This book was so beautiful. If you love arranged marriage tropes, dark fairytales, forbidden magic and the power of family that is so strong, this book is for you. The novel is beautifully blended to pull at your heart stings and draws you in through it’s twist and turns.

A magical story with beautiful writing.

I’m convinced Lim can do no wrong. Everything she writes is gold.

There’s literally nothing to dislike.

With all the magic of a Ghibli movie, Six Crimson Cranes had my attention from the very first sentence of its premise - and it didn't disappoint. In a long list of books I've read that seem to have a main purpose involving feeding my will to live to a paper shredder, this book, with its vivid setting/writing and lovable characters, was a much-needed breath of fresh air.

Following the story of a princess named Shiori and her attempts to break a curse put on her and her brothers by her stepmother, Raikama, Six Crimson Cranes is a refreshing spin on one of my favorite fairytales, The Six Swans. I was instantly obsessed with Shiori's character - her perspective was so much fun to read from, especially as she developed and became stronger but still kept the curiosity and headstrong nature she displayed from the start. The other characters were also great (especially Raikama and Takkan), though I don't think many of them got much development outside of their connections to Shiori. I also enjoyed the various challenges Shiori went through and how she adventured through different settings (again with the Ghibli aspects here), though I feel like the story rapidly changed directions in the very middle which was definitely a bit jarring to read.

I also think one of this book's biggest strengths is its engaging plot and atmosphere. I'm usually a horrendously slow reader who has a habit of forgetting about a book for months when I'm only 10% in, but I cleared maybe 200 pages of Six Crimson Cranes in one sitting. In fact, not once can I remember actually being bored while reading this. Sure, there were some parts that I thought were clumsy or predictable, but I was always intrigued by the plot and the characters. I don't know how she does it, but Elizabeth Lim just has a way of writing that's both lyrical and addicting.

Long story short, this book was a perfect start to what's beginning to look like a great YA duology. While I did have a couple small problems, nothing really affected my ability to enjoy the story, and I'll definitely be looking forward to seeing what happens to Shiori and her companions in the sequel.

As always, thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley!

I enjoyed this Asian-flavored fantasy built around the "swan brothers" fairy tale.

We have a feisty princess who has to hide her magical powers in a land where magic has gained a bad reputation. But Shiori is determined to act, resulting first in meeting a dragon boy with whom she makes friends, then running afoul of her mysterious stepmother, with devastating result: her six princely brothers turned into cranes, and she silenced and forbidden to use her magic, lest either result in hers and her brothers' deaths.

Of course she sets out to get the enchantment reversed, which furnishes the drive through the rest of the story, one thread of which is meeting the boy she's been betrothed to since babyhood, and whom she has despited sight unseen.

While many plot points I predicted from the gitgo, I don't fault the book. I've been reading fantasy for most of my seventy years, and this one is aimed at a young audience. I know I would have been utterly enthralled had I encountered it at that age; Shiori is the sort of active, determined heroine I enjoy a great deal.

I did love the way Lim fleshed out Shiori's relationship with her stepmother, and the dragons hold interesting promise for future installments. I certainly plan to pick up the next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own!

Excuse me, Elizabeth- can I get the sequel to this in my inbox right now? Please? The ending!! I can't even contain my feelings. This was so good!

The premise of this and the fairy tale it's based off of was such a good one to do. I hadn't really known a lot about what it's fairy tale was, but with the way Lim describes the world and scenes, I didn't need too. Her ability to give you the picture in a way you feel like you're there is wonderful. The character development within this is some of the best I've seen. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Shiori grew throughout the book. Also, that slow burn?! impeccable. I loved everything about this. It was just so good. I won't stop saying that.

I thought the plot was well spaced out and done well. It gave you enough but kept you wanting more so you just kept turning the page. I thoroughly enjoyed the way this played out. I liked the dynamics between Shiori and her brothers, Shiori and her stepmother and Shiori and Takkan. Their romance was so sweet and I hope we get to see more of it in book 2!

If you're looking for a book with slow burn romance, interesting magic, and a spin on a classic fairy tale- you won't regret picking this up!

The moment I finished the book I immediately want to re-read it! I just found a new favorite and one of the best books I've read in 2021! I LOVE THIS BOOK! I love E.V.E.R.Y single thing. The storyline, the main characters, the love interest, the relationship, the plot twist, the writing style, the pace, EVERYTHING! It just a perfect book for me and damn right I'll shove this book to everyone.

This the first time I read Elizabeth's books and I adore her writing style. The writing style will suck you into Shiori's story. It will capture you till the last pages.

You'll easily fall for Shiori, our main character. She is lovely but strong at the same time. Despite this book written in first-person, I could feel connected with other characters through Shiori's eyes. She is such an observant person and she could make us feel that she is the "story-teller"

This story has a thick vibe of fairytales with a mixture of some Asian myths. The world and story were just so captivating. As a big fan of retelling, I can say that this book is one of the best fairytale retellings I've read. It's epic, intriguing, packed with action but also has some heartwarming moments.

Last but not least, slow-burn romance, dragons, family bonds, and the mystical world. This book got you!

CONTENT WARNING: violence, mention of death of a parent, murder

I had high hopes for this book, after falling in love with Lim’s writing in The Blood of Stars series. And I’m so happy to say that this book exceeded all my expectations.

Shiori is a character that I found it hard not to like right away — she’s mischievous, smart, and incredibly devoted to her family, but not above acting out or getting in trouble despite being a princess. She shows a lot of growth throughout the story, and I loved how she checked out the situation before deciding to wait to act or jump in, weighing out the consequences for the people she cares about, rather than herself. How can you not love a brave female protagonist?

This book was absolutely an underdog story, and it was packed full of situations where I didn’t see any way that Shiori and her brothers could succeed. However, they worked together and used their brains to come up with creative solutions to a range of problems, and I loved seeing everything come together. There was a strong sense of tension throughout the book, and there were some amazing plot twists that I never saw coming! I couldn’t put the book down and absolutely brought it everywhere with me, just in case I’d have a chance to read it if I was out. I didn’t realize that this was the first book in a new series, but I’m absolutely not complaining, because Lim’s talent for weaving traditional Chinese storytelling techniques and mythology into her books is *chef’s kiss* and I need more of this in my life. Plus, I loved the way that there was a little crossover with The Blood of Stars series, although you don’t need to read the other series to understand or enjoy anything that is going on in this one.

5 stars

"If fate is a bunch of strings, then I'll carry scissors… My choices are my own. I'll make them as I please."

Shiori is the only daughter and youngest child of the royal family and she has a secret that is forbidden at all costs. One day she's able to bring a paper bird to life with her magic, (magic that forbidden) and discovers a dragon in her palace waters. Magic is forbidden in the kingdom, which is how the demons are kept away. Some even believe the kingdom has no source of magic left. However, she's not the only one with a secret, her stepmother, Raikama can too.

When Raikama is confronted about her magic, she sends Shiori far away along with her six older brothers who she turns into cranes. Shiori then must find a way back but is cursed that for every word she speaks, one of her brothers dies. Seeing the relationship between Shiori and her six brothers is so funny with each of them having a distinct personality and relationship to her.

Shiori travels across the kingdom to find an answer that she longs for in hopes of saving her brothers and herself. Along the way, however, she stumbles across a plan that threatens not only her and her brothers but also the entire kingdom. Along with avoiding speaking, she struggles when she arrives at the castle of her betrothed, a man she has ignored entirely because she did not want to get married at the cost of her freedom. However she can't deny that the attraction between them is there and that he's a much kinder man than she originally thought.

I loved SO many things about this book, from the visual descriptions to the plot twists and world building. Elizabeth really takes you into another world entirely with her. While the system behind the magic isn't very fleshed out, I felt like it still was enough to understand and follow along. HOWEVER, the best part was by far the ending - it felt like plot twist after plot twist and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I simply cannot wait for book 2.

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The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Six Crimson Cranes is a captivating and magical first book in what is sure to be a new favorite series of mine. I felt like I was reading a fairytale while reading this. It has many of my favorite tropes- arranged marriage, magical quest, strong family bonds, to name a few. There are also dragons, which based on the ending, will play a bigger role in the sequel.

Shiori has a lot of character growth during her journey without sacrificing any of her character traits. There were many twists throughout the book that made it even better. I cannot wait for the next book!

Six Crimson Cranes was a daring novel that reevaluated common tropes of the fantasy and romance genres. Its strong female protagonist was notably not devalued for her love for her family. This book wove family, romance, physical power, and intellect with precision. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in Asian mythology-inspired stories that make the reader question the trope of arranged marriages, evil stepmothers, and feminine strength.

n this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve is talking to Elizabeth Lim all about her new book, the first in a duology, Six Crimson Cranes, which is described as “A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon , six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse… Drawing from “The Wild Swans” and East Asian folklore, this breathtakingly original fantasy comes from the author of Spin the Dawn.”

Six Crimson Cranes is its stunningly beautiful cover come to life. It’s an expansive magical mystery tour that will leave you spellbound and definitely wanting more. Which is great because this is only the first book in a duology and ends in such a way that all endings should take note. Oh, and prepare yourselves for the awesome force that is Kiki.

Steve and Elizabeth talk about her contributions to the Disney Twisted Tales books and what’s next, her incredible character work in Six Crimson Cranes including the books lead Shiori, the connection this book has to her Spin the Dawn universe, and much, much more.

For the full interview with the author, click the link below...

https://www.cinelinx.com/off-beat/shows/everything-is-canon-six-crimson-cranes/

As someone who highly enjoyed The Blood of Stars duology, I looked forward to Six Crimson Cranes the moment it popped on my radar. I loved the references to the duology scattered throughout and while I’m not familiar with The Wild Swans or a few other tales that inspired Elizabeth Lim’s latest novel, I did love the few that I recognized while reading. (Note: you don’t need to read The Blood of Stars before Six Crimson Cranes, but for those who have and enjoyed it, you may like seeing the references.) I particularly loved the references to Madame White Snake (which I’m most familiar with) and Chang E.

And it’s also no surprise as someone who is familiar with Lim’s other works that Six Crimson Cranes is just as beautifully written, weaving together a magical world and intricate characters with complex relationships. As Shiori seeks to break the curse placed by her stepmother, Raikama, and uncovers a plot throughout the novel, Lim explores the various relationships the princess of Kiata has with the other characters – her brothers, her mother and stepmother, her paper bird, etc. I especially loved the various angles of Shirori’s and Raikama’s relationship, and I could spend a lot of time unpacking and discussing the different aspects, but that, unfortunately, falls under major spoilers for the story.

I think the only thing I’ll mention is this was a huge factor in rating the book higher than originally intended, as Six Crimson Cranes started out disappointing me for a good portion of the first half. The novel is much slower-paced, with a focus on world-building and developing the characters. Additionally, since Shiori is voiceless due to her curse (for every sound she makes, one of her brothers will die), there’s more focus on descriptions, especially when she’s communicating with others around her. For some, the slow pace might be the biggest turn away and I’ve definitely considering setting this book aside multiple times, but I wanted to see how things would play out for Shiori. (Also, I would’ve been really disappointed and bummed about it.)

I also really enjoyed the character growth Shiori undergoes throughout the course of the entire novel – we neet her as the youngest (spoiled even?) princess, full of mischief and beloved by her family. She’s loud, she’s trouble, she’s curious – and that’s what ends up getting her into a mess. But this is also what makes her such a charming and endearing character that I loved as a protagonist of this story. The other characters were just as endearing – her brothers and their vastly different personalities (but they still come together to protect Shiori), her former betrothed Takkan and his love for stories, her paper bird Kiki and her constant sass, etc. Honestly, I don’t think I could love a paper bird so much, but here we are.

While Six Crimson Cranes had a slow pace, I’m glad I decided to push through to the end to see how everything would play out. Lim’s writing was lyrical, the different tales that inspired this novel woven together seamlessly, and the world filled with vivid descriptions that show a lot of thought into building the world and plot. If you’ve enjoyed Lim’s other works and don’t mind a slower-paced novel, Six Crimson Cranes is something to look into picking up.

Elizabeth Lim is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Not only do her books feature the most beautiful cover art I’ve ever seen (courtesy of talented artist Tran Nguyen), but her storytelling is delicately woven with such care that it’s too precious to describe. I really enjoyed her book, Spin the Dawn, and need to finish the duology. But I couldn’t stop the urge to pick up Six Crimson Cranes and I find myself yet again in awe of Lim’s storytelling.

Shiori is a princess of Kiata and has been promised to marry a northern warlord. As the doors open to her wedding ceremony, Shiori flees to conceal her magic, ruining the alliance and ultimately shaming both families. Now confined to the palace as punishment, Shiori believes her abilities remain a secret, but her mysterious stepmother Raikama sees all. Unfortunately, Shiori’s curiosity leads her to discover a secret about Raikama as well, and it seals a terrible fate for her family. Her six brothers are turned into cranes, and Shiori is cursed with anonymity. A magical bowl expands over her head, hiding her face from the world and stifling her magic. And if she were to ever speak a word to anyone, one of her brothers would die. Shiori is nameless and far from home, but she’s determined to carve a path back to Raikama to save her family.

Lim’s writing style is simple yet breathtakingly intricate. Her love of fairy tales shines through her work, capturing its whimsical storytelling and easy reading cadence that gives the reader just enough detail. Six Crimson Cranes is complex but approachable in a way that all fairy tales are. This style allows Lim to weave in magic and myth without having to explain too much. Take Cinderella for instance. We don’t know how her fairy godmother can turn a pumpkin into a boujee carriage. But that information isn’t exactly crucial to the plot now, is it? The lack of rules in Six Crimson Cranes reinforced the whimsical nature of the magic, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story and buy into the plot.

Shiori is endearing as a pampered princess, but I’m glad for the development that occurs outside the castle walls. I enjoyed seeing her grow and adapt to the world when her name and title held no sway. Her brothers are numerous and have unique personalities. Yet, as crucial as they are to Shiori’s tale, we don’t learn much about them. Instead, other more surprising characters are brought to the forefront to help tell this story including a magical paper bird, a mischievous dragon, and Shiori’s former betrothed. The cast is large, but our exploration into each character varies a lot. Many are there simply to pull the plot along, but this works in Lim’s storytelling style. The characters that matter are built up to varying degrees as well, but the depth was always satisfying enough.

One element I’m fond of in Lim’s stories is the legends that are incorporated. Lim’s inspiration for these comes from her favorite Chinese and Japanese stories. These stories within the story bring so much color and vibrancy to the world that is shared by both Six Crimson Cranes and The Blood of Stars series. The legends shape a beautiful culture and breathe life into the story. Although the book is heavier on the plot side, these insights into the myths and legends do a lot to build out a better understanding of the world.

I would recommend Six Crimson Cranes based on the ending alone, but you’re guaranteed a beautiful story from the very start. It’s so easy to get swept up in Lim’s writing, and Shiori’s story has many twists and turns to keep you engaged. I’ve got some time on my hands before the sequel and I’m itching to get back to this world. Shiori’s got her hands full, so I think it’s time I check back in with Maia and finish The Blood of Stars series.

Rating: Six Crimson Cranes - 8.0/10
-Brandee

Elizabeth Lim has done it again! This is my third book by this author and all I can say is that Lim has absolute talent when it comes to writing gorgeous fantasy and magical retellings. If the cover art isn't enough to capture your attention just wait until you open the book and get sucked into her incredible writing! Not to mention the great characters and fantastical setting. This has been one of my most anticipated books for 2021 and it did not disappoint! Thank Elizabeth Lim for writing another novel that I just could not put down!

I absolutely loved this book, it had everything you wanted, magic, humor, action, a little love, betrayal, and gasp worthy moments. The family dynamic between Shiori and her brothers is just so real, each of the brothers had a special personality and made you love all of them in different ways but I wished I could've gotten more time with them because as the story moves on she gets separated from them again. The world building is not overwhelming, you get a nice picture of each setting but it does not go on for pages, which I appreciate. I believe the author focused more on the culture and how the magic and their beliefs intertwined with the story. Shiori made her paper crane talk and even though she couldn't speak out loud, they could hear each other's thoughts and Kiki was the sassy but fetching character that you need as a sidekick to a princess. I totally recommend this if you love fantasy and I can't wait for the next book.

Review is already posted on Goodreads and will be posted on my Instagram by 07/12

"We were seven, and seven was a number of strength. An uneven number that could not fold into itself, large enough to withstand many threats, yet small enough to stay devoted."

I adored this gorgeous book, an truly well-done new retelling of a mix of East Asian folklore and "The Six Swans" and possibly other fairytales! "The Six Swans" was one of my favorite fairytales growing up, in part due to not hearing it often, but also because of a book called "Birdwing" by Rafe Martin that told a follow up story to the original tale. All of that is just to say, I was very excited that this story was getting a retelling and this book did not disappoint!

Lim gives us beautiful imagery, complex characters, TWISTS, and so much emotion that I wasn't truly expecting at the end. Lim weaves a compelling and lush fairytale that is at once familiar and altogether new. Elements like a quest, dragons, a curse, forbidden magic, tasks/tests, most notably maybe an evil stepmother all come together in this story to make it feel like fairytales we already know and love with all of Lim's fresh twists to make it interesting.

Our main character, Princess Shiori, starts out lovable. She's sweet but mischievous and intensely loyal to her family. She only grows as her story progresses and I really enjoyed watching her character develop. Takkan made my heart so SOFT I almost couldn't stand it.

I didn't realize this book was set to be a duology/trilogy (unsure) but I am so excited for the next book!! Here's hoping the author does NOT bring in a love triangle (please, Elizabeth Lim, I beg of you do not do that to us). I also just read that this book is a prequel to her book "Spin the Dawn" so I'm planning to start that one soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for my ARC!

SIX CRIMSON CRANES by Elizabeth Lim is a stunning fantasy novel inspired by both Asian and Western fairytales. Filled with magic, evil curses, and an array of mythical creatures and a cast of endearing characters, Lim weaves a lush and vivid tale of love, family, betrayal, and bravery. I absolutely loved this story and I am eagerly waiting for the sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rated 4.5 Stars

In the Kingdom of Kiata the king had six sons and the youngest and only daughter, Princess Shirori.
We follow Shirori who has magic that she tries to hide from her father. On the day of her ceremony to the Prince Takkan she has an accident that reveals her magic to her stepmother. This leads us on her journey from being the only princess in Kiata to a nobody. In the trials to find her brothers and journey back to Kiata she uncovers a dark plot against her Kingdom and father.

I absolutely devoured this book faster than any ARC I have received. The story was creative and intertwined with some Asian Mythology/Folklores but still holds as its own storyline. The story had even pacing and the writing was very good. The plot was interesting and there is a hinted plot twist but the story had so many directions it could have gone that I couldn't guess it. (view spoiler) I love the relationship between Shirori and her brothers. I wished there was a bit more dialogue and interaction with her brothers. There was enough information to get to know them and each of their relationships with each other but not enough to invest in her brothers.

I preordered the book even though I had an eARC to give you a hint of how much I loved this. Highly recommend this book for those that enjoy: fairytales, marriage arrangement tropes, family relationships, magic, dragons, cranes, curses, and quest.

Princess Shiori has a secret: she can use magic, something that her people believe is only used by demons and those who work with them. Shirori’s kept her secret for years, until the day Shiori and her stepmother Raikama each discover the other’s magical abilities. To ensure Shiori can never tell another person of her secret, Raikama turns Shiori’s six brothers into cranes and places a curse on Shiori: for every word she speaks, one of her brothers will die. Magically transported to a far corner of the empire, Shiori finds herself alone, unable to speak, and enchanted so that no one can recognize her as the princess. But every curse can be broken, and Shiroi won’t rest until she finds a way to break this one – even if she has to steal from a dragon to do so.

SIX CRIMSON CRANES is a wonderfully enchanting East Asian fairy tale retelling with a fierce heroine that will win your heart. Shiori may not be able to talk for most of the book, but that doesn’t make her an idle protagonist. She’s constantly working towards ending the curse, whether that’s scraping together a living as a maid at an inn or stealing magic roots from a dragon. She’s not perfect: she’s impatient and can get into trouble, but never in a way that makes you aggravated at the character. And Shiori never finds a task beneath her. If she has to scrub dishes or work with plants that burn her hands, she will. Whatever helps accomplish her goal.

The author does a wonderful job of balancing Shiori’s inability to speak out loud with the need to drive plot and character growth forward. The first person POV gives Shiori an internal monologue, and an enchanted paper bird can communicate with Shiori telepathically, giving her a way to talk through her problems with another character. But these workarounds never come at the expense of the tension that exists with the knowledge of what will happen if Shiori ever talks. It’s a testament to how well Lim crafted the story that every time I put SIX CRIMSON CRANES down, I found myself unwilling to speak, because my brain had internalized that speaking out loud was a danger. And it isn’t just words that can kill her brothers; uttering a single sound can trigger the curse as well. That makes some of Shiori’s ordeals extra fraught, as she can’t yell out a warning or shout in sudden shock.

I also really enjoyed the mysteries that help drive the story forward. Shiori eventually arrives at the keep of an allied warlord, one whose political situation is tied to that of Shiori’s family. So while Shiori is trying to find out why Raikama cursed her and how to break that curse, she’s also drawn into unraveling a plot within the keep itself, one that is connected to a larger plot in the empire.

Tying it all together is a slow burn romance in the background. It’s not the dominating thrust of the story, and it’s slightly predictable, but in a way that makes it all so satisfying when it comes together. You know what’s going to happen and you get to have a big ol’ cheesy grin when it finally does.

SIX CRIMSON CRANES is a worthy first half of a duology, and has absolutely hooked me for the sequel. Those who enjoy YA fantasy (or really fantasy at all) should give this a read without hesitation. My only small complaint is that I wish that more time was spent with Raikama to better explore her character and motivations, but the author still accomplishes a great deal in the small time spent with the character. SIX CRIMSON CRANES has a fantastic set-up for book two, and honestly it cannot get here soon enough.

This book opened my eyes in a way that I will be grateful for for years to come. It is gorgeously written and will trap you (and keep you up all night!) from the first word. This folklore style is such a breath of fresh air.