I didn't know much about what the virgin cure was until reading this. Based in the late 1800's we get to know Moth. A young girl raised in one of the poorest parts of New York by a gypsy, alcoholic mother who sells her off to be a maid at 12 years of age. Moth's experience as a maid is nothing short of unpleasant as she is subjected to cruelty and physical abuse on a daily basis. There is a moment of hope when she finally escapes. However, her freedom is short lived, and she finds herself homeless, cold and hungry on the streets. It's here that she is lured into a high end brothel. Where young, virgin girls are trained to be "whores" for the wealthy, elite men. At the time it was sadly and disturbingly believed that laying with a young virgin girl would cure men from syphilis. ( 🙄  just another excuse/ attempt to justify the sick, unjustifiable actions of humans). I say humans, because I also personally hold the lady of the house, luring the girls in, to then make money from them, just as accountable, and horrid as the wealthy men paying for them. By the end of the novel we see how Moth's life unfolds and what the future holds for her. It was this wanting to know how it all ends up for her that kept me reading. Although I found this to be an interesting and informative read, I didn't particularly love it. The ending also seemed a bit rushed and abrupt for my liking.