by June Hur
First published 2022
Hyeon has clawed her way from illegitimate daughter to palace nurse in 1758 Joseon Korea. At eighteen, she wants nothing more than to perform her duties well and earn her distant father's respect. Then four women die in a single brutal night. The court suspects her teacher and closest friend of the murders. Hyeon refuses to believe it. She begins her own investigation within the palace walls, determined to clear her mentor's name. Her search leads her to Eojin, a young police inspector pursuing the same killer. Together they uncover evidence that points to an impossible suspect: the Crown Prince himself. Hyeon and Eojin must navigate the treacherous world of court politics while searching the palace's hidden corners. They race to expose the truth behind the killings before more blood is shed. Hyeon's quest for justice becomes a fight for survival in a world where the wrong discovery could cost her everything.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Joseon Korea, Palace
Period: 1758
321 pages · Hardcover · Feiwel & Friends
Content warnings: murder, violence