Name: Sarah Sammis's review of The Silence of Bones by June Hur
Item: The Silence of Bones
Rating: 4
Author: Sarah Sammis

June Hur

June Hur's elegant and haunting debut The Silence of Bones is a bloody YA historical mystery tale perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Renée Ahdieh. I have a mouth, but I mustn't speak; Ears, but I mustn't hear; Eyes, but I mustn't see. 1800, Joseon (Korea). Homesick and orphaned sixteen-year-old Seol is living out the ancient curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Indentured to the police bureau, she’s been tasked with assisting a well-respected young inspector with the investigation into the politically charged murder of a noblewoman. As they delve deeper into the dead woman's secrets, Seol forms an unlikely bond of friendship with the inspector. But her loyalty is tested when he becomes the prime suspect, and Seol may be the only one capable of discovering what truly happened on the night of the murder. But in a land where silence and obedience are valued above all else, curiosity can be deadly. Praise for The Silence of Bones: ABA Indies Introduce Selection "At once haunting and evocative, June Hur's The Silence of Bones is a gorgeous, tightly-woven debut. Prepare to delve deep into the lush and dangerous world of Korea in the 1800's for a page-turner you won't soon forget." —Hafsah Faizal, New York Times-bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame "This gripping drama is definitely one you're not going to want to miss." —Buzzfeed

The Silence of Bones

jenny

I have a mouth, but I mustn't speak; Ears, but I mustn't hear; Eyes, but I mustn't see. 1800, Joseon (Korea). Homesick and orphaned sixteen-year-old Seol is living out the ancient curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Indentured to the police bureau, she’s been tasked with assisting a well-respected young inspector with the investigation into the politically charged murder of a noblewoman. As they delve deeper into the dead woman's secrets, Seol forms an unlikely bond of friendship with the inspector. But her loyalty is tested when he becomes the prime suspect, and Seol may be the only one capable of discovering what truly happened on the night of the murder. But in a land where silence and obedience are valued above all else, curiosity can be deadly. June Hur's elegant and haunting debut The Silence of Bones is a bloody tale perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Renée Ahdieh.

Sarah Sammis

The Silence of Bones by June Hur is a mystery set in 1800 Joseon (Korea). The king has recently died. While the capital is still in mourning, a young noblewoman is found murdered. As the kingdom is run under Confucian law, the police employ female servants to help in the investigation.

Seol is sixteen and in the employ of the police. She is on the team to investigate the murder of Lady O. She believes she is an orphan. Her mother and sister are dead. Her brother is missing, presumed dead.

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Alix N

hmmmm this book went to a completely different path i was hoping it would. dunno if i quite fully enjoyed it. maybe i’m in between 2.5/3 rating, mostly because it was an easy read and i did like the overall depiction of joseon era? maybe will need a reread at some point to better rate it.

I enjoyed 99% of this, but I did not like the ending at all. My heart hurts. I did call one of the turns early on, but that sort of thing doesn't upset me. What was frustrating was the mix of McCune-Reischaurer and revised romanization--consistency is key. The point of romanization is to keep things simpler, mixing the systems just creates more problems because the sounds aren't standardized then. This probably won't be a big deal to most people, but as a Korean studies major, it definitely irked me.

Holly

Even from her debut, it is easy to see why and how June Hur has created a niche for herself in the current publishing landscape.

"The Silence of Bones" is not the first book of hers I have read so I already had some expectations for it. There was the excellent historic atmosphere and setting once again, as well as the intriguing plot that keeps you guessing.

All of this makes the novel a very engaging read and a refreshing entry among (Young Adult) thrillers / crime novels.

Even from her debut, it is easy to see why and how June Hur has created a niche for herself in the current publishing landscape.

"The Silence of Bones" is not the first book of hers I have read so I already had some expectations for it. There was the excellent historic atmosphere and setting once again, as well as the intriguing plot that keeps you guessing.

All of this makes the novel a very engaging read and a refreshing entry among (Young Adult) thrillers / crime novels.

Connor 

4.5! This was engrossing, and as always with historical mysteries, I loved the taste of history and culture I wasn't aware about before reading this. Looking forward to Hur's next mystery, for sure.

Lincy

June Hur's elegant and haunting debut The Silence of Bones is a bloody YA historical mystery tale perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Renée Ahdieh. I have a mouth, but I mustn't speak; Ears, but I mustn't hear; Eyes, but I mustn't see. 1800, Joseon (Korea). Homesick and orphaned sixteen-year-old Seol is living out the ancient curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Indentured to the police bureau, she’s been tasked with assisting a well-respected young inspector with the investigation into the politically charged murder of a noblewoman. As they delve deeper into the dead woman's secrets, Seol forms an unlikely bond of friendship with the inspector. But her loyalty is tested when he becomes the prime suspect, and Seol may be the only one capable of discovering what truly happened on the night of the murder. But in a land where silence and obedience are valued above all else, curiosity can be deadly. Praise for The Silence of Bones: ABA Indies Introduce Selection Junior Library Guild Selection A 2021 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee A 2021 ALA Rise Selection 2020 Freeman Award Honorable Mention "At once haunting and evocative, June Hur's The Silence of Bones is a gorgeous, tightly-woven debut. Prepare to delve deep into the lush and dangerous world of Korea in the 1800's for a page-turner you won't soon forget." —Hafsah Faizal, New York Times-bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame "This gripping drama is definitely one you're not going to want to miss." —Buzzfeed

Sheila

4 stars. Picked this debut novel as my read for the Asian Readathon during Asian Heritage Month! 

This is my first time teading a book set in historical Korea, & my previous exposure to Korean history was entirely contained within my East Asian Cultures class in university. For that reason, I appreciated that this book is told from the POV of a 16 year old girl because it was a simple but intimate way to frame daily life in Joseon Korea. The rising influence of Western ideas infiltrating Korea from China and the conflicts that sparked were a significant turning point for Korea going into the 19th century and into the modern age. 

The central mystery as well as the sub-plots were executed well! A lot of historical fiction mysteries are simplistic, but this kept me on my toes with dribbles of clues. There is a large cast of characters, but I didn't find it too difficult to keep up. Each character was distinct. The climax could've been paced better, but it was still satisfying. 

Pretty enjoyable read and an impressive debut overall!

daisy

Sheila Goicea

I'm excited to be a part of the THE SILENCE OF BONES blog tour with The Fantastic Flying Book Club from April 15th - April 21st, 2020!

I received an ARC of this book via Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.



All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.

Content Warning: Murder, Indentured Servitude

  "It is better for you not to know these things. Do not stand ou, do not be so curious, then you will have a long life, Seol." I had resented her for this, though now I understood her better. The longing for knowledge only got me into trouble these days.

16-year-old Seol has always dreamed of a life filled with opulence. She's dreamed that others would look up to her as if her station, but who she was mattered more. Being an indentured servant, however, has dashed any reality for her dreams. 

Having to serve the local police, Seol works beneath a highly-respected inspector. She helps out with tasks that culture doesn't permit--like men inspecting female corpses. When a young noblewoman is murdered, Seol must assist the inspector to uncover the nature of her murder.

Seol's respect for the inspector comes into question when he becomes the prime suspect throughout the investigation. It's up to Seol to uncover the truth behind the murder and to discover if the inspector is truly to be held accountable, along with trying to track down her missing brother. 

Set in 1800 Korea, this thrilling mystery pushes the boundaries as Seol doesn't refrain from questioning when societal norms oppose such inquisition.

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laura

* I got this book for review from the publisher for my honest thoughts*
I was super impressed with this read love leaning more about a time period that i knew nothing about. I also really loved the main character and how she easily got wrapped up into this mystery. It was very fast pace story. The world was so rich and I really felt liked i learned so much about this time period. She has a very lush writing style that sometimes lost me in the details. but I really loved this read and learning about a new time period and def read more by this author in the future.

Emily S

Set in the early 1800s Joseon Korea, this YA historical mystery follows a “damo” (basically an indentured servant) who serves as part of the police force investigating the murder of a noble woman. 

Overall, I thought the historical aspect of this story was fascinating, as I knew literally NOTHING about this time in Korea’s history. I wish more of that were incorporated in the book itself and not left for the author’s note (note to shelf: check for author’s notes in the back before you start the book). The mystery itself was good too, though I felt a little bored in the middle, and I missed some critical points while listening to the audiobook 🙈. Could have been 3.5 or 4 if I were in a better headspace, but it’s a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

Lily D

** spoiler alert **
           AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHwhyyyyyyy??????? Why did he have to die??????? I will read anything by this author!!! But he died. And I cried and cried and cried and I'm still crying. 

This book was AMAZING so read it. Just be prepared to cry and cry and cry so more.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Silence of the Bones

Author: June Hur

Book Series: Standalone

Diversity: Korean characters!

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: April 21, 2020

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Pages: 336

Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, death, slight romance)

Synopsis: I have a mouth, but I mustn't speak;
Ears, but I mustn't hear;
Eyes, but I mustn't see.

1800, Joseon (Korea). Homesick and orphaned sixteen-year-old Seol is living out the ancient curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Indentured to the police bureau, she’s been tasked with assisting a well-respected young inspector with the investigation into the politically charged murder of a noblewoman.

As they delve deeper into the dead woman's secrets, Seol forms an unlikely bond of friendship with the inspector. But her loyalty is tested when he becomes the prime suspect, and Seol may be the only one capable of discovering what truly happened on the night of the murder.

But in a land where silence and obedience are valued above all else, curiosity can be deadly.

June Hur's elegant and haunting debut The Silence of Bones is a bloody tale perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Renée Ahdieh

Review: Oh my God this book was so good! I loved the historical aspect of it and the mystery blended so well together with it! The characters were very well developed, the plot was intriguing from start to finish, and the pacing was very well done!

My only issue is that the mix between English and Korean made it a bit hard of a read until you got the gist of what was being said.

Verdict: A well done and suspenseful novel!

Insiya Ghadiali

A really good mystery, it was a little slow at places but overall pretty good!

B. K.

4 stars. Took me a while to feel invested in the story, but the mystery and action picked up in the second half and the conclusion felt satisfying.

Reading Rush 2020: read a book that starts with the word "the"; read a book that takes place on a different continent than the one you live on.

Anita Rut Kristjansdottir

Leelynn Brady

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Fantastic Flying Book Club, Netgalley, and Feiwel & Friends for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

Oh my gosh. I think this is one of my favorite novels to date and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read this! I don’t think I’ve ever come across a YA Historical Mystery novel set in 1800s Korea before, dealing with the murder of highborn women and having to solve that mystery. I also don’t remember ever coming across a YA historical fiction novel set in 1800s Korea before either, which was such a huge selling point for me. I’m honestly so glad that this ended up being Hur’s debut novel because it was absolutely perfect and brilliant.

During this period, damo are women that work at the police bureau to interact with other women on official capacities – whether they interview female members of the family or move dead women victims from a crime scene to the morgue. Because of the strict laws in Joseon (Korea), men are not allowed to touch women that aren’t directly related to them, which is explained in the novel. In most cases, the damo are women that studied to become palace nurses but didn’t get the test scores to pass. Being a damo is considered a lowly position, and for girls like Seol, it is basically an indentured servant position. However, Seol has such a curious mind and is so inquisitive to the world around her and the workings of what goes on in the police world that getting the opportunity to be involved in certain cases teaches her a lot of things.

In the beginning we are able to see the workings of classism and religion involved in Joseon when we see how the police bureau reacts to the deaths of the common people versus Lady O. We also see the difference in reactions from those that were killed that believed and practiced Catholicism opposed to Buddhism or Confucianism. Since following Western practices were considered illegal, those that were killed that believed in those practices weren’t mourned as much. It makes sense, although it was also really sad to see because they are all still the people of Joseon.

We even see how Seol is able to do what she needs to do, even going as far as to shoot a wild tiger that is almost about to kill Inspector Han when they are on the hunt for a missing suspect in the murder case of Lady O. None of the other male officers even thought to try to help their commanding officer, and that part just really impressed me. Again this really just showed me that women really need way more credit for what they are willing to sacrifice and do because they can get way more ballsy than men twice their size can do.

Ugh I loved this book! I seriously have found my next favorite author and I’m so excited to support more of Hur’s work.

Taylor McNeely

The Silence of Bones was the Korean historical book that I always dreamed of. I’ve watch a decent amount of historical K-dramas but a lot of times I don’t like them as much as I thought I would or I never finish them. Most of the time there is so much about politics, it just takes over the storyline. This book, however, did not do that. There was some politics but just enough to supplement the story and still keep it interesting.
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The secrets and mysteries behind both of the main characters pasts and the murders they need to solve kept me glued to my kindle. I actually took a month break on the book because I didn’t want to finish it!! I did see the ending coming (since I’m a K-drama lover), but that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to read Hur’s new book coming out soon!

Belle Ellrich

*I WAS PROVIDED A PHYSICAL COPY FOR THE PURPOSES OF A BLOG TOUR. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION*

I really was left speechless after reading this book.

June Hur is a fantastic author. Her writing style is so unique in that it's different from any other I've read. She has a way of writing that makes it seem like the book is a movie, and you're literally reading all of the describing details that stand out to you in movies. I loved that about this, and it really made the book easy to follow along, as well as more mysterious.

I'm not the biggest historical fiction fan, I'll admit that. But this book was VERY different from the last few I've read. It was exciting to read in a way that other historical books aren't!

Don't even get me started on the mystery aspect of this book. With most mysteries, I'm able to tell early on who is the "bad guy" and what happens. But with this one, I was left guessing through the entire read! I can't even tell y'all how happy that made me because, for once, I could actually enjoy the book without being completely let down by that factor.

The character development throughout this book was one I would rival with that of a highly experienced author's, if not even better! There were a couple moments where a character would be introduced almost too early on and took me a little by surprise, but otherwise, I really did enjoy seeing and reading about the factors each character produced.

Hur is an author I really do look forward to reading in the future. This book of hers was absolutely stunning and will leave me wanting more for a very long time. For that, I rate it 4.75 stars. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

jenny &
The Silence of Bones by June Hur

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