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A Crane Among Wolves
June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that will feel all-too-relevant in today’s world, based on a true story from Korean history.
Hope is dangerous. Love is deadly.
1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.
Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom’s turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king’s latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king’s power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death.
Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When staging a coup, failure is fatal, and he’ll need help to pull it off—but there’s no way to know who he can trust.
When Iseul's and Daehyun's fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul’s family connections and Daehyun’s royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever
Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.
Also by June
The Silence of Bones
The Forest of Stolen Girls
The Red Palace
Hope is dangerous. Love is deadly.
1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.
Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom’s turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king’s latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king’s power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death.
Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When staging a coup, failure is fatal, and he’ll need help to pull it off—but there’s no way to know who he can trust.
When Iseul's and Daehyun's fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul’s family connections and Daehyun’s royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever
Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.
Also by June
The Silence of Bones
The Forest of Stolen Girls
The Red Palace
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2024
About the author
June Hur
6 books2,888 followersJUNE HUR (허주은) is a New York Times and Indie bestselling, Edgar Award-winning author of YA historical mysteries and romances, including The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls, The Red Palace , and A Crane Among Wolves . Born in South Korea, June spent her formative years in the USA, Canada, and South Korea before studying History and Literature at the University of Toronto and working at the Toronto Public Library. Her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, The New York Times, CBC, KBS and more. June's next release, Adoration, a Jane Austen homage set during the Joseon dynasty, is slated for spring 2026. She resides in Toronto with her family and can be spotted writing in coffee shops.
You can find her on Instagram and Tiktok @junehwrites
You can find her on Instagram and Tiktok @junehwrites
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,316 reviews
February 8, 2024
Captivating mystery, political intrigue, and a perilously beautiful romance. A Crane Among Wolves excels at suspense even with true history’s outline. June Hur reigns supreme in making the past come alive.
January 2, 2024
⊹ 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 ”
⇢ 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 ”
⇢ 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, and thank you to my bff (the most amazing human being to exist) who read this with me and also experienced a mental breakdown 🤭 it's always so fun to incoherently scream together over books 💐❤🩹
thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review !
pre-review
GUESS WHO GOT AN ARC ? me and my best friend ingrid <33 so excited to go through this together bff
⤿ 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, and thank you to my bff (the most amazing human being to exist) who read this with me and also experienced a mental breakdown 🤭 it's always so fun to incoherently scream together over books 💐❤🩹
thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review !
pre-review
GUESS WHO GOT AN ARC ? me and my best friend ingrid <33 so excited to go through this together bff
February 23, 2024
2/5
The girl searching for her sister clashes with the prince who wants to find a way to dethrone his tyrant half-brother? The two joining forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever seen? And all this from both of their points of view? Not to mention the gorgeous cover? As soon as I saw this book, I knew I had to read it, but unfortunately, as it turned out, it didn't work for me. Even though I really wanted to, I couldn’t get into this story. Probably because I couldn’t connect with the characters. If I'm reading a book and instead of being immersed in the story, I'm counting down the pages until the end of the chapter, I know that's not the best sign. I'm embarrassed to admit it, because I hate doing it, but unfortunately I skipped a lot of descriptions and boring dialogues to get to the end.
I hope it will be a "it's me, not the book" situation, because the book itself wasn't bad. I think some people will definitely love it because the writing was quite alright, the characters were likable, and the ending was satisfying. I think the author has a lot of potential, so if her future title looks promising for me, I will definitely give her a second chance.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!*
The girl searching for her sister clashes with the prince who wants to find a way to dethrone his tyrant half-brother? The two joining forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever seen? And all this from both of their points of view? Not to mention the gorgeous cover? As soon as I saw this book, I knew I had to read it, but unfortunately, as it turned out, it didn't work for me. Even though I really wanted to, I couldn’t get into this story. Probably because I couldn’t connect with the characters. If I'm reading a book and instead of being immersed in the story, I'm counting down the pages until the end of the chapter, I know that's not the best sign. I'm embarrassed to admit it, because I hate doing it, but unfortunately I skipped a lot of descriptions and boring dialogues to get to the end.
I hope it will be a "it's me, not the book" situation, because the book itself wasn't bad. I think some people will definitely love it because the writing was quite alright, the characters were likable, and the ending was satisfying. I think the author has a lot of potential, so if her future title looks promising for me, I will definitely give her a second chance.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!*
May 11, 2024
➳ 2.25 stars ✩
⤿ a spoiler free arc review
this was my first book by june hur and to say it was underwhelming would be a huge understatement. i found myself bored and skimming through pages, because it did not catch my attention well enough.
💌 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
⤿ dual pov
⤿ both 1st and 3rd person povs
⤿ enemies to lovers
⤿ slow burn
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ one bed
⤿ love triangle
⤿ found family
౨ৎ • 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽: in joseon 1506, the people suffer under the rule of tyrant king yeonsan, who commits violent atrocities. his half-brother daehyun has lived his whole life in his shadow, waiting for the moment to dethrone his half-brother. staging a coup and failing is fatal. and yet he has no way of knowing who to trust. iseul, 17, had lived a privileged life as a yangban aristocrat. but when her older sister suyeon is taken as the king's, she leaves the safety of her own village to try and steal her sister back. after learning about the serial killer 'nameless flower', iseul decides to catch the killer to win back her sister's freedom.
despite the very alluring plot, it wasn't executed as well as it could have been. the story felt very convenient and contrived. and the inclusion of the mystery plot took me out of the story the most - it didn't leave me guessing and it was very obvious from the beginning who 'nameless flower' was. lots of the story felt almost too fast, as though there wasn't enough build-up and only this huge explosion that left me wanting more. it also felt like many of the plot points were delayed so for most of the story i was just waiting for something to happen. i also found myself already knowing major plot points/'twists' before they even occurred, which reduced my enjoyment whilst reading this greatly.
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮: this was.. definitely something. it was very fast-paced, which i usually hate, but here i was very indifferent towards it. i felt no emotion because their relationship was just not convincing in the slightest. i honestly wish there was no romance and a heavier focus on the actual plot.
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: the majority of the problems that i have with this book stem from the writing. for starters, it's written in 1st person pov for iseul and 3rd for daehyun and their chapters alternate, which really took me out of the story. also, there is a lot of telling and not enough showing. for example, we are constantly told about wosnik fatherly relationship with iseul, but i saw none of it, and i remember them speaking three to four times maximum. the prose was lovely at times, but not the best. i never really felt connected with the characters and plot. it felt like this was the first draft, as there was so much potential that was not utilised correctly.
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼: the character development of iseul was much needed, although it came rather late in the story, she went from a spoilt, petulant and immature teenager to someone who i could tolerate (barely). however, we get very little insight into her which really didn't help. daehyun didn't really do much for me - i feel like this is an issue i have with many mmcs, as i often feel like they are always praised for just existing, but hawlty✨
౨ৎ • 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: i came for the cover tbh. it was also incredibly misleading to label this a sci-fi/fantasy when it is a historical fiction. however, if you are able to suspend your disbelief or even better; completely turn your brain off. this is also very dark so please, please, please check the trigger warnings <3
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
☾.°✧౨ৎ ‧ pre-review:
i'm not mad, just disappointed.
and maybe also just a little bit mad.
rating+rtc
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
☾.°✧౨ৎ ‧ updates:
soft dnf @ 43% for now because i'm not loving how literally nothing has happened yet - i'll probably come back to it soon tho
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
☾.°✧౨ৎ ‧ tbr-review:
i got approved for the arc!! the cover is so so gorgeous ugh😻😻💝
⤿ a spoiler free arc review
₊˚⊹ ᰔ “hope is dangerous. love is deadly.”
this was my first book by june hur and to say it was underwhelming would be a huge understatement. i found myself bored and skimming through pages, because it did not catch my attention well enough.
💌 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
⤿ dual pov
⤿ both 1st and 3rd person povs
⤿ enemies to lovers
⤿ slow burn
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ one bed
⤿ love triangle
⤿ found family
౨ৎ • 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽: in joseon 1506, the people suffer under the rule of tyrant king yeonsan, who commits violent atrocities. his half-brother daehyun has lived his whole life in his shadow, waiting for the moment to dethrone his half-brother. staging a coup and failing is fatal. and yet he has no way of knowing who to trust. iseul, 17, had lived a privileged life as a yangban aristocrat. but when her older sister suyeon is taken as the king's, she leaves the safety of her own village to try and steal her sister back. after learning about the serial killer 'nameless flower', iseul decides to catch the killer to win back her sister's freedom.
despite the very alluring plot, it wasn't executed as well as it could have been. the story felt very convenient and contrived. and the inclusion of the mystery plot took me out of the story the most - it didn't leave me guessing and it was very obvious from the beginning who 'nameless flower' was. lots of the story felt almost too fast, as though there wasn't enough build-up and only this huge explosion that left me wanting more. it also felt like many of the plot points were delayed so for most of the story i was just waiting for something to happen. i also found myself already knowing major plot points/'twists' before they even occurred, which reduced my enjoyment whilst reading this greatly.
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮: this was.. definitely something. it was very fast-paced, which i usually hate, but here i was very indifferent towards it. i felt no emotion because their relationship was just not convincing in the slightest. i honestly wish there was no romance and a heavier focus on the actual plot.
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: the majority of the problems that i have with this book stem from the writing. for starters, it's written in 1st person pov for iseul and 3rd for daehyun and their chapters alternate, which really took me out of the story. also, there is a lot of telling and not enough showing. for example, we are constantly told about wosnik fatherly relationship with iseul, but i saw none of it, and i remember them speaking three to four times maximum. the prose was lovely at times, but not the best. i never really felt connected with the characters and plot. it felt like this was the first draft, as there was so much potential that was not utilised correctly.
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼: the character development of iseul was much needed, although it came rather late in the story, she went from a spoilt, petulant and immature teenager to someone who i could tolerate (barely). however, we get very little insight into her which really didn't help. daehyun didn't really do much for me - i feel like this is an issue i have with many mmcs, as i often feel like they are always praised for just existing, but hawlty✨
౨ৎ • 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: i came for the cover tbh. it was also incredibly misleading to label this a sci-fi/fantasy when it is a historical fiction. however, if you are able to suspend your disbelief or even better; completely turn your brain off. this is also very dark so please, please, please check the trigger warnings <3
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
☾.°✧౨ৎ ‧ pre-review:
i'm not mad, just disappointed.
and maybe also just a little bit mad.
rating+rtc
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
☾.°✧౨ৎ ‧ updates:
soft dnf @ 43% for now because i'm not loving how literally nothing has happened yet - i'll probably come back to it soon tho
˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
☾.°✧౨ৎ ‧ tbr-review:
i got approved for the arc!! the cover is so so gorgeous ugh😻😻💝
June 6, 2024
“We live in a terrible time. An era when the truth is a crime. And there is nothing we can do about it—”
♡ A Crane Among Wolves is dark, gripping, and heart-wrenching. The main story is based off true events from Korea's devastating history, and Jane Hur doesn't shy away from showing us the heinous deeds of King Yeonsan.
I often found myself reflecting on the story and its similarities to events from both of the cultures I associate with (Filipino and Chinese). I'm sure every nation has experienced (or is currently experiencing) ruthlessness, selfishness, and unjustness from people in power. This story highlights how these gruesome times should not be forgotten, and how there are crimes that should never be forgiven.
There's a lot of sub-plots woven into the story as well, including the planning of a secret coup, the mystery of a murderer, and the pining of two young characters. Fair warning: If you're looking for something fast-paced and action packed, this isn't for you. This book focuses a lot more on the bigger picture rather than the individual events that were going on.
♡ Iseul and Daehyun are likeable characters, and I was definitely on this journey with them, the whole way through. Neither were perfect by any means, but they both fit perfectly into this story.
Iseul. Iseul's character goes through a lot of character development. She starts off as a spoiled (but self-aware) girl who has no choice but to grow up and toughen up when she realizes how cruel the world can be… even to young girls like her.
Daehyun. He's very much the poster boy of a Historical K-drama — a tad stoic, very mysterious, and overall just the good guy. I would have loved to get to know him more (his chapters were half as short as Iseul's), but a liked his character well enough. He had this honesty to his character that I really appreciated.
Tomorrow, the kingdom could sink into the sea.
Tomorrow, all the elders we trusted could betray us.
Tomorrow, the fog might consume everything we loved.
But I had him today. And he had me.
♡ Iseul and Daehyun together? This was enemies-to-lovers done well. I found their relationship to be slow and realistic. We got a few he's-touching-me-and-that's-making-my-stomach-tickle-but-idk-why scenes before we got the I'll-scarifice-my-life-to-keep-you-safe scenarios. I don't think you'd get attached to their romance at first (at least I didn't), but by the end, you'll feel your heart just bursting for these two. The angst and the yearning were so good.
“In dark times, every mother becomes your mother, every child your child, every sister your sister… and every stranger-in-need a friend.”
♡ Iseul and Daehyun also have a gorgeous found family in the side characters. The side characters were all well-written, and I definitely grew to love them. (Special shoutout to my favorite character, Wonsik!) They all had specific roles to play in the story, and I enjoyed watching our main characters grow bonds with them. Like with Daehyun, it would have been nice to have a liiitle bit more of a background for them, but overall, we have a pretty solid cast here.
“History moves its course, but it is the youth who point the current in its direction.”
♡ The writing style definitely leans a bit serious for this one. It's not the easiest read in the world (i.e., the writing is far from casual), but it adds to the ambiance. Trust me, if anything, you will feel like you're in 1500s Joseon. The writing also just makes the story deeper and more impactful.
♡ I'm going to leave this review with my favorite thing about the book: the ending is something I will think about and reread over and over again. (In fact, I've already reread it three times!) It's perfect. It's the best way to get off the emotional rollercoaster that is A Crane Among Wolves. No spoilers from me, though, so you'll just have to read it for yourselves.
TLDR: If you're interested in some fantastic storytelling about politics and power, featuring a team of unique characters (and an angst-y romance between the two MCs), please do yourselves a favor by picking this book up.
July 4, 2024
⌗ ⊹ 🕸️ 𓂃 ࣪𖤐 pre-read.
06/11/2024 ⊹ this is a desperate attempt (cry for help) to get me out of my month-long reading slump !
note - thank you to ingrid, rina, and shehr for making me so excited to read this in the first place. i love you all very dearly <3
thank you to june hur and the publisher for providing me with an arc.
06/11/2024 ⊹ this is a desperate attempt (cry for help) to get me out of my month-long reading slump !
note - thank you to ingrid, rina, and shehr for making me so excited to read this in the first place. i love you all very dearly <3
thank you to june hur and the publisher for providing me with an arc.
Want to read
May 7, 2024the queens chloe gong and ann liang both loved this, so on to the tbr it goes 😗
December 28, 2023
I HATE THEM SO MUCH (affectionately)!!! i've lost count how many times i keeled over bc the angst was angsting, june hur write a death trope book please
୨୧ ⋆˙ and to u who went to the other side reading this with me (and the many incoherent messages at u know which parts), rina dearest, thank u.
୨୧ ⋆˙ and to u who went to the other side reading this with me (and the many incoherent messages at u know which parts), rina dearest, thank u.
August 14, 2024
finished one of my most highly anticipated novels of 2024… all i can think about is how a very wise person once said “expect nothing and you will never be disappointed”.
June 11, 2024
“There are too many sorrows in life to feel each too deeply.”
june hur brilliantly crafts an evocative tale of hope, treason, and privilege. there were multiple moving elements and subplots in the story but it doesn’t stray away from the main themes.
THE PLOT
the story starts at a rapid pace right off the bat and drew me in without missing a beat! it does slow down a little in the middle but i can forgive that because the plot is solid with intriguing characters and great world building. everything is portrayed in vivid detail without missing a beat. i enjoyed the bits on warfare, strategy and politicking as they added a good punch to the story. i had a fun time guessing at who the killer might be and surprisingly enough, my very first guess (barely after the 14% mark) turned out to be right after all 😄.
THE CHARACTERS
i particularly enjoyed how well the narrative of both characters moved the story and couldn’t help but be completely indulged in it.
iseul’s mission to see her older sister freed from the king’s evil clutches was touching and poignant. despite her fraught relationship with her sister she was determined to find her and fix their bond. though at times, i found her to be unlikable after it was revealed just how cruel and heartless she was towards her sister so considering all that, it was hard to believe that she’d go to such great lengths to rescue her sister whom she didn’t seem to care much about back when they were still together. she was also privileged in a way that you can’t help but be a little annoyed with. i didn’t hate her character but i didn’t love her either.
daehyun on the other hand, had a tragic past which made it easier for me to empathise with and i was drawn to his character more than iseul’s. they were similar in the sense that the king was responsible for turning their worlds upside down so they shared a mutual hatred for him but despite daehyun having significantly more privilege than iseul since he’s a prince, he still didn’t act privileged or spoiled which was ironic.
the romance between them didn’t exactly have that much chemistry and felt a little forced. i was expecting an enemies-to-lovers situation but mostly they just disliked each other up to some extent which soon turned into attraction.
FINAL THOUGHTS
overall, the complex politics, court intrigue and mystery made this a pretty well-rounded story even if the characters needed a little fine tuning. i initially planned to give this 5 stars, what with how promising the start was but some of the twists and plot points either didn’t make sense or happened too conveniently in favour of the mcs. either way, i’ll still read anything this author writes and i’m excited to see where her writing journey takes us next :)
Shelved as 'to-read-ya'
August 19, 2021Me: *sees June Hur's got a new book deal* *heads over to Goodreads without having even read the plot yet*
What can I say, she writes really good books (very simplistic but hey, the books are just *chef's kiss* perfection)
What can I say, she writes really good books (very simplistic but hey, the books are just *chef's kiss* perfection)
May 23, 2024
Happy publication to this beautiful story. Please check this out and Hur's other works!
June Hur is not allowed to write about siblings anymore because every time it is devastating.
Truly, June Hur is one of the most talented YA writers currently. She consistently delivers heartfelt characters and intense plotlines that keep me up long into the night. Her ability to weave character arcs, intricate mysteries, and untaught history into one novel is a skill.
This novel is based on the period of King Yeonsan, a tyrant who destroyed his subject's livelihoods and stole hundreds of women for his concubines. It follows Iseul as she tries to save her older sister, kidnapped by the King. It also follows Prince Daehyun, half-brother to the king, who lives in fear for his life. He is determined to dethrone his half-brother despite how impossible of a task it may be.
A Crane Among Wolves feels heavier than Hur's previous books, not just because of the content but because of the characters. Iseul is a bit spoiled going into this novel and, from the beginning, feels immense guilt for what happened to her sister despite their rocky relationship. She doesn't start likable, but she grows through the story. Her selfishness and spoiled tendencies fade as she sees the devastation throughout her country on her journey to find her sister. She goes through a lot of grief, and her connection to her sister is beautiful. I grew to love her strength and empathy.
I didn't get a good read on Prince Daehyun. Most of his character was developed before the story started, so he remains constant throughout the novel. Overall, I liked him but didn't feel as strongly about him.
June Hur, the woman she is, made an enemies-to-lovers I actually enjoyed. Isuel and Daehyun are on opposite sides of the spectrum in personalities, backgrounds, and goals. But Hur took her time building their connection and writing tense back-and-forth dialogue. They so gradually go from enemies to allies and friends. It's one of the most natural examples of the trope I've seen. Was it my favorite romance by her? No, but that's more a case of personal preference.
The mystery was clever and fun to piece together, but it didn't fit naturally into the overall story. I think between the intense emotional journey Iseul was going on and Daehyun trying to stage a coup, the murder mystery was too much for the plot. Technically, the mystery does relate to Iseul's and Daehyun's separate journeys, but I would've preferred a complete focus on the character's arc. Still, the mystery was written well; I don't know if it was necessary to the story.
Hur once again delivered a beautiful, atmospheric mystery that floats between great genres. I highly recommend this one if you love siblings, enemies-to-lovers, Korean history, and mysteries!
Check TW, especially if you find violence and talk of SA triggering.
The biggest thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
-----------
IT HAS BEEN ADDED TO NETGALLEY. I’m June Hur’s biggest fan I’m going to throw up.
my unhinged behavior is checking to see if this book has been added to NetGalley several times a day. June Hur mentioned it should be on there soon and I took that as "make sure it hasn't been added in the last thirty minutes" I have been waiting for this book for so long
---------
we have a cover and she’s a stunner😭
June Hur is not allowed to write about siblings anymore because every time it is devastating.
Truly, June Hur is one of the most talented YA writers currently. She consistently delivers heartfelt characters and intense plotlines that keep me up long into the night. Her ability to weave character arcs, intricate mysteries, and untaught history into one novel is a skill.
This novel is based on the period of King Yeonsan, a tyrant who destroyed his subject's livelihoods and stole hundreds of women for his concubines. It follows Iseul as she tries to save her older sister, kidnapped by the King. It also follows Prince Daehyun, half-brother to the king, who lives in fear for his life. He is determined to dethrone his half-brother despite how impossible of a task it may be.
A Crane Among Wolves feels heavier than Hur's previous books, not just because of the content but because of the characters. Iseul is a bit spoiled going into this novel and, from the beginning, feels immense guilt for what happened to her sister despite their rocky relationship. She doesn't start likable, but she grows through the story. Her selfishness and spoiled tendencies fade as she sees the devastation throughout her country on her journey to find her sister. She goes through a lot of grief, and her connection to her sister is beautiful. I grew to love her strength and empathy.
I didn't get a good read on Prince Daehyun. Most of his character was developed before the story started, so he remains constant throughout the novel. Overall, I liked him but didn't feel as strongly about him.
June Hur, the woman she is, made an enemies-to-lovers I actually enjoyed. Isuel and Daehyun are on opposite sides of the spectrum in personalities, backgrounds, and goals. But Hur took her time building their connection and writing tense back-and-forth dialogue. They so gradually go from enemies to allies and friends. It's one of the most natural examples of the trope I've seen. Was it my favorite romance by her? No, but that's more a case of personal preference.
The mystery was clever and fun to piece together, but it didn't fit naturally into the overall story. I think between the intense emotional journey Iseul was going on and Daehyun trying to stage a coup, the murder mystery was too much for the plot. Technically, the mystery does relate to Iseul's and Daehyun's separate journeys, but I would've preferred a complete focus on the character's arc. Still, the mystery was written well; I don't know if it was necessary to the story.
Hur once again delivered a beautiful, atmospheric mystery that floats between great genres. I highly recommend this one if you love siblings, enemies-to-lovers, Korean history, and mysteries!
Check TW, especially if you find violence and talk of SA triggering.
The biggest thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
-----------
IT HAS BEEN ADDED TO NETGALLEY. I’m June Hur’s biggest fan I’m going to throw up.
my unhinged behavior is checking to see if this book has been added to NetGalley several times a day. June Hur mentioned it should be on there soon and I took that as "make sure it hasn't been added in the last thirty minutes" I have been waiting for this book for so long
---------
we have a cover and she’s a stunner😭
June 5, 2024
4 Stars!
I can't wait to know what this book has in store for me.
Side note: This is the 2387th time that I picked up a book that I hadn't even planned to read.
I can't wait to know what this book has in store for me.
Side note: This is the 2387th time that I picked up a book that I hadn't even planned to read.
June 7, 2024
I would like to thank Edelweiss and Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
After being introduced to June Hur via The Red Palace and loving that book so hard, I was excited to dive into A Crane Among Wolves and wooow I was not disappointed!
This was another brilliantly done period piece that was intriguing right from the get go and did not let up till the very end. The horrifying reality Iseul and the young women of the time had to endure was triggering to say the least, so please take care of yourselves and mind your triggers, loves!
I thought this was immersive and dynamic, and though Iseul was a bit of a brat at times, her arc was understandable (given she had to go from zero to hero in like a month). And so I thought Hur did a fantastic job balancing tyrant King Yeonsan's atrocities with moments of heart and camaraderie!
This moment in history was terrifying to imagine ngl. It was brutal at times from Daehyun's pov, but I pushed through because I felt that it was important to remember that real men and women were mercilessly violated and killed under the reign of this monster, and centuries later they all still deserve a respectful "Rest In Peace".
And my gawd the ending was quite intense, but luckily had a bit of sweet as well. I was very emotional from 65% on and I'm just glad the epilogue gave us something hopeful to celebrate.
All in all this was another awesome historical piece by the supremely talented June Hur! I'm such a fan of everything happening here and I'm beyond excited for whatever else JH has in store for us in the future!
After being introduced to June Hur via The Red Palace and loving that book so hard, I was excited to dive into A Crane Among Wolves and wooow I was not disappointed!
This was another brilliantly done period piece that was intriguing right from the get go and did not let up till the very end. The horrifying reality Iseul and the young women of the time had to endure was triggering to say the least, so please take care of yourselves and mind your triggers, loves!
I thought this was immersive and dynamic, and though Iseul was a bit of a brat at times, her arc was understandable (given she had to go from zero to hero in like a month). And so I thought Hur did a fantastic job balancing tyrant King Yeonsan's atrocities with moments of heart and camaraderie!
This moment in history was terrifying to imagine ngl. It was brutal at times from Daehyun's pov, but I pushed through because I felt that it was important to remember that real men and women were mercilessly violated and killed under the reign of this monster, and centuries later they all still deserve a respectful "Rest In Peace".
And my gawd the ending was quite intense, but luckily had a bit of sweet as well. I was very emotional from 65% on and I'm just glad the epilogue gave us something hopeful to celebrate.
All in all this was another awesome historical piece by the supremely talented June Hur! I'm such a fan of everything happening here and I'm beyond excited for whatever else JH has in store for us in the future!
January 15, 2024
june hur you have done it again. the start was kind of frustrating, but it gets better (and angstier) that it got me anxious and gasping
Want to read
January 2, 2024the cover is soo 🤭
March 20, 2024
If June Hur has no fans it's because I am dead
June 9, 2024
⟢ cute very kdrama - esque like, with similar pacing and storyline. the characters lacked development, and the ending was meh. still cute tho.
December 19, 2023
While A Crane Among Wolves has some beautiful descriptions and a lush fantasy setting, it just didn't deliver in terms of the story. I felt like it definitely had a lot of potential, but it fell down in terms of pacing and character building. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed when I finished it.
Iseul and Daehyun, the main characters, I couldn't bring myself to care about them. They lacked the dimension and layers, which is pretty much why my enjoyment was...absent.
I'm sad, but I'm looking forward to more from the author in the future!
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Iseul and Daehyun, the main characters, I couldn't bring myself to care about them. They lacked the dimension and layers, which is pretty much why my enjoyment was...absent.
I'm sad, but I'm looking forward to more from the author in the future!
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 24, 2024King 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.
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.
Read
May 21, 2024SO INCREDIBLY GOOD
May 11, 2024
Sending my therapy bill to June Hur...
At first, I would like to thank to June Hur to send me this Advance Reader Copy to me as an exchange for honest review!
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur is sUPER gOOD! The books is about the story of Iseul, who attempts to save her sister, who was taken to the palace and forced to become one of the king's puppets. It made Iseul confront numerous challenges, one of them, is her desire to find a killer named Nameless Flower in order to get a reward from the King, to get her sister back ofc and she is involved with Daehyun, the prince. OMG. I also adore this Prince!
To be honest, I felt puzzled while reading this novel since it's not just about Iseul and her sister but more than that; it's also about an eventual Joseon revolution. This book serves as an example of how sacrifice is necessary for a revolution to occur and also giving us what women didnt have at that era cause u know the Joseon era patriarchy is sick.
Because of this book, I went through five stages of grief. The bargaining with the betrayal of those closest to you, the sorrow over losing family, the anger over rape and patriarchy, and DUARRR I'm crying a lot because of June Hur's chapter 42. I was out of breath for a long time! It caught me off guard ;'( don't ask me about the romance, cause it serves well! AND THE PLOT TWIST IS A CHEF KISS!
"History moves its course, Young Mistress Iseul.... but it is the youth who point the current in its direction."
At first, I would like to thank to June Hur to send me this Advance Reader Copy to me as an exchange for honest review!
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur is sUPER gOOD! The books is about the story of Iseul, who attempts to save her sister, who was taken to the palace and forced to become one of the king's puppets. It made Iseul confront numerous challenges, one of them, is her desire to find a killer named Nameless Flower in order to get a reward from the King, to get her sister back ofc and she is involved with Daehyun, the prince. OMG. I also adore this Prince!
To be honest, I felt puzzled while reading this novel since it's not just about Iseul and her sister but more than that; it's also about an eventual Joseon revolution. This book serves as an example of how sacrifice is necessary for a revolution to occur and also giving us what women didnt have at that era cause u know the Joseon era patriarchy is sick.
Because of this book, I went through five stages of grief. The bargaining with the betrayal of those closest to you, the sorrow over losing family, the anger over rape and patriarchy, and DUARRR I'm crying a lot because of June Hur's chapter 42. I was out of breath for a long time! It caught me off guard ;'( don't ask me about the romance, cause it serves well! AND THE PLOT TWIST IS A CHEF KISS!
"History moves its course, Young Mistress Iseul.... but it is the youth who point the current in its direction."
June 8, 2024
♥˚ "
You would brave a life with me?"
"I would brave this life and a thousand more. " ♥˚
Buddy read with my beloved Sara<3
4.5, my most anticipated read of the year is finally finished🥹 spoilers below and TW!
King Yeonsan - I can't believe Yeonsan was a real person, the thought of it makes me want to throw up😨 HE R@PED A 50 YEAR OLD WOMAN BECAUSE SHE WAS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL FOR HER AGE, IMPREGNATES HER, AND THEN WHEN SHE DIES, SAYS HE SAW HER LIKE A MOTHER??? WHAT ON EARTH OMG BROTHER WHAT
"Tell me to leave."
"And if I do not?"
"Then I will be yours and I shall be your ruin."
Daehyun - STOP. THIS MAN. THISSSS MANNNN. PLEASE BE MY RUIN. I'm omk for him ong, he's so perfect😭 I loved his personality so much, he was so respectful to Iseul and the other women- unlike Maggot (I'm so proud of Daehyun for killing the monster for Suyeon, my pookie) And THE WAY HE'S SO PROTECTIVE OF HERRRR ILHSM
"Hwang Iseul, 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."
"So long as you live, we'll have the rest of our lives to find each other again. And I will find you again."
Iseul - I loved her so much, the character development was just perfect 🙁. She was someone who did NOT get her hands dirty whatsoever, very spoiled, but in the end, she went through so much for her sister, Daehyun, Wonsik, and her country. AND HER LOVE FOR HER SISTER🥹 gosh, I loved their bond, even if it sucked before she got kidnapped by Yeonsan<3 It reminded me of my own sister.
Wonsik - His death crushed me like garlic (weird reference I know) 😞 that was so unnecessary and painful, why??? HE DID NOT DESERVE IT 🤬
"My Daehyun. Dead."
June Hur did me so dirty in the end bro, I actually thought he was dead and Iseul's grief was not helping 😭 I gasped and was so ready to file a lawsuit for this- AND I'M SO GLAD SHE GOT MAD AT HIM BEFORE BREAKING BC WHAT ON EARTH. PRETENDING TO BE DEAD FOR A WHOLE YEAR???
"You do not wish to... kiss me?"
"What does it matter what I wish? You said no, and I will receive your word as a royal command."
Folds instantly 🥰
"I would brave this life and a thousand more. " ♥˚
Buddy read with my beloved Sara<3
4.5, my most anticipated read of the year is finally finished🥹 spoilers below and TW!
King Yeonsan - I can't believe Yeonsan was a real person, the thought of it makes me want to throw up😨 HE R@PED A 50 YEAR OLD WOMAN BECAUSE SHE WAS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL FOR HER AGE, IMPREGNATES HER, AND THEN WHEN SHE DIES, SAYS HE SAW HER LIKE A MOTHER??? WHAT ON EARTH OMG BROTHER WHAT
"Tell me to leave."
"And if I do not?"
"Then I will be yours and I shall be your ruin."
Daehyun - STOP. THIS MAN. THISSSS MANNNN. PLEASE BE MY RUIN. I'm omk for him ong, he's so perfect😭 I loved his personality so much, he was so respectful to Iseul and the other women- unlike Maggot (I'm so proud of Daehyun for killing the monster for Suyeon, my pookie) And THE WAY HE'S SO PROTECTIVE OF HERRRR ILHSM
"Hwang Iseul, 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."
"So long as you live, we'll have the rest of our lives to find each other again. And I will find you again."
Iseul - I loved her so much, the character development was just perfect 🙁. She was someone who did NOT get her hands dirty whatsoever, very spoiled, but in the end, she went through so much for her sister, Daehyun, Wonsik, and her country. AND HER LOVE FOR HER SISTER🥹 gosh, I loved their bond, even if it sucked before she got kidnapped by Yeonsan<3 It reminded me of my own sister.
Wonsik - His death crushed me like garlic (weird reference I know) 😞 that was so unnecessary and painful, why??? HE DID NOT DESERVE IT 🤬
"My Daehyun. Dead."
June Hur did me so dirty in the end bro, I actually thought he was dead and Iseul's grief was not helping 😭 I gasped and was so ready to file a lawsuit for this- AND I'M SO GLAD SHE GOT MAD AT HIM BEFORE BREAKING BC WHAT ON EARTH. PRETENDING TO BE DEAD FOR A WHOLE YEAR???
"You do not wish to... kiss me?"
"What does it matter what I wish? You said no, and I will receive your word as a royal command."
Folds instantly 🥰
July 27, 2024
❝ you will not always be the wisest, nor 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.❞
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 4.75 ⭐
🤧🤧🤧💗💘😌 -----> that's basically my review.
｡⋆୨୧˚overall thoughts˚୨୧⋆｡
i love love love love this. the story? marvellous. the excitement? the highest it could be. the writing? stunning. the characters? impeccable. the emotions? beautiful. the ending? heartwrecking. i won't bother going into too many details in my review, because i don't want to be reminded of the heartache, but just know i loved this!
❝ 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.❞
｡⋆୨୧˚the story˚୨୧⋆｡
i cant't say much about this, because the blurb doesn't give away much, but there is so much going on. first things first, i cannot believe that people like king yeonsan ever walked the same lands as countless other innocents or ever lived on the same planet we slumber on today. king yeonsan, in reality, was a vile, monstrous person, and i feel horrible for all the people who have suffered from his actions way back then. kudos to june hur for paying respects to this story, while interweaving her aspects of fiction and making this an even more beautiful tale. besides that, this is a historical fiction, with a side plot of mystery (which is very interesting btw, never would have guessed who the killer was), and a teeny tiny little spark of romance.
❝ because rape is about power; it is never about desire or love (...) his majesty is a powerhungry beast with a voracious hunger for more, and what better way to display that he reigns supreme than by taking what is precious to his own people? ❞
｡⋆୨୧˚the characters˚୨୧⋆｡
₊˚ପ⊹ iseul 🥀: i loved her. i admit, in the beginning, she was a little brat - selfish, snobby, and arrogant, but her character development is unmatched. towards the end, you could see her become a changed person - humble, caring, brave and gentle. i might not be the younger sister as she is (older sister right here ✋) but i can understand all that she felt, and her worries really hit home. she did not deserve all that happened to her, but i'm glad everything worked out in the end <3
₊˚ପ⊹ daehyun 🥀: oh, my precious. these are the kinds of male interests i love the most. guys like daehyun, julius gong, and roman kitt. these guys are the standard. i don't care about the morally grey self-absorbed villain, give me a male interest who cares in the subtlest way possible, whose love language is acts of service (which is mines as well btw), give me the ones who care gently, the ones with the soft look in their eyes. daehyun was amazing to read about. the things he did, the things he said, i just cant. AND THE ENDING????? THE WAY I CRIED.
₊˚ପ⊹ iseul + daehyun🥀: their romance wasn't a big part of the book, but a very subtle one. and a VERY good slowburn. literally the amount of times i got riled up then deflated from their interactions is crazy. i love love love them together. and i'm so grateful for that ending, truly. eternally grateful. because if that ending didn't happen, i would have hunted down june hur and held her hostage until she wrote me a deserving ending. but luckily that isn't needed much now, is it? maybe it still is, who knows ;)
₊˚ପ⊹ wonsik 🥀: he was such a wholesome instructor, so much so, he even felt like iseul's father. the fatherly care and bond he shared with iseul (and everyone else, at that) was beautiful. but oh my, he did not deserve all that. he was the last person i would have wanted that to happen to.
₊˚ପ⊹ yul & soyeon 🥀: yul was such a sweet girl! i do wish we got to know a little more about her, but she was a wonderful friend to iseul and the others. we didn't get to meet soyeon really early into the book, but once we did, i really felt horrible for her. oh, the things she went through. the things everyone went through in this book is a lot. i had hoped we would get to know more about soyeon, but it's okay that we didn't - also, i'm so happy she recovered!!
❝ tomorrow, the kingdom could sink into the sea. tomorrow, all the elders we trusted could betray us. tomorrow, the fog might consume everything we loved. but i had him today. and he had me. ❞
｡⋆୨୧˚the ending˚୨୧⋆｡
broke me. shattered me. threw me away. and then pieced me back together again.
i cannot express more than that. here are some quotes for you <3
જ⁀➴ ❝ 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. ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ 'you would brave a life with me?'
'i would brave this life and a thousand more.' ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ 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. ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ then i will be yours, and i shall be your ruin. ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ he wanted her to live, not die - this girl who had embraced him, her warmth still lingering in his memory. a warmth that had seeped under his skin. ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ could there be a woman less concerned about her life? are you so unafraid of death that you would charge straight into it? ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ i am tired of being the elder sister, were the words within (...) why does he only see my disobedience, and not my desperate love for him? (...) i wish i could cry, i wish i could fall apart as little sister often does, and still be loved and understood. but i cannot. (...) who am i, if i am not the perfect daughter? ❞
｡ﾟ･ ❀ ﾟ･. ｡ﾟ･ . ° . ✿ ｡ﾟ･ ❀ ﾟ･. ｡ﾟ･ . ° . ✿ ｡ﾟ･ ❀ ﾟ･. ｡ﾟ･ . ° . ✿
༶•┈┈୨ pre-review ୧┈┈•༶｡
i think i've decided on my rating, but it's pretty high (🤭) and since i literally loved this book, i'll reveal the rating with the review <3
༶•┈┈୨ post-read ୧┈┈•༶｡
there is pain. there is joy. there is hatred. there is love. there is fear. there is peace. (and off in the distance, is almas stupidly trying to be philosophical)
i love this so much, it will take me some time to recover. i'll be back with a rating soon, but writing a review will take time. 💗
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 4.75 ⭐
🤧🤧🤧💗💘😌 -----> that's basically my review.
｡⋆୨୧˚overall thoughts˚୨୧⋆｡
i love love love love this. the story? marvellous. the excitement? the highest it could be. the writing? stunning. the characters? impeccable. the emotions? beautiful. the ending? heartwrecking. i won't bother going into too many details in my review, because i don't want to be reminded of the heartache, but just know i loved this!
❝ 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.❞
｡⋆୨୧˚the story˚୨୧⋆｡
i cant't say much about this, because the blurb doesn't give away much, but there is so much going on. first things first, i cannot believe that people like king yeonsan ever walked the same lands as countless other innocents or ever lived on the same planet we slumber on today. king yeonsan, in reality, was a vile, monstrous person, and i feel horrible for all the people who have suffered from his actions way back then. kudos to june hur for paying respects to this story, while interweaving her aspects of fiction and making this an even more beautiful tale. besides that, this is a historical fiction, with a side plot of mystery (which is very interesting btw, never would have guessed who the killer was), and a teeny tiny little spark of romance.
❝ because rape is about power; it is never about desire or love (...) his majesty is a powerhungry beast with a voracious hunger for more, and what better way to display that he reigns supreme than by taking what is precious to his own people? ❞
｡⋆୨୧˚the characters˚୨୧⋆｡
₊˚ପ⊹ iseul 🥀: i loved her. i admit, in the beginning, she was a little brat - selfish, snobby, and arrogant, but her character development is unmatched. towards the end, you could see her become a changed person - humble, caring, brave and gentle. i might not be the younger sister as she is (older sister right here ✋) but i can understand all that she felt, and her worries really hit home. she did not deserve all that happened to her, but i'm glad everything worked out in the end <3
₊˚ପ⊹ daehyun 🥀: oh, my precious. these are the kinds of male interests i love the most. guys like daehyun, julius gong, and roman kitt. these guys are the standard. i don't care about the morally grey self-absorbed villain, give me a male interest who cares in the subtlest way possible, whose love language is acts of service (which is mines as well btw), give me the ones who care gently, the ones with the soft look in their eyes. daehyun was amazing to read about. the things he did, the things he said, i just cant. AND THE ENDING????? THE WAY I CRIED.
₊˚ପ⊹ iseul + daehyun🥀: their romance wasn't a big part of the book, but a very subtle one. and a VERY good slowburn. literally the amount of times i got riled up then deflated from their interactions is crazy. i love love love them together. and i'm so grateful for that ending, truly. eternally grateful. because if that ending didn't happen, i would have hunted down june hur and held her hostage until she wrote me a deserving ending. but luckily that isn't needed much now, is it? maybe it still is, who knows ;)
₊˚ପ⊹ wonsik 🥀: he was such a wholesome instructor, so much so, he even felt like iseul's father. the fatherly care and bond he shared with iseul (and everyone else, at that) was beautiful. but oh my, he did not deserve all that. he was the last person i would have wanted that to happen to.
₊˚ପ⊹ yul & soyeon 🥀: yul was such a sweet girl! i do wish we got to know a little more about her, but she was a wonderful friend to iseul and the others. we didn't get to meet soyeon really early into the book, but once we did, i really felt horrible for her. oh, the things she went through. the things everyone went through in this book is a lot. i had hoped we would get to know more about soyeon, but it's okay that we didn't - also, i'm so happy she recovered!!
❝ tomorrow, the kingdom could sink into the sea. tomorrow, all the elders we trusted could betray us. tomorrow, the fog might consume everything we loved. but i had him today. and he had me. ❞
｡⋆୨୧˚the ending˚୨୧⋆｡
broke me. shattered me. threw me away. and then pieced me back together again.
i cannot express more than that. here are some quotes for you <3
જ⁀➴ ❝ 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. ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ 'you would brave a life with me?'
'i would brave this life and a thousand more.' ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ 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. ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ then i will be yours, and i shall be your ruin. ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ he wanted her to live, not die - this girl who had embraced him, her warmth still lingering in his memory. a warmth that had seeped under his skin. ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ could there be a woman less concerned about her life? are you so unafraid of death that you would charge straight into it? ❞
જ⁀➴ ❝ i am tired of being the elder sister, were the words within (...) why does he only see my disobedience, and not my desperate love for him? (...) i wish i could cry, i wish i could fall apart as little sister often does, and still be loved and understood. but i cannot. (...) who am i, if i am not the perfect daughter? ❞
｡ﾟ･ ❀ ﾟ･. ｡ﾟ･ . ° . ✿ ｡ﾟ･ ❀ ﾟ･. ｡ﾟ･ . ° . ✿ ｡ﾟ･ ❀ ﾟ･. ｡ﾟ･ . ° . ✿
༶•┈┈୨ pre-review ୧┈┈•༶｡
i think i've decided on my rating, but it's pretty high (🤭) and since i literally loved this book, i'll reveal the rating with the review <3
༶•┈┈୨ post-read ୧┈┈•༶｡
there is pain. there is joy. there is hatred. there is love. there is fear. there is peace. (and off in the distance, is almas stupidly trying to be philosophical)
i love this so much, it will take me some time to recover. i'll be back with a rating soon, but writing a review will take time. 💗
June 25, 2024
Thanks to the publisher for a copy to review via Netgalley; yes, this is atrociously late. A Crane Among Wolves is available now.
It saddens me to admit that this was a mixed bag.
On the one hand, there were some excellent tropes I loved: wound tending! Only one horse! Longing looks! And on the other, the story, marketed as a book reading like a Sageuk kdrama, began to read a little too much like one, almost formulaic, as if checking off a list of tropes and moments very specific to kdramas.
This wouldn’t really have been an issue, either, if the romance hadn’t felt largely ... Not there for me. The book’s plot is incredibly tight, and so to go from enemies to rebel confidants to lovers in that tight space, especially with so much page time necessarily devoted to historical context and detail - the romance fell really flat for me. There were moments that would have been achingly romantic, if the relationship between Iseul and Daehyun didn’t feel so half-baked and accelerated. Iseul herself was incredibly unlikable, spoiled, and made wildly stupid decisions throughout the story, though she did display a bit of growth by the end.
Added to the feeling of a kdrama checklist was the fact I predicted the mystery’s final revelations, and even very specific details of a climactic scene near the end, word for word. Granted, maybe not every reader of this has watched quite as many dramas as I have, but it was disappointing.
That said, there were some swoony, sighy moments, several endearing side characters, and an admirable balance of restraint and gutsiness on Hur’s part plotwise, to allude to the horrific acts perpetrated by the tyrant king but not go into too vivid of detail in a YA historical romance.
Overall I give the book three and a half stars, rounded up because I love June’s work and hope to see more from her.
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 17, 2024DNF 44%
I could push through the last half of the audiobook but I’m just not feeling it.
I could push through the last half of the audiobook but I’m just not feeling it.
March 6, 2024
”Because rape is about power; it is never about desire or love.”
Iseul’s older sister had been kidnapped by King Yeonsan and she was desperate to get her back.
There’s a killer plaguing the land called the Nameless Flower who is killing the King’s officials and a reward has been offered for his capture. Iseul sees this as her chance to win her sister’s freedom.
Prince Daehyun was the bastard prince swore he would not die at the hands of his half brother, the king.
The Prince and Iseul don’t actually start their reluctant alliance until over 30% in, so we get to see their individual development first. Not to mention, the story shifts between their perspectives!
”You look like a vengeful ghost," he murmured, adjusting the seat.
"And you are the sort I would furiously haunt for all eternity," Iseul retorted.
For a YA book, this is dark, but it covers a period of history that normally doesn’t tell the atrocities committed and those silenced.
I always appreciate that about Hur’s books.
I struggled to follow along with the main mystery, but I think this is because of the amount of withheld names and the confusing attempt to link mysteries together.
I also felt the reveal was lack-lustre and I felt slightly disappointed by how it played out.
Thank you to Headline for providing an arc in exchange for a review.
Bookstagram
Iseul’s older sister had been kidnapped by King Yeonsan and she was desperate to get her back.
There’s a killer plaguing the land called the Nameless Flower who is killing the King’s officials and a reward has been offered for his capture. Iseul sees this as her chance to win her sister’s freedom.
Prince Daehyun was the bastard prince swore he would not die at the hands of his half brother, the king.
The Prince and Iseul don’t actually start their reluctant alliance until over 30% in, so we get to see their individual development first. Not to mention, the story shifts between their perspectives!
”You look like a vengeful ghost," he murmured, adjusting the seat.
"And you are the sort I would furiously haunt for all eternity," Iseul retorted.
For a YA book, this is dark, but it covers a period of history that normally doesn’t tell the atrocities committed and those silenced.
I always appreciate that about Hur’s books.
I struggled to follow along with the main mystery, but I think this is because of the amount of withheld names and the confusing attempt to link mysteries together.
I also felt the reveal was lack-lustre and I felt slightly disappointed by how it played out.
Thank you to Headline for providing an arc in exchange for a review.
Bookstagram
Want to read
March 5, 2024I’ve got so many incredible Asian fantasy arcs on my approved list recently and this is another one I’ve just received which looks ✨incredible ✨
July 7, 2024
so underwhelming.
edit: i was talking to my friend about despicable main characters and it hit me how much i hate iseul. the only reason i'm not rating this one star is because of wonsik and the prince.
edit: i was talking to my friend about despicable main characters and it hit me how much i hate iseul. the only reason i'm not rating this one star is because of wonsik and the prince.
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