Red Seal: A Novel

by Rosa Kwon Easton

A Korean mother and son navigate wars, displacement, and identity across decades and borders in a moving multigenerational saga by the author of White Mulberry.

In 1943 Japan, the Pacific War rages on. Miyoung, a Korean-born single mother and nurse, defies an order to serve in the Imperial Japanese Army and instead flees with her six-year-old son, Ko-chan, who is leaving everything familiar behind, including the grandparents he loves. Miyoung hopes Ko-chan will finally claim his heritage and that she can reclaim her own as well.

Miyoung promises her anxious son an adventure. Their life-changing trek to Miyoung’s homeland takes them first to Japan-occupied Manchuria, where Miyoung’s brother offers shelter and Ko-chan, coming of age, begins to question where his future lies. When Japan’s defeat in World War II forces them to escape again, it triggers a decades-long odyssey of survival, sacrifice, and―for the generations to follow―a search for identity across three nations.

A powerful tribute to the endurance of family bonds, Red Seal explores the struggle to define oneself when torn between multiple worlds and by cultural upheaval, and the resilience it takes to find a place to call home.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

397 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2026

Reviews

[Wendy Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Red Seal by Rosa Kwon Easton. Other reviewers have pointed out shortcomings in the text including it is too slow, repetitive, prolix and lacked scenes that contained real conflict. These issues are, without debate, valid. However, this type of work is not, purely, to be judged on its literary merit. It is an emotional, often sad, tale of a woman of true courage and determination who flees country after country and makes extraordinary sacrifices for the betterment of her son. The author has produced a heartfelt tribute to her father and paternal grandmother. Such honesty and depth are rarely found. Grab plenty of tissues and read this book.

[Lula✧ · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

​I have always been deeply drawn to stories like this—perhaps because my heart will forever revere the profound strength of women and the unimaginable lengths they will go to protect their children and keep their families whole.

​Set against the devastating backdrop of war, displacement, and constant upheaval, Red Seal is an extraordinary, heart-wrenching triumph.

​Miyoung is easily one of the most richly rendered, unforgettable characters I have read this year. Easton portrays her with such layered, intricate emotional depth. She is carrying the weight of a shattered world, wrestling with the promises she has made, yet in the face of relentless danger and uncertainty, she remains an immovable rock for her son.

Watching her swallow her own fear to be the calm center of his universe was deeply moving.

​Equally compelling is Soonho, his journey is painfully real. Easton captures a very rare, quiet kind of sorrow: the ache of grieving something you never fully had or can barely remember. The passage of time in this book is masterfully handled—it isn't just a plot device to move the story along, but a tactile reminder of how war lingers across years, etching itself into a child's soul.

Writing that kind of generational ache when you haven't lived it is so difficult, yet Easton writes it with raw, piercing truth.

​"You have to know that. Your grandmother’s will to live was to hear any more news about you and your mother. She was so sad when the man she hired to bring you back came home empty handed."

​Final Thoughts
​Red Seal is a poignant tribute to survival, identity, and the enduring threads that tie generations together across borders and conflict. It will break your heart and mend it with equal measure. A deeply powerful read that lingers long after the final page.

​Huge thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you Rosa Kwon Easton and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this novel.

What a powerful novel that highlights the need to find one's identity in a place where you are just trying to fit in to survive.

I didn't know much about WWII and the Korean War and what people in those Asian countries have had to deal with for such a long time.

I agree with the author in the authors note that books that discuss the why behind immigration is so important for countries like the US that have gone so anti-immigratiom as of late.

I really enjoyed the first half of the novel more than the second half but overall the writing was great and helped me to reflect on a lot.

The narration performance was great, I loved the use of multiple languages and I was quite drawn in.

Great read.

[Widertales · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I thank you to Rosa Kwon Easton and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

4.5⭐

I wasn't expecting this book to affect me the way it did. Red Seal is one of those books that slowly breaks your heart. It isn't an easy or fast paced read, but it's a deeply emotional story about survival, identity, motherhood and sacrifice.

Set in 1943 during the final years of the Japanese occupation of Korea and continuing through the Korean War, this was beautifully written. Rosa Kwon Easton is incredibly talented at building atmosphere and integrating Korean culture and history naturally without ever feeling like an exposition dump.

The story follows Miyoung, a Korean widow who escapes Japan with her son, Soonho, to avoid being drafted as a nurse. What begins as an escape for a better life soon becomes a lifelong journey through war, poverty and hard choices.

One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the dual POV. Seeing the same events through Miyoung's and Soonho's eyes gave the story so much emotional depth. Miyoung constantly faces impossible decisions for the sake of survival and her son's future. She is the definition of sacrifice. No matter how many times life forced her to start over, she never stopped fighting to give Soonho an education and a better future.
Soonho, on the other hand, struggles to understand the reality imposed on him by those same choices. Following him from childhood into adulthood was heartbreaking as he constantly wrestled with loss, identity, and the feeling that he never truly belonged anywhere.

Would he always have to leave people he liked... Did anyone want him?

That quote completely broke my heart because it perfectly captures what this story is about through a child's eyes.

Something that really stood out to me was how much Miyoung valued education and how she did everything she could to make sure her children received one.

The novel beautifully explores how love can be experienced differently. Miyoung believed providing for her son was the greatest expression of love. Soonho, as a child, simply wanted his mother's presence. That difference became one of the most heartbreaking parts of the novel for me.

My biggest struggle was part two of the novel, where the pacing slowed down and some emotional beats in Soonho's narrative started to feel repetitive. However, once he reached adulthood, the story completely picked up again.

The ending completely won me over. Watching Soonho finally understand his mother's choices after becoming a father himself brought the story beautifully full circle.

More than anything, Red Seal gave me a deeper appreciation and respect for everything Koreans endured during the occupation and the Korean War. It's not just a story about surviving. It's about rebuilding a life over and over again while never losing hope for a better future.

One quote that will stay with me is:

No one is going to give me a trophy for how I live my life. There's no winning—there's only life.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Seal by Rosa Kwon Easton. Thanks to Kayepublicity for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

1943, Japan: Miyoung, a Korean-born widowed mother and nurse is ordered to serve in the Japanese Army. She flees with her six year old son, Ko-Chan, leaving his beloved relatives behind. Miyoung hopes her son will begin to embrace his Korean identity, which has been suppressed due to Japanese rule. Their trek takes them to across three nations as the flee war and the after effects.

This is an emotional read that you’ll want to sit with for a bit when it’s over. It’s all about motherhood and identity, during war and unsettling times. It was shocking to see the turmoil and uncertain times in Korea during this time period. The characters flee many times and settle, only to quickly have to flee again. The constant travel leads to identity dissonance and broken relationships. We get both mother and son’s (from childhood to adulthood) perspectives. It’s sad to read, as the reader can see and feel the emotions behind each character, but they aren’t able to properly connect and communicate with each other. I also learned a lot about Korea during and post WW2, and as it developed into two countries.

“Why did countries that are brothers fight like this and leave everyone to starve and suffer?”

Read if you like:
-Asian historical fiction
-Mother and son stories
-Civilians in war tropes

Red Seal comes out 10/6.

[Nadia Masood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow-burn, deeply moving story of resilience and identity.

Having previously read White Mulberry, I loved seeing how the characters in Red Seal connect back to the events and characters of the first book. However, this novel can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

The dual-POV brilliantly showcases the narrative from two distinct perspectives. Through his Korean-born mother, Miyoung, we witness a fierce determination to flee Japan, protect her son, and simply survive decades of displacement and wartime trauma. Meanwhile, through the eyes of her six-year-old boy, Ko-chan, we experience the psychological impact, confusion, and uncertainty of a life spent constantly on the move.

Overall, this was a heartbreaking yet beautiful read. It is the type of deeply emotional story you don't want to rush, and I truly took my time absorbing every page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Rosa Kwon Easton for providing this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

We meet MiYoung and Ko-chan (Soonho) as they escape from Japan to Manchuria in 1943 and keep moving to avoid what is going on.

We follow them as they struggle to survive. Ko-chan had to leave his grandparents and then his uncle and then friends.

It was a difficult, heartbreaking life for a child and a heartbreaking read. He couldn’t understand why his mother did the things she did and their relationship was pretty much always tense.

The book was about starting over, living without and in poverty, making choices, and family.

You will become attached to both characters and hope for the best as you read of all their trials and tribulations.

Historical fiction fans will enjoy this book and especially those who are fans of the history of Korea and Japan.

It was a bit difficult with the foreign names and the length, but the storyline will keep your interest. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into "Red Seal" expecting something along the lines of "Pachinko", mainly because both stories involve Korean families living in Japan across generations. Unfortunately, this one didn't come close to capturing my interest in the same way.

Partway through the book, I began to feel as though I was listening to someone simply recounting family memories rather than experiencing a novel. Interestingly, I later learned that the author based the story on the memories of her father and grandmother, which made perfect sense to me. While their experiences were certainly interesting, the writing felt very dry, particularly at the beginning. Things picked up somewhat in the middle, but I never became emotionally invested in either of the main characters. There is a difference between having an interesting family history to tell and turning that history into compelling fiction, and for me, this book never quite accomplished the latter.

The audiobook narration was another issue. I struggled with the female narrator's performance, particularly when she voiced the son. She gave him such a whiny, childish voice that I found myself wanting to fast-forward through his dialogue. Initially, I excused it because he was a young child, but even when he reached thirteen, she continued using essentially the same voice. Another distracting habit was her pronunciation of "Seoul". Every time she said the city's name, her voice seemed to change dramatically, which I found jarring and disruptive to the flow of the narration. The male narrator didn't use this unusal pronunciation so it was especially obvious during the mother's chapters.

One thing I would mention as a heads-up to prospective readers is that Christianity plays a very prominent role in this novel. The mother is deeply religious, and there are frequent references to her praying, reading the Bible, and expressing her faith. Some of her prayers are included in the narrative, and her son becomes increasingly religious as well. If you enjoy reading about characters whose faith is central to their lives, this may appeal to you. However, if you prefer not to have such a strong religious emphasis in your fiction, it's something worth knowing before picking up this book.

Ultimately, I finished *Red Seal* more out of a sense of obligation to review my NetGalley selection than because I was eager to find out what happened next. The underlying family history was interesting, but the dry storytelling, lack of emotional connection, and aspects of the audiobook narration made this a disappointing experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

[meghan · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

“no one is going to give me a trophy for how i live my life. there's no winning—there's only life.”

was so excited to read the sequel to WHITE MULBERRY — as the first book was, this was another beautifully written historical fiction novel, family saga, and emotional read all in one with themes of survival, sacrifice, motherhood, familial love, and identity during war and turmoil. RED SEAL follows miyoung and soonho’s escape from japan and journey to manchuria in 1943 and includes much displacement from japan’s defeat in WWII.

my favorite part of the book was the mother-son dual POV. unlike WHITE MULTBERRY, RED SEAL is written in a dual POV with miyoung and her son soonho (ko-chan) and we learn much about each character’s thoughts and feelings as well as the heartbreak when communication is fraught between them. seeing the same events through both mother and son’s eyes gave the story so much emotional depth as we see the struggles miyoung endures as she’s constantly faces impossible decisions for survival and her son's future. she is always fighting to give soonho a better education, life, and future (i esp loved the extra emphasis and importance on education!!). we also see soonho faces struggles of his own concerning loss and identity - how he has always been displaced and the feeling of never belonging anywhere or being wanted. lastly, i could relate so much to the way miyoung loved and the way soonho wanted to be loved as a daughter of asian immigrants — miyoung believed providing for her son was the definition of loving, while soonho just wanted to be with his mother after so much loss throughout his life. that hit particularly hard and close to home.


there were some pacing issues but that didn’t really affect the story for me and i absolutely loved the ending - don’t wanna spoil but it felt full circle with how everything wrapped up.


thank you to the author herself for kindly sending me a physical ARC of this book! i so enjoyed following miyoung throughout both WHITE MULBERRY and RED SEAL and can’t wait to see what she writes next :)

[Aleah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great premise & plot. Questionable execution.


Always very interested in reading women’s literature and overcoming trials. With a story set in the wartime this had a great premise and intended plot. Execution left me wishing for more. There was extensive repetition in this novel to the point many of my notes were ’we know’ and ‘repetition’. The perspective changes were tiresome as the switch to a new perspective always included a small recap of something that we learned in the last one but with little depth as to how it affected the current character.  A lot of the time, either what I just read was stated a couple lines before or had already been said multiple times in the book. The same was done with reference to characters. There would be 3 sentences in a row starting with ‘Miyoung’ or 4 sentences in a row starting with ‘He’.

 

‘He had grown a little taller but was still small in comparison to the other students. He wore a black uniform with a white collar to school like everyone else. He had lost his North Korean Accent. He was glad he didn’t stand out.’

 

It did make me consider DNFing quite a few times because the book became unreadable, questioning many times if the audience for this novel was kids. It was mentioned at least 10x at every single inconvenience that Miyoung was unsure of her decision to take her son from Japan. I was so tired. 

 

I needed more from the characters and their thought processes as well as a semblance of continuity in the passing of time. So much of it felt rushed with parts missing and the parts that weren’t rushed were dialogue or points that kept coming back up as if to remind the reader even though it was already stated. The characters make questionable decisions the entire book which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, people have their faults. It’s just that they demonstrate a lack of meaningful growth that is shielded by convenient events making the book predictable and underwhelming.

 

Learning a bit about the culture/history of North and South Korea was enjoyable and a highlight of the book. I would’ve liked to know more about Jeanyoon as she seemed to be the only person in this book with a lick of sense and wouldn’t have minded another perspective change. The book may have benefitted from giving us more about her and how she felt throughout the years as she did become a very important character. It was disappointing that she was essentially reduced to being a pretty doll, cleaner and child bearer. She shines at the end of the book showing she has her own agency and finally has a voice even if it is short lived.

Strong 2.5 out of 5.

[Crystal · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Red Seal follows Miyoung and her young son as they flee wartime Japan and begin a decades-long journey across countries, trying to survive, rebuild their lives, and figure out where they truly belong.

Miyoung and her son’s journey spans decades and multiple countries, and I really liked how the story showed that survival doesn’t end once the immediate danger is over. The effects of war, occupation, poverty, and displacement follow them into the lives they try to build afterward. Their circumstances keep changing, but that search for identity and some sense of home never really goes away.

The mother-son relationship is one of my favourite parts. Miyoung was trying so hard to protect Ko-chan and give him opportunities she never had, while he eventually has to figure out what he wants for himself. I could understand both sides even when their hopes and choices pulled them in different directions. Neither of them felt wrong to me, they were trying to navigate lives that had already been altered by things far beyond their control.

The historical backdrop tells its own story. There’s so much about heritage, family, sacrifice, and the complicated ways we carry the places and people we come from.

I thought it was beautifully written and touching. About the things we inherit, the things we lose, and the things we choose for ourselves and the things that are sometimes chosen for us.

Thank you so much to @kayepublicity, Rosa Kwon Easton & Lake Union Publishing for the #gifted earc. All opinions are my own.

[may ✨ · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3,5/5 stars — Read the full review on my blog
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review.

I enjoyed Red Seal. It's a beautiful novel, but the writing felt a little disjointed and it wasn't as emotionally impactful as I'd hoped. A few paragraphs from my review:

I loved how it focused on the relationship between Miyoung and her son, keeping the story quite intimate and small, in the best way. The author does not bother with too much information about other people, or extensive historical context—only what’s necessary to understand the characters and give them life.

It sometimes felt like the characters were pulled in completely different directions and still tried to find a way to keep a connection. Each of them seemed to be looking for a home, or whatever reminds them of what they consider to be home—an item, a place, a language—and how this can be different for each person.

I think that the writing in general could’ve been more impactful and I felt that most of the time, we were skimming the surface of what this could’ve been. My first impression was that the story was quite disjointed, a succession of scenes with something missing to link them all together.

My biggest issue was probably the lack of strong scenes with actual emotional impact. Events are being told, but it sometimes feels more like an inventory, and these events are given such a small amount of time and words that it doesn’t really create anything for the reader.

Despite its flaws, Red Seal is a novel I'd recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction. Especially if you're interested in Korea, its people and its history, there is a good chance you'll enjoy it :)

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like Red Seal more than I did because the premise sounded so good. I also hadn’t realized going in that it continues the story from White Mulberry, although I do think this works perfectly well as a standalone.

The novel follows Miyoung and her son Ko-Chan through war, displacement, and the difficulty of having to repeatedly start over. Miyoung flees Japan rather than be drafted to serve as a nurse in the Imperial Japanese Army, and much of the story is shaped by her determination to give her son safety, education, and a secure future.

The dual points of view were done well, and I especially liked the difference in what mother and son believed the other needed. Miyoung is focused on Ko-Chan’s practical well-being, while Ko-Chan is longing for her to be more emotionally available to him. That disconnect creates a lot of tension between them, and I liked the way the story gradually moved them toward understanding one another.

For me, though, the pacing held the book back. Ko-Chan’s sections sometimes dragged, and parts of the story became repetitive. There was a lot here that interested me, especially the exploration of displacement, identity, family, and the hardships of rebuilding a life, but I never felt quite as pulled into it as I hoped I would.

A solid 3 stars. I didn’t dislike it at all—I just wanted it to be better.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for the ARC

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars rounded down for Goodreads Rating System

A really well written book, with a strong emotional impact, and a solid historical backdrop that acts as both a great emotional fiction and an informative read.

This book looked at the struggles many people had with identity after having to relinquish their Korean identity under Japanese occupation, as well as feeling both an urge to reclaim their heritage and the fear that came with reaching toward the unknown in a country whose future felt so uncertain. It gave you a deeper insight to the financial devastation of Korea due to occupation and war, how citizens had to cope with it, and how defeated people felt. With so little opportunities open to people, everything must have felt so unattainable. And you see this when you read through both Soonho and Miyoung's POV's, they yearn for so much and are owed so much back from what war and occupation stole from them and they continue to hold onto hope despite everything. They are constantly striving for better jobs, to study what it is they want, to live as they want, and everything always seems to veer off just slightly from what they expected, and they feel as if they can never right their path. Following from this, the stress and impact this has on the Mother-Son relationship adds so much heartache to this book.

I loved the cast of characters and how dynamic their relationships were and how their motivations and identities were so distinct. Soonho and Miyoung were great characters to have perspectives of. Having Soonho's POV from his early years to him in his late 30's was such a strong point of this book, and reading Miyoung as a young mother to a woman reaching her 60's was such a journey, you could understand both of their frustrations and still feel like neither were particularly wrong because they were both experiencing extraordinary circumstances that were confusing and difficult.

The only thing that made me drop the rating very slightly for 5 to 4.5 was just that I felt for the 20% or so of the book I wasn't totally connected to the characters, I think potentially due to the dialogue and movement of the characters being almost solely related to them moving place to place. It could feel a bit repetitive, but I could understand that that was the point and does represent the very real unease many people would have had to go through at the time. But I did find it hard to totally latch onto the story and characters at first just because the story was moving around for a good bit to begin with.

Overall, I think this book would be something to look out for if you want to know more about the impact Korea, and Koreans, experienced during the war and their occupation. As a historical fiction, it is well written, as a record of the past, it is emotional and hard hitting. Definitely an important one to keep an eye out for!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kuu [semi-ia for china reasons] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC/ARC.

This was an emotional story that apparently builds on the author's previous novel (which I did not know), but works perfectly well as a standalone novel as well. It follows Miyeong and her son Soonho as they travel countries and ultimately continents, trying to navigate the complicated political and societal landscape that is East Asia during the period of Japanese imperialism. The feeling of rootlessness, and of different generations having different homes and being unable to bridge this gap, which was in my opinion represented very well in Miyeong's and Soonho's relationship. The struggle that arises from this, and the ways in which they try to navigate it, as well as generational and cultural divides and the effects trauma has on their relationship were all written very well and realistically, inviting the reader to empathise with both due to the double POV which shows how one person's well-meant decision can come across completely differently to the other. It also really shows how emancipation can seem like abandonment, both for Soonho in his childhood and also for Miyeong in Soonho's adulthood. There's a lot in here, and it's all described very empathetically.

The only criticisms I have are that, while I really appreciated the double perspective and it really showed how the same events affect people differently, I felt like some chapters were just... unnecessary to have from both perspectives, as the narration from one perspective - irrespective of if it was Soonho or Miyeong - already showed the feelings of the other, and thus it felt repetitive at times. Definitely not the case a lot, but some chapters could have been cut. Then I also felt like, even though politics didn't feature that heavily here, there was a clear difference in how North Korea was described vs how the US were described leading up to and during the Korean War and... considering the massive amount of prominent propaganda and also the frankly massive amount of war crimes and the incredibly massive amount of destruction wrought on North Korea, which almost makes the destruction in South Korea seem like nothing (just look up how many cities were destroyed in the North. It's a shocking number. And any war crime the North committed, you can basically expect the South and the US to also have committed), it didn't sit fully right with me. Obviously I know this is somewhat autofictional, the author lives in the US, and also None Of Us Are Immune To Propaganda, so I get why, but still, it's something I want to point out.

Despite this, however, I really enjoyed this novel, I really liked reading about this family and I loved the perspective of almost-Zainichi Koreans and how difficult it is to fit in also "back home" in Korea, as there is just... so much complicated history. Definitely a book I'd recommend.

[Jade :D · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received through NetGalley. A big thanks 🩷

4.5 stars rounded up because of rating system.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Asian literature, and Korean literature in particular, so I was really excited to pick this one up. And I’m so glad I did.

This was such an emotional and beautifully written historical fiction. I really appreciated how much insight it gave into what life was like for Koreans during the Japanese occupation and the years that followed. The story doesn’t shy away from showing how much people had lost, not only financially, but also when it came to their sense of identity, home and future.

I especially loved following Soonho and Miyoung through their different stages of life. Getting both of their perspectives made the story feel so much more personal, and I really liked how their experiences shaped the way they saw each other and the world around them. Their mother-son relationship was definitely one of the parts that stayed with me the most. It was complicated and sometimes painful, but I could understand where both of them were coming from.

The characters were probably my favorite part of the book. They all felt very different from each other, and I loved seeing how their relationships changed over the years. There was a lot of longing in this story. So many things they wanted seemed just out of reach, but they kept trying anyway.

I will say that it took me a little while to fully get into the book. The beginning felt a bit slow at times, especially with all the moving around, and I didn’t immediately feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to. Some of it also felt a little repetitive. But once I settled into the story, I became much more invested, and I think that slower pace also fit the uncertainty and instability the characters were living through.

Overall, this was a really moving read and another reminder of why I love picking up Korean and other Asian literature. I always feel like I come away from these books having learned something while also getting completely caught up in the characters’ lives. This one was definitely emotional and sometimes difficult to read, but in a way that felt important.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[aishareadsnrambles · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

STORYLINE :
A book spanning decades of a mother and son's perilous voyage for a better life. Mi Young started off as a 26 years old nurse with a six years old son and tried her best to do what's best for her son and her during wartime, poverty, and so much suffering. Soon Ho, the son, started as a baby leaving the family and home he has known his whole life. Then he grew up having an identity crisis and later discovering who he was and determined to achieve that.
The storyline was good, and I felt everything the characters were going through; the despair, hope, pain, and so much more.
I liked how realistic it was, and how the culture and setting were well described

CHARACTERS:
Mi Young, emotionally stunted, amazing mother, wonderful nurse who showed her bravery in everything as her name implied. I liked and admired her never-ending strength to make things better for her small family. She was not perfect, but I know she did what she thought was best and never gave up. She picked herself up at different times and started over, too. I liked how her past was well described, too.
Soon ho, who was practically with his mother throughout. I understood what he felt, just like I do with his mother. His feelings, fears, and discomforts are valid. He turned out to go bd a son his parents would be proud, and that was the main purpose behind the storyline.
I wished both mother and son had a better relationship towards the ending. But, it was necessary for the plot.

WRITING STYLE:
It was good and well described. There were no confusions as time progressed and locations changed. The pace was okay, too.

SETTINGS:
In this book, I travelled to four different countries, each with their own idiosyncrasies. From Japan to Korea to Manchuria to N/Korea to S/Korea in times of war, uncertainty and danger.
It was good.

OVERALL:
This is a realistic book of motherhood and son-hood. It showed people doing their best despite what they've been through, and I can understand that. I read this book in just two days and I would definitely recommend it.

[Vania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Seal by Rosa Kwon Easton (e-arc)
Pub date: 6 Oct 2026

My thoughts:
WOW! This was such a mesmerising read. In fact, Red Seal completely exceeded my expectations. Before I get into my review of Red Seal, I should mention that this book is the sequel to White Mulberry. To be honest, while reading White Mulberry, I found it quite predictable because the synopsis revealed several major plot points. Its ending also felt incomplete, although its themes of sacrifice, resilience, and perseverance were truly compelling. Looking back now, however, I realise White Mulberry was simply setting the stage, while Red Seal brought the story to its powerful climax. Following Minyoung and her son, Ko-chan/Soonho, through the Japanese occupation and the Korean War, the dual POV makes their journey heartbreakingly raw. Minyoung’s choices are driven by survival and her determination to prioritise education, while young Soonho simply longs for his mother’s physical presence, highlighting how love can be experienced so differently. Neither perspective feels wrong, perfectly capturing the complexities of the mother-son relationship, where there are no true villains. As life rarely goes according to plan, this reality defines their struggle. Although the pacing slows at times, it allows the emotional moments the space they deserve. The novel brilliantly explores identity, displacement, and the immense toll of starting over. White Mulberry feels like the foundation, but Red Seal is where everything truly blossoms, deepening the emotional stakes and making me appreciate the first book so much more in hindsight. If you love historical fiction like Pachinko, don’t miss this. And if this story continues with Soonho’s journey, I will definitely be picking it up, I am not ready to say goodbye to this family yet. Overall, this was such an unforgettable read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Overall rating:
⭐️ 4.5/5

Thank you to @netgalley and @lakeunionauthors for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you net galley and Brilliance Publishing/Audio for this ARC

Red Sea is about a Korean mother and son navigate wars, displacement, and identity across decades and borders in a moving multigenerational saga.

I absolutely loved this story, and hearing the author’s notes at the end made me appreciate it even more. Knowing the author has a personal connection to the narrative makes it truly special! However, while I loved the book, I felt like a little something was missing. I’m not sure if it was the audiobook narration, but I didn't connect with the characters as deeply as I wanted to. At times, the pacing felt a bit uneven some parts felt rushed, while others dragged.

I also struggled with the mother’s choices. While they occasionally seemed selfish, they were ultimately understandable. It is heartbreaking to imagine a world where you have to make devastating, life or death decisions while fighting to stay with your child. I really appreciated that we received a full life story that extended well past the war. Following the characters into adulthood was exactly what the book needed. Like Ko-chan, I struggled with forgiving his mother, and I needed to see that journey through. I think if Miyoung had been more emotionally open, it would have been easier to connect with her. However, her emotional distance and lack of vulnerability seemed to be a cultural trait passed down by her eldersthat was simply how things were done.

I really enjoyed learning about the history surrounding North Korea, South Korea, and Japan, and how it shaped the world we see today. Connecting a deeply personal story to this specific historical era made the overall impact so much more powerful. Reading this has definitely inspired me to look up more information and dive deeper into the history of this time period.

Huge thanks to the author and publisher for the advance copy of this deeply moving story! I absolutely loved it and will definitely be looking out for more of Rosa Kwon Easton’s work.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When World War II strikes Japan, young Korean widow Miyoung escapes with her six year old son Soonho to return to her home country of Korea. She entrusts Soonho with a token to remember his father–a dojang, a square wooden name seal representing his signature, his identity, his spirit. She passes the treasured possession to her son as a symbol of his heritage. While Soonho never knew his father, Miyoung wants him to remember that he was a great man and his presence will remain with his son forever. Soonho must never forget his father and always remember his identity as a Kwon.

Miyoung knows the pain of using a name that she did not believe was truly her own when she lived under the occupation of Japan. She had wanted to reclaim her name too, and find her own sense of identity. In her desire to protect her son and provide him with a brighter future, mother and son become one shadow across a moonlit night. Just as Miyoung fled back home to Korea to feel belonging, Soonho’s reunion with his father’s family in Japan fuels his desire to go to the US to reclaim his legacy, define his own identity, and live his own dreams for his life and for his family.

Throughout his journey from Japan, to Korea, Manchuria, North Korea, South Korea and finally the United States of America, Soonho carries his father’s dojang as a symbol of his quest for identity and determination to forge for his family the glorious future they deserve. It may not be the path that his mother had imagined, but it is the fulfillment of the hopes of a father and the longings of a son. Identity and belonging do not come from where you are or what your name is but from who you are and who you decide you want to become. You belong wherever you are and whoever you’re with.

Rosa Kwon Easton’s Red Seal takes readers through war, poverty, unspeakable tragedy, and unshakeable identity–a magnum opus!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ALC of Red Seal.
Due to be released 06/10/26

Japan in 1943 the Pacific War is underway and Miyoung, a Korean born nurse and single mother defies orders to serve in the Japanese Army. She decides to run, along with her 6 year old son Ko-chan to get back to her homeland. To do this she knows that Ko-chan has to leave everyone and everything he knows and loves behind.

Miyoung tries to make it into an adventure but Ko-chan is anxious from the beginning and just wants to go home. Ko-chan is also rather spoiled by his grandparents so there are times he throws strops if he doesn't get what he wants and Miyoung hopes that this may change with time and their travel.

The first end up in Japan occupied Manchuria where Miyoung's brother lives and offers them shelter it when Japan is defeated in WW2 they need to escape again.

A powerful tribute to the endurance of family bonds, Red Seal explores the struggle to define oneself when torn between multiple worlds and by cultural upheaval, and the resilience it takes to find a place to call home.

The book is dual PoV which I really liked as you were going between the thoughts of a mother trying everything so keep her son safe and in the beginning the selfish thoughts of a six year old. The story is told over years and so you witness Ko-chan grow up and try to discover who he is and where his future lies.

I found out that this book follows on from her previous book but I didn't feel like I'd missed anything that would make the book confusing, it works perfectly well as a stand alone.

This book was really interesting and I did get emotionally invested in what would happen.

I'd recommend this book especially if historical books set in east Asia interest you. I've always found these topics interesting so I really enjoyed it.

[Peter A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during Korea’s traumatic period from 1943 to 1971, Red Seal captures the joys and strains of the bond between a mother and son, and the importance of heritage in Korean culture. During these years, Korea transitioned from a Japanese colony to a hopeful nation, to two states, war, and a peace with economic hardship and persecution of opposition.

In 1943, Miyoung, a Korean nurse in Japan, passed as Japanese. When she’s ordered to help the war effort, she escapes to her family’s homeland, Korea—a country she left thirteen years earlier—with her six-year-old son, Ko-Chan, to honor a promise to her deceased husband. But to survive during this period, they frequently moved across Korea and Manchuria.

The narrative provides the perspectives of a mother and a son. To stay strong for her son she barely knows, Miyoung hides her emotions. Ko-chan misses the grandmother who raised him. At each new location he finds friends; yet his mother repeatedly uproots him, saying they must survive and stay together.

As the number of moves mounts and Miyoung’s options dwindle through choices she makes, and as Soonho—his Korean name—becomes increasingly independent, tension between mother and son grows.

The red seal, or dojang, is a Korean personal stamp of both legal and cultural significance for one’s heritage. Miyoung takes the dojang on her escape from Japan and eventually gives it to Soonho, a reminder of his heritage.

This is a well-paced story with emotionally transparent prose. Readers of the author’s White Mulberry can continue experiencing Miyoung’s journey, though this book is self-contained.

I thank the author for bringing to life the resilience of people during this tragic period of Korean history.

I thank the Historical Novel Society for a pre-publication copy of this book. A version of this review was first published in the Historical Novels Review.

[Carolyn Linehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

RED SEAL by Rosa Kwon Easton
🎧 Advance audiobook, narrated by Greta Jung & Keong Sim + e-ARC = IMMERSIVE READ!!!

There are just so many parts of this story that are heartbreaking. Can’t anything go right for this family?? So much heartache and loss — although, thankfully, there are some moments of happiness woven in, too.

Red Seal is a historical fiction novel about family, motherhood, sacrifice, identity, survival, and resilience, set during the Japanese occupation of Korea and the Korean War. I appreciated how much the story helped illuminate the struggles faced by the Korean people during this turbulent period and provided a broader understanding of what was happening in different parts of the world during and after WWII.

The author’s own father’s childhood with his mother inspired this book. It explores how two people can experience the same events yet remember them very differently. That idea comes through in the alternating perspectives of a mother and her son, and I thought the dual narration worked especially well in the audiobook.

And some of the historical details are absolutely horrifying. The fact that people were sprayed with DDT?! 😳 There were so many moments that made me stop and think about how little we know about what people endured during this period.

I didn’t realize going in that Red Seal is connected to White Mulberry, which I haven't read. It didn’t matter at all — this still worked very well as a standalone story.

A heartbreaking story about the choices a parent makes for their family, the sacrifices those choices require, and the complicated bonds between parents and children.

Thank you, Rosa Kwon Easton, for sharing this very special story.

[Talya · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I heard that Rosa Kwon Easton was writing another historical fiction novel about the Korean War, I knew I needed to read it. I loved White Mulberry.
The story follows Miyoung, a Korean woman who escapes Japan at the end of World War II with her young son (Ko-chan/Soonho) after her husband dies of tuberculosis. Told through alternating points of view, the novel gives readers both Miyoung's perspective as a mother trying to make the best decisions for her family and her son's perspective, showing how those choices and their consequences affect a child.
What makes the story so heartbreaking is that Miyoung tries so hard to do the right thing, but the instability and upheaval of the time in Korea constantly works against her. Their journey takes them to Manchuria and then to North Korea, and I loved following their path back to South Korea while experiencing a perspective of this period that I had not seen before. The writing is beautiful and rich with emotion. The struggles and resilience bring these characters to life. I laughed and cried. I was deeply invested in them. Although I already have a lot of knowledge about this time period, I think any reader will be able to follow the timeline, which spans from Japan and Korea in the early 1940s through Korea in the 1970s.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction or looking to learn more about the Korean people and the hardships they endured during this time period. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

[Book Bench · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story earns its pages when putting it down feels like a small act of willpower. The author keeps the stakes climbing without losing track of the plot and that control is harder than it looks. I read this in the evenings and kept promising myself one more chapter in the way you do when a story has its hooks in properly. The pacing has a propulsive quality that never tips into confusion since the twists arrive with enough grounding to land. There is a creative pleasure in watching a well built plot click through its gears. I also appreciated that the characters stayed people rather than chess pieces even as the machinery sped up.

The ending resolves a touch too neatly for my taste although by then I was too invested to mind much. A looser thread or two would have kept me arguing with the book a little longer after closing it. Even that tidiness has its satisfactions since every promise the story made gets honored by the final pages. The middle stretch is the strongest part for me because the tension and the character work peak together there. I finished it slightly breathless and entirely entertained. The craft here deserves a nod as well since the author plants information early that only blooms under pressure later.

That kind of setup and payoff is the quiet engine of every book I have ever loved. I kept reading past my bedtime which my morning self resented and my evening self would absolutely do again. I enjoyed White Mulberry too, so I'm glad this one was a good read, as well.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Red Seal, and its precursor, White Mulberry! Inspired by her grandmother’s experiences during and after WWII, author Rosa Kwon Easton decided to interview her and share about it in her first book, White Mulberry. Red Seal is the sequel (which can be read as a stand alone novel) about her grandmother’s grit and survival, and the impact of the war on her young son (the author’s father) as he comes of age. Red Seal covers a tumultuous run through numerous countries as mother and son escape the ravages of war – while seeking connection, family, and community.

At her book launch, the author said that as she interviewed her grandmother and father, she discovered a disparity between their perspectives and emotional make up, so she wrote the book from the dual points of view of mother and son. Their love for one another fuels a striving to understand, forgive, and support each other despite their disparate needs. Easy to read, the book deftly covers heavy topics while remaining warm and hopeful, unearthing a world of experiences I did not learn about in school. I love how Red Seal explores a mother’s love, sacrifice, and work to provide the best for her son and also how her son experienced it – heart wrenching. I look forward to a lively discussion about Red Seal in my next book club and hope the author writes a third book inspired by her father’s adult journey and her own childhood! Her books are historical fiction novels inspired by true stories. I highly recommend Red Seal!

[Kairavi Pandya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a fan of Min Jin Lee's Pachinko and Nguyen Phan Que Mai’s The Mountains Sing has made me avid of historical fiction featuring a mix of generational conflicts, history, and culture. Red Seal: A Novel by Rosa Kwon Easton fits right on the same shelf despite having a very different approach.

The book follows a widowed mother, Miyoung, and her boy, Ko-chan, navigating life during the Pacific and Korean War. Their relationship goes through several tensions and trials as they navigate constant challenges and displacement caused by the war.

I was expecting Red Seal to explore motherhood, filial and parental love, and a strong family bond. But to my pleasant surprise, the war did not bring the mother and child together in the typical sense. They both had to navigate the struggles of their relationship and the rootlessness of life in their own ways.

I was stuck while writing this review trying to determine Red Seal’s taste. It felt like an unfamiliar candy wrapped in a familiar wrapper. The contrast and generational gap between Miyoung and Ko-chan, while walking the same streets and circumstances, is truly beautiful.

It's the sort of novel you've got to give some time and thought to catch the kaleidoscope of culture, emotions, and depth hiding within the simplicity.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.

Do check out my complete review on Rewinding Reels Substack~

[Adrianna | cozycraftyreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This recent release was one that delved into the lives of a mother and son. It followed their journeys, giving you a glimpse into the mother’s journey to keep her son safe and with her, and the son’s perspective through it all. It was a story that touched on the Pacific War and war in Korea, and one that brought to light some history.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. I appreciated learning about a part of history that I’m not as familiar with. I really thought that the author did a great job at including these events as well. I always love learning through books.

The two perspectives gave a unique twist too. Not only did they help show the different sides to the relationship between the mother and son, but they also helped bring to light how parents and their kids may see situations differently. I won’t give specific examples because I don’t want to spoil the story, but I saw this play out a few times while reading.

It also did a great job at showing the balance between one’s dreams, other’s expectations, and cultural expectations. Further, it showed how one’s identity can be influenced by these too.

It was an insightful novel in some ways. It was also a good story of a mother/son relationship.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from Kaye Publicity and Rosa Kwon Easton. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

[Bisma Shahbaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing the ARC for an honest review.

"Red Seal" by Rosa Kwon Easton is a beautifully crafted historical novel that tells the heartfelt story of Mi-young, a Korean mother, and her son, Ko-chan, as they navigate the complexities of identity and belonging amid the backdrop of war and migration. Spanning several decades and locations, the narrative really draws you in and gives a profound look at the struggles faced by Korean immigrants.

What I particularly enjoyed was the dual perspective; we get to see how Mi-young’s sacrifices and Ko-chan's longing for his own path create a dynamic and sometimes tense relationship. Their journey toward understanding each other is both realistic and moving, making you really root for them.

While the pacing is a bit slow at first, the emotional depth of the characters and the evolution of their relationship make it all worthwhile. By the end, I felt a strong sense of closure and a deeper appreciation for the themes of family and resilience. Overall, this novel is a touching exploration of love, sacrifice, and the quest for identity that I would recommend to anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking read!

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited for the release of Rosa Kwon Easton’s second novel! Red Seal tells the story of Miyoung and her young son as they leave Japan during the war and try to find their way back to Korea, then keep getting impacted by the historic happenings around the region, i.e., Manchuria, the end of WWII, the division of the peninsula, and so much else that followed. It’s one of those books that makes you feel the weight of decisions people had to make just to survive and keep their family together.
What I liked most was how grounded it felt. The relationships aren’t idealized and feel authentic; it’s messy and full of misunderstandings that span years. You see how the same events look completely different through each of their eyes. The historical background is interesting and adds helpful context.
If you already read the author’s first novel White Mulberry, this continues the story in a really satisfying way, but it is also ok if you haven’t read the first one, this novel also works fine on its own. I love how this book is emotional and honest about what it costs to keep reinventing yourself and family when the world keeps shifting around you. Wonderful book and highly recommended!