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lynguy1's review
4.0
A SONG FOR LONELY WOLVES by Lee Evie is the first book in the Joseon Detective historical mystery series and the first book that I have read by this author. The story is set in 1590 in Korea during the Joseon dynasty; a time and place for which I have little knowledge.
Dan Ji is the main protagonist. She is a Damo, a class of servant and works for the police department. While damos often served tea and other domestic tasks, they are sometimes used as police officers to investigate crime; mostly crimes involving women. Dan Ji has earned a reputation for successfully investigating crimes. After the conclusion of the opening raid on a gambling den, she is dispatched to an isolated northern village where a noble woman is missing.
This is a dark mystery and the landscape as well as the conditions of most people are stark, cold and depressing. While damos are generally overlooked and undervalued, Dan Ji is not willing to stay quiet and be on the sidelines. The changing dynamics of her situation in the northern village kept me glued to the story.
Dan Ji was definitely someone you could root for. Her flaws and virtues felt real as well as her internal and external conflicts. The writing was descriptive and haunting. The plot twists were believable and the stakes were high. Themes include class systems, murder, abduction, trauma, vigilantism, poverty, torture, internal conflicts of right and wrong and much more.
Overall, this was a well-done historical mystery that is thought-provoking. I also learned about an era in a country that I knew almost nothing about.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads, Interstice Press and Lee Evie for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Dan Ji is the main protagonist. She is a Damo, a class of servant and works for the police department. While damos often served tea and other domestic tasks, they are sometimes used as police officers to investigate crime; mostly crimes involving women. Dan Ji has earned a reputation for successfully investigating crimes. After the conclusion of the opening raid on a gambling den, she is dispatched to an isolated northern village where a noble woman is missing.
This is a dark mystery and the landscape as well as the conditions of most people are stark, cold and depressing. While damos are generally overlooked and undervalued, Dan Ji is not willing to stay quiet and be on the sidelines. The changing dynamics of her situation in the northern village kept me glued to the story.
Dan Ji was definitely someone you could root for. Her flaws and virtues felt real as well as her internal and external conflicts. The writing was descriptive and haunting. The plot twists were believable and the stakes were high. Themes include class systems, murder, abduction, trauma, vigilantism, poverty, torture, internal conflicts of right and wrong and much more.
Overall, this was a well-done historical mystery that is thought-provoking. I also learned about an era in a country that I knew almost nothing about.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads, Interstice Press and Lee Evie for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
sci_mom's review
5.0
I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway. From the beginning, I LOVED this book. The writing is beautiful and evocative. I was swept into the story in the opening pages and thought about it even when I wasn't reading. It is both stark and intense; profound and emotional. While very little was revealed about Dan Ji's background, her character, as well as those of the supporting characters, are on full display for readers to consider. The backdrop for the story is a mystery to be solved, but there are also external and internal conflicts and interpersonal relationships to navigate. At one point, I put it down and just sat quietly for a bit to process. And then I bought this author's other book. It was so well written.
anneihilation's review
3.0
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. The plot was very interesting and had me invested, but the writing wasn't my style and it was hard to emotionally connect to the characters.
kristick's review
4.0
Won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. So glad I did, as this was a fantastic historical mystery. I know nothing about 16th century Korea, but this felt like a historical setting and the characters didn’t seem modern. Really looking forward to the next book in the series and learning more about damo Dan Ji and her world.
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