The Crimson Heirlooms

A sweeping saga spanning decades. The hunt for a treasure worth millions. Part mystery, part history, The Crimson Heirlooms by Hunter Dennis is a tale worthy of the classics writers, a legacy of Hugo, Dickens, and Tolstoy.

Spanning the decades between 1776 and 1832, the majority of the story follows Xavier Traversier (18th century) and Jacob ‘Jake’ Loring (19th century). This story explored concepts of socialism and fascism as they were intended. Sadly, even the best of philosophies are often corrupted by those who don’t fully understand what they stand for. The entirety of this tale is a rich medley of philosophic ideas, most especially of Rousseau.

It is a wide-ranging tale, exploring notable events and practices of the time. Jake is right in the middle of the French Revolution, and the American Revolutionary War is referenced often as is life in colonial areas, such as Le Cap Francias in Sainte-Domingue. As the story progresses, Xavier’s timeline becomes populated with other characters, who get their own chapters. Some, like L’Oublie, are one-shots, as he merges into Xavier’s. Estelle and Guillaume get many chapters, preparing to take center stage in the next book. Xavier’s first meeting with L’Oublie is terrifying. Worse though, is the story of Xavier’s trip as captain of a slave trader. They overstuff 275 human beings into the cargo hold. The conditions were horrid, and slaves fell sick and died. They were treated little better than animals. The consequences of rebellion were truly horrific. L’Oublie himself is a rather enigmatic character and happens to be one of my faves. Once his loyalty is given, he is bulldog tenacious. Loyalty is a prime value for me. He’s also kinda scary. I’d certainly feel safe with him at my back!

Overall, I found the book well-researched and quite enjoyable. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series!