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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
The Red Palace by June Hur wastes no time—it throws you straight into the drama from the very first page, and it does not let go. This was an absolutely thrilling read, one that had me hooked from start to finish.
The characters are a huge standout. Every single one feels fully formed, with layers and motivations that unfold naturally as the story progresses. There’s real emotional depth here, which makes the twists hit harder and the stakes feel higher.
Hur’s writing is elegant yet sharp, perfectly balancing historical detail with page-turning suspense. The pacing is excellent, and the mystery kept me guessing in all the right ways. I genuinely couldn’t put it down.
And that ending? So satisfying. It tied everything up beautifully without feeling forced or rushed.
Honestly, I have no complaints. This is a masterclass in historical fiction and a perfect blend of atmosphere, intrigue, and character. Highly recommended!
The characters are a huge standout. Every single one feels fully formed, with layers and motivations that unfold naturally as the story progresses. There’s real emotional depth here, which makes the twists hit harder and the stakes feel higher.
Hur’s writing is elegant yet sharp, perfectly balancing historical detail with page-turning suspense. The pacing is excellent, and the mystery kept me guessing in all the right ways. I genuinely couldn’t put it down.
And that ending? So satisfying. It tied everything up beautifully without feeling forced or rushed.
Honestly, I have no complaints. This is a masterclass in historical fiction and a perfect blend of atmosphere, intrigue, and character. Highly recommended!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
absolutely in love with the way June Hur writes; this book was gorgeous, and the characters were so well thought out. I love me a good murder mystery, too, and with the political intrigue and the palace setting, the story was so captivating, there were so many good moments that I could not pick a favorite quote or scene. I will be on the hunt for physical copies of this book.
"There is only you." His words caressed me, winding themselves around my soul. "There will only ever be you. I promise, Hyeon-ah." (˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )づ♡
Further review: https://scifivoid.blogspot.com/2025/07/june-reading-wrap-up.html
"There is only you." His words caressed me, winding themselves around my soul. "There will only ever be you. I promise, Hyeon-ah." (˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )づ♡
Further review: https://scifivoid.blogspot.com/2025/07/june-reading-wrap-up.html
RBC. Written like a translation of an original text. Everyone seems so strangely willing to offer up seemingly life-threatening secrets to the protagonist without any whims at all.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Murder investigation set in 1758, Korea. On one hand, I liked where the plot went, on the other hand, the whole book was pretty underwhelming. From the characters to the whole investigation...it's like I wasn't fully invested. Like one of those TV shows you turn on to "watch" while you scroll through TikTok or do something else.
My fave part was probably Hyeon and how she didn't give up, no matter what. Also, how she and Eojin made good deductions and didn't leave anything to chance. They truly were good at investigating this murder - talking to the right people, following the right leads. And yet, I didn't connect to them fully.
I realized there were too many characters and I couldn't keep track of them all. That, plus the fact that historical settings are not my thing made this book feel like a chore at certain times. I feel bad about it because you can tell the author thought things through + it's based on real historical events, which was shocking to me. I had no idea.
Because of this and reading so many positive reviews, I'm kinda sad that I didn't like it more. But what can you do? *shrugs*
My fave part was probably Hyeon and how she didn't give up, no matter what. Also, how she and Eojin made good deductions and didn't leave anything to chance. They truly were good at investigating this murder - talking to the right people, following the right leads. And yet, I didn't connect to them fully.
I realized there were too many characters and I couldn't keep track of them all. That, plus the fact that historical settings are not my thing made this book feel like a chore at certain times. I feel bad about it because you can tell the author thought things through + it's based on real historical events, which was shocking to me. I had no idea.
Because of this and reading so many positive reviews, I'm kinda sad that I didn't like it more. But what can you do? *shrugs*
Murder investigation set in 1758, Korea. On one hand, I liked where the plot went, on the other hand, the whole book was pretty underwhelming. From the characters to the whole investigation...it's like I wasn't fully invested. Like one of those TV shows you turn on to "watch" while you scroll through TikTok or do something else.
My fave part was probably Hyeon and how she didn't give up, no matter what. Also, how she and Eojin made good deductions and didn't leave anything to chance. They truly were good at investigating this murder - talking to the right people, following the right leads. And yet, I didn't connect to them fully.
I realized there were too many characters and I couldn't keep track of them all. That, plus the fact that historical settings are not my thing made this book feel like a chore at certain times. I feel bad about it because you can tell the author thought things through + it's based on real historical events, which was shocking to me. I had no idea.
Because of this and reading so many positive reviews, I'm kinda sad that I didn't like it more. But what can you do? *shrugs*
My fave part was probably Hyeon and how she didn't give up, no matter what. Also, how she and Eojin made good deductions and didn't leave anything to chance. They truly were good at investigating this murder - talking to the right people, following the right leads. And yet, I didn't connect to them fully.
I realized there were too many characters and I couldn't keep track of them all. That, plus the fact that historical settings are not my thing made this book feel like a chore at certain times. I feel bad about it because you can tell the author thought things through + it's based on real historical events, which was shocking to me. I had no idea.
Because of this and reading so many positive reviews, I'm kinda sad that I didn't like it more. But what can you do? *shrugs*
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
🩸 Red Palace 🩸
As the illegitimate daughter of a Lord, Hyeon has few opportunities in life. However through hard work and determination she earns the prestigious position of palace nurse. One night, four women are murdered, and a rumour starts circulating that the Crown Prince is the culprit. Suddenly Hyeon is thrust into the dangerous world of court politics, secrets and revenge.
If you want historical KDrama vibes with an intricate murder mystery at its core - look no further. The romance was wholesome and did not detract from the main elements of the story, just enriched it. Hyeon is a very astute and sassy character, especially given the limitations imposed on her by 1750s Korea.
The mystery itself I think could’ve been more surprising - a lot of it was quite easy to see coming. However, I loved the politics and the whole police investigation elements were fun. I didn’t overall like that Hyeon ended up being the one to solve the mystery with like zero investigative experience, but that’s just a trope I’m not overly fond of in general. Overall I still quite enjoyed it, it was a great weekend mystery, with the added bonus of helping me recover from my KPop Demon Hunters hangover.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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:
No
I picked up this book by pure chance from my library, while waiting for some other titles I had on reserve. I am so glad I did.
That was perfect. A great mystery, complex relationships, a well developed FMC… can’t wait to read more from this author.
That was perfect. A great mystery, complex relationships, a well developed FMC… can’t wait to read more from this author.