It delivered the cozy non-western and non-european mystery story that I wanted but I wish the twists surprised me more given that it’s a mystery.

The romance was so wholesome, sweet, and lowkey. Even though I was mostly in it for the atmosphere, the couple charmed me. The saving grace of this book was the ending of the book because I love the way it ended and it got a lot more intense. I don’t think it’s badly written but my problem with June Hur books is that the main plot always feels a little too linear for my liking. But of course, if that’s something you want a little more, this might be perfect for you. The twists just never surprise me, which for a mystery/thriller, I feel like should be needed?

Themes are on authority and family, which I am always so soft for. I especially how everything played out in the end and the feelings that it pulled out of me as I closed the book.

This wasn’t particularly ground breaking for me but I wanted a cozy historical mystery that wasn’t western or european set and I loved it for that. We hardly get any stories like this and I hope we do get more in the future... hopefully I read ones that wreck my mind more.

↣ This read largely like a historical korean mystery drama (complete with a female mc that goes against the patriarchy in her own way) so if that sounds appealing to you, like it does to me, I definitely think you should give this a try! Especially when you want a main character that goes against the patriarchy in her own way. So cozy, atmospheric, and unflinchingly Korean. ↢

— 3.25 —
⇢ content warnings// Blood, Human Trafficking, Misogyny/Sexism, Murder, Violence

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keep the korean historical mysteries coming