Challenge Corner discussion

Joseon (Korea), 1758. There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, eighteen-year-old Hyeon has earned a position as a palace nurse. All she wants is to keep her head down, do a good job, and perhaps finally win her estranged father's approval.

But Hyeon is suddenly thrust into the dark and dangerous world of court politics when someone murders four women in a single night, and the prime suspect is Hyeon's closest friend and mentor. Determined to prove her beloved teacher's innocence, Hyeon launches her own secret investigation.

In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. When evidence begins to point to the Crown Prince himself as the murderer, Hyeon and Eojin must work together to search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the deadly secrets behind the bloodshed.

Chapters 1 - 5

(view spoiler)[I like how Hyeon is really trying to find out more about what happened. I’m hoping that the plot will keep moving and that it won’t slow down.

It’s interesting to see all the cultural/historical ways - Hyeon’s interaction with her father, the way the different nurses are treated, the rules for the court ladies/concubines.

I’m liking Eojin so far, but I hope he’s shown more. Also, was Hyeon’s shock just because of how she was treating him when she thought that he was a servant or is there something else I’m missing?

I’m curious to see what happens next and if it really was the prince, how that’s going to turn out.
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Chapters 6 - 12

(view spoiler)[ I’m so curious to find out who the killer is. Is it a character that’s been mentioned or a new one? Also, why? Who could be as angry as the physician for the Prince killing the palace nurse? Or is it because of something else?

I like how the story is constantly moving and I like Hyeon and Eojin but I’m hoping to see more of them.

How is Hyeon going to get out? Also, even if Hyeon does manage to get the weapon, how will it help her? Apart from seeing what person could afford it, I don’t think it’ll be that helpful.
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Chapters 13 - 16

(view spoiler)[ I definitely wasn’t expecting the Prince to just start shooting at Hyeon.

Lord Shin and the Prince are each other’s alibis but was it by accident or did they meet up on purpose?

Will the missing student know anything useful?

It seems like there is a lot of evidence about different things happening, but not much about the massacre itself.
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Chapter 17 - Epilogue

(view spoiler)[ The ending was a bit anticlimactic because everything that happened was summarised in paragraphs and then months pass before Hyeon and Eojin even see each other again.

I thought that Hyeon’s father was unnecessarily mentioned again and I didn’t like how Hyeon used her favour from the king.

I did wonder why the nurse was feeling ill but I didn’t pay enough attention to it.

I liked this book and it’s made me reconsider my opinion on mystery book - that they’re boring and slow - although it might be because this was also historical so there were lots of other interesting things you could focus on as well.
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