When I first saw the author June Hur post a summary of The Red Palace last year - I was beyond thrilled and excited. She’s a new-ish author I discovered during the pandemic I could really relate to her writing style and story telling. This book definitely did not disappoint! The way June uses her poetic words is amazing on creating vivid historical and fictional worlds. The real life story of Prince Sato is a sad one. June writes a great mystery novel surrounding his palace life with fictional characters of palace nurses and govt officials. There is just so many details and threads within the book that weaves a vivid story to read thru the night. Also she does such a heart wrenching job of creating daughter and father drama - a concubine’s illegitimate child that grows up only wanting the approval and recognition of her absentee father.

I have read one of the author's other books and had a hard time getting into it. I'm glad I decided to give her another chance. I found this one easier to follow and an interesting historical read. I appreciate the historical note at the end and that she is bring us these historical fiction stories from another culture.

3.5/5 Stars

In 1758, 18 year old Hyeon has worked her whole life to become a palace nurse. As an illegitimate daughter in Korea, her options are limited but hopes to one day win her father's approval. When multiple brutal murders occur, her mentor is accused of the crime. Hyeon decides that she needs to clear her name through a secret investigation with the help of a young police investigator.

Historical Fiction is definitely not my go to - but this was an interesting story. I enjoyed it for the most part, but at times I felt that the pacing was very slow. I did enjoy the overall mystery though and was invested in trying to figure out what was going on. The book is also a lot more gory then I thought it would be, so definitely keep that in mind if you have a weak stomach! I liked Hyeon and thought she was a very strong character. I felt for her situation and hated her father with a passion. I liked the slow burn romance between Hyeon and Eojin and think they developed a very sweet relationship in the end. The author's note was also really cool to see the inspiration behind the story.

Overall, it was an enjoyable historical fiction murder mystery!

Originally posted on Hafsa's Creative Corner.
Thank you to the publisher and Coloured Pages Book Tours for providing me an eARC via NetGallery!

As soon as I read the premise for this book I was hooked, and it did not disappoint. The Red Palace is a gripping historical murder mystery that follows eighteen-year-old Hyeon, a palace nurse, who teams up with a police inspector to protect her mentor and uncover the real murderer. If you are a fan, of historical fiction, slow-burn romance or murder mysteries, this page-turning thriller is the one for you.

The dark, atmospheric setting of ancient Korea and its historical details are intriguing and captivating, and you can get a sense of the society's hierarchy. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction, so the setting was refreshing and you can tell the author has done deep research about this period in history. The story features loveable characters that have you rooting for them from the start. Hyeon, the main character, faces many challenges that are relatable and help you empathise with her.

​The romance that blooms between her and the inspector is predictable, but it doesn't take away from the main plot. The few romantic moments between the MCs are sweet and you can see how the relationship slowly develops. The mystery itself has many elements but is still easy to follow. I didn't guess who the murderer was, which is a good thing. I like how the book was short and fast-paced but still made the characters complex and interesting, and I would love a follow-up.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This was such an exciting read. It centers on a strong female protagonist while building intrigue around court politics. The slow-burn romance was rewarding to the reader while also being historically accurate. I find that this will be a refreshing change of pace for readers who find themselves drawn to stories of royal intrigue but have previously only had access to European stories.

I love Hur's work, so THE RED PALACE was such a delight to read. Her portrayal of Ancient Korea has the power to transport readers to the past. I loved the mystery--AND THAT PLOT TWIST!! I highly recommend this novel, and look forward to reading Hur's next novel.

BEAUTIFUL AND ATMOSPHERIC WRITING

June Hur writes so beautifully describing everything in detail that you can see it happening in front of your eyes. I felt like I was watching a historical k-drama take place (also yes, there should be a k drama made based on this book because it will be utterly breathtaking) an I couldn’t put the book down. About 300 pages long, this book easily grips you right from the beginning with the amazing writing. It also sets the atmosphere very well, making the era, customs and their features much more real. I usually have trouble imagining how things were at the time a historical novel is set but this book easily overcomes that hurdle with small explanations often provoided making the whole book so much more immersive and easy to read.

INTRIGUING MYSTERY THAT GETS YOU INVESTED

The main plot of the book itself is the mystery behind some murders of four women. The mystery is well plotted with hints being dropped occasionally through the book as Hyeon tries her best to find out the truth. I really enjoyed the stakes that were quite high at times which intensified everything and made my heart beat faster at moments as new truths were revealed which changed everything that had happened so far. I also loved how June doesn’t try to deceive or make us feel inadequate by making the mystery too hard to figure out, instead having us feel like we are right there with Hyeon as she tries to unravel the mystery and take in the clues leading to the true perpetrator figuring it all out just moments before it is revealed.

COMPELLING MAIN CHARACTER

Hyeon herself was an amazing character to read about. She’s a young girl who has a lot to prove – to herself, to her father and to the world who underestimates and belittles her at large for being a woman and from a lower class. She’s determined and becomes a nurse and works hard to get herself to the position she now holds in the palace, proving her worth. I loved her resolve and perseveration as she does what she sets her mind to.
When her mentor whom she looks up to and is like a mother figure to her is accused of murdering the women, she is determined to clear her name and continues to investigate the deaths of the women despite the many risks. It’s because of how much she loves her mentor that she fights despite the various restrictions and threats to continue and find the truth that would save her mentor.
Overall, Hyeon is strong and caring and a very well fleshed out character who is compelling and relatable and easy to root for.

SLOW BURN ROMANCE

While the romance is not a focus of the book, it is definitely very wonderful being as soft and slow burn and adorable as it was. Hyeon begrudgingly accepts to work with officer Seo Eojin on the case knowing that she has a much better chance to solve the case with his help. Slowly but surely as they work together, challenge each other and grow to care for each other, they fall in love. I loved how subtle the relationship is for most of the book making it so much more beautiful and enchanting as they do finally get together. They just work so well together and make a great couple and I thoroghly loved reading their story

Overall, I highly recommend this book so if you’re looking for a quick fast paced thriller with amazing writing, characters and romance, this is the book for you!

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for this eARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

Actual rating 4.5 stars!

I thoroughly enjoyed this sprawling historical mystery standalone, set in mid-1700's Korea (Joseon). This is a bit outside of my general comfort zone of fantasy/sci-fi, but I was surprised at just how invested I was! The pacing of the plot progression was done really well. We were almost always moving from one inciting incident to the next, or to a revelation/discovery that led on to another inciting incident. Despite the sheer number of people/characters integrated into the mystery throughout the story (which at times, for myself personally, was difficult to keep up with at times or keep names straight to identities), each person that was integrated into the story was done with a purpose, and each gave us a greater reason to care about the crime being solved. As information was gradually revealed, I always had my suspicions about one or two people, but I was never quite sure as other people would be brought to the forefront to distract us. I LOVED all of the twists, and I was constantly left guessing or questioning!

Hyeon and Eojin's slow burn kindling was one of the best parts of the story. I loved that it wasn't the main focus of the story, and it wasn't very "in your face" like most slow build romances. It was sweet, gentle, and tentative throughout. The structure of their societal hierarchy and the effect it had on particularly women and the lower class, gave the story and their building relationship so much depth and emotional turmoil. I felt so much pain for so many of the side characters, and the society as a whole. Most of all, I felt horribly for the prince despite his behavior and actions. To know that he lived his life with almost no support or love was absolutely heart-wrenching.

The Red Palace by June Hur is a historical fiction murder mystery that takes place in 1758 Korea, during the Joseon Dynasty and is loosely based on the life and death of Prince Jangheon. The setting and time period are what drew my attention to this story, and I was not disappointed! I found myself unable to put the book down, because there were never any slow moments. I felt like the story was constantly moving forward as the characters slowly uncovered the truth behind the murders. I enjoyed the romance as well. My only critique is that I wanted more. While there were twists and turns in the story, I would have enjoyed a longer book because I was having such a good time reading it. I have watched multiple historical K-dramas in the past, and if you are a fan of any I highly recommend this book. It made me feel like I was transported back in time to 1700s Korea.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THIS IS A MUST READ.

I don't care who you are, you NEED to read The Red Palace!

The Red Palace is June Hur's third novel, and is an expertly woven mystery that incites both fear and excitement in the reader. Hur has outdone herself in this novel, creating a fantastic mystery that had me engaged the entire time.

As always, Hur is able to create such a vivid picture of the setting, this time 1750s Joseu, alongside creating some incredibly compelling characters. You can clearly tell that Hur did historical research in writing this novel - seen not only in the setting and the portrayal of characters, but also the impact of the monarchy, and the classism and misogyny during this time.

The novel delves into the status of women in this setting, especially those who have been born "out of wedlock". Our protagonist Hyeon always feels like she has to prove herself, that she can't make any mistakes, due to her status. While this could result in her keeping to herself to keep the peace, her status in society (as well as her job as a nurse) has made her incredibly compassionate towards others in need who may be overlooked.

I instantly adored Hyeon, due to her attentiveness and her strong moral compass. She was stubborn and smart and made for a great protagonist in a mystery novel. She and Eojin made for a great detective duo, and I immensely enjoyed them trying to find clues and uncover the truth together.

Hyeon and Eojin were both very empathetic characters, as they both were eager to find the truth. I loved reading their interactions and exploring their dynamic. I usually am not a fan of romance in mystery novels, because I feel it often takes away from the main plot and I want to focus on unravelling the mystery, but I absolutely adored reading the romance here. Perhaps it's because they were both incredibly invested in the case, so their relationship naturally blossomed the more time they spent together following leads. It was genuinely so sweet to read.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel so much, and is one I would definitely be recommending to others.

June Hur has done it again! I didn't think I could love her work more than I love The Forst of Stolen Girls and The Silence of bones. I find her writing also beautiful and captivating I genuinely couldn't put her books down.
This book is a fictional retelling of the Crown Prince Sado, who unfortunately had a sad life with a devastating end. This is from the perspective of a handmaiden/nurse who works for the Crown Prince, and her journey on discovering who murdered her fellow nurses. This is the first book by June that has a romance storyline included and I absolutely loved it!!!

Korean historical thriller!

A riveting tale based somewhat “on the life and death of Crown Prince Jangheon (also known as Crown Prince Sado)” of Korea, of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). Set in 1758, a young, eighteen year old Palace nurse (Changdeok Palace, Seoul) is drawn into the hunt for a murderer. A dangerous and daunting task. There’s been a massacre of student nurses outside the palace grounds, including Court Lady Ahnbi. Bodies are piling up and all factors point to the Crown Prince. A giant cover up will be implemented and the evidence will point towards Hyeon’s beloved teacher and mentor, Nurse Jeongsu, as the killer.
I really don’t see this strictly as a coming-of-age novel. Rather, it’s an historical thriller/ mystery set in Korea, every bit as puzzling as Jack the Ripper was in Victorian England.
Hyeon’s journey, as she seeks to prove the innocence of her mentor, after Jeongsu was arrested and tortured to confess responsibility for the deaths of several student nurses and a Court Lady, will have Hyeon delving more deeply into to her own path and who she will become.
That search takes Hyeon, an illegitimate daughter of a Lord into the depths of the palace and to a confrontation with Crown Prince Jangheon, as well as into the center of various palace intrigues. She will face the vicious and powerful Head of police Commander Song, and her lordly father, who refuses to acknowledge her.
Most importantly Hyeon takes up the investigation with Eojin a young police officer whom she must learn to trust, as she must learn to trust and pay attention to her own intuition, as she labors to recall pieces of the puzzle that she and Eojin will eventually pull together.
Absolutely fascinating! The story had me rummaging through my photos of Korea, and I felt the weight and history of this country and of people I’ve come to know and admire, surround me.
Jane Hur is brilliant and I’ve already taken steps to read her prior novels.

A MacMillan Feiwel & Friends ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This is really June Hur’s wheelhouse. The ability to make you clench up and fear for what’s going to happen next. The sheer talent it takes to transport us readers to a setting literal centuries away from us and see it vividly in our minds. The build-up of the mystery is a perfect match for Hur’s atmospheric writing. Each twist and reveal feels deliberate andt well thought out, so that when the reader finally discovers the truth, it’s as much a gut-punch to us as it is to the characters.

One of the things that also made The Red Palace such an interesting read is the political intrigue sprinkled throughout. In the author’s note, Hur tells us about the tragedy of Crown Prince Sado. At the age of 27, Crown Prince Sado was executed by being imprisoned inside a rice chest and starving to death. Modern-day historians consider the prince to have been suffering from mental illness, but at the time, he was simply viewed as a violent man prone to outbursts and lashing out. The Red Palace offers us a peek at Sado’s life, and while also allowing for grace and compassion, doesn’t erase the gravity of his acts either.

I for one really enjoyed the emphasis of life as a member of a royal household being dangerous and steeped in treachery and tragedy. It’s such a great contrast against the thought that if you end up a court lady, or a palace nurse, you’re set for life with all sorts of money and benefits. To quote the book’s tagline, “To enter the palace means to walk a path stained in blood.” Phew. Shivers.

Thank you to Netgalley and June Hur for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I can’t tell you how ecstatic I was to get this review copy from Netgalley and the author. Not only am I a huge K-drama lover (and The Red Palace is like and amazing historical drama, which I’m hoping someone will read it and be like, “”Hey! This would make a great show.” And then it would be made and I will literally go crazy because I loved this book so freaking much.), but the culture is so interesting and beautiful. I loved being able to read this book and imagine what it could have been like back then. Sorry I went off on a tangent a bit up there, but I hope you get what I’m feeling. One thing I found out about the author is that she’s a Christian as well. I’ve been trying to read more young adult books by Christian authors lately and when I saw that June Hur was one I was so happy. I love seeing other Christians doing well and making there dreams come true. She’s gained so many new fans. I can’t wait to see where she goes here. I’m definitely picking up more of her books in the near future.

Hur has a way of capturing emotions in her story that grab you by the hair and make you feel every single feeling that character does. Baek-Hyeon, who is the main character in The Red Palace, is so vulnerable with the reader. I love being able to connect with a character.

We got to see what palace life would have been like in the Joseon Dynasty, and what is even cooler is that this book is inspired by true events that you can read all about at the end of the book. I thought it was incredibly intriguing.

Considering that the story was a thriller, it may be a bit gross for some, but if I’m to be complete honest, I’m not a thriller/horror fan at all and I didn’t find it to be cringe worthy (that feeling when you get grossed out and your body tenses up ;D). There are a few bloody scenes but they don’t go into detail too much. Another thing is that I couldn’t guess who the killer was going to be until the very end so that’s a plus. There were lots of twists and turns and not to mention a cute romance. This romance isn’t the main focal point either, which makes things even better. But, it was definitely *chef’s kiss* magnifico!

There’s not much more for me to say except… Buy The Red Palace now! It was perfect. 5/5 stars for me. 🙂

Who had killed those women? What could
have possibly pushed the killer into murdering them? Through the blur of my vision, I stared at the faces of the people I passed-grimy and carved in lines, men and women and children darting their beady black eyes my way. I had stepped into a world that seemed to be hiding terrible secrets from me.”

The Beginning
The exposition wasn’t anything special, but it did it’s job fairly well. I do admire that the quality of the writing stayed consistent throughout the book— a nice balance between descriptive prose and straightforward delivery. There wasn’t anything I found wrong with the writing.

“ ‘We witnessed a man's execution, and we've known each other for the span of another five murders.’ A grim smile tugged at the corners of his lips, devoid of any mirth. ‘We are in a case that will likely kill at least one of us, yet neither one of us intends to leave. Does that make us friends?’ ”

The Middle
The majority of the book was composed of two things— the mystery and the romance. The mystery was compelling enough to keep me interested, but I didn’t care for the romance. It’s just a personal preference for me, but I can’t get invested in a romantic subplot in a mystery novel. For me, it takes away from the suspense, but I’d be open to finding a mystery novel that does romance well.

The End
The ending was probably my favorite part of the book. I always enjoy when all the loose ends are tied up in standalone mysteries, and the addition of the historical setting made it that much more interesting. I would definitely read more by June Hur.

The Red Palace is a historical fiction murder mystery set in 1758 Korea. It's high-stakes, fast-paced, and has many well-developed characters. I'm really trying to broaden my bookish horizons in terms of culture and genre, and I specifically picked this book for that reason. Also, it just sounded really cool lol. Anyway, I'm quite glad I did as this ended up being a very well-written novel and has done a great job of introducing me to a new-to-me author that I will now be on the lookout for!

Our main female lead in this book is Hyeon, a very relatable young woman who, despite some pretty serious parental issues, is fierce, brave, and loyal in her quest to free her mentor. Watching her struggle through her emotions and learn to overcome certain things in regards to her mother and father just made her feel more real to me. And I loved the scope of her intelligence! We also have Eojin, a police inspector who recruits Hyeon for his investigation into the massacre. Eojin was such a joy to read about. He was steady, analytical, and calm in the face of danger. I would describe his character as a cool breeze, and Hyeon's as a winter storm - something I hope will make sense if you decide to pick up this book! Together, they seemed unstoppable. I was a really big fan of the romance in this book - it wasn't overpowering, it was just enough. It came about slowly yet surely, and felt so natural and realistic. Definitely one of my favourite aspects of the book.

In terms of plot, I think this story was super unique. I loved the true historical elements that the author included and think she did a great job in her research. I found it very cool that the Crown prince was based on an actual person. Despite the massacre happening very early in the book, I found that it perhaps got off to a bit of a slow start - I found that it took me a little bit to really get into the story. Once I did however, I was able to fly through the pages!

Overall, I think was an excellently written book with fantastic characters and a great storyline. I loved the intricacies involved in solving the murders and loved how all of the threads of this story came together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillion for an advanced copy!

I have not really gotten into YA Mysteries, but the setting of this novel (18th Century Korea) was really intriguing. All of the characters were fascinating. I loved learning more about palace life and the nurses, as well as the social hierarchy of the time. The setting made this story both unique but also relatable in that most of us have a good concept of how nurses and the police work together and move through society.

Overall, the heroine's attempt to solve the mystery with the help of a plucky policeman felt like a story that could be transcribed in most times and places, but I loved how the author wrote about Korea, providing a level of detail that helped provide context to this ignorant reader, but not so much that it felt like I was reading a treatise on palace customs and the social hierarchy of 18th Century Korea (which I would absolutely read, but that wasn't the point of this book!). Using the social norms to create tension between the nurse and the policeman was great and I appreciated how it drove the romance storyline without feeling false.

The mystery at times felt a little unbelievable (would a prince really be a mass murderer?) but the author's note at the end was helpful and regardless, I found the mystery compelling and almost wish we had gotten to see more of how the different players at the palace fit into everything. At times it felt like some aspects of the plot were picked up and forgotten when convenient, but it wrapped up nicely and in a way, I didn't completely see coming. I appreciated how the author wove Korean culture into the mystery's resolution and explained it (since it was not obvious to people not familiar with the language).

An interesting book, I would definitely read more from this author.

This is my first June Hur book but certainly not my last (I have already placed holds for her other two books from my library). I cannot speak to cultural or historical accuracy, but I will say that the story felt immersive, like I really was walking the streets with Hyeon and Eojin, toeing the lines of etiquette and propriety as they investigate those who might just be above the law.

Despite being YA, The Red Palace doesn't shy from the gruesome violence of murder. We get detailed descriptions of injuries and corpses (which, though it sounds weird, I love). We also get elaborate socio-political rules as our characters interact with people of different social classes and professions - and those interactions serve really well to deepen Hyeon's character as the unacknowledged bastard daughter of a nobleman.

Though both Hyeon and Eojin fall into that "YA protagonists as prodigies for the sake of keeping them in the proper age range" category, they still felt delightfully human - with Eojin's sadness and softness and Hyeon's rage and sense of justice. Sure, Eojin is a prodigy and Hyeon has a partially photographic memory, but it's fine.

What really got me was the pacing. If it wasn't for human needs like sleep, I probably could have read the whole book in one sitting.

“To enter the palace means to walk a path stained in blood...”⁣
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Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to review one of my most anticipated 2022 releases from a long time fave author! June Hur has done it again and created another MASTERPIECE historical mystery that has become an automatic 5 star read for me. ⁣
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The Red Palace follows the story of Hyeon, an ambitious teenaged palace nurse in 18th century Korea who becomes embroiled in a murder mystery. When her mentor is imprisoned after being accused of killing four women, she becomes determined to clear her name and find the true murderer. But her investigation leads her to the darkest heart of the palace where her path crosses with a young royal inspector conducting his own investigation…⁣
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This book is the perfect combination of Hur’s signature style, incredible historical detail, and complexity with the perfect cherry on top of slow burn romance. The one thing I felt was missing from Hur’s previous books was romance and our patience has been rewarded in The Red Palace with a subtle yet poignant relationship. This book pulls no punches when it comes to palace intrigue and social commentary. It’s deeply layered and impossible to put down.⁣
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Fellow mystery fans, RUN don’t walk to snag your copy! You’ll be kept up all night but you’ll thank me later…

Content warning: The Red Palace depicts several graphic murders, the after effects of torture, as well as scenes of intense suspense. It’s also tangentially related to one of the most disturbing events in Korean history which is not depicted on page but is described in the author’s afterword.