This was everything I want in historical fiction---the characters were engaging, the story feminist, propulsive, and well-researched, and it prompted me to look things up about the actual event after I was finished to learn more about it. This chronicles the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire, which was the worst urban disaster in US history at the time, causing 72 deaths. Having spent a good chunk of my early school years in Virginia, I was surprised not to have heard this story before, especially with some of the prominent historical figures that were involved. 

The story follows four characters through the night of fire and its aftermath: Sally, a widowed socialite and Patrick Henry's daughter (who I am, in fact, distantly related to, fun fact), a fictionalized version of a real person who was present at the fire and helped to treat the injured afterward. Gilbert, also a fictionalized version of a real person, a slave who worked as a blacksmith and was not in the fire, but rushed to the aid of those trapped in the building and earned a reputation as a hero. Jack, a fictionalized version of the unnamed stagehand who started the fire backstage and struggled with the morality of the theater company's attempts at covering it up. And finally, Cecily, a fictional slave who escaped the fire but took the opportunity to fake her own death in a bid for freedom. 

Learning how the characters' relationships and stories intertwined gave the story a bit of a mystery element, which was fun, and the POVs felt very balanced---I had my favorites but there were none that I was irritated by or annoyed to get to like with some books (looking at you, Bran Stark). There are definitely some heavy topics covered in this, most of which you can infer from the synopsis, but I'd be cautious specifically if you have any triggers involving SA or pregnancy trauma. However, the author does a good job of balancing the reality of how bleak the time period was for anyone not born a white man with an element of hope for the characters’ futures, for the most part. Everyone does not get a happy ending, and there are definitely some more modern and liberal sensibilities in the main characters' POVs with how they perceived the injustices against women and Black people, but nothing that took me out of the time period or felt outlandish. The writing itself was very accessible and easy to read without sacrificing beautiful language or a historical tone; I highlighted a bunch of quotes that felt poignant without being heavy-handed. I'll definitely be reading more from Rachel Beanland in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, & the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review of “The House is on Fire”.