Remember, Remember is a timely, moving, and compelling historical YA novel. For fans of Babel, The Confessions of Frannie Langton, and Noughts and Crosses, escaped slave Delphine and her brother Vincent get caught up in a landmark lawsuit for the rights of Black citizens in 18th C. London. The situation pushes Delphie to see rebellion and resistance in a new way as she plots to reshape British society and the empire.

Somehow, this book is extremely modern in feel, including some excellent queer representation, without feeling out of step with its late 1700s setting. I cried, twice, at two very different point which is fairly unusual for me. There are also some elements of romance and of campness that won't appeal to everyone, but they balance some extremely difficult subject matter including racist violence and torture in among. I hope this will be come a new YA classic. My book of the year so far!

This book hit me in the heart HARD. I finished this in February ahead of its release and I am still thinking about it months later.

This is one of only two 5 star reads for me so far this year and it’s definitely set a high bar. Remember, Remember has made me think a lot and despite it being set many hundreds of years ago, it still raises myriad questions to consider today.

The writing was immersive and the character development was fantastic. I found myself loving my favourite characters and despising the antagonists in equal measure. It provoked strong emotional reactions towards characters on both ends of the scale which I think speaks to Machray’s skill.

Despite the hard hitting subject matter and some moments which were utterly heart breaking (I did have to stop at a couple of points) there was also a lovely element of hope through this book.

I really do think this will be one of my favourite books of my year and I will be reaching quickly for the next of Elle Machray’s novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperNorth for providing me with an ARC copy.

I really enjoyed this book, it wasn’t perfect but a great debut novel.

The book follows two ‘previously enslaved’ characters who seek revenge by enacting their own successful Gunpowder Plot.

The characters in this book made for a fantastic read.
The cast of characters was diverse and complex but loveable. The author wrote in a way that gave each of the relatively large cast a distinct personality and whilst many of them had reasons to hate the colonisers dealt with this hatered in different ways which made them more believable. Some of their actions were morally questionable they were still understandable.

The plot was propulsive with a few twists along the way. I had to keep reading to find out what happened next and the added side-plots were also great and didn’t detract from the main story. The final part of the book was exciting with great action scenes.

I thought that it could’ve been a little shorter as I felt that the was possibly a little too much setting the scene/backstory at the beginning of the book but it didn’t stop me reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperNorth for the advance readers copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

It took me a little while to get into this book - it's a bit of a slow burner - but once you get into the main plot you're all in. Delphine is a great character, and I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of the character of Nick and the challenge Machray gives to his white privilege and liberal guilt. I thought Vincent was perhaps slightly underwritten but you don't get much time with him so perhaps that is the reason. Machray also portrays a wide variety of viewpoints with sensitivity and deftness. It's very interesting to imagine how different the world could have been in this alternative version of history.

Enjoyable read which crested a couple of audible gasps. I do wish there was less build up and more in the ending. There were also a couple of plot holes that were not addressed but overall a great take on a Well know event

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Harper North for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: racism, injury, violence, slavery, torture, colonialism

“Remember, Remember” is a powerful story based against the backdrop of 1770s England about two siblings trying to survive in a world where slavery is still legal and their right to exist is murky. Delphine and Vincent, who were brought to England by their master Lord Henry, have long sought their freedom- Delphine ran away four years ago and disappeared into hiding with an enormous personal cost while Vincent tries to earn enough money to pay off his contract through boxing. However, when Vincent finally does achieve his goal, Lord Henry refuses to free him and has Vincent captured on a ship to set sail back to the West Indies. Delphine is forced to work alongside her brother’s friend, Nicholas, as they battle through the incomprehensible English legal system around slavery and racism. After the courts and London fail to help Delphine in her quest to rescue Vincent, she decides that a tiny rebellion is no longer enough: she turns to history, and a long-believed lost ally, to create a plot as legendary as the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, because that’s the only way anyone will listen.

This is a strong debut with a deeply moving and important story at the heart of it. I connected immediately with Delphine as she tries to free her brother Vincent, years after she fled from her master’s home and left behind the love of her life. Aspects of this book are incredibly hard to read, but they’re supposed to be and I was in awe to find out that this was a debut novel because it deals with so many difficult and overarching themes. Vincent’s battle in the courts is based upon a real case and I found the scenes set in the justice system to be the most gripping despite some slow pacing, especially knowing how many of the arguments made were real ones. However, as the story moved away from Vincent’s case and more towards Delphine’s reaction to the ongoing abuse, slavery and racism in the wider world, I found it harder to follow- especially when she decided to recreate the Gunpowder Plot, as it no longer felt like the same book but two separate ideas. I’m glad that I read this and I’m looking forward to what might come from this author next.

The year is 1770 and Delphine's world consists of slavery, brutality and abuse.
In retaliation she falls in with a group of smugglers and prostitutes, an underground gang that seek justice against the world's wrongs.
She escaped her own enslavement four years previously and is now intent on helping her brother Vincent too attain his liberty too.
But Britain's court services are of course at this time biased towards a person of colour so justice was never on the cards.
Small, petty acts of rebellion now just won't do.
Delphine is looking for something bigger.
Something to emulate the Guy Fawkes failed plot.
She wants to hit society where it hurts, the heart of the slave trade and thereby pave the way for other similar changes for those desperately oppressed.
But can one determined, ex slave and a rag tag band be enough to bring the houses of parliament this time and effect sweeping alterations in laws?
This was a fantastic debut novel, very hard hitting and a totally different take on the gunpowder plot told from the people's point of view giving an alternative slant to the well known story.
I love this, the tale was immersive, the whole plot engaging and the characters likeable, sometimes flawed and very honest.
A great read.

Spoiler alert! 🚨

DNF at 40%

This will probably be an unpopular review but I think the scope of this book was too great for this debut author’s writing ability. For such an emotional plot, I couldn’t bring myself to care about the main character. This is in no way saying that I don’t care about the subject matter, I just wasn’t compelled to pick up this book and continue reading, which was a shame as this plot-based novel could have been so exciting.

I think where it went bad for me was that I couldn’t believe the MC’s grief after Vincent’s death. I also didn’t understand that with so many well wishers surrounding him, the death of an experienced boxer at the hands of thugs couldn’t have been prevented. It was like something didn’t add up.

I understand the importance of writing about the book’s many themes (they drew me to this book in the first place) but I don’t think the author was experienced enough to take them all on at once. It was a good attempt but disappointing and I think the book has so much praise due to its themes rather than its execution (pardon the pun!).

Thank you to HarperNorth and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Remember, remember is a novel full of wonderful characters who are very well written, they seem like real people.

I don't know if enjoyed is the correct word for this book as there are some scenes that are hard to read, however I think the descriptions of violence etc could have been much more graphic. I think Elle Machray got the balance between not shying away from the brutality but not overdoing it either, perfectly.

I'm excited to see what books they release in the future.

Delphine is an escaped slave, eking a living in a brothel that caters for the exotic. Her brother has been promised his freedom if he succeeds as a boxer but this is denied him. His vicious master intends to send Vincent back to the West Indies so Delphine and a sympathetic MP decide to take the case to court. When justice does not prevail Delphine is set on a journey of revenge.
There are parts of this novel that are absolutely brilliant and I can forgive the 'alternative history' plot. However what spoils it is the the slight overemphasis on the LGBTQ aspect which just seemed a plot device too far. The research of 18th century politics is great, weaving real characters with fiction, and there is a passion in the writing that serves the novel well.

An absolute roller coaster of a book. Spanning from the plantations of St Lucia to the Palace of Westminster, Remember Remember follows Delphine, a black woman who has been treated abominably but continues to fight back and strike put for change.

Beautifully written, with fully realised, compelling, warts and all characters. It explores the question of what would happen if somebody tried to repeat the Gunpowder Plot 165 years later, focusing on righting the wrongs wrought by the British Empire on all those under its heel.

There were genuine "gasp out loud on public transport" moments when reading this. It's one of those books where you are desperate to finish to find the ending but don't want it to be over. Highly recommended.

The first part of this book had me hooked, I was so invested in the relationship between the siblings and how important they were to each other.

The 2nd part seemed to drag on, it's an exceptionally important read with the history elements, and I really enjoyed this, but just feel it could have been shorter.

No fireworks here.
This book started off very well introducing its characters and their background. Vincent is a slave and a boxer, his Master Lord Harvey has promised him he will be released from slavery if he wins his next match, he does win but the Lord goes back on his promise imprisoning Vincent on a slave ship. Delphine was another of the Lord's slaves, bought as a companion for his daughter Pearl, the two girls were friends and eventually lovers, they were set to run away together but Pearl backed out, Delphine has now been free for four years. Delphine and Vincent regard themselves as Brother and Sister as they were raised together. Vincent manages to escape but is caught and goes on trial as to whether he should be a free man or if he is still the property of Lord Harvey. Nick is Lord Harvey's nephew, he defends Vincent as people are paid to testify against him. A sympathetic and fair minded judge pronounces Vincent to be a free man after a long and complicated trial. As Vincent walks free to the cheers of many other slaves and liberals he is attacked.
Delphine is so upset about Vincent's fate that she plans to blow up the houses of parliament, this is where the plot seemed to get unreal for me. After many trials and tribulations Delphine manages to get a gang of smugglers on her side and tries to put her plan into action.
Their were pieces of philosophy throughout the book which drew attention to the plight of slaves, these were thought provoking.
Thank you Elle and NetGalley.

Remember, Remember is a fantastic Historical Fiction read, with an exquisite reimagining of history and characters that leap off the page and into your heart.

Elle Machray is a star in the making. This is such a brilliant concept - someone decides to re-enact the Gunpowder Plot and ties in silenced narratives and untold histories. It is, pardon the wording, explosive. Delphine is a character that will remain in my head and my heart for some time. She was driven, smart and angry to her core, traumatised and hurt beyond comprehension by a world and society that would not recognise her even as human. That kind of erosion of the self can only end in destruction and watching her turn it against those least expecting it is cathartic.

I absolutely loved the throughline of pursuing revenge and seeking consequences for terrible actions. That sort of justice is only afforded to the ‘right’ victims and Machray also illustrates how the legal systems cannot do enough when the entire system is rigged. It is tragic and heart-breaking and a steeling reminder of just how recent this history is, as well as how it continues to echo around the world and continue. This book burns with rage and fury. Delphine has to create her own justice because the world around her will never recognise the horrors enacted upon her and those she loves.

However, Machray also shows how that can consume a person entirely and obliterate the world around them for themselves. There is a singular pursuit that does not allow time for hope or love or any semblance of healing. The balance between these two is done so well, particularly with the introduction of a wonderfully complex romance thread that does not infringe on the impactful central themes.

Remember, Remember is a magnificent example of what Historical Fiction can do. It is breath-taking in its storyline, characterisation and sheer heart. In short, it is a marvel.

Set in the 1760s/1770s this tale begins with the story of Vincent, a slave who boxes for Lord Henry in the belief that when he has earned his weight in money he will receive his freedom. When that day comes Lord Henry denies the agreement and has Vincent arrested intending to sell him. Delphine enlists the help of Lord Henry's nephew, Nick, to fight his case that a slave once in England is a free man.
The second half of the book then moves on to a rewriting of the Gunpowder Plot and Delphine's attempts to change England and the government of the day. But it is not just freedom from slavery, but freedom and fair pay for the man in the street and freedom for women to have a say in their lives.
Good descriptions of London, interesting character portrayals and who to trust to keep your secrets.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Elle Machray/HarperNorth for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This took me a lot longer to read than planned. A good storyline but I found it really slow going. The second half of the book had me more gripped to the story. The sidelines of love and friendship are what makes the book good. Wouldn’t be top of my list to recommend but still a good book.

I really, really enjoyed the theme of this book, it made me think, it made me cry. The first half particularly was exceptional. The second half was never going to match the brilliance of the first half. I’m so grateful to the publisher for the chance to read this book with much food for thought.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if someone attempted to replicate the 1605 Gunpowder Plot in all but its failure today? I mean, violence & mass murder are never the right answer, yet the idea is interesting, right?

In her recently published novel, "Remember Remember", author Elle Machray imagines just this but for 1770 London & her MC's desire to bring down the British Empire & its slave trade. Escaped slave Delphine opts for more explosive means when the traditional legal route fails to achieve justice for her brother Vincent &, fuelled by anger & grief, she demands minority voices are finally heard. It's ambitious but friends in both high & low places are willing to help.

Trying to compose my thoughts about this book has been almost as complex a task as Machray must have found trying to condense her multitude of sub-plots & detailed research into something slightly easier to consume. Comparisons such as "The Confessions of Frannie Langton" by Sara Collins, "Harlots" (2017-19), & recent BLM protests come to mind, alongside the obvious historical reference. And there are plenty of themes to dwell on once you've finished, from the ethics of such actions to the motivations behind them.

However, I can say I was left feeling a little confused about the story's pacing & how Delphine in particular reached her end point. It's split into three parts which have very different intentions. The first starts strong with a glimpse of the past & events that set things in motion from Delphine & Vincent's perspectives, before the second slows it all down dramatically to enter legal thriller territory & amps up again as plot related information is established/acted upon. Then the finale gradually builds on this, bringing a tension filled conclusion with secret tunnels & long-awaited confrontations. So, adding in the flashbacks & various locations/character relationships, a lot is going on which, to me, didn't flow perhaps as well as it could have because there was more tell than show at times to fill in the gaps. I also thought there was a bit of mere box ticking when it came to the LGBTQ+ element as it wasn't quite developed enough & was mostly in the background whilst other things rightly took precedence (e.g. Pearl & Delphine).

The characters & what they represent are quite good though. Delphine is a strong-willed survivor dealing with her limitations, betrayal, & moral dilemmas. Nick the "good" white man who still has his own prejudices & contradictions when being an ally, as well as a way to add a love of books to the narrative. And Lord Harvey is the detestable villain of the story that I believed would have been the more natural target of Delphine's plan & for whom the "redemption" styled explanation was unnecessary. There are a few side characters that support in a found family sense & occasionally lighten the mood too.

Plus, the accents & language use, including a handful of archaic terms, were a nice touch for the genre.

Thank you to @harpernorthuk & @netgalley for accepting my request to read this eARC.

I have been waiting for this book since November 2022 and it did not disappoint.

Remember, Remember was gripping, heart wrenching, and full of hope. It was engaging and kept me hooked - I have never felt tension in a book like when reading Vincent's trial. This book could have taken so many turns and I never knew where we'd go and loved every second.
I attended the launch event this evening, and like Elle mentioned there, I am not usually one for quotes to open chapters, however the inclusion of real articles and quotes from the time were really impactful and I truly felt I was there.
This was one of those books where I could see every moment - I could see the movie in my mind playing out (and god I'd love this to be a movie, which is saying a lot given I rarely watch them!). It just felt... right?

Reading this felt similar to me as to when I read Les Miserables, and not just because of the themes of revolution. I am very much a light reader. I enjoy fast paced, quick reads that don't simmer. I like to get to the point and the action, no slow building, no setting up (even though it leads to a good reward, typically). But every so often a "simmer" book finds it's way to me and I relish in sitting, taking the story in bit by bit, allowing things to build up. I don't know what makes me latch on to some and not others, but Remember, Remember, like Les Mis (but significantly shorter and definitely much faster paced than the Brick!) had whatever it is I need.

Every character felt real. I cared about them - even if we only met briefly - and of course loathed some! For an author who has only been writing in this style since lockdown, this is beyond a talent. This reads like an author who has honed their craft for decades. I would be green with envy if I wasn't just so thrilled for them.
I cannot wait to read more from Elle Machray (I know it's one day post publication but can we have more now, please?)

A very interesting book! I enjoyed reading it. Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read it