A review by lavdisy
The Red Palace by June Hur 허주은

challenging mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

I'm not a fan of true crime or detective stories, but I liked how that subject was presented in this book set in a historical era. The way this book is inspired by real history interested me a lot and kept me reading. The plot is quite good and well-written, but I think there aren't enough stakes to drive the characters into the investigation; it felt too easy for them to go through it. Also, the twists were just okay, not surprising enough for me. When all the truth was finally uncovered, it felt too rushed until the ending part. I know the author put limitations on character details based on real people, but the fictional characters needed more development. The romance itself is cute and sweet; I adore their moments together.

Despite all of that, I still enjoyed reading this, but it's not really the best one I've read. Feeling like a K-drama is the right impression after finishing it. The atmosphere is just so good to enjoy.
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