June Hur is a bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of YA historicals, including The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls, The Red Palace, and A Crane Among Wolves. Born in South Korea, June spent her formative years in the USA, Canada, and South Korea before studying History and Literature at the University of Toronto, and working at the city's public library. Her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, The New York Times, CBC, and KBS. June resides in Toronto with her family and can be spotted writing in coffee shops.
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 set the bar high with her previous works and has cleared it
with room to spare. A tense political thriller, a beautiful
romance, and a coming of age all in one unique package." --School
Library Journal, starred review
"This atmospheric historical mystery will transport and captivate
readers ... Hur deftly incorporates the class system, patriarchal
restrictions, and court politics, as well as Korean words, into the
storyline, broadening the world and cultural richness of the story
... A beautifully written story full of historical and cultural
details that will leave readers aching for a follow-up."
--Booklist, starred review
"Gripping ... An expertly choreographed mystery with a touch of
romance and an emotionally satisfying conclusion that beautifully
binds fiction to fact. It's the perfect book to curl up with for a
cozy winter afternoon of murder and intrigue." --NPR "I've devoured
every book June Hur has written, so no surprise here that her
newest book is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. ... I
might as well inject Hur's writing straight into my veins for how
quickly I gobble up everything she writes. Seriously, it's that
good." --BookRiot "Steeped in rich historical details, Hur's palace
thriller offers a sharp critique of the monarchy's abuse of power
while maintaining a quick pace and crafting a captivating murder
mystery." --Publishers Weekly "Deftly celebrates subversive female
ingenuity. With captivating cinematic flair, [Hur] transforms true
royal drama into a closeup-ready mesmerizing mystery. ...
Seamlessly combines court intrigue, multiple murders and forbidden
love to create a riveting YA historical thriller." --Shelf
Awareness "Exciting and fast-paced, this unusual detective story
transports readers to Korea's Joseon Dynasty, providing (per the
author's note) one version of the tragic true story of Crown Prince
Jangheon. ... A testament to Hur's dedication in researching
Korea's complex history. Romance, adventure, and mystery keep pages
turning, and readers will undoubtedly find themselves drawn to
Hyeon's smarts, ambition, and strong will." --The Horn Book "If you
enjoy watching historical K-dramas, this will be treat for you."
--Elle India
"If you are a fan of Korean historical dramas and murder mysteries,
you cannot go wrong with June Hur's books. Her atmospheric prose
brings Joseon-era Korea to life in all its richness and
complexities while elegantly spinning a web of sinister intrigue
and suspense. ... I'm excited to experience a mystery unfolding in
the Changdeok Palace in its original language, without having to
rely on subtitles and Wikipedia articles." --Reera Yoo, co-host of
Books & Boba
"If you're going to write a historical novel, I want you to drop me
into the details, baby. Hur's writing makes you feel like you've
been transported to the streets of 18th century Korea. Her
characters are always striving to do the right things with so
little, driven to unravel mysteries, and she delicately exposes the
corruption and seedy underbelly of the rich and powerful."
--Forever Young Adult
Praise for The Forest of Stolen Girls: A Junior Library Guild
Selection
A 2022 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee
A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection
A 2022 White Pine Award Nominee
A 2022 ALA Rise Selection
A 2022 CCBC Choices Selection
"A breathtaking journey through 1400s Korea. ... The mystery
complements the setting perfectly, and the conclusion is
well-plotted and satisfying. ... A must for all collections."
--School Library Journal, starred review "Crafting a suspenseful,
atmospheric historical mystery, Hur (The Silence of Bones) explores
women's lack of bodily agency during this time and the dangers of
obsessive protection, adroitly interweaving the historical context
of the real horrors that afflicted Korean women from the
13th-century Mongol rule until after 1435." --Publishers Weekly
"Set against the backdrop of fifteenth-century Korea--or Joseon, as
it was known then--this tightly plotted historical mystery will
please fans of both genres. ... Those who love well-researched
historical fiction with darker themes such as Ruta Sepetys' Out of
the Easy or Elizabeth Wein's Verity series, will appreciate Hur's
attention to detail. Give to fans of Sherri L. Smith's The Blossom
and the Firefly or Stacy Lee's Downstairs Girl looking for other
well developed Asian characters." --YALSA "Rich, exquisite, and
deeply atmospheric, The Forest of Stolen Girls draws the reader in
from the very first page and doesn't let go. A dark and utterly
engrossing mystery, beautifully drawn from start to finish."
--Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times-bestselling author of Girl in
Pieces "The Forest of Stolen Girls is a haunting, breathtaking tale
that will have readers on the edge of their seats. With its lush
and atmospheric prose, complex character dynamics, and an immersive
mystery I was ravenous to uncover, I could not turn the pages fast
enough! Hur is an absolute master of mystery, and I will be reading
her gorgeous books for years to come." --Adalyn Grace, New York
Times-bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth "Haunting and
lyrical. Beware, this tale will draw you deeper into the forest
than you want to go." --Stacey Lee, award-winning author of The
Downstairs Girl "A brilliant historical fiction mystery that is
suspenseful, gorgeous and absolutely riveting! Hur brings Jeju
Island during the early Joseon period completely to life in a rich,
evocative manner that reminds me of watching my favorite historical
Kdrama. ... I adored this book from start to finish!" --Ellen Oh,
author of the Prophecy series "Knee-deep inside Hur's taut,
suspenseful snare, I felt the cold touch of secrets poking at my
shoulder and sometimes, neck. Disappearances, quests, and family
tension? I'm all the way in." --Rita Williams-Garcia, National Book
Award finalist New York Times-bestselling author of A Sitting in
St. James
Praise for The Silence of Bones: An ABA Indies Introduce
Selection
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A 2021 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee
A 2021 ALA Rise Selection
A 2020 Freeman Award Honorable Mention
A 2021 CCBC Amy Mathers Teen Book Award Finalist
"At once haunting and evocative, June Hur's The Silence of Bones is
a gorgeous, tightly-woven debut. Prepare to delve deep into the
lush and dangerous world of Korea in the 1800's for a page-turner
you won't soon forget." --Hafsah Faizal, New York Times-bestselling
author of We Hunt the Flame "An intriguing tale that touches on
class, honor, the value of one's beliefs, and the lengths one is
willing to go for loyalty and family. Hur presents such a vivid
portrayal of the Joseon Era that it's like stepping back in time.
With its breathtaking prose and complex characters, this mystery
novel is sure to keep you guessing until the very end!" --Kat Cho,
author of Wicked Fox
"This gripping drama is definitely one you're not going to want to
miss." --Buzzfeed "A total knockout." --Popsugar "Gripping ... An
exhilarating thriller, pitting the powerful against the
power-hungry, endowing the powerless with affecting agency."
--Shelf Awareness "This book is beautifully written, and moves at a
brisk pace. ... Engaging and dynamic. Hur's first novel does an
excellent job of exploring a topic that isn't found widely in YA
literature." --School Library Journal
"The Korean concept of han, as well as customs, language, and
politics, are woven flawlessly into the narrative ... Seol's
determined pursuit of literacy and freedom, as well as the
bittersweet ending, make for a memorable and worthwhile read."
--Publishers Weekly
"In this striking debut, Hur has crafted an intriguing historical
mystery set in a time period often overlooked in YA ... A
compelling mystery for lovers of Victorian murder cases who are
ready for an alternative to the London setting." --Booklist
"An excellent historical mystery that asks big questions about
family, religion, morality, and what it means to belong." --Book
Riot
"Read this book if you enjoy: supporting debut authors, Korean
history, the 1800s, atmospheric reads, K-drama dramatics, books in
which you start suspecting everyone." --Goodreads "A fantastic
debut from Hur, who writes a captivating story that keeps readers
guessing and expertly explains the complex political climate ...
The female characters' courage, ingenuity and warrior hearts are
inspiring, and the story that reveals them is entrancing." --The
Canadian Children's Book Centre "I was struck by the depth of this
gripping story. ... The meditative quality of the narration of this
historical mystery felt perfectly suited to the Korean setting and
the backdrop of political and religious struggles. Seol's courage,
curiosity, and dedication make her a character I can't get enough
of." --Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company "The Silence of Bones
is a historic and richly atmospheric mystery that is utterly unique
and difficult to put down! ... Mesmerizing." --Sarah True,
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
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