The cover of this book is gorgeous - all golden and shiny with a dark mysterious side. It really draws you in.
Inside is a story set in a bleak world where young girls get sold into Welcome Houses as their families are so poor. Once they turn 16 they get their "lucky night" where they are of an age to entertain a brag and are sold at an auction.
Sisters Aster and Clementine are both in a Welcome House and it's Clem's turn for her lucky night. Older sister Aster gives her advice on how to cope with what's to come but Clem freaks and ends up murdering the man. To make matters worse the murdered man is the son of one of the most powerful men in the land.
Together with 3 other girls, they manage to escape and so begins the journey to their freedom.
There's plenty of peril, near misses and action as they try and make their way to "Lady Ghost" - a woman who can remove their favors (the "tattoo" they are given to mark their belonging to the Welcome House) and get them across the border.
It's quite the story - though not my cup of tea as I didn't find myself invested in the characters or their tale. Subsequently I found it quite hard going.
Inside is a story set in a bleak world where young girls get sold into Welcome Houses as their families are so poor. Once they turn 16 they get their "lucky night" where they are of an age to entertain a brag and are sold at an auction.
Sisters Aster and Clementine are both in a Welcome House and it's Clem's turn for her lucky night. Older sister Aster gives her advice on how to cope with what's to come but Clem freaks and ends up murdering the man. To make matters worse the murdered man is the son of one of the most powerful men in the land.
Together with 3 other girls, they manage to escape and so begins the journey to their freedom.
There's plenty of peril, near misses and action as they try and make their way to "Lady Ghost" - a woman who can remove their favors (the "tattoo" they are given to mark their belonging to the Welcome House) and get them across the border.
It's quite the story - though not my cup of tea as I didn't find myself invested in the characters or their tale. Subsequently I found it quite hard going.