Mistress of the East

Rating:
Summary: A pleasant diversionary tale.
Review: An Interest-holding story with which to get through a lazy afternoon or a plane ride. Barrett does a great job of introducing and finishing the story with his pre and post notes that hint as if Rowley was a real person and theses are real memoirs. I don't rate this higher because I had trouble identifying Rowley as a character. Rowley doesn't give the impression that he's fallen "in love" with his captor (though he no doubt believes that he has), but rather he's been brainwashed by her. His actions and attitude indicate psychological injury not unlike a Patty Hearst Syndrome, and the reader ends up feeling a pathetic pity towards Rowley. Again, the best parts of the book are Barrett's own narratives, which entice you to research these Taiping warriors and learn more about this period of Chinese history. An ample escapist story to tide you over, but a far cry from 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: A pleasant diversionary tale.
Review: An Interest-holding story with which to get through a lazy afternoon or a plane ride. Barrett does a great job of introducing and finishing the story with his pre and post notes that hint as if Rowley was a real person and theses are real memoirs. I don't rate this higher because I had trouble identifying Rowley as a character. Rowley doesn't give the impression that he's fallen "in love" with his captor (though he no doubt believes that he has), but rather he's been brainwashed by her. His actions and attitude indicate psychological injury not unlike a Patty Hearst Syndrome, and the reader ends up feeling a pathetic pity towards Rowley. Again, the best parts of the book are Barrett's own narratives, which entice you to research these Taiping warriors and learn more about this period of Chinese history. An ample escapist story to tide you over, but a far cry from 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: Having read and enjoyed several other of Dean Barrett's books and after reading the description on the cover I was not expecting to be so captivated with Mistress of the East. It was a new experience reading about female dominance. The author engages the reader with so much skill that one becomes frightfully involved with the book.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: I have to say I loved this book. It is set in China in 1862 when Taiping rebels were fighting against the Manchus. An American soldier is captured by an all-female brigade of Taiping women and this leads to whipping, domination, sex, sexual tension, etc., etc. But it is presented as a true story as if a manuscript of the man himself has recently been discovered. It rings as true as non-fiction and is far more literary than the normal book from Blue Moon. The second half of the book is very moving as well. Love, sex, erotica, femdom, things Chinese, well researched, deeply moving, etc., etc. This one has it all. Don't miss it!

Rating:
Summary: Erotic and Much More!
Review: I have to say I loved this book. It is set in China in 1862 when Taiping rebels were fighting against the Manchus. An American soldier is captured by an all-female brigade of Taiping women and this leads to whipping, domination, sex, sexual tension, etc., etc. But it is presented as a true story as if a manuscript of the man himself has recently been discovered. It rings as true as non-fiction and is far more literary than the normal book from Blue Moon. The second half of the book is very moving as well. Love, sex, erotica, femdom, things Chinese, well researched, deeply moving, etc., etc. This one has it all. Don't miss it!

Rating:
Summary: A Really Good Read
Review: I've read a lot of erotica but this is one of the best! Chinese women enslave an American adventurer. And the author makes it all seem real because of his obvious knowledge of things Chinese. Sweet Little Sister is one in a million, a character you won't soon forget. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss This One!
Review: This book is a great read. Set in China in the 19th century the author really must have done his research because the characters and setting really come to life! The erotic nature of the novel is certainly there but I found the love story, especially in the second half, to be a really memorable tale. I wish all Blue Moon Books were on this level.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Erotica set in China
Review: This book is a great read. Set in China in the 19th century the author really must have done his research because the characters and setting really come to life! The erotic nature of the novel is certainly there but I found the love story, especially in the second half, to be a really memorable tale. I wish all Blue Moon Books were on this level.

Rating:
Summary: Better than the average femdom material.
Review: This is an erotica book, not a porn book so if you are looking for lots of measurements, non-stop sex, and vulgar words, don't buy this book. But if you like a hstorical setting, that does appear to be fairly well researched, the imagined "true story", with a femdom leaning then you might like this. I found the writing top notch and the plot well thought out -- however, only three or so months seemed to be covered in what was a three year relationship in much detail. And I want to know why all these femdom tales have sad endings, where the man returns to his world and spends the rest of his life yearning for the powerful female or she dies or she is brought around to the reality that she just needs a strong man. At least this was a romantic tale by the end and for that and the research I give it four stars.

Rating:
Summary: Better than the average femdom material.
Review: This is an erotica book, not a porn book so if you are looking for lots of measurements, non-stop sex, and vulgar words, don't buy this book. But if you like a hstorical setting, that does appear to be fairly well researched, the imagined "true story", with a femdom leaning then you might like this. I found the writing top notch and the plot well thought out -- however, only three or so months seemed to be covered in what was a three year relationship in much detail. And I want to know why all these femdom tales have sad endings, where the man returns to his world and spends the rest of his life yearning for the powerful female or she dies or she is brought around to the reality that she just needs a strong man. At least this was a romantic tale by the end and for that and the research I give it four stars.