The Red Palace

Thank you Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the e-ARC! This has not influenced my review one way or the other.

Ahhhh I love Hur's books so much. They're atmospheric and twisty, but they also get into cultural and societal aspects of historical Korea without drowning the reader in facts. Plus they're just straight-up good mysteries. The Red Palace lived up to expectations and exceeded them, even giving readers a touch of romance without it becoming a distraction to the story.

- Loved the royal intrigue and palace politics in this book
- Getting a chance to see what women's lives are like between 1400-1800 Korea is really neat; there are surprisingly more professions women may pursue than you would think
- All of Hur's books are standalones so you don't need to read them in order

This is a well-plotted mystery with a strong, strong MC. And the complexity of character relationships intermeshed with the mystery and suspense of the plot was done really well. I will say this book is more plot-driven than it is character-driven, but the characters were not necessarily lacking, they just were not focused on as much as the plot. Well developed setting, though, and still good characters, making the book a suspenseful mystery I enjoyed.

More of a 4.5 but I'm rounding up.

I have always heard great things about June Hur's books from my fellow blogger friends but never did pick her previous two books because mystery thriller is not my go to genre. But I couldn't resist adding The Red Palace to my tbr because it sounded like a mystery with a palace drama kind of backdrop and you all know how much I love my palace dramas these days. And I'm so so happy that I got to read this book in advance.

The book is a little over 300 pages and it went by so quick that I didn't even realize how much time had passed. It is immediately immersive from page one and then the tension just builds up until we are swept away in its magic, not bothering with what's happening around us. I'm actually not a kdrama watcher nor do I listen to much kpop, so I had trouble initially to keep track of the names and other Korean terms but once I got into the story, I found it very easy to absorb it all. The writing is perfectly descriptive, letting me feel like I was exploring the palace and hiding from the killers myself, creating a very lush and mysterious atmosphere - which definitely makes for a great setting for a multiple murder mystery. I had also read the author's newsletter where she mentioned her inspiration for this story, Crown Prince Sado and I was quite intrigued to see how she would incorporate his tragic life into this novel. And I have to say, the way she seamlessly blends fiction and history is masterful and there were many times I felt this book would make for a great drama.

Hyeon is a palace nurse who has worked really hard for years to achieve that position. It was heartbreaking to see her strive for the approval of a father who never treated her like his daughter just because of her mother's class status. But I was also glad to see her always try to stand up for truth and justice, even if it meant that she would lose whatever she had earned, and maybe even her life. She is stubborn that way - once she has decided on a path, she doesn't let anyone or anything deter her from her decisions. I loved how competent she was at her job and so intelligent at figuring out various clues and solving mysteries. I also enjoyed how the author showed us her various relationships - the admiration and love she had for her mentor, her complicated feelings for her mother, and a sweet friendship with Jieun.

And then there is Eojin - child prodigy extraordinaire who is a police inspector already at the age of nineteen, full of ideals about fighting for justice and never for revenge. Also a shining light in this very hierarchical kingdom because he never lets his higher class or gender dictate his behavior and treats Hyeon with all the respect and consideration that she deserves. Theirs is a very organically progressing friendship to romance, but the author treats it very subtly, because they are two intelligent individuals with goals in life and not the type to demonstrate their feelings in a big manner. It's a calm and quiet kinda love, steady and unwavering in the face of danger.

The crown prince is a very small presence in person, but he is an ever running thread across all subplots. After having read about the historical prince, I could see how the author decided to depict his character - an only son of the emperor who can never live up to his abusive father's expectations and takes out his anger on helpless people who can't fight back. We know he is on a downward spiral but we only get to see glimpses of it and I was fascinated by my own reactions to him - sad at times at his tragic home and political situation but also angry at his actions. It's really to the author's credit for being able to depict such a character so deftly.

There are quite a few other side characters but most of them have limited page time. But everyone has a distinct personality that shines even through the few dialogues they have and it was impressive. I also don't want to giveaway any spoilers about the suspects and killers but the way the author developed their characters was very skillful, giving us enough hints that might lead us to the perpetrators but also not making it too easy to guess. I never did and it felt nice seeing the way Hyeon and Eojin deduced it all towards the end.

To conclude, this is a great mystery novel which has the perfect combination of thriller novel tropes as well as an immersive historical setting that is absolutely adaptation worthy. If you are in the mood for some sleuthing in Joseon era Korea with smart and competent characters who you would want to be friends with, don't miss this one. And I'm especially looking forward to the author's next novel because I loved her nods to its title in this story.

3.5 stars rounding up. This was a serviceable period Kdrama mystery with some YA tropey elements but not obnoxiously so. I'd also give extra points to it for at least attempting to stay somewhat true to a historical setting, even if not 100%. While there were parts of it that read a bit 21st century, they were things that I wouldn't have thought twice about in a regular Kdrama so I was also inclined to give it a pass here.

As our protagonist, Baek-hyeon is all right. She's not annoying, she's not passive, but she's also not a protagonist I might remember after a while. While I thought her romance with police inspector Eojin was unnecessary and sometimes a little contrived, I didn't mind it. The chemistry was better than a lot of YA novels I've read and I could get behind it.

The mystery and pacing was fairly well done. It kept me guessing throughout, even though I've read up on the historical figures that the story is based on and have a basic idea of what's happening. The solution to the mystery was just a little surprising but it wasn't a mind-blowing twist or anything. I was a little miffed that part of the surprise is that the murderer turned out to be a woman, for all the novel's preoccupation with vindicating the rampant sexism in this society. I was also very bewildered that Nurse Jeongsu seemed to go to extreme lengths to protect some random person and that was meant to be a red herring or a dead end. That bit could've been tied in a bit better imo.

If you're looking for a story taking place in ancient Korea or if you already love period Kdramas, this is definitely one to check out - bonus points if you're into murder mysteries as well. Definitely going to look forward to reading more from June Hur.

This might be my favorite June Hur novel! There are good twists, palace intrigue, good parents, bad parents, dangerous people, and dangerous secrets. I got swept up in the novel so quickly. Hyeon and Eojin are wonderful characters. And there was just enough details that I could picture the setting without getting bogged down in historical details. June Hur novels are amazing.

This book was basically a murder mystery but set in 1700s Korea. The setting was really cool and it was interesting to learn about all the social norms of that time period, but unfortunetly the story itself fell flat for me. I was shocked when the romance was developed because it felt like it came out of nowhere. Also, the reveal of who the killer was wasn't very shocking to me but the reason why is a spoiler. I will continue to read everything June Hur writes though and I'm still looking forward to reading her one backlist book I haven't gotten to yet.






Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for providing me with an eBook copy to review.

I really like Hur's historical mysteries. She does such a great job of building the historical world in a way that you feel like you can understand it even if it is an era/place you don't know anything about. Plus, a good whodunnit! This one had the addition of a sweet, yearning romance which was super cute.

If you want to read something that makes you forget you are actually reading, well this is the book for you my dears. Reading this novel felt like walking straight into a historical k-drama. At some point, i was sat about doing nothing and the urge to continue “my new k-drama” suddenly hit me, only to realise that the so called “k-drama” was actually The Red Palace

Wow, I nearly read the whole book in one sitting.

This is everything I could ever wish for in a historical murder mystery. Set in 1758 Joseon, The Red Palace is atmospheric and suspenseful, packed with a good dose of action and intrigue. The stakes are high, because as it says on the cover: to enter the palace means to walk a path stained in blood. Both the main character, Hyeon, and her love interest, Eojin, are smart, calm, and focused through the entire book, ensuring that the plot always moves smoothly. It also weaves in the story of Crown Prince Sado, and while he's not exactly the main focus of the story, the delicate balance between facts and fiction makes it a highly engaging page-turner.

I know I tend to be picky with romance, but there's absolutely nothing to complain about here. Hyeon and Eojin have a relationship based on trust and mutual respect, and it just feels so natural. It's so subtle and gentle, which is nice because it never takes the focus away from the main plot. The ending is perfection as well, as it not only solves the mystery, but also all the family issues and inner turmoil that Hyeon struggled with. Many of her issues resonate with me on a personal level, and I'm sure a lot of Asian kids would be able to relate too.

“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.”

These are the words of Lady Hyegyeong, the wife of Crown Prince Sado, and she's absolutely right.