A Crane Among Wolves

by June Hur

June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that will feel all-too-relevant in today’s world, based on a true story from Korean history.

Hope is dangerous. Love is deadly.

1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.

Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom’s turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king’s latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king’s power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death.

Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When staging a coup, failure is fatal, and he’ll need help to pull it off—but there’s no way to know who he can trust.

When Iseul's and Daehyun's fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul’s family connections and Daehyun’s royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever

Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.

Also by June
The Silence of Bones
The Forest of Stolen Girls
The Red Palace

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Historical, Mystery, Fiction

363 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2024

About the author

JUNE HUR (허주은) is a New York Times and Indie bestselling, Edgar Award-winning author of YA historical mysteries and romances, including The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls, The Red Palace , and A Crane Among Wolves . Born in South Korea, June spent her formative years in the USA, Canada, and South Korea before studying History and Literature at the University of Toronto and working at the Toronto Public Library. Her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, The New York Times, CBC, KBS and more. June's next release, Adoration, a Jane Austen homage set during the Joseon dynasty, is slated for spring 2026. She resides in Toronto with her family and can be spotted writing in coffee shops.

You can find her on Instagram and Tiktok @junehwrites

Reviews

[rina ! ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⊹ 𓏲࣪ 4 stars ★ 𓄹 ࣪ .
⤿ no spoilers in this review

⤷ “ you would brave a life with me ? ”
“ i would brave this life, and a thousand more. ”

HELLO ??? JUNE HUR WHEN I CATCH YOU. WHEN I CATCH YOU 😠

⇢ the plot. a crane among wolves is set in 1506 joseon, which is under the rule of the tyrant king yeonsan. (a historical note: king yeonsan is infamous for extensive purges, mass executions, bloodshed, and abusing women.) iseul, a sheltered teenager, embarks on a dangerous journey to save her sister, who has become a victim of the king. prince daehyun, who despises his half-brother's actions, wants to overthrow him. despite their initial disdain for each other, iseul and dahyun find common ground, leading to an unexpected begrudging alliance. i truly adore june hur for choosing to write about this topic. as someone who is familiar with it, i thought the author did a great job portraying the harsh realities that people faced during that period. the fact that june hur managed to write about such complex themes in such an emotionally devastating and gripping way amazes me ?? and i can't help but love her for it 😌
+ i love love historical fiction books, but it doesn't always necessarily mean it has to be a slog to read. it can be enjoyable, and this book is exactly what i mean by that.

“ i will be yours, and i shall be your ruin ”

➼ “ if by any chance we do not meet again in this lifetime, then i will find you in the next-or as many lifetimes as it takes to see you again ”

➼ “ iseul-ah. you have me, so use me ”
+ a part of me died 🫠

➼ “ my heart feels a little lighter ”
he felt undone

⇢ iseul + daehyun. i loved loved reading about these two characters ?? what i especially adore about daehyun is how sweet he is ?? a lot of the fictional men i've seen come off as toxic, but he was absolutely so precious, and i love seeing men who do justice to the "in a world of boys, he's a gentleman" lyric. he's mature, caring, considerate, and open-minded ?? can i have him ? please and thank you. AND WHEN HE TAUGHT ISEUL HOW TO PROPERLY STAB ??? *faints* iseul + daehyun's journey, both together and apart, is filled with pain, fear, and desperation, and i could not help but feel the emotions seep through the pages. even though i did feel that iseul's character and the buildup to their romance was kind of lacking, i still really enjoyed how vulnerable and resilient she was. really, my only complaints are that the pacing was uneven, and i was looking for a bit more character development, but please believe i still love them dearly.

⇢ the side characters. MY SWEET WONSIK <3 please i love him like a father 😭 i won't give away too much bc this is spoiler-free, but oh wonsik, ever the honorable selfless character 🥹 i have so much affection for him. he truly made this book 10x better.
+ the murder mystery. i somehow managed to be caught off guard once the killer was revealed. not me guessing every single character to exist in this book as the culprit, yet still managing to be wrong 😭 please you should have seen my desperate attempts to ingrid at figuring out who it could have been 😭 we were grasping at straws at that point.

“ one is imprisoned by a thousand rules as a woman, and no one will explain to me why such rules exist ”

➼ “ rape is about power; it is never about desire or love ”
+ never truer words said

⇢ the ending. CHAPTER 42 ?? OH MY 😭 JUNE HUR THE WOMAN YOU ARE FOR WRITING CHAPTER 42 ?? I GASPED, TEARS WERE SHED, LIVES WERE CHANGED !! if any part of this review will convince you to put this book on your tbr, LET IT BE CHAPTER 42, which alone deserves ALL STARS.
+ the epilogue was so fluffy too, and did justice to our favourite characters stories.

thank you june hur, for writing such an authentic and powerful book that will continue to haunt me entirely because of chapter 42, and thank you to my bff (the most amazing human being to exist) who read this with me and also experienced a mental breakdown 🤭 it's always so fun to incoherently scream together over books 💐❤‍🩹

thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review !

pre-review
GUESS WHO GOT AN ARC ? me and my best friend ingrid <33 so excited to go through this together bff

[Chloe Gong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating mystery, political intrigue, and a perilously beautiful romance. A Crane Among Wolves excels at suspense even with true history’s outline. June Hur reigns supreme in making the past come alive.

[aleksandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5

The girl searching for her sister clashes with the prince who wants to find a way to dethrone his tyrant half-brother? The two joining forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever seen? And all this from both of their points of view? Not to mention the gorgeous cover? As soon as I saw this book, I knew I had to read it, but unfortunately, as it turned out, it didn't work for me. Even though I really wanted to, I couldn’t get into this story. Probably because I couldn’t connect with the characters. If I'm reading a book and instead of being immersed in the story, I'm counting down the pages until the end of the chapter, I know that's not the best sign. I'm embarrassed to admit it, because I hate doing it, but unfortunately I skipped a lot of descriptions and boring dialogues to get to the end.

I hope it will be a "it's me, not the book" situation, because the book itself wasn't bad. I think some people will definitely love it because the writing was quite alright, the characters were likable, and the ending was satisfying. I think the author has a lot of potential, so if her future title looks promising for me, I will definitely give her a second chance.


*Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!*

[saffiyah✧ఌ · Rating 2 out of 5]

➳ 2.25 stars ✩
⤿ a spoiler free arc review

₊˚⊹ ᰔ “hope is dangerous. love is deadly.”

this was my first book by june hur and to say it was underwhelming would be a huge understatement. i found myself bored and skimming through pages, because it did not catch my attention well enough.


💌 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
⤿ dual pov
⤿ both 1st and 3rd person povs
⤿ enemies to lovers
⤿ slow burn
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ one bed
⤿ love triangle
⤿ found family

‎ ‎౨ৎ • 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽: in joseon 1506, the people suffer under the rule of tyrant king yeonsan, who commits violent atrocities. his half-brother daehyun has lived his whole life in his shadow, waiting for the moment to dethrone his half-brother. staging a coup and failing is fatal. and yet he has no way of knowing who to trust. iseul, 17, had lived a privileged life as a yangban aristocrat. but when her older sister suyeon is taken as the king's, she leaves the safety of her own village to try and steal her sister back. after learning about the serial killer 'nameless flower', iseul decides to catch the killer to win back her sister's freedom.
despite the very alluring plot, it wasn't executed as well as it could have been. the story felt very convenient and contrived. and the inclusion of the mystery plot took me out of the story the most - it didn't leave me guessing and it was very obvious from the beginning who 'nameless flower' was. lots of the story felt almost too fast, as though there wasn't enough build-up and only this huge explosion that left me wanting more. it also felt like many of the plot points were delayed so for most of the story i was just waiting for something to happen. i also found myself already knowing major plot points/'twists' before they even occurred, which reduced my enjoyment whilst reading this greatly.

‎ ‎౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮: this was.. definitely something. it was very fast-paced, which i usually hate, but here i was very indifferent towards it. i felt no emotion because their relationship was just not convincing in the slightest. i honestly wish there was no romance and a heavier focus on the actual plot.

‎ ‎౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: the majority of the problems that i have with this book stem from the writing. for starters, it's written in 1st person pov for iseul and 3rd for daehyun and their chapters alternate, which really took me out of the story. also, there is a lot of telling and not enough showing. for example, we are constantly told about wosnik fatherly relationship with iseul, but i saw none of it, and i remember them speaking three to four times maximum. the prose was lovely at times, but not the best. i never really felt connected with the characters and plot. it felt like this was the first draft, as there was so much potential that was not utilised correctly.

‎ ‎౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼: the character development of iseul was much needed, although it came rather late in the story, she went from a spoilt, petulant and immature teenager to someone who i could tolerate (barely). however, we get very little insight into her which really didn't help. daehyun didn't really do much for me - i feel like this is an issue i have with many mmcs, as i often feel like they are always praised for just existing, but hawlty✨

‎ ‎౨ৎ • 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: i came for the cover tbh. it was also incredibly misleading to label this a sci-fi/fantasy when it is a historical fiction. however, if you are able to suspend your disbelief or even better; completely turn your brain off. this is also very dark so please, please, please check the trigger warnings <3


thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!


˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩


☾.°✧౨ৎ ‧ pre-review:

i'm not mad, just disappointed.

and maybe also just a little bit mad.

rating+rtc


˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩


☾.°✧౨ৎ ‧ updates:

soft dnf @ 43% for now because i'm not loving how literally nothing has happened yet - i'll probably come back to it soon tho


˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩


☾.°✧౨ৎ ‧ tbr-review:

i got approved for the arc!! the cover is so so gorgeous ugh😻😻💝

[Nancy •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

──⟡⋆˙✩ 4.5 stars ✩ ⋆˙⟡──

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ “𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐖𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧; 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞.” *ೃ༄

What an exhausting read this was.

Exhausting because it was emotionally harrowing and made me cry a lot. And because it injected a(n) (un)healthy dose of ✦REALITY✦ into me.

This wasn’t some fairy tale with sparkly unicorns and rainbows. This was real and gruesome, and all the more depressing because it’s based on real Korean history. The author made it a point to be as historically accurate as possible — most of the characters are actual historical figures. And the decisions they made that caused so much devastation? Also very, very real.

I didn’t know. I thought this would read more like a romance and less like historical fiction. I still loved it tho if you couldn’t tell by my rating lol. And now I’m certain I want to read more of this author’s books — this time, with the right mindset and expectations.

Setting: 1506, Joseon Dynasty
CW: Rape, animal cruelty, character deaths, misogyny

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕀𝕤 𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥: ℕ𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕪 𝔼𝕕𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ᯓ★

In this time period, Korea was ruled by a tyrant who did things tyrants do — like, you know, kill people for fun and kidnap any beautiful women he came across. He literally has a whole palace full of over a thousand women he’s stolen from their homes. One of those women is Iseul’s sister. So naturally, Iseul heads to the capital to get (read: steal) her back. Along the way, she crosses paths with Daehyun, the tyrant’s half-brother, who’s plotting a rebellion. They team up.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ ℍ𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕘 𝕀𝕤𝕖𝕦𝕝: “𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭.”

Firstly, I just want to say: I really loved Iseul.

She was unexpected. I did not expect someone so flawed. Like, objectively speaking, she was unlikeable. She has very real flaws that made her a bit of a bitch. A terrible sister, so to speak.

You see, Iseul came from a powerful aristocratic family, but two years ago the shitty king did some shitty things and executed everyone. So she and her older sister had to flee. Growing up pampered and privileged made her a... how to put it politely? A spoiled brat. For the past two years, while living as a POOR PERSON, her sister worked herself to the bone day and night while she never lifted a single finger to help — because, "I wasn’t born for this life. I was born to live in luxury with a hundred servants at my beck and call.”

➽ I hope I didn’t scare y’all off with this. Her character development was really great. She feels so much remorse for not being a better sister and genuinely tries to do better.

I know all I’ve talked about are her flaws so let me repeat it again: ✦I LOVED HER✦ Flaws and all.

If she had been a living saint like her sister, while I would have liked her, she wouldn’t have been as interesting of a character. I don’t like her in spite of her flaws. I like her because of them.

➽ She also has serious trust issues and is really wary of anything like friendship or love. Especially toward the beginning — she’s prickly, rude and constantly on guard around everyone. She tries to keep people at a distance.

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬.”
“𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭,” 𝐈 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝.

I loved watching her form genuine friendships and find love, slowly melting the coldness around her heart.

➽ Another thing I really liked about her: she has so much agency.

She single-handedly moves the plot forward by herself. She’s no passive character. No pawn in someone else’s game. She makes her own way. She’s a bit stubborn and unwilling to listen to others (mostly because she doesn’t trust anyone), which is fine to a degree — but a lot of them actually mean her well, so it’s a little detrimental. (But hey, trust issues, am I right?)

Every other character: Hi, Iseul! (◕‿◕✿)
Iseul: (¬_¬) You’re plotting to betray me, aren’t you?

^^^ Literally her energy. And I loved it.

“𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞,” 𝐈 𝐦𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝. “𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.”

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ One of my favourite aspects of this novel is the relationship between her and her sister. They both went through a lot. And at one point in their lives, they were strangers to one another. But throughout the course of the book, they grew closer once more — and it was depicted so beautifully.

I need more sisterly love in my novels, please.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝔻𝕒𝕖𝕙𝕪𝕦𝕟:“𝐈𝐟 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭—𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.”

I didn’t know what to think about him in the beginning. Their “meet-cute” wasn’t the cutest lmao. It was instead very violent and bloody, with something like the beginning of hatred.

He’s a cold boy, our prince. To outsiders, he appears indifferent and cruel. But as the tyrant’s half-brother, he’s always walking on eggshells. That bitch could really execute him at any moment. So he has to keep himself detached and careful at all times.

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞?”
“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞?” 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐲, 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞. “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭?”

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 in this book is pretty much not really a priority — for both the author and Iseul (lol). She is 100% focused on her goal and doesn’t let BOYS distract her from her path.

She loves, yes — but it doesn’t consume her. She has her priorities in order. And I admire her so much for that. Truly. Because there’s a time and place for love, and this wasn’t it.

➽ But anyway — those little moments where we did see things developing? I wasn’t TOO impressed in the beginning. For the first 50% of the book, I thought the romance was the weakest plot point.

But then Daehyun really won me over in the second half. He was just so gentle with her. He was the calm to her chaos.

She’s very brash and impulsive. Very passionate. Put him beside her and you’d think he’s a cardboard cutout with no emotions (which isn’t true btw — he feels very much, he’s just not expressive like she is).

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡?” 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲. “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝.”

He’s the sweetest. He’s so respectful. Truly a gentleman in a world of boys (yes I stole that line from Taylor Swift, SUE ME).

ANYWAY.

By the end, I was left a giggling, blushing mess and I now want a Daehyun in my life. SHIP ONE TO ME.

I really want someone with his energy. Like I CANNOT stress how gentle and soft he is. While also simultaneously being cold and detached?! Make it make sense.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Now onto 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕝 𝕡𝕝𝕠𝕥.

I’m rarely so interested in the plot (you know — the other, non-romance stuff). But the whole storyline of planning a rebellion — and the side plot with the murder mystery? I was on the edge of my seat, theorizing about anything and everything. I’ve never been so involved.

I usually prefer to take a backseat, turn off my brain, and read how things unfold instead of trying to figure it out myself.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝕋𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕀 ℂ𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕕:

➻ The horse.

I know the author warned me about animal cruelty. But I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t prepared. And when it happened? I lost it. My live reaction was just:

how dare you. how fricking dare you. king yeonsan sleep with your eyes open tonight. when I find you, I will make you regret your very existence. you hateful bastard. you miserable MF. HOW. DARE. YOU.

➻ When her sister told her “I love you.”

I broke. Like, WHY? Why do you love her? She’s been so awful to you. And yet… there are people who love others regardless of whether they deserve it. And that destroyed me.

➻ The character death.

One word: WHY.
Iseul was sobbing. I was sobbing. We were in pain. Together.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 ᯓ★

I need to write out a separate section for the ending because it both devastated me in the most emotionally exhausting way possible while also making butterflies grow in my stomach.

The whole plot is about our main character overthrowing a tyrant and saving her sister and of course, freeing the common people and just making everything prosper once more, right? The ending should’ve been perfect. Everyone back home. Everyone happy. The world at peace once more.

➽ But you see… this isn’t just a made-up novel. This is (forgive my reiteration) based on ACTUAL HISTORY.

And when is real life ever perfect?

The ending wasn’t the perfect thing I had envisioned. Not even close. Because people are shitty. People are cruel and heartless.

So in real life, we will never have anything that’s truly good and just. This isn’t a fricking utopia. The world should be better. If this were merely a fictional novel, it would have been better. But it wasn’t. Because it wasn’t fictional. Because it was all real.

And it pisses me off.

It pisses me off so bad but there’s nothing I can do about it — except live with hatred in my heart and resentment in my blood.

But like. My heart did heal a little.

➽ Because what the book told me is that: it’s okay. Life will never be perfect and good — but you still ought to enjoy the little things and cherish those who love you. You still have to make the best of it. You have to make every second count.

Don’t be sad because you might die tomorrow.
Enjoy today BECAUSE you might die tomorrow.

And that’s what these characters do. They find happiness in the little specks of goodness. They find love and friendship.

➽ And so I healed.
I healed because this is real. This is what living is like. My life isn’t perfect. But don’t I enjoy myself just the same?

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 𝕀𝕟 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟, this book isn’t meant for escapism. It’s meant to pull away the veil from your eyes and make you look — really look — around you. Because this isn’t just the world in a novel. This is the world we live in.

A world where shitty people in power do shitty things, and we all suffer as a result.

➽ Something happened where I live very recently, and this book just made me dwell on it more. Especially the ending. Even after you’ve overthrown the tyrant — even when you think it’s all over, that your lives will be perfect now — it never is. In some ways, it’s still the same. And history just keeps on repeating itself. Because people never learn.

I wish I could drag everyone to take a course on what it means to be human — truly human — and have that little thing called a heart, instead of spending all day studying useless things like PHYSICS. (not me getting in a dig at physics cuz I’m failing the subject 💀)

P.S. I cannot believe I wrote a 2000 word review. The narrative writings I used to churn out for English class weren’t even this long. Did I bore you, my loves? I’m sorry :)


⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ρ𝕣ꫀ-𝕣ꫀꪖᦔ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

I've been eyeing this book for months. Please be good ༼ つ ಥ_ಥ ༽つ

[aimee (aimeecanread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We live in a terrible time. An era when the truth is a crime. And there is nothing we can do about it—”

♡ A Crane Among Wolves is dark, gripping, and heart-wrenching. The main story is based off true events from Korea's devastating history, and Jane Hur doesn't shy away from showing us the heinous deeds of King Yeonsan.

I often found myself reflecting on the story and its similarities to events from both of the cultures I associate with (Filipino and Chinese). I'm sure every nation has experienced (or is currently experiencing) ruthlessness, selfishness, and unjustness from people in power. This story highlights how these gruesome times should not be forgotten, and how there are crimes that should never be forgiven.

There's a lot of sub-plots woven into the story as well, including the planning of a secret coup, the mystery of a murderer, and the pining of two young characters. Fair warning: If you're looking for something fast-paced and action packed, this isn't for you. This book focuses a lot more on the bigger picture rather than the individual events that were going on.

♡ Iseul and Daehyun are likeable characters, and I was definitely on this journey with them, the whole way through. Neither were perfect by any means, but they both fit perfectly into this story.

Iseul. Iseul's character goes through a lot of character development. She starts off as a spoiled (but self-aware) girl who has no choice but to grow up and toughen up when she realizes how cruel the world can be… even to young girls like her.

Daehyun. He's very much the poster boy of a Historical K-drama — a tad stoic, very mysterious, and overall just the good guy. I would have loved to get to know him more (his chapters were half as short as Iseul's), but a liked his character well enough. He had this honesty to his character that I really appreciated.

Tomorrow, the kingdom could sink into the sea.
Tomorrow, all the elders we trusted could betray us.
Tomorrow, the fog might consume everything we loved.
But I had him today. And he had me.

♡ Iseul and Daehyun together? This was enemies-to-lovers done well. I found their relationship to be slow and realistic. We got a few he's-touching-me-and-that's-making-my-stomach-tickle-but-idk-why scenes before we got the I'll-scarifice-my-life-to-keep-you-safe scenarios. I don't think you'd get attached to their romance at first (at least I didn't), but by the end, you'll feel your heart just bursting for these two. The angst and the yearning were so good.

“In dark times, every mother becomes your mother, every child your child, every sister your sister… and every stranger-in-need a friend.”

♡ Iseul and Daehyun also have a gorgeous found family in the side characters. The side characters were all well-written, and I definitely grew to love them. (Special shoutout to my favorite character, Wonsik!) They all had specific roles to play in the story, and I enjoyed watching our main characters grow bonds with them. Like with Daehyun, it would have been nice to have a liiitle bit more of a background for them, but overall, we have a pretty solid cast here.

“History moves its course, but it is the youth who point the current in its direction.”

♡ The writing style definitely leans a bit serious for this one. It's not the easiest read in the world (i.e., the writing is far from casual), but it adds to the ambiance. Trust me, if anything, you will feel like you're in 1500s Joseon. The writing also just makes the story deeper and more impactful.

♡ I'm going to leave this review with my favorite thing about the book: the ending is something I will think about and reread over and over again. (In fact, I've already reread it three times!) It's perfect. It's the best way to get off the emotional rollercoaster that is A Crane Among Wolves. No spoilers from me, though, so you'll just have to read it for yourselves.

TLDR: If you're interested in some fantastic storytelling about politics and power, featuring a team of unique characters (and an angst-y romance between the two MCs), please do yourselves a favor by picking this book up.

[mitra ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⌗ ⊹ 🕸️ 𓂃 ࣪𖤐 pre-read.

06/11/2024 ⊹ this is a desperate attempt (cry for help) to get me out of my month-long reading slump !

note - thank you to ingrid, rina, and shehr for making me so excited to read this in the first place. i love you all very dearly <3

thank you to june hur and the publisher for providing me with an arc.

[maelyn ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

ᝰ.ᐟ 🪭⋆. 𐙚 ˚ ┊6 ⭑.ᐟ
― read 07/15/25 - 07/19/25

the story of womenhood, sisterhood, fighting against oppression, and sacrificing all odds for the ones you love. this book was an emotional roller coaster, but nevertheless i enjoyed every bit of it.

🥢╰┈➤ “I had planned to depart this morning, but then I wanted a glimpse of you. Just a glimpse. And when I saw you standing there, the woman who haunts every corner of my dreams..." — silver springs coded.

[lydia ‧ ia]

the queens chloe gong and ann liang both loved this, so on to the tbr it goes 😗

[Lyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

─── ⋆⋅5☆⋅⋆ ──

꒰ ° “𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑. 𝙵𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚝 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚜𝚝.” ꒱

୨regarding spoilers, the first part of the review is spoiler free!! the parts that WILL have spoilers will have a warning beforehand୧

Did I pick this up in the bookstore because the people in the cover were glaring at each other menacingly with just enough tension to really pull me in? Yes! I judged the book by its cover and jumped right in without any clue what it was about, and as a result: this book was so much more than I was expecting it to be.

The book follows Iseul, a seventeen-year-old girl who travels through forbidden territory to reach the capital. Why? Because her older sister was stolen by the king, who steals women and keeps them to either work or for their bodies. On the way she makes friends, she makes enemies, and she finds the love of her life after he shoots her with an arrow. But this book also follows Daehyun, a prince who wishes to dethrone his brother. Not to be king himself, but because he has grown tired of the kings treachery.

This book has everything, it has the blossoming friendship dynamics, it has a rebellion working to take down a tyrannical and ruthless king, it has a troubling and complicated relationship between two sisters, it has a murder mystery, and it has a slow burn enemies to lovers story that I would die for. And the best part? Each and every one of the listed characteristics of the book are delved into and explored. They blend together to make the book emotional, impactful, entertaining, and enjoyable.

“If by any chance we do not meet again in this lifetime, then I will find you in the next—or as many lifetimes as it takes to see you again.”

One thing I will warn everyone about is that this is not just a romance. The love story is the subplot, and to enjoy this book you would have to enjoy the plot and characters. In fact, Iseul and Daehyun don’t meet till about 100 pages in, and after that meeting, it takes a while for them to meet again. I personally have no issue with this because I love the story as much as I love the romance, but this may be a problem for some!! The romance, in my opinion, is amazing though.

spoilers incoming…

”We were sisters. Two girls who shared pieces of each other, tied together by an unspoken bond, a warm feeling of attachment, that no amount of bickering could easily sever. We were sisters. Comrades born from the same womb”

Iseul
╰┈➤ To put it simply, I loved Iseul. It was strange for me to read from the perspective of a younger sister, as I’m an older sister myself! But in the beginning, it’s shown that she was taken care of by her parents and her sister. She wanted for nothing, she worked for nothing, this was her first time working in the world alone. But she did it so fearlessly, she was so determined and motivated no matter the situation. Now, she wasn’t necessarily kind to the people around her.. she didn’t want friends, didn’t believe they existed. I think that one of the best parts of this book is watching her get proved wrong in that department by creating friendships that will last a lifetime. In the start of this book, Iseul has one goal, getting her sister back. As the book goes on, it becomes more than that. She joins the rebellion to dethrone the king, because she wants that man dead. AND SO DO I??? Thing is, men are corrupt, self serving people. So when the leaders of the coup are promised the kings women, what does Iseul do? She sneaks right in, grabs the all women she can, and she gets them out.

Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear bad attitudes and pretty faces.

So that thing I said about men earlier? About how they’re corrupt and self serving? Ykw! Not all men! Because Daehyun would never.

”Iseul-ah. You have me, so use me”

Daehyun
╰┈➤ TAKE. NOTES. This is A REAL MAN. I mean sure, the first interaction he has with Iseul is when he hit her with an arrow! But.. he felt really bad about it. Plus, they have a whole cleaning each others wounds scene that makes up for it. I loved Daehyun from the start, I specifically loved reading about his transition from simply hating the king to wanting to bring him down. But also, Daehyun has been playing the king for years. He has been trying to stay on his good side and avoid dying at the hand of an insane, paranoid, cruel man. He’s incredibly smart, he’s a capable manipulator, and he could easily be just as despicable as the king is, and he could probably do it better, but he isn’t. He isn’t cruel, or despicable, or self serving. After shooting Iseul and having to leave her behind, he does what he can to find her again and make sure she’s okay, because the last thing he wants is to be like the king. He doesn’t want to kill and hurt without reason, he doesn’t want to fill the world with hatred.

“You would brave a life with me?"
"I would brave this life," I murmured against him, "and a thousand more.”

ref, DO SOMETHING.

“Tell me to leave,” he urged me desperately. I knew I ought to bid him farewell, yet my hands would not release his sleeve. “And if I do not?” After a long, tense moment, he leaned in, pressing his forehead gently against the curve of my shoulder. “Then I will be yours,” he confessed, his voice a soft caress, “and I shall be your ruin.”

no ref I’m dead serious, get me out of here.

MAJOR SPOILERS

Iseul & Daehyun
╰┈➤ Are you KIDDING ME? This slow burn did in fact burn. Burn me alive, that is. I absolutely loved these two. From the very beginning, Daehyun was infatuated with Iseul from the moment he hit her with that arrow, from that moment on he did not stop thinking about her. It just worsened throughout the book too, when he just kept repeating “iseul Iseul Iseul” I was trying so hard to stifle my giggles (I was in a classroom when reading, I read this during finals and it was the only thing that kept me going) I just don’t know what it was about their relationship that made me love them so much, but I did. Perhaps it was them working together despite not wanting to be near each other, and reading as they gradually came to love and appreciate one another’s presence. They became the most important people in each others lives all while working together to bring down a king, find a murderer, and get Iseuls sister back. They were multitasking. Speaking of multitasking, Iseul was really putting in the work because she

TRAVELED THE FORBIDDEN TERRITORY, MADE IT TO THE CAPITAL, SAVED A BUNCH OF WOMEN FROM THE KING, HELPED ORGANIZE THE COUP, SOLVED A MURDER, AND THEN WENT TO SAVE HER MAN. can we please give her a round of applause?? she did more in this one book than I’ve done in my entire life

And the entire last 10% of the book was truly diabolical for making me believe Daehyun was dead. At first I shrugged it off and was like “oh he’s fine get up Daehyun” but then TWO MONTHS PASSED?? AND THEN SIX AND THEN A WHOLE YEAR?? DAEHYUN GET UP??? (he got up. don’t worry.) I was so horrified for about thirty pages though, the author got me good. Regardless of the emotional rollercoaster that the author put me through, I loved what it led to. Daehyun and Iseul leaving together to live a life away from the capital was the best possible ending for them, and then after YEARS them coming back and Iseul reuniting with her sister and Yul ohhh don’t make me cry please.

You will not always be the wisest, nor the strongest, nor the bravest. That is why we need friends. They will guide you down the right path, no matter how dark it grows.
╰┈➤ Wonsik was one of the best characters in this book, I loved him to death and I’m so glad Iseul met him because he truly guided her in the right direction.

“It’s not you who are tarnished, but them! The king, his chehongsa officers, the coup leaders— anyone who would think to blame you for their crimes! They are the ones who should be ashamed!”
╰┈➤ a moment of recognition for my favorite character, Yul, who was never ever wrong and spoke nothing but facts at every given moment. not only does she have this INSANE bar but she also had “You must change the heavens. So go, daegam. Go and move the heavens for her.” and I feel this that alone earns her a spot in this review

“This is our fate,” came Older Sister’s despondent words. “We must be silent even when we are in pain.”
╰┈➤ my heart breaking for Suyeon part 74

final thoughts

This book may not be special to everyone, but it’s special to me. Reading it felt like my fingers were magnetically tied to these pages, flipping them every minute and digesting each word like I needed it to survive. I loved every aspect of it, the characters, the plot, the subplots, the relationships and dynamics between the characters, the writing, everything. I will be recommending this to anyone and everyone EVERY chance I get, so if I start becoming one of the most obnoxious people you’ve ever met, I formally apologize!!

“We mortals exist for but a season, and yet we love as though we are bound by eternity.”

꒰ ° 𝚙𝚛𝚎-𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ꒱

i think i just got hit by a semi-truck, punched in the gut, stomped on, run over by a bulldozer and then got miraculously healed??

anyway. would do it all over again. 5 stars. rtc.

꒰ ° 𝚙𝚛𝚎-𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 ꒱

it’s time to get back on my fantasy grind
it’s the best genre but it’s also the hardest to read because it makes me feel soooo much, romance is so much easier 🙂‍↕️ hopefully this book is as good as the cover cause I absolutely adore it (yes, I’m judging a book by its cover and nobody can ever stop me)

rating prediction is 4 stars but if you’ve read the book lmk what you rated it!!

[ingrid ₊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

june hur... write a death trope book please..... ୨୧ ⋆˙ and to you who went to the other side reading this with me, rina ty.

[lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

finished one of my most highly anticipated novels of 2024… all i can think about is how a very wise person once said “expect nothing and you will never be disappointed”.

[๑ seungchaccomin ๑ · Rating 4 out of 5]

book rating: ••••.5
audiobook rating: •••••

‘if by any chance we do not meet again in this lifetime, then i will find you in the next—or as many lifetimes as it takes to see you again.’
‘don’t die. so long as you live, we’ll have the rest of our lives to find each other again. and i will find you again.’

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD-

i know it's been a long time of reading historical fiction, but hello??? i don't care if there's 1st and 3rd povs, but the way she writes, i'm in freaking awe.

at the start of the book, i'm a little bit confused about the storyline, but after i read the rest of the chapters, i'm actually like it. but for the last 6 chapters, i expect some gruesome action-packed scenes, but i guess that's not happening. also, i thought that king yeonsan was the real antagonist, well... i was wrong. at least the last 2 chapters saved the conclusion.

for the audiobook, i am SHOCKED at their voices the way they narrates, especially greg chun. leik it's giving period drama antagonist (tmi: i was almost asleep while listening to this, but when greg's voice boomed, i wide awake. then proceeds to continue listening 😭). but both chun and [michelle] lee are great narrators so i give 5 star for the audiobook.

ps: now that i'm done, looks like i'm gonna listen more of greg chun soon 🤭

───────────────────────

pre-read:

not gonna lie, but the cover stuns me ✨
also, i just hope that the contents inside the book are as beautiful as the cover 

[Ele]

Me: *sees June Hur's got a new book deal* *heads over to Goodreads without having even read the plot yet*
What can I say, she writes really good books (very simplistic but hey, the books are just *chef's kiss* perfection)

[vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There are too many sorrows in life to feel each too deeply.”

june hur brilliantly crafts an evocative tale of hope, treason, and privilege. there were multiple moving elements and subplots in the story but it doesn’t stray away from the main themes.

THE PLOT
the story starts at a rapid pace right off the bat and drew me in without missing a beat! it does slow down a little in the middle but i can forgive that because the plot is solid with intriguing characters and great world building. everything is portrayed in vivid detail without missing a beat. i enjoyed the bits on warfare, strategy and politicking as they added a good punch to the story. i had a fun time guessing at who the killer might be and surprisingly enough, my very first guess (barely after the 14% mark) turned out to be right after all 😄.

THE CHARACTERS
i particularly enjoyed how well the narrative of both characters moved the story and couldn’t help but be completely indulged in it.

iseul’s mission to see her older sister freed from the king’s evil clutches was touching and poignant. despite her fraught relationship with her sister she was determined to find her and fix their bond. though at times, i found her to be unlikable after it was revealed just how cruel and heartless she was towards her sister so considering all that, it was hard to believe that she’d go to such great lengths to rescue her sister whom she didn’t seem to care much about back when they were still together. she was also privileged in a way that you can’t help but be a little annoyed with. i didn’t hate her character but i didn’t love her either.

daehyun on the other hand, had a tragic past which made it easier for me to empathise with and i was drawn to his character more than iseul’s. they were similar in the sense that the king was responsible for turning their worlds upside down so they shared a mutual hatred for him but despite daehyun having significantly more privilege than iseul since he’s a prince, he still didn’t act privileged or spoiled which was ironic.

the romance between them didn’t exactly have that much chemistry and felt a little forced. i was expecting an enemies-to-lovers situation but mostly they just disliked each other up to some extent which soon turned into attraction.

FINAL THOUGHTS
overall, the complex politics, court intrigue and mystery made this a pretty well-rounded story even if the characters needed a little fine tuning. i initially planned to give this 5 stars, what with how promising the start was but some of the twists and plot points either didn’t make sense or happened too conveniently in favour of the mcs. either way, i’ll still read anything this author writes and i’m excited to see where her writing journey takes us next :)

[ellie જ⁀➴ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳ 4 ☆!🏹 spoiler free review
⤷ please try this!! this book has renewed my love for asian historical fiction 🥹💌

"you look like a vengeful ghost." he murmured.
"and you are the sort i would furiously haunt for all eternity." she retorted.

➳ to start, ive been sticking to my mini reviews for a bit now because ive found no book super worthy to rant about. and while i love keeping things simple, ive found this book so impactful and good that i need to dive deep + give it my best shot at recommending it to you. enjoy <3

₊‧꒰my thoughts꒱ ‧₊
⤷ overall i really enjoyed this! plot, setting, and writing were very simple but fascinating. 1500s korea? ID LOVE TO KNOW MORE! mystery of a killer? let me investigate. plus writing that is clam but can speak volumes? immediate yes. i think the only reason this isnt 5 stars is because i couldnt connect to the characters right away, but after a little, i found a sense of care & adoration for them. to the point where i wanted them to stay safe. as this book is dark, violent, and dramatic. but dont worry there are TWS!! but yeah, that aspect was really emotional :( idk how to explain since i went in blind (which you should as well haha) but yes! bottom line is that i think everyone needs to try this no matter what genre you prefer. ultimately i find this a powerful story of sisterhood, persistence, and family dynamics.

if you love these books id try it asap!:
• the girl who fell beneath the sea
• a song to drown rivers

some author's praise:
• adalyn grace
• stacey lee, kathleen glasglow
• hasfah faizal, ann liang

➳“We mortals exist for but a season, and yet we love as though we are bound by eternity.”

‧꒰characters!꒱‧
AHHH in the end i really love isuel, she reminds me of mulan in a sense! i find her to be brave, a bit stubborn, loving, girly, but also fierce. seriously want to give her the biggest hug ever i loved her :( and as for daehyun. OH THIS MANNN!! even tho he wasn't the center of attention, every time he was on page i was just so happy 🤭 idk what it is, but he has great aura. that last chapter caught me omg!! overall loveable characters, with some side ones as well!

--------

➳ “so long as you live, we’ll have the rest of our lives to find each other again. And I will find you again. I promise.”

➳ “you will not always be the wisest, nor the strongest, nor the bravest. That is why we need friends. They will guide you down the right path, no matter how dark it grows.” THIS QUOTE HITTT.

➳I wish I could cry, I wish I could fall apart as little sister often does, and still be loved and understood. But I cannot. My parents do not love me when I am weak, when I fail them, when I err. Who am I, if I am not the perfect daughter?”

➳ We were sisters. Comrades born from the same womb.

➳“If by any chance we do not meet again in this lifetime, then I will find you in the next—or as many lifetimes as it takes to see you again.”

overall, i highly recommend! i just saw that june has a new book on gr but has not revealed the cover yet! EEEEK <3 thank you bestie ava for giving me this rec, ur review changed everything ily 🥹 and after looking thru all my other friends reviews it makes me even more happy 🤭 ill def reread this one day!! cheers <33 also tension in the cover?? still not over it.

----------------------------

POST-READ 4-17-25
wait... THAT ENDING. it got me good. 😭 rtc, im reading everything else this author has to offer!!


🏹 | ‧꒰ა preview! ໒꒱
yall, bestie ava gave this book 5 stars, so YOU KNOW IM GOING TO BE READING IT 🤭 anddd ann liang loves it too?? OKOK i'm sat. I already started this, but its safe to say that I'm enjoying myself! the writing is so easy to get by, and I LOVEEE a good historical fiction 🫶 set in 1500s korea, which is pretty cool. anyways the ending better not destroy me! love you guys 💘 ALSO THE TENSION IN THE COVER?? LOVE.

[Sarah (berriesandbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy publication to this beautiful story. Please check this out and Hur's other works!

June Hur is not allowed to write about siblings anymore because every time it is devastating.

Truly, June Hur is one of the most talented YA writers currently. She consistently delivers heartfelt characters and intense plotlines that keep me up long into the night. Her ability to weave character arcs, intricate mysteries, and untaught history into one novel is a skill.

This novel is based on the period of King Yeonsan, a tyrant who destroyed his subject's livelihoods and stole hundreds of women for his concubines. It follows Iseul as she tries to save her older sister, kidnapped by the King. It also follows Prince Daehyun, half-brother to the king, who lives in fear for his life. He is determined to dethrone his half-brother despite how impossible of a task it may be.

A Crane Among Wolves feels heavier than Hur's previous books, not just because of the content but because of the characters. Iseul is a bit spoiled going into this novel and, from the beginning, feels immense guilt for what happened to her sister despite their rocky relationship. She doesn't start likable, but she grows through the story. Her selfishness and spoiled tendencies fade as she sees the devastation throughout her country on her journey to find her sister. She goes through a lot of grief, and her connection to her sister is beautiful. I grew to love her strength and empathy.

I didn't get a good read on Prince Daehyun. Most of his character was developed before the story started, so he remains constant throughout the novel. Overall, I liked him but didn't feel as strongly about him.

June Hur, the woman she is, made an enemies-to-lovers I actually enjoyed. Isuel and Daehyun are on opposite sides of the spectrum in personalities, backgrounds, and goals. But Hur took her time building their connection and writing tense back-and-forth dialogue. They so gradually go from enemies to allies and friends. It's one of the most natural examples of the trope I've seen. Was it my favorite romance by her? No, but that's more a case of personal preference.

The mystery was clever and fun to piece together, but it didn't fit naturally into the overall story. I think between the intense emotional journey Iseul was going on and Daehyun trying to stage a coup, the murder mystery was too much for the plot. Technically, the mystery does relate to Iseul's and Daehyun's separate journeys, but I would've preferred a complete focus on the character's arc. Still, the mystery was written well; I don't know if it was necessary to the story.

Hur once again delivered a beautiful, atmospheric mystery that floats between great genres. I highly recommend this one if you love siblings, enemies-to-lovers, Korean history, and mysteries!

Check TW, especially if you find violence and talk of SA triggering.

The biggest thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
-----------
IT HAS BEEN ADDED TO NETGALLEY. I’m June Hur’s biggest fan I’m going to throw up.

my unhinged behavior is checking to see if this book has been added to NetGalley several times a day. June Hur mentioned it should be on there soon and I took that as "make sure it hasn't been added in the last thirty minutes" I have been waiting for this book for so long
---------
we have a cover and she’s a stunner😭

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

While A Crane Among Wolves has some beautiful descriptions and a lush fantasy setting, it just didn't deliver in terms of the story. I felt like it definitely had a lot of potential, but it fell down in terms of pacing and character building. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed when I finished it.

Iseul and Daehyun, the main characters, I couldn't bring myself to care about them. They lacked the dimension and layers, which is pretty much why my enjoyment was...absent.

I'm sad, but I'm looking forward to more from the author in the future!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ava ✿ (ia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ☆ ! 🦢
⤿ can i convince you to read this!?

we mortals exist for but a season, and yet we love as though we are bound by eternity

♫ - treacherous by taylor swift
put your lips close to mine
as long as they don't touch
out of focus, eye to eye
til the gravity's too much

⤿ the way this part of treacherous fits the cover is sending me

🪭┆oh this is nothing special, just my new fav book !
I am actually obsessed with this book. as someone who is a sucker for asian lit and hf, this was right up my alley and oh my gosh it devoured. i’ll admit i had my doubts because of the 3 star average rating but now i'm thinking how could you not love this? the way the plot was based off a true event but revolved around iseul (fmc) saving her sister was so special- i have three younger sisters and i just couldn't imagine not trying to save them in the same situation! what girls went through in 1500s korea is devastating :( and the writing omg! literally poetry, I was writing down quotes like CRAZY, they didn’t even all fit in my reading journal lol. plus, the murder mystery aspect was sooo fun! and okok there were obvi also some super sad parts. I didn't expect this book to also break my heart but it did ahh.

⋆˚࿔ iseul + daehyun ⋆˚࿔
a moment for the romance!! fugitive fmc x prince w a dark past mmc, slow burn, yearning- but not cringy like powerless (imo haha)! and the fact that there was a double pov? amazing! spectacular! everything you could ever want! (also it was lowkey so refreshing to see absolutely zero spice, not even a closed door/fade to black scene.) the almost kiss had me blushing fr <3
I loved both of our main characters + their relationship was so precious! daehyun’s backstory shattered my heart so i’m so happy he found his happily ever after with iseul!

☁️ | conclusion !
if you like asian lit, political intrigue, historical fiction,, and a little slow burn (or just a good read in general) i deff recommend this! I could barely put it down, it kept me hooked the whole time imo <3
ily bye!

xoxo, Ava <3

⊱✿⊰

quotes :

to those who have dared to be a beacon of light in the bleakest of moments

we live in an era where truth is a crime.

there are too many sorrows in life to feel each one too deeply.

the truth reminded me of a crane; the truth was strong. It held the courage to strike out, no matter how ferocious the oppression.

“of course I am afraid, but what I fear most is regret.”

kingdoms rose and fell, rising and falling on a land drenched in tears.


જ⁀➴ if you liked this, you’ll like…
a song to drown rivers
a crown of chains

[Hanna☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ (s-ia) · Rating 2 out of 5]

𓂃₊ ⊹A Crane Among Wolves𓂃₊ ⊹

So… let’s get into it, shall we?


To my dear mutuals who loved this book and want to see me dead, definitely not talking about Niyya and eventually Almas, I’m so happy for you and I’m glad that you were able to see something in it that I couldn’t. Honestly I’m really disappointed because this has been on my tbr for the longest time, maybe part of the reason I was let down is because my expectations were too high after seeing all the positive ratings? Or maybe I’ve just been spoiled by The Scarlet Alchemist and even A Song To Drown Rivers because I LOVE Historical Fantasy and the blurb was so gripping that I was fully prepared to love it. I’ve read one of June Hur’s books before and I remember really enjoying it… so now I’m wondering if I should go back and reread it but I also don’t want to ruin the good memories for myself if I end up disliking it now 😭

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

For those who don’t want spoilers, to sum it up:


𓇢𓆸 The storyline felt rushed, chaotic and confusing


𓇢𓆸 The dialogues felt stilted and unnatural


𓇢𓆸 The romance pacing was off and felt too forced


𓇢𓆸 The fmc was annoying


𓇢𓆸 And the character relationships didn’t feel genuine

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

A more in-depth rant:


જ⁀➴ The Storyline


When I read the blurb and even the disclaimer I was so hooked and couldn't wait to see how this girl would go to great lengths and brave many challenges to rescue her sister from the tyrant king who had stolen her. However, as I progressed further into the book I just felt myself becoming more and more confused. The events were messily laid out, the new characters appeared out of nowhere and then you had to slot them into the story except half the time I couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on or how a particular deduction meant anything until the literal moment of revelation which, in my opinion was very underwhelming. I mean when Nameless Flower was revealed, I felt absolutely nothing because for the life of me I was trying to tie all the different events together. I still don’t understand how Yul’s pin had anything to do with anything. I know that there was an explanation but I found it so uninteresting that I was forcing myself not to skim at many different moments.


And did I miss something or wasn’t Nameless Flower supposed to be someone close to the King who knew all his plans? How on earth did that person manage to secure all that information?


Why is some of the information so vague? Who was the man who carried her after she was knocked out? And who thought this was a satisfactory answer??


“Who was the man who assisted you?” I asked after a pause. “I heard a man’s voice.”

“It was a royal guard,” she replied absentmindedly. “Come, let us go now.”


What was the purpose of that information except to unnecessarily peak my curiosity and wonder if this would be something to look out for later on in the story?




જ⁀➴ The Dialogues


They were just so… odd. I couldn’t imagine anyone having a conversation like that in real life, instead of flowing naturally it felt as if the words were just chopped up and glued together to make them fit.


“Let me help you,” I said stiffly.


She eyed me. “What do you want?”


“You remind me of my sister.”


Her brows lowered with bewilderment, but she nevertheless pushed the basket of soiled garments my way. “I’ll gladly accept help. That is one less garment for me to break my back over.”


FYI she’s talking to a stranger for the first time and this is how she begins the conversation, if you were that woman would you really just take the help of some random girl who goes, ‘You remind me of my sister’? Um, who are you? Why have you come to my home? Nothing? What happened to basic stranger etiquette?


Not to mention some of the really odd phrasing moments:


‘His frown slammed even lower.’


‘then a look gleamed under her slender brows’


‘I said calmly, even as cold gathered in my chest’




જ⁀➴ The Romance


Encounter 1: He accidentally shoots her in the shoulder


Encounter 2: She holds a knife to his throat


Encounter 3: She stumbles (conveniently) and he catches her


And the catching thing happened manyy more times ugh. Their relationship felt like it had no foundation, they ‘hated’ each other, oh no wait, she hated him which I have a completely separate problem with but I’ll try to stay on track, and then they start slowly but surely having those k-drama moments of physical contact and eye-pining.

At some points it was just irritating, the fmc’s in the middle of figuring out something important to the case she’s trying to solve and then he walks in and she, can you guess? Yep she falls on him and they have that moment of tension before she remembers the miscommunication trope she’s supposed to employ, refuses to kiss him and then talks to him through the door to maintain her composure while tracing his name in the dust.


On top of all that I was STILL unclear on what exactly she had deduced.


Another example being when she tracks him down to warn him about an imposter in their midst and the only thing he can think of is, ‘You care about me?’ Didn’t the kiss make that obvious, my guy? No she wants to hold you still so you don’t bleed too much when you get murdered and she can steal your fancy clothes. Idiot.


Not to mention how halfway through the book she smiles and he’s ‘undone’ by it.


Oh and don’t get me started on that ending. She thinks he’s dead, he LETS her think that for several months under the impression that he’s being noble and heroic and then at the moment that matters? He can’t even be selfless properly and lingers to catch a glimpse of her. You just wasted all those months my guy, well done.


I’ll admit they had their cute moments, like the hugs but the rest of it just felt like it was carelessly shoved into the story so it could be said to have a romance.




જ⁀➴ The FMC


The part I was looking forward to mosttt. Iseul was SO. ANNOYING. From the very start she was unnecessarily rude and snappy with everyone she met even when they were just being friendly.


“She examined my dress, my bloody sandals, then her gaze locked onto mine. “You went through the forbidden territory, did you not?”

“Here one comes for a warm meal and shelter from the rain,” I said stiffly, “not for an interrogation.”

Or

“So,” she said, “what brought you here to Hanyang?”

“Why do you wish to know?” I asked, my voice clipped.


Hanna- I hear you say- maybe she’s just paranoid. And rightly so no? She’s venturing into the dragon’s den to save her sister and has no idea who she can and can’t trust. I’d agree with you if the very next moment she hadn’t acted like she was carrying state secrets on her person and asked if she could just meet her sister to ‘hold her hand’. Who’s going to buy that my dear?


Don’t get me wrong, she had fire but she was so impetuous and rash and she never thought anything through. There’s no sense, no maturity in that girl’s head. Every single time she argued with someone she’d just storm off and the other person ended up coming and apologising to her. Why on earth is the prince apologising to you for mourning someone in a different way to you and why are you so offended by it?? Idiot.


Speaking of idiocy, why on earth did it take her so long to figure out what the beads were? The second I read what the guy was holding in his hands I was like, oh it must be from that person’s hat, the strings of beads that hang down, right?


It took her FIFTEEN chapters to work that out, so perhaps I am justified in saying that the mystery element of this book wasn’t all that great as after she worked it out, she acted as if the secrets of the universe had been laid bare before her lol.


And does she not question anything? Wonsik and Yul just happening to be so calm, about hearing her talk about rescuing her sister, even encouraging her? The prince showing up out of nowhere at that inn, making plans with Wonsik and she has NO reaction?? It’s so unrealistic.


Also is it just me or did she do almost nothing throughout the book? Sure she snuck into the palace and caused problems for other people by acting impulsively. But even later on, the men were the ones who organised everything and she was just… there. As an accessory, to fret over her sister. Yes she solved the thing at the end but like I said, the whole thing was so confusing that… props to her I guess but I wasn’t particularly impressed.


Lastly


જ⁀➴ The characters


I just felt like they had absolutely no personality, nothing. I didn’t feel any warmth between them, the ties that they proclaimed and described were just that. Proclaimed. It was the definition of telling instead of showing. When Wonsik died and they were all so sad I was so confused. I understood whyy they were sad but I couldn’t feel it, I didn’t witness their affection throughout the book.


Oh and when we think Daehyun dies I was so out of it that I didn’t even realise he was supposed to have died and I was supposed to be upset about it until after I found out he was actually still alive 😭😭😭 (Which I predicted)


They all felt slightly robotic, carrying out their jobs and behaving as humans should, but so mechanically. They weren’t fun, there was no banter and I really couldn’t care less about any of them.


Even the king wasn’t that impressive. There’s a whole picture painted of him as this terrifying monster and yes, while we see him stealing girls, behind the scenes all we see is him going mad with fear over Nameless Flower and becoming more insane in his attempts to protect himself. We never get to really witness the extent of his tyranny in a way that would cause us to loathe him. Especially because the pacing is so off and moments that shouldn't be, are rushed. It was like watching an adaptation of Macbeth.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

All in all, if I could sum this book up in one word, it would be… boring.

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Edelweiss and Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

After being introduced to June Hur via The Red Palace and loving that book so hard, I was excited to dive into A Crane Among Wolves and wooow I was not disappointed!

This was another brilliantly done period piece that was intriguing right from the get go and did not let up till the very end. The horrifying reality Iseul and the young women of the time had to endure was triggering to say the least, so please take care of yourselves and mind your triggers, loves!

I thought this was immersive and dynamic, and though Iseul was a bit of a brat at times, her arc was understandable (given she had to go from zero to hero in like a month). And so I thought Hur did a fantastic job balancing tyrant King Yeonsan's atrocities with moments of heart and camaraderie! I'm still choked up about Wonsik! Nobody talk to me!

This moment in history was terrifying to imagine ngl. It was brutal at times from Daehyun's pov, but I pushed through because I felt that it was important to remember that real men and women were mercilessly violated and killed under the reign of this monster, and centuries later they all still deserve a respectful "Rest In Peace".

And my gawd the ending was quite intense, but luckily had a bit of sweet as well. I was very emotional from 65% on and I'm just glad the epilogue gave us something hopeful to celebrate.

All in all this was another awesome historical piece by the supremely talented June Hur! I'm such a fan of everything happening here and I'm beyond excited for whatever else JH has in store for us in the future!

[Clarissa Labue-Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this saga of a girl's search for her sister set against the backdrop of 16th century Korea during the Jungjong Rebellion.

The story starts at the end of King Yeonsans later violent rule. Within the first few chapters, we are introduced to diverse and unique characters. Our story follows Iseul, a girl trying to rescue her sister. Along the way, she meets a prince, Daehyun, our other main character who wishes to put an end to the king's violence. They form an uneasy partnership and Iseul becomes embroiled in a rebellion while meeting a cast of interesting characters with varying personalities and motives for helping our young heroes.

Over the course of the story we see Iseul and Wonsik, A investigator, team up together to discover the person behind the murders of government officials. Iseul also forms an alliance with Daehyun as they work together to attempt a government coup. During this time we see Iseul and Daehyun grow and mature while finding mutual respect and appreciation for one another.
This story was deep, moving, violent, dark, dramatic and at times romantic and beautiful. This book confronts a very dark history in which even the good guys aren't quite as noble as they appear. What would be a bleak and depressing story by anyone else is somehow hopeful and optimistic by June Hur.

[౨ৎ]

the cover is soo 🤭

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

I can't wait to know what this book has in store for me.

Side note: This is the 2387th time that I picked up a book that I hadn't even planned to read.

[niyya نية · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥˚ " You would brave a life with me?"
"I would brave this life and a thousand more. " ♥˚

Buddy read with my beloved Sara<3

4.5, my most anticipated read of the year is finally finished🥹 spoilers below and TW!

King Yeonsan - I can't believe Yeonsan was a real person, the thought of it makes me want to throw up😨 HE R@PED A 50 YEAR OLD WOMAN BECAUSE SHE WAS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL FOR HER AGE, IMPREGNATES HER, AND THEN WHEN SHE DIES, SAYS HE SAW HER LIKE A MOTHER??? WHAT ON EARTH OMG BROTHER WHAT

"Tell me to leave."
"And if I do not?"
"Then I will be yours and I shall be your ruin."

Daehyun - STOP. THIS MAN. THISSSS MANNNN. PLEASE BE MY RUIN. I'm omk for him ong, he's so perfect😭 I loved his personality so much, he was so respectful to Iseul and the other women- unlike Maggot (I'm so proud of Daehyun for killing the monster for Suyeon, my pookie) And THE WAY HE'S SO PROTECTIVE OF HERRRR ILHSM

"Hwang Iseul, if by any chance we do not meet again in this lifetime, then I will find you in the next- or as many lifetimes as it takes to see you again."
"So long as you live, we'll have the rest of our lives to find each other again. And I will find you again."

Iseul - I loved her so much, the character development was just perfect 🙁. She was someone who did NOT get her hands dirty whatsoever, very spoiled, but in the end, she went through so much for her sister, Daehyun, Wonsik, and her country. AND HER LOVE FOR HER SISTER🥹 gosh, I loved their bond, even if it sucked before she got kidnapped by Yeonsan<3 It reminded me of my own sister.

Wonsik - His death crushed me like garlic (weird reference I know) 😞 that was so unnecessary and painful, why??? HE DID NOT DESERVE IT 🤬

"My Daehyun. Dead."

June Hur did me so dirty in the end bro, I actually thought he was dead and Iseul's grief was not helping 😭 I gasped and was so ready to file a lawsuit for this- AND I'M SO GLAD SHE GOT MAD AT HIM BEFORE BREAKING BC WHAT ON EARTH. PRETENDING TO BE DEAD FOR A WHOLE YEAR???

"You do not wish to... kiss me?"
"What does it matter what I wish? You said no, and I will receive your word as a royal command."

Folds instantly 🥰

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This advanced copy was provided by Feiwel & Friends, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

TW: blood, gore, body gore, violence, kidnapping, rape, grief, sexual violence, and misogyny

I am tired of being the elder sister, were the words within. When I expressed my objection for the first time today, Father gave me such a look of disappointment that I felt my entire world tremble. Why does he only see my disobedience, and not my desperate love for him? To live near home, to be close enough to care for my parents in their old age—I wish I could cry, I wish I could fall apart as little sister often does, and still be loved and understood. But I cannot. My parents do not love me when I am weak, when I fail them, when I err. Who am I, if I am not the perfect daughter?

June Hur always delivers a complex and heartbreaking story that leaves wishing it there was more to read.

She writes the perfect mix of historical fiction with compelling and loveable characters, but each book is better than the least. A Crane Among Wolves is no exception.

We follow Iseul, who had up until now lived a sheltered and privileged life until her older sister, Suyeon, is kidnapped by the cruel King Yeonsan. It is known and feared that the king will kidnap and torture women in his palace. Iseul decided to do whatever she can in order to free her sister until she crosses paths with Prince Daehyun, the king's half-brother.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Iseul, Daehyun and the characters around them at the inn. We see Iseul develop from someone who can only thing of herself, to become more self-conscious and selfless. I always love how June Hur develops sibling relationships, and the romantic ones.

As with The Red Palace, these books show the difficulties and darkness with how the King overuses his power and the people around them. I found myself researching more about this era and stories about the royalty, something that still fascinates me.

I had no doubts this would be a no favorite, and I am grateful that I can experience this beautiful story.

[zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

june hur you have done it again. the start was kind of frustrating, but it gets better (and angstier) that it got me anxious and gasping

[ren ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⟢ cute very kdrama - esque like, with similar pacing and storyline. the characters lacked development, and the ending was meh. still cute tho.

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all NEED to read this book. Holy crappity crap.

The best handling of a love interest being a member of the villains family. The best handled messy political intrigue. The best slow burn I’ve read in possibly years. The best messy sibling story. Basically this was awesome and I’m in love with Daeyuhn (I really hope I spelled that right; thank you to audiobooks for helping me pronounce things but not spell them).

Also listen to this book because THE NARRATORS. that is all.

[Sherwood Smith]

King Yeonsan has the dubious honor of being considered one of the worst kings in Joseon's long history. This novel is framed around his eventual overthrow, after a bloody reign infamous for its cruelties.

Central is Iseul, a young noblewoman from a disgraced family. Her sister is one of the many young women (and not so young, for that matter) dragged away for the king's pleasure. Iseul is determined to rescue her. Iseul is hard to like, but she slowly begins to accept those trying to help her, and eventually learns that a circle of mutual trust is far stronger than acting on one's own.

I think the way to sum up this fast paced, unflinchingly vivid novel is to say that it's a sageuk in prose. It really has all the tropes of a sageuk--the historical setting based on fact, if rearranged to make it accessible to the modern reader--including a lovely romance.

But be wary. This novel, based on a very terrible moment in Korea's long history, has far too many content warnings to count. It serves as a warning about the worst of human nature, but that is balanced with the slow learning to embrace the best.