Lately, I found myself bored with all the historical romances featuring dukes and ingenues. Therefore, I was looking forward to a book with a vastly different setting. Only if it wasn't such a bore.
To be fair, the book is well-written and well researched, with the bustling pleasure district and the ancient China setting practically jumping out of the pages. What I didn't buy, though, was the central romance between a maidservant and a young aristocrat. Somehow, she managed to catch his eye by not reacting to his advances, and he was smitten. What I tend to look upon as practicality on her part suddenly becomes this huge allure in his eyes. And while her background is tragic, it is no more tragic than any other concubines or servants who ended up toiling their life away in the pleasure district. I simply don't think that she exhibited enough personality to elicit such devotion.
And that ending...I've read reviews by reviewers who thought that the author found a clever and believable way for Yue-Ying and Bai Huang to get their HEA, but I disagree. In ancient China, the difference in their stations in life would have been too great an obstacle to overcome without someone making a sacrifice. The kind of ending where they both get what they want without giving up something...it is just no believable.
To be fair, the book is well-written and well researched, with the bustling pleasure district and the ancient China setting practically jumping out of the pages. What I didn't buy, though, was the central romance between a maidservant and a young aristocrat. Somehow, she managed to catch his eye by not reacting to his advances, and he was smitten. What I tend to look upon as practicality on her part suddenly becomes this huge allure in his eyes. And while her background is tragic, it is no more tragic than any other concubines or servants who ended up toiling their life away in the pleasure district. I simply don't think that she exhibited enough personality to elicit such devotion.
And that ending...I've read reviews by reviewers who thought that the author found a clever and believable way for Yue-Ying and Bai Huang to get their HEA, but I disagree. In ancient China, the difference in their stations in life would have been too great an obstacle to overcome without someone making a sacrifice. The kind of ending where they both get what they want without giving up something...it is just no believable.
This needs to be said first. A historical romance NOT set in England or during the Regency! And the main (and I should say all) characters are not white!
I enjoyed this one. A bit slow at times. I found the romance a very nice, slow burn. Yue-ying and her sister Ming-yu were sold as children into slavery. Ming-yu was beautiful, so she became a courtesan. Yue-ying has a red birthmark on her left cheek. This marked her as unlucky and people would stare at her. As a result, she was forced into prostitution. In this world, a courtesan is educated and her patrons are wealthy, well known.
Ming-yu is able to find and buy Yue-ying. Yue-ying becomes her maidservant. At the beginning, I really didn't care for Ming-yu. I thought she was cold. IMO, she did a complete 180 and her coldness was a result of the events that were unfolding.
Bai Huang was from an old, rich, well known and respected family. He made many bad mistakes and choices. Having conquered (mostly) and learned from his mistakes, he spies for his father, playing the idiot. He notices Yue-ying and very gradually empowers her to come out of her shell and speak her mind.
I don't think the mystery/murder was the strongest aspect of the story. What made this excellent IMO was the romance, acceptance, and trust between Yue-ling and Huang. I was also wondering how J.L. was going to pull off the HEA. Nice.
Looking forward to Ming-yu's story.
I enjoyed this one. A bit slow at times. I found the romance a very nice, slow burn. Yue-ying and her sister Ming-yu were sold as children into slavery. Ming-yu was beautiful, so she became a courtesan. Yue-ying has a red birthmark on her left cheek. This marked her as unlucky and people would stare at her. As a result, she was forced into prostitution. In this world, a courtesan is educated and her patrons are wealthy, well known.
Ming-yu is able to find and buy Yue-ying. Yue-ying becomes her maidservant. At the beginning, I really didn't care for Ming-yu. I thought she was cold. IMO, she did a complete 180 and her coldness was a result of the events that were unfolding.
Bai Huang was from an old, rich, well known and respected family. He made many bad mistakes and choices. Having conquered (mostly) and learned from his mistakes, he spies for his father, playing the idiot. He notices Yue-ying and very gradually empowers her to come out of her shell and speak her mind.
I don't think the mystery/murder was the strongest aspect of the story. What made this excellent IMO was the romance, acceptance, and trust between Yue-ling and Huang. I was also wondering how J.L. was going to pull off the HEA. Nice.
Looking forward to Ming-yu's story.
