Scan barcode
A review by ghoststories
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur 허주은
2.0
The Forest of Stolen Girls is a book that comes highly recommended online, so when I was able to check out the audiobook from my library, I jumped on it.
Sometimes I wonder if I actually read, processed, and understood a book the same way others did when I go into the reviews...
I went in not knowing much about it at all other than it was a mystery story and was set in Korea. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out this is actually a period piece, but the book doesn't do much in the way to remind you of that. There are historical terms and events used here and there, what I assume (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is Korean words that are time period sensitive, and the sisters mainly travel by horse or boat. But, when things are unraveling in the story you tend to forget all of that, unfortunately. I would have loved to have seen way more world building, especially with such a unique setting!
Speaking of the story... the mystery was a bit of a let down. It seemed like nothing else really happened in the story other than the mystery being propelled forward. Maybe that does work in other books/shows/movies/etc, but to me it unfortunately fell flat here. If that explanation makes any sense at all! The scene that stood out most to me was the reveal of what happened to their father.
But, I would 100% read a series of mystery books set in this time period with Hwani becoming a female detective. I will eventually get around to Hur's other book as it also sounds to have an interesting premise.
Sometimes I wonder if I actually read, processed, and understood a book the same way others did when I go into the reviews...
I went in not knowing much about it at all other than it was a mystery story and was set in Korea. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out this is actually a period piece, but the book doesn't do much in the way to remind you of that. There are historical terms and events used here and there, what I assume (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is Korean words that are time period sensitive, and the sisters mainly travel by horse or boat. But, when things are unraveling in the story you tend to forget all of that, unfortunately. I would have loved to have seen way more world building, especially with such a unique setting!
Speaking of the story... the mystery was a bit of a let down. It seemed like nothing else really happened in the story other than the mystery being propelled forward. Maybe that does work in other books/shows/movies/etc, but to me it unfortunately fell flat here. If that explanation makes any sense at all! The scene that stood out most to me was the reveal of what happened to their father.
But, I would 100% read a series of mystery books set in this time period with Hwani becoming a female detective. I will eventually get around to Hur's other book as it also sounds to have an interesting premise.