I wouldn't call this a romance. There is that aspect but it isn't important to the story. I found the historical aspect to be fascinating and enrapturing. Hur does a fantastic job with that, because I usually hate historical fiction.

This is historical fiction at its finest—meticulously researched, emotionally rich, and absolutely gripping. Set in Joseon-era Korea, it follows a young woman seeking justice in a corrupt court full of secrets, danger, and power games. Hur’s prose is elegant and haunting, and the pacing is tight from start to finish. I loved the depth of the protagonist’s resilience and how the story never flinches from the violence of the time while still giving space to tenderness. A standout of the year for me—absolutely recommend.

This book was the first one I have read by June Hur and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved how Korean History was tied into the story. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

WOW! This one, i am in lost for words. the writing style and the Korean historical genre is chef's kiss! This is my first book by June Hur and it will not be my last!

🤍A CRANE AMONG WOLVES🤍 by @junehwrites is another powerful Korean history lesson wrapped up in a historical mystery. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher @macmillan.usa for the e-ARC. This title came out last May but I just realized I never posted this review! (There will be a few more of these missing reviews from last year here soon!)

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This story takes place during the reign of one of the worst tyrants in Korean history, Yeonsangun of Joseon, who famously went on a killing spree in 1504 when he was told his mother was murdered. He was also known for stealing young women from their homes to collect as his consorts, abusing, raping and doing with them as he willed. This story follows Iseul whose older sister has been captured by the king and her quest to save her sister from his clutches. She creates a tepid alliance with Prince Daeyhun, half-brother to the king who has always lived perilously in the tyrant's shadow. While they do not trust each other, they are brought together by their hatred of the king and

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I am always so enthralled with June Hur's work. The atmospheric historical Korean settings, the strong female characters, and the everpresent underlining mysteries are a perfect formula of enjoyment for me. I absolutely adored the ambition and loyalty of Iseul, her moral compass guiding her every move.

Hur's stories are so character focused that you forget you are in a story and feel like you are fully immersed. I also often manage to forget that these books are geared toward YA readers - I think they are accessible and enjoyable for all!

Read this book if:

🤍You wanna know the fashionable drugs during the 15th century in Asia
🐺You like pro and amateur buddy investigator stories
🤍You generally like to learn some history with your fiction
🐺Enemies to lovers is one of your favorite tropes

Another excellent historical thriller from Hur. The pacing was perfect for building suspense and the characters felt well-developed. The romance did seem a little rushed, but that can be attributed to the suspense and plot context. Overall a definite recommendation.

loved the writing atmosphere and going back to this world!! main issue was problem with pacing because it made it a struggle to complete without feeling like you were being slugged down. can't wait to read more by june

I have read June Hut’s work before. The Red Palace was a lovely novel for those who love Korean historical dramas. And I hoped this one will have the same( should I say similar) concepts, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.
As an avid Korean drama watcher and have a special liking for historical, this book has satisfied that love.
This book is filled with crime, political war, evil king, a strong FMC, a charming, protective and righteous MMC.
The sypnosis had so much potential, but for me the novel lacked character development. This is not a romance novel. From my pov, it was there for around 20% or less. Which I didn’t minded but I would of loved to see more character indept of the FMC.

I love it! So well written and Such good story. This is a must buy for libraries serving teens. Great information included along with the fantasy storyline.

A Crane among Wolves
June Hur

3stars

📖 action packed, story moves quick!
🎧 enjoyed the audiobook format
some parts felt confusing to follow, never felt too invested in these characters. the romance felt out of place. I enjoyed the side characters along the way.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader of this novel. I tried three different times to start and read this novel but never could get into it. I would try for other things by this author.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. It took me several times to get into the book because the internal monologue is really stilted. This isn't the first I've heard of June Hur's work but it's the first I've read of the author. I think it tries to convey adolescent innocence but in a way that makes it kind of hard to read and connect to. But once I got through that initial obstacle, I think the pacing of this book is one of its strengths. I think June Hur really pulls you into the story through other elements that her narrator's voice lacks, and her grasp on history was really engaging, telling this pretty dark story in a way that keeps you turning the page no matter what.

Let's start with how the setting influences the plot surrounding the downfall of tyranny; the specific year it approaches in the narrative helps to build a singular focus on the theme and plot that Hur wants to bring into the novel, yet Hur fails to take the most advantage in exploring about the miserable condition under Yeonsan's rule beyond the direct physical cruelty of assaulting families, kidnapping women as his sex slaves, and punishing traitorous governmental officials.

Her take on the infamous bloody purge is dwindled into a mere mention for a character backstory's sake without diving further into "what" and "why", becoming a better fuel to build a more solid background for both the rebellion plot and the characters' motivation. It will also serve as an excellent contradiction that juxtaposes the government officials who support the idea of the rebellion and deconstructs the true goal of the rebellion itself. I don't believe that Hur doesn't do extensive research on this period of reign, seeing how she has delivered fairly extensive historical details in her previous books like The Red Palace. So, this bare minimum take is a disappointing approach from her.

Moving to the characters, I am all for unlikable main characters, but it is a different argument entirely when said unlikable characters receive inadequate writing treatment and poor development. So, I can't see the appeal of both Iseul and Daehyun as main characters; Iseul's characterization only revolves around her stubbornness and penchant for jumping head first before thinking wisely. She has many opportunities to learn and develop her strengths as she is involved in an impossible mission, but the whole 41 chapters have tremendously failed to properly develop her complexity.

Daehyun, as both the prince and love interest, has a more useless position than Iseul. He spends most of his time pondering his actions and pretending to be a loyal supporter of Yeonsan, while his actions to enact the plans are the bare minimum as most of the field actions are carried out by the ex-Imperial investigator Wonsik. It's ironic to see when he's marketed as this cunning and intelligent prince with incredible empathy, yet, most of his appearances do not live up to the claims of his character summary.

The underdevelopment of Iseul and Daehyun as main characters makes them look like they stick in their own bubble, which makes it hard to form a bond between them and the readers as well as each other. Hence, their romantic attraction feels hollow at the end of the narrative, and they fit better as allies with similar goals at best. Nothing about their bonding screams the romanticism found in your favorite historical Korean drama series.

Now talking about the saving grace of this book, Wonsik is the best and most developed character out of everyone in the book; he has the intelligence supposedly favored in Daehyun and reckless bravery in Iseul. The complexity of his morals versus his former loyalty as a former Imperial official is interesting to follow through, especially when there are times he is written to adhere to the cruelty of the reign and feels ashamed of liking it. He is much more of a main character than the other two, and I wish I could see him until the last page instead of witnessing his unfortunate fate later on. I wonder how divine it would be if this novel was written from his point of view rather than Iseul's and Daehyun's.

To summarize, A Crane Among Wolves has great potential to deliver such a complex story amidst one of the worst Joseon reigns in Korean history, but the poor writing and perhaps the wrong voice to tell this story are the reasons why this book doesn't deliver what it's promised. Fans of Hur or new readers of her can check out The Red Palace or The Silence of Bones instead, should they want to read her Joseon-era stories.

4.5/5.00

This was the best blend of a love story with mystery. I was concerned for the characters while rejoicing in their banter and sometimes subtle romantic scenes. The mystery element was very creepy at times, leading up to a stunning ending.

Thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the e-galley.

My reviews and ratings are my own.

I am IN LOVE with learning more about Asian culture and their colorful one of a kind mythology lores! A Crane Among Wolves is both beautiful and suspenseful, the slow-burn romance and court intrigue is incomparable.
My favorite quote that grabbed my attention and I KNEW i need to read this story was "I would brave this life, and a thousand more."
It is so encouraging!

This is a historical K-Drama in book form! I loved the intrigue, the history, the characters, and the relationships. Hur just gets better and better!

Delightful, dark, and dreamlike with a harsh look at history. Perfect for fans of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Kdrama fans, especially Hwarang, will feel right at home with this one.

Trigger Warnings: murder, violence, death, kidnapping, mentions of rape, suicide

Set in Joseon, Korea, 1506, when the people of Korea are suffering under the rule of the cruel tyrant King Yeonsan. He takes their land for his own recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and abusing thousands of women and girls as his personal playthings.

When seventeen-year-old Iseul’s sister, Suyeon, becomes the king’s latest pretty, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her sheltered, privileged life to reach the capital in hopes of stealing back her sister. But she soon discovers that to challenge the king is certain death, so she must be strategic.

Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the shadow of his half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan abuse his power with executions and abuse of his people, Daehyun wants to dethrone him once and for all. When the idea of a coup is raised, he knows failure is fatal and he’ll need all the help he can get.

When Iseul’s and Daehyun’s paths cross, they join forces to save her sister, free the people, and destroy the king.

Yet another novel written about a time in history I was not taught about in my American public school.

I loved both main characters, but I had a hard time with Iseul - she was very bratty (in general) to her sister when they were together and then she suddenly was going through all these challenges to get her back. She was privileged in a way that you kind of hate, so I totally get that was her character. She did have redeeming qualities throughout the book.

Overall, the writing in this novel is more on the serious note, and reads on the slower side, so as long as you’re not looking for something super action packed and that’s about history not usually touched upon, this is for you.

*Thank you Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for a for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I have read and loved every single one of June Hur’s books, and this one EXCEEDS my expectations.

I loved the rich historical setting, the prose, and the characters. Give me a MMC who falls in love first and I’m thrilled. This story has heart, found family, love, action, and mystery. It ticks all the boxes. Highly recommend!

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher, for an early copy of this fantastic book! Opinions are my own.

5/5 stars! June Hur's A Crane Among Wolves is a masterful mix between history, romance, tragedy, and mystery. She gives each aspect of the story the gravity it deserves and manages to find the perfect balance of each plot point.