When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this book, but it left me quite perplexed

Although the historical setting, the murder mystery aspect, the revolution plot and the overall cast of side characters were really well done and even interesting, I struggled to get invested in the emotional journey of both main characters. I knew I had failed in getting involved when I read the ending without feeling anything… it’s such a shame, because the potential of this book was immense.

Despite the writing that sometimes glossed over details that could have really brought up the whole reading experience, I enjoyed the murder mystery and the FMC’s journey with her new friends. Ultimately, I think it lacked a bit of length to feel more complete.

Yet again I got a much heavier book than I expected with this one, given current events. Definitely check the trigger warnings.

I appreciated the author's research into Korean history. That really increased my enjoyment of the book.

I took quite a while to warm up to Iseul. She takes a long time to move beyond her resentment and self-pity and selfishness. She eventually does, at least somewhat, and I enjoyed the overall story enough to keep reading until I got there. She also often does not think about what she is doing which gets her in trouble.

Daehyun was more sympathetic, although his decision at the end absolutely confused me and made my opinion of him (and the story) drop. It made no sense given his character and his previous actions and decisions and felt like drama for drama's sake.

I was meh about the serial killer plot. It didn't always work for me and there were a lot of coincidences. I was surprised when the coup leaders turned out to make life worse for the common people and the king's concubines... but at the same time not surprised at all. It wasn't a good feeling though.

Wonshik was the best character. As was his son. And Yul was also really good. I wish they'd been given more of a focus than Iseul and Daehyun. Also the romance sort of came out of nowhere but i was mostly on board with eventually.

The audiobook was well done and probably helped me continue on through the parts where I wasn't sure about the story.

*Thanks to Wildfire for providing an early copy for review.

June Hur's writing style and portrayal of events in this story are truly unique. I found the book captivating and couldn't put it down. It masterfully blends historical accuracy with a heartbreaking love story. This book is exceptionally worthwhile; I highly recommend purchasing it even if you have reservations. I only wish it were longer. It's a truly beautiful and my absolute favorite book. Ms. Hur, please continue writing such wonderful stories; your writing style resonates deeply with me. This book perfectly matched my expectations based on the blurb and exceeded them. It's truly exceptional.

I really enjoyed this book! Iseul was a great character and I really rooted for her throughout as she tried to find her sister, and as she was growing close to Prince Daehyun. I found some parts of the book a bit slow to start but the character development and world building more than made up for that. I loved the author’s writing style and can’t wait to read more books by her! A beautiful and in parts, heartbreaking story of a young woman stopping at nothing to rescue her sister from a horrible fate.

1506 and the tyrant King Yeonsan rules with an iron fist; from taking land for his own use, banning books and kidnapping and abusing women for his own pleasure no one is safe. Seventeen year old Iseul's sister is kidnapped and she refuses to give up on her, she makes her way to the capital to rescue Suyeon in order to steal her back but with the odds against her will she find any allies on her journey or only enemies?

I was completely intrigued with the synopsis and as a Kdrama lover I devoured this book in one sitting. The mix of historical and fiction were perfectly pitched and I was immediately+ gripped from the first page. I read the entire book in one sitting and then immediately ordered The Forest of Stolen Girls as I love June Hur's writing so much. 5 Stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

I really do appreciate when YA novels handle dark topics. I think it is incredibly important to be willing to be uncomfortable with the past and show the breadth of humanity. I found this book to both be really good but also something doesn't quite fit with me.

The beginning was an easy read and quick but the middle felt a bit stagnant and I think created this place where I just didn't feel connected to the characters. Like I was looking at them through frosted glass. I can't find another way to describe and I definitely think this might not be a feeling everyone has reading this. It is saved though by the EPIC KDRAMA LEVEL last third. The plot truly ramps up, the emotions conveyed exquisite, the deep like grief, yet freedom of the ending. Man good stuff. That makes up for my weird feelings towards the MCs.

I would like to end by saying that in many ways the narratives in this book had me thinking about what I know about the comfort women from WWII and their struggles. Just this deep deep grief of women being buoyed by systems of patriarchal oppression, the sadness of repeated tragedy, that an experience that should be so distant as the Joseon dynasty is able to spoken of by those now. We often express the desire through fantasy or historical fiction to hope that the world has gotten better, but I think the thing to highlight from this isn't the despair but to harness that discomfortable this juxtaposition creates and use it to prevent futures from repeating. Hold tight to the ship and move ahead.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Apologies for the delay.

In my streak of reading historical fiction, this was yet another book. I never started watching K-Dramas although several people around me have been ardent fans over the years. I mention this because it is advertised to be one that fans of K-dramas might enjoy and that is an aspect I can neither confirm nor deny.

I chose to read the book because it is sent in a time and place I have not read about earlier. The author provides historical context both at the beginning and the end of the book. The latter is the bigger section, and one that provides a certain depth to the plotline.

We have two narrators, one who is hiding from the king and trying to save her sister while the other has to stick close to the king for his own safety, even if it is the last thing he wants to do. The atrocious conditions the people lived in is almost heartbreaking. The wealth of the land was limited to people in the upper echelons of society, while the hardworking people at the bottom rung struggled for their daily meal. Life was not rosy for the people around the king mostly because of his erratic nature and the possibility of his ordering death on almost anyone.

I found the situations and the plot line interesting. I saw the twist coming a little earlier than the reveal, but not by much. Sometimes the switching in the narrator and way things were a little confusing to imagine, but it worked overall.

I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction with some romance in it.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

There's something about June Hur's books that always makes me read them super quickly. I think my brain loves her writing style, which is so atmospheric and immersive. This book is a lot more brutal than I remember her other books being, which is something to be aware of, but I thought it was really well done. It made me feel so much and I felt so invested that I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. I felt really attached to both main characters. I love how every June Hur book I've read has been very different, but they all have the same distinctive voice.

The novel excels in its portrayal of romantic tension, taking readers on a journey through the highs and lows of falling in love. Whether it’s a slow-burn romance filled with meaningful glances and stolen moments, or a whirlwind love affair that sweeps the characters off their feet, the relationship progression feels authentic and emotionally resonant. The dialogue is charming and heartfelt, capturing both the lighter, playful moments of romance and the deeper, more intimate exchanges.

The plot is thrilling and fast-paced, filled with twists and turns that keep you engaged. It follows the journey of a protagonist who is as relatable as they are courageous, facing daunting challenges and making tough decisions along the way. Their growth throughout the story is well-developed, balancing moments of vulnerability with displays of strength and heroism. Secondary characters are equally memorable, each with their own unique traits and motivations, contributing depth to the overall narrative.

Really enjoyed this book, the eerie vibes were great and I definitely felt tension throughout. Also enjoyed learning about the setting as I'd not really known a lot about this time period of Joseon. Romance was great and felt natural

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.
To contract this man's heinous behaviour comes two young people who hope to save their communities, Iseul is a tenacious, feisty but vulnerable young woman who has lost her sister to Yeonsan and her jobs is to get her back. The kings half brother Daehyun has lived long under the thumb of his cruel siblings and he desperately needs to rid the country of his presence. Together these characters form the crux of this story.
I was not familiar with the author but having read A Crane among Wolves, I will look for others. A beautifully written story, with a compelling narrative which pulls one in and does not let go. I loved this book. Thank you Netgalley and Wildfire for an ARC of this book.

June Hur's one of my favourite authors, and this book absolutely did not make me change my mind on that! The appreciation of history, the way that impacts on the worldbuilding and the development of the characters, is done immensely well. There's so much to gush about here, honestly. It's dark but hopeful, because at the core of the story is family and bonds and genuine friendships and love and relationships, which makes it so compelling. There's plenty of murder and mystery and political machinations and stakes that keep you turning the page. If you're looking for a raw, beautiful historical fantasy romance, this is the one for you!

Oooh this was fun! This was incredibly engaging, very interesting and I really enjoyed the romance aspect of this! It's a very character-driven piece, rather than plot, but really feels like you're watching a K-drama! So many swoon-worthy quotes, moments of bad-assery and character development. A slow-going story in terms of plot rather than action packed, but the characters more than make up for it!
Thank you to Netgalley & Headline Books for allowing me to read an early copy for a honest review.

The first book I have read by Hur, but safe to say I'll be on the lookout for her other titles to read soon.
Set in during the tyrant reign of King Yeonsan, the novel tackles complex themes including abuse and rape, whilst managing to counterbalance with love, hope, courage, bravery and the slow burn of romance between the respective protagonists who start out on the wrong foot, but combine forces against their joint hatred of the tyrant king. You can definitely tell the author has knowledge on the actual history of Korea as it feels so much like a historical korean drama.

Thank you netgalley and Headline for the ARC.

My second June Hur book, and another success. Taking an actual, horrible period in history and using it to tell a story in a way that’s both informative and entertaining. It doesn’t shy away from the darker side of historical events, and while it’s not the main storyline, it does colour everything that happens. At the base, it’s a story of a girl trying to get her sister back, and will do anything to make that happen. I really enjoyed this!

disclaimer: I received this free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

content warnings: rape, death, blood, gore, violence

rep: korean characters

3.5 stars

A Crane Among Wolves is my first June Hur book & i've heard excellent things about her works & requested this due to themes of sisterhood & that beautiful cover. While I appreciate that this book did drag me out of a 4 month reading slump, which is why it's getting the extra .5, it just lacked that *spark* I was expecting from June Hur & perhaps it is because of my high expectations or maybe just because YA just isn't really my vibe anymore.

A Crane Among Wolves was superbly written with a beautiful prose with some brilliant characters, a fierce & angry protagonist, an adorable slow-burn romance, and a relatively compelling mystery with some political intrigue thrown in - I just wish it was, ya know, more. But nevertheless, this is a really good historical novel & I'm pretty sure maybe I'd have enjoyed it more when YA was more my thing & maybe I went in with a little less expectations but nevertheless if the premise interests you, it's definitely a novel worth reading.

June Hur is one of my students favourite authors, but the addition of the K-Pop/K-Drama influence has ensured her a sure fire hit at my workplace.

I'm really sad that this didn't deliver for me, because I've heard such amazing things about June Hur. I'll definitely still pick up some of the author's other works, but unfortunately this wasn't for me. I really struggled to connect with the characters, and I found myself growing bored with the plot. There were POV changes, with 1st person for one main character, and 3rd person for the other, which was confusing, and I just didn't care about the mystery at all - it was obvious from the very beginning who the "Nameless Flower" would turn out to be. It's also not a fantasy - it's historical fiction, so I think the marketing has something to do with my disappointment. I did like that this introduced an area of history I can't recall ever having been touched on before in a YA fantasy, but sadly this book wasn't for me.

I loved this book and I am struggling to find a book that can follow it.

As someone who loves to watch Korean shows, listen to Korean music and attempting to learn the language, this book felt like a hug of all the things I love. Political intrigue, murder, slow burn, siblings and friendships, with the depth that Korean culture and history provides.

June’s style of writing is captivating, well paced and provides good character development. You understand why the characters are the way they are, with the context of the time, as well as seeing them develop.

I am now going to go and read her other books!!

A Crane Among Wolves is such a delightful read, as expected by the author who brings beautiful stories set in Korea's past. I completely devoured this book and I absolutely loved it from start to end. Especially that ending, it totally wrecked me but in the most devastating and best way ever. This is perhaps my favourite out of all June Hur's books as the murder mysteries were super captivating, the entire story was really worth the read and the best characters ever!

I highly recommend everyone to read this book as it is truly a magnificent read.