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A review by nataliealane
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur
4.0
I want to send a special thank you/shout out to June Hur for getting me back into historical fiction.
The Forest of Stolen Girls made me excited about HF again. Although I told myself 2022 would be the year I caught up on the fantasy books I acquired in the past couple of just years, June Hur has me wanting to reach for the historical fiction that’s been sitting neglected in my shelves for even longer than that. In fact, I have another book of here, The Silence of Wolves, on my kindle!
Just how gripping was this book? I read 200* pages in one day, yesterday to finish it, and completely forgot about the tea I had made to drink while reading it!
Hwani doesn’t remember the day she and her younger sister, Min, disappeared in the forests of Jeju , only to be found unconscious near a dead woman. But when her father, the great Detective Min, goes back to the island to investigate the disappearances of more girls, he too goes missing. But Hwani refuses to believe he is dead, especially after he sends her his journal. Following in his footsteps, she returns to the place she disappeared years ago, determined to find him. With the help of her estranged sister, she uncovers a truth far more harrowing.
I loved the atmosphere and sense of place, but I loved the mystery and sisterhood even more. Both Hwani and Maewol are grieving the loss of family in different ways and trying to find their place in the world. They also have to overcome their own broken relationship and preconceived notions of each other in order to solve the mystery. Their journey growing closer to each other is so beautiful.
I found myself googling the different clothes, pictures of the places on Jeju that were mentioned, and researching more about the time period, like a good historical fiction will make me do!
Fun facts:
In my research about Jeju and Korea, I found out that Jeju is home to one of the biggest tea farms in Korea and has a tea museum! I also learned about a popular Korean tea called yujacha made from citron/yuju/yuzu marmalade or syrup. So, I lit my @blueforestblackmoon Shrestha candle that’s yuzu scented and made a green tea blend using @shopcallkesweetea I am Tea and Festival Fever (lychee and passionfruit) since I didn’t have yuzu tea.
CW: human trafficking (called tributes), child abuse, murder, suicide and suicidal ideation, kidnapping, description of dead bodies, mutilation
The Forest of Stolen Girls made me excited about HF again. Although I told myself 2022 would be the year I caught up on the fantasy books I acquired in the past couple of just years, June Hur has me wanting to reach for the historical fiction that’s been sitting neglected in my shelves for even longer than that. In fact, I have another book of here, The Silence of Wolves, on my kindle!
Just how gripping was this book? I read 200* pages in one day, yesterday to finish it, and completely forgot about the tea I had made to drink while reading it!
Hwani doesn’t remember the day she and her younger sister, Min, disappeared in the forests of Jeju , only to be found unconscious near a dead woman. But when her father, the great Detective Min, goes back to the island to investigate the disappearances of more girls, he too goes missing. But Hwani refuses to believe he is dead, especially after he sends her his journal. Following in his footsteps, she returns to the place she disappeared years ago, determined to find him. With the help of her estranged sister, she uncovers a truth far more harrowing.
I loved the atmosphere and sense of place, but I loved the mystery and sisterhood even more. Both Hwani and Maewol are grieving the loss of family in different ways and trying to find their place in the world. They also have to overcome their own broken relationship and preconceived notions of each other in order to solve the mystery. Their journey growing closer to each other is so beautiful.
I found myself googling the different clothes, pictures of the places on Jeju that were mentioned, and researching more about the time period, like a good historical fiction will make me do!
Fun facts:
In my research about Jeju and Korea, I found out that Jeju is home to one of the biggest tea farms in Korea and has a tea museum! I also learned about a popular Korean tea called yujacha made from citron/yuju/yuzu marmalade or syrup. So, I lit my @blueforestblackmoon Shrestha candle that’s yuzu scented and made a green tea blend using @shopcallkesweetea I am Tea and Festival Fever (lychee and passionfruit) since I didn’t have yuzu tea.
CW: human trafficking (called tributes), child abuse, murder, suicide and suicidal ideation, kidnapping, description of dead bodies, mutilation