Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
In Tajhaan, beautiful and skilled courtesans of both sexes vie for the attention of wealthy patrons. Money and privilege, however, come with a price, as one young man soon discovers. For when Hanithi begins an affair with another handsome courtesan, he learns that patronage and bondage are sometimes the same thing.

BOOK REVIEW:
Hanithi and Inandré are courtesans, akhari, who have been trained to satisfy their clients’ desires and ultimately find a suitable patron. They meet at a party on the day of the Great Marriage, and although they should be rivals, they are intrigued by one another. Inandré, a brazen and insolent young man full of mirth, quickly begins to shameless flirt with the shy and reserved Hanithi. The two men begin a friendship and intimate affair, free to explore each other’s bodies without obligations.

Hanithi soon gains a patron, Ghazri ked Menash, and he is moved to Marreh, leaving Inandré behind in Tajhaan. When Inandré shows up at Hanithi’s new home, the akharu is a shell of his former self, quiet and distant. Hanithi learns from his patron of a scandal involving his friend, and implores Inandré to confide in him. What he learns angers and frightens him, and he resolves to help his friend and lover overcome the damage that has been done to him.

Concubinage is a fascinating story about the true meaning of love and loyalty. As an akharu, Hanithi is forced to solicit and endure the attentions of many admirers in order to earn money to survive. Although the ultimate goal is to gain a patron, Hanithi comes to learn that while gaining relief by having ample funds to live, there is a level of ownership and rules that must still be abided by in order to remain in the patron’s favor. He yearns for a deeper connection with another, one that his admirers and patron cannot provide, and that he finds with Inandré. The interactions between the two courtesans are physically intense and tender and they develop a deep emotional bond. He does what he can to help his friend, but wishes he could do more. What Hanithi comes to learn is that although the akhari are adversaries vying for patrons, they will band together to ensure that one of their own receives the justice he deserves.

The characters of Hanithi and Inandré are both complex and well developed and they each display growth within the boundaries of this short story. The change in Inandré is particularly heart breaking as he is so strongly affected and forever changed by the scandalous situation. His description of the event is gut-wrenching and elicits powerful reactions from both Hanithi and the reader.

There is not a lot of background description of the world this story takes place in, which is both good and bad. The story is not bogged down by details, allowing the characters to have the full focus of the reader. However, I found myself struggling slightly to understand the different classifications and the social hierarchy, and this may be due to the fact that this is the first story I have read by Bryce. Despite this I was still able to enjoy the story, as I was quickly pulled in by the characters themselves. I wonder if other stories based in this same world would provide more of the background that I am missing, and I will definitely be looking for them to find out. Concubinage is a wonderful story that is recommended for fans of LE Bryce and anyone looking for a short introduction to the complex and riveting worlds created by this talented author.

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. However, some books were purchased by the reviewer and not provided for free. For information on how a particular title was obtained, please contact us at reviews@rainbow-reviews.com.