3.5 stars.
According to the publisher, Hwang Jungeun was inspired by the 2009 Yongsam Disaster to write this story of workers in a run-down Seoul industrial market slated for demolition. The mundane conversations, and sometimes stilted and repetitive dialogue echo the bleak future for these workers, while the shadows, which have taken on a life of their own, appear to be abandoning them along with everybody else. This spare and almost surreal story has moments of lightness, too, but for the most part, it's fairly bleak. Not everybody gets a happily ever after, unfortunately. Still, I recommend it.

⭐️: 2
DNF. I tried to get into it, but it didn’t hold my interest Maybe I’ll give it another chance at a later time.

One Hundred Shadows is set in a Seoul slum slated for demolition, where an eerie phenomenon begins: the residents' shadows start to rise, with no clear explanation. A mysterious warning spreads—never follow your shadow if it drifts away.

As their neighborhood is gradually destroyed, Eungyo and Mujae, who work at an electronics repair shop, can only watch as their world disappears. Their growing bond offers some solace, but with an uncaring ruling class and the inevitable rise of the shadows, their connection may not be enough to withstand the overwhelming forces at play.

Jungeon’s use of surreal imagery explores themes of resilience, identity, and the human condition, akin to the writing style of Han Kang in The Vegetarian. Both authors delve deeply into their characters' psychological struggles, exposing their battles with societal pressures and internal conflicts. In One Hundred Shadows, the characters are forced to decide whether to overcome or succumb to the difficulties surrounding them. When a shadow breaks free from its human form, following it leads only to suffering or death, highlighting the precariousness of survival in a world on the brink of collapse.

I am not sure if it is the translation or the actual story, but I cannot figure out what this book is about. It is very confusing, not in an ethereal way, but in a frustrating way. I was sad because the description looked very interesting.

While I love that stories like this are making their way into English, I found this a bit too disjointed for a higher rating. I normally love a slow, meandering story, but I think maybe that this one tries to tackle too many things at once for a novella. Some parts of this were beautiful - I have noted some quotes - but there were many times that I had to remind myself that this story wasn’t yet finished and I needed to get back to it!

One Hundred Shadows is a beautiful story of struggle and love in a capitalist society. This book tells a love story amidst increasing development and poverty in a "slum" in Seoul. As residents' shadows begin to rise, Eungyo and Mujae attempt to find hope and joy in a bleak landscape.

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended.

wanted to like this book and the synopsis had me interested, but I found the structure incredibly difficult to follow and found myself lost throughout. A devastating story set in Seoul, Eungyo and Mujae share stories as they watch the demolition of their community.

Slowly paced, although a short book, it was hard for me to get into and want to pick up to read. There was something peaceful about the slowness combined with the eerieness in setting. In addition, Eungyo and Mujae were very real characters that you get to know even within the short time span. Something is always lost in translation, but this one was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

“I wonder if they call this place a slum, because if you called it someone’s home or their livelihood that would make things awkward when it comes to tearing it down”

This was haunting yet slightly fantastical despite what inspired the author to write it.

I would suggest reading the interview with the author at the end of the book first for more context. It would have helped me understand more of the characters' experiences if I had read it in the beginning. It was an interesting way to talk about shadows but the book felt very emotionless and dry. The ending was also a bit abrupt.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

One Hundred Shadows - Hwang Jungeun 3*

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this.
This was an interesting story to read, yet not one that will stay with me for a long amount of time.
Not a lot of plot happens and I did not feel a lot of attachment to the characters. Though, I do think that these characters are relatable to quite come people.
The writing style was very nice to read and has made me interested in other works by the author.

Eungyo and Mujae spend their days working in a large warehous building that has been marked for demolition, where they trade stories with each other and the other inhabitants about the shadows that have begun to rise.

I didn't find this book particularly compelling. There's not much plot to speak of, and the characters largely blended together for me. The writing was beautiful, but at the end, my overwhelming impression was just "oh, OK."

I really loved the beginning of this one but kind of lost the plot part way through and never really came back from that. The folklore was the interesting part for me and I kind of got lost in the story of the children. I may give this one another try at some point.

Thank you to Kensington Books for providing this free advanced reader copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

Official Blurb on Goodreads:
In a Seoul slum marked for demolition, residents’ shadows have begun to rise. No one knows how or why–but, they warn each other, do not follow your shadow if it wanders away.
As the landscape of their lives is torn apart, building by building, electronics-repair-shop employees Eungyo and Mujae can only watch as their community begins to fade. Their growing connection with one another provides solace, but against an uncaring ruling class and the inevitability of the rising shadows, their relationship may not be enough.

Before we begin, I would like to to recommend reading about the 2009 Yongsan Disaster before you read the One Hundred Shadows because this book is a commentary on it. This article in TheKoreaTimes is, I think, a good read: 10 years on: 'Yongsan disaster' victims still want fact-finding, justice.

One Hundred Shadows by Hwang Jungeun is an exploration of the lives of Mujae and Eungyo, set against a backdrop of the struggles faced by the working class in a capitalist society, such as in South Korea. Through their romantic relationship, readers are taken on an emotional journey that highlights the complexities of love intertwined with the harsh realities of life. The narrative is rich with nuance, evoking a sense of empathy for the characters as they navigate existential fears and uncertainties, compounded by the influence of external forces that dictate their livelihoods.

Hwang's writing style is undeniably poetic, reminiscent of Han Kang, and distinctly Korean. She is capturing both the beauty and the melancholy of the characters' experiences. This blend of realism with fantastical elements creates this narrative where feelings and thoughts take on a life of their own as shadows. The subtlety embedded invites various interpretations, allowing readers to find their own meanings hidden.

The novel serves as a commentary on capitalist society, particularly in relation to the disaster in 2009. It examines the impact on individual lives, showcasing how the characters are affected by decisions made by those in power. Initially, the narrative feels like a reflection on these societal issues. But as the story progresses, the ending seemed abrupt, leaving me yearning for more insight.

Despite this, I do not regret reading One Hundred Shadows. Hwang Jungeun crafts a portrayal of hope amidst despair - the story itself is a reflection of life’s unpredictability and struggles.

I found the book itself quite rambling - although being quite short, it took its time to get to the crux - which then seemed to fizzle out. I loved the premise and the focus on class, but I almost felt as though it set out to do much more than it ended up completing. Because of this, it took me a while to read. I did enjoy the writing style and would definitely be interested in checking out more things from this author.

characters: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
plot: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
setting: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
prose/writing: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

final rating: ★ ★ ★

Rating this book is tricky because it falls into a weird genre Mashup of horror, slice of life, and literature.

I knew upon reading it this structure of story would be far from everyone's cup of tea. However, it was mine. The stort feels like a sweet fever dream, the conflict vague, but I enjoyed the story as it was. It's a series of snapshots from two people suffering in poverty and horror, but continuing on anyway.

I'd reccomend this book for those who like a dreamy style of writing and no solid conflict.

I honestly don't recall much about this story -- sorry, I must have missed reviewing this book after finishing the book.

I remember thinking this book was fine, but it wasn't what I was in the mood for, which will ultimately affect how I view a story or how invested and the amount of attention I will give a book. I remember thinking it was good enough to revisit in the future when I'm in the mood for a story like this.

I've seen several great reviews of this book by mutual Goodreads friends, so I know it's a good story that I should like. I just need to give it another shot. Thanks for the opportunity!

An atmospheric commentary on humanity, told through a beautiful magical realism world. The premise of shadows rising and becoming autonomous is quite spooky, and in the context of the different characters, telling their stories back and forth, there is so much that is thought-provoking in the narrative. I think it is more about my headspace when I read this more than anything, but I did unfortunately find that the novel was too slow to the point of being boring in places, and repetitive in others. I take into account that it is a novel in translation, but some of the way the dialogue and conversations were written felt so stilted, and it just took me out of the story. On the whole, I give it 2.5⭐, rounded down to 2 on Goodreads.

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Unfortunately this was a bit too weird for me, and despite its short length, I couldn't get myself to finish it

This was a bit hard for me to follow unfortunately. Novellas can be like that as well that even though they sound intriguing, it feels like more could have been included. The cover was very pretty!