The fact we have this historic document that so openly tells the story of court intrigue from the perspective of a woman who experienced it is wonderful. This translation is very approachable, with enough historic context provided so that the reader doesn't get lost in the rules of a Korean royal court. This book feels like a hand reaching out from the past.

Still wonderful, though some of the mother's thought processes seem repetitive (I read all 5 volumes in quick succession which probably did not help this impression). Excellent cast of secondary characters as well!

The dynamics of this sweet family really made me happy. The mother working hard to be supportive of her possibly gay son without wanting to overly pressure him was sweet. I found the mother's struggles to be realistic as she tries to navigate something new. The father seems to suffer from some ignorance, but is given room to change in future volumes. 

I really enjoyed these poems and found the notes at the end of the collection to add just the right amount of context. My favourite poem was Waiting.

Left me with a lot of thoughts and some discomfort, though I think that both were intentional on Heiti's part. While I did not love this one and found it a bit of a slog to get through, it does make me want to revisit Motherhood and also check out her other works.

Just a fun and delightful story that makes me feel warm and cozy. A nice and semi regular read.

Some passages were beautifully written and made me gasp. The entire time I spent feeling tense about the entire serious of events. 

Very tense book that keeps you turning the pages to find out more. The villain is terribly creepy and Zafon creates a perfectly spooky atmosphere in the charming little ocean-side village. I would say the pacing of the story is a little bit off and there were a few info dumps sprinkled in. 

Couldn’t get into it at this time