Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

38 reviews

bookscatcoffee's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book was way more than I anticipated in the best way possible.  I had to google so much, but I learned a great deal.  Through all of that, the author kept the plot moving at a brisk pace.  I loved the main characters!  And the writing is really good.  “You will not always be the wisest, nor the strongest, nor the bravest. That is why we need friends. They will guide you down the right path, no matter how dark it grows.“. Definitely good messages for our times as well.    “When one is able to differentiate good from evil, it is impossible to accept the way things are.”  Definitely worth reading!  5 stars 

Historical fiction set in Korea featuring Korean characters 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Physical abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Rape

tsundoku_reviews's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent

kaneebli's review

dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

blueberrypi's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

3.75

I enjoyed this book but the ending was slightly disappointing to me.

I’m not really the biggest fan of characters dying and then surprise!! they’re actually still alive.

The switch from first person pov to third person kind of threw me off at first. Also using the phrase “Old fart” when the story takes place in 1506 joseon is kind of off putting and very likely historically inaccurate. (Might change my review later)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, and Kidnapping

Minor: Incest

gracekuehn's review

adventurous 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, and Kidnapping

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.

iixxii's review

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

A crane among wolves gives us a historical retelling of a Korean tyrant and how heroes sometimes aren’t truly heroes. The book doesn’t shy away from the atrocities and horrors of human actions while still not being explicit (so quite appropriate for a YA read).

The romance was also quite sweet with subtle but important character developments in both the FMC and ML. However, this book is more of a retelling of history rather than a romance fiction. So don’t expect any focus on romance at all and you’ll enjoy a pleasant read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Minor: Incest, Sexism, and Suicide

boomwormbrittany's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

A Crane Among Wolves follows Iseul who is trying to save her sister from the clutches of King Yeonsan who kidnaps women and terrorizes the country. When she finds herself embroiled in the mystery of a serial killer, she finds herself having to team up with Prince Daehyun to discover who is committing these murders and try to save her sister.
June Hur had me going in the last couple chapters of this book I swear! I was tearing up and trying not to cry while reading the last few chapters of this. I really came to love these characters so much!
June Hur has such a unique and amazing writing style. She drags you right into the story and really embroils you in not only in the characters lives but in the era she is writing in as well. I felt myself transported to 1500's Korea during the Joseon era.
You really come to love these characters even when they drive you nuts. Iseul is not a likable main character at first because she is spoiled and sheltered but you come to love and appreciate her more as you read the book. I really liked Daehyun from the first time we meet him because he clearly does not want to go along with what Yeonsan is doing but has to for his own survival.
The mystery element of this book was done so well and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The last couple chapters had me going in the first half but at the end it resolved itself and I absolutely LOVED it.
I really loved this book and think this is a very important story to highlight. I am so happy to have this book on my shelves and I would highly recommend picking it up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping

Moderate: Animal death and Murder

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

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