thanks to netgalley and macmillan children's publishing group for the free earc in exchange for a fair and honest review!

this book, for all of its historical and educational merit, was... nothing too special. the tropes were all pretty common, characterization was a B at best, and the relationship between the two characters wasn't completely fleshed out.
in any case, i enjoyed it a lot.
i don't really know why i enjoyed this so much — i think it had to do with iseul, as i'm a sucker for characters like her. daehyun, while interesting, didn't really have as much emotional trauma as iseul, which is probably why i grew to like her so much more.
read this if you like korean historical fiction, strong female characters, or the prince x commoner trope. you won't be disappointed.

I just finished "A Crane Among Wolves" and I absolutely loved it! I am a person who enjoys history and Korean culture. I thought the story was interesting and the historical author's notes were informative. I think the Joseon era is a period that is not touched upon in western literature, so I am happy to see this in the Young Adult section. Since I liked the story, characters, and tone of this book, I plan to check out June Hur's other works as well.

I did receive the eBook of this ARC, however, my library purchased the audiobook upon release and I listened to that instead. I thought the narrators were very good.

I always like the premise of June Hur's books. I think the mystery/murder element of her books are always great, but there's always something about the pacing that doesn't work for me. I remember feeling this about The Red Palace too.

I like her characters, but don't love them. I like the premise but the pacing sometimes feel off and I don't always buy the romance that was written in. In the end, I will read June Hur's books, but I go into expecting to love it. I do have a good time, but they don't always leave a lasting impression for me like it does other people.

This is a Korean historical YA fantasy, heavily inspired by one of the worst periods of terror and struggle in the history of Korea - this was a well-written, gripping and yes, horror-type read, and I was figuratively clutching my pearls the entire book. The author has done a wonderful job of balancing the plot and the MCs' emotional journey, and the pacing was done really well. This is my first June Hur book and I'm 100% gonna pick up her other books now!

TWs (taken directly from the author's note) - rape (mentioned), sexual abuse, misogyny, kidnapping women and girls, sex trafficking, incest (mentioned), violence, murder, animal cruelty, suicide (mentioned), infanticide (mentioned), psychological trauma, panic attacks.

-- ty to the author, the publisher and @turnthepagetours for an advanced copy!

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

A Crane Among Wolves is the latest offering from Jane Hur, author of the Red Palace. Based on a turbulent time in Korean history, peopled with historical figures,this is a story of the bond between two sisters and also the story of an unexpected love between a tortured prince and the woman who intends to turn the heavens over to save her sister’s life.

Book Name: A Crane Among Wolves
Author: June Hur

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group  Feiwel & Friends for an ARC of June Hur’s A Crane Among Wolves

Stars: 5
Spice: 0 (Not Truly YA)

Standalone
Fast Paced
Dual POV
Korean Historical Murder Mystery and Adventure with Major Romance Subplot

- Thoughts.
- Political Intrigue x10
- Murder Mystery
- Sisterhood
- K-Drama Vibes x10
- Romance is Brilliantly done
- Tortured, Kind, Heart of Gold, MMC
- Stubborn, Smart, Equally Tortured FMC
- Doesn’t Feel Like YA (Great for Older Audiences)
- Banter x10
The ending is SO Satisfying
- Historical Details are Fascinating

***"You are not dead."***
***"Disappointed?"***
***"Terribly."***

I have no words to describe how immensely I’m in love with this book. The fact that I’ve been gatekeeping my thoughts since I finished it 3 months ago says a lot, I had no idea how to even write comprehensive words for my feelings (˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )

1506, Joseon. When Iseul’s sister was forcefully taken by the king, she has no one but herself to steal back her sister, even if it means challenging a tyrant king. She collides path with Daehyun, a traumatised prince who wishes more than everything to end the cruel reign of the same king. What starts as an agreement to help each other because of their mutual hatred turns into yearning and longing, and nothing hurts more than having another person that you can lose anytime.

I think it’s because this book is based on a real tyrant king from Korean history that makes the story much harder to bear. The pain made me weep almost through every chapter, and a specific chapter made my cry until I couldn’t breathe. Imagine the pains in Scarlet Heart Ryeo, but with only one prince on your side.

I’m incredibly fond of both Iseul and Daehyun, Iseul for her tenacity despite the miseries thrown at her, and Daehyun’s gentle kindness amidst cruelty surrounding him. The slow (and I mean, real slow) burn romance was scrumptious, but it comes at the cost of immense pains </3

Honestly, I’m already considering this book to be the best book I have read this year (∩˃o˂∩)♡ I’m looking forward to read June Hur’s other books since she’s already in my favourite list now 💖

"It is imperative to confront history because it repeats itself when ignored." -June Hur

A young woman in 1504 Korea, 17yo Iseul, and her older sister are orphaned by soldiers who killed their parents on orders from the king. They live with their grandmother until 1506 when the king collects the eldest for one of his own concubines. Iseul will do anything to save her sister but she has to learn patience and observation skills to do it wisely and as safely as possible. An investigator for the soldiers is helping her gain these skills, even though it will mark him as a traitor. Iseul unexpectedly meets Prince Daehyun and eventually they help each other as the Prince plans a coup to take down the tyrant king. Full of intrigue and determination!

Likes/dislikes: I appreciate the research the author took the time to do for this book about a dark part of Korean history. Magnificent character development and world building. I fell in love with Iseul and the prince.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: R for 31 swears and 1 f-word.
Violence: R for repeated bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Korean

A Crane Among Wolves is a YA historical fiction story set in 1506, under the rule of King Yeonsan, a tyrant, who stole thousands of women and murdered anyone who stood in his way.

It's a dual POV. Iseul wants to rescue his sister who was kidnapped and turned into the king's concubine. She has a plan, but it is not so easy to approach the concubines, much less escape from there. Daehyun is the half-brother of King Yeonsan, a Prince that many underestimate, he doesn't like the way the king controls the country. He has plans for a change of government and is looking for allies all secret because if the king finds out, they will all be executed. Iseul and  Daehyun's paths cross when both begin to investigate the serial killer Nameless Flower, who has been murdering people related to the king.
 
I was immediately hooked, Iseul and Daehyun are brave and smart, they are both angry, feel alone, and have difficult goals to achieve, they will start as enemies, but later they will ally, and little by little they will fall in love, the romance it’s not the main theme, its subtle, but how it made me suffer.

Iseul and Daehyun were wonderful, it’s easy to feel empathy for them and for wanting everything to turn out well for them, there are many obstacles in their path and you will suffer with them, they are both tenacious and realistic. The writing style draws you into the story, it’s a dark story and there are many emotions that you can almost feel yourself, Iseul's need to save her sister, her desperation to escape, Daehyun's impotence for what happens in the kingdom, And not being able to do anything (yet) 

It’s inspired by a real Korea but the characters and plot are fictional, the author also changed a few things in the historical timeline to fit the story more closely. If you want to know more about Korean history, or if you like court /political dramas this is for you. Despite the dark themes (check trigger warmings),  it is fast-paced, it hooks, and it makes you suffer a little in a good way. 

Thanks to Turn the Pages for the early copy 

Read it if you like
• Historical Fiction
• Political Drama
• Korean Story
• Brave characters

I've been enjoying a lot of historical fiction+mysteries lately so this one was another great addition!

Set in 1500s Joseon under the tyrannical rule of King Yeonsan who had destroyed countless lives with his violent purges and seizing of women, we follow Iseul's story who is determined to rescue her sister after she's taken away by the king. Iseul had lived a privileged life as a yangban aristocrat before her parents were executed and even after that her sister Suyeon had been taking care of her. But everything changes when she runs out after an argument with her sister and Suyeon is taken away while searching for her. Wracked with guilt, Iseul is hellbent on rescuing her sister and making things right. While traveling to the capital she comes across another victim of the serial killer called Nameless Flower - who has been killing the king's officials and sees a chance to capture him in order to get her sister's freedom as a reward.
And at the same time, her paths cross with Prince Daehyun, the king's illegitimate half-brother, who has been forced to resort to unspeakable things to survive under the king's thumb. He's tired of this and wishes that the king could be dethroned. When he comes across the chance to plan a coup to overthrow the king along with the other officials - he takes it and now Iseul has been inadvertently roped into these plans too.

I loved Iseul's character growth and how she went from a spoiled young lady to a courageous protagonist who's ready to do anything to help her sister and many others! The murder mystery was very interesting too and had me turning the pages. The romance between Iseul and Daehyun was pretty sweet too and I enjoyed getting both of their povs here while getting to know their characters! I think this book was quite realistic without getting too dark and I think I'd love to see this turned into a kdrama someday!

June Hur is an autobuy author for me. I love how her books have this soothing quality and elegant flow to it. That’s the case here even though it is a historical mystery with a fair amount of political intrigue. Also, Hur never disappoints with her vivid descriptions. It's one of the reasons why I enjoy her novels.

While the book revolves around Iseul trying to rescue her sister who has been stolen by the king to be a concubine, there are subplots woven seamlessly into the main storyline including a murderer on the loose and an attempt to usurp the crown. It might appear as though a lot is happening, they are all tied to each other as actions against a tyrant. Importantly, they add to Iseul’s growth as a character as she finds herself involved in each, highlighting her determination while also helping her recognize how courageous she actually is.

At times I wished Iseul and Daehyun were a little more obvious with their feelings because I am a romance lover and I needed those moments to squee. Despite this, I appreciated how the romance never overshadows Iseul’s goal of saving her sister. She is a tenacious character and thankfully remains so throughout the book.

My favorite relationship in the book is the unexpected one that develops between Iseul and a retired government official. I just wish they had more scenes together because he ends up being one of the few individuals who believes in her. Also, I love found family and he gets to be part of that for her.

With the many Asian inspired fantasies I've been reading, this provided a welcomed break. I recommend this to individuals who like historical fiction with a touch of romance.

June Hur has answered the pleas of her readers and delivered quite possibly the sweetest most tender romance I've read all year but set against the bloodiest and most stressful plot. A Crane Among Wolves draws inspiration from the tyrannical rule of King Yeonsangun and the coup that would put an end to his bloodshed. We follow a girl named Iseul whose sister was taken by the king to join his palace concubines. While their relationship had been strained for the past few years, it doesn't stop Iseul from jumping head first into any lead she can to find a way to save her sister which leads to her stumbling on a serial killer case and a coup to overthrow the king.

One of my favorite things about June Hur's novels is the unbelievably chilling atmosphere that really sinks into your bones as your read. The amount of times I actually forgot to breathe because I was so tense with fear and anticipation for what would happen next had me surprised I didn't pass out while reading. As Isuel finds herself wrapped up in conspiracies, she begins to discover that the king's younger brother might become her greatest ally and I truly adored watching their relationship develop. Even though it still left me wanting more, June Hur managed to deliver all the feels, perfect confession lines, and heartbreaking moments that had me wanting to throw something across the room.

With so much of the focus being on the plot and developing romance, some of the side relationships didn't get as much page time. I adored the mentor-mentee relationship between Wonshik and Iseul as well as the friendship that blossoms between Iseul and Yul. It simply highlights the wonderful found family aspect that offers a bit of light and hope into such a bleak and terrible situation. The coup itself also reveals the impossible greed of men and the exploitation of women in the scramble for power which left my heart absolutely aching.

Oh my goodness, this book is unexpected and I loved it. It was something I'd never read before and it was an adventure to go on. It was the perfect balance of romance, suspense, and adventure.

As with The Red Palace, June Hur has set out once again to look back into history, confront it, and turn it into impeccably-researched historical fiction that not only entertains but also makes the lesson accessible for those who might otherwise never have learned of it.

I don’t care whether or not historical fiction is labeled as YA or not: What I care about the most when it comes to historical fiction of any kind is the dedication to the source material. I want my historical fiction to be as well-researched as possible, from top to bottom. In genre fiction, there are worlds to build. In historical fiction, adherence to history is the worldbuilding. While there are certain elements that can be bent, like timeline compressions and character amalgamations, anachronisms stick out just as bad as a poorly-formed magic system in any fantasy novel. June Hur does some of the best research I’ve ever seen when it comes to writing her novels. The result of this thorough and time-consuming research is impeccable worldbuilding with as few shortcuts taken as possible to create an entertaining, romantic, mysterious, suspenseful, and intriguing novel that should appeal to all ages and not just the YA set.

A Crane Among Wolves is as much a tale of survivor’s guilt and vengeance as it is about rebellion. Along the way it also becomes a story of found family, grief, privilege, and persistence. There’s treachery, betrayal, violence, friendship, risk, espionage, and falling in love at the worst possible time. Or is the worst possible time also maybe the best? Either way, it all comes together beautifully in the end.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Historical Fiction/Historical Mystery/Historical Romance/Political Fiction/Suspense Mystery/YA Fiction/YA Historical Fiction

I enjoyed this book immensely! I loved the dual perspectives from Iseul and Daehyun. They were both so cantankerous and yet loving with each other. I particularly love that it seems like they are truly protecting each other, that they are a team in everything.
The mystery elements of the book also kept me on my toes. I was desperate to find out who Nameless Flower was, and was very surprised by who it was but loved how everything connected in the end.
The settings described were so vibrant I felt like I was running through the woods and mountains and cities in Korea. I did not know anything about the reign of King Yeonsan and was shocked to learn that many of the characters/events were real. Hur's rich and descriptive writing about this frightening period in Korean history makes me want to learn more!

This was truly amazing. June Hur is one of my favourite authors of all time and I cannot stress this enough. She had taken on a time period that not even Koreans living in SK have the bravery to take on because it is such a dark time in history and as this is YA, I think she handled it absolutely brilliantly. It was equal parts gripping and informative and had so. so much heart and soul to it. Iseul is one of the most formidable strong-headed female characters I have ever read about and Daehyun is so sweet, it's unfortunate that his half-brother is the Tyran King Yeonsan and I was impressed by how quick on his feet Daehyun was - there were several moments where I thought Yeonsan would see through his lies and deception and just straight up decide to take his, Daehyun's life.
Overall a huge thank you to the publisher for an e-ARC review, I highly recommend this book to fans of June Hur and those that want to get into Korean history, especially Joseon era!

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

A Crane Among Wolves is a historical fiction set in 1506 in Joseon, now known as Korea. During this time, the kingdom suffered under the rule of King Yeonsan, who stole the people’s land, banned books and their writing system, and kidnapped and abused women as his personal courtesans. In the novel, Iseul has been fairly safe in her village, but when her sister Suyeon is taken by the King, she travels across the kingdom to try and get her back. However, she quickly realizes any attempt to retrieve her sister will be met with certain death. Prince Daehyun has had to watch as his half-brother, King Yeonsan, abused and executed the people of the kingdom. Daehyun is desperate to dethrone him, but he knows he has to be careful. When Iseul and Daehyun cross paths, they put their differences aside to try and do the impossible: overthrow the king.

As someone who loves historical fiction, I was quite excited to read this book. After finishing it, I have mixed feelings. June Hur put extensive research into this novel, and you can tell when reading it. The historical aspect of the novel was very well-done and taught me so much about this dark time in Korean history, which I appreciated. There were some beautiful, heartfelt moments in the novel, as well as profound quotes that highlighted the atrocities hundreds of women went through during this time. At first, I disliked Iseul’s character, but she went through great character development and I grew to admire her. I also liked Daehyun and his complicated history. However, I felt like the book lacked a spark. I struggled to emotionally connect with the characters, even when they seemed to be saying all of the right things, and parts of the book felt a bit rushed. There were multiple times where I found myself getting confused about what was going on and who was involved with what throughout the novel, and the ending left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. While June Hur wrote what seemed like an objectively good book, I can’t deny that it fell flat for me. I think those who like YA historical fiction and political intrigue might enjoy this, but it is not the kind of book that will change your life.

I have read all of this author’s books. I have enjoyed some and others were good but could have been better for me. This book is one of those that I liked but could have been a bit better.

The book is told from two point-of-views and they come from Iseul who wants to save her older sister from an evil king and Prince Daehyun, the brother of the king. Both of these characters deal with traumatic ordeals and it was easy to understand the choices they made. I do like books with a sister bond since I have sisters. This one was okay, but not present too much since one of the sisters is missing. I could tell that Iseul really cared for her sister though and took her being taken away personally as her own fault. The guilt she dealt with was a lot!

I wish I would have enjoyed the mystery more. It didn’t draw me in as much as other books did and I think that is why I didn’t love this one as much. It was still good, but I was expecting more. There is a lot of plot twists though and that king is quite crazy!

Overall, this was good and I am looking forward to her next book.

A gripping murder mystery and swoonworthy romance set against the backdrop of a brutal period in Korean history.

“A Crane Among Wolves” follows Iseul, a sheltered, privileged teenager, as she embarks on a dangerous journey to save her sister, who has been kidnapped by the tyrant King Yeonsan. Prince Daehyun, who is disgusted by his half-brother’s rampant abuse of the common folk, wants nothing more than to overthrow him. Despite their initial disdain for each other, Iseul and Daehyun’s mutual hatred for the king results in a reluctant alliance to stage a coup.

June Hur’s historical reimagining centers around the fall of the Joseon dynasty in the Korean peninsula. As someone unfamiliar with this dark period in history, I was captivated and devastated by the widespread atrocities Hur’s characters navigated and the sacrifices they had to make to survive the abuse, kidnapping, enslavement, and execution that was prevalent during this time under King Yeonsan’s reign. I especially admired Iseul’s strength and her devotion to her sister. She goes to extreme lengths to save her sister from Yeonsan’s clutches and I enjoyed watching her develop from a spoiled girl to a selfless revolutionary.

I really enjoyed the murder mystery sub-plot woven into the story. It further drew me in and the suspense kept me on my toes. I tried and failed to identify the killer, but I loved trying to make sense of the clues Hur left throughout.

Iseul and Daehyun’s begrudging allies-to-lovers romance had me in a chokehold! Their relationship development is very gradual with the two prioritizing their cause (usurping the king) over each other. Still, they cannot resist giving in to their desires and I loved watching that play out from both of their perspectives. The tension, angst, and mutual pining Hur writes into their relationship made it all the better!

This book is such an interesting re-telling of some very violent and turbulent Korean history. It's told more for drama than complete historical accuracy, but I can see how this could be used to draw people into all of the intrigue of Korean history.

The current King is a tyrant, and keeps a harem of women who are frequently raped and abused. 17 year old Iseul doesn't really have to reckon with any of this until her older sister Suyeon is taken to join the King's harem. She has to journey into the unknown and leave the safety of her home in order to try an rescue her sister. Along the way, she meets up with secret rebels, including the King's half brother, Daehyun. The plot moves quickly as the two of them run into many obstacles along their way to raising a coup and rescuing Iseul's sister. There are captures. Characters we love die. This book does not shy away from violence although it is not graphic. Iseul and Daehyun come to admire each other for their strength and integrity. They protect each other and are loyal to one another.

If you have a reader who needs an expansive and fast-moving plot to get them interested, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.