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THE LAST GYPSY QUEEN
Linda Paul
Black Rose Writing
April 16, 2026
289 pages
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As the title indicates, this book is about a band of Romanis (gypsies) who migrate twice a year between Indiana in the winter and central Ohio in the summer. During the summer, they work in Central Ohio at Buckeye Lake, an amusement/carnival park, in 1942.
Marisol is on the brink of adulthood, age 18. She wants more from life than what her people are accustomed to. She wants to be educated, she wants to be a doctor. She does not agree with the constraints that the beliefs and culture of her people put upon themselves. She is working as a Tarot card reader, following family tradition.
While at work she meets a young man, Will. He also has visions of what he wants from life that don’t conform to his parents’ expectations. And, he is about to deploy for the army to fight for his country in WW2. They try to manoeuvre their relationship with difficulty.
The carnival atmosphere is well described in the book. Complete with rides, waffles, popcorn, cotton candy…..all the smells and sounds that I expect. This park is a destination for tourists in the summer, complete with swimming pools, cottages and dance halls with Big Bands appearing. Very 1940-ish.
The culture of the Romani people plays a central part. They are accustomed to keeping a low profile. Their relationships must only be with their own kind. Marriages are arranged. They also have a bad reputation for thieving and trouble-making which is not always deserved.
This is a great debut novel for Ms Paul. She created an interesting tale with well-developed characters and an interesting setting. Kudos to the author for the extensive research.
I would love to read more about Marisol and Will’s life together. Perhaps there is a sequel on the horizon.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance ReadersCopy.
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