http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/the-courtesan-by-julia-justiss/ Romance, Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal, Young Adult, Book reviews, industry news, and commentary from a reader's point of view Sat, 26 May 2012 06:52:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/the-courtesan-by-julia-justiss/#comment-238321 Jody Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:40:44 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/?p=147#comment-238321 This was a very, very disturbing read for me. Belle was made to suffer repeatedly and I agree with the review that it's difficult to imagine such an easy redemption for her in the end. Belle came across to me as a weak character that she allowed herself to be publicly "handled" by her protector. Maybe the telling of the tale was a one-sided that it was never mentioned whether she put up any resistance to the abuse and implied that she was a willing participant. She is a pitiful character as most victims are. And what really get to me is the way she was made to suffer again by being raped. Couldn't the author have allowed her a little more dignity than she was given in the book by sparing her this? Well, it was an ambitious book that most likely readers are divided in their views. If you are looking for an escapism read, this is not the one for you. This was a very, very disturbing read for me. Belle was made to suffer repeatedly and I agree with the review that it’s difficult to imagine such an easy redemption for her in the end. Belle came across to me as a weak character that she allowed herself to be publicly “handled” by her protector. Maybe the telling of the tale was a one-sided that it was never mentioned whether she put up any resistance to the abuse and implied that she was a willing participant. She is a pitiful character as most victims are. And what really get to me is the way she was made to suffer again by being raped. Couldn’t the author have allowed her a little more dignity than she was given in the book by sparing her this? Well, it was an ambitious book that most likely readers are divided in their views. If you are looking for an escapism read, this is not the one for you.

]]> http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/the-courtesan-by-julia-justiss/#comment-384 Jane Mon, 01 May 2006 01:46:56 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/?p=147#comment-384 No. She dresses like a - gasp - man. Her protector had only died one month before. She was getting the hell out of dodge but didn't leave soon enough. No. She dresses like a – gasp – man. Her protector had only died one month before. She was getting the hell out of dodge but didn’t leave soon enough.

]]> http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/the-courtesan-by-julia-justiss/#comment-383 Jayne Mon, 01 May 2006 01:01:23 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/?p=147#comment-383 Belle doesn't fence with that dress on, does she? And why is she staying in London, doing the fencing thing if she has enough money to leave? Belle doesn’t fence with that dress on, does she? And why is she staying in London, doing the fencing thing if she has enough money to leave?

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