A review by moireach
Blossoms and Shadows by Lian Hearn

4.0

Geisha are my pet peeve - or specifically, the (very American) assuption that geisha = courtesan/prostitute. Geisha were and are artists, are paid for conversation, singing, playing shamisen and other instruments, dancing - and the same person was not allowed to be a geisha and a prostitute at the same time during the times shown in the book (this was illegal as per the laws made by the shogunate).

If geisha weren't shown as prostitutes - and there were no Japanese language errors in the book - I would have rated it 5 stars as I enjoyed it a lot.