Far Away Bird by Douglas A. Burton

Theodora is a young girl living at home.  She has brothers and one sister she loves deeply.  Her father gets drunk most nights and they stay out of his way.  Then he's killed in an act of war.  They know they'll end up on the street next.  But then a Magister comes and says he can help them.  He knows of a widower who would marry their mother and take over her father's job.  Then they could stay where they were and survive.  Her mother agrees.  But that is not all the Magister wants...

PR by the Book and the author shared a copy of this book with me for review (thank you)  It has been published and you can get a copy now.  The cover illustator is George Frei.

The Magister wants favors from Theodora.  Her mother sends her away with him.  She has no idea what's coming, she's only fourteen.  He has his way with her and she's almost broken by what's happened.  She's conflicted.  It was horrible and no way to be introduced to the act but, on the other hand, it almost felt good.

She eventually becomes a prostitute.  She flies away in her mind and lets the men do what they want.  She even performs in live sex shows.  After all, in this era men own the women and they must do what they are told.  It doesn't take her long before she uses her body as a weapon to get what she wants.

A fellow prostitute works on teaching her how to spy by listening closely and suggesting topics.  Soon she's doing that well.  She has met a man and fallen in love but she's being shipped out to another country.  She has to go but she intends to return.

It takes some doing for her to get back but she does, bringing a friend or two with her.  Will her love be waiting?

This is historical fiction but much of the book has graphic details.  I felt bad for her but she manages to rise even in the terrible environment she found herself in.  She was a fighter.