A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

Iseul is determined to rescue her sister from the predatory ruler of 1506 Joseon (Korea) in this edgy historical fiction thriller.

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur. Feiwel and Friends, 2024, 368 pages.

Reading Level: Teens, Ages 15-18

Recommended for: Ages 16+

When Iseul’s older sister is claimed by the king to be part of his harem, she is determined to rescue her. The king’s reputation strikes fear into the heart of the young women of his realm; he is not kind to his large harem, wielding power over them through rape and abuse. And yet, his control over the kingdom is such that no one is willing to stand up to him.

But Iseul is not the only one determined to stand up to the king. Prince Daehyun is also determined to overthrow his half-brother. He has gathered a few to his side, and he and Iseul eventually form an uneasy alliance.

Spoiler alert: that uneasy alliance begins to include feelings for one another.

Hur is tackling an extraordinarily difficult portion of Korean history in this edgy thriller. She has grappled with rough history and plots before (such as The Silence of Bones, her debut about a king who demanded young women tributes), but A Crane Among Wolves is grittier. In an era when we are more aware of human trafficking and the like, this topic is not unwelcome, but it will require mature readers brave enough to dive in. Hur’s plotting is fantastic, and the chapters alternate perspectives between Iseul and Daehyun. Readers will come away with an appreciation for the main characters’ bravery, what absolute power can look like in a despotic ruler, and the importance of standing up for what is right.

I also couldn’t help thinking of King Solomon. We don’t have any record of him acting as a predator, but he did have 1000 woman between his wives and his concubines. A Crane Among Wolves raised some questions in my mind that I hadn’t thought of before.

Considerations:

• Language: Several “Gods” (the main characters are follower of traditional Korean religion), several “d—,” one “f—ing.”
• Sexuality/Violence: Since the entire plot revolves around a king known for raping young women and assigning them a place in his harem, this book contains significant considerations in this area. Nothing feels gratuitous, but the historical events are troubling.

Bottom Line: Save this for mature readers who will be able to read for the history and character development as much as for the “thriller” aspect.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: Books by June Hur: *The Red Palace by June Hur (starred review!) and The Silence of Bones. Readers may also be interested in A Forgery of Fate, a fantasy novel with Chinese folklore mixed in.
• Review: Offsides by Lori Z. Scott addresses human trafficking in a way younger teens can appreciate.
• Review: All Better Now by Neal Schusterman is another gritty read for mature teens that also raises interesting questions.

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