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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
I will say that what called to me about this book was that it was set in Josean times. I am a sucker for a good historical k-drama and figured this book would be a good fit. What I had not expected was the suspense felt from the start of this book.
It started and never stopped going until the end. The story keeps you intrigued until you find the truths hidden in its pages.
I loved that it was part murder mystery and a slow burn. I never knew I needed a slow burn love story such as this one. I didn't even care half the time if there would be a love story. The main plot about the finding of the murdered took center stage that when there were scenes of tenderness, it helped ease the tension, and in my opinion, made it that much sweeter.
Hyeon is a strong character, where she isn't perfect. There are multiple times that she reminds herself of past lessons to work through things. Her want for recognition from her father was felt. I felt for her and her situation. They were hard times for women in Joseon Korea, and the way she came to be born was only another luggage she seemed to carry. Her single view of things was not irritating because when she was given the opportunity to see more, she listened and accepted. I like that overall, she grew to love herself for what she is and does not need anyone's approval. She was head strong, but unlike a lot of stories with these kinds of characters, Hyeon had the skills to back up her head strong nature.
Eojin is just ... can korean television and books, please stop making such green flag men that I know are hard to find in real life? Thank you, please. Anyway, Seo Eojin, a worthy man to be called a main lead, and boy, do you just want to give him a big hug. Seeming cold at first but the farthest thing from it. I can picture him as that perfect male lead in a k-drama that seems cold and unapproachable but only because he is a respectable man who has his reasons as to why he is the righteous man he is and I applaud him for it.
Overall, I was surprised to learn that this book is partly historical fiction. I felt for the crown prince, seeing the circumstances he was placed in and how he lived. But it does not forgive the historical facts that follow who he was as a person. Makes me more curious to know who Crown Prince Sado was, and I may pick up the memoirs of his wife to read in the future.
It was an enjoyable read that had me hooked to the end, and although I was slightly surprised at the revelation, I wasn't as much because I recalled the past hints and clues that popped up. Great story. I'll be checking out June Hur's other writings soon.
It started and never stopped going until the end. The story keeps you intrigued until you find the truths hidden in its pages.
I loved that it was part murder mystery and a slow burn. I never knew I needed a slow burn love story such as this one. I didn't even care half the time if there would be a love story. The main plot about the finding of the murdered took center stage that when there were scenes of tenderness, it helped ease the tension, and in my opinion, made it that much sweeter.
Hyeon is a strong character, where she isn't perfect. There are multiple times that she reminds herself of past lessons to work through things. Her want for recognition from her father was felt. I felt for her and her situation. They were hard times for women in Joseon Korea, and the way she came to be born was only another luggage she seemed to carry. Her single view of things was not irritating because when she was given the opportunity to see more, she listened and accepted. I like that overall, she grew to love herself for what she is and does not need anyone's approval. She was head strong, but unlike a lot of stories with these kinds of characters, Hyeon had the skills to back up her head strong nature.
Eojin is just ... can korean television and books, please stop making such green flag men that I know are hard to find in real life? Thank you, please. Anyway, Seo Eojin, a worthy man to be called a main lead, and boy, do you just want to give him a big hug. Seeming cold at first but the farthest thing from it. I can picture him as that perfect male lead in a k-drama that seems cold and unapproachable but only because he is a respectable man who has his reasons as to why he is the righteous man he is and I applaud him for it.
Overall, I was surprised to learn that this book is partly historical fiction. I felt for the crown prince, seeing the circumstances he was placed in and how he lived. But it does not forgive the historical facts that follow who he was as a person. Makes me more curious to know who Crown Prince Sado was, and I may pick up the memoirs of his wife to read in the future.
It was an enjoyable read that had me hooked to the end, and although I was slightly surprised at the revelation, I wasn't as much because I recalled the past hints and clues that popped up. Great story. I'll be checking out June Hur's other writings soon.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A serial killer on the loose and a nurse and investigator must team up in order to catch them before more people die. Enter: Joseon (Korea), 1758, Hyeon is an 18 year old illegitimate daughter to a Lord. There are very few options for her but she has made a place for herself as a nurse for the palace, in hopes of gaining her estranged father’s approval. Yet when nurses, people she knows are murdered and her mentor is accused, she finds herself thrust into a dark and dangerous world of court politics as the main suspect is the Crown Prince. Then she bumps into Eojin, a young police investigator searching for the killer. Eojin is one of the youngest police investigators, a genius who also happens to be Hyeon’s friend’s cousin and has his own motives for capturing the killer. Hyeon is desperate to prove the innocence of her mentor and the only way to do so is joining Eojin in his investigation. Both of them will have to navigate court politics as well as the killer becoming more and more daring, it also doesn’t help that the more involved Hyeon becomes the more she finds herself in danger and will have decide if she is willing to sacrifice her career, her family, and even her life in order to solve these murders. Throw in some very light romance, a good mystery, and political intrigue, and this was a really fun read! Its the perfect blend of murder mystery with tension and budding romance with high stakes. Seriously go give it a read!
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
4/5 stars
"Everyone must choose the paths they will walk. And when you choose, remember to count the costs. Do not live with regrets."
This was such an engaging story! The mystery pulled me in pretty quickly, and I appreciated how the suspense built up throughout the story without it feeling rushed or flat. The plot twists came at just the right moments, enough to keep me on edge but still make sense in the bigger picture.
The historical setting added a lot to the atmosphere and vibe of the book. And it was interesting to read how the time period added to the tension and the decisions of the characters. I have to say: the soft (side) romance was a lovely touch, subtle but meaningful without taking away the mystery.
I will be picking up another book by June Hur for sure.
"Everyone must choose the paths they will walk. And when you choose, remember to count the costs. Do not live with regrets."
This was such an engaging story! The mystery pulled me in pretty quickly, and I appreciated how the suspense built up throughout the story without it feeling rushed or flat. The plot twists came at just the right moments, enough to keep me on edge but still make sense in the bigger picture.
The historical setting added a lot to the atmosphere and vibe of the book. And it was interesting to read how the time period added to the tension and the decisions of the characters. I have to say: the soft (side) romance was a lovely touch, subtle but meaningful without taking away the mystery.
I will be picking up another book by June Hur for sure.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
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
“Palace secrets must never get out, or else inevitably there will be blood.”
^}^}}*~###+<<£|????? i’m so thankful this book is the one that finally dragged me out of my reading slump because holy shitttt i loved it. so many thoughts right now and these are only a few.
“She said you are like a crane among wolves.”
hyeon my beloved… <3 my fave facet of her character has gotta be how tightly bound she is to her morals and scruples. it’s fitting that she’s a nurse;
she’d have had to become accustomed to sights that most others would have reacted squeamishly to (& w the detail given to said sights in the prose, ik for SURE i would), and this reflects on her personality. when she sees something horrific, she looks back at it head on, says fuck it, and finds it in herself to do something about it, regardless of the risk. i really really admire that about her, seeing such a self-actualized female protagonist was super refreshing <3
“I need you to trust me,” he said slowly, steadily. “We are quite alone in this investigation. I need to know that I can rely on you. One lie, and everything unravels.”
SPEAKING OF REFRESHING. i really loved eojin and hyeon’s relationship and im just like jieun for the the number of times they had me kicking my feet and giggling and screaming at their interactions fr. how do you manage to make solving a brutal murder case together romantic??? i have no idea but the red palace does that somehow.
“Revenge begets revenge; the anger is unquenchable. We become the monsters we are trying to punish. Justice, however, brings closure, and that is what I want.”
another thing i also really really liked (spoiler here!!!) was the clear cut parallels between the protagonists and “antagonists”?? nurse inyeong and eojin are bound in that their parental figure was taken from them by somebody untouchable; but that’s the moment their paths diverge, one choosing a life of serving justice while the other chooses to drown herself in her desire for revenge. hyeon and the crown prince are similar in that their parental figures willingly distanced themselves from them, and they both grow up basting in the shame of that rejection — more so, the anger of it. obviously the heinous crimes the both of them commit aren’t negated by these revelations, complex as they are, but it does make you hesitant to label either one a monster.
“My mother was the only one who loved me. She always told me how she loved me since the very moment I was born. And I keep thinking about how no one else in the world loves me as she did.”
the familial relationships in this book were… well. something. to say i got choked up a few times would be a gross understatement!!! from eojin’s grief being the driving force for the beginning of his investigation, to the palpability of hyeon’s desperate for acceptance from either parent and the quiet, nearly untold tragedy of inyeong and her mother, i was… in shambles to say the least. inyeong’s story in particular struck me the most; the viciousness of her grief consuming her so much as to drive her to a point of losing her humanity, and having to suffer all alone at that… man. stares at ceiling.
“Of our fragile existence, yet our determination to survive. Of secret pains, and the yearning for love. This was the story of all lives, and I felt its dearness so deeply, so painfully, as one faded beneath my touch.”
the red palace is a story that, beneath its presentation as a historical murder mystery-esque novel, is ultimately about human nature; for a book in which death plays such a major role, it pays us back in kind with what it means to live — regardless of the brutality we as humans are often steeped in, while also delivering the full body chills and cold sweats that come with reading about a palace nurse and a royal inspector solving a murder case together. so… perhaps the real murder mystery was the what it means to be human we learned along the way?
“They would live life, grow old together, and this time—please, just this once—they would choose a different path.
The path that did not lead into the palace.”
simply put, it was lovely, and i enjoyed it in a way i haven’t enjoyed a book in a long while!! (code for i pulled an all nighter finishing it and writing this while blinking sleep out of my eyes). read it!!!
^}^}}*~###+<<£|????? i’m so thankful this book is the one that finally dragged me out of my reading slump because holy shitttt i loved it. so many thoughts right now and these are only a few.
“She said you are like a crane among wolves.”
hyeon my beloved… <3 my fave facet of her character has gotta be how tightly bound she is to her morals and scruples. it’s fitting that she’s a nurse;
she’d have had to become accustomed to sights that most others would have reacted squeamishly to (& w the detail given to said sights in the prose, ik for SURE i would), and this reflects on her personality. when she sees something horrific, she looks back at it head on, says fuck it, and finds it in herself to do something about it, regardless of the risk. i really really admire that about her, seeing such a self-actualized female protagonist was super refreshing <3
“I need you to trust me,” he said slowly, steadily. “We are quite alone in this investigation. I need to know that I can rely on you. One lie, and everything unravels.”
SPEAKING OF REFRESHING. i really loved eojin and hyeon’s relationship and im just like jieun for the the number of times they had me kicking my feet and giggling and screaming at their interactions fr. how do you manage to make solving a brutal murder case together romantic??? i have no idea but the red palace does that somehow.
“Revenge begets revenge; the anger is unquenchable. We become the monsters we are trying to punish. Justice, however, brings closure, and that is what I want.”
another thing i also really really liked (spoiler here!!!) was the clear cut parallels between the protagonists and “antagonists”?? nurse inyeong and eojin are bound in that their parental figure was taken from them by somebody untouchable; but that’s the moment their paths diverge, one choosing a life of serving justice while the other chooses to drown herself in her desire for revenge. hyeon and the crown prince are similar in that their parental figures willingly distanced themselves from them, and they both grow up basting in the shame of that rejection — more so, the anger of it. obviously the heinous crimes the both of them commit aren’t negated by these revelations, complex as they are, but it does make you hesitant to label either one a monster.
“My mother was the only one who loved me. She always told me how she loved me since the very moment I was born. And I keep thinking about how no one else in the world loves me as she did.”
the familial relationships in this book were… well. something. to say i got choked up a few times would be a gross understatement!!! from eojin’s grief being the driving force for the beginning of his investigation, to the palpability of hyeon’s desperate for acceptance from either parent and the quiet, nearly untold tragedy of inyeong and her mother, i was… in shambles to say the least. inyeong’s story in particular struck me the most; the viciousness of her grief consuming her so much as to drive her to a point of losing her humanity, and having to suffer all alone at that… man. stares at ceiling.
“Of our fragile existence, yet our determination to survive. Of secret pains, and the yearning for love. This was the story of all lives, and I felt its dearness so deeply, so painfully, as one faded beneath my touch.”
the red palace is a story that, beneath its presentation as a historical murder mystery-esque novel, is ultimately about human nature; for a book in which death plays such a major role, it pays us back in kind with what it means to live — regardless of the brutality we as humans are often steeped in, while also delivering the full body chills and cold sweats that come with reading about a palace nurse and a royal inspector solving a murder case together. so… perhaps the real murder mystery was the what it means to be human we learned along the way?
“They would live life, grow old together, and this time—please, just this once—they would choose a different path.
The path that did not lead into the palace.”
simply put, it was lovely, and i enjoyed it in a way i haven’t enjoyed a book in a long while!! (code for i pulled an all nighter finishing it and writing this while blinking sleep out of my eyes). read it!!!