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[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]

The Vanished by Pejay Bradley is a wonderfully enlightening work of historical fiction. The novel which is divided into four parts is a tale about the vanishing of Korea as a sovereign nation and the people's struggle for independence from the Japanese occupation.

The first part of the book touches on the Korean people's belief that one's sign or 'palza' received at birth signaled much of their life's outcomes. The second part of the book discusses the main perspectives surrounding the revolution movement. Here we notice two key figures whose opposing approaches to the struggle for independence seem to typify the two reigning viewpoints of the Korean people as a whole. Parts three and four explore the prince's exploits and adventures as he transitions from childhood to manhood and his quest to find meaning and his life's purpose.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Its themes revolve around national pride, prejudice, and family honor. I thought that given the genre the author did excellently to entertain as her style of writing is captivating. Her vivid use of picturesque imagery in the novel transports the reader to another world and time.

The novel boasts an array of diverse and relatable characters. I especially related to princess Sougyon in her experience as a single mother. The mixture of feelings she experiences as she watches him cope with the challenges of his life resonated with me as a single mother.

I most enjoyed the attention given to sensitive and timely issues such as spousal abuse, single parenting, and gender inequalities. I cannot think of a single thing that I did not enjoy about the book.

The book appears to have been professionally edited, the couple of errors that I came across might easily be overlooked. There is no profanity nor adult content in the book which makes it appropriate for a younger audience to enjoy. I rate The Vanished a four out of four stars and recommend it to persons who enjoy historical fiction about love for freedom and country.

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The Vanished
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This is a concise and insightful review about the author's motivation for writing this book. I enjoyed your precise descriptions of the different sections of the book. Your eagle-eye insights honed in on the meaning of the title. Thanks for this compelling review. I read this as BOTM, but your orderly and logical thinking put the whole book into perspective. Great writing!!

The thing that strikes me the most about this book is the details and vivid description of Korean culture. The author seemed to have done a great job and building the surroundings for the readers, as well as the intrinsic properties of the culture. Thanks for your insightful review!