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jemsgreatsin's review
4.0
this book is so underappreciated??
anyways if you love a good historical mystery with an immavulate slow burn. this should be your next read!!
anyways if you love a good historical mystery with an immavulate slow burn. this should be your next read!!
lemonwrlds's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Bullying, Sexism, Infidelity, Blood, Alcoholism, Murder, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Violence, Classism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Police brutality, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Death
claudiashelf's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
❝ Revenge begets revenge; the anger is unquenchable. We become the monsters we are trying to punish. Justice, however, brings closure, and that is what I want. It can only be achieved by remaining sober-minded and rational. And, in the end, it is not my place to punish the prince. It is the king’s, and only the king’s. All I can do is find enough evidence to make the truth undeniable. ❞
Firstly, I was enthralled by the author's remarkable ability to transport readers to the lovely Joseon Dynasty Era in a wonderfully simple but vivid way. This book expertly avoids overwhelming me—the reader— with complex historical details, instead focusing on immersive storytelling and using traditions and culture to enrich the narrative. As I dug deeper into the story, I found myself not only interested in the plot but also developing a deep grasp of the intriguing and traditional parts of Korean culture.
Secondly, while my overall impression of the book was really positive, I did notice a few instances of repeating components that piqued my curiosity. Furthermore, I considered the finale of this book to be a little rushed, but not so much that it took away from my appreciation of the book overall.
Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a book that seamlessly weaves together a compelling crime mystery with a captivating sprinkle of historical fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
hellobookbird's review
3.0
Revenge begets revenge; the anger is unquenchable. We become the monsters we are trying to punish.
There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, seventeen-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.
Everyone must choose the paths they will walk. And when you choose, remember to count the cost. Do not live with regrets.
I don't usually dip into history fiction all that often but I wasn't disappointed. Hyeon is such a robust character, I instantly loved her. In spite of her challenging family life, Hyeon refused to be cowed, even in the face of terrible danger and I can't help but admire that deeply.
The dark, dangerous secrets. The calm and patient (very slow burn) romance. The family issues. The actualization at the end.
Some dreams, I’d learned, were meant to fade away. And to let go of them didn’t mean to let go of myself, but to release the life I’d imagined I wanted.
A good library read.
maria_e_p's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lilo23's review
3.0
3.5 stars. it’s definitely a well-researched book and i liked it. but the writing seemed odd in certain areas and i just can’t get over the weird sentence structures.
febrianikmadusari's review against another edition
4.0
Joseon (Korea), 1758.
Anak haram pada masa itu hanya punya sedikit pilihan hidup, terutama untuk anak perempuan. Namun, berkat kerja keras dan tekun belajar, Hyeon, gadis berusia delapan belas tahun, berhasil menjadi perawat di istana. Dengan selalu patuh dan giat bekerja, ia berharap sang ayah akhirnya mau mengakui dirinya. Namun, Hyeon tiba-tiba terjerumus ke dalam politik istana yang kelam dan berbahaya saat dalam waktu semalam, empat wanita tewas terbunuh. Tersangkanya teman dekat dan gurunya sendiri. Maka dengan tekad bulat untuk membuktikan sang guru tidak bersalah, Hyeon diam-diam melakukan penyelidikan.
Ia lalu bertemu Eojin, inspektur polisi muda yang juga memburu si pembunuh. Ketika bukti-bukti mulai mengarah pada sang Putra Mahkota, Hyeon dan Eojin harus bekerja sama membongkar berbagai rahasia mematikan di istana.
Terjemahannya bagus dan mengalir, membuatku penasaran untuk terus membaca. Jujur aku tidak menduga pelakunya siapa, dan tidak mencari-spoiler. Ketika pelakunya terungkap, aku jadi mengerti penulis sudah menyebar petunjuknya di sepanjang buku.
Aku merekomendasikan buku ini untuk penggemar misteri dan thriller, cukup seru untuk diikuti.
marisaka42's review
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
thoroughly researched and beautifully written, i couldn’t put it down!