Reviews tagging 'War'

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

15 reviews

kierrareads_'s review

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this was fye

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Genocide, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War

pryorlee's review

dark inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Sexism, Trafficking, Murder, and War

wholelatteproblems's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Wonderful storytelling and romance. The event that the plot had built up to felt too rushed for my liking. But, overall I'm really glad I read this book! Great historical fiction piece that doesn't focus on European/Western areas and cultures. Well-researched and well-written!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and War

This book is not overly graphic, but does allude to

the kidnapping and abuse of women at the hands of the king (main villain); the investigation of murders; and the objectification of women.

nataliebootlah's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 

A historical, Korean whodunit, complete with a mysterious serial killer, a brimming coup, and some romance of course. 

 

Iseul will do anything to stop the ruthless King Yeonsan, who has kidnapped thousands of women for his own pleasure, including Iseul’s sister. On her journey through the forbidden territory into the capital, Iseul crosses paths with Prince Daehyun, the bastard little brother of the tyrant king, who numbingly despises his brother. Together, will they be successful in overthrowing the crown? 

 

Hur masterfully wove fiction into the true historical events of the dark, 1500s Joseon era. Slow burn romance, questionable characters at every turn, a serial killer on the loose, the fatherly-figure found in an investigator, a cold and calculated prince. I loved how the author explains what really happened in the author’s note, but I loved the storytelling even more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

fullnessofjoy's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

June Hur strikes again! If I can put into words how much I enjoyed this novel, it would be to describe it as a historical time-travel pill into the intrigue and danger and darkness but also the light and love and romance of a 16th century historical Korean tale. It is a heady, dizzying, wonderful feeling. Hur pitches this novel as a bit of a historical Kdrama - and if you know anything about me - that is one of my favourite genres ever! :) This novel combines beautifully the romance and drama and danger and action and loveable, emotional character moments, the soft lingering romance and exciting scenes - with the depth of historical knowledge, perspective and insight to a very difficult, painful period of Korean history. As a history lover, Hur’s attention to historical perspective and knowledge was truly admirable and made me so much more engaged with this story, knowing that these events and even some characters are drawn from real life. But Hur never trumps historical fact over character depth and the beauty of a well-told story. There were so many swoon-worthy, heart-pounding moments in this scene, I was HOOKED!

Can we also talk about the romance between those two loveable characters? Aww, I loved them so much - they were flawed, real and wonderful and I was rooting for them very much. There are some wonderful side characters too ahhh! My review is all over the place, but I just loved this novel SO SO MUCH and will encourage you to read it ASAP.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and War

spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism

221bpinkst's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Minor: Cursing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Stalking, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

bkishmdstgal's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

“You needn’t look at me in such a manner.”
“In what manner?”
“As though I will force you.”
“You do not wish to… kiss me?”
“What does it matter what I wish? You said no, and I will receive your word as a royal command”
This dialogue AH.
All of the romantic interactions were so well written 

OH MY WORD

I started this book at 6:30 and had it finished in 3 hours. It was so good. 

The King was a genuinely horrible man, and I appreciated that the book didn’t try to make him redeemable to make him act out of character. He was a garbage man and acted like it all throughout the book. 

The enemies to lovers had me hooked, with me actually screaming and crying about what was happening. It was such a nice path from enemies to lovers and it didn’t feel rushed at all, and their ending was honestly one of the best for characters in a book like this. 

It was amazing, and if I could pay to read this book again for the first time I would. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder, and War

jartone93's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lemonwrlds's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation