This was a great and in-depth look at a person and a movement that was completely off my radar. It was engaging and fast paced enough to keep me going.

Wonderfully written and researched page-turner. Beautifully constructed, and a masterclass in how to keep the reader hooked. Ultimately, some seams show, but that may be due to lawyers and the events described rather than the author.

Adrian Hoàng was in American Korean, a student at Yale and a rebel without a cause. That is until he started hearing about the atrocities visited on the North Koreans. He Who would start a group for like-minded people and although he started this with the best intentions it would all in with him on the run from the US marshals. This book was so interesting I couldn’t put it down and when it was over I took to Google to find out more as much as I could. In the book one of his friends said people would ask in a criticizing tone why would you want to help people you don’t know and all I could think is why wouldn’t you want to help? It always breaks my heart to hear about the people living in North Korea in this book I learned about the class system in North Korea in about those living a slaves in prison camps and it’s all just so heartbreaking. I thought those who were kidnapped and held in North Korea against their will headed bed but I have yet to hear about anyone who’s had it worse than those who have to dig out coal all day long and eat corn mash for dinner, But this review isn’t about my opinions on North Korea is about my opinions on this book and I think everyone should read it it’s sad, inspiring, heartbreaking and riveting and so much more. I totally recommend this book and think the author did an awesome job telling Adrian story. I was given this book by Nat Gally and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily. Please forgive any mistakes because I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are my own.

This book asks a very simple question. Why aren't we more upset about the way North Korea treats it's people? Well, there is a man who was very upset about it and he tried to do something about it. It went very badly.

The Rebel and the Kingdom by Bradley Hope looks at the activities of Adrian Hong as he tries to take on the North Korean government. If I had to describe his activities, it would probably be "over-the-top." Hong's life makes for a compelling read because he seems capable but out of his depth, passionate but soft-spoken, and finally, organized but delusional. The main event of the book is an invasion of sorts that I won't describe here.

Hope writes a lean narrative and it works very well for the subject matter. Hong is an enigma anyway, but too much background would drown out the forceful aspects of this story. While the focus is Hong, Hope is also putting a spotlight on how the world is turning a blind eye to the North Korean people. Hong may not have made the right decisions, but at least he did something.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Crown Publishing. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 11/3/2022.)