Livia Lone

A page-turner, but not a happy story. Brutal depiction of child trafficking.

Warning: This book is not for the faint of heart. Right up front you need to understand that it that takes on some brutal subjects – human trafficking, rape, and sexual abuse of children (basically, slavery in various guises). In this book, some descriptions of abuses and violent encounters are very detailed and graphic.

Having said that, I quite enjoyed the book. Having previously read some of Eisler's John Rain books, I knew to expect a thriller with interesting characters and a lot of graphic violence. I wasn't disappointed.
The protagonist, Livia Lone, is an interesting character – intelligent, strong, attractive, driven, and emotionally scarred. Her story is told in two timelines. Then: following her experiences being trafficked and abused as a child and adolescent, and Now: as she tracks down monsters in the present day and wrestles with her inner demons. The story is fast-paced and Livia is one seriously tough lady.

Barry Eisler narrated the audio version himself. And, it turns out that he is a very good narrator. A multi-talented fellow he is.

Good book – solid four stars. Recommended, but do take my warning above seriously.

I have such mixed feelings about this book.

On the one hand, the book is brutal, both in its descriptions of child sexual abuse, and in Livia's role as a vigilante. This is absolutely not a light read, and if you are at all disturbed by scenes of violence, rape, and vengeance, this book is not for you.

But on the other hand, even if I feel like Livia went too far in her quest for justice, I have to admit it certainly makes her a complex character. And I've never much cared for overly sweet, precious characterizations of people.

The good

I've read several books on the subject of human trafficking, and I don't know if any have ever moved me quite like this one has. yes, many of the scenes are bleak and disgusting, but such is the nature of sex trafficking. We'll never be able to overcome evil like this if we're not willing to stare it in the face. It's enough to almost make me support Livia's actions.

Not all the men in this book are hideous monsters. No spoilers here, but suffice it to say that Livia does find allies, which leads me to...

For all the ugliness in the book, there are some heart-warming scenes between Livia and the handful of people she comes to know and care for. These moments of love and beauty help bring some balance, though they feel real and authentic, not just thrown in to keep the book from dissolving into despair.

The not so good

Have I mentioned the violence and vengeance?

Though her motives seem to be right, I'm not sure Livia's method of dealing with rapists is exactly ethical. Especially her weekend “hobby”. yes, the system is badly broken, probably in ways far beyond my understanding. But is this really the way to fix it? Might some of those men have otherwise had the chance to find help and rehabilitation? Is it worth the risk to other women? These are difficult questions, probably with even more difficult answers, but Mr. Eisler never addresses them. There seems to be an unspoken assumption that Livia is justified in taking matters into her own hands. That it is at the least, understandable, commendable at most. Perhaps it's my own convictions, but the idea just doesn't sit right with me.

And on a smaller complaint, Livia seems a bit too perfect when it comes to the combat scenes. She is portrayed as the best of the best in martial arts, and this takes away some of the suspense, when you know who's going to win each and every fight.

All that said, it's a book that makes you think, and makes you feel. By those standards, it's a good book. But in my opinion, it could have been better if questions of ethics, and what it means to seek justice, and where the lines between justice and vengeance are, had been raised. How far does a criminal have to go in order to lose his or her right to be heard in court? At what point does the justice system fail so utterly that it becomes right and good for citizens to deal with evil in whatever way they can?

Mr. Eisler doesn't bring these questions up, or rather, he seems to answer them in a way that, frankly, makes me uncomfortable. But maybe it should be up to us to ask these questions. How do we help rescue and defend those suffering unspeakable abuse? How far should we go when the system fails and society turns a blind eye?

A challenging, but worthwhile read to me. Recommended, but only if you have a strong stomach, and can handle dark subjects.