Publisher and Publication Date: Interstice Press. December 20, 2019.
Genre: Historical fiction.
Pages: 294.
Source: I received a complimentary Apple eBook copy from the publisher, I was not required to write a positive review.
Audience: Readers of women and literature, historical fiction, and espionage/spy stories.
Rating: Very good.

Book One: Promise Season
Book Two: Promise Thief
Book Three: Promise Dream

Amazon ($2.99 at this time)
Barnes and Noble
Indiebound

About the Author:
Lee Evie is a historical fiction author. She writes with a focus on Korean history and loves dark adventures with a heavy dose of danger, mystery and romance. When she’s not writing, Lee Evie can be found watching drama, which she will do for hours on end. She believes drama watching is the ultimate joy of life. Even when they make her cry. An avid photography and travel lover, Lee Evie thinks stories are the most precious gift to the universe.
Website/Newsletter/Instagram/Goodreads

Summary:

A slave. A spy. A promise.

Joseon Dynasty, Korea: A humid summer storm rages across the Pavilion, the greatest entertainment house in the sprawling city of Hanyang. Within its stifling walls a gisaeng slave girl hides a fugitive in her bed, unexpectedly saving the life of a young man who is not all he seems.

Immediately Seorin is thrust into a razor-edged world of conspiracy and spies, doomed rebellion and murky intrigue. For the first time in years, she glimpses an opportunity for change.

Yet it is not her freedom Seorin so desperately desires, but something far more precious. She will risk anything, even death, to gain it.A dark and romantic historical adventure set in old Korea.

My Thoughts:
This is the second story I’ve read by Lee Evie. I’ve loved both of them!
Jang Seorin is a young woman who became a servant (not of her choice) and has made the best of the situation. She learned to play a musical instrument which helps her position and status. She is wise and shrewd, but takes chances. She has courage. She is able control both her speech and emotion. She is a person who despite hardship has made wise decisions. However, through a chance encounter she makes a pivotal decision that changes her life. Seorin is a character who rises above her station. She is a character I admire. She is a character who propels me to read through to the last page.
I enjoyed reading about the culture of this period in Korea even though I’m unclear of the specific date of this story. The time period is the Joseon Dynasty covering the years 1392 to 1910. I researched a little online about the Gisaeng women. They were prevalent during the Joseon Dynasty.
Examples of themes in the story: loyalty, ambition, love, courage, bravery, and perseverance.
The plot is easy to follow and makes for a compelling and original story, because of the setting and time period.
The pacing suits the story. It is not rushed nor is it sluggish.
I love this story and recommend it.

Giveaway:

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback copy of Promise Season! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules:

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on July 27th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Giveaway link:
https://gleam.io/oQ2jl/promise-season