Review - A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

 

 

 Title: A Crane Among Wolves

Author: June Hur

Pages: 369

Publisher: Wildfire

Release Date: 14th May 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 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.

 

 

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My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline*

Iseul lives in a land ruled by a king who takes whatever he wants, be it land or women.

When Iseul’s older sister is taken by the king, she vows to do whatever it takes to save her sister and bring her home.

Prince Daehyun is forced to submit to the whims of the king, his half-brother, all while dreaming of the day his rule will end.

Iseul and Daehyun’s paths cross, they reluctantly find themselves working together.

Can Daehyun convince enough people to join a coup against the king and overthrow him?

Can Iseul save her sister before it’s too late?

Having read some of the author’s previous books and enjoyed them, I was keen to read this one.

Iseul and Daehyun were both likeable protagonists. I liked that Iseul was so determined to save her sister, and I enjoyed the relationships she made with some of the secondary characters. I would have liked to find out more about Daehyun’s childhood, and more about his life at the palace.

The setting of 1506 Joseon (Korea) was interesting, and I liked that the author used actual historical events and people in the novel, even though it was of course awful what the king did.

The plot was enjoyable and held my attention throughout, but I wasn’t gripped or fully absorbed by what happened.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.