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noellelovesbooks's review
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
susanpevensie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Gore, Hate crime, Murder, Classism, Xenophobia, and Death
Minor: Police brutality and Suicide
henrylee1202's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The beginning was a bit slow but around the middle, it gets really hard to put down! The plot mixed in with the history of Korea was so well done. The ending wasn't necessarily a happy one but I still enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Gore
katiemcgregor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
There was a point where I actually considered 'dnf-ing' this book... and that's something I rarely do. Honestly, there isn't much inherently wrong with The Silence of Bones but, for whatever reason, I was really bored in the first half of the book. I think the main issue lies with the fact that I never grew especially attached to any of the characters. I don't know if this is just a me thing or if it has to do with Hur's writing.
Luckily, things picked up in the second half so even with my lack of attachment, I became more interested in the plot. While I was able to predict who the killer was around the 45% mark, this didn't really hinder the rest of my reading experience since there were so many other things also going on at the same time (at least, after the slow start).
This is my first time reading a book that takes place during the Joseon dynasty so that was definitely fun (my previous knowledge is limited to what I've seen K-dramas), but in the end this book fell a little flat for me.
Luckily, things picked up in the second half so even with my lack of attachment, I became more interested in the plot. While I was able to predict who the killer was around the 45% mark, this didn't really hinder the rest of my reading experience since there were so many other things also going on at the same time (at least, after the slow start).
This is my first time reading a book that takes place during the Joseon dynasty so that was definitely fun (my previous knowledge is limited to what I've seen K-dramas), but in the end this book fell a little flat for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Pregnancy
plumpaperbacks's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was one of the most interesting historical fiction novels I’ve read, as, if I recall, it’s the only one not set in a western country. I’d never heard of damos, so in addition to reading an intriguing story, I also learned a few new things.
Hur’s writing was easy to read, and the combination of that and the surprisingly complex mystery kept me turning pages. What seemed like a simple murder case ended up being a complicated one of religion, family and shame with multiple victims, and even though I thought more than once that I’d figured it out, I never had. Props to Hur for that, as I’ve gotten pretty good at predicting twists and solving mysteries.
Another thing I particularly liked was that Seol, the protagonist, was sixteen. While this is ultimately insignificant, it was nice to see a YA book with a main character under the age of seventeen; I can only think of a couple others that do.
Overall, I would recommend this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Representation
Hur’s writing was easy to read, and the combination of that and the surprisingly complex mystery kept me turning pages. What seemed like a simple murder case ended up being a complicated one of religion, family and shame with multiple victims, and even though I thought more than once that I’d figured it out, I never had. Props to Hur for that, as I’ve gotten pretty good at predicting twists and solving mysteries.
Another thing I particularly liked was that Seol, the protagonist, was sixteen. While this is ultimately insignificant, it was nice to see a YA book with a main character under the age of seventeen; I can only think of a couple others that do.
Overall, I would recommend this book, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Representation
- full Korean cast
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Minor: Infidelity and Suicide
Those tagged minor happened prior to the story but are mentioned occasionally throughout.sapphic_reader's review
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Violence
izzya's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
This book started a little slow but the second half picks up to an amazing pace and delivers a really satisfying mystery. Hur did a fantastic job of presenting so many possibilities and threads of a big mystery, revealing layer after layer through an inquisitive heroine, until the final punches of the mystery came and knocked me off my feet.
It was so well done, and the emotional payoff and bittersweetness was so heartfelt and honest. The handling of the feelings Seol had built up about her family and role in the world was great and always felt natural, never coming across as a speech but rather woven into her observations of the world around her. The end of the book delivers some really strong emotional moments, and my eyes did get a little testy at the ending. It’s beautiful and sad, but very satisfying.
This story is also darker than I expected. The young age of the heroine made me think the violence of the history would be toned down for younger audiences, but Hur didn’t pull punches and it gets a little realistically gory at times, which adds to the seriousness of the main mystery.
I wondered if this story might have some Kdrama vibes, as the summary reminded me of the kind of historical Kdramas I love, but it does get a bit darker and more serious than Kdramas usually do, and there’s not a romance or much comedy to lighten the heavier emotional moments. I found the story really rewarding, just deeper than I expected.
In all, I really enjoyed this one and would love to read another of Hur’s books! Looking forward to her next release “The Red Palace,” it sounds really cool!
It was so well done, and the emotional payoff and bittersweetness was so heartfelt and honest. The handling of the feelings Seol had built up about her family and role in the world was great and always felt natural, never coming across as a speech but rather woven into her observations of the world around her. The end of the book delivers some really strong emotional moments, and my eyes did get a little testy at the ending. It’s beautiful and sad, but very satisfying.
This story is also darker than I expected. The young age of the heroine made me think the violence of the history would be toned down for younger audiences, but Hur didn’t pull punches and it gets a little realistically gory at times, which adds to the seriousness of the main mystery.
I wondered if this story might have some Kdrama vibes, as the summary reminded me of the kind of historical Kdramas I love, but it does get a bit darker and more serious than Kdramas usually do, and there’s not a romance or much comedy to lighten the heavier emotional moments. I found the story really rewarding, just deeper than I expected.
In all, I really enjoyed this one and would love to read another of Hur’s books! Looking forward to her next release “The Red Palace,” it sounds really cool!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, and Xenophobia
emily_mh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
4.25
It took about half the book for me to be drawn in, but when it happened I really enjoyed it. The narrator, Seol, was fantastic as the main character, as she was gutsy, bright, headstrong and resourceful. I wasn't expecting the political and religious complexity that this book delivered, which added intriguing layers to the murder mystery. I also liked that on top of the murder mystery, there was a supporting personal mystery surrounding Seol's brother, as this really padded out the plot. Overall, the thriller had all the grittiness of a modern-day crime drama, which I loved. The third act in particular was incredible, and the resolution was satisfying. However, because I couldn't get into this book for its entire first half, I decided to rate it only 4.25 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Kidnapping, and Torture
Minor: Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, and Alcohol
willowy's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
The Silence of Bones by June Hur
Length: 336 Pages
Genres: Historical Mystery, Young Adult
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Trigger Warnings in this book for Violence, Gore, Murder and Animal Death
"I have a mouth, but I mustn't speak;
Ears, but I mustn't hear;
Eye, but I mustn't see."
This is what sixteen-year-old Seol tries to live by, but it's hard for an intelligent and curious girl living in 19th-century Joseon (Korea), to follow not only the rigid rules of society, but laws that dictate who and what men and women should be. She is a damo, an indentured servant to the Police Bureau, who makes it possible for the Officers to follow strict Confucian law, which prevents them from being able to touch any woman who isn't related to them, even female prisoners and corpses. Yet she is still little more than an means to an end, forbidden to even make eye contact with those above her station.
When a Noblewoman is found with her throat cut, and most curiously, her nose removed, Seol's bright mind is noticed by the mysterious Inspector Han. For once, she is seen as more, as a living, breathing, thinking person. But when Seol makes a mistake that nearly costs her her life and the Inspector his dignity, she is thrust into a maelstrom of suspicion that leads straight to Inspector Han. And even more shocking, Seol begins to see similarities between the Inspector and someone, thought lost forever, from her past...
Set during a fascinating time in Korea, when one Queen used her newly found power to root out those who would question her, all in the guise of violently eradicating the Catholics that have spread across the land, The Silence of Bones is a bittersweet and meticulously researched story of loyalty, family, and how the past indelibly haunts the present. I highly recommend this, and can't wait to check out Hur's newest book, The Forest of Stolen Girls!
For more reviews visit my blog!
Length: 336 Pages
Genres: Historical Mystery, Young Adult
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Trigger Warnings in this book for Violence, Gore, Murder and Animal Death
"I have a mouth, but I mustn't speak;
Ears, but I mustn't hear;
Eye, but I mustn't see."
This is what sixteen-year-old Seol tries to live by, but it's hard for an intelligent and curious girl living in 19th-century Joseon (Korea), to follow not only the rigid rules of society, but laws that dictate who and what men and women should be. She is a damo, an indentured servant to the Police Bureau, who makes it possible for the Officers to follow strict Confucian law, which prevents them from being able to touch any woman who isn't related to them, even female prisoners and corpses. Yet she is still little more than an means to an end, forbidden to even make eye contact with those above her station.
When a Noblewoman is found with her throat cut, and most curiously, her nose removed, Seol's bright mind is noticed by the mysterious Inspector Han. For once, she is seen as more, as a living, breathing, thinking person. But when Seol makes a mistake that nearly costs her her life and the Inspector his dignity, she is thrust into a maelstrom of suspicion that leads straight to Inspector Han. And even more shocking, Seol begins to see similarities between the Inspector and someone, thought lost forever, from her past...
Set during a fascinating time in Korea, when one Queen used her newly found power to root out those who would question her, all in the guise of violently eradicating the Catholics that have spread across the land, The Silence of Bones is a bittersweet and meticulously researched story of loyalty, family, and how the past indelibly haunts the present. I highly recommend this, and can't wait to check out Hur's newest book, The Forest of Stolen Girls!
For more reviews visit my blog!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Murder
biblioleah's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Gore, and Religious bigotry