Want to suffer? Read ACAW! 5 Stars!

This book had me hooked from the start. It made me laugh, it made me swoon, it made me sob (you'll know when you get there).

While the romantic subplot has claimed a part of my heart, most of it feels for the sisterly love of Iseul and Suyeon based that felt very natural to me and made me cry in appreciation for my sister (and not just once).

This novel was captivating and got me curious about June Hur's other novels. I'll be reading them next.

I'd recommend this for late teens/early adults, please look up trigger warnings, though June Hur handles the heavy themes in ACAW very responsibly and sensibly.

Thanks to the author I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5★

the plot of this story is a simple one: a girl wishes to save her older sister from being a concubine to a cruel and tyrannical emperor and in order to do so, joins a rebellion. there's a twist on the story, however, as there is a serial murderer on the loose, one that kills those close to the king and leaves messages in blood.

overall, the story and the writing are both good, but the book is simply too short, therefore too fast-paced. that's my only issue with it.

- spoilers bellow -

because the book is around 350 pages, lots of things happen really fast, sometimes so fast that i didn't even have time to get impacted by certain moments because different important things were already happening. an example is Wonsik's death - i had no time to feel sad, as the story was already progressing further.

the rush of the story is noticeable in the characters as well: certain characters relationships, especially Iseul's and Daehyun's, felt a bit unnatural and too intense for the limited amount of interactions they had. to put it simply, the got too close too fast. this book is supposed to be enemies to lovers, but the two of them were enemies for perhaps 50 pages. because of how fast paced the story was, i also didn't really connect to any of the characters - i didn't care much for them, therefore the impact of the story dropped.

another issue (which i believe is also the result of the book being too short and fast-paced) is that everything was served to Iseul and revealed way too fast. for example, i would've loved if Iseul figured out over time that Daehyun wasn't what the rumors had described him to be, instead of Wonsik simply telling her. she was also told about her uncle's betrayal, something i would've loved remained a secret until she figured it out somehow on her own.

the main plots of the story - Iseul finding her sister and the rebellion itself - get overshadowed as the story progresses by the murders that keep happening. the story becomes more a murder mystery than anything else, and when the rescue of the sister and the rebellion finally happen, they are described on perhaps 10-20 pages, and everything goes remarkably well. it feels like many things in this book were very convenient for the plot.

another thing i found odd was that Iseul's chapters were in first person yet Daehyun's were in third person. at first, the switch made it hard to get into the story but around 100 pages, i got used to it.

despite everything, i really enjoyed this book. i feel like if the book was perhaps 500 pages long, it would've most definitely been a 4 star read at least. still, i'd recommend it to everyone who enjoys fast paced books with political intrigue and rebellions where the romance is well written (even though here it is a bit rushed).

June Hur makes me like Historical fiction. It's never been my cup of tea but I've read a few books by her now and yeah. I guess I like it if she writes it😂 cause I couldn't put this book down. I love the way she crafts her mysteries and the world and characters she puts on the page scream how much work and research she put into making this story.

⊹ 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.

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

Welp, I continue to be a big fan of Hur’s books. I love the topics and settings she chooses to write about and the dark shift of this book is particularly excellent. I was surprised multiple times early in this book about how dark it was actually, but I appreciate that she didn’t shy away and gave us a full picture of this period and let this story be a heavy one. I do recommend reading the content warnings at the beginning though - I did and was then prepped to skip a couple paragraphs when I needed.

As a fan of historical dramas, this book played out like I was watching one in my mind. I could see everything clearly and it felt very atmospheric. I also find that Hur crafts really compelling characters - full of faults, annoying, sweet, and very real feeling. The pacing also stays consistent throughout the book, making it very compulsively readable.

My only note on this book is that, and this is a critique for almost every YA and new adult books I’ve read, I wish she had aged up the characters a bit. Them being teenagers didn’t add anything to this story, the dialog felt older than teenagers at times, and the seriousness with which middle aged men were working with teens on serious kingdom business felt a little tenuous. While Iseul’s character is meant to be very naive and pampered and young, she could have maintained these same characteristics a few years older. I actually feel like Hur could’ve explored more with slightly older characters. But again, I feel that about many YA novels. I would love to see Hur write an adult novel, she would absolutely smash it.

A Crane Among Wolves is a historical romance based in the ancient Korean times during the 1500s. I grew up watching a lot of Chinese and Korean dramas so it was very easy for me to get into. By chapter 3 I was already hooked. It was a very easy and fast paced read. I enjoyed the dual POVs from the main characters, especially when it came to the banter. I would recommend reading the trigger warnings before starting bring there are some rough gory scenes in the book. There were a few parts that seemed to jump a little to fast for me. Other than that, I very much enjoyed the book.

4 stars!

this book talks about some difficult topics, and in my opinion, the author did a very good job of writing them out. there are even things that are related to history, and i love that at the end of the book the author talked about it in detail, she describes it.

a big part of this book surrounds a mystery, and i usually don't like mystery books but i devoured this book. i think it's the fact that there were elements to the book besides mystery, so i was deeply invested.

i love all the characters. every single one. except of course certain villains who were despicable. iseul is quite a unique character; she was pampered her whole life, and even when difficulties arose, she dealt with them slightly differently. she was slightly frustrating at times, but i feel it suited her character due to her background. i really liked to see how she felt about her sister, it felt relatable. they never liked each other their whole lives but when she was taken, iseul just had to save her, and i felt that.

then there was daehyun. THIS MAN!!! i literally have no words. all you need to know is that i absolutely love him. we love men who are respectful and ask for permission. (if you know you know)

i did not expect to shed tears while reading this book, but there was a certain character death that i just couldn't help but tear up at. i didn't even realize i loved them so much until they died. i DEFINITELY enjoyed the emotional roller the author put me through 🤩.

overall, i loved this book and highly recommend it!!

(my thoughts immediately after finishing 👇)
this was so good omg 😭 i'm absolutely in LOVE THOSE LAST FEW CHAPTERS HOLY SHIT 😭😭🥰😃🔫🤡💗

June Hur does it again. After Red Palace this was an even better book. set in the Joseon dynasty this book is a retelling (sort of) of an actual king and to merge new characters to pre-existing history without them looking out of place or hampering the course of history is a tough job but June does it and does it well enough for me to give it 5 stars and recommend it to everyone.

CHAPTER 42 ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK!!! keeled over, eyes about to fall off its sockets, fell to my knees shaking screaming laughing in disbelief about to fling myself off a building- i love it.

i could tell how much care june hur put into writing this. it's truly (in italicize, bold, underlined) a beautifully written novel. and for the historical genre, trust me, it will not bore u. a gem of a book, this one. iseul and daehyun, and their friends, are now precious characters to me i will keep them all in my pocket forever!

thank u june hur. for telling us a story of 1506 joseon, for not shying away from writing a tragic event that happened in history, handled with so much care. u have my utmost respect. words are not enough to describe how extremely grateful i am to have read iseuldaehyun's story earlier, the highlight of my week.

to anyone that came across the book because of how stunning the cover is, or of how intriguing that title is, or because u love june hur's past works, i implore u, please stay tune for iseuldaehyun! read them once in ur lifetime, please!

a big thank u to june hur and the team for providing an arc

A Crane Among Wolves is fantastic and one of the best historical mysteries I’ve ever read. Especially impressive considering it was YA!

I enjoyed the dual POV chapters following Iseul, a 17 year old girl trying to figure out how to rescue her sister from
the clutches of a tyrannical king and Daehyun, prince and favored brother of said king who is attempting to lead a coup. Both characters were equally compelling and I found the subtle, slow burn romance incredibly sweet. Huge fan of the pining and angst these two characters brought to the table.

Rich in Korean history, Hur did her due dilligence with her research and she handled this dark and scary time so well. I went into this expecting a story about sisters and it was so much more. The quality of the plot was top-tier and there not a dull moment in the book. There was mystery, romance, heartwarming moments, great tension, and excellently written side characters. I felt transported to the time and loved how easy to read this was, whilst tackling incredibly heavy themes. It definitely got emotional and be sure to check out trigger warnings.

Overall, highly, highly recommend to any fan of historical fiction, mystery, political intrigue and rebellions, and a perfect amount of romance.

ೃ⁀➷ Rating:
4 Stars

ೃ⁀➷ summary:
Our genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Mystery Thriller
Our setting: Joseon in 1506,which was a tumultuous time under cruel King Yeonsan's rule. A small note for the uninitiated: King Yeonsan was famous, among other things, for abusing and kidnapping women and girls)
Our protagonists: Iseul, a seventeen-year-old yangban aristocrat, and Dahyun, a nineteen year old prince.
Our plot: When <b>Iseul</b>, previously insulated from the horrors of Yeonsan's reign, loses her sister, Suyeon, to his harem, she must make a dangerous journey to the capital to steal her sister back. Prince <b>Dahyun</b>, the half-brother to King Yeonsan, has his own reasons for wanting his brother dethroned. Iseul and Dahyun, although mutually contemptuous, are united by their hatred for the king and his atrocities. The result? A reluctant allegiance of sorts to stage a glorious coup—and perhaps a blooming romance.

ೃ⁀➷ Review:
Insanely glad that I got an ARC for this one. This was such a well-paced, vibrant read. Historical Korea is a literary landscape largely unfamiliar to me, but June Hur made it feel both familiar and new! I want to preface this review by saying that.

I'd say the most compelling thing about A Crane Among Wolves is how it seamlessly it integrates elements. It is very much historical fiction, with a healthy dose of enjoyable romance, but it also makes use of political intrigue and an intriguing murder mystery. I think one will find that ACAW is a little bit of everything, and it manages to combine various elements without losing that important feeling of integration.

Aside from that, it's just plain <i>interesting</i>. This book was frequently the last thing I read before going to bed, and I was tearing through the (digital) pages with impatience. I had so many questions! I gasped so many times! At one point, I almost cried. (June Hur, you are a FIEND for that <spoiler>blank chapter</spoiler>. Suspense in a YA novel is rarely done, and even more rarely done well. I love that the author was able to manage the gargantuan task of retaining reader interest.

It was also well written. I love that feeling of reading an ARC and knowing the lines everyone is going to highlight when it comes out. It sucks not being able to share my favorite quotes, but rest assured that there are many good ones. June Hur is an adept writer; her prose is distinctive and easy to follow, and is heuristic without being pedantic. It is also, very wise, and very feminist. I chuckled a few times because of the latter.

And that brings me to the characters! Iseul was such a joy to read. I will admit that I didn't like her very much at first, but I warmed up to her about five chapters in. She and Dahyun were so sweet, and I admired her grit and tenacity. I now love my historical Nancy Drew! Also??? Dahyun is like the first YA love interest I've read in recent times that is not a toxic, misandrist, fae-hybrid without feelings. His sweet stoicism and feminism were impressive, because I've never seen an author do the "he shuts off his feelings" thing without also making him toxic. There's one scene where he corrects Iseul's uncle's terminology and I was like YES. You tell him. Iseul's and Dahyun's romance was one of my favorite parts of this story. They're both interesting people, together and apart.

Also, I probably should have seen the ending (specifically as touching the murders) coming, and I didn't. That shocked me, but it is a very good author that manages to catch me off guard. I felt misdirected so many times, so it's no shock that I didn't guess anything important.

One note: I did get a little bit bored/irritated at how many times Iseul's long throat or pale skin were described, but I also understand Korean beauty standards make those kind of observations commonplace. The author did a great job explaining those historical standards in a scene with the courtesans.

One last note before I end this review: I read this right after I read Strike the Zither and Sound the Gong by Joan He, and while the books aren't very similar, I'd recommend ACAW to STZ fans purely because of the nearness in tone. Overlapping the two was a fun reading experience, so if you like Joan He, check out June Hur!

"You are shaking. Have you ever killed a man before?" "I will make you my first”—my damned voice trembled—“if you do not release me.”

true romance <3

thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review! A Crane Among Wolves is, undoubtedly, my favourite book of the year, my favourite June Hur book, and possibly my favourite historical fiction of recent times. I devoured this book in a day, and everything—from the characters to the atmosphere to the politics—was immensely gripping. I loved the build-up and the pacing, and particularly adored the romance between Iseul and Daehyun. I usually have trouble with true mysteries, so I loved the added element of the coup in this book, as well as the palace drama-esque set-up. the ending broke me but i loved it so much.

5/5 stars, i wish i could go through the experience of reading this for the first time again

"History moves its course, Young Mistress Iseul," he murmured, flipping the page of his journal. He took up his calligraphy brush again. "But it is the youth who point the current in its direction."

Thank you to the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

A Crane Among Wolves is a book that you will get hooked on immediately.

Iseul was a great character, in my opinion. She was flawed, and she acknowledge those flaws and tried to do better. She was brave and determined, all for the sake of her sister. I loved the she was written.

Daehyun, who cared deeply but tried not to show it. He went through a lot but still managed to not lose himself to the darkness.

"The night is brighter with you here, Iseul-ah."


All the characters had something to make them memorable, Yul, Wonsik, and even the minor ones like Cheonbi, Crow.

The story itself was intriguing to me, the plan for the rebellion, the king's horrific acts, the Namless Flower, even the subplot of Wonsik teaching Iseul. It was so engaging, not a single moment where I wasn't paying attention the smallest details, knowing it was important.

I devoured this book so fast, I surprised myself. June Hur is officially one of my favorite authors now.

PS. Chapter 42 had me gaping in shock.

thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review

in a crane among wolves, Iseul is willing to go through to any extent to save her sister from the tyrant King Yeonsan, even ready to join forces with Prince Daehyun. just like always, June Hur served the historical fiction too well! the mystery of the killer, the subtle romance?

DaehyunIseul have all of my heart. i cannot wait for you to read it when it comes out in 2024!

Thank you to the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

As one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, I am glad that acaw didn’t disappoint.

A Crane Among Wolves takes place under the tyrannic rule of King Yeonsan in Korea, a period where commoners are prevalently coerced and subjected to the whims and cruelty of the King’s reign. The book follows Iseul, a girl whose older sister has been taken into the palace for the King’s pleasure, and she travels across villages and forests in her determination to free her sister. In the midst, a rebel crowned as the ‘nameless flower’ sows distrust and unease among the upper-ups as he kills and leaves bloody messages across their robes in a taunt against the king. Taking advantage of the chaos, Iseul uses this opportunity to find her sister and free her from the King's clutches while the kingdom undergoes a revolution.

I actually enjoyed this a lot, it was relatively easy to read and the plot wasn't overly complicated. I loved the build-up between Iseul and Daehyun without it compromising the quality of the plot. I also enjoyed the subtle relationships and the depth in which June explored sister relationships (which is evidently done well in all her books, especially in tfosg)

can't wait for everyone to read this when it comes out in May 2024! :)

Another murder mystery set in the Joseon dynasty and even better than the last! The setting wasn't there just for aesthetics. I can tell the author really loves Korean history.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it was short and perfect for a slump, though It could have been a little longer. Too short standalones don't work the best for me. I like seeing the development of various relationships—here specifically with the important secondary characters. Yul—the innkeeper who took Iseul in— was one of my favourites so I kind of wish there were more scenes with her. The complicated sisterhood portrayed really resonated with me.

I know these buzzwords are really popular lately, but personally, I wouldn't be so quick to label them enemies to lovers as it was a bit one-sided. Sure, Daehyun didn't like her at first, but she wasn't an enemy to him. Regardless, I loved their little ✨scenes✨. I will say it again, June Hur level romance is perfect for me. It's exactly what I want in my books. This is what kdramas are like? I have not yet watched any historical kdramas, but maybe I should.

Side note: I feel like A Crane Among Wolves might be more digestible for people who aren't really fans of historical fiction compared to The Red Palace. Also, it's not fantasy.

Chapter 42 was evil btw. <spoiler>

The ending too. Don't play with me like that. Thank goodness for the epilogue, I was ready to throw hands. </spoiler>

Arc provided by publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

🇬🇧/🇮🇹

Thank you so much June Hur and Feiwel & Friends for the advanced digital copy.

After having read The Red Palace-which I found rather enjoyable- I was very curious to read A Crane Among Wolves, the author’s new work coming out in May 2024, and the stunning cover sealed the deal.

I expected to find a historical novel with a mystery, court machinations, as much respect for the actual historical events as possible, likable yet kinda grey characters and a good romance, and I wasn't disappointed.

The author has said that the novel should read kind of like a Korean historical drama, and I think she did a good job in that respect.

ACAW is set during the darkest period of Korean History, when King Yeonsan starved his people and kidnapped over a thousand women to make them his playthings, just to name a couple of the most horrible things he did.

As for her previous work, the thing I enjoyed the most about this book was the setting and the dark atmosphere.

It was not exactly an easy read, having to find out about the atrocities committed by this tyrant, especially towards women, but it gave the author the chance to deal with a theme that is unfortunately extremely relevant even today: the way women are treated by men and shunned by society, despite being victims of injustice. It also showed solidarity between women and the hope for a better future even after so much suffering and abuse, which warmed my heart.

I could feel the pain, the despair, but also the courage and the refusal to give up in both the main characters, Iseul and Daehyun, whose first encounter is more deadly than romantic. They start as reluctant allies, but find out they are more similar than they had first thought: both their lives were completely destroyed by the King; they both pretend to be strong and cold, but they're actually more fragile and softer than they let on. 

I enjoyed them both as individual characters and as a couple, though I wish there had been just a few more chapters to let the story and their relationship develop a bit more organically.

As in every period romance worthy of the name, there is a good amount of pining, angst, and tenderness.

I ended up getting more attached to the characters than I expected, so I got a bit emotional during the story, particularly towards the final chapters.

Despite dealing with sensitive issues and dark historical events, the story doesn't become too overwhelming and flows well. Personally, I found myself picking it up several times throughout the day to keep reading. 

If you're looking for a historical novel with mystery, political intrigue and romance, you should give this book a chance. 

I want to thank June Hur for always being ready to engage with us readers, I am happy I got the chance to talk about the book directly with her.

Trigger Warnings, as listed by the author in the beginning of the book: rape (mentioned), sexual abusr, incest (mentioned), violence, murder, animal cruelty, suicide (mentioned), infanticide (mentioned), psychological trauma, panic attacks.

"Iseul-ah." His voice was impossibly low, whispering against my ear. "You have me, so use me...."

There are simply not enough words in the world for me to express how much I love June Hur's writing. A Crane Among Wolves is one of my most anticipated releases for 2024 and I honestly feel so lucky that I got to read it early.

I do not know of a better way to describe it, but there is a strange intensity to this book that just draws you in. This book is truly the perfect mash-up of mystery, thrillers and historical fiction with the perfect dash of romance. The first page itself will pull you into the story and trust me, once you start reading it, you will not want to stop.

While I don't have much knowledge of Korean history, I can truly feel the power and impact of the research that has been undertaken for this book. The historical accuracy is still maintained, even with the inclusion of original characters and that is just a testament to June Hur's writing. Her words, for me, float off the page and create an immersive experience, where you see yourself with Iseul and Daehyun as they work together to solve the perils that plague the kingdom.

I quite enjoy the mystery and the political aspect of this book; I think they were done so well and honestly, I was kept on my toes, trying to guess and find out who the culprit was in the mind. I seriously did not expect it to be the person it was and that made me love the book even more. As for the romance, I will not call it anything less than perfect. Iseul and Daehyun were a reluctant pair, but to see them slowly grow to be friends and then to love each other was just wonderful. Their romance doesn't take away the focus from the story; rather in my opinion, just adds another layer to it.

I won't say much because I don't want to spoil, but Chapter 42?? It was wild. Wild. Literally so crazy.

All in all, A Crane Among Wolves is one of the best books that I have read recently and I am so so glad that I got to read it early.

Before starting this review I want to thank the author, June Hur, for granting me an arc.
All opinions, however, remain my own.

Disclaimer: I will be using quotations in this book but since this is an arc, these quotations may be subject to change in the final copy.


“History moves its course, Young Mistress Iseul... But it is the youth who point the current in its direction.”

A Crane Among Wolves dives into the guttural past of Korea’s Joseon period, suffering under a tyrant. It is a story about courage and honor and fighting for your loved ones as well as the stranger you just met.

Reading A Crane Among Wolves was a joyous and interesting experience. Joyous in the way that this story fully immersed me into the Korean culture I love so much. I’ve been actively studying the Korean language and its rich culture for over two years now and it was so much fun to recognize the Korean terms used and the customs. For example, the particular way of addressing family members by their title (Big Sister) instead of their given name like we do in Western cultures. This is the first Korean historical fiction/fantasy I’ve read and now I’m starving for more.


“Sisters bicker and quarrel. They despise and love each other. You cannot stand each other yet when the other bleeds, you bleed too. That is family.”

“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.”

It was also incredibly interesting to read about the sister dynamic between Iseul and her sister, Suyeon. Reading from Iseul’s perspective as the younger sibling, who has been doted on and provided for by her older sister her whole life was very interesting to me. As the oldest sibling myself who has cared, provided, and sacrificed for my younger siblings in the absence of our parents, I could not relate to Iseul’s side of the sibling relationship. That’s what made her insight so interesting. I also loved how the relationship between Iseul and Suyeon wasn’t perfect. It was a complicated relationship in which they did not fully know whether they acted out of familial duty or out of love for one another. I loved seeing this nuanced side as sibling relationships in books I’ve read so far are usually drenched in unconditional love for one another. This complicated relationship made it all the more realistic to me. Because siblings fight and they bicker and they sometimes “hate” each other’s guts. And I think Hur portrayed that nuanced relationship very well.


“You will not always be the wisest, not 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.”

Although the overall tone of the book is very glum as the characters try to find a way to get rid of the tyrant king who makes his people suffer, Hur still manages to create a very atmospheric read through her lyrical prose. The descriptions make the scenery come to life in your mind’s eye. There is a steady build-up in the plot as it rises towards its crescendo point. Once I reached that point around the 75% mark, it was nerve-wracking until the end. The intense action left my body shaking and my eyes were fluttering over the words, wanting to read faster than my brain could catch up. The action also blends really well with the romance and creates a realistic balance that fits the plot. There is no insta love. Instead, it focuses on a slow burn in which both characters take time to get to know one another and build that base of mutual trust. They form a deeper connection of the mind rather than focus on the physical aspect of a romantic relationship which, I think, fits the culture and timeline really well. There is yearning and mutual pining. There are long gazes and secret looks, soft touches and shared breaths. Their intimacy lies in the little details and I absolutely loved that refreshing take on romance.

Overall I found A Crane Among Wolves to be a very refreshing read in the sea of Young Adult fiction. I always love fiction/fantasy that is based on or inspired by real historical events. I also immensely appreciate when, as a reader, you can tell that the research has been thoroughly done. Hur even went a step further and listed her sources in the acknowledgments and I cannot express how much I appreciate that because I love reading the sources on which the books I love are based to gain more insight on history.

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2024, and so I am very pleased to announce that this is one of my favourite books I've read in 2023.

A Crane Among Wolves is a historical fiction set in Joseon in 1506, where the people live under the threat of King Yeonsan. For our main character, Iseul, the king's cruelty has hit close to home, with her sister being stolen by the king to be one of his "courtesans". Despite the strained relationship the siblings have, Iseul journeys to the capital, desperate to save her sister. Without many options, Iseul reasons that she can force the king to show mercy and let her sister go if she finds the person responsible for the string of murders taking place in the capital - and if that fails, she will just sneak into court and steal her back. She can't do this by herself though, and so she finds herself in need of allies, including the king's own brother, Prince Daehyun, who has his own reason for hating the king. Iseul and Daehyun are forced to overcome any lingering animosity that arose due to their rocky first encounters- but as they say, there is no bond stronger than hating the same person - and so Iseul and Daehyun work together to save her sister and save the kingdom.

For me, this book ticked all of my boxes: the mystery was engaging, I found myself emotionally invested in both the relationships (both platonic and romantic) and struggles of the characters, and it was super easy to read. Like all of June Hur's books, despite the subject matter being quite grim, I always have a fun time reading these books because I genuinely enjoy spending time with the characters as they try and solve the mysteries. I also thought the book really benefitted from using dual POV. As for my thoughts on the ending...all I can say is be prepared to go through it!

Overall, if June Hur is writing it, I will be reading it - and based on her track record, I'm going to enjoy it!