Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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.
a light murder romp w/ full sageuk drama vibes, like truly, all my heart desires
a light murder romp w/ full sageuk drama vibes, like truly, all my heart desires
Not for meeee
I found the characters to be very wooden. No one seemed to have much depth to them. The mystery itself was interesting but the progress of it was poorly done in my opinion. We only started uncovering things in the last two chapters.
For it to be loosely based on an actual historical prince is a little wild to me. The story of the prince seemed so unaddressed in the book as a whole. Like yes he was there at the beginning, but then he just became a backdrop. His character seems so unresolved, we don't even get to see his reaction to being accused or anything.
I just didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped.
I found the characters to be very wooden. No one seemed to have much depth to them. The mystery itself was interesting but the progress of it was poorly done in my opinion. We only started uncovering things in the last two chapters.
For it to be loosely based on an actual historical prince is a little wild to me. The story of the prince seemed so unaddressed in the book as a whole. Like yes he was there at the beginning, but then he just became a backdrop. His character seems so unresolved, we don't even get to see his reaction to being accused or anything.
I just didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped.
Suffers the same fate as "A Crane Among Wolves" by the author: it is telling us everything but rarely showing us something.
As for the German translation: it is so stilted.
As for the German translation: it is so stilted.
This book was very much like a historical/crime K-drama & it only took 2 days to finish. I couldn't help researching the real crown prince named Sado after reading the authors note.
It seems that the crown prince this was based on was very disturbed. as the author stated, his mental illness was up in the air, but his many crimes from 1756-1762 of assault & battery, SA, & homicide were proven from different sources. it wasn't until he broke into the upper place for revenge against a court official that the royal consort pleaded with the king to do something. I can't imagine the terror the staff went through & nobody could stop him bc of his title.
It seems that the crown prince this was based on was very disturbed. as the author stated, his mental illness was up in the air, but his many crimes from 1756-1762 of assault & battery, SA, & homicide were proven from different sources. it wasn't until he broke into the upper place for revenge against a court official that the royal consort pleaded with the king to do something. I can't imagine the terror the staff went through & nobody could stop him bc of his title.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I genuine enjoyed this book so much. This book just kept on giving- it gave historical, it gave complicated parent-child relationships, it gave sweet romance, it gave political intrigue, it gave questioning the justice system, it gave mystery and intrigue and adventure. There was so much but it was all so well balanced.
Our main character Hyeon was such an awesome heroine to follow. Seeing her struggle with the question of “what do I value the most in my life?” Her having to choose between her fathers respect or justice for the innocent. She was just such an interesting character to follow. Her complex (and different) relationships with her mom and her dad, and uncovering the layers of forgiveness but not going back to the way things were, so good.
I loved Hyeon and Eojin’s relationship- it developed very naturally within the mystery they were solving, and it never took over the story. Like Hyeon said, “it felt as ordinary and extraordinary as waking up to a new day.” it didn’t feel out of place or forced. Very well done.
And the MYSTERY!! the murder mystery!! Granted, I don’t read many mystery books or anything, but i was totally engrossed in figuring out who the murderer was. I kept saving notes and referring back to them in who I thought was suspicious- it was so entertaining!! I felt like I was right alongside Hyeon and Eojin, trying to solve the mystery before time ran out. i also loved the challenges that a historical setting placed on the solving of a murder mystery. I had a strong suspicion on who I thought was the killer like halfway through, and i was RIGHT! But the writing was so masterful that i didn’t know i was right, but when it was revealed i felt so excited and rewarding for solving the mystery with them!
Alls to say, if you like (or at least are interested in) historical mysteries and coming of age stories with interesting characters, I would definitely recommend this. It was so wonderful to read and i’m happy I finally read it.
Our main character Hyeon was such an awesome heroine to follow. Seeing her struggle with the question of “what do I value the most in my life?” Her having to choose between her fathers respect or justice for the innocent. She was just such an interesting character to follow. Her complex (and different) relationships with her mom and her dad, and uncovering the layers of forgiveness but not going back to the way things were, so good.
I loved Hyeon and Eojin’s relationship- it developed very naturally within the mystery they were solving, and it never took over the story. Like Hyeon said, “it felt as ordinary and extraordinary as waking up to a new day.” it didn’t feel out of place or forced. Very well done.
And the MYSTERY!! the murder mystery!! Granted, I don’t read many mystery books or anything, but i was totally engrossed in figuring out who the murderer was. I kept saving notes and referring back to them in who I thought was suspicious- it was so entertaining!! I felt like I was right alongside Hyeon and Eojin, trying to solve the mystery before time ran out. i also loved the challenges that a historical setting placed on the solving of a murder mystery. I had a strong suspicion on who I thought was the killer like halfway through, and i was RIGHT! But the writing was so masterful that i didn’t know i was right, but when it was revealed i felt so excited and rewarding for solving the mystery with them!
Alls to say, if you like (or at least are interested in) historical mysteries and coming of age stories with interesting characters, I would definitely recommend this. It was so wonderful to read and i’m happy I finally read it.
RATING: 4.5 ⭐️
major kdrama vibes!! i could totally see this as a drama hehe. i love it when a YA novel is great with its pacing and has realized characters. too often, i’ve seen one being sacrificed in favour of the other.
major kdrama vibes!! i could totally see this as a drama hehe. i love it when a YA novel is great with its pacing and has realized characters. too often, i’ve seen one being sacrificed in favour of the other.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes