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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I will never shut up about how her books read so much like a k-drama. They're so readable, entertaining and a little bit dark.
This one was no exception, I enjoyed it quite a lot.
This one was no exception, I enjoyed it quite a lot.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I need to read Hur's other books asap. this was so good
The Silence of Bones is a historical mystery set in 1800 Joseon (Korea). Not long after sixteen year old Seol finds herself indentured to the police, she must assist in a case involving the murder of a noblewoman. It is her job to handle the body and to assist in interviewing women in the case, due to the fact that men at this time were not permitted to have any contact with women. But that is supposed to be the extent of her involvement. She is not supposed to ask any questions or have any ideas about things. Seol can’t help but be drawn in by her curiosity however, and soon starts trying to put together the pieces herself.
The Inspector of the case begins to take notice in Seol and to expand her role, seeking her aid in solving this crime that seems particularly important to him. The duo works well together and Seol forms a sense of loyalty and respect towards the Inspector. Yet, as the evidence unfolds, she can’t ignore all the signs that seem to point to him as suspect. This only makes her more determined than ever to get to the truth.
This book is definitely one of my top 10 of 2020! Also the cover is just gorgeous. The historical setting provides depth of atmosphere and context to the mystery. I was so intrigued to see what happened next, and whether or not the Inspector was involved, that I got through this one pretty quickly. There were some good twists that I wasn’t expecting throughout. I also really enjoyed the author’s note at the end and love being able to read an own voices historical mystery set in Korea. I can’t wait for June Hur’s next book set to publish in 2021– The Forest of Stolen Girls.
The Silence of Bones: 5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Inspector of the case begins to take notice in Seol and to expand her role, seeking her aid in solving this crime that seems particularly important to him. The duo works well together and Seol forms a sense of loyalty and respect towards the Inspector. Yet, as the evidence unfolds, she can’t ignore all the signs that seem to point to him as suspect. This only makes her more determined than ever to get to the truth.
This book is definitely one of my top 10 of 2020! Also the cover is just gorgeous. The historical setting provides depth of atmosphere and context to the mystery. I was so intrigued to see what happened next, and whether or not the Inspector was involved, that I got through this one pretty quickly. There were some good twists that I wasn’t expecting throughout. I also really enjoyed the author’s note at the end and love being able to read an own voices historical mystery set in Korea. I can’t wait for June Hur’s next book set to publish in 2021– The Forest of Stolen Girls.
The Silence of Bones: 5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
There was a long section in the middle of this book that dragged, but the ending made up for it, pulling things together and feeling finished without being overly happy or artificial. 1800s Korea and the persecution of Catholics was an entirely new setting/topic for me, and I appreciated learning about it through the eyes of Seol, who was an engaging narrator. I did find it hard to keep track of all the characters and their connections throughout the story (I wish there'd been a character list provided!). While the middle lulled, the intensity ratcheted up in the last several chapters, making it hard to put down at that point.
All in all, a different sort of historical murder mystery from most of the offerings in YA, and well worth the read as long as you are willing to be patient.
All in all, a different sort of historical murder mystery from most of the offerings in YA, and well worth the read as long as you are willing to be patient.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sixteen-year-old Seol finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Assigned to the police bureau, she assists the young investigators with the murder of a noblewoman. As their investigation takes a darker turn, Seol's loyalty begins to be tester when the inspector she admired becomes the prime suspect, and Seol might be the only person able to find the truth. But when her role as a damo requires silence and obedience, Seol’s curiosity might just be dangerous.
The Silence of Bones has been on my radar for months, and I’m annoyed at myself for taking so long to read this! This book was a fast-paced thriller that packed an emotional punch. I hadn’t realised how attached I had become to Seol until I turned the very last page.
Set in 1800 Joseon (now Korea), Seol is a damo, an indentured servant, working for the police force as a female attendant who partakes in places where men were otherwise not allowed. While keeping her head down, she quietly searched for the whereabouts of her older brother, who had left for the capital years prior.
One day she called to handle the body of a noblewoman, Lady O, who was found dead with her nose sliced off. Questions begin to arise about Lady O’s status, later revealed to have been a Christian and soon she is linked to a police chase regarding the whereabouts of a priest. Seol’s position as a damo gives her a unique position, allowing her into spaces where her male counterparts would have been denied. Inspector Han might be the only person who sees something in her, promising her freedom if she takes the proper steps.
I was surprised this book was in the first person as it felt like a story that could’ve been told through the third. But Hur writes with ease and tells a story with excitement and mystery. Seol is so young, and it comes across on page very well. She was never taught to read and often makes misjudgments due to her upbringing, which naturally creates misunderstandings. People don’t take her seriously because she is a damo, and she is adamant to prove them wrong. Her development is consistent, and the pay off in the story is both worthwhile and heartbreaking. Inspector Han proved to be quite the enigma, his behaviour both confuse and exasperate Seol and us readers alike.
The story is fascinating. I had watched a k-drama back in 2019, called Rookie Historian Goo Haeryung. While the drama was more on the fantasy side, I really enjoyed the historical aspect, which is similar in this book as they both revolved around the start of Christianity in Korea. This isn’t taught in everyday History lessons, so I was intrigued by the characters that Seol meets that mirror real-life figures. Regent leaders are clamping down on the rise of Catholics in the country, families being ripped apart and executed, and how it has influenced Korea’s history and its current-day self. This book definitely sent me on a research haze from the moment I finished the story.
In summary, The Silence of Bones illuminates Joseon Korea in this historical mystery tale. Seol’s journey takes on class, honour and loyalty to yourself and your family. I had an inkling of what the ending would be like, but Hur writes with such details and emotion that the journey towards it was well worth the time.
The Silence of Bones has been on my radar for months, and I’m annoyed at myself for taking so long to read this! This book was a fast-paced thriller that packed an emotional punch. I hadn’t realised how attached I had become to Seol until I turned the very last page.
Set in 1800 Joseon (now Korea), Seol is a damo, an indentured servant, working for the police force as a female attendant who partakes in places where men were otherwise not allowed. While keeping her head down, she quietly searched for the whereabouts of her older brother, who had left for the capital years prior.
One day she called to handle the body of a noblewoman, Lady O, who was found dead with her nose sliced off. Questions begin to arise about Lady O’s status, later revealed to have been a Christian and soon she is linked to a police chase regarding the whereabouts of a priest. Seol’s position as a damo gives her a unique position, allowing her into spaces where her male counterparts would have been denied. Inspector Han might be the only person who sees something in her, promising her freedom if she takes the proper steps.
I was surprised this book was in the first person as it felt like a story that could’ve been told through the third. But Hur writes with ease and tells a story with excitement and mystery. Seol is so young, and it comes across on page very well. She was never taught to read and often makes misjudgments due to her upbringing, which naturally creates misunderstandings. People don’t take her seriously because she is a damo, and she is adamant to prove them wrong. Her development is consistent, and the pay off in the story is both worthwhile and heartbreaking. Inspector Han proved to be quite the enigma, his behaviour both confuse and exasperate Seol and us readers alike.
The story is fascinating. I had watched a k-drama back in 2019, called Rookie Historian Goo Haeryung. While the drama was more on the fantasy side, I really enjoyed the historical aspect, which is similar in this book as they both revolved around the start of Christianity in Korea. This isn’t taught in everyday History lessons, so I was intrigued by the characters that Seol meets that mirror real-life figures. Regent leaders are clamping down on the rise of Catholics in the country, families being ripped apart and executed, and how it has influenced Korea’s history and its current-day self. This book definitely sent me on a research haze from the moment I finished the story.
In summary, The Silence of Bones illuminates Joseon Korea in this historical mystery tale. Seol’s journey takes on class, honour and loyalty to yourself and your family. I had an inkling of what the ending would be like, but Hur writes with such details and emotion that the journey towards it was well worth the time.
slow-paced
rep: ownvoices Korean characters and setting
cw: gore, murder, death, corpses, bodily mutilation, torture
I think that too much of this was just difficult for me to believe tbh
cw: gore, murder, death, corpses, bodily mutilation, torture
I think that too much of this was just difficult for me to believe tbh