Great storytelling, disliked the protagonist of the story

I liked the book. I love historical fiction, it’s one of my favorite genres. The story was gripping and I wanted to know how life would be on the island for Eliza, and whether she would escape the island or not. The author has done her research on how the slaved and the English lived on the island of New Providence. How the island and nature were at the end of the 18th century. I loved reading the description of the island, how life was and the religion of the slaves. The book gives a good view on how it was for slaves to live on the island. Further I liked the political intrigue in the story.

However I found Eliza to be too naive, so naive that it irritated me. I had a hard time believing that a woman in the 18th century would know so little of what was expected of her in a marriage and her role in the household. Charles, her husband, is portrayed as a monster. But to my knowledge his views were pretty normal for 18th century standards. We’re led to believe that Eliza is innocent, while she brings herself others in danger with her actions. Charles sets himself to uphold the tasks that come with a marriage and she finds that they don’t apply to her. I got the feeling that 21st century ideas were placed in an 18th century woman’s mind.

Although I was irritated from time to time by the leading lady of the story, I would still read part two when that comes out. Since I would like to know how the story goes on.