I read this book in Italian. It is to be taken into account that any inconsistencies, or differencies in the narration, you might find when reading the same book in a different language are probably due to a translation issue.
SYNOPSIS
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.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: assault, attempted murder, blood, child abuse, death, decapitation, depression, gore, misogyny, murder, poisoning, sexism, torture, violence.
REVIEW
Something not many people know about me is that I love crime tv series, shows, documentaries and all the likes. Another thing you might not know is that I love historical settings. I’m a sucker for investigations, mysteries, witty but at times reckless characters, fiction and true historical facts intertwining in stories that keep me on edge and make me want to never stop watching/reading. “The Red Palace” is all I could ask for: ancient Korea, a murder mystery, palace’ secrets, a strong female lead character and an intriguing male lead. Reading this book was like walking straight into a historical k-drama and I loved every minute of it!
Some may or may not know this, but this book is actually based on the story of Prince Sado, a famous figure in Korean history. I’m not going to write about him, because I don’t have enough knowledge to explain his story in details and also I don’t want to spoil anything for those who are going in blind like I did, but also because, though a lot of the story references the Crown Prince, he’s not the main focus. We are primarily following Hyeon and Eojin’s investigation, and how their lives are impacted by interfering in various political matters.
Other historical fiction books I’ve read have the tendency to either drag or slow down intermittently but nothing like that applies to “The Red Palace”.
I loved how the author blended together the historical records and the fictional portions creating the perfect balance for an intriguing and fast-paced novel. It’s not a particularly long book but it’s packed with action and suspense. Her ability in re-creating the atmosphere of a time long lost and giving the reader enough knowledge about Korean culture/history and society of that era to have an overall frame of the setting is absolutely incredible. June Hur also allows those tender, quiet moments for the characters to be explored on a deeper level. You can definitely try to solve the mystery by tracking the clues and evidence, but these are crimes best understood by following the motives.
Speaking of tender and quiet moments and the depth of her characters… I would be a liar if I said I didn’t swoon over Eojin and Hyeon’s perfect chemistry. The delicate, slow-burn romance blooming between them is so precious and pure. June Hur sprinkled just the right amount of romance so as to not draw attention from the mystery but there are some good heart-fluttering moments that made me swoon like crazy. I was so happy reading about their adventures together and seeing how like-minded they are! Such empowering and intelligent characters. I love them with all my heart.
In spite of her challenging family life, Hyeon showed such strength and dedication to the tasks, even in the face of terrible danger. It was admirable. She’s also a female main character that goes against the Patriarchy in her own way, given the time she lives in.
Eojin, calm, quiet, strong and respectful of Hyeon, made a great partner for her during the investigation. Eojin had his own complex backstory and motivation for wanting to get to the bottom of these crimes, which added to the general mystery. I enjoyed his steadfast nature.
The evolution of their relationship was so satisfying.
In conclusion: It’s all in there! Nothing is missing. It’s perfectly balanced.
I can’t wait to pick up her other books while waiting for her next publication.
I get so excited when I find books like this one that scratch my brain perfectly. I can barely control myself to not run around and talk non-stop about it to every soul I encounter.
And yes, “The Red Palace” goes straight into the favourite-books list.
Also, yes, I found another favourite author.
GO READ IT!
MY RATING: 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
