📝 What is A Crane Among Wolves about?:
In 1506 Joseon, 17-year-old Iseul ventures into dangerous territory to rescue her sister from the tyrannical King Yeonsan, whose reign of terror includes land seizures, book burnings, and kidnapping women for his own use. Meanwhile, Prince Daehyun, the king’s half-brother, plots to overthrow the king. When Iseul and Daehyun’s paths cross, they form an uneasy alliance to free the kingdom from the king’s tyranny and save her sister.
📚 Genre: Historical romance & mystery
🎧 Format: e-book
💞 Feels: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is one of my most anticipated May reads.
I enjoyed learning about Iseul and Daehyun as individuals. I eagerly anticipated them interacting with each other. Their first meeting offered up an intriguing tension. They should be enemies, but the dual POV shows the reader that these two characters should trust each other. I’ve personally started to tire of dual POVs, but in this instance, I liked being able to get more insight into both characters thoughts, feelings and actions. Especially since outwardly they have to mask their true intentions.
There was enough mystery and political intrigue going on around them, that having access to their motivations was refreshing. Somehow the dual perspectives felt experimental…and that’s all I’m going to say to not spoil anything.
I do wish Iseul and Daehyun had come back to each other earlier on in the book. I got about 20% into the book and was wondering when they would meet again, because I liked their banter. Now, had I been patient – and not taken a break to read a different book – I would’ve been rewarded very quickly with their reunion. But how was I to know…so I’d say prepare yourself for a slow burn so you can be pleasantly surprised.
I understand now that the “slow burn” was needed to show the world that Iseul and Daehyun are living in. A world that, from June Hur’s historical note at the end of the book, was very real for Joseon – as recounted in the Veritable Records. King Yeonsan (Yeonsangun) was as cruel and tyrannical as he is depicted in the book, and we needed to know what kind of turmoil he is bringing to the kingdom and our main characters.
Books that confront disturbing historical events
June Hur,
are crucial. It is imperative to confront history
because it repeats itself when ignored.
Historical Note within A Crane Among Wolves
✅ Spinoff novella nomination:
I’d like to know more about Wonsik and Yul. What they each were like before meeting Iseul.
What are you reading? Let me know in the comments.