Review by Joy Phill -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley

[Joy Phill]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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Imagine a world free of injustice and oppression. Life would be incredibly good. Sadly though, the reverse is the case in today's world. The Vanished by Pejay Bradley paints a detailed picture of life in Korea at a time when there was oppression from Japan.

It was the Year of the Rat, 1912. Lady Sougyon's child came into the world, making a splash in the royal circle. He was named Embon. The story follows Embon into his adulthood. Despite his permissive upbringing, Embon grew to be a man of courage and loyalty. He later decided to support his friends in their dangerous quest for freedom. In a climate of hunger and poverty, Lady Sougyon had the good fortune to belong to an aristocratic family. However, this social status could not buy her love from her estranged husband.

The book also relates the events which occurred on August 29, 1910 —how the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty was executed. The treaty terms had an appearance of mutually beneficial provisions, but everyone knew better. Would things be any better for Embon, Hain, and others? Will the fight for freedom be won? Find out in The Vanished.

The arrangement of scenes in this book is superb. Different characters were introduced to the reader in separate sections. Later on, they came in contact with each other to make the story whole. This allowed for a smooth transition of plots, and at no time did I get lost while reading.

The personalities of the characters were well developed and consistent. Lady Sougyon's smart mind and intense feelings of betrayal were realistic and believable for a woman of her class and social standing. The narrative was neither flat nor dull. It sustained my interest and kept boredom at bay. My most favorite part of this book is the conclusion. It was totally unexpected and yet believable.

I learned several lessons from this book. Lady Sougyon's way of treating her servants is worthy of emulation. Children's submission and obedience to parents stand out as well. This virtue has almost disappeared in modern society.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was exceptionally well edited. I have no dislikes about this book. Pejay Bradley's skill as a writer is flawless. The book is devoid of graphic violent and sexual scenes. It is also neutral with regards to religion. Readers who have an interest in Korean history will find this book highly entertaining.

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The Vanished
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[Prisallen]

This sounds like an interesting historical fiction about Korea, and I would love to read it. Thanks for a great review!

[Naaya123]

This is not my typical genre, but I’m interested in trying out different types of books. I’ll add this to the list. Great review!

[Diana Lowery]

I have read so many good things about this book, and your mention of the flow has inspired me to get started on this novel.

[Saint Bruno]

Unpredictable but believable ends to stories are one of the things that make a book enjoyable. I would love to read the book too. Thanks for the insightful review.

[Mariana Figueira]

Incredible review, Thank you so much for sharing.

[Chizioboli]

Amazing review you did on this spectacular book. I love it!!

[Nicholus Schroeder]

Good review, I can't say I'll be reading this book anytime soon but the review was good

[Heidadela]

I wonder what happened after the annexation. All the same, Embon sounds like an aggressive character. I would love to read the book even though I do not like historical books. Thanks for the review.