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The Geisha with the Green Eyes
The Geisha with the Green Eyes
Historical fiction, erotic romance
Red Empress Publishing
July 22, 2016
Paperback, Kindle
376
By 1850, Japan had been closed to the outside world for centuries. It was a secret, hidden world. And deep within Edo (now Tokyo) was Yoshiwara − “The Floating World.” The center of pleasure. And within Yoshiwara was the Hidden House. The place that only the very wealthiest could afford. The place where the geisha were…special.
And in the Hidden House lived Midori No Me. Half Japanese, half foreign Barbarian, born to captivity. She was trained to dedicate her life to serving the wealthiest men in Japan. Defiled at thirteen when her virginity was sold to the highest bidder. Possessed by the greatest actor in the kabuki theater. Stolen from him by the most powerful yakuza in Edo.
The geisha who escaped from the Floating World.
The Geisha with the Green Eyes.
Everyone, if honest, is intrigued by the Geisha.
What do you think of when you hear the word Geisha? I think of beautiful and mysterious women who follow a strict set of decorum over every aspect of their lives. I think of exotic and zen like places that whisper of history and tradition. I think India Miller had many of the same thoughts when she wrote The Geisha with the Green Eyes. Set in late 1800s Japan, this historical fiction looks at the closed world of the Japanese Geisha through the green eyes of Midori No Me, the abandoned child of the Hidden House’s most sought after Geisha and a green eyed, red haired foreign Barbarian. Midori is not the only Geisha of the Hidden House that is “special”, which is what makes them highly desired and only attainable by the most wealthy Japanese.
WARNING: This book contains many graphic sex scenes and is definitely a book for adults. Included are detailed descriptions of body parts and various sexual acts. Also, be forwarned, Midori No Me’s misuage (loss of virginity) occurred when she was 13.
In some ways I hesitate to label The Geisha with the Green Eyes as historical fiction. In my mind, historical fiction, for the most part, should be true to the historical place, time, or group for which the story is about. Yes, it is set in late 1800’s Japan and the Geisha were a prominent figures in that culture, but it is well known that they were never consorts. Their misuage was paid for years before by a wealthy patron, which helped pay for their training, but once complete, they were never obligated to have sex with any clients. I understand this is a work of fiction but it completely rewrites the purpose of the Geisha into that of an exclusive prostitute.
The story of Midori; her life in the hidden house and her attraction and romance with Danjuro; the greatest actor in the Kabuki Theater, is captivating and well written. India writes in poetic and hypnotic pros that draw you deeper and deeper into the story. There is a constant edge and uncertainty to the story the helps build the suspense and intrigue. When the most powerful yakuz (gang leader) in Edo sets his sights on Midori, you cannot put the book down!
And then it ends…not that the story has to go on and on. It’s just that the ending was so abrupt and tidy that it felt incomplete and forced. I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied. 
This book really had so much potential. Maybe that is why I’m harder on it than a book that just didn’t have what it took to be great. If there wasn’t so much graphic sex redefining the Geisha and a more complete and realistic ending I would have given it more stars.
Tanya’s love for books has been a lifelong passion that she likes sharing with others. Reading is also the thing that relaxes her after a day of juggling the many responsibilities that come with being being wife to an amazing man, mother to four great kids spread around the world, business manager, and farm hand on their place in southwest Missouri; home to Akaushi cattle and a menagerie of pygmy goats, horses, chickens, dogs and cats.
Hi Liz,
Many thanks for the review. Sorry the ending left you unhappy; pleased to say there will be a sequel (probably early next year) but it might not quite the continuation you were expecting.
You´re absolutely right about the mystique of the geisha; I´ve always been fascinated by the “true” geisha as well. But to my mind, that route has been covered brilliantly already by the likes of “Memoirs of a Geisha” and Amy Tan, and I wanted to produce something that reflected the tradition but at the same time had a twist. Too much sex? Perhaps, but given the raison d´etre of Giesha, it seemed to me to be a chicken out not to have a lot of it in there!
India
Hi, Ms. Millar!
I have let Tanya know about your comments so she can respond personally. Thanks for taking the time to read her review. She takes them seriously and it’s always nice when an author responds to our feedback.
QB
Ms. Millar, thank you for taking the time to read my review. I’m actually quite excited to hear there will be a sequel. It makes me feel better about the ending knowing there is more to come. As for the sex, I like to let people know what they are getting since everyone’s sensibilities are different. One thing that really stuck with me, that I would love to ask you, are about the different “terms” you used ie “tree of flesh”. Are those the terms actually used or did you create those?