THE ISLAND BENEATH THE SEA by Isabel Allende, 2010.

Spanning the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in Haiti and New Orleans, Allende's novel follows the life of Zarite, called Tete, born on the island of Saint-Dominigue, a slave and concubine who wishes to take control of her own life and destiny no matter what the cost.
  In 1770, young and foppish Toulouse Valmorain arrives on the island and begins running his father's plantation, Saint-Lazare, a sugarcane plantation of lush natural beauty and terrible brutality. When Valmorain, with little hope of ever returning to live in France, decides to marry the lovely Spaniard Eugenia del Solar, sister of his best friend and business partner Sancho, he asks his current mistress, Violette Boisier, to purchase a maid for his bride. Thus, the endearing and smart nine year old Tete, enters Violette's home and is trained as a domestic for Eugenia. Tete, an eager sort who comforts herself by dancing to African drums and learning about voodoo loa, becomes an indispensable part of Valmorain's life. As the years pass, Tete becomes far more important to her master than he does to her. Their lives fatally intertwine and involve others: the gorgeous and knowledgeable Violette, headstrong Gambo, guardian-like Loula, the vindictive Hortense Guizot, the kindly Dr. Parmentier, the witchlike Tante Rose, and Capt. Etienne Relais, who loves and tries to protect his family unto death. When the French Revolution rocks their world, creating a stunning and bloody revolution on their island with the rise of Toussaint L'ouverture and necessitating several characters' escape to New Orleans, Tete sees a chance for having her enduring wish for freedom granted. There, amidst the raucous multicultural city, with its slave markets, smuggling, governmental chaos, and famous quadroon balls, she renews her acquaintance with the free Zacharie. And at long last, after years of violence, childbirth, love, lies and betrayal, lust, slavery, cruelty, and loss, she finally finds peace and joy with the Zacharie and achieves a destiny greater than she had dreamed. 
  An interesting read, definitely of a literary bent, at times not easy to follow, with a huge cast of characters, and enough drama for several books. Allende's portrayal of the determined Tete is creative and sympathetic, she is a vigorous survivor with a heart and unquenchable spirit, able to rise above unimaginable suffering. Allende's depictions of New Orleans and Haiti are accurate and lively, and setting Tete's riveting story against these backdrops added much to the novel. For those who enjoy a lengthy saga about courage and hope against all odds. My only quibble: some of Allende's writing didn't seem well translated and made for awkward reading. Otherwise, a literate and engrossing (if sometimes slow) read.

WENCH by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, 2010.

An interesting and often disturbing novel set at a summer resort, Tawawa House, in Ohio during the 1850s, a place where Southern white men could bring their enslaved black concubines. Near Xenia, Ohio, the resort is an idyllic retreat, and provides privacy to these men and their mistresses. Three women become acquainted there: Lizzie, Sweet, and Reenie, and remain friends through several years of visits, reuniting and sharing news and information about each others' lives at each visit. Even though they are aware that Tawawa is in free territory, they don't think much about it until a new visitor arrives--Mawu--and starts talking of escaping to freedom. It's a huge thing to consider for them all, as running away would mean leaving behind everything they know--families, children, friends, as well as breaking the emotional ties to the men who enslave them. The author has done an excellent job with the details of the period, her characters, black and white, are well drawn and full blooded, and I was totally engaged by the story of the trials and tribulations of these women. It's a story of great courage, strength, psychological as well as physical bondage, loyalty, and love. At times shocking and brutal, the narrative moves swiftly, and the reader is carried right along to the end. Very worthwhile read about a little known episode (Tawawa House really did exist--it later became a college for blacks).