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_fallinglight_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Hur’s writing was easy to read, and the combination of that and the surprisingly complex mystery kept me turning pages. What seemed like a simple murder case ended up being a complicated one of religion, family and shame with multiple victims, and even though I thought more than once that I’d figured it out, I never had. Props to Hur for that, as I’ve gotten pretty good at predicting twists and solving mysteries.
Another thing I particularly liked was that Seol, the protagonist, was sixteen. While this is ultimately insignificant, it was nice to see a YA book with a main character under the age of seventeen; I can only think of a couple others that do.
Overall, I would recommend this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Representation
- full Korean cast
Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Minor: Infidelity and Suicide
Those tagged minor happened prior to the story but are mentioned occasionally throughout.kimbekaw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Death, Slavery, Police brutality, Blood, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder and Confinement
Minor: Suicide
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I expected something else from the story than I actually got tbh. It was more character driven and introspective than an actual murder mystery. (which, well, was pretty easy to predict) But it was still so good! I absolutely loved the writing and the atmosphere. Sometimes I needed to take breaks just to imagine the mist and the mountains and trees and rivers and the narrow streets and the Hanoks. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters but was sad because there weren't enough for my taste. I was also furious at them most of the time because they were oblivious or didn't talk to each other when necessary... or both. The second half was surprisingly fast-paced and action packed, and I couldn't put it down until the end.
I will definitely read the others books by June Hur.
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
sapphic_reader's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Violence
likgiltighet_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Violence and Misogyny
turtlebrainlibrarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, and Child abuse
lilia's review against another edition
3.0
- The setting and time period—I have never before read anything set in Korea in 1800
- The mystery aspect
- How the story highlighted some interesting women who lived/worked in male-dominated arenas
- How some of the characters were actually real historical figures
Didn't like as much:
- How some of the minor characters weren't developed enough to be very differentiable
- How complex the plot sometimes got (or maybe that was just me?)
Moderate: Blood and Death
Minor: Child death and Suicide
shadereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Suicide
emily_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Kidnapping, and Torture
Minor: Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, and Alcohol