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noellelovesbooks's review
5.0
Wow...just another book I should not have left sitting on my shelf, unread, for so long.
As a big fan of historical kdramas [though I don't watch them often since they will emotionally eviscerate you and leave you an empty shell...flashbacks to watching my first historical kdrama, Ja Myung Go, years ago 😭] I was excited to dive into this story as I heard that June Hur wrote really amazing historical Korean stories...and this one did not disappoint.
We get to follow a young woman who's a police indentured servant for the remainder of her life...someone who is deeply curious in a time when women, especially servants, aren't supposed to be quite so curious.
If you've read The Apothecary Diaries manga...it's giving a little Maomao but darker...
Honestly just a really great freaking read and I look forward to reading more of June Hur's historical Korean stories!
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Death, Blood, Body horror, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Torture
Minor: Suicide
picaresquedreamer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
hoax_meal's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Body horror, Physical abuse, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Child death, Blood, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, Murder, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Pregnancy and Colonisation
karin_goodreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There is one lesson all who enter the capital will learn: evil comes from the unfulfilled need for significance.
What a whirlwind! I started reading this many moons ago, but just now returned to it. What was the problem that I left it unfinished for so long and then picked it up and finished it in a day? The first part of the book was a little slow, and my interest was elsewhere, but recently it became interesting again and I devoured it within an evening.
Honestly, I don't remember everything from the beginning, but enough to make sense. Nevertheless, the ending was excruciatingly painful and action-packed, every sentence kept me on my toes.
This is the consequence of the clash of old and new. We must prepare our hearts, all of us. No matter which side wins, we will all be heartbroken.
Where is the lie? I was bawling my eyes out by the end. It hit so deep and brought up some raw feelings that came out of nowhere; props to June Hur! It's palpable how much work has gone into the research and details of the story. I find it nice that the ending was left sort of open-ended.
Despite that, there's much left to process. I do hope that Seol finds that home and place of togetherness one day. Pity.
Everyone dies; what is difficult is a meaningful death.
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, Sexism, and Classism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Torture
Minor: Slavery, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Death of parent, Suicide, Abandonment, and Grief
mnatale100's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Hate crime, Violence, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Child death, and Murder
Minor: Grief, Pregnancy, Blood, Alcohol, and Medical content
clone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Classism, Death, Abandonment, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Misogyny
jveevers's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
aarynn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Religious bigotry, Death, Hate crime, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood, Abandonment, Torture, and Slavery
Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Hate crime, Medical content, Misogyny, Suicide, Infidelity, and Police brutality
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
tahsintries's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Police brutality, and Torture