Painting Bones (New Edition)

苏诀Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. · ChinaSep 2017

Rating 3.4
Word count
468K words
Chapters
28
ISBN
9787559607652

Tags

Otherworld Continent Immortal Hero FantasyFate EntanglementSacrifice and RedemptionAngst-Ridden LoveForbidden RebirthSoul BondSword Spirit LegendAncient StyleFantasy WorldFemale Perspective

Summary

This book tells the story of an ancient sword spirit who draws bones for his beloved so that she may be reborn. Legend has it that the spirit of the ancient divine sword Changli acted against heaven, searching the Sea of the Dead for ten thousand years only to save a fallen soul. It is said that Yun Chumo, master of Mingyue Residence, uses forbidden arts to draw bones for others and bring them back to life, exchanging souls to keep one person alive. But I did not know that Changli is Chumo, and Chumo is Changli. And I am that unlucky fallen soul. They all say I am a witch bearing countless blood debts. How could that be? I am merely an ordinary mortal that Yun Chumo picked up.

Editor's review

As one of suspense writer Su Jue's representative works, the new edition of *Drawing Bones* retains the essence of the original while undergoing more refined polishing. The book skillfully combines forensic anthropology with criminal investigation and deduction, linking decades of grievances and entanglements through a bizarre "skeleton case." Su Jue's prose is calm and restrained, and the descriptions of forensic work details are rigorous yet vivid, making the professional knowledge accessible rather than obscure and turning it into a key gear that drives the plot.

The novel's core appeal lies in its multidimensional exploration of "truth"—the biological truth restored by the forensic examiner through bones, the behavioral truth pieced together by detectives from clues, and the emotional truth that the characters are forced to bury amid the currents of the times. These three threads intertwine and ultimately converge into a poignant picture of fate. The author is not content with simple reversals; through solid material-evidence reasoning and delicate character portrayal, every revelation of truth carries both logical inevitability and emotional impact.

The new edition optimizes the narrative rhythm, introducing suspense from the opening and quickly immersing readers in the situation. The book's sidelong sketch of the social landscape of a particular historical period in the last century provides a substantial and credible historical context for the causes of the crime, elevating it beyond ordinary detective fiction. For readers who enjoy social-school mystery fiction or are curious about forensic medicine and the process of criminal investigation, this book offers ample intellectual pleasure and depth of human observation.

Who it's for

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Reading tips

  1. It may help to take brief notes on the key figures and timeline in the case to understand the complex connections across time and space
  2. While reading, pay attention to how the author uses bones—the "silent witnesses"—to gradually reconstruct the characters' life histories and causes of death
  3. After the case is solved, revisit the details planted in the first half to appreciate the ingenuity of the author's foreshadowing

About the publisher

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. China · Founded in 1993

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. is a publisher known for its literature and history titles, with 2,065 books in the collection. Its publishing covers foreign literature, contemporary Chinese prose and essays, history, folk literature, and cultural books. Its list ranges from Sima Qian's complete edition of the Records of the Grand Historian to foreign classics such as The Book of Disquiet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Snow Country, The Stranger, and Jean-Christophe, as well as modern Chinese works including Teahouse and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk. Its authors and translators include Yasunari Kawabata, Fernando Pessoa, Erich Maria Remarque, Jin Xinyi, Zhou Miao, and Chen Chao. Public information is limited, but its catalogue reflects a balance between Chinese and foreign literary classics and historical and cultural works.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 楔子 画骨明月居
  3. 第一卷 亘古谣
  4. 第一章 邪魔银时月
  5. 第二章 往事多未央
  6. 第三章 故梦水风凉
  7. 第二卷 玉骨笛
  8. 第一章 迢迢西江月
  9. 第二章 蹁跹惊鸿影
  10. 第三章 冉冉物华休
  11. 第四章 心似双丝网
  12. 第五章 心愿与身违
  13. 第六章 情有千千结
  14. 第三卷 八重樱
  15. 第一章 樱妖绯悠闲
  16. 第二章 繁华笙歌落
  17. 第三章 迤逦泼茶香
  18. 第四章 江山日暮远
  19. 第五章 皎皎月中天
  20. 第四卷 千秋雪
  21. 第一章 风情花月浓
  22. 第二章 韶光日月浅
  23. 第三章 烽火照西京
  24. 第五卷 战长离
  25. 第一章 故人凌帝襄
  26. 第二章 魔女战姝妤
  27. 第三章 决战神女峰
  28. 番外 长离

FAQ

Are the forensic knowledge descriptions in this book professional and credible? Before writing, author Su Jue conducted extensive research in forensic anthropology. The depictions of core plot elements such as bone identification, wound analysis, and facial reconstruction are all grounded in the existing scientific framework, balancing professionalism and readability, and have been affirmed by many readers.
Is the story episodic or one long continuous case? The book is centered on and driven throughout by a core case triggered by an old skeleton. During the investigation, related branch cases and past mysteries are drawn in, but all plotlines serve the final resolution of the core mystery, making it a tightly structured long-form continuous narrative.
Is the tone of the work very dark and heavy? The subject matter involves crime and past tragedies, and the overall tone is serious, calm, and even somewhat bleak. However, the author's approach focuses on rational analysis and the revelation of human complexity rather than heightening horror or violence. It brings contemplation rather than sensory stimulation.

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About the author

苏诀 Author

Public information about Su Jue is currently limited; details such as nationality and year of birth remain unclear. What can be confirmed is that two works by this author are held in the collection: Hua Gu Xiang and Hua Gu (New Edition). Judging from the available works, Su Jue's writing centers on the genre of otherworldly continents, a common category in online literature, with stories set in imagined worlds. The titles of the two signed works are similar, both built around the core image of "painting bone," which may suggest a degree of continuity in the author's choice of names and subject matter. However, because of the limited material, it is difficult to summarize the plotting, character design, and narrative techniques in more detail. On the basis of the current information, Su Jue is a relatively low-profile author with a small number of works, whose creative profile awaits further public information and textual study.