PRODUCER NIK VS. BURN DOWN THE MASTER’S HOUSE

Can historical fiction provide catharsis for the injustices of the past? That’s what Nikolas hoped to discover by delving into Clay Cane’s Burn Down Master’s House.

As turmoil simmers within a divided nation, smoke from another blaze begins to rise. Sparked by individual acts of resistance among those enslaved across the American South, their seemingly disparate rebellions fuel a singular inferno of justice, connecting them in ways quiet at times, explosive at others. As these flames rise, so will they.

Luke, quick-witted and literate, and Henri, a man with a strong and defiant spirit, forge an unbreakable bond at a Virginia plantation called Magnolia Row. Both seek escape from unimaginable cruelty. And sure as the fires of hell, Luke and Henri will leave their mark, sparking resistance among the lives they touch…

One is Josephine, a young, sharp, and observant girl who wields silence as her greatest weapon. A witness to Luke and Henri’s resilience, she listens, watches, waits for the moment to make her move.

Then there is Charity Butler, her husband a formerly enslaved man who proved his ferocity as a young boy standing alongside Josephine. At his encouragement, Charity fights for her freedom in court and wins—only to battle a deeply unjust system designed to destroy the life they’ve built.

And finally, there is Nathaniel, who ruthlessly exploits other Black people and mirrors the cruelty of the white men who, like him, are enslavers. A perversion of the system of slavery, his fragile and contradictory rule will become a catalyst of its own.

Title: Burn Down Master’s House

Author: Clay Cane

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 288

Format: Hardcover / eBook / Audiobook

With Burn Down Master’s House, Clay Cane sets out to share important stories of slaves and former slaves in the United States, stories of retaliation and retribution. These are the stories we didn’t learn in the classroom, at any of the many times we were forced to study the same sanitized and generic portrayals of the Antebellum South and the Civil War that set American against American over the practice of slavery. While the particulars of these tales are fictional, the underlying structure of the narratives are based on true stories. This book serves a fine example of just how many valuable lessons we can learn from fiction. In the end, it’s less important that people like Henri, Luke, Josephine, and others weren’t necessarily real people, because their experiences were, in fact, quite real for other individuals.

As a white man, reading this book, it felt thrilling and satisfying in the same way it felt to read about the actions of white men like John Brown—though it can be argued that there weren’t nearly enough white men like John Brown. I can only imagine how much more satisfaction there is to be derived from this book by someone from a marginalized group, and not simply Black people. It showcases the variety of ways in which enslaved people fought back against their oppressors, despite the awful consequences that often befell them in the end. I’ve always been a sucker for a tragic hero, though, and I believe some battles are worth fighting even when the end seems—or is guaranteed—to be a foregone conclusion.

Almost as good as the generations-spanning narrative Cane has laid out for us with these stories is his commentary and the explanation of how he conceived of the stories and characters involved. He borrowed heavily from real-life incidents of enslaved people enacting revenge on those who brutalized and tortured them as well as stories of members of his own family who had been slaves, in order to craft tales that resonate with truth. That very truth can be a little hard to handle at times.

For my fellow Splatterpunk readers, there’s nothing you shouldn’t be able to deal with, but for people with more sensitive constitutions, there’s a chance that some of the suffering inflicted upon the protagonists might be a little bit much. I recommend continuing, though. Real people suffered these indignities—and worse—and the least we can do is bear witness to the depictions here, so as to remember why barbaric practices like chattel slavery can never be allowed to happen again. Plus, I assure you that—at least in Cane’s book—the people who have it coming are going to get what’s coming to them. It’s unfortunate that reality rarely played out that way.

Nikolas P. Robinson is an avid consumer of books, movies, and television, especially where horror, science fiction, and fantasy are concerned. When he isn’t consuming media, he’s creating it as an author, photographer, videographer, and news producer in Portland, Oregon.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.