The Red Palace

Starred review from December 1, 2021

Gr 8 Up-Eighteen-year-old Hyeon is a palace nurse, one of the only esteemed positions open to illegitimate daughters in 1758 Joseon Korea. It is also an incredibly dangerous one, as royals and courtiers move servants about the palace like pieces in their political games, with little concern for those who are sacrificed for power. When a massacre occurs at her old nursing school, the police fixate on Hyeon's friend and mentor to counter the anonymous handbills that have been plastered all over the capital accusing the Crown Prince. To clear her mentor's name, Hyeon teams up with 18-year-old Seo Eojin, a new inspector also determined to put truth before politics. Hyeon walks a knife's edge: She is the Crown Prince's alibi, but on the night of the massacre he was nowhere to be found. Hur's Joseon mysteries are groundbreaking, and this retelling of Prince Sado is no exception. She balances the romance and court politics with the terrible cruelties of police violence and societal caste systems. Her use of Korean words lends itself to meticulous worldbuilding and broadens her readers' understanding of the culture, context, and emotional resonance in her story. Perhaps most impressive is Hyeon's growth as she learns everyone has a life as complicated and complete as her own. The cast is Korean. VERDICT Hur set the bar high with her previous works and has cleared it with room to spare. A tense political thriller, a beautiful romance, and a coming of age all in one unique package.-Emmy Neal, Lake Forest Lib., IL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 6, 2021
In Hur’s (The Forest of Stolen Girls) historical mystery, set in 1758 Korean kingdom Joseon and loosely based on the life of Crown Prince Jangheon, hardworking 18-year-old palace nurse Baek-hyeon, known as Hyeon, is determined to find the person who murdered four women at the public medical office. Her motivations to catch the killer and exact a confession are twofold: to earn her estranged father’s acceptance through hard work, and to protect her mentor, Nurse Jeongsu, from brutal police interrogations. Hur deftly renders stifling patriarchal restrictions and the tension of court life where “everyone is listening in the palace,” while thoughtfully integrating Korean throughout. When Hyeon meets the newest police inspector, 18-year-old Seo Eojin, she must decide whether she can trust him. With the list of suspects growing longer—and including the Crown Prince—Hyeon and Eojin must navigate their collaboration, and their deepening feelings, before their illicit investigation is revealed. Steeped in rich historical details, Hur’s palace thriller offers a sharp critique of the monarchy’s abuse of power while maintaining a quick pace and crafting a captivating murder mystery. An author’s note contextualizes the history behind the novel. Ages 13–up. Agent: Amy Elizabeth Bishop, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.

January 1, 2022
In this historical novel set in eighteenth-century Korea, Baek-hyeon, despite her low social status, has recently attained the coveted position of palace nurse when she and a friend encounter a mass murder scene at the public medical office: four young nurses have been killed. Suspicion is cast upon the Crown Prince as the possible perpetrator, and the list of victims grows as the murderer runs free. Hyeon and handsome, stoic police inspector Eojin work together to catch the criminal, uncovering forbidden love and royal family secrets along the way. Exciting and fast-paced, this unusual detective story transports readers to Korea's Joseon Dynasty, providing (per the author's note) one version of the tragic true story of Crown Prince Jangheon. Though some readers may find the Korean vocabulary difficult to keep track of, its frequent use to set the cultural context is a testament to Hur's dedication in researching Korea's complex history. Romance, adventure, and mystery keep pages turning, and readers will undoubtedly find themselves drawn to Hyeon's smarts, ambition, and strong will. Gabi K. Huesca

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from January 1, 2022
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* This atmospheric historical mystery will transport and captivate readers. It's 1758, and four palace nurses have been massacred in the Korean kingdom Joseon. Hyeon, a hardworking 18-year-old palace nurse, begins a dangerous solo investigation. She is determined to clear her wrongfully accused mentor, Nurse Jeongsu, and to earn her estranged father's acceptance. Along the way, she teams up with the newest police inspector, Eojin, a prodigy who is also 18. The two are from different social classes, and Hur deftly incorporates the class system, patriarchal restrictions, and court politics, as well as Korean words, into the storyline, broadening the world and cultural richness of the story. As Hyeon and Eojin get deeper into their investigation, they must also figure out what is really happening with the crown prince: Is he a suspect or another victim? Amid their fast-paced mission, a gentle romance subtly blooms between Hyeon and Eojin, adding another layer to this already compulsive read. An author's note at the end provides further context, revealing that the book was inspired by the real life of Crown Prince Sado of Joseon. Trigger warnings should be noted for mental health problems, attempted suicide, violence, and parental abuse. A beautifully written story full of historical and cultural details that will leave readers aching for a follow-up.

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January 1, 2022
In this historical novel set in eighteenth-century Korea, Baek-hyeon, despite her low social status, has recently attained the coveted position of palace nurse when she and a friend encounter a mass murder scene at the public medical office: four young nurses have been killed. Suspicion is cast upon the Crown Prince as the possible perpetrator, and the list of victims grows as the murderer runs free. Hyeon and handsome, stoic police inspector Eojin work together to catch the criminal, uncovering forbidden love and royal family secrets along the way. Exciting and fast-paced, this unusual detective story transports readers to Korea's Joseon Dynasty, providing (per the author's note) one version of the tragic true story of Crown Prince Jangheon. Though some readers may find the Korean vocabulary difficult to keep track of, its frequent use to set the cultural context is a testament to Hur's dedication in researching Korea's complex history. Romance, adventure, and mystery keep pages turning, and readers will undoubtedly find themselves drawn to Hyeon's smarts, ambition, and strong will.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)