is a woman who does her best to surround herself with support against a world where those in power see her as less than nothing. And the monsters are murderous, bloodthirsty, and most of all, very human.
As a reader who shies away from most horror fiction, I'd classify the speculative elements in this book as closer to the realm of dark fantasy. This novel may contain a vampire and a werewolf, but it subverts many horror expectations regarding these creatures' roles in the story. The most terrifying moments in this novel often come at the hands of regular humans, which firmly pushes this story back into the domain of horror.
This novel is a dark and compelling read that brings to light aspects from the antebellum south that are often brushed under the rug. While it might be a historical tale, the underlying commentary on how men often see women is all too relevant in today's society. Most importantly, it also highlights how far we still have to come regarding racial and gender issues.
I'm not sure whether Lane plans a follow-up to this novel, but I would love to see Jacqueline continue to come into her own power, both magically and as a woman.
March 5, 2021
"Control over others can be exciting for some folks, but as a slave, experiencing how it twisted people, I wasn't sure I wanted that kind of power over another person."
Jacqueline is a slave at a plantation who ends up on the run after she meets a vampire. She meets various people on her journey, including some who help her and some who have other motives, while her former owner is trying to track her down.
I thought there was an interesting combination of elements here and it was well written. The character of Jacqueline is a complex one as she has spent so many years in slavery and now, following a chain of events, has to fend for herself and both rely on the help of others and use her own knowledge and skills to stay alive. She is a very sympathetic character, knowing all she has been through, so I was invested in her journey but I must admit her decision-making frustrated me at times!
My main issue with this story was that it felt like things would just 'happen'. There was always the right person conveniently showing up at the right time for a specific scene. Some ideas within the story felt a bit underdeveloped such as the part involving the circus. Also, some things felt repetitive both with regards to details that would get mentioned again and again plus certain parts of the storyline felt quite repetitive.
I went into this novel expecting horror but I would describe this as more of an urban fantasy in a historical setting with some magical realism and horror elements. I'm not sure if this is meant to be the first book in a series but it feels like it might be. The story does wrap up by the end but it also very much leaves it open for a sequel. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the themes and styles that I've mentioned.
CW: Violence, sexual violence, rape, and incest - some of which involves children.
Jacqueline is a slave at a plantation who ends up on the run after she meets a vampire. She meets various people on her journey, including some who help her and some who have other motives, while her former owner is trying to track her down.
I thought there was an interesting combination of elements here and it was well written. The character of Jacqueline is a complex one as she has spent so many years in slavery and now, following a chain of events, has to fend for herself and both rely on the help of others and use her own knowledge and skills to stay alive. She is a very sympathetic character, knowing all she has been through, so I was invested in her journey but I must admit her decision-making frustrated me at times!
My main issue with this story was that it felt like things would just 'happen'. There was always the right person conveniently showing up at the right time for a specific scene. Some ideas within the story felt a bit underdeveloped such as the part involving the circus. Also, some things felt repetitive both with regards to details that would get mentioned again and again plus certain parts of the storyline felt quite repetitive.
I went into this novel expecting horror but I would describe this as more of an urban fantasy in a historical setting with some magical realism and horror elements. I'm not sure if this is meant to be the first book in a series but it feels like it might be. The story does wrap up by the end but it also very much leaves it open for a sequel. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the themes and styles that I've mentioned.
CW: Violence, sexual violence, rape, and incest - some of which involves children.
July 5, 2019
Jacqueline’s 19th century journey from the plantation to New Orleans, and beyond, will hold you in its spell in this impressive debut from Michelle Renee Lane. The brutal realities of Jacqueline’s enslavement are explored with heartbreaking authenticity and unflinching historical detail. Moral ambiguities abound, not least in the Byronic figure of Carlos, who embodies everything that Jacqueline wants and yet doesn’t ultimately need. The ‘monsters’ in Invisible Chains are all too real, and the dark magic required to do battle with them opens doors to disturbing, and bloody, consequences. This assured first novel delivers emotional and visceral beats to delight and disturb in equal measure. (Frazer Lee, Bram Stoker Award nominated author of ‘Hearthstone Cottage’)
March 23, 2021
Invisible Chains by Michelle Renee Lane untethers the darkness and binds it around every page as eyes eagerly dart from one sentence to the next. Her accomplishment in her debut novel is Herculean. Taking tropes and turning them inside out and upside down, the reader is swept through the trials and tribulations of its heroine, Jacqueline. Set in the past in a time before slavery ended, it sweats relevancy today like nothing I have ever read. Pure, raw, and filled with the truth southern history glosses over and ignores, we find the injustices of this young slave woman whose journey to freedom welcomes adventure, death, and a lot of self-discovery. Not since I first read Interview with a Vampire in 1995 has there been a time where I completely lost myself so wholly in novel, and never one filled with these depths of mystical elements, magic, African gods, a vampire, and a werewolf. Lane has accomplished something both poetic and brilliant; both relevant and real. Abuse, rape, racism prove far greater monsters than the threats of unseen things under beds. A must read- this is my new favorite vampire/werewolf novel. But do not let that oversimplification fool you. This is a story about human rights; coming of age; freedom; what it means to be human. And in this accomplishment, Michelle Renee Lane takes first place. Take a trip with her into Louisiana’s tainted, haunted past. You will certainly be glad you did.
February 23, 2022
Si por algo se caracteriza la editorial dilatando mentes es por traernos historias de lo más originales y en esta caso la combinación que nos ofrece es de lo más curiosa.
Empecé esta novela enfrentándome a un duro relato sobre la esclavitud. Las situaciones que se narraban eran tremendamente duras. A medida que iba avanzando persistía esa mención a ese oscuro período donde estaba permitido tratar con semejante crueldad y falta de derechos a otros seres humanos. Pero de repente, me hallé también sumergida en una historia de vampiros y hombres lobo. Sí, impacta esa combinación pero desde luego que sorprende.
Un tenebroso romance y la magia oscura son también parte de los ingredientes de esta novela que avanza a buen ritmo.
Una lectura que me aunque me ha resultado dura por momentos, me ha mantenido entretenida debido a la mezcla de subgéneros y a determinadas escenas que de algún modo recordaban a algunas icónicas de la gran escritora sobre vampiros Anne Rice.
En definitiva, una historia diferente y poco habitual, un libro que combina la más cruda realidad con fantasía oscura.
Empecé esta novela enfrentándome a un duro relato sobre la esclavitud. Las situaciones que se narraban eran tremendamente duras. A medida que iba avanzando persistía esa mención a ese oscuro período donde estaba permitido tratar con semejante crueldad y falta de derechos a otros seres humanos. Pero de repente, me hallé también sumergida en una historia de vampiros y hombres lobo. Sí, impacta esa combinación pero desde luego que sorprende.
Un tenebroso romance y la magia oscura son también parte de los ingredientes de esta novela que avanza a buen ritmo.
Una lectura que me aunque me ha resultado dura por momentos, me ha mantenido entretenida debido a la mezcla de subgéneros y a determinadas escenas que de algún modo recordaban a algunas icónicas de la gran escritora sobre vampiros Anne Rice.
En definitiva, una historia diferente y poco habitual, un libro que combina la más cruda realidad con fantasía oscura.
July 7, 2019
Invisible Chains is the story of Jacqueline who is a slave in New Orleans. After she is suspected of murder she flees the house that she is in with a man named Carlos, which is the beginning of her magical adventures as a runaway slave. I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and had a difficult time putting it down.
This book enchanted me in a way that pulled at my heartstrings. Michelle Renee Lane's prose seemed magical as I found phrases like "Marriage for most women wasn't much different than slavery" and "As Long as we did our work, followed rules and didn't try to escape, life could be bearable for a slave," to be just a few of many examples on how her prose infused believable life into Jacqueline's life with beautiful words that made me want to cry. I do have a weakness for words that infuse beauty into painful moments and this book kept delivering me results that provoked awe for me.
The other thing that the author did well at was weaving supernatural terror with the historical terror of the realities that slaves went through. She captured Jacqueline's terror of the everyday realities of being a slave while delving into a magic that provided a lot of mystery and terror. Many times I felt the book read like a work of heartbreaking historical fiction but the components of magic made the story quite entertaining. Michelle Renee Lane is a master storyteller by being able to make both the elements of reality and the elements of magic compelling.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I also published this review on my blog: https://glamorousbookgal.blogspot.com...
This book enchanted me in a way that pulled at my heartstrings. Michelle Renee Lane's prose seemed magical as I found phrases like "Marriage for most women wasn't much different than slavery" and "As Long as we did our work, followed rules and didn't try to escape, life could be bearable for a slave," to be just a few of many examples on how her prose infused believable life into Jacqueline's life with beautiful words that made me want to cry. I do have a weakness for words that infuse beauty into painful moments and this book kept delivering me results that provoked awe for me.
The other thing that the author did well at was weaving supernatural terror with the historical terror of the realities that slaves went through. She captured Jacqueline's terror of the everyday realities of being a slave while delving into a magic that provided a lot of mystery and terror. Many times I felt the book read like a work of heartbreaking historical fiction but the components of magic made the story quite entertaining. Michelle Renee Lane is a master storyteller by being able to make both the elements of reality and the elements of magic compelling.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I also published this review on my blog: https://glamorousbookgal.blogspot.com...
October 18, 2024
2.5 ★
Magia vudú, vampiro y hombre lobo. Una historia con buenos ingredientes que se desinfla a la mitad del libro. Jaqueline es una esclava con poderes que nunca se terminan de entender, de repente los usa y luego nunca más y luego es súper poderosa... Y toda la parte romántica está escrita muy torpemente. Al principio pensé sería la traducción pero no, me parece que así es la escritura de la autora.
El tema es muy fuerte (la esclavitud en Estados Unidos) y la autora lo toca de manera descarnada y sincera lo cual se agradece, los personajes femeninos en general son interesantes, los villanos son terribles y creíbles (los blancos) pero el vampiro y el otro uy noo, son estos seres guapos como los de la Charlaine Harris sin embargo aquí hay que tomarlos en serio y cuesta… presenta ideas interesantes como un circo extraño que está de lo más desaprovechado y demás ideas que se sostienen con pinzas, pero lo peor es la nota romántica, muy torpe, los diálogos súper forzados.
No quedé muy convencida, y parece que queda abierto para al menos un segundo libro.
Magia vudú, vampiro y hombre lobo. Una historia con buenos ingredientes que se desinfla a la mitad del libro. Jaqueline es una esclava con poderes que nunca se terminan de entender, de repente los usa y luego nunca más y luego es súper poderosa... Y toda la parte romántica está escrita muy torpemente. Al principio pensé sería la traducción pero no, me parece que así es la escritura de la autora.
El tema es muy fuerte (la esclavitud en Estados Unidos) y la autora lo toca de manera descarnada y sincera lo cual se agradece, los personajes femeninos en general son interesantes, los villanos son terribles y creíbles (los blancos) pero el vampiro y el otro uy noo, son estos seres guapos como los de la Charlaine Harris sin embargo aquí hay que tomarlos en serio y cuesta… presenta ideas interesantes como un circo extraño que está de lo más desaprovechado y demás ideas que se sostienen con pinzas, pero lo peor es la nota romántica, muy torpe, los diálogos súper forzados.
No quedé muy convencida, y parece que queda abierto para al menos un segundo libro.
December 27, 2019
** Review copy received from the author for review consideration**
As soon as I read the description of this novel online, having come across it on Twitter, I wanted to tell the author: you had me at New Orleans and witches. Add to that a plantation, a historical southern setting, and Vodun (the West African tradition that became Louisiana voodoo), and you’ve got me hook, line, and sinker. The novel starts off in an interesting way with the protagonist relaying to the reader that a hurricane “nearly destroyed” the plantation on the day she was born.
I absolutely loved the design element of using a vèvè or symbol that represents the loa, or voodoo spirits, to demarcate scene breaks.
The protagonist Jacqueline’s family life is cruel to say the least. She is one of the many children the plantation master has had with slave women, and is forced to interact with Lottie, the master’s daughter, her half-sister. She and her mother are house slaves, and Jacqueline notices early on she seems to have some of the same gifts her mother does with magic. She has nightmares about a white man with green eyes, which proves to be a compelling introduction to a memorable character in the book who arrives later on.
Lottie soon reveals herself to be extremely manipulative and volatile. Her older brother, Jimmy, also shares her penchant for cruelty, especially toward the slaves. There’s a very disturbing component to their relationship, and I’m going to leave it at that. Physical assault, which is painfully a reality of the historical period, occurs in this novel, and should be taken into account for readers with trigger warnings. The remorseless and unflinching realities of slavery are on full display in this novel.
Jacqueline learns early on that she has some magical ability, something she gets from her mother. When Lottie marries a man named James Lynch, she takes Jacqueline with her and they move to the French Quarter where there are other slaves in the household. The rich, vivid descriptions made the novel jump off the page for me throughout, but particularly in this section. Things get even more interesting when a guest arrives at their house, Carlos Velasquez, who turns out to be a vampire.
Vampires + French Quarter + New Orleans + night = doesn’t get much cooler than that. One of the things I appreciated about Jacqueline was that even though she and Carlos have a vivid attraction and want each other, she didn’t blindly forgive his vampiric nature or look past it the way many other female protagonists have done in paranormal romance or YA novels, nor does she form part of the “Oh, but I’m different, I can handle it” trope. It has always frustrated me when they see the viciousness of the vampire’s feeding and the way they take what they want, especially when sex is involved, and somehow this doesn’t bother them, so I was glad to see that Jacqueline didn’t just sweep this under the rug as it involved Carlos. The author also balanced this quite well with Jacqueline’s desire for Carlos, making it clear how much of a temptation he is, and making the reader question his sincerity at every turn.
A werewolf gets involved in things, and even though it sort of ends up teasing Twilight territory, it avoids the love triangle trope for the most part. Carlos warns Jacqueline that she won’t recognize the wolf when it appears to her in human form, insisting it will try to deceive her and do her harm. She also has adventures with some circus folk later on, and then moves to a town where she discovers some family secrets, which is all I’m going to say because I don’t want to spoil how immersive and amazing this section was.
Despite some pacing issues toward the end, which felt a bit rushed, I could not put this book down. I can’t describe how amazing it is. Readers need to read it for themselves to experience how immersive, captivating, and compelling Invisible Chains is. Folks who enjoy romance and historical fiction mixed with in with their fantasy novels will get a huge kick out of this story as I did. If that happens not to be your cup of tea, then you may wish to go for other fare, but I would encourage readers to read this novel because it’s not a straight-up romance novel. It focuses on Jacqueline’s journey, all the people she meets along the way, the struggles she endures, and is one of the best novels of the year. Do yourself a favour and add Invisible Chains to your reading list.
As soon as I read the description of this novel online, having come across it on Twitter, I wanted to tell the author: you had me at New Orleans and witches. Add to that a plantation, a historical southern setting, and Vodun (the West African tradition that became Louisiana voodoo), and you’ve got me hook, line, and sinker. The novel starts off in an interesting way with the protagonist relaying to the reader that a hurricane “nearly destroyed” the plantation on the day she was born.
I absolutely loved the design element of using a vèvè or symbol that represents the loa, or voodoo spirits, to demarcate scene breaks.
The protagonist Jacqueline’s family life is cruel to say the least. She is one of the many children the plantation master has had with slave women, and is forced to interact with Lottie, the master’s daughter, her half-sister. She and her mother are house slaves, and Jacqueline notices early on she seems to have some of the same gifts her mother does with magic. She has nightmares about a white man with green eyes, which proves to be a compelling introduction to a memorable character in the book who arrives later on.
Lottie soon reveals herself to be extremely manipulative and volatile. Her older brother, Jimmy, also shares her penchant for cruelty, especially toward the slaves. There’s a very disturbing component to their relationship, and I’m going to leave it at that. Physical assault, which is painfully a reality of the historical period, occurs in this novel, and should be taken into account for readers with trigger warnings. The remorseless and unflinching realities of slavery are on full display in this novel.
Jacqueline learns early on that she has some magical ability, something she gets from her mother. When Lottie marries a man named James Lynch, she takes Jacqueline with her and they move to the French Quarter where there are other slaves in the household. The rich, vivid descriptions made the novel jump off the page for me throughout, but particularly in this section. Things get even more interesting when a guest arrives at their house, Carlos Velasquez, who turns out to be a vampire.
Vampires + French Quarter + New Orleans + night = doesn’t get much cooler than that. One of the things I appreciated about Jacqueline was that even though she and Carlos have a vivid attraction and want each other, she didn’t blindly forgive his vampiric nature or look past it the way many other female protagonists have done in paranormal romance or YA novels, nor does she form part of the “Oh, but I’m different, I can handle it” trope. It has always frustrated me when they see the viciousness of the vampire’s feeding and the way they take what they want, especially when sex is involved, and somehow this doesn’t bother them, so I was glad to see that Jacqueline didn’t just sweep this under the rug as it involved Carlos. The author also balanced this quite well with Jacqueline’s desire for Carlos, making it clear how much of a temptation he is, and making the reader question his sincerity at every turn.
A werewolf gets involved in things, and even though it sort of ends up teasing Twilight territory, it avoids the love triangle trope for the most part. Carlos warns Jacqueline that she won’t recognize the wolf when it appears to her in human form, insisting it will try to deceive her and do her harm. She also has adventures with some circus folk later on, and then moves to a town where she discovers some family secrets, which is all I’m going to say because I don’t want to spoil how immersive and amazing this section was.
Despite some pacing issues toward the end, which felt a bit rushed, I could not put this book down. I can’t describe how amazing it is. Readers need to read it for themselves to experience how immersive, captivating, and compelling Invisible Chains is. Folks who enjoy romance and historical fiction mixed with in with their fantasy novels will get a huge kick out of this story as I did. If that happens not to be your cup of tea, then you may wish to go for other fare, but I would encourage readers to read this novel because it’s not a straight-up romance novel. It focuses on Jacqueline’s journey, all the people she meets along the way, the struggles she endures, and is one of the best novels of the year. Do yourself a favour and add Invisible Chains to your reading list.
August 10, 2019
Lane’s mesmerizing story of a woman born into slavery, who uses magic to survive brutality drove me from page one to the end. The need for freedom mingled with vampires, werewolves, and witches make this a book you will want to read.
August 10, 2020
Great Book.
Lane comes at this from a Totally Different Perspective.
I dug the story, characters, and all the imagery.
This is a strong reminder of how hard living can be.
Hardcore.
Lane comes at this from a Totally Different Perspective.
I dug the story, characters, and all the imagery.
This is a strong reminder of how hard living can be.
Hardcore.
September 19, 2024
I read this book for a course.
The premise of Invisible Chains follows Jacqueline, a mixed slave in the antebellum south as she navigates themes of sexual assault, abuse, murder, and a slew of dark societal obstacles. Along the way we meet a large supporting cast, including a swarthy vampire with questionable intent. Using a loose grasp of her relationship to voudon, Jacqueline must come into her own power in order to save herself.
This novel unfortunately gets lost in the misery. It took almost 9 chapters of repetitive sexual assault scenes and exposition until the hook of a paranormal murder hits the page. While necessary at first to lay the foundation for Jacqueline's character, not a single chapter passes without rape being discussed graphically, and central to the chapter. It was incredibly difficult to read multiple rape murders and have the character continue to hem and haw about her attraction this person. The writing loses itself frequently, aspects of plot are repeated or ret conned within two pages of each other. The characters are immensely unbelievable, and I found Jacqueline an unsympathetic heroine.
I felt like I read 300 pages of a person's complex exploration of a CNC kink, wrapped up a final rape metaphor as a loa uses our heroines body as a vessel for evil. I don't get what message this author was trying to explore, other than a dark attraction to a person's rapist. I am not a particular reader of dark romance and bought this thinking it was a horror novel. It is not, although had horror aspects.
The premise of Invisible Chains follows Jacqueline, a mixed slave in the antebellum south as she navigates themes of sexual assault, abuse, murder, and a slew of dark societal obstacles. Along the way we meet a large supporting cast, including a swarthy vampire with questionable intent. Using a loose grasp of her relationship to voudon, Jacqueline must come into her own power in order to save herself.
This novel unfortunately gets lost in the misery. It took almost 9 chapters of repetitive sexual assault scenes and exposition until the hook of a paranormal murder hits the page. While necessary at first to lay the foundation for Jacqueline's character, not a single chapter passes without rape being discussed graphically, and central to the chapter. It was incredibly difficult to read multiple rape murders and have the character continue to hem and haw about her attraction this person. The writing loses itself frequently, aspects of plot are repeated or ret conned within two pages of each other. The characters are immensely unbelievable, and I found Jacqueline an unsympathetic heroine.
I felt like I read 300 pages of a person's complex exploration of a CNC kink, wrapped up a final rape metaphor as a loa uses our heroines body as a vessel for evil. I don't get what message this author was trying to explore, other than a dark attraction to a person's rapist. I am not a particular reader of dark romance and bought this thinking it was a horror novel. It is not, although had horror aspects.
July 9, 2023
MI RESEÑA: Siempre digo que si un libro te llama la atención, ya sea por su sinopsis, su portada, lo que sea, no hay que dejar de leerlo por una reseña negativa, porque todos tenemos percepciones y gustos diferentes . Me paso al menos dos veces que leí reseñas negativas de un libro y al leerlo me encantó y también lo contrario.
Este libro me llamó la atención por una reseña en YouTube y me dieron muchas ganas de leerlo, lo cual me generó mucha expectativa. Me desilusionó, pensé que era de terror, para mi es más de fantasía. La narración no me gustó para nada, por momentos me resultaba infantil; pensé que quizá es por la traducción o porque estaba en primera persona, no sé. La protagonista como todas es alguien "especial" tiene supuestos poderes que no alcancé a entender cuáles eran. El vampiro y el licántropo parecían de cuento para niños. Todo eran tan naif. Le hubiera puesto dos estrellas, pero quizá no es tan malo, solo que me imaginé otra cosa. Me gusta todo lo que está ambientado en Nueva Orleans, y ese punto tampoco me pareció relevante. Creo que es peor que algo te desilusione a que simplemente no te guste.
Este libro me llamó la atención por una reseña en YouTube y me dieron muchas ganas de leerlo, lo cual me generó mucha expectativa. Me desilusionó, pensé que era de terror, para mi es más de fantasía. La narración no me gustó para nada, por momentos me resultaba infantil; pensé que quizá es por la traducción o porque estaba en primera persona, no sé. La protagonista como todas es alguien "especial" tiene supuestos poderes que no alcancé a entender cuáles eran. El vampiro y el licántropo parecían de cuento para niños. Todo eran tan naif. Le hubiera puesto dos estrellas, pero quizá no es tan malo, solo que me imaginé otra cosa. Me gusta todo lo que está ambientado en Nueva Orleans, y ese punto tampoco me pareció relevante. Creo que es peor que algo te desilusione a que simplemente no te guste.
February 26, 2020
Michelle R. Lane's debut novel is a wonderful display of her skills. Set in antebellum New Orleans, Lane spins a horrific dark fantasy about a young slave named Jacqueline. Born into slavery Jacqueline has to deal with the terrible daily struggles of being owned which were some of the more horrifying parts of this story. Lane did a wonderful job bringing that section of history alive by painting wonderous imagery on the page and backing it all up with well-crafted dialogue.
It's also obvious that Lane did her homework on Vodun. Her love of the horror genre shines in this novel. My only gripe is that there was so much going on this book could have been twice as long. There were so many fantastical characters that I wanted to spend more time with them. However, Lane left things open for a sequel, so hopefully, we get to revisit some of the characters and places she teased within this novel.
If you like horror, do yourself a favor and check this book out.
It's also obvious that Lane did her homework on Vodun. Her love of the horror genre shines in this novel. My only gripe is that there was so much going on this book could have been twice as long. There were so many fantastical characters that I wanted to spend more time with them. However, Lane left things open for a sequel, so hopefully, we get to revisit some of the characters and places she teased within this novel.
If you like horror, do yourself a favor and check this book out.
August 9, 2019
Lane's debut novel is a force to be reckoned with. As relevant today as is would be in its time of the antebellum south. Jacqueline is a slave who dreams of freedom. She comes from a line of strong women with conjuring powers. This well-researched and brutally accurate tale of life as a slave both owned and on the run is more than historical fiction, more than dark paranormal romance, and so much more than the horror running through its pages. Characters are well rounded and flawed and the evil within is both otherworldly and sadly extremely human.
Written in a prose reminiscent of the Gothic masters, Invisible Chains draws you in to its darkness while wrapping you in hope. The only question I am left with at the end is will there be more? Because I am not ready to leave Jacqueline's tale just yet.
Written in a prose reminiscent of the Gothic masters, Invisible Chains draws you in to its darkness while wrapping you in hope. The only question I am left with at the end is will there be more? Because I am not ready to leave Jacqueline's tale just yet.
September 23, 2019
This is one of those rare books that is so powerful, touching and well-written that you keep thinking about it after you put down. The kind of book that you know you will be reading again in the future. Not only does it touch on the darkest period of U.S. history but it also infuses magic, culture, the supernatural and vampires into it! I really felt the terror, pain and fear of the main character with every step she took, shuddering at the horror of the evil forces she encountered- both human and inhuman. I am deliberately being vague so as not to spoil anything for readers, but believe me when I say this is one book you are not going to be able to put down once you start!
June 7, 2024
I can't help but think this would have been a better book without the vampire. The human antagonists scared me more than he ever did. The protagonist's constant waffling on whether or not to allow him in her life will be familiar to anyone who has ever had a friend who stayed in a bad relationship, so kudos to Lane on writing something about a rapey, murderous vampire that felt so real. That said, relationships like those aren't exactly fun to read.
Also, general trigger warning: there's A LOT of sexual violence in this book.
Also, general trigger warning: there's A LOT of sexual violence in this book.
August 15, 2019
An excellent novel that will stick with you longer than just a while. Realistic characters who you immediately care about. This book is about slavery, torture, magic, and above all else strength.
Finger’s crossed for a part two, because I want to read further adventures with the main character.
Finger’s crossed for a part two, because I want to read further adventures with the main character.
June 18, 2022
En Cadenas invisibles sufriremos la esclavitud en primera persona y practicaremos magia mientras nos relacionamos con seres sobrenaturales. Un título que encantará a amantes de los dramas históricos con un toque sobrenatural y de terror.
Reseña completa: https://laestanteriadecho.blogspot.co...
Reseña completa: https://laestanteriadecho.blogspot.co...
April 7, 2023
Fantasía y denuncia social, el libro mantiene un esquisto equilibrio entre la crueldad de la esclavitud y el mundo fantástico de hombres lobos y vampiros, pero sobre todo refleja el deseo de la protagonista de sobrevivir y ser libre. La único que no me ha convencido es el final, demasiado abrupto, preparado para una segunda parte.
December 27, 2020
This book is beyond words. It's not only a ghost story, but a story that is important in our current landscape. It earned every accolade it recieved and then some! Completely engrossing and bittersweet. Thank you Ms. Lane for writing such a bold book.
Mesmerizing!
5-Stars!
Mesmerizing!
5-Stars!
June 23, 2022
Una primera parte muy intensa donde se tratan temas muy duros y una segunda parte que se deshincha completamente. Amor y romance innecesario y aburrido, con un personaje femenino fuerte que hace que no tenga lógica.
June 29, 2020
It’s a page turner! Bring on the next on.
September 1, 2020
Just so, so good. Lane creates a rich world that doesn't let you go.
December 4, 2020
Clear your schedule
I could not put this book down! The story captivated me from page one. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I could not put this book down! The story captivated me from page one. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews