Warning: SPOILER alert.
Having read one of her books previously, I was quite excited when this book came out.
I had some expectations but was utterly devastated at how this book turned out.
I tend to try not to spoil the story in my reviews but here, I just have to!
The story is particularly draggy, though the descriptions are detailed. Similar to the her previous work, the amount of research she has done is undisputed and extensive. The author certainly penned down the history in this novel and has used the same historical background as her previous novel. The afterword she wrote also gives a thorough explanation on the accuracy of the history in her work. Since I have gained some knowledge on ancient Japan during the Edo-period, this is easier for me to relate as I already have a mental painting in my mind.
What is destroying though, is the weak plot. This is a pretty predictable story without a lot of climax and exciting parts. It's very easy for me to guess and that kinda spoils the surprise it is supposed to give. This is the reason why I actually stopped reading it for a while. Nonetheless, I've picked it up again and managed to finish it.
I hate the ending. The ending makes me wanna throw the book down the toilet and flush it. The male is a samurai and I would expect him to honour his code of samurai and rescue his comrades in prison. He was already on his way when he decides to give that up and go save the girl instead.
WHY??????
One would argue that the male has a different mindset due to him having travelled to the the West, but that's not an excuse to abandon his superior that has fought alongside him for YEARS and has been a faithful friend, brother and father to him. But NO, he decides a prostitute he met in the pleasure quarters is more important.
The author gave uneven weight to the main characters, even though she wrote in their perspective in interval chapters. She seemed to highlight the female more, about how the female is sold into prostitution and how she carries on with life there. Even so, I feel that the female is very 2D. Like, I can't feel her. It's as if she's static and I just watch as she moves along. Also, I have this very strong notion that the author just wants to find the female a partner and thus invented him. Yes, she did gave him a good background, but that doesn't make up for the lack of character development. We see the female grows from a dutiful wife to an expert courtesan but the male.. just remains so.
Or that from an honourable samurai to a coward.
The interesting read about this book is really, only the history bits. Like how the author would picture the marshes, the bitter cold winter in Ezo and the legendary Yoshiwara. If I were to give points on this book, it would be based on the extensive historical content it has, not the teenage romance the main characters have.
This is a really disappointing read.
Do not touch this.
Done!
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