'You must betray or be betrayed. That is the way of the world, daegam.'A devastating and pulse-pounding historical romance that will feel all-too-relevant in today's world, based on a true story from Korean history || An INSTANT New York Times Bestseller 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 seen:
Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.
About the Author
June Hur is a bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of YA historicals, 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 city's public library. Her work has been featured in
Forbes, NPR, The New York Times, CBC, and
KBS. June resides in Toronto with her family and can be spotted writing in coffee shops.
Industry Reviews
A highly detailed, culturally rich tale that combines elements of mystery, palace intrigue, found family and romance. - Washington Post
The romance and found family elements offer moments of hope to balance the darkness. ...
An intense mystery and slow-burn romance that highlight a historical moment.
Recommended for all YA collections. - School Library Journal
Award-winner Hur's latest historical intrigue is well researched and doesn't shy away from depicting elements of this real king's brutal history, and the resulting tale is
immersive, intense, and engaging.
A page-turner. - Kirkus Reviews
Twists and secrets, political and personal, propel the
intricate plot and
keep readers on edge. Which details matter and which are mere coincidence? Hur
masterfully allows readers to discover the truth right alongside her protagonists. - Booklist
Searing. - Publishers Weekly
A Crane Among Wolves brings attention to a dark time in Korean history while still highlighting June Hur's trademark skill for
devastatingly romanticrelationships, told in such
achingly lovely prose that will capture you from the very first page. - Reactor
A
richly detailed historical thriller about a young woman who sets out to find a dangerous killer in order to free her sister from the clutches of a tyrant,
A Crane Among Wolves is
unflinching in both its honesty and period-accurate realism. Set in 16th-century Korea and based on true events,
Hur's writing is both meticulously researched and emotionally compelling. - Paste
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. 
