Nurse Jeongsu, Hyeon’s mentor, is accused of murdering the four women at the Hyeminseo. To clear her teacher’s name, Hyeon steps into the dangerous path of court politics, personal grudges, and bloodshed. Malicious rumor spreads that the Crown Prince is the actual killer instead. Without any power, Hyeon finds herself a pawn to the royals.

Born of a lowly concubine, the desire to surpass all her father’s expectations fuelled her drive to study and achieve the highest possible position for her status. As a newly-appointed nae-uinyeo, female physician, in the palace, one wrong move and Hyeon might just mysteriously end up six feet under (or anchored down in a pond). Her bravery and need to clear her mentor’s name helped her throughout the book. Hyeon’s medical knowledge and practice proved that she’s an incredible nurse. Her attention to detail assisted in finding clues that an average person might miss out on.

While chasing evidence, Hyeon meets Eojin, a police inspector, who was on the search for the truth. Although Eojin is Hyeon’s better, in terms of social status, he freely asked her to voice her opinions about the crimes. They communicate about the situation openly without any hesitation.

When June Hur mentioned that The Red Palace had romance, imagine the glee on my face. I couldn’t believe it since she has mentioned in passing before that she doesn’t really do romance in books. After reading The Red Palace, I can tell you that June Hur knows how to keep me on tenterhooks with the blossoming romance between Hyeon and Eojin aka the one table scene. And all the touching which wasn’t allowed due to Confucian morality. The little touch of their hands or holding the waist. MAKES ME HAPPY. Also, got to mention Jieun. What an awesome wingwoman.

Once again, June Hur captured my attention right from the beginning. The sleeping hours that I lost were definitely worth it. You know when a book leaves you a lasting impression when you still think about it the moment you wake up. The Joseon era is one of the periods that I’m fascinated in Korean history. It’s a popular era that many dramas are based on. One word in and I’m teleported into the world.

The Red Palace is a YA murder mystery set in Korea, 1758. Often with mysteries I don't care too much about the characters, it's more how the mystery aspect plays out that peeks my interest. However, I have to admit that the mystery isn't what I found most compelling about this book. As someone who enjoys history, it was learning about Korea in the set time period that fascinated me.

The Red Palace is only 336 pages long which gives it a fast paced feeling, and has you turning the pages eager to find out what happens next. The main character, Hyeon, is the illegitimate daughter of a high ranking official. Her hard work and drive has allowed her to become a palace nurse despite her status and class. I felt for her and her determination to prove her worth to her father.

I'm usually a fan of angst-y romance, but the subtle and sweet romance between Hyeon and the police inspector, Eojin, was wonderful. There were some great tropes, and while it took a back seat to the main plot there was still undercurrents throughout.

I will be keeping an eye out for future books by June Hur, for sure.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me a digital review copy through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"We are women and nothing short of death stops us from doing precisely what we wish to do. That is what the laws and restrictions binding our lives breed: determination and cunning. The likes of you will not obey me. You will tell me that you intend to be as still as a rock, and yet I know you will dart from shadow to shadow like a fish."

In The Red Palace, we follow Nurse Hyeon (the illegitimate daughter of a high-ranking official). She does her job as a palace nurse well (specializes in reading pulses) and has done anything and everything she can to earn her absent father's approval (and acceptance/respect).
She has kept her head down until four women are murdered in the same night, with one of the prime suspects of the investigation being her old mentor. She is pulled into a web of court intrigue and spies as she launches her own secret investigation to prove her mentor's innocence. She becomes a spy for the wife of the Prince AND one for the police Inspector, Eojin.
Eventually, the Prince becomes a prime suspect, but some of the clues are just not adding up. Eojin and Hyeon must work together to uncover the truth about who the killer is and palace secrets.

This story was addictive. The twists and turns of the investigation combined with the historic setting made it hard to put this book down. The world-building was great, with the types of royalty emphasized, the gender roles, and the language used. What was promised in the synopsis was given. The murder mystery portion was so amazingly written, I was astounded. How Hur kept track of all the details is beyond me. One of the biggest successes Hur achieved in this book was the fact that as soon as you THOUGHT you had figured out who the killer was, she gave evidence that made you second-guess yourself. The true killer had to be one of the biggest twists I have ever read.

My problems with the story were with the romance between Eojin and Hyeon and the language used. First of all, one of my biggest issues with this story was the language used. While this book was said to be based on a true prince of Korea, the language used was very modern. Historically, it would've been more formal and sometimes it fell flat. With this, there were also many sections of this book I skimmed because they were full of unneeded information. Then my other problem was with the romance . . . it was just thrown in. I knew where their relationship was headed from their first meeting, but it was annoying how it seemed less planned than the rest of the intricate story. Although, I did like the match. I would've liked to see more Eojin since he was the romantic match, but their relationship was believable. There was a lack of worldbuilding overall. I would've liked to get a clearer picture of the setting versus only the parts the characters interacted with.

Character-wise, I felt the side characters were underdeveloped. I was not attached to them at all. However, Hyeon, the most important character, had an amazing backstory that was crucial to the plot, and I feel like she grew throughout the story. She started as a girl needing to prove herself to her father and meek, but by the end, she was independent and proud.

Overall, a great murder mystery that I would recommend. If you liked Kerri Maniscalco's Stalking Jack the Ripper series, you will love this novel. It has the same feel as Maniscalco's novels, except set in Korea and more mature.

I was easily wrapped in the mystery and the murder. I needed answers. The way June Hur puts me in a frenzy over historical fiction makes me question everything I know.

Prepare yourself for major mystery thriller K-drama vibes!!

Setting aside my inner K-drama fangirl for a moment, The Red Palace is full of beautifully descriptive prose and an inventive cast of characters that has me hoping to find at least one in another of June’s books. Each of the characters are well developed and have complex family histories that had me easily connecting with their emotions and decisions.

I deeply appreciated how the author seamlessly weaves critical info about cultural cues and court dynamics into her story. I find that novels with a class-based culture tend to struggle with info dumping, as so many aspects of character interactions need enormous amounts of background information to be really understood by the reader. Instead, I found myself surprised at how easily I understand the dynamics between each character based on their background and role.

Besides being well written, the story itself is haunting and immersive and the palace provides the perfect atmospheric backdrop for a murder investigation. The plot had a lovely snappy pace and I was incredibly intrigued by the use of traditional Korean medicine sprinkled throughout the story. I enjoyed the dynamic between our two leads but truly loved exploring the relationships between Hyeon and each of her parents.

Although I do take personal issue with at least one aspect of the ending, I can't dock points just because I disagree with a character's decision. The beauty of reading is the opportunity to dive into perspectives and circumstances different from our own!

The mystery itself was engaging and I will admit, I couldn’t predict the identity of the culprit! The ending felt rather abrupt at first blush, but while gathering my thoughts for this review I decided that it takes readers right where we need to go. I tend to find the endings of mystery novels a bit abrupt in general, but as is the case with The Red Palace, I know it's because by the time the mystery has been solved, I've fallen in love with the characters and want to carry them with me for a bit longer.

TW: graphic descriptions of murder, violence.

This story takes place in 1758, Joseon (Korea), where an illegitimate daughter Hyeon works hard to be acknowledged by her father who pays no heeds to her.
Hyeon was eighteen years old and worked and studied hard to be appointed as a nurse in the palace so that she can achieve her father's approval.

And there came a turning point to Hyeon's life when one night 4 women were killed and suspected was none other than her mentor and mother-like figure. Hyeon determined to find the real culprit. During the investigation, she met Eojin a young police inspector who was one year older than her. Eojin was also investigating for searching the killer and they became partners and worked together to find the culprit. Then all the evidence pointed directly to the Crown Prince. So Hyeon and Eojin must search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the deadly secret behind the bloodshed..

I was very excited to read this one ever since I saw the cover, I really like the cover and when i read this book it didn't disappoint me😍😍.
When I was reading this book I was like I'm watching historical k-drama💕.

I became a huge June Hur fan after reading The Forest of Stolen Girls last year. I am happy to report that The Red Palace does not disappoint!

This historical mystery is set in 1700s Korea. The novel follows the young Hyeon, a palace nurse who has had a challenging upbringing & hopes for her father’s approval one day. One night, Hyeon is swept up in a mystery of a palace murder and she is determined to do her own investigation on what happened. She teams up with a young police detective, Eojin to find out what happened.

I was immediately engrossed in the world created in the novel. The pacing of the novel is slow at times, which may be difficult for some readers, yet this one was a page turner for me. While this story has a very intriguing plot, I also want to point out that the depth of the characters was notable. I am in awe of how much I learned about each of the characters in such a short about of time. I loved learning about their motivations, their desires, their fears, their challenges. I also want to draw specific attention to the author’s note— I loved learning more about the historical figure, Crown Prince Jangheon, this novel was drawn from.

I am still new to the genre of historical mystery, but if there’s anything you take away from the review, it should be this: June Hur created a book that was thoughtful in depicting Korean history. And in general, that is what she does with her novels. If you’re new to the genre of historical mystery, or seasoned to the genre, I have to recommend this book.

(received gifted arc from publisher // wrote this review as part of a book tour)

3.5 stars

This was a compelling enough mystery with a sweet side romance. I did feel a sense of urgency and was invested in the characters and their relationships. I also enjoyed this a lot more than Silence of the Bones, the author’s debut. However it didn’t necessary blow me away and some of the plot machinations were convoluted yet convenient.

Overall, It was a quiet slow burn of novel and I think that has a merit of its own. Sometimes that what you need

I went into this book already loving the author and I was not disappointed! I could go on and on about this book, but the most important thing I can say is: read this! The writing is so lovely, yet never confusing or overly-wordy. I loved the way June Hur so easily brought us into this world and gave us all the information we needed to know within the first 50ish pages. The characters are lovable and I was especially rooting for Hyeon on every single page. I admired Hyeon so much throughout this story, such a great character! June Hur knows how to write an adventurous mystery and this one has the added bonus of romance!

The Red Palace made my 2022 started with a blast of terror, secrets, and mystery. The dark and tense atmosphere drew me in instantly. Instead of bombarding readers with information, June Hur did a fantastic job of painting the pages with words that transported me to the 18th century, Joseon. Moreover, a puzzle is already presented in the first chapter that got me hooked until way past midnight. I think it’s only reasonable to say that this book has one of the best openings ever.

From then on, things were getting escalating fast. By that, I mean there were murders and death everywhere! This book does not waste your time with filling scenes instead, it sprinkles clues that got me solving the case together with Hyeon and Eojin. The court intrigues were no less nerve-racking. Spies lurked in every palace’s corner and a little slip of words could cost you your life. By the end of each chapter, I gripped my Kindle so hard because I’m scared yet excited to know what will happen next.

No doubt that the atmosphere and mystery captivated me but the characters are another reason why The Red Palace is my favorite read this month. I loved and admired Hyeon so much, it’s unbelievable. Every obstacle thrown in her way only pushed her to work harder and do better. She became a palace nurse—nae-uinyeo—through her own abilities and determination. There were many moments of her that I like but if I have to choose one that would be when she realized she doesn’t need her father anymore.

There was also the mysterious police inspector, Seo Eojin. He showed up unexpectedly and left quite an impression on me. His cold and distant demeanors made him the more appealing when he investigate the case and searched for clues. Another character I would like to mention is Lady Hyegyoung. Although she didn’t show up often, her presence was something I look forward to. She emanated such a wise and elegant aura that was companied by her courage. I would love to know more about her!

I cannot end my review without having to talk about the romance. The chemistry between Hyeon and Eojin was so palpable that I shipped them right after the moment they met. From strangers to allies to friends to lovers, it was satisfying to watch their trust and fondness grow for each other. I could not help but smile from ear to ear on each of their sweet moments because they are just so adorable! Now I need Hyeon x Eojin fanarts *start browsing*

Overall, The Red Palace was a spectacular YA historical mystery that is loosely based on the life and death of Crown Prince Jangheon. The trust and love between Hyeon and Eojin balanced the murder and terror that lurked in every corner. Each word will lure you deeper into the private investigation and the mystery will keep you flipping the pages. If you pick up this book, please read the author’s note as well because it will give you interesting insight into the historical aspect of the story.

This book really took me back to some CLASSIC historical fiction thrillers/mysteries (Mara Daughter of the Nile, The Eagle of the Ninth), and I would like to request that we bring back this subgenre because it is so much fun. Maybe it has been back for awhile, and I'm the one behind, but The Red Palace caught my eye, and I fell in love.

This book follows eighteen year-old Hyeon, a nurse in the Royal Palace in 1700s Joseon (Korea) with access to dangerous palace secrets, and also the illegitimate daughter of a police inspector. When three nurses and a palace courtesan are brutally murdered on the night that Hyeon is also tasked with a dangerous secret, and her beloved mentor becomes a prime suspect, she becomes involved with the investigation. Along the way, she also gets to know Eojin, a young police inspector on a mission.

The first 25% of this book is engaging, setting up the pieces, the players, and the political strife. However, after I got past that point, I was fully engaged with the story and the plot. There are so many moving pieces, and as readers, we become worried for Hyeon, as well as invested in her relationships with others around her. I loved that Hyeon is ambitious but so pure hearted. I'm all for the antihero and the selfish and flawed hero, but I also love a good hero with a heart of gold. Hyeon definitely is that.

Overall, this plot is so engaging, and I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or thrillers/mysteries. I also recommend reading the author's note at the end, which was pretty interesting and made me even more interested in the time period and topic.

When her mentor is accused of murder, a palace nurse teams up with a young police inspector to investigate the recent massacre and an older murder in which the Crown Prince himself is a prime suspect.

Suspenseful, romantic, and rich with the fascinating history of the Korean Joseon Dynasty, THE RED PALACE is perhaps my favorite June Hur novel yet! She seamlessly weaves together the story of a young woman struggling to find her place in her family and her society with a based-on-a-tragic-true-story murder mystery--plus, a swoon-worthy romance that delighted my historical-romance-loving heart. I highly recommend this novel for any YA collection and to any teen and adult fans of historical mysteries.

As with her earlier books, this is an exquisitely written historical mystery with amazing detail woven into the story in a way that doesn't detract from the plot but adds depth to it. Hur's characters are fascinating and incredibly well-developed, as ever, and while this is by no means a traditional seat-of-your-pants page-turner, it's got a meaty mystery that's well-sourced in real history (and historical speculation). What more could you want?

I'm a huge fan of historical kdramas and I just knew that I would love 'The Red Palace'.. Which I did! After June Hur's 'The Forest of Stolen Girls' I've been a fan of hers. This book took me on an adventure and had the perfect balance of royal politics and romance (so sweet). The characters were easy to root for and each of them brought something interesting to the table. I also enjoyed the author's note at the end explaining more of the historic background of the Prince. I would recommend this to all readers who enjoy historical fiction!

Bookstacked reviewed 'The Red Palace' and you can take a look at the review here: www.bookstacked.com.

une Hur has delivered yet another masterful bone-chilling page-turner. Something about the way she writes infuses each page with the atmospheric essence necessary to immerse you in the world of her stories. There’s not a word wasted, each sentence a silken thread in a grand tapestry that you cannot fully grasp until it has finished being woven before your eyes. It’s like magic.

At the heart of this tragic serial murder mystery is nuanced commentary on gender and class inequality in 18th century Joseon Korea, the ghosts that haunt Hyeon at each step of her investigation and her life as a whole. As a young woman and an illegitimate child of a noble and a former courtesan, she has few prospects in a world of strict gender segregation and class stratification. Her attempts to pursue truth and justice on behalf of the murder victims and the innocent scapegoat for their deaths put her at odds with the prevailing social order, which would prefer that she keep her head down and mouth shut—if she doesn’t want to end up dead as well.

The story makes it clear who is treated as disposable and who can largely harm with impunity, and the challenge of solving the mystery is very much tied up in social power differentials and access to knowledge and resources. Yet the lurking threats to Hyeon and to those who refuse to let the truth remain untold ironically betray the fragility of the powerful and the faults in the system that allow those with less privilege to gain leverage and turn the tables. Thus the story does not fall into a fatalistic view of society but instead instills hope that toxic systems can be upended and justice can prevail.

As with her previous novels, this newest book of June’s centers on family and the complex feelings of daughters toward patriarchal figures. Hyeon’s desperate desire for validation from her emotionally distant and unforgiving father informs her choices and creates internal conflict throughout the story. Her investigation could jeopardize the achievements she has worked hard to attain as a palace nurse, so she must choose between doing what’s right and doing what is expected of her.

One notable way that The Red Palace diverges from its predecessors is the inclusion of a romantic subplot. Folded into the story’s broader theme of gender and class inequality is an aching tale of forbidden love. Eojin and Hyeon share analytical minds and an eye for detail, a strong sense of justice, and a stubborn streak that puts them in danger of retribution by those who feel threatened by their investigation. Yet the strict rules of gender and class dictated by their time and place cut a wide gulf between them, barring them from forging a socially sanctioned friendship and bond of intimacy. The result is a slow-burn romance replete with soulful yearning, stolen glances, and unspoken affection. It is devastating and beautiful, and you’ll have to read the book to find out not only who killed the palace women and why but what the future holds for Eojin and Hyeon. Trust me, it’s worth it.

This historic YA mystery is the first book I have read by the author and I loved it. Rooting for Hyeon from the beginning was easy because she is strong-willed and determined to find the truth. That can be hard to do in a kingdom filled with lies, spies, manipulation, and murders. But the help of a handsome stranger, Eojin, makes it all bearable. At just eighteen, Hyeon is very introspective and able to make peace with some major tribulations in her life. I admire this about her.

4.5 stars

“If you enter the palace, you either die or you survive and become another monster within its walls.”

★★★★★

thank you to Feiwel & Friends, Fierce Reads & Colored Pages Tours for the gifted eARC! #partner #coloredpagestours #TheRedPalace #TheRedPalaceTour

i won’t lie, i first heard of The Red Palace through one of June’s little ‘trailer’ reels on instagram introducing the characters, and after reading the synopsis it quickly became one of my most anticipated 2022 reads! a murder mystery set in Joseon era Korea with kdrama vibes? 🗡 sign. me. up.

this being my first historical Korean read, i have to say i was a bit nervous to read about a time and place somewhat unfamiliar to me, but there was nothing to worry about. June’s beautiful prose made the story so captivating. i didn’t expect to become so immersed into it, but i was pleasantly surprised by how addicting it was

the story starts off with some mysterious incidents from the get go, including a mass murder 🩸 like any good mystery, little pieces to the puzzle slowly get revealed as palace nurse Hyeon and police inspector Eojin team up to find answers, and i was kept on my toes the entire time

i admired Hyeon’s determination and how she didn’t once think of giving up. she wanted to be seen, to be validated, and stopped at nothing to work out the truth. June writes so well about a time of huge inequality between men and women, the complexity of relationships with parents, and yes, slow-burn romance ❤️‍🔥‍ i was an absolute sucker for Hyeon and Eojin’s gentle and sweet moments together, i couldn’t get enough!

filled with secrets, spies and a tragic crown prince, this is really an intriguing mystery and it exceeded all my expectations. The Red Palace is the first Hur book for me, but i’m definitely going to be picking up her other books ✨

➳ find me on instagram for bookish content: @chaptersofeve

I feel like I’ve mentioned this a million times already, but The Red Palace is really one of my most anticipated books of 2022! Having read The Silence of Bones and a few of Forest of Stolen Girls, I knew that The Red Palace will be quite the ride.

I think The Red Palace is a suitable description of the violence and death that occurs within the palace walls, especially during that era. One of the things I love about June Hur’s writing style is the immersive and atmospheric storytelling. The build-up of the intrigue paired with her gorgeous prose really makes the story breathtaking. As a K-drama fan, the world-building is easy for me to imagine, having watched a lot of historical K-dramas. But I still find myself looking forward to it because of Hur’s captivating writing style.

As always, the mystery is coupled with a bit of political intrigue. Although this time, it’s more serious as one of the prime suspects was the Crown Prince himself. The stakes are higher which makes it more exciting. I’m a big fan of thrillers/mysteries so there are definitely times when I can easily guess the culprit but this one managed to surprise me! I enjoyed how unpredictable the culprit was. I really didn’t see it coming!

A lot of thriller/mysteries I’ve read doesn’t contain a lot of romance, but this one brought us a subtle, yet very kilig-inducing one! The romance was another reason why I was so excited to read The Red Palace.

Romances in historical K-dramas are often portrayed as slow-burn and innocent because of Confucian beliefs, which honestly makes the tension more exciting. June Hur perfectly captured the romantic tropes I was hoping to see and managed to make me root for Hyeon and Eojin from the very beginning! I also think that the romance was a great palate cleanser from the mystery aspect of the book.

I hope the author continues to include some romance in her future books. Once June Hur actually writes a scene with the couple attending the Lantern Festival, it’s all over for me!

Perhaps the tragedy of Crown Prince Sado was the biggest reason why I was excited to read this book. I’ve been familiar with the story of Crown Prince Sado since I consume a lot of Korean media. He’s been depicted in numerous dramas and movies, but I’m most familiar with the movie, The Throne. I watched it several years ago since I was a big fan of Yoo Ah-in, who played Crown Prince Sado. I’m planning on rewatching it sometime soon!

In the book, he is referred to by his formal name, Prince Jangheon (Sado was given to him posthumously by his father, King Yeongjo). Based on different publications about the Prince, he was basically mentally ill. Since mental illnesses weren’t all fully explored yet during that era, Prince Jangheon was just regarded as a violent man. He had a difficult and strained relationship with King Yeongjo, which also brought him a lot of political opponents. In 1762, he was ordered by King Yeongjo to starve inside a rice chest for eight days which led to his death.

The Red Palace was set years before Prince Jangheon’s death, but we were offered a peek into Prince Jangheon’s issues. I like how the book took a lot of real aspects, but still remained a loose adaptation of his story. Since I knew a little bit of his background, I didn’t really suspect him as the killer from the start, but I think it was also vital to the story that his grave acts weren’t erased.

The Red Palace deserves all the hype it’s getting! I’m so glad a lot of people enjoyed this book and I think it’s June Hur’s best one yet. I really had fun reading this book!

The characters were fleshed-out, the intrigue was well-built and compelling, and the romance was just perfectly written.

Do I recommend this? Definitely!

The Red Palace definitely takes up a spot in my top reads for 2022! If you enjoy a great mystery with a little bit of romance and some real historical elements, you shouldn’t miss reading The Red Palace!

"Everyone is listening in the palace. Everyone is spying for someone.”

cw //torture, violence, gore

rep // Korean MC & setting

This is my 2nd June Hur read and I think I like it ever better than the first. Okay first off, this is a period piece mystery with a nurse x detective SLOW burn. Their romance is so sweet and kind and beautiful. It's the most gentle love interest I've read in a while and I'm obsessed.

As for the mystery itself, I loved it. The Red Palace follows Baek-hyeon, an illegitimate child and a palace nurse whose mentor is wrongly accused of a massacre. To clear her name she teams up with the police inspector Seo Eojin bravely to solve the case even when the evidence points to the Crown Prince himself. In the beginning I was a bit overwhelmed with all the characters but as time went on I was able to keep them straight. I was unable to put this book down, finishing it over the course of 24 hours once I started, the writing is just that compelling.

Nurse Hyeon, the main character, is a determined and dedicated person in both her profession and her personal life. She has a relentless pursuit to be the best and rise up in society despite her birth circumstances as a woman and a bastard. I loved her growth from wanting to please her father to at the end where she decides that justice is more important even in an unfair system. She is kind to a fault and wants to help those around her. And then of course, Seo Eojin, also striving for justice. As the youngest to pass the exam and become a detective, he tries to solve this murder not out of revenge but for a sense of justice. I just really love how he doesn’t overshadow Hyeon but steps up as an equally intellectual partner. He’s a comforting character to be honest.

Overall I loved this book a lot, I wish the epilog was a bit longer, but as a standalone it has incredibly compelling writing and fun k-drama vibes!

In 18th-century Korea, Hyeon is what's known as a 'vulgar commoner' -- an illegitimate daughter of a lord who has risen as far as she can in her station to be a palace nurse. When Hyeon is summoned to the mysterious Crown Prince's residence on the night of a brutal murder elsewhere in town, she quickly realizes that things are not what they seem. A brutal killer is on the loose, nurses and commoners and court ladies alike are being killed in shockingly violent ways, and Hyeon's dear teacher and mentor is somehow the prime suspect. Strongwilled Hyeon inserts herself into the investigation (or, at least, a parallel investigation to the official one, as her newfound partner, police inspector Eojin, has started his own rogue inquiry into the horrifying deaths). The clock is racing, and the bodies are piling up -- just how far is Hyeon willing to go to save her beloved teacher?

June Hur starts this moody, atmospheric historical thriller with a BANG and never takes her foot off the gas. What could've felt like a long slog somehow felt too short -- I would've easily read another 200 pages or so, with even more world-building detail (as Hur clearly did a ton of research) and more of a slow-burn buildup to Eojin and June's romance. The breakneck pace of the novel is its main drawback, in my view -- we moved so quickly through a compelling plot with a fascinating cast of characters that I found myself wishing things would slow down and develop a bit more naturally. A LOT happens in this book, starting on page one, and I wanted to give poor Hyeon a moment to catch her breath. Overall, though, this thrilling mystery is unlike anything I've ever read, and I deeply enjoyed it! Content warning: the murder and torture described on the page was more gruesome than I expected -- not for the faint of heart! (I read a lot of horror/thrillers, for reference, and even I was startled at a few points.)