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!

One Hundred Shadows by Hwang Jungeun is a quiet, atmospheric novel set in a rundown electronics market in Seoul. It follows two young people, Eungyo and Mujae, as their shadows begin to rise from the ground, but as everyone knows you should never follow you shadow... The writing is probably not for everyone, in this translation it feels hazy, dreamlike almost. It is however hard to say how much of this is due to the great job done by the translator - I'd love to read the original to compare but it is currently above my linguistic capabilities. The book explores themes like poverty, urban change, and human connection, but if you are looking for action or a fast paced story, this book is likely not for you. For me however, this short book was hunting but beautiful.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington books for the eArc of one hundred shadows in exchange for an honest review!

It took me a while to write a review for this book, even though I finished it a while ago. I'm not sure I fully grasped the entire story all the time, but I am a firm believer that you don't have to fully understand everything you read in order to enjoy it. The characters and the subject matter were intriguing and the writing was enjoyable, so I think this is one of those books I might have to reread in the future to fully understand and appreciate.

I found the pace of this story to be quite fast and with limited information on the characters progressing forward. The blurb and premise of the story sound interesting, however the writing style just wasn’t for me, but I can see that it might appeal to others who enjoy the more fast pace.

One Hundred Shadows by Hwang Jungeun is a haunting and tender novella that blends magical realism with social commentary, set in a Seoul slum on the brink of demolition. As shadows mysteriously rise from the ground, electronics-shop workers Eungyo and Mujae form a quiet bond, offering each other solace amidst the uncertainty of their world’s inevitable changes.

Hwang’s portrayal of the working-class community is deeply affecting, capturing both the beauty and fragility of life under the pressures of gentrification. The novel is almost dreamlike in its prose and the subtle exploration of human connection made it a memorable and thought-provoking read. The rising shadows serve as a powerful and reflective metaphor for the displacement and despair faced by marginalized people. I enjoyed this read.

What I really loved about it is how the author weaved together this subtle magic realism with very real social issues, all while keeping the story grounded in human connection. There’s something about Korean fiction—especially in translation—that does this so well. You get these raw moments of life, but there’s always something more simmering beneath the surface. This book pulls you in with its atmosphere and leaves you thinking about the quiet, almost invisible pressures people face in their lives.

ONE HUNDRED SHADOWS is eerie and beautiful, trailing its two central characters Eungyo and Mujae as they go about their life and work in an electronics market tucked in an impoverished area of central Seoul. Though daily life grinds away, there is beauty and joy to be found in living, the friendship between the two a mutual buoy. Strange things are happening though, the shadows of the slum’s inhabitants mysteriously beginning to rise. Maybe it makes sense when a world entrusted to provide solid ground shifts underfoot, becoming increasingly unsteady and dark, familiar corners of home callously earmarked for demolition to make way for shiny skyscrapers.

Great storytelling reminiscent to me of Hwang Sok Yong’s Mater 2-10, with the more fantastical elements serving as metaphor for the bleak times faced by the working class in the story but also uplifting it from being a more conventional (and perhaps less memorable) tale of marginalisation, gentrification, and social strife. Casting a light on the hopeful lives of resident souls as a means of telling this story of Seoul’s urbanisation was especially impactful.

The novel was published in Korea in 2010, in the year following the deadly Yongsan Disaster of January 2009, where five evicted residents and one armed policeman were killed. In the process of the area’s redevelopment, the residents of a building that was planned for demolition had been protesting their eviction en masse. Protesters were labeled ‘terrorists’, and hired ‘construction thugs’ were sent in by the developers, protected by South Korean riot police in their hundreds. They lit a fire on the ground floor as the residents were trapped on the roof, and in the final moments, the police implemented a ‘Trojan horse’ rooftop raid, using a crane and container to demolish the residents’ lookout tower before swarming the roof. Six people who were unable to escape from the tower died, a tragedy witnessed on live broadcast by many people, including the author. She wrote the novel in the wake of this, writing by day and attending protests in front of the building now known as Namildang at sunset, in support of bereaved families.

A fanastic, affecting read. It’s stayed with me since I read it and I know I will read it again. Also has me excited to read more by Hwang Jungeun!

“One Hundred Shadows” offers an intriguing dive into the interplay of love and despair in a rapidly changing Seoul, told through the lens of magical realism. While the concept of shadows rising around the main characters, Eungyo and Mujae, is undeniably compelling, the execution leaves much to be desired.

The novel shines in its characterization. Eungyo and Mujae are relatable, and their developing relationship adds warmth amidst the stark backdrop of their world. The dialogue, however, suffers from a lack of clarity, as the absence of quotation marks often makes it difficult to discern who is speaking. This stylistic choice, while possibly intended to create a more immersive internal dialogue, ultimately detracts from the flow of the narrative.

The writing style can be a double-edged sword. Described as “stream of consciousness,” it captures Eungyo’s complex thought process but occasionally results in disjointed transitions that disrupt the overall coherence of the story. Many moments felt unmemorable, and the initial allure of magical realism was undercut by a lack of explanation regarding the shadows—what they symbolize and why they manifest. This ambiguity may resonate with some readers who enjoy open-ended interpretations, but for others, it may feel frustratingly underexplored.

Despite these shortcomings, I found parts of the story to be hauntingly beautiful, and I appreciated the underlying themes of human connection and resilience against the backdrop of societal pressures. The novella prompts reflection and invites readers to grapple with its mysteries, which is a commendable trait in any literary work.

In conclusion, “One Hundred Shadows” is an interesting read with a unique premise and poignant moments. However, its writing style and the vagueness surrounding its central themes may leave some readers feeling disconnected. If you’re drawn to contemporary Korean literature and magical realism, this novella may still be worth your time, but approach it with tempered expectations.

I liked a lot of this book but the key theme— shadows — didn’t translate well for me/make much sense. I also found many of the transitions abrupt and random. Overall an interesting read though.

Thank you to the publisher and Netfalkey for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Erewhon Books and Hwang Jungeun for and advanced copy of this book

This was an unexpected 4 stars for me. The writing is very “stream of consciousness” style which normally I don’t like. But I loved Eungyo’s voice and her thought process as she is navigating lives unexpected bends and turns. The magical realism was a hauntingly beautiful touch to the story. I was left thinking and ponder many passages of this. I was pleasantly surprised with this,