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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
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
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
This book is surprisingly violent for a YA release. It's truly a gripping thriller and makes you invested in the historical fiction aspects.
I received an ecopy of this through netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this through netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 for sure. I really liked the way this novel toyed with the idea of what makes a person a "good" person and the subjective nature of the truth. A historical fiction-and-crime-novel all in one, I thought that the setting was an interesting choice, especially reflecting on some of the other themes of religious persecution. I am not typically a fan of first person narratives, but in this instance I wasn't overly bothered by it.
Overall: I'm really curious to read Hur's upcoming novel now that I've read her debut!
Overall: I'm really curious to read Hur's upcoming novel now that I've read her debut!
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I had some... issues with how religion was handled and I thought some of the plot twists were a bit contrived despite having been set up from the beginning, but I really really liked the atmosphere, the writing, and the brilliantly intricate plot of this book.
I had some... issues with how religion was handled and I thought some of the plot twists were a bit contrived despite having been set up from the beginning
Spoiler
like how it was pretty clearly foreshadowed that Inspector Han was Seol's brother but imo the way what should have been—and what she clearly meant to be—fuzzy childhood memories and traumatic repression was depicted ended up feeling like a retcon, even though it was really NOT!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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