A gripping novel of love and slavery of both heart and body. Based in Victorian England and Eastern Africa, it explores the dangers of colonization, family ties and the Dark Continent.Zanzibar. The island of dreams. The island of nightmares. In Victorian England it is considered both: a tropical haven for every dispossessed visionary, every soldier of fortune from Timbuktu to London—until recently—the slave capital of the world. Now Charlotte Earnshaw, the youngest daughter of the earl of Highgate will discover both the joys and terrors of Zanzibar, and will learn the bitter lesson of slavery—from slavery of the body to slavery of the heart. Yet her salvation lies with the dark stranger who holds her captive and threatens the very destruction of Highgate Manor. On a bitter winter day in 1887, Charlotte Earnshaw’s life will change forever—for she will meet the dark avenging stranger who will force her father’s return to Africa: Jasim Bin Rashid, the prince of Zanzibar. In her quest to find her long lost true love Geoffrey, Charlotte falls prey to Mal d’Afrique, the dark secret of Eastern Africa and all its perils. Even as she returns to her beloved Cornwall, danger awaits in the sinister form of her predatory brother-in-law Derek Gallwey, and she must decide ultimately where her heart lies.
Book Review:
Zanzibar by Arabella Pascal is a sweeping historical novel that blends romance, danger, and the grim realities of slavery against the backdrop of Victorian England and Eastern Africa. Rich in atmosphere, the story transports readers to a world of tropical beauty and lurking menace, where the line between freedom and captivity is razor-thin.
At its heart is Charlotte Earnshaw, a young woman whose journey takes her from the familiar comforts of England to the perilous shores of Zanzibar—the former hub of the slave trade. Her entanglement with Jasim Bin Rashid, the enigmatic prince of Zanzibar, forces her to confront not only the legacy of colonization and human bondage but also the hidden chains of love, loyalty, and desire. Charlotte’s search for her lost love Geoffrey, and the shadowy threats she faces from both Africa and home, add layers of intrigue to her emotional and physical struggles.
Pascal does not shy away from the darker realities of the time, weaving themes of exploitation, family betrayal, and forbidden passion. Yet through it all, Zanzibar remains a story of resilience, choice, and the quest for freedom—whether of body or heart.
For readers who enjoy historical romance laced with adventure, peril, and richly drawn settings, Zanzibar offers both escapism and emotional depth. A lush and haunting tale that lingers long after the final page.
