Author: June Hur Genre: YA Historical Fiction, Mystery/Thriller Expected publication: January 25th, 2022 Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Pages: 336 Other Links: Goodreads | Amazon | IndieBound
Joseon (Korea), 1758. There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, eighteen-year-old Hyeon has earned a position as a palace nurse. All she wants is to keep her head down, do a good job, and perhaps finally win her estranged father’s approval. But Hyeon is suddenly thrust into the dark and dangerous world of court politics when someone murders four women in a single night, and the prime suspect is Hyeon’s closest friend and mentor. Determined to prove her beloved teacher’s innocence, Hyeon launches her own secret investigation. In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. When evidence begins to point to the Crown Prince himself as the murderer, Hyeon and Eojin must work together to search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the deadly secrets behind the bloodshed.
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
“When the time comes,” he said quietly, holding my gaze the way he held my hand. “You watch out for me. And I will always watch out for you.” "And being with Eojin slipped unwanted shadows into my head, dreams of what that might feel like—to be cherished, like in the love stories in Jieun’s personal library." "To enter the palace means to walk a path stained in blood." “I would not love, unless I was loved first and loved the most. I would be nothing at all, if I could not be the first.” “Everyone must choose the paths they will walk on. And when you choose, remember to count the cost.” "I did not want to be like this, a girl too afraid to do what was right for fear of what others would think. And I did know what was right. I recognized it as clearly as I did the sun in the sky."
June Hur was born in South Korea and raised in Canada, except for the time when she moved back to Korea and attended high school there. She studied History and Literature at the University of Toronto. She began writing her debut novel after obsessing over books about Joseon Korea. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering through nature or journaling at a coffee shop. She is the author of The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls, The Red Palace, and A Crane Among Wolves published by Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, and she currently lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter. Website – Goodreads – Twitter – Instagram
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