Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Silence of Bones by June Hur 허주은

18 reviews

picaresquedreamer's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry

lisashelves's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders

karin_goodreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"The Silence of Bones" is set in Joseon Dynasty-era Korea and follows a 16-year-old servant, Seol, who works in the police bureau. The book unfurls a heartbreaking story about Seol’s involvement in investigating the murder of a young noblewoman, the political situation in Joseon at the time and the complex situation regarding Seol's search for her older brother. 

There is one lesson all who enter the capital will learn: evil comes from the unfulfilled need for significance.

What a whirlwind! I started reading this many moons ago, but just now returned to it. What was the problem that I left it unfinished for so long and then picked it up and finished it in a day? The first part of the book was a little slow, and my interest was elsewhere, but recently it became interesting again and I devoured it within an evening.
Honestly, I don't remember everything from the beginning, but enough to make sense. Nevertheless, the ending was excruciatingly painful and action-packed, every sentence kept me on my toes.

This is the consequence of the clash of old and new. We must prepare our hearts, all of us. No matter which side wins, we will all be heartbroken.

Where is the lie? I was bawling my eyes out by the end. It hit so deep and brought up some raw feelings that came out of nowhere; props to June Hur! It's palpable how much work has gone into the research and details of the story. I find it nice that the ending was left sort of open-ended.
Despite that, there's much left to process. I do hope that Seol finds that home and place of togetherness one day. Pity.

Everyone dies; what is difficult is a meaningful death.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, Sexism, and Classism

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Torture

Minor: Slavery, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Death of parent, Suicide, Abandonment, and Grief

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

mnatale100's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Slavery, and Torture

Moderate: Hate crime, Violence, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Child death, and Murder

Minor: Grief, Pregnancy, Blood, Alcohol, and Medical content

jamielikestoread's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Sexual assault

clone's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Classism, Death, Abandonment, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Misogyny

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia

Minor: Pregnancy

lilifane's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

Woah, I loved this much, much more than I thought I would. 
I expected something else from the story than I actually got tbh. It was more character driven and introspective than an actual murder mystery. (which, well, was pretty easy to predict) But it was still so good! I absolutely loved the writing and the atmosphere. Sometimes I needed to take breaks just to imagine the mist and the mountains and trees and rivers and the narrow streets and the Hanoks. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters but was sad because there weren't enough for my taste. I was also furious at them most of the time because they were oblivious or didn't talk to each other when necessary... or both. The second half was surprisingly fast-paced and action packed, and I couldn't put it down until the end. 
I will definitely read the others books by June Hur. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

sapphic_reader's review

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicide and Violence