Hmmm... Mixed feelings about this one. So... And this summary may contain spoilers, but I'm not sure... There's this teen age girl, Karen, who becomes a billionaire's fiancee, not because he likes her as-is, but rather due to her potential. The billionaire works with an engineer to redesign her in a particularly nonconsensual manner. Meanwhile the girl's childhood friend is very concerned about Karen and dedicates her life to rescuing her - training her mind and body (via an evil, rapey sensei) and discovering her own inner lesbian Domme. Meanwhile the engineer just happens across a wispy, voiceless Celtic girl who, it so happens, has just narrowly evaded becoming a victim of some sort of satanic-y, voodoo-y ritual. The engineer makes her his slave, but sells her to a Middle Eastern fellow. But still there is no connection between all of these people and some poor Asian girl introduced in the prologue who was kept in a cage for some time by someone. In the end, there is no end, and I am not certain exactly where in the story I arrived and where I am to go from here...
Maybe this is just an art house book about (as the title suggests) Total Control. Because, indeed, all these threads seem to revolve around controlling someone or some circumstances... (?)
On the whole, I felt that more time was spent describing fancy cars, leaded window treatments, and penis's so big they push against one's cervix - while only alluding vaguely to the circumstances and devices used to perpetrate those circumstances upon victims. There seemed to be no sense of compassion for any of the victims while the perpetrators were practically glorified in their opulence and insight. I connected with none of the characters in any meaningful way.
The author is a fine writer although the style felt affected and arrogant. Some passages were hard to make sense of...
Sample:
"Her husband's expression did not shift - still bore the stamp of loving (obsessed?) solicitude - yet Ward knew he'd seen."
...far too many sentences with this structure, for us common uneducated masses looking for an easy thrill.
I am intrigued about what happens next. I don't know if I will find out or even if I can find out. Time, my friends, will solve this problem best, I believe, as I slowly forget that I have read this book at all. And that is too bad!