The Red Palace
As the illegitimate daughter of an aging concubine, Hyeon does not have many options. The strict laws of Korea in 1758 separate her from the rest of society. She is bound by the invisible chains of the caste system until her mentor shows her how to break them.
June Hur’s story chronicles Hyeon’s quest to outsmart a system designed to crush her. At just eighteen, Hyeon is a skilled palace nurse. She spends her days attending to the ladies of the court. However, she lacks the cunning to avoid the danger within the walls of the Changdeok Palace and soon finds herself entangled in a series of gruesome murders. Hyeon risks everything as she uses her medical training and fearlessness to find a killer and save her mentor.
This novel is everything a reader wants in a murder mystery and a romance, but it is so much more. Hur has the uncanny ability to immerse readers in a faraway world and make them instantly feel at home. She seamlessly weaves rich historical details into the action and explains a brutal caste system, complicated political landscape, and fascinating medical practices through Hyeon’s eyes. She provides a delicate balance of details that show both the beauty and the horror of an ancient land. I highly recommend this book for readers 13 and up.
