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noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings: murder, death, blood, gore, sexism, religious persecution, torture, and some body horror.
Wow...just another book I should not have left sitting on my shelf, unread, for so long.
As a big fan of historical kdramas [though I don't watch them often since they will emotionally eviscerate you and leave you an empty shell...flashbacks to watching my first historical kdrama, Ja Myung Go, years ago 😭] I was excited to dive into this story as I heard that June Hur wrote really amazing historical Korean stories...and this one did not disappoint.
We get to follow a young woman who's a police indentured servant for the remainder of her life...someone who is deeply curious in a time when women, especially servants, aren't supposed to be quite so curious.
If you've read The Apothecary Diaries manga...it's giving a little Maomao but darker...
Honestly just a really great freaking read and I look forward to reading more of June Hur's historical Korean stories!
Wow...just another book I should not have left sitting on my shelf, unread, for so long.
As a big fan of historical kdramas [though I don't watch them often since they will emotionally eviscerate you and leave you an empty shell...flashbacks to watching my first historical kdrama, Ja Myung Go, years ago 😭] I was excited to dive into this story as I heard that June Hur wrote really amazing historical Korean stories...and this one did not disappoint.
We get to follow a young woman who's a police indentured servant for the remainder of her life...someone who is deeply curious in a time when women, especially servants, aren't supposed to be quite so curious.
If you've read The Apothecary Diaries manga...it's giving a little Maomao but darker...
Honestly just a really great freaking read and I look forward to reading more of June Hur's historical Korean stories!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Death, Blood, Body horror, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Torture
Minor: Suicide
ellelenton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ashkee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rosazns's review against another edition
3.5
got bored sa first 50% ng book then sa last 50% lang naging interesting
amethystarchild's review against another edition
5.0
The Silence of Bones by June Hur is a mystery story set in 1800’s era Korea. Finally a Sageuk YA book! Our heroine is Seol a “damo”, a female servant indentured to the police bureau of the capital. Her job is to do the chores around the bureau, interview female suspects, and be the eyes, ears, and hands of the investigation. Seol has great respect for her superior, Inspector Han, and when she saves his life by shooting a tiger she forms a bond of friendship with him that is soon tested. A young woman is found murdered and the inspector’s alibi that night is questionable. The government faction in power has outlawed Christianity and multiple Catholics have been murdered, it turns out the murdered young woman was secretly one of them! Inspector Han has a personal hatred for Catholics, is he perhaps the killer? Always-curious-Seol begins to investigate but her search for the truth uncovers even more than she bargained for.
I always find exploring 1800’s era Korea interesting and interacting with some actual history like the persecution of the Catholics and actual figures from that movement was intriguing. I was pleased with the grittiness of the novel, and it never veered off into being too gratuitous, at least for my sensibilities. The investigation practices of the time were not humane and the novel didn’t shy away from the darker side of the time period. Seol was an excellent protagonist, it was a good call on the author’s part to make her very curious and clever so the reader could learn about her world in a natural way. I had a similar journey as Seol in regards to Inspector Han, I admired him, then I was mad at him, and then I was a little fearful of him. In the end, I found him a very mysterious and complicated character that I was glad I’d met. All the other supporting characters were interesting, housemaid Woorim was so sweet, and Lady Kang was cool. I read the book all in one day. I couldn’t put it down, haha. I hope June Hur will release more of her historical YA soon.
I always find exploring 1800’s era Korea interesting and interacting with some actual history like the persecution of the Catholics and actual figures from that movement was intriguing. I was pleased with the grittiness of the novel, and it never veered off into being too gratuitous, at least for my sensibilities. The investigation practices of the time were not humane and the novel didn’t shy away from the darker side of the time period. Seol was an excellent protagonist, it was a good call on the author’s part to make her very curious and clever so the reader could learn about her world in a natural way. I had a similar journey as Seol in regards to Inspector Han, I admired him, then I was mad at him, and then I was a little fearful of him. In the end, I found him a very mysterious and complicated character that I was glad I’d met. All the other supporting characters were interesting, housemaid Woorim was so sweet, and Lady Kang was cool. I read the book all in one day. I couldn’t put it down, haha. I hope June Hur will release more of her historical YA soon.
agabe's review against another edition
2.5
Didn’t like it as much as the red palace, but it was fine. Had a harder time getting into it
staticmemories's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
girlbeneathsea's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
knod78's review against another edition
4.0
This completes Task 14: Read a realistic YA book not set in the U.S., UK, or Canada of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge. I have to say that my friend got me into this challenge and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm reading novels by authors and genres that I never would have heard of before or would have picked up on my own. This book was one of those books where I have so much gratitude for the challenge, because it introduced me to the author and 1800s Korea/Korean Police Force.
I loved this book. I was quite honestly fascinated from the first time I saw the cover and the first page. I learned so much. I loved the storyline (reading a lot about anti-Catholicism lately). I loved the setting. I loved that two influential women (one is actually a character in this book and the other is only talked about) were real women in Korean history. I loved that they kept saying Southerner when I realized it was South Korea. The characters were great and well written. Kyon was a typical entitled man; Lady Kang was wonderful; Inspector Han - Love; Seol was the clever girl who couldn't just be an indentured servant anymore. It's kind of crazy to read about the police force using indentured servants (women really) to deal with the female victims, because the men couldn't touch, look, or in some cases, ask them questions.
"I have a mouth, but I mustn't speak; Ears, but I mustn't hear; Eyes, but I mustn't see," was a theme throughout and it was just such an erie, yet really cool line.
I will say that even though the killer's identity kept me guessing, I did figure it out and I did figure out Inspector Han's secret. Seol was a great a character, but she did quickly change on things with mood and opinions even though her greatest strength is supposed to be loyalty. She didn't always show it. I also didn't take well to the ending. I loved what happened, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't clear if she stayed put or went back to the capital. There was also eluding to a possible love interest, but nothing was said. It just kind of ended.
Silence of Bones made me want to read more about Korea and their history. And that's really the point of a book. I would definitely recommend this book and read another book by this author. Hmmmm... could this be a series???
But I definitely need a break from YA novels. I read too many this year and I think that was my last one for this challenge.
I loved this book. I was quite honestly fascinated from the first time I saw the cover and the first page. I learned so much. I loved the storyline (reading a lot about anti-Catholicism lately). I loved the setting. I loved that two influential women (one is actually a character in this book and the other is only talked about) were real women in Korean history. I loved that they kept saying Southerner when I realized it was South Korea. The characters were great and well written. Kyon was a typical entitled man; Lady Kang was wonderful; Inspector Han - Love; Seol was the clever girl who couldn't just be an indentured servant anymore. It's kind of crazy to read about the police force using indentured servants (women really) to deal with the female victims, because the men couldn't touch, look, or in some cases, ask them questions.
"I have a mouth, but I mustn't speak; Ears, but I mustn't hear; Eyes, but I mustn't see," was a theme throughout and it was just such an erie, yet really cool line.
I will say that even though the killer's identity kept me guessing, I did figure it out and I did figure out Inspector Han's secret. Seol was a great a character, but she did quickly change on things with mood and opinions even though her greatest strength is supposed to be loyalty. She didn't always show it. I also didn't take well to the ending. I loved what happened, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't clear if she stayed put or went back to the capital. There was also eluding to a possible love interest, but nothing was said. It just kind of ended.
Silence of Bones made me want to read more about Korea and their history. And that's really the point of a book. I would definitely recommend this book and read another book by this author. Hmmmm... could this be a series???
But I definitely need a break from YA novels. I read too many this year and I think that was my last one for this challenge.
book_ishjournal's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I did not have much expectations but it was a great book. I liked the writing and the story was very interesting. I could not really tell who was the killer and it was interesting to see the exposé. To be honest, the only thing that is stopping me from giving it a 5 are my guts... I have no idea why