I need 10 business days to recover from this book. The intensity of it got me crying and taking leaps around my one square apartment (and weird glances from my roommate).

Since the very beginnng, I could feel the despair and the agony the characters are in as if I was the one having such emotions and going through things. While reading, I felt as if I was experiencing the events. Iseul is one of the greatest characters I've had the pleasure of reading about, she'll forever be so dear to me. Both her own story and her romance with Daehyun were remarkable and left its mark on me. Her strength is admirable, yet she's still human at the end of the day. I loved the balance between her romance, strength and struggles.

The historical inspirations behind the story isn't to be taken lately. I'm glad that the author put the warnings and the historical note and nothing was sugarcoated. It was no light read, I felt even nauseous at times at reading such horrors but it wasn't done in a way that romanticized or justified but showed it as the cruelty it is. It wasn't overshadowed by the romance- every different aspect was balanced perfectly.

We are in the last month of the year but this quickly made its way up to my favorite reads of 2023. I can't wait for it to be May so rest of the world can read this beautiful yet wrecking story as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

June Hur never disappoints. Another Korean historical that feels alive and full of heart. I've read everything that June Hur has written, and they're all incomparable. I'm honored to be on her arc team.

A Crane Among Wolves is the story of Iseul and Daehyun but also of the countless women who suffered during the reign of King Yeonsan.

Iseul is such a brave girl, headstrong and smart. She pushes against the boundaries of Confucianism and the social norms of the time. And she's a prime example of the younger sister, the one who acts out and does what she wants. I loved her character, and I loved her character development. She went from being someone who acted first and thought later to someone who took a breath, thought it out, and acted later. That was thanks to Wonship who saw her sharp, keen investigative mind and encouraged it blossom instead of breaking it apart because Iseul was a girl. She grew a lot throughout the book without changing the foundations of her personality.

/And Iseul, I feel you, Daehyun's way of saying "Iseul-ah" haunts me, too./

Daehyun is our blunt but super soft Prince who has been suffering so much in the Royal Palace with that tyrant of a brother as the King. He had to become hard as a diamond to survive, and he did without losing his humanity or love for the people close to him. I'm so soft for him, because even when he's being blunt and little cruel-ish, even that doesn't have a bite, not really. But oh he can wield a sword and a bow! He's smart and fights for what is right. And the whole coup happened because of him, because of what he found out and triggered the whole thing.

The romance was beautiful and delicate and full of yearning, longing, and curiosity but also hope. It was not rushed, and it didn't feel fabricated just for the book; instead, it felt natural and unavoidable simply because it was their destiny to love each other. They certainly did NOT see eye to eye at first, which led to hilarious banter. But they completed each other in every way. She's the force, he's the calm. She's all about goals and actions, he's calculating and strategic.

I also loved the side characters, Wonshik, Yul, Suyeon, Crow, and Hyukjin. They were all different people coming together and bonding in unexpected ways. Wonshik was a kind but blunt, loyal person who protected our Prince and the rest of the group with his fierce sword moves and sharp mind. Yul, a girl who fought for what was right and was like a beacon of light for the lost ones. Suyeon, the older sister who suffered tremendously but held onto her love for her sister and onto life. Crow, a guy who even he himself misunderstands and seeks for redemption. Hyukjin who was our Prince's shoulder and heart at the bleakest of moments.

The prose is authentic and deeply reminiscent of Joseon. It reads like a script or something people of Joseon wrote. Full of flesh and heart, pain and love. It's a k-drama in the form of a novel. June Hur never shies from heartbreaking and agonizing themes (read her book The Forest of Stolen Girls) or from painful history (The Red Palace, The Forest of Stolen Girls). In this story, instead of delivering a simple, miraculous happily ever after to the women King Yeonsan had stolen, June Hur chose authenticity, because that miraculous HEA would just not happen in those times. Many of the people in power were cruel and brutal, and June Hur conveyed that. They got their freedom at the end, but it was certainly not miraculous nor simple. I admire and respect her so much for this decision and for every time she chooses authenticity to shortcuts. She's a masterful writer with brilliant and emotionally raw storytelling that transcends time or better yet that brings us to the beautiful but sometimes brutal times of Joseon. June Hur is not an author to be missed.

A beautiful YA historical mystery romance with authenticity, hope, pain, and so much love for oneself, for family, and for the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

June Hur never disappoints. Another Korean historical that feels alive and full of heart. I've read everything that June Hur has written, and they're all incomparable. I'm honored to be on her arc team.

A Crane Among Wolves is the story of Iseul and Daehyun but also of the countless women who suffered during the reign of King Yeonsan.

Iseul is such a brave girl, headstrong and smart. She pushes against the boundaries of Confucianism and the social norms of the time. And she's a prime example of the younger sister, the one who acts out and does what she wants. I loved her character, and I loved her character development. She went from being someone who acted first and thought later to someone who took a breath, thought it out, and acted later. That was thanks to Wonship who saw her sharp, keen investigative mind and encouraged it blossom instead of breaking it apart because Iseul was a girl. She grew a lot throughout the book without changing the foundations of her personality.

/And Iseul, I feel you, Daehyun's way of saying "Iseul-ah" haunts me, too./

Daehyun is our blunt but super soft Prince who has been suffering so much in the Royal Palace with that tyrant of a brother as the King. He had to become hard as a diamond to survive, and he did without losing his humanity or love for the people close to him. I'm so soft for him, because even when he's being blunt and little cruel-ish, even that doesn't have a bite, not really. But oh he can wield a sword and a bow! He's smart and fights for what is right. And the whole coup happened because of him, because of what he found out and triggered the whole thing.

The romance was beautiful and delicate and full of yearning, longing, and curiosity but also hope. It was not rushed, and it didn't feel fabricated just for the book; instead, it felt natural and unavoidable simply because it was their destiny to love each other. They certainly did NOT see eye to eye at first, which led to hilarious banter. But they completed each other in every way. She's the force, he's the calm. She's all about goals and actions, he's calculating and strategic.

I also loved the side characters, Wonshik, Yul, Suyeon, Crow, and Hyukjin. They were all different people coming together and bonding in unexpected ways. Wonshik was a kind but blunt, loyal person who protected our Prince and the rest of the group with his fierce sword moves and sharp mind. Yul, a girl who fought for what was right and was like a beacon of light for the lost ones. Suyeon, the older sister who suffered tremendously but held onto her love for her sister and onto life. Crow, a guy who even he himself misunderstands and seeks for redemption. Hyukjin who was our Prince's shoulder and heart at the bleakest of moments.

The prose is authentic and deeply reminiscent of Joseon. It reads like a script or something people of Joseon wrote. Full of flesh and heart, pain and love. It's a k-drama in the form of a novel. June Hur never shies from heartbreaking and agonizing themes (read her book The Forest of Stolen Girls) or from painful history (The Red Palace, The Forest of Stolen Girls). In this story, instead of delivering a simple, miraculous happily ever after to the women King Yeonsan had stolen, June Hur chose authenticity, because that miraculous HEA would just not happen in those times. Many of the people in power were cruel and brutal, and June Hur conveyed that. They got their freedom at the end, but it was certainly not miraculous nor simple. I admire and respect her so much for this decision and for every time she chooses authenticity to shortcuts. She's a masterful writer with brilliant and emotionally raw storytelling that transcends time or better yet that brings us to the beautiful but sometimes brutal times of Joseon. June Hur is not an author to be missed.

A beautiful YA historical mystery romance with authenticity, hope, pain, and so much love for oneself, for family, and for the future.

This was another amazing book by June Hur, The suspense throughout the book kept me completely engaged from start to finish. Iseul and Daehyun had my heart,

Another win for June Hur. She always inspires me with her research and attention to detail. Taking place in the Joseon era of Korea during the reign of the infamous King Yeosan. Hur deftely weaves together history with fiction bringing Joseon alive through the lives of her characters.

Iseul is a young sheltered woman, but has a hidden strength and when her sister is taken by the infamous king to be his play thing, she musters all her courage. She makes a plan to get her back.

Prince Daehyun can't stand his half-brother the king, but his power is absolute. He needs someone he knows he can trust to help him oust the evil king.

When Iseul and Prince Daehyun's fate collide they will change Korea forever (and fall in love...)

It's great. For fans of Joseon era K-drama's this book hits all the right notes. <3

Thank you #junehur & #netgalley for the digital ARC !!

Readers of A Crane Among Wolves are promised a book that reads like a k-drama -- and are not disappointed! Hur's characters bring this dark period of Korean history to life, twining together tragedy and hope in their fight to not just survive but to craft a life of their own choosing. With a plot reminiscent of popular historical k-dramas, this book captivates from start to finish.

You can always trust June Hur (best-selling author of The Red Palace) to write an intriguing mystery book.

Thank you to @publisher for the DRC!

Iseul: A seventeen-year-old stubborn girl who will do anything to get her sister back from the tyrant king’s clutches.
Iseul was an interesting, lovable main character. I loved her willingness to do anything for her sister and how she always knew what she wanted. I loved how she solved the mystery of the nameless flower.

Daehyun: A prince who has lived his whole life in the shadow of his terrible half-brother, the king. He aches for dethroning his half-brother.
Daehyun is such a green flag. I love it when there are consent scenes in books and this one had one!!! I love how he didn’t try to change Iseul’s decisions even when he didn’t like them.

Iseul and Suyeon’s relationship reminded me of my sisters, my heart felt so full reading about them. I love how it showcased that even though siblings fight a lot but if something were to happen they would fight for each other.

“When the person you love is taken, you go into the den of the tiger. You go to the ends of the kingdom and across. You go to where they are.”

This book feels like you are reading a kdrama like all June Hur books. Some mysteries tend to be predictable but I assure you this one isn’t. Iseul, Daehyun, and Yul are all well-written characters. The romance was a slow burn and yes I was giggling and kicking my feet when they hugged. I also love how June had sneaked in her next book’s name in The Red Palace, wondering if she did the same this time too.

This book was excellent. I first discovered June Hur last year when I read The Red Palace which I absolutely loved. Then I found out about A Crane Among Wolves coming out in the future and was very excited to read it someday. I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley (thank you Feiwel & Friends, June Hur, and NetGalley) and read it way in advance of the release.

This book was so good, I loved it even more than The Red Palace (which I loved a lot and still consider a 5-star read). Just like in The Red Palace, we got the historical Korean setting, murder-mystery plot, royal politics, and really beautiful romance. But I think this book specifically improved on the politics and romance compared to The Red Palace. Both got even more "screen-time" which I really appreciated. In particular, the corruption of officials and the subjugation of women and girls (gosh it was sad how young some of them were) were major themes in the book that could be quite hard to read but were really important historically and that June did a wonderful job showing and discussing.

Another thing I really enjoyed were the side characters, in particular: Wonsik, Madam Yul, and Suyeon. They were written so well, I loved them from the very beginning. This book had a really beautifully written "found family" which is one of my favorite tropes.

It was also really nice to get the male main characters POV in this one, compared to The Red Palace. I think it really improved the romance because you could see it growing from both sides. It was also pretty important for the plot too, to get his POV. The one thing I will say, is it really didn't feel like enemies to lovers to me which I've seen some people advertise it as such. Our two main characters are pretty quickly working together and not really enemies. Personally, I think the relationship was great and with the book being on the shorter side I think a true enemies to lovers wouldn't have fit very well.

To summarize, read if you like:
- historical Korean books with k-drama vibes
- murder mystery plot
- an FMC that starts off as a spoiled princess but is brave and grows a lot
- a dreamy sad prince MMC
- found family
- Royal politics, corruption, and tyranny plot
- a complicated but loving sister relationship

★ ★ ★ ★ • 4

“I don’t know what I was thinking. 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.”

“I would brave this life,” I murmured against him, “and a thousand more.”

Every bit the whimsical fantasy of a historical Kdrama. A Crane Among Wolves is a dual POV novel about revenge, family, and love. While also having elements of romance, mystery, politics and a coming-of-age story.

Iseul is a girl who’s just trying to get her sister back from a crazed tyrant, and Daehyun is… Stuck along for the ride, doing his very best to stop her from getting herself killed. Together and with the help of others, they work together to take Daehyun’s psychotic half-brother off the throne.

To fully appreciate this book some knowledge of Korean language and culture is needed. Without any prior knowledge of the language, some words/phrases used can be guessed based on context but it would at the very minimum be a good idea to look up terms of familiarity and words for various relatives. Historical knowledge would be a plus, but not as necessary because those aspects are explained when they’re brought up in the story.

In terms of page length the story is a bit longer than average, but it is actually a pretty quick read and can be finished in a day. With this being a historical fantasy, there was a bit of an expectation that it would be detail heavy with a dense plot. However, the author did a great job of making sure the details didn’t become overwhelming. But, for reading comprehension I would definitely recommend making annotations when new characters, places and historical elements are introduced.

A Crane Among Wolves is my first June Hur book, and I will definitely be reading others after it. Really enjoyed it, and thanks so much to the author and publisher for the ARC copy.

been wanting to read this since i heard the announcement, and i had the honor to get approved for an advanced digital review copy yet all i could say is: i am speechless

this book took me on an adventure where being on one, during 1506, would be utterly impossible. the storyline kept me engaged and had me undergoing the five stages of grief. the characters are immaculate.

a crane among wolves is one of june hur's well-written books and i need more of it.

okay to put it simply, a crane among wolves is such an incredible book that i could not put down. i dont know how miss june does it but she will always deliver great gripping historical stories, her writing is stunning and everything, i always find myself in awe at her ability in creating such a moment in time that is filled with suspense and mystery, its quite highly immersive. june hur u truly never cease to amaze me. i liked the steadily building pace of the book and the sisters dynamic enormously, i really appreciate how iseul and suyeon's relationship was written and how realistically it felt. the romance? oh they had me by the throat. the yearning and angst are not something to play with. iseul and daehyun were very excellent and that epilogue was everything i love them dearly. the most aggravating and gut wrenching part of the awful horrifying wicked acts carried out by king yeonsan, are not only that it is based on a book but on true events. all the trigger warnings are mentioned at the very beginning of the book.

thank you june hur and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
i need all of you to read this book when it comes out on may 14th 2024, ALL STARS TO A CRANE AMONG WOLVES!!

TW: rape, sexual abuse, kidnapping, misogyny, sex trafficking, incest violence, murder, animal cruelty, suicide, infanticide, psychological trauma, panic attacks.

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

This story is a heavy one, based on historical Korean characters. We follow a young girl desperate to retrieve her older sister from the hands of a vicious king as well as a closed off prince who is looking to lead the coup that will change history. This unlikely duo must come to terms with their past as well as their vision of the future and learn to work together to protect the people they love - and each other.
At first I did not like our FMC, she seemed so thoughtless and rude, but as the story progressed I was able to see how she has struggled to be able to do something about her future, and have remorse for her mistakes. I loved the prince, Daehyun was perfect; the way he put walls up around his emotions and his heart to keep himself safe and play the game to survive was so very well described, my heart ached for him. The way he learned to open himself up to the people around him was so heartwarming. It was nice to see their relationship go from unlikely partners, to friends to lovers.

The side characters in this story were sensational, those working at the inn and working the murder investigation were so helpful to the story. Wonshik’s character was so integral to Iseul’s growth, I adored seeing him interact with our two main characters. I think the author also did a very good job of showing how people might not be evil but are still capable of doing terrible things to protect themselves or push themselves towards power.

”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.”

I thought the pacing was a little slow, and I think that was because so much of this information is actual fact - I think that author did a wonderful job of applying that information to the story. Something I love that the author does very well is give their young female characters the chance to be their own hero. To not have to rely solely on a man, but to rely on the people you choose. To love and be wise, to be young and clever. That is what I like most about the author's stories - she gives young women a chance to see what they are capable of even in the most unlikely of scenarios.

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

in a crane among wolves, the people live in fear under the rule of their cruel king whose crimes are endless. for iseul, the younger sister of one of the hundreds of women kidnapped by the king, and prince daehyun, the king’s trapped half-brother, their futures are not promised. when a vigilante killer decides to take things into their own hands by killing the king’s closest allies one by one, our main characters find themselves utilising this unrest to try to free the people from the king’s tyranny.

june hur once again masterfully delivers the perfect mysterious and historical setting that makes her writing stand out. as always, the amount of care and research that went into this book evidently comes across the page. she is one of (if not the only) author that i can confidently pick up their book and know i will enjoy.

i can’t wait for all of you to read this book when it comes out may 14th 2024!

It is year 1506. Joseon, the ancient Korea, is under the rule of a tyrant, King Yeonsan, who has terrorized his lands by kidnapping thousands of women, murdering the innocents, and stealing lands from his people. The citizens are left to starve and live in a constant state of fear and hopelessness.. for to defy the king means defying the rules of the Heavens, punishable by death without trial.
When Iseul’s parents are murdered in cold blood and her sister is kidnapped by the king, the seventeen-year-old ventures out on a journey to save her older sister from the king’s abuse, no matter the cost- even if it means working together with her enemy’s brother, Prince Daehyun.

What an exhilarating and emotional read!
From start to finish, it felt like I was watching an epic historical Korean drama. I enjoyed the dual POV of Iseul and Prince Daehyun and the slow unfurling romance between them was endearing, though I do wish that we could see more of Prince Daehyun’s POV when he fell for Iseul.
The supporting characters were also very charming and I was definitely emotionally attached to them just as much as I was to Iseul and Daehyun.
Many part of the book were gut-wrenching, even more so knowing that the atrocious acts carried out by King Yeonsan are based on true events.
The entire novel was meticulously thought-out and written to follow the real events as closely as possible and I appreciate author June Hur’s dedication to research and retelling of history through her novels.

Overall an amazing read that I would recommend to anyone.

First of all, thank you so much to the publisher and June for approving me of an ARC of A Crane Among Wolves. I remember adding this book to my TBR right after I finished The Red Palace last year, and I have been following the author's journey of this book ever since. I've also read all her other books as well and they always left me feeling awed, and A Crane Among Wolves is definitely the one that left me feeling awed the most.

A Crane Among Wolves follow our heroine, Iseul, in the year 1506 as she tries to save her older sister from the tyrant king Yeonsan and Daehyun, a prince and half brother of the king as he tries to dethrone him. Under the oppressive rule of King Yeonsan, the people faces a grim reality. Their lands are seized for the king's leisure, books are forbidden and destroyed, and women and girls are mistreated as mere objects of the king's desires. When Iseul's and Daehyun's path meet, they reluctantly decide to join forces to achieve their similar goals.

Besides the well researched history, one thing I also always appreciate about June's writing is the way she writes her heroines, including Iseul. One thing I noticed though is that Iseul isn't like any other of June's heroines, who (for me) comes of as someone strong and independent from the start. Iseul, who lives a privileged life before, is more stubborn but due to the lack of rules. In fact, at first I would call her selfish - but only because of her upbringing. I love watching Iseul grow in this book and watching her development. June is also so good at writing dynamics of sisters in her books. As someone with a sister herself, I think Iseul and Suyeon's relationship was realistic and relatable. I also liked how we get Daehyun's POV as well, unlike the previous books where it's mainly from the heroine's perspective only. I enjoyed reading from both Iseul's and Daehyun's POV so much.

There's of course a mystery element in here as like her other books and like her other books, this one was amazingly executed as well. IDK if it's just me or not but I was definitely not expecting that (my predictions were wayy wrong and tbh I'm glad!).

THE ROMANCE..... I was obsessed with the Red Palace due to the soft romance but this one hurt my little heart SO MANY TIMES. It's angsty and slow burn and it made me shriek so many times. I really loved how Iseul and Daehyun got to know each other and how their feelings progressed (this is also the reason why I appreciate the 2 POV!). through out and the way it's developed. That ending.... wheww. I was screaming crying throwing up at the last 10% of the book.

And last but not least, June's writing. I think June's writing improved so much (at this stage, I will read anything she writes. Not that I haven't been doing that for her past books). Another thing is that you can tell how much effort and work June always put into researching the accurate history of the time for her books, including this one. I loved reading June's historical notes at the end and it made me super interested in learning more about the history myself.

Firstly I want to thank netgalley and the author for an eARC of this book.

In the last year I have read whatever of June Hur I could get my hands on, and up until this one, The Red Palace was my favourite. I fear there’s a new first place contender.

I loved this historical mystery romance. From the opening it reminded me of some of the saeguks I had recently watched. This gave me the vibe of a more elevated Joseon drama - rich young characters, seeped in true historical events with an engaging mystery and a sweet romance.

I thought the book was really well written, and a good mystery at its core. The reveal of the killer was definitely surprising. I liked that they didn’t show some of the characters to be perfectly good and above reproach, instead showing them as grey characters with personal motivations for doing the things they want to do.

Up until 90% of the book, it was really really good. It was only the last 10% where I think it got too much like a drama. The last 4-5 chapters went past in such a flash, I wished we could've sat with the events for a bit, see people’s reactions to it before getting to the end. But everything happened so so fast, it was a bit too fast. It felt like a rushed ending.

Apart from the ending, I thought the book was really really good.