Helpful Score: 2
This book didn't have as much to do with a courtesan as you might think. The idea for the story is good, but I found the whole thing choppy and a bit hard to follow at times, though it did have its good moments. Not bad, not great.
Helpful Score: 1
Mossanen is an interesting writer. This book is well written, in a flashback style. The vivid language definitely stirs the imagination. Also read Harem, also by Mossanen, which I preferred to Courtesan.
Helpful Score: 1
Tried too hard at times to be a mystery, but overall a very enjoyable read. Beautiful language.
Helpful Score: 1
Good book. An interesting connection between turn of the century Paris and Persia. The writer spent more that half the book explaining the characters, so that when all of a sudden a murder-mystery appeared, there wasn't much time to wrap the whole story line up. Good read for historical-fiction writers.