Title: Threads of Silk

Author: Amanda Roberts

Genre: Historical Fiction

About Threads of Silk:

When I was a child, I thought my destiny was to live and die on the banks of the Xiangjiang River as my family had done for generations. I never imagined that my life would lead me to the Forbidden City and the court of China’s last Empress.

Born in the middle of nowhere, Yaqian, a little embroidery girl from Hunan Province, finds her way to the imperial court, a place of intrigue, desire, and treachery. From the bed of an Emperor, the heart of a Prince, and the right side of an Empress, Yaqian weaves her way through the most turbulent decades of China’s history and witnesses the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

Available on: 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | Kobo

Review:

This was an absolutely amazing read from start to finish. I loved Yaqian, and her desire to make something more of herself. The author expertly ties in history and emotion to her beautiful and lyrical novel. I rarely have such high praise for a book, but this was an incredible experience. Five well-deserved stars.

I was provided with a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review, as per my review policy. All opinions are my own.

About the Author:

AMANDA ROBERTS is a writer and editor who has been living in China since 2010. Amanda has an MA in English from the University of Central Missouri. She has been published in magazines, newspapers, and anthologies around the world and she regularly contributes to numerous blogs. Amanda can be found all over the Internet, but her home is TwoAmericansinChina.com.

Author can be found at
Facebook | Twitter | Website

About Red Empress Publishing:

RED EMPRESS PUBLISHING is a full-service publisher offering traditional and new services for our authors to help them succeed and stand out in an ever-changing market. The company is actively seeking submissions by women and people of color as part of the company’s philosophy of diversity and inclusion. They are currently seeking submissions in any genre of fiction but especially romance, mystery, fantasy and historical fiction. Authors can submit their books and request more information on Red Empress Publishing’s official website. For the company’s latest news and updates, visit Red Empress on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Novel:

Savaged Lands is a story of war and betrayal, of love and forgiveness. It is September 1941 and Hitler’s Army Group South has occupied Kiev. A young Soviet girl named Natasha falls in love with Mark, a Hungarian soldier of Russian descent. Trapped on opposing sides of a brutal conflict, they are forced to keep secrets from everyone they love. With everything stacked against them and nothing to hope for, the two characters are compelled to fight for their love and their very survival.

Purchase here: https://www.amazon.com/Savaged-Lands-Lana-Kortchik-ebook/dp/B01ADEAW78/

About the Author:

Review:

The Geisha with the Green Eyes
India Millar

By 1850, Japan had been closed to the outside world for centuries.  It was a secret, hidden world.  And deep within Edo was Yoshiwara − The Floating World.  The center of pleasure. Within Yoshiwara was the Hidden House. A place that only the very wealthy could afford to visit.  The place where the geisha were… special.

And in the Hidden House lived Midori No Me. Half Japanese, half foreign Barbarian, born in captivity. She was trained to dedicate her life to serving the wealthiest men in Japan. Defiled at thirteen when her virginity was sold to the highest bidder. Possessed by the greatest actor in the Kabuki theater. Stolen by the most powerful Yakuza in Edo.

The geisha who escaped from the Floating World.

Review

I started The Geisha with the Green Eyes with much anticipation. I loved Memoirs of a Geisha, so I was eager to read more historical romance about the practice, and the cover inspired me even more. A well-constructed story, with memorable characters, I found the novel an easy read, and kept going back to it after having put it down. I liked Midori’s character and found her struggles real in the Floating World. However, my favorite character ended up being Carpi, the poor geisha with shortened arms. Her character was how I might imagine a geisha to feel; forced to entertain the outside world while feeling crushing sadness inside.

I feel though that the ending was rushed. There was a great build-up, but there could have been more substance. I do hope the author plans a sequel, as I would love to continue reading Midori’s journey. There are some violent scenes in this novel, some involving sexual context so any readers should be made aware of this. Otherwise, The Geisha with the Green Eyes was a solid four-star read for me. Well done!

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

About India Millar

INDIA MILLAR started her career in heavy industry at British Gas and ended it in the rarefied atmosphere of the British Library. She now lives on Spain’s glorious Costa Blanca North in an entirely male dominated household comprised of her husband, a dog, and a cat. In addition to historical romances, India also writes popular guides to living in Spain under a different name. Her Romance Noir series is highlighted on her website, indiamillar.co.uk.