Review by Ahbed Nadir -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley

Ahbed Nadir · Post by **Ahbed Nadir** » 17 Feb 2021, 14:04

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

4 out of 4 stars

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The Vanished by Pejay Bradley is a historical novel set in a period of great stress and turmoil for Korea, as the country is under siege from Japan as they try to colonize and occupy the land. The author follows the lives of one Kim Embon and his mother, Lady Sougyon, who was a royal descended directly from the prince of Korea; and their collective experiences under Japanese domination and occupation. It's a novel depicting Korean citizens' past experiences and sufferings in a war against their people and culture's marginalization.

Pejay Bradley's The Vanished was one of the most impactful and enlightening books that I've had the pleasure of reading in a while. The story starts from the perspective of Lady Sougyon as she narrates her life and experiences, bringing to life for the reader every vivid detail almost as if they saw it through her eyes. The book's pace was a bit slow at first, but once the author got into his swing, I must say that it quickly became very engaging. I quite liked the character of Lady Sougyon as she was the very picture of a strong independent Korean woman. Despite the continuous harassment she suffered at her husband's hands and the shame she experienced in society for faults entirely out of her control, she continued to hold her head high, standing tall and continuing to provide for her son Embon, supporting him in every endeavor. She was a superb example of a mother, and it warmed my heart to see her love for her son so plainly displayed. The author wrote her wonderfully as she was not just a trophy character but an intelligent and engaging individual with a full, rich life despite life's adversities.

I also enjoyed the story of Embon. Cursed from birth by the unfortunate timing of his delivery, The Year of the Rat, Embon struggled through life under the pressure of his mother's expectations and the weight of his plaza, which predicted a life of unsuccessfulness and poverty for him. He had quite the average life until he met three friends who changed his life and fired up a passion for fighting for his country. He then proceeded to join a group of freedom fighters in their struggle against Japan's yoke of oppression, and from then on, he was a changed man. I enjoyed the author's depiction of his story, and it was an exciting part of the book.

Another part of the book I quite liked was the insight into the Korean culture and way of life the author provided. This book taught me so many fascinating tidbits and information about Korean civilization. I learned that the timeline of Korea's occupation by Japan occurs shortly after World War 1. This was fascinating because most people focus on World War 1 and the whole Hitler situation without realizing that other countries were struggling for their independence. I also learned that the Koreans believe in something called "palza" or omens, which to them predicted a person's destinies or fates. These pieces of information and more helped add texture and life to the country's picture that the author was trying to paint.

What I didn't like about the book was the slow pace at which the plot proceeded. The author focused on seemingly useless details, which all served to prolong the story. This novel was very well-edited, and I detected no errors. I'll give The Vanished by Pejay Bradley 4 out of 4 stars as it was a very worthwhile read. I would recommend this book to history buffs and people interested in Korean culture.

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The Vanished
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Mvictoria · Post by **Mvictoria** » 24 Feb 2021, 11:32

I really enjoyed this book as well. I think it has strong characters and a great plot. I liked seeing the occupation of Korea by Japan through differing perspectives.