Hyeon is a uinyeo which is like a nurse, or a medical woman, and there has been uinyeos being killed at the palace. I had no clue who to suspect in the killings and that was a nice surprise! Sometimes mysteries can bore me, but the pacing of this one is perfect.
I love the writing and how the story is written.
I found this story intriguing and I was engaged throughout the whole book. Mystery is not the genre I reached for first but I heard so many good things about this book so when I saw it available on Overdrive online library, I had to borrow it. While we do know these things, I wish we got more than just being told about them, I think that would have strengthened her as a main character.Content Warning: Death, Murder, Violence, Misogyny I loved following her journey but I do wish the book went more into her backstory and aspirations. The only thing I found lacking was Hyeon herself. This might deviate from other readers’ thoughts, but I found the pacing for The Red Palace to be slower – and I really liked that! The author spent so much time creating a rich world and showcasing Korean culture in this time period that it really helped amplify the mystery and other story elements. And as we learn more and more, the suspense can very much be felt with each chapter, as we ask ourselves – can this character be trusted? Instead, we slowly uncover the fears and power that lie in those secrets that motivate each character’s actions. It’s very easy for this kind of setup to fall into unnecessary miscommunication, but that’s avoided in The Red Palace. From the beginning, you can tell how many secrets are being kept and how untrustworthy many of the characters are. The palace setting (and the mystery that lies within) is so intriguing.
But if you’re looking for a well-researched historical fiction novel with incredible world-building, I recommend this book to you. With the combination of a historical fiction novel and murder mystery, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into The Red Palace.
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