Review: Splendid MM romance in the East!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 15, 2012
Catt Ford has written a fascinating and most enjoyale mm romance tale in ancient china. I could not stop reading as I have to find out what happen next to our cross dressing hero, Lan Xiu. His adventures as he struggles to fit into the life of a concubine is highly entertaining and I have to say realistic too. As an Asian who have watched quite a lot of ancient Chinese drama, I am pleased with the pretty accurate description of the way the wives/concubines of the rich and powerful live. Their individual abode within walking distance of each other in a closely guarded compound, a prison with all the luxuries of life but no freedom. The only thing they live for is whether her lantern is the one lighted for the night.  The jealousies, the competition, the pettiness, the rivalries, the sisterhood, an environment, poor Lan Xiu is thrown into. Lan Xiu is a very likable character and it is easy to understand the way he is from  his background. The other character I like who is just as important in the story is Lan Xiu's faithful protector, the eunuch Ning. Their "mistress/servant" bond  is a highlight of the story. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy LAN Xiu's romance with his general too as this is formost a love story with a cinderella flavor as our cross dressing princess rises from the ashes and becomes his general's only consort.  But  the romance is expected whereas the bond between princess and servant is not. And when the princess/servant bond is so well weaved into the story, it certainly is a wonderful bonus in the plot. General Hui Wei is likable enough as the powerful warrior and he does paint an intriguing figure in the beginning. But this character does fade slightly in the first part of the story as the plot focuses on LAN Xiu's highly entertaining interaction with the general's wives/concubines. And when he finds himself besotted by the "princess", the general does seem to lose some of his aura. But then, this is foremost a MM romance! The secondary characters is as much the strength  of the book as much as the fascinating plot and the two mains. And how could I resist such a brave crossdresser who loves his colorful gowns as much as the freedom to swing a sword, rides his horse and fights besides his lord. Very enjoyable indeed.