Pragathi Ram’s Reviews > A Crane Among Wolves > Status Update

“The Prince had stood before me moments ago. I had held his hand. He had whispered my name. And now he was gone.”
No. No way he’s gone. I know the omen and stuff like that but… but this entire story is a story about resistance so I refuse to believe he’s truly gone.
Also I don’t think Nameless Flower knows that Daehyun also lost because of the king and that he never condoned his actions

I actually can’t be bothered to deal w real life when this is happening in my book:

“Huang Iseul, if by any chance, we do not meet again in this lifetime, then I will find you in the next. Or as many lifetimes as it takes to see you again.”
“So long as you live, we have the rest of our lives to find each other again. And I will find you again. I promise.”

That omen is driving me crazy, we’re so close

“Go Daehyun. Go and move the heavens for her.” I’M NOT CRYING YOU ARE
The scenes leading up to Iseul entering the courtesan house were HEAVY idk how but the author managed to make me empathize with these characters’ desires and motivations as if they were my own… That was just incredible…

Chapter 29 is my favorite chapter:
Wdym he stayed outside keeping guard of her hut for THREE DAYS without even speaking??
Daehyun: “The next person to harm you will die by my own hands.”
“What does it matter what I wish? You said no, and I will receive your word as a royal command.”
“The Prince is not going to die this year… it is but a silly omen.” NOO I FORGOT ABOUT THE OMEN

Okay lots to unpack in one chapter
Iseul’s uncle’s betrayal hit her so hard and for good reason, he’s family, he was supposed to protect her
Onechik’s sacrifice and Iseul’s grief was SO WELL DONE like I had to pause and just listen to the absolute POETRY
Finally Iseul has had it Daehyun’s unfeeling nature, “I hope it crushes you. All your unfelt tears and sorrow.” WHOA just whoa

AHHH I LOVE THE TENSION
Iseul making sure Daehyun stays alive by gifting him the ring and making him promise to bring it back to her after the coup was actually beautiful
When he called her “my lady” teasingly I was so impressed at the natural character growth
One of my favorite moments so far is when Iseul smiles at him for the first time and it reads: “He felt undone.”

It’s still frustrating that Daehyun and Onchik aren’t telling Iseul everything and still feel the need to protect her. I understand at the beginning of the book, but hasn’t she proven herself worthy of being more than just a girl in their eyes?
I love to see that Iseul is actually starting to understand Daehyun, she sees how repressed he is and implores him to think beyond the coup, about his hopes and dreams

“The treacherous, murderous king? Afraid?”
“Utterly terrified.”
This story is so interesting, at first I had thought that there was a lot going on, but now I feel very deeply immersed in all the different twists and secrets
I also love how we can see Iseul slowly working for herself, understanding the thrill of figuring things out on her own
Meanwhile Daehyun is getting constantly distracted by her laugh

“What is a prince but a title?” This haughty part of her character fits very well into her stubbornness but I am surprised by this bit, was she not trained from a young age to respect royalty as a higher power than her own family? I feel like there’s still something missing about her background. Why were her parents killed? Why is there someone out to get her? Why does she consider herself a criminal?

I have to agree with Onechik that Iseul trying run an investigation while also having no idea how to do that is stupid and that she definitely needs guidance.
The actual shock and disgust that ran through me when Daehyun discovered that king’s aunt-in-law is pregnant with HIS child?! This whole book is making me really interested in reading up on the actual history of this Joseon tyrant once I’m done