Review by aimeepieterse -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley

aimeepieterse · Post by **aimeepieterse** » 25 Jan 2021, 09:52

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

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

The Vanished is a beautifully written novel that combines fact and fiction to tell the story of the fight for Korean independence through Embon, a young man coming-of-age during the Japanese occupation in the 20th century. Born into an aristocratic family descended from royalty, Embon first appears as the typical wealthy, lazy, and spoilt son. He is not without his own internal family struggles as he navigates life with an absent father. His mother’s love, however, is unwavering as she puts her son before all else, sometimes to his detriment.

Embon excels academically and he moves quickly through his schooling career. Alongside the usual adventures and growing friendships that come with the transition to adulthood, Embon finds something else developing within him. A need to defend his history, to contribute to his country, and to fight for the voice of a nation that would otherwise be silenced by oppressive forces. Can this wealthy son leave his lavish life and step into the trenches to fight for what he believes in?

Pejay Bradley weaves together the perfect fit of characters, style, and storytelling that allows you to be fully immersed in a journey through the Korean culture and socio-political climate of the time. What made this journey all the more exciting for me was how real Korean history and events have been delicately threaded into the plot and the characters’ lives. I found myself so committed to their cause, that I was researching these events and the people behind them even after finishing the book. As a result, Bradley’s narration of the Korean experience is not only informed by fact but enriched by it.

I enjoyed the characters and their realism, remaining true to Korean culture. The development of these characters throughout the novel serves to communicate the author’s message in an effortless way. Each character is uniquely designed to make you feel like you are seeing the events unfold through the eyes of those that were there. It is because of this that you are able to feel every emotion, every small victory, and every loss. This novel immerses you in the frustration and resilience that must have been felt by the Korean people during this time.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because I enjoyed every page and simply cannot fault it. It is a beautiful and eye-opening read that had me fully invested from the very beginning. The book was well-edited, with no vulgarities or profanities. The Vanished will move you in every way and have you Googling historic events you may never have thought about before. I would highly recommend this book to fans of historic fiction, and to any reader who can appreciate the fight for freedom.

******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon