The Russian Concubine

The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall

Summary
Junchow, China, 1928. Lydia Ivanova has a fierce spirit. Nothing can dim it, not even the foul waters of the Peiho River. Into the river's grime bodies are tossed - those of thieves and Communists alike. So every time Lydia steals from someone to feed herself and her mother, she takes her life into her own hands. Lydia's mother, Valentina, numbered among the Russian elite until the Bolsheviks rounded them up. They took her husband but she managed to buy back her child and bring her to China. But survival is hard. Even though mother and daughter live in the Whites-only settlement, no walls can keep Lydia in. She escapes to meet Chang An Lo, who saves her life once and is bound to her for ever . But Chang has enemies who are hunting him down - Chiang Kai Shek's troops are headed towards Junchow to kill Reds like him. Their all-consuming love can only mean danger for them both, but they are powerless to end it ...

Expectations
I was expecting this book to contain a Russian concubine: it didn't! However I was not disappointed in terms of a gripping love story.

Writing Style
I loved the way it jumped around different points of view, giving an insight into all the characters. The writing itself was lovely, providing a fantastic description of feelings and settings.

Plot
Beautiful! It was fantastic to read about a doomed relationship set against a real historical background. This was no fairy tale and it was a delight to read.

Characters
The characters are complex, with many layers, and real aspects. Nobody is portrayed as the perfect good person or the completely evil baddie. I liked it!

Overall
Definately something you should get your teeth into. A good book!

4 Stars