Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Release Date: April 21, 2020
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Mysteries / Historical
Set in Joseon Dynasty-era Korea, this evocative YA debut follows a 16-year-old indentured servant within the police bureau who becomes entangled in the politically charged investigation into the murder of a noblewoman.
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 debut The Silence of Bones is a bloody YA historical mystery tale set in Joseon Dynasty-era Korea. This is a world where a girl who runs away is branded; where a cross pendant can be a death sentence since the monarchy is in the process of cleansing the country of Catholic's or those who support them. The story follows 16-year-old Seol who is an indentured servant called Damo within the police bureau who becomes entangled in the politically charged investigation into the murder of a noblewoman that leads her to some very dark places and questions about those she is working with.
In this Korea, women are not treated equally, but the aristocratic women are mostly left alone. The police need female officers to arrest female criminals and examine female victims. The men are not allowed to touch or look at women's bodies unless they are married. Seol's job is to interact with female victims in the stead of the male police force. She also performs menial tasks and even lives at police headquarters. When the body of a female aristocrat is found mutilated, Seol must assist. She finds herself drawn into the procedure of investigation, and before too long, she is completely embroiled in the search for Lady O's killer.
She also hitches her fate to Inspector Han, an aristocrat and military officer who has a bit of darkness following him. Inspector Han allows her more latitude than others on the department by asking questions instead of shutting up her curiosity. She has a fierce loyalty to Inspector Han and she craves the truth. She is drawn to him but begins to wonder about his connection to a string of murders. Does the inspector have a reason to seek vengeance against Catholics? How can Seol keep her promise to find out what happened to her older brother?
Even though she cannot read or write, her mind is sharp, and she has questions about the crimes that she is helping investigate. Seol is curious when at times she shouldn't be. She craves knowledge but must figure out who she can trust and who she can't. She wants to do the right thing for her, but she also doesn't want to overstep her boundaries and end up in a worse position than being a Damo. Seol was not born a servant, but happenstance and bad timing ended up sending Seol to the Capitol to be a police servant. She has also come to the capitol searching for her brother who left 12 years earlier.
Seol yearns to go home, but she has been bound for a generation, and she must do her duty. If she runs, she will be marked. Seol's family background is a key plot to this story since it was her older sister who put Seol on this path to find her older brother left after the mother died, and they lost their fortune and status due to accusations of being Catholics. There's so much going on in this book as are there many twists that you need to pay attention to. I reiterate, when you read a book, it is nice to have notes to go along with it so that you can keep your thoughts in one place and put them altogether once you are in the process of putting your words to your review.
this sounds like an intense story and a good one. great review
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental