About
To save her sister, a teen girl becomes entangled in a political conspiracy with an enigmatic prince in this fiery new YA from the bestselling author of The Red Palace.
June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that will feel all-too-relevant in today's world, based on a true story from Korean history.
Hope is dangerous. Love is deadly.
1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.
Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom's turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king's latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king's power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death.
Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When staging a coup, failure is fatal, and he'll need help to pull it off-but there's no way to know who he can trust.
When Iseul's and Daehyun's fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul's family connections and Daehyun's royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever seen:
Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.
Also by June Hur:
The Silence of Bones
The Forest of Stolen Girls
The Red Palace June Hur (허주은) is the critically acclaimed bestselling author of YA historical mysteries The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls, The Red Palace, and A Crane Among Wolves. In addition to being nominated three times for the Edgar Awards, she's been featured on Forbes, NPR, The New York Times, CBC and KBS. Her novels have been translated now into Korean, French, Italian, Russian and German. Born in South Korea and raised in Canada, she studied History and Literature at the University of Toronto, and worked at the Toronto Public Library. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two young children.
Praise for The Red Palace:
An ABA Indie Bestseller
An NPR Best Book of 2022
A 2023 Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Forbes Most Anticipated Book of 2022 Selection
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2022
A School and Library Journal Best Book of 2022
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2022
A Globe and Mail Best Book of 2022 selection
A YALSA Best YA of 2022 Selection
A 2022 Freeman Book Award Honorable Mention
"Hur is known for her stunning female-centered historical YA novels, and this is arguably her darkest book yet. ... If slow-burn romances, well-paced plots and historical fiction set somewhere other than the West interest you, this book might just be your new favorite read." -Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, New York Times-bestselling author of Ace of Spades
"Compulsively readable and utterly unique, The Red Palace is a must-read murder mystery steeped in royal intrigue." -Jennifer Lynn Barnes, New York Times-bestselling author of The Inheritance Games
"Court politics and hierarchal society are the stunning backdrop of June Hur's page-turning, atmospheric The Red Palace. Hur's meticulous worldbuilding and immersive storytelling will have readers totally obsessed." -Adrienne Young, New York Times-bestselling author of Fable
"Hur's Joseon mysteries are groundbreaking, and this retelling of Prince Sado is no exception. ... Hur s
June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that will feel all-too-relevant in today's world, based on a true story from Korean history.
Hope is dangerous. Love is deadly.
1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.
Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom's turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king's latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king's power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death.
Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When staging a coup, failure is fatal, and he'll need help to pull it off-but there's no way to know who he can trust.
When Iseul's and Daehyun's fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul's family connections and Daehyun's royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever seen:
Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.
Also by June Hur:
The Silence of Bones
The Forest of Stolen Girls
The Red Palace June Hur (허주은) is the critically acclaimed bestselling author of YA historical mysteries The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls, The Red Palace, and A Crane Among Wolves. In addition to being nominated three times for the Edgar Awards, she's been featured on Forbes, NPR, The New York Times, CBC and KBS. Her novels have been translated now into Korean, French, Italian, Russian and German. Born in South Korea and raised in Canada, she studied History and Literature at the University of Toronto, and worked at the Toronto Public Library. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two young children.
Praise for The Red Palace:
An ABA Indie Bestseller
An NPR Best Book of 2022
A 2023 Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Forbes Most Anticipated Book of 2022 Selection
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2022
A School and Library Journal Best Book of 2022
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2022
A Globe and Mail Best Book of 2022 selection
A YALSA Best YA of 2022 Selection
A 2022 Freeman Book Award Honorable Mention
"Hur is known for her stunning female-centered historical YA novels, and this is arguably her darkest book yet. ... If slow-burn romances, well-paced plots and historical fiction set somewhere other than the West interest you, this book might just be your new favorite read." -Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, New York Times-bestselling author of Ace of Spades
"Compulsively readable and utterly unique, The Red Palace is a must-read murder mystery steeped in royal intrigue." -Jennifer Lynn Barnes, New York Times-bestselling author of The Inheritance Games
"Court politics and hierarchal society are the stunning backdrop of June Hur's page-turning, atmospheric The Red Palace. Hur's meticulous worldbuilding and immersive storytelling will have readers totally obsessed." -Adrienne Young, New York Times-bestselling author of Fable
"Hur's Joseon mysteries are groundbreaking, and this retelling of Prince Sado is no exception. ... Hur s