Firstly, THANK YOU SO MUCH JUNE for writing this book and for the e-arc (thank you netgalley as well)!
I think it’s going to be my favourite of the year tbh.
I really appreciate those little snippets of historical truths from June as well. She mentioned at the end of the book that although the story is fiction it’s inspired by true, historical events and I love that she included that.

Back to Iseul and Daehyun’s story. I smiled. I cried HARD. My heart stopped multiple times. My emotions were everywhere. Although Iseul was hard to love at first, I really admire her bravery and love for her sister!
I was rooting for her the entire time! And the romance… oh it was so sweet, heartbreaking at times and just so beautiful. And that epilogue… it ended on such a gorgeous note. I love that last sentence…


Ahh at this point, I really would read anything June writes. I’m so excited for her Jane Austen retelling in 2026!!

Again, thank you June, publisher and netgalley for the arc. I had an amazing time reading A Crane Among Wolves. 🤍

Ok, I read this book a few weeks ago and have more or less completely forgotten it. That said, on the whole, it was good. I don't read a ton of historical fiction so I'm probably not the target audience for this sort of thing, but I read The Red Palace, also by June Hur, and enjoyed it. And I liked this too! It was fairly similar to The Red Palace, and I didn't need the romance, but it was entertaining. The mystery is largely ignored and felt pretty unnecessary, and I wish the author had chosen to either exclusively focus on that with the coup in the background, or to just dispense with the mystery and focus on the coup. It felt like two different stories that didn't really come together for me. That said, I think readers of historical fiction will find a lot to like here. 3 stars - I mostly liked it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy. This book had my emotions running wild. The amount I felt for these characters had me flying through to find out what would happen next and whether or not it would all be ok in the end. Which is not always an easy task in a historical fiction novel. I really enjoyed this one, which is my second book to read by June Hur, and look forward to reading the rest of her work.

I really enjoyed the tenderness of this book—not just in the main romance, but in all the character relationships, especially with Iseul and her sister. The writing itself is so beautiful, and the descriptions of weather in particular contributed to the breathtaking vibes. A lot of the time I felt like important details were going over my head (which is probably my fault) so I sort of wished for a deeper dive into the political machinations in order to get a better understanding. But I recognize the delicate balance at play here between the coup, the mystery of the killer, and the romance. Hur manages to make it so no aspect completely overshadows the others. I loved all the twists and turns and would definitely recommend this book.

<i>First, a thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</i>

I had never read anything by Hur before, and this was a good introduction!

I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, and have been really enjoying the wave of East Asian books (and their authors) getting recognition and getting mainstream attention.

This period in Korea’s history is not something I was familiar with beforehand, so I had to assume Hur’s notes at the end of the book were accurate as far as artistic liberties taken and whatnot.

With that being said, I loved this delicious slow-burn coup, watching all the pieces fit together, and seeing our two main characters learn about one another (and themselves).

Hur does an excellent job of making her characters feel incredibly <i>real</i>; their struggle was my struggle. Their hopes were my hopes. I spent the latter half of the book on pins and needles as while I <i>assumed</i> how things would go, I had no way to know for certain; and at the end, it still wasn’t perfect (as history itself is often not).

My only real complaint was I felt like the epilogue wasn’t necessarily needed, but that is a bit nit-picky of me.

Joseon has been under the rule of a tyrant, King Yeonsan, for years. The king is overtaxing, purging officials, committing acts of unspeakable violence, and taking girls from their homes. Iseul (이슬)'s older sister is one of those stolen, and as her sister one of her last family members left alive, Iseul is going to get her back. Enter an inn, a bubbly innkeeper, a brooding old investigator, and a prince planning a coup, mix in a murderer, and you've got yourself A Crane Among Wolves.

The SECOND I heard Queen June Hur was writing another novel, I was so ready. I love her writing, I love her stories. I love Korean history. It was a match made in 천국. I actually read about Yeonsangun and wrote a bit about him for one of my Korean projects because he banned the use of hangul (한글) during his reign. He was deposed after the coup and it's quite hard to find any images of him from that time period (there have since been some made after the fact, I believe). My professor told everyone he was despised in Korea, and for good reason.

Like all of June Hur's books, there's an element of feminism, of girls breaking outside of the Confucian frame in which they are meant to be suspended, it's always something I love to see, as a feminist and documented Confucianism hater. Iseul might just be the most complex of Hur's heroines, as she's dealing with a lot--guilt, grief, getting involved in a treason plot... Iseul is booked and busy. She's smart, witty, and kind. We love Iseul.

Daehyun is cold. He has to be. His brother's a tyrant and constantly threatens his life. He has to pretend to be loyal while planning to get his brother off the throne. But Iseul breaks down his defenses, and he has some great development. Even if he is an idiot. A lovable idiot, but an idiot nonetheless.

The side characters are great, I wish we got to see more interactions with them. Iseul speaks about memories with some of them, but we don't see these memories unfold, so the emotions of the scene don't hit as hard because the reader hasn't had a chance to grow to love them as much as Iseul has.

The plot here is great, it doesn't feel like time passes but apparently it does? It feels like it takes place in a couple weeks, but supposedly takes place in months. Perhaps not, but if it does take place in a couple of weeks, the memories Iseul reflects upon never come up. It's just a bit confusing.

Overall, I loved this book, I love June Hur, and I eagerly await anything else she cooks up!!

Many, many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

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.

I’m always on the lookout for books that introduce me to new perspectives. Although I’m a historian, my area of focus is Medieval Europe; I have quite a few historical blindspots when it comes to non-European history. As a result, I was particularly excited to pick up A Crane Among Wolves: although 1506 is right at the tail end of my focus, I was completely unfamiliar with the Jungjong coup.
Don’t be afraid, though: this isn’t some stuffy history textbook. Far from it: this is an action-packed mystery with very little politicking. The main instigators of the coup are side characters; King Jungjong himself doesn’t even appear on-page. I think this is a smart decision for several reasons. First, as June Hur notes, the instigators of the coup were hardly the heroes we’d like to paint them as - it’d be very difficult to find any of them sympathetic. Second, this is a YA novel. This is a book aimed at a younger audience, and as a result, it’s not going to have the complicated worldbuilding of a historical fiction book aimed at older audiences. I don’t think that’s a bad thing! As an introduction to a period of history unfamiliar to most Americans (myself included), I think this works great.
In terms of the mystery element: honestly, I wish there was more. I was reminded of The Fox Wife, which I loved, but every time the book crept closer to being an honest-to-God historical mystery, the damn coup had to swoop in and yank the plot to a screeching halt. This was especially true towards the end of the book, when the coup really starts ratcheting into high gear. I found myself wondering: were we meant to solve this mystery? The third-act twist felt so out of left field that I found myself thinking: “sure, this might as well happen.” Maybe more clues were sprinkled throughout the novel and I just wasn’t paying enough attention. At any rate, I couldn’t help feeling distracted. I wanted a full commitment to the mystery element. The resolution of that particular plotline felt half-hearted, as if the author suddenly remembered there was a mystery we were meant to be solving.
As for the characters - as I mentioned earlier, I think it’s an interesting choice to make the main love interest and secondary POV Daehyun, but, on the whole, it works. Wonsik, our detective, was a delight and a highlight. I especially loved his relationship with Iseul, our protagonist. At the same time, this is a book that is absolutely bogged down by the secondary characters. At a certain point, I had to pull out a piece of paper to keep track of which officials were aligned with which parties. A character list or dramatis personae would definitely have benefited things here, as would a map. I’m not sure if either of these elements are going to be included in the final release, and maybe I’m yet again showing my ignorance when it comes to Korean history, but there were a few moments when I had to pause, open Wikipedia, and skim through a few paragraphs before I returned to the book.
Really, if I had to summarize this book, it would be: it was fine. It was pretty good. I don’t think I’ll be thinking about it for any longer than it takes for me to finish up this review, but it was an easy read, and I polished it off in a day. If you’re at all interested in Korean history, why not give it a go?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!!! I'm not one for historical fiction, but this was a blast. There is a coup, romance, murder mystery, and a lot of interesting characters. With a tight deadline to solve the mystery, and not just because of more victims, this one kept trying to make stay reading when I had a real world to return to.

This is definitely a darker YA historical fiction novel, but it sheds light on one of the more tragic parts of Korean history and in a really engaging and compelling way. ITT took me some time to warm up to Iseul, but her character growth was a really amazing journey. Daehyun’s chapters were my favorites. I liked that there was romance in the story, but it never overpowered the main plot. The big reveal of the main mystery definitely surprised me, but I wasn’t completely shocked and that’s okay. I very much enjoyed the author’s note at the beginning, telling us the history behind this story and also the historical note at the end going over what happened to Korea after the events of the book. I think this is a very important read, especially for a look at a lesser known part of history to some of us.
CW: rape, kidnapping, violence, suicide, animal death, infant death, murder, domestic violence

Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge fan of The Red Palace, I was really looking forward to A Crane Among Wolves and it did not disappoint. I recommend this book to readers who like young adult fantasy, Korean inspired stories, romance, and political intrigue.

Iseul is a selfish, pampered teenager. Not until her older sister is kidnapped to become a concubine for the cruel King Yeonsan, does she begin to grow up and look outside of herself. Of course, first she has to run headlong into trouble, multiple times, and run headlong into the illegitimate Prince Daehyun. Meet cute, slow burn, history, and politics, this book has it all, including a wonderfully rounded account of someone slowly coming to terms with the person they really want to be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this DRC.
#ACraneAmongWolves #NetGalley

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

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

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

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

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"A Crane Among Wolves" by June Hur is a captivating historical mystery centered in the heart of Korea's darkest periods, bringing together elements of suspense, romance, and historical intrigue. If you have enjoyed Hur’s books in the past, you will definitely enjoy this one as we are introduced to brand new characters in a story centered around an enthralling mystery. Also, the cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous, and I am definitely buying a physical edition to put on my bookshelf as soon as the book is released.

Set against the backdrop of the tyrannical reign of King Yeonsan, the story follows Iseul as she embarks on a dangerous journey to save her kidnapped sister, and Prince Daehyun, who is determined to dethrone his half-brother and end his tyrannical rule. This book also includes aspects of the found family troupe, which I absolutely adore as the characters bring together those who wish to rebel against the king. There was one specific character death I was not prepared for, but I appreciate how Hur doesn’t pull punches with the emotion brought into the book. You may find yourself quickly becoming attached to the different characters.

One of the standout aspects of the novel is the character development, particularly that of Iseul. While she may initially come across as spoiled and selfish, her journey throughout the story is one of growth and redemption. As she witnesses the devastation wrought by the king's tyranny, she becomes a more empathetic and resilient character; her transformation was definitely a highlight of the book. I initially found it difficult to connect to Iseul (probably due to her spoiled personality at the beginning of the book), but I loved her discovery of inner strength and her never-ending curiosity. The dynamic between Iseul and Prince Daehyun is also a strength as Hur expertly navigates their gradual transition from enemies to allies. Their relationship is nuanced and well-developed. There are some standard romance troupes in the book (he treats her wound, they find themselves stuck together overnight, etc), but I did enjoy how they progressively came together rather than having an insta-love moment. The twist at the end of the book, however, is not a troupe I particularly enjoy, though I still like how everything wrapped up nicely in this standalone book.

Overall, "A Crane Among Wolves" is a beautifully written tale of mystery, romance, and political intrigue. I loved the setting, the details, the unflinching brutality of the politics in the book, basically everything that Hur created.

Read this book solely because of the cover which looks like a Korean drama movie poster. I love saeguk just fine. Armed with curiosity, I read this book to the end with mixed feelings.

First, the Goodreads tag said it was a fantasy. So I was expecting the fantasy element when I started this book. It never been there. It's really just historical fiction reimagined.

I didn't find anything fantasy here other than King Yeonsan's cruelty-which is too cruel for being real. But it turns out that Yeonsan was indeed a tyrant who really existed in Korean history.

The book itself actually tells the story of Iseul, an orphan girl who was raised by her grandmother. Her only sister was captured by King Yeonsan while walking. Iseul is determined to go from her village to King Yeonsan's place with the mission of freeing her sister.

The problem is, it's not safe for women to leave home in this era. Let alone wandering around, even at home, you can be kidnapped by soldiers on the king's orders. In this era, women were commoditized. Government officials of various ranks could easily have many wives. Even worse, in this era, the wives could be used as an exchange tool for business and politics.

With this threat, Iseul remains determined. He disguised herself as a man and traveled the streets of the capital until he met Daehyun, the Prince of the regime.

Was this story a Korean drama-style romance story? Yes, it was. Similar to saeguk in general. There were the main conflict and lovey-dovey spices. Is this story a Korean drama-style romance story? Yes, it is. It's similar to saeguk in general. There's the main conflict and there's the lovey-dovey spice.

Broadly speaking, there is no problem with this book, but for my personal taste, this book is still lacking here and there. I am aware June Hur is a successful writer through The Red Palace, but I really didn't find anything extraordinary through A Crane Among Wolves other than the retelling of King Yeonsan's cruelty.

First, the world building. For those who have never seen saeguk, don't expect a lot of detailed descriptions of the Joseon era atmosphere that the author brings in this book. Lack of detail here and there. I need vivid description of the Joseon in this book, the houses, the people, the food, etc. But I rarely found those things.

Second, the plot. There were so many inconsistencies within the plot. A bit example happens with Iseul's circumstances. This girl described herself as a noblewoman who fell into poverty. It was told that she was pampered since childhood and couldn't take care of chores. Well, but there was a scene when she suddenly got on a horse. Like how?

There was also this scene where she visited her uncle whose house described as magnificent and heavily guarded. Anyway, the narrative about the guards and security were heavily described. So I just thought "Oh, this is an important person with a tight security" but when Iseul arrived in front of his house, she only said to the gatekeeper that she was the niece of the owner of the house, and shortly she was allowed to enter. I mean after all the guards and securities, is it all? Without showing any ID, without any proof???

And there are many more scenes where the causality collides.

Is it still worth reading?
Like I said, I have mixed feelings.

It's still worth reading if you don't expect anything and just close your eyes to the small details. It's fun, and can be a source of additional information about history.

Another plus point, this book really highlights the dark history of Korea, especially about the women. How women had to survive even with limited resources and support systems. Inadequate education and housing, inhumane treatment even from their own closest people, whether they want it or not, they have to normalize.

The execution for retelling, in my opinion, is sufficient. Not bad.
But not that good. The purpose and message of the book are well conveyed. So 3,5 from me.

Thank you NetGalley for provided me this e-ARC.

Wow. I'm totally blown away by this. Loved everything about this book. This has everything I have enjoyed as a long time Korean drama fan, and the ending was satisfying.

Oh my god the cover of this book is insanely gorgeous I must say! And this book has been quite interesting to read as well.

The premise is very captivating, set in 16th century Korea with an evil tyrant, a serial killer, a girl risking everything for her sister, and a prince planning a coup. It's an intriguing mix. Although I was excited to explore a new author's work, I found the execution of this promising plot a bit lacking in the end, unfortunately.

This novel delves into treacherous court politics and a slow-burn romance, reminiscent of The Red Palace trope. However, the detached narrative voice hindered my emotional connection to the characters. Despite glimpses of complexity, the main characters felt like one-dimensional figures, and the side characters were quite forgettable. The dialogues seemed forced, and the emotional impact of the story fell short due to these shortcomings for me. The romance I felt like had potential to be explored more! But the book does not shy away from portraying the atrocities committed by the king and the government members.

On a positive note, the story highlights the bravery and resilience of women, challenging misogyny and sexual abuse. The characters, though strategically placed like game pieces, had their own unique traits that complemented each other throughout the narrative. So I do recommend this!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

I will basically read anything June Hur publishes sight unseen, I've loved everything shes written and this book is no different. This book does mark a bit of a shift in Hur's formula, moving away from a mostly investigation driven plot to one where the catch the killer quest often becomes the B plot to the political drama overhanging the story. Set during the reign of a tyrant, the story is driven not only by a need to find a serial killer, but also a growing need/desire to overthrow the current king. This book is also the first of Hur's to have dual povs, switching between main characters Iseul, a girl searching for her sister and Daehyun, a prince seeking to overthrow his own brother. The two are set up to hate each other from the start, yet find themselves working together despite their misgivings. I loved Iseul's character, she's determined and angry and prone to making knee-jerk reactions in her attempts to take action instead of investigating. I've seen some reviews saying it takes too long to get going, and while the lead up is a bit slow, the payoff is absolutely worth it.

For a historical fiction set in Joseon age, which is also billed as a historical Korean drama worthy, A Crane Among Wolves is one of the clunkiest novels I've ever read. I appraise the plot for being singularly focused on one specific era of an emperor with a cast of characters who are generally unlikable, but the writing of these elements is uninspired at best; the plot to "save the sister and bring down the tyrant" is written as if it's only a summation or a backdrop, which fails to conceptualize the harrowing condition of the era. The main characters are painfully flat, no development in terms of personality or wit. In the end, as the novel is finished, it only leaves a growing dissatisfaction that you have wasted your time reading it.

I will always enjoy a June Hur novel, and I recommend her everywhere I go - schools, book clubs, private parties. Her standalone novels are full of atmosphere, mystery, and solid historical narratives. 'A Crane Among Wolves' did not disappoint. The writing was rich and beautiful, the plot thrilling, and the romance believable and beautiful. I greatly appreciated Iseul, Yul, Wonsik and Iseul's sister. I wasn't crazy about Daehyun's POV chapters, but I understand their purpose for the plot to unfold.

I'll definitely recommend this book for purchase for my library, and it will be included on bookwagon visits to local high schools. A winner!