The end was 180 degrees from the way Nori felt and lived. I would like to know why the author chose to end the book that way.

First of all, this was a compelling book about the strength and perseverance of the main character, Nori. Her upbringing with her hateful and sadistic grandmother made me so angry about the way she was treated. Through no fault of her own, she was made to suffer for her mother’s infidelity. Then she found love of sorts with her half brother, whom she adored and who made her whole. Just when you think she has found some measure of happiness, the author decided to kill him off and nearly destroys Nori once again. Once she has come to terms with her grief, she finds happiness with an old friend in London and meets a man who loves her unconditionally, and she agrees to marry him. So I’m thinking there will finally be a happy ending at last, but no, the author decides to have her return to Japan to fulfill her hateful grandmother’s request to stay and inherit the family’s wealth and legacy. She hadn’t known she was pregnant with her fiancée’s child, so rather than returning to England to have a life of love with him and their baby, she chooses to stay in Japan. She must agree to marry someone who will provide a legitimate heir whether she loves him or not. I really felt betrayed by the ending, and truly don’t see her justification to maintain the legacy of this family, who hated and abused her, and tried to have her killed more than once. The comment that “family is everything” only applies if you have a family legacy worth saving. Hers does not!

This is a frustrating tale of survival and duty. I finished quite satisfied.

This book carried me across time and culture, teaching me new things about the past and unfamiliar ways of living. Most importantly, it reinforced the universal depth of the human heart, and the strength of love.

Some great description, interesting, cultural detail, but way too brutal

Poorly written and a predictable story. Do not read this book.

A phenomenal read. I highly recommend it!

I was engrossed in this book and was really enjoying it, until the ending. I don’t want a fairy tale ending but seriously disappointed in this ending. Abrupt and frankly not believable.

I give it three stars because most of the book is really good but I’m so confused and let down by the ending! It feels like there should be a book #2 but there isn’t. There are huge loose ends not tied up. What about Noah? What about her mother? It is just not nice to write an amazing book and get the reader all emotionally involved in the characters and then leave them hanging like that :( Please make a sequel!

Exhausting, emotional, fulfilling, and fascinating.