Absolutely incredible!

I was utterly gripped from the start.

This story was an emotional read with accurate details from Korean history but the romance was also beautiful and absorbing.

I rarely read lots of historical fiction because it can be heavy on factual information (which I struggle to process/remember) but this story delved into people and the horrific experiences they went through in a very human-like way. I felt connected to their stories and was deeply moved by them.

A must read.

2.25 stars ✩
➳ a spoiler free arc review

"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.

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

A Crane Among Wolves
By June Hur
A Review by Jamilla (@ LandsAwayBooks, a wordpress blog)

For if I was not running, if I was not charging forward, I feared that self-loathing would corner me.

A Crane Among Wolves is June Hur’s fourth published work, and shares similar themes and motifs with her previous releases.

This is a story of Iseul, second daughter of a noble house that has fallen into ruin due to the whims of a despotic leader, leaving her an orphan, with only her sister, Suyeon, and a grandmother to turn to. Instead of leaning into the family she has remaining, Iseul clung to ideas of returning to her life of privilege and excess, shunning her new life and new circumstances, even as her sister toiled to put food on the table and clean clothes on their backs.

The sisters share different ideas about the path before them and do not get along. It is an argument between the two, that leads to her sister being kidnapped by the king and forced to become his plaything along with 1000 other unwilling girls.

“Do you think a king who steals girls will listen to one, let alone honor a bargain with her?”

Iseul, bitterly regretful, pledges her life to see his sister free, travels across the king’s hunting grounds where commoners are banned from traversing, to the capital, eventually embroiling herself in a murder investigation and a high treason.

We are promised a tale about sisters doing anything for each other, along the way causing the fall of horrible tyrannical king and solving a murder. We are also promised a swoon inducing romance with the head of the rebellion forces, Prince Daehyun, who is held in contempt by the people for his perceived role in the death of his foster mother and brothers. This well researched story rotates between these two POVs.

There were moments where the prose and Iseul shone so brightly,
I usually love the way June Hur writes about sisters and family, about how they love and hurt each other, the complexities within the bonds they share. But unfortunately, this story had to tackle a lot of moving parts and some things, for me, were left behind.

Iseul is an unlikeable character, spoiled and brash and opposed to following all good advice; which I was fine with, she’s just a teen, in an impossible situation, so I was ready to see her growth progress over the book. But I was to be left wanting on that front. Instead of growth, Iseul experiences a romance. (I exaggerate, she does grow some around 70% in)

This story is set in historical Korea, the same place where high born women were basically shuttled from the home of their birth to the home of their husband and nowhere in between, where at this point in time, the King and his men would round up any and all pretty young faces (wedded, single, pregnant or not) to be forced to become his concubine, this was also a time of strict patriarchal oppression.

Now with all of this in mind, I had a very hard time believing that Iseul would not be cognizant of her position and far more circumspect and wary in her dealings with others, especially men. Not that she should have to be, but it is always jarring to see, in historical fiction based on real events, one person moving through the book as if she were in another, more modern time entirely. I would have preferred to see Iseul work within these constraints not necessarily have the whole way of life upturned just for this one female protagonist.

I also couldn’t get behind the romance. I am of the opinion that romance elevates genre fiction but romance is a fickle and wild beast to tame. Especially, since this is the romance between a 19 year old traumatized from the loss of his entire family and best friend in the world, who has been bidding his time planing a coup while swallowing this grief and begging for his life every other day and a 17 year old traumatized by the loss of her parents, her status and her sister forced to try to solve a murder to gain back said sister and instead got caught up in planning a rebellion. Where would they even find the time? The energy? The desire?

Death crept up his spine, over his shoulder, whispering in his ear: You can never save those you love.

Another thing that disappointed me was that, in the rebellion planning, everyone was falsely claiming to be doing it for the good of ‘the common people’ but where was the voice of the common people in this story?

So, like I said. Amazing prose, flat, predictable murder mystery, scant events I’d rank as political intrigue, a surprisingly successful off page rebellion and an unbelievable (in the literal sense, for me anyway) romance.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

A Crane Among Wolves is a Korean Historical Fiction Young Adult Novel set in the Joseon Era. It is based on Prince Yeonsan the 10th monarch of the Joseon dynasty, and one of the worst tyrants in Korean history.

ACAW is a must read, a histrocial political drama, with murder mystery and romance. I would liken it to ATLA in it's ability to discuss darker themes within a young adult genre, Hur makes the history behind the novel accessible it's clear how much work has gone into ACAW.

The story begins with Iseul searching for her older sister who has been taken by Prince Yeonsan, Iseul intends to bring her home. At the beginning and through I suppose a majority of the novel Iseul is a spoiled younger sister who has never undertaken any physical labour after being cared for by her older sister, she's finds manual labour below her. However, once her sister is taken Iseul leaves her home to find her and bring her back. Soon after Iseul is embroiled in a murder mystery: if she can find and capture the serial killer Namless Flower maybe she can bargain for her sister. Iseul is a complex character, I admit to being annoyed with her but that's just how well she was written, her entitlement and ignorance make it so easy for her to be slightly hated at the start. But then she starts to grow and you see her learn how to be a detective from Wonsik; brave the City for a glimpse of her sister; she becomes politically aware and tactical finally coming into her own.

“I swear,” he whispered in a low voice, as though to himself, “the next person to harm you will die by my own hands.”

Daehyun, is the Prince and is trying to conduct a coup to overthrow the King, there's just one problem: he needs support. We see Daehyun work with Wonsik and Yul to gather support. Daehyun is a well rounded character and his backstory is heart breaking. Hur does an amazing job showing his silent strength and love for Iseul. Whilst the romance is secondary, Daehyun falls first and harder and it's wonderful to see him grow to care for Iseul. He is thoughtful and calculating, and builds a plan around keeping Iseul safe.

A Crane Among Wolves broke my heart and put it back together again. I loved seeing the plan come together and both Daehyun and Iseul working together but also Iseul growing and solving mysteries. The ending was just heart clutching and I'm so glad to have read this.

A Crane Among Woves releases on the 14th of May 2024.

Thank you to Netgalley, June Hur and Headline for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love it when historical fiction teaches me about something I previously had no clue about and until recently the Joseon Dynasty very much came under that category. A Crane Among Wolves tells the story of a bloody chapter in the history of Korea in which the tyrannical King Yeonsan had a nasty penchant for commandeering huge tracts of land as his personal hunting grounds, burning books and banning literacy and stealing thousands of women from their families to become his personal courtesans. Iseul is the sister of one such unfortunate woman and she is determined to rescue her sister at all costs. Although she has lived a sheltered and privileged life, Iseul has nothing left to lose and is ready to stand on her own to feet to fight for what remains of her family. Along the way she receives help from a series of unusual characters including a gregarious innkeeper, a mysterious private investigator and the seemingly cruel and callous Prince Daehyun, half-brother to King Yeonsan. But there is more to Daehyun than meets the eye and when Iseul learns that he has been secretly plotting to overthrow his tyrannical brother, she throws her lot in with his and leverages what's left of her family connections to move the heavens and bring the king down. But with so much at stake and with so much mutual trauma, can Daehyun and Iseul come together over more than just their mutual desire for revenge? And is it even possible to build a better world than the one they're living in? A propulsive novel that will have your heart-pounding and your hands flipping pages while still teaching you about a lesser known part of history along the way. If you're a historical romance fan, this one is for you!

First of all, can we all scream in unison for this GORGEOUS cover?! PUH-LEASE.

Ok, now that this is out of the way, I have to admit I've never been a fan of Korean historical dramas, but now that I've read this novel, I can totally see the appeal.

Before I forget, we must applaud the author for the obvious research she has put herself through before writing "A Crane Among Wolves," and although I do know some of this is fiction, I can't help but admire the inspiration plot points and feel like I learned so much about Korean history via the book.

I was less of a fan of the alternating POV with first and third person, but I understand how it served the story.

While everything felt quite intense for most of the novel, the last part fell a little flat IMO... I feel like I expected a little more after the whole climax, especially with such interesting characters.

It was my first novel of hers, and although not entirely won over, I will still eagerly read other books from June Hur in the future.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley and Headline books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

June Hur never fails to evoke magic into the pages of her books, breathing back into life certain historical events in Korea's past, that are but a small snapshot in what is a country with a turbulent but fascinating history.

Here we are introduced to Iseul, a young woman who has lived quite a sheltered life up to this point, staying out of trouble until her sister becomes the latest target of the King, a tyrannical leader who is well known for his abuse and mistreatment of women among other things. Iseul refuses to allow her sister to fall into his hands and seeks to free her from the confines of the palace. Soon after she encounters Prince Daehyun, the half brother to the King, who she discovers is very much against his actions and behaviour and seeks to overthrow him. Alongside a handful of other important characters with similar goals, Iseul decides to follow Daehyun's lead as he plans, alongside other key figures, the coup that will lead to the deposition of King Yeonsangun. The chemistry between the two was probably initially the thing that kept me glued as I felt the first half of the book to be quite slow-paced, but maybe that is understandable considering how the gradual build-up of events begin to unfold.

A captivating mystery with an intriguing depiction of a time of political unrest and a dashing of romance, I do very much love reading about the various events throughout the Joseon era. This book in particular evidently shows how much research June Hur invests in her stories.

I was *mostly* satisfied with the book's conclusion but there was a minor aspect of it that I didn't care for so much, technically more the 'method' utilized to reach that point. I just found it a bit of a weak plot execution, more so because it made it slightly more predictable. But for the most part, that didn't really detract from the book overall, which was solidly written, gripping and overly intriguing.
The other reason I slightly marked it down was due to the weird typing errors scattered throughout with some words actually missing letters which meant I was left to depict what was the intended word, but perhaps that was just the digital copy I received, and I understand this is an ARC so hopefully these things would be addressed beforehand.

I do hope June Hur continues to write more of these beautifully concocoted 'retellings' as I do enjoy learning more about the real past events of a country I really like. Honestly though I'd be happy to read whatever she decides to write about as I know she'll surely never fail to deliver.

"This investigation will be a battle against yourself. A battle against the voice that tells you to surrender to the darkness."

A hauntingly beautiful tale bringing readers into Joseon Korea and its political turmoil. Bringing the readers in with the intrigue of murder investigations, the fight for Korea's taken women and the angst between the dedication to duty and love.

The story immediately immerses you into the story, bringing the readers quickly into the actions and motivations of the characters. I believe that one of the strongest pulls of this story, and what makes it shine, is the characterisation. It was refreshing to see the duality of the simplicity of character's and their motivations, whilst still being able to highlight the layers and complexity. I really enjoyed that not everything about the characters and the story fit into the neat boxes of right and wrong.

I liked the writing style of the story and liked the choice of multiple points of view - I think it helped with the flow and the movement of the story by having those two character insights. I think all the elements worked well together and I enjoyed the plot of the murders and the investigation - sometimes I did feel a bit disconnected from certain events and steps happening but that could completely be by design of the author to further amplify what is happening with the characters.

Overall, a historical fiction with a small romantic subplot story that I enjoyed.

Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for this eARC, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

The amount of research gone into this book is amazing and it really payed off! This book was like watching a historical k drama, absolutely amazing. The suspension,tension, romance, mystery throughout was phenomenal. I loved the characters and how they were written and the relationships built throughout the story. I was hooked from the very start. I will definitely be buying this book when it is released. And I will be reading other works by June.

There were so many quotes in this book that I loved so much.

I loved the premise of A Crane Among Wolves but sadly it didn't work for me. I wasn't at all invested in the characters or the story. It was too slow and sluggish, nothing much seemed to happen. I kept forcing myself to continue reading even though I wasn't enjoying it. The missing letters from words and formatting didn't help matters either. I had to reread sentences to figure out what certain words were. It is for those reasons that I'm dnfing at 31%.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for providing me an eARC to review!

Unfortunately I just wasn't meshing with this one which has made me put down books by this author before, so I think her writing style just isn't for me.

I like that in her books Hur looks to shed light on cruelties forgotten by history, but I just feel her writing always keeps me at a distance from the characters and plot.

I hope that others enjoy this though!

I absolutely loved how this book dove straight into the plot—I was totally here for it! But oh my goodness, the ending left me completely heartbroken. The setting was just stunning, and I adored the rich and detailed historical aspects that were woven throughout the book. It made the whole story feel so magical and immersive!

A Crane Among Wolves is set in Joseon era Korea in 1506. I enjoyed this book - the plot was compelling throughout, the writing is good and the characters were well written, if lacking in a little depth/development.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

First of all the positive elements: absolutely gorgeos cover and interesting plot elements (a tryanical king terrorised by a serial killer). I could definetely see this book becoming a Kdrama after some changes.

Why the changes? Because I absolutely despised the main characters! Iseul is arrogant, bullheaded and shortsighted, while Daehyuns whole character was only made up from revenge and his love for Iseul. The secondary characters werw more interesting, but they saddly didn't have a lot of development.

I was tempted multiple times to DNF this book, but I wanted to see if I guessed the killer correctly. I did, but the reveal was just okay

Firstly I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me access to this ARC . It was my first advanced copy and I am very grateful for the opportunity to give an honest review..

DNF’D at 45% too many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors . Also I feel the story jumped around too much and I was unable to connect with the characters and felt like I could not keep up with the plot.

I am a huge fan of Korea. Culture and Korean dramas and had high hopes for this story however it just missed the mark for me. Having said that I already have purchased 2 more June Hur books which I have yet to read but found this one a little hard to connect with .

3.75/5

This is my first June Hur book and I really spent the entire sunday finishing it in ONE sitting. The last time that happened was in 2022 so I'm very happy to report back that I still have the ability to do that in 2024.

I love how the murder mystery x finding your loved one x overthrowing a tyrant king plots are connected to each other but I wish we could see more about the fights that went on when the coup started, solely because we have a third person POV. I absolutely adore the side characters, especially Uncle Wonsik. Uncle Wonsik taking Iseul under his wings just got me teary eyed which made what happened to him in chapter 27 even more devastating because he really took care of her. I guess I should've seen that coming, but every single time it happened that trope always caught me by surprise.

A CRANE AMONG WOLVES retells the story of a coup to overthrow a tyrant through the lens of a girl trying to save her sister and a prince trying to do the right thing surrounded by corruption.

This is an engaging tale of fighting for justice and survival when personal gain is prioritised. There is a mystery, scheming, a bit of romance, and a lot of complicated characters bundled up within this tale.

The heart of this book is about sisters, how much you can do for them and love them even as they annoy you and you fight with them. Iseul is trying to save her sister from a tyrant who steals girls because of the power inherent in the act. The book explores the tangle of love, frustration, and guilt that comes with being a sibling, and just how far we can go for them when they are threatened.

I also liked that this book does not gloss over how corrupt many of the men involved in the coup were. They are not in it for the common good, no matter what they might say, but there for themselves. It is particularly clear in their plans and treatment of the stolen women, and the horrible justifications they use.

Like June Hur's other books, there is a murder mystery in the mix. It is not as central as in other books like THE SILENCE OF BONES, but I liked the common thread through the books. This time, the murderer is attacking palace officials, calling out the king's crimes. It was an interesting set up as this person was against the tyrant but also causing death and destruction. I enjoyed how that thread was concluded, a look at how grief can turn to rage that only harms.

4.5 ⭐️

Please check trigger warnings.

A Crane Among Wolves is a beautifully written historical book about one girls journey to rescue her sister from a tyrant king and finds herself along with the kings half-brother and others staging a coup to dethrone him. Set during the reign of King Yeonsan it portrays the very real horrors of this tyrant kings reign and the research that it involved to create a very detailed and accurate story set in the Joseon era.

I really appreciated that it was told in dual perspective as we get insight from not only the outside but also the inside of the palace and how it sets out such an intriguing and engaging plot line of political intrigue, complex characters heavy topics and a beautiful slow burn romance between two people who through their mutual hate for the king they find each other and also gives a realistic ending of such a horrible time.

It truly felt like I was watching a historical k-drama which I absolutely loved.

If you’re looking a historical book based on a real period of time with strong elements of mystery, political intrigue and a slow burn romance then this book doesn’t disappoint.

It was fascinating to read about Iseul's and Daehyun's experiences during a period of Korean history, and seeing this through their own eyes, since each chapter was written in the first person.

To see how Iseul changes and grows up through the experiences and friendships she encounters whilst trying to get back to her sister, and from meeting Daehyun.

At times it felt like I was watching a film and could visualise and hear what Iseul and Daehyun were seeing, almost like stepping back in time and seeing their story unfold from nearby.

Thank you to June Hur for writing about this period from Korean history and thanks to Headline Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-Arc.

I am going to begin with a thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me access to this book in exchange for a honest review.

The Book Title and Cover

The cover features the two main characters, both looking one another in the eye, ready to go at each other’s throats. In the foreground, cleverly positioned, we can see a crane whose beak is used as a sword, alongside four arrows, foretelling death and misfortune. In the background, contrary to the expectations (I originally thought we’d be able to see the wolves), we are met with another crane.

What is interesting to note is also the characters’ features: Daehyun’s sharp gaze and royal red robe, and Iseul’s childlike features, showcasing the disparity between the two—the regal maturity and the candor of a sheltered life.

Overall, I believe this is a strong cover and the title compliments it well. The title spreads over the full page, framing the leads, or, more like, putting them besides bars, symbolizing their struggles and limited lines of action. I think so far, my favorite aspect of June Hur’s books is the title (aside the topics at hand). Not only are they symbolic and employ smart metaphors, but they also are quick to grab attention through their sonority.

The Characters and Plot

The story takes place in 1506 Joseon. It’s a dark time, for the king has gone mad and is stealing all the young women from the kingdom and instilling terror everywhere he goes. Naturally, the games of power ensue and king Yeonsan does all in his power to flaunt his strength by bullying everyone, from peasants to the rich. He takes food from his people, leaving them to starve, kills whoever disobeys him, bans and destroys books, takes the land from the people, and organizes gruesome hunting games.

As one might expect, a tyrant breeds rebels. And such is born the rebel of all rebels, a murderer by the name of Nameless Flower, whose main pastime is taunting the king by killing off officials close to him and leaving bloody notes over their bodies. Thus, the king puts a bounty on his head and promises to grant whoever catches the criminal a wish.

When her sister is taken from her by the king, Iseul embarks on a journey to steal her back, or die trying. Having lived a sheltered life, she is unaccustomed to the harsh living conditions and is quick to run into dangerous territory and lose her belongings. As she discovers the bounty over the murderer’s head, the girl decides to play detective and stubbornly chase after Nameless Flower. In her pursuit, she grows closer to Madam Yul, Wonsik and, unexpectedly, a prince.

Thoughts

When I heard the author chose to go with a dual point of view, focusing on what both leads had to say and how they lived their lives, my enthusiasm faded just a little. I usually stay away from dual perspectives because it is rare for writers to manage to make them sound different and oftentimes, I end up reading about two characters who sound the same. From this point of view, I can say Hur was smart. Instead of employing two first person perspectives, she went for a first person and third person view. This way, she managed to maintain the individuality of the characters with ease.

In terms of the plot, I can say it does read as a K-drama script, as there are definitely quite a few evocative scenes, especially in terms of the historical images—the fights, the chase, the jump over the walls, the coup, the crimes. I also liked the way Hur captured the mentalities of the old days and brought them to life through her characters. They definitely stood out, and although my original guess in terms of who the murderer was turned out wrong, the second idea I had in mind was totally on point, although for a slightly different reason.

Aside the murder mystery, I also enjoyed the romance as it was not overly done and it went slow, flourishing towards the end of the book. If you are like me and hate insta-love tropes with a burning passion, or are not too much into romance, you are likely to enjoy this book, as even if you take away the romance, the story still makes sense.

There are actually a lot more things I could say about this story, however, I will end it with a note on how June Hur tries to incorporate Korean words into the story using the Latin letters. What I can tell you is that even if you are not knowledgeable in Korean, you will still be able to understand them, and if you are a fellow language enthusiast, just like me, you might wince a little at the Romanization and wish hangeul was used instead.