SO YOU JUST GONNA LEAVE ME LIKE?

:Cracks knuckles: Folks I just spent the last two chaptere crying because Lim decided to be like "Oh Lexie you think you're sooo clever knowing all the fairy tales involved? SUFFER"

Because fairy tales are honest to god misery machines I swear it.

What starts as a story about a spoiled, if likeable, princess learning that curiosity does skin the cat weaves itself into a tale of family, friendship, jealousy and love...making it indeed worthy of the Tales it takes inspiration from.

Dragon Rights however.

In some ways knowing the principle Tale this book pays homage to, I felt a little impatient to get to my favorite bits of that Tale. That's a problem of MY OWN and no reflection on Lim's writing. She deftly moves Shiori through the seasons, teaching her humility as well as her own patience. We linger longest in the North (Iro), but as the pieces come together that makes sense.

I wished for more Seryu, but it looks like my wish comes true in the next book. For this one we wrap up the Curse, as well as mysteries about Raikama and Shiori's own magic.

And of course I CRIED for a character who deserves their OWN book if we're being homest.

This book was a case of at the wrong place at the wrong time. I am in a major slump, and I had hoped that this book would help to get me out of it. In the beginning I was completely invested, but my attention waned quickly, which was in no way the book's fault. I am definitely going to give this a reread, and I know I will utterly love it.

Gah! Elizabeth Lim does it again. I loved this book and I can't wait for the next one.

Shiori and her six brothers have been cursed by her step-mother and sent far away from the kingdom. If Shiori says a single word it will hurt her brothers who are now Six Crimson Cranes. Shiori is on a search to find her brothers and try to get back home to tell her father what happened. As the months go by she finds herself working as a cook in a small village where she meets a man who is searching for her. When he helps her with enough money to move on from the small village she doesn't think she'll ever see him again. Throughout her journey she'll get back in touch with her brothers and the mysterious man who helped her one day.

This book is filled with adventure, betrayal, family, friendship, and a little bit of love. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good YA Fantasy. If you read Spin the Dawn and loved it like I did than you'll also love this one! I need book two now!

I was very intrigued as soon as I first heard the title of this book and saw the US cover, but it was the gorgeous and stunning UK cover which made this a highly anticipated release for me, and I flew through it in just a matter of hours.

When I picked this up today, I had a feeling I could finish it in a single sitting and I’m glad my expectation wasn’t misplaced. The writing is easy to follow while also being lush and vivid, especially the descriptions of locations and atmosphere making me want to teleport to that place, and the finger licking descriptions of food making me so hungry that I needed something to munch on while reading. The pacing is also pretty fast, which makes for an exciting read, but sometimes it also felt like we breezed through certain important plotlines or didn’t get enough time to process the monumental revelations. But the overall imagery that the author weaves through this fairytale kind of story is very vivid and memorable and it’ll remain in any reader’s head for a while. The magic for the most part is simple and uncomplicated but as the story goes on, we get to learn more about the lore of this world in bits and pieces, but this book still is more of a setup in that aspect and I fell we’ll get more of the magic, gods, dragons and demons in the sequel.

Shiori didn’t endear me immediately as a character. I used to love YA fantasy a lot but I’ve also grown older now and having ventured more into the adult fantasy genre, I’m feeling more and more unattached to younger protagonists. In this one too, Shiori is reckless and impulsive initially and I had to remind myself that she is young and just needed to grow and learn restraint. But she is also resilient and curious and while this does land her in trouble, she is also strong enough to handle the hardships and the ordeals she goes through just makes her more inclined to fight for herself and her family.

Her relationship with her six brothers is sweet and their bickering only makes you feel more close to them. Her best friend is an absolute delight and what she might lack in empathy, she makes up for with her wittiness and also just being there as Shiori when she really needs someone. And while I was glad that romance wasn’t necessarily a focus of this story, I thought the slow burn was beautifully written and it’s development truly fits the “fated ones” vibe of the story.

To conclude, this was such a fun and adventurous ride. I don’t know much about the original fairytale “The Six Swans”, so I couldn’t tell you how close this retelling follows the storytelling. But it’s a lovely amalgamation of western and eastern fairytales and folklore, which will mesmerize you with its stunning imagery and the endearing family bonds. And the reluctant arranged marriage trope is always fun to explore and I can’t wait to see where this story goes next.

Happy (slightly belated) publication day to this wonderful fairy tale of a book! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book for an unbiased review. I am so, so happy I got a chance to read this. It was such a wonderful fantasy narrative that constantly surprised me.

From the beginning, Shiori is established as this headstrong, amazing lead, and I loved her voice and conviction. Still, she isn’t without her flaws – she’s clearly a bit spoiled and selfish, and she doesn’t always think things through, but the development she has on her journey was so good. And her relationship with her brothers was so sweet and genuine, I loved every time they were on the page.

The pacing overall was just wonderful. The story was able to slow down and breathe at just the right moments, but there was always an undercurrent of tension with the knowledge of the task ahead for Shiori. And the way this adaptation subverted fairy tale tropes was absolutely amazing. For example, Shiori falling for Takkan, which hierarchy-wise would be marrying down instead of moving up as in a classic fairy tale progression, but it was really what her character needed. And of course, the best twist of all – how the stepmother, Raikama, truly loves Shiori, and their love and trust for each other saves the day. I admit I saw that coming from the beginning, but I was so excited for it throughout, that it just made the reading experience enjoyable rather than predictable.

I admit I’m a bit worried that there might be a love triangle next book after all the good stuff in this one because it seems so unnecessary, but it certainly seems to be building up to one with Seryu. But Seryu has been such a non-character other than to feed us information and be a plot device that I’m really not looking forward to it, even though I think the friendship dynamic has so much potential. Yet, the author is constantly subverting expectations, so I have my fingers crossed that everything is not what it seems with Seryu and Shiori quite yet.

Overall, the worldbuilding and storytelling was just amazing. The descriptions were so beautiful without being overwhelming, and I loved the magical feeling and the roles of the side characters and how the plot tied together. It is definitely a worthwhile fantasy read, and I’m looking forward to the sequel and checking out some more of the author’s earlier work.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Rep: East Asian (Chinese) Coded-Characters, based on the Wild Swans story and other legends and folklore, the main character is unable to speak for the majority of the book

TW: murder, death, violence, references to parental death

I am going to preface this by saying I was not a fan of Spin the Dawn , and this is only relevant because, if you felt like that book wasn’t for you I wouldn’t write off reading Six Crimson Cranes . I feel like where Spin the Dawn was younger YA, Six Crimson Cranes has a more mature voice and messaging, while still being very appropriate and meant for the YA audience. You can see the author’s writing growth as well, which is fun to see as a reader.

In this story, we follow the young Princess Shiori, who is known for her mischievous nature, kind heart, and adventurous spirit. With the opening chapter, Lim entices us with a scene showcasing Shiori in a dire situation involving a dragon. Initially, Shiori is both like and unlike many princesses you have read about before, however, when she happens upon information she wasn’t meant to be privy to, her world is changed and her beliefs shall be challenged. Whisked away from the comforts she has known her whole life, she has to grapple with her new existence and overcome a shocking betrayal.

This is a story about love, especially the bonds of family, the sting of deception, the importance of perspective, and the ability to keep having hopes and dreams. I didn’t know this story would steal my heart the way it did, or that Shiori, while reckless and naive, at times, would showcase such perseverance. I appreciated that romance felt more like a subplot in this story, and instead the focus was on familial dynamics, in particular those between Shiori and her brothers, as well as with her Mother and Step-Mother. Nothing in this story felt forced, each moment and symbol included felt purposeful. Therefore I didn't have to wade through unnecessary miscommunication or conflict just for the sake of drama, each action was propelling the plot forward. While I would consider this a character-driven story, the character development didn’t impede the plot's ability to progress. It felt like a very balanced story, in that regard.

There are also shape-shifting dragons, who are mysterious and have a magical underwater realm. I would very much like to see and learn more about this realm. Also, I didn’t think I would become so attached to a paper bird, and yet, here we are. Kiki was our small, comedic relief character, who also served as a wise voice of reason.

Bonus, the passage of time and overall pacing of this novel was fantastic. This story wasn’t rushed in an unrealistic two week timeline, oh no, instead we get to see time pass and how it creates urgency and exacerbates consequences. Typically, the relatively short timeline is one of my biggest irks in fantasy novels. It was refreshing to see something so wildly realistic and reasonable to this plot, in a world full of surrealism.

I am very excited for the sequel to this book, because there is still much to be explored and uncovered. For those curious, I wouldn’t say this ends on a cliffhanger. Like any well-written story, you’re going to want to see what happens next, but I felt like it ended at a natural division point.

I am screaming incoherently. This is a gorgeous gorgeous fairytale full a woman so strong, mischievous , and full of fire. There is a snarky origami bird sidekick, and strange dragon, and her betrothed who doesn’t know she is who she is.

It’s such a thrilling fun time!!! I was hooked from start to finish and that ending!!? If you have read her first duology you are in for a treat!!!

I also loved how this reconstructed the evil step mother trope! Such a cool concept and I can’t wait for the sequel!

Shiori, the beloved and only princess of Kiata holds a secret, she carries magic within her. Magic that was banished from Kiata along with the demons that used to roam free. Shiori has been very good about hiding her powers, but on the day that was supposed to be her betrothal ceremony, she loses the control she's had upon her powers. It may still have not been such a big ordeal, except Shiori's stepmother, Raikama, caught her.

Shiori quickly learns Raikama has dark magic of her own, but before she can do anything about it, Raikama banishes Shiori from Kiata and curses her brothers to turn into cranes. And for every word that Shiori speaks one of her brothers will die.

Alone and unable to tell anyone who she is, Shiori searches for her brothers, and along the way learns that with the now-missing princes and princess, Kiata - and her father - are in a dangerous situation. A situation that may cause Shiori to rely on the last person she would ever think to turn to.

I was not really familiar with the folktale in which this story is based upon, so reading Elizabeth Lim's author's note in the beginning was very interested and good to give things a context, but overall I was just happy to let Elizabeth Lim take me on a journey.

And I loved the journey.

It's a little easy, at first, to see Shiori's side of things. Seeing how she's been the beloved only daughter of the emperor, she's wanted for nothing her entire life. Now, when faced with a betrothal she doesn't want, she wants to rebel. But before any of that can happen, she's banished and all the privilege she's grown up with is taken from her. She has to learn to make her own way. And because she loves her family, her brothers, so much, she will not stop fighting to end the curse.

It was such a joy really to see Shiori go from this girl who was not unkind, but definitely needed to mature a bit, into this young woman who, by losing her voice, ends up finding it. Pretty much everything about the story supports Shiori's eventual and overall growth including her interactions with her wouldbe betrothed Takkan.

There were a few places where the story was close to dragging a bit and I think that's because this book is still setting up things that are to come in the next book. So there has to at least be a little bit of development to lend itself nicely into the next stage of Shiori's journey.

I will say that I loved the moments when Elizabeth Lim bucked more traditional conventions of fairy-tales. I'd say more but I want to avoid spoilers. Suffice it to say, I'm sure everyone can think of certain fairy-tale tropes - there's a big one in particular here - and Elizabeth Lim turns the tables a bit on it. I'm not sure if this is part of the actual traditional tale or if it's her own spin on things, but there are hints throughout that all is not entirely as Shiori sees or remembers and I think, also part of her growth story, it plays well into everything else.

Overall, I was really pulled into this story from the start. While this book definitely ends on leading readers into what comes next for Shiori it was a satisfying ending on it's own. I'm highly anticipating where Shiori goes from here.

This book started off with a bang and I was enthralled from page one! It was very fast-paced which made it hard to put down. I read this in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed every last bit of it.

A reimagination of The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen, Six Crimson Cranes had similar elements to the original tale. Elizabeth Lim made the book entirely her own creation by adding in Chinese and Japanese legends such as Legend of the White Snake, the story of ChangE the Moon Goddess, and Girl with the Black Bowl.

Cursed by their stepmother after Shiori discovered a devastating secret, the six princes and their only sister were separated. The princes were turned into cranes with crimson crowns while Shiori is forced to . One word spoken, one brother’s life will be taken. Though separated, Shiori reminisced the good times with her brothers often. Each of the princes is unique in their own ways. The sibling relationship was really sweet.

Shiori met Seryu, a dragon and the Prince of the Easterly Seas, as she drowned while trying to save her magical paper crane brought her new meaning towards the forbidden magic that she possessed. Nobody can know that Shiori has magic flowing in her. For readers who have read Spin the Dawn, you’ll absolutely love the connections since this is a prequel of that duology. The magic system is similar to that of Elizabeth Lim’s debut.

Her arranged marriage into the north where the cold lingers has caused Shiori to detest the pairing with the third lord of the barbarian north. During her journey while cursed, she encounters a kind and compassionate young man who turned out to be her betrothed. She realized that he wasn’t so bad after all. Takkan is the sweetest and softest love interest. Honestly, the things that he did for Shiori despite knowing how she felt about the betrothal were incredibly heartwarming.

I don’t know if this would become a love triangle, which isn’t a favorite trope of mine, but for now, Takkan is a more fleshed-out character as compared to Seryu who was gone for most of the book.

As the only princess of Kiata, Shiori has been pampered and spoiled by the people around her. However, her naivety changes into resilience and determination as she experienced hardships and injustices as a “mute” and as a bowl-wearer. Without being able to defend herself or communicate verbally, there were several instances whereby Shiori had to keep her anger in check. Propelled by her love for her six brothers, Shiori keeps her mouth shut while overcoming the obstacles thrown her way.

Elizabeth Lim kept me guessing until the very last word, and I truly mean the last word. That twist at the end got me all riled up. I never expected the author to do that and I’m excited for what might come in book two. Elizabeth Lim’s beautiful, lyrical prose added another layer of magic to an already magical setting. I loved the incorporation of Asian mythologies and legends.

If you’re looking for lovely sibling relationships, a sweet love interest, mysterious dragons, dangerous curses, and a princess who would do anything to undo the spell, you’ll need to read Six Crimson Cranes.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim enchants readers right from the start. With exciting twists and turns at every chapter, the novel will keep you turning pages until you've reached the end. The relationships that Lim was able to develop were realistic and relatable, with familial bonds strengthening throughout. I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers who are wanting to read something unlike any other.

Six Crimson Cranes follows Shiori’anma (shortened to Shiori), the only princess of Kiata, and her six brothers. Shiori is betrothed to a lord’s son - someone who she never wanted to marry. She has bigger dreams and wants control of her own life, her own destiny, and to keep her secret. See, Kiata is a land eradicated of magic, except that is untrue. Shiori has magic. She has brought a paper crane to life, whose name is Kiki, and who has become her closest friend. But Shiori is not the only one with magic. Her stepmother, Raikama, also has magic.

Shiori makes the mistake of catching her stepmother’s eye, and Shiori threatens to reveal Raikama’s magic to the emperor. Raikama punishes Shiori by banishing her across the continent and turning her brothers into six cranes. Shiori has nothing, except for Kiki and a bowl on her head preventing her from being recognized. Additionally, she cannot utter a sound or one of her brothers will die - one for every word she speaks or every noise she makes.

Shiori is determined to find her brothers, break her stepmother’s spell and return to her rightful place as the princess of Kiata, but that sounds easier said than done. She does not know how to begin, how to break the curse, and where to find her brothers. Through her adventures, she also uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne, which spurs her on to break her curse even quicker. Shiori must learn to not only trust herself and her magic, but embrace wisdom from her magical paper crane, a dragon who may or may not be a friend, and the boy she fought hard to not marry. Only then can she save her kingdom.

How can you go wrong when you meet a dragon on page one? Six Crimson Cranes is another captivating tale from one of my favorite authors! Elizabeth Lim is such a masterful storyteller that weaves beautiful detailing into each of her stories, you immediately are swept away into her fantasy worlds. Her writing style is extremely reminiscent of classic fairytales, with whimsical qualities that do not get bogged down in explaining away the magic of the world she creates.

Our main character, Shiori, is a fierce protagonist that grows from a pampered princess with very little practical skills, to a determined woman willing to risk everything to save her kingdom. Throughout the book she has a hard time staying out of trouble, but it only continues to shape her resilience. She is extremely resourceful and able to figure things out on her own, making her an admirable heroine.

Complex relationships are a recurring theme throughout Six Crimson Cranes. While Shiori respects her father and her brothers immensely, she does not want to marry her betrothed and her actions are borderline defiant. Shiori also lost her mother when she was young, and she misses her fiercely - leading to a complicated relationship with her stepmother. While their relationship was once loving, it evolves to a less healthy one the more Shiori’s magic bubbles to the surface. Throughout the book, Shiori grapples with a love/hate relationship with Raikama. Shiori also struggles to reconcile her relationship with her betrothed. While it is easy to hate someone from afar it is not so easy once you know them.

While it is not required to read her previous duology, The Blood of Stars (which contains Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk), Six Crimson Cranes is set in the same world. However, Six Crimson Cranes takes place on a separate landmass and several centuries before The Blood of Stars duology. Even though they are separate in location and timeframe, some familiar characters appear in Six Crimson Cranes which makes for fun easter eggs for the reader to engage with while reading.

Six Crimson Cranes is a must-read for those who loved The Blood of Stars series. There are a lot of similarities in not only storytelling but in character personalities, romance, and overall aesthetic. It is absolutely delightful continuation of Elizabeth’s world.

Six Crimson Cranes is a retelling of The Wild Swans that incorporates other legends such as Chang E the Moon Goddess and Madame White Snake. It reads as magical as a fairy tale with a headstrong princess, a kingdom in peril, and the deceptions of a stepmother. Lim's descriptive prose from the rendering of lush landscapes to the decadent food immediately transported me to Kiata. I've always appreciated this nearly dreamlike quality that accompanies Lim's novels that make them so enchanting. Familiarity with the stories does not take away from enjoying the book. Lim creatively weaves them effortlessly into each other. It was fun identifying details from the various stories as well as trying to figure out how different parts would play out. Six Crimson Crane has already become my favorite of Lim's novels.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim blew me away! This is not the 1st retelling of The Wild Swans I've read so I had a general idea of what I expected to happen but Lim completely surprised me!

The story is rich with Asian culture and folklore and peppered with references to the Blood of Stars duology. Lim tackled the issue of building relationships and developing characters when the main character can't speak (or properly be seen) for a majority of the book so well! Takkan and Megari quickly become very endearing characters and I'm now very eager to try a persimmon. I can't wait to read more about Seryu and the whole dragon kingdom and finally penetrate the veil of mystery surrounding them.

Shiori's growth as a person on her journey to save her brothers is delightful to experience. She learns some hard truths along the way and takes them in stride with the help of cheeky friend Kiki.

I was more than a little shocked by the twisty ending that was simultaneously utterly heartbreaking. I am so excited for where the next book is going!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

Six Crimson Cranes is a beautifully told tale about family, love and magic. Elizabeth Lim has outdone herself again with this gorgeous fairytale-esque fantasy that grips you until the end. Shiori was such a strong female protagonist and I absolutely adored her strength, her loyalty and her determined nature to stay true to who she was. I loved the vivid descriptions of everything from the clothes, the settings, the food and the animals and the dragon. Lim's writing makes you feel like you're inside the book and living in Shiori's world. I loved that their was a dragon and of course Six Crimson Cranes. I absolutely loved this magical story and I am so eager to see what happens next in book two!

From the moment I saw the cover of "Six Crimson Cranes," I knew I needed to read it. I had absolutely no clue what it was about but was captivated by the gorgeous cover. And, I'm so happy that I read it! If you like fantasy stories and fairy tales with magic, dragons, and strong female protagonists as well as strong family dynamics then this is the book for you. Why do I have to wait for the second book?!

"Six Crimson Cranes" is a fairy-tale-like fantasy story that follows Princess Shiori of Kiata who, after discovering that she has magic, which is forbidden in her kingdom, is cursed and banished by her stepmother, the Nameless Queen, known only as Raikama. The queen's curse also extended to her six brothers, who were transformed into cranes. Now magicless and alone, Princess Shiori cannot utter a single sound, for, if she does, one of her brothers will die. Thus, Princess Shiori journeys to lift her curse and her brothers' and save her kingdom.

While the beginning of the story was a little bit slow, the lyrical and fairy-tale-esque writing style made me continue reading and want to learn more about Shiori and her family. This story presents elements of different fairy tales like "Cinderella" and "The Little Mermaid." It also reminded me of the film "The Swan Princess."

The plot was interesting, and I loved reading about Shiori and how resourceful and clever she was. Kiki was also a highlight of the book, particularly how she served a little bit as Shiori's sassy conscience. In terms of the romance, it was so sweet, and I really enjoyed reading how they fell for each other. However, my favorite part was the family dynamics throughout the book in all their forms: Shiori and her stepmother, Shiori and her brothers, Shiori's brothers among each other, and Takkan and Megari.

The book also features discussions about prejudice (how we make assumptions about people), the importance of family, and discovering new strengths and virtues, which could be useful to integrate into an English class.

I'm looking forward to Book #2 and reading more from this author! "Six Crimson Cranes" came out today, Tuesday, July 6, 2021!

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim 4 stars

Princess Shiori is the only princess of the Kiata and with six brothers that spoil her she's a bit of a brat at the beginning of the book. She is betrothed to a northern prince and at the ceremony she insults the entire delegation by diving into a lake. She is hiding the fact that she can do magic by animating paper cranes. Unfortunately for her, she attracts the attention of her stepmother, Raikama. She discovers something about her stepmother and in order to silence her, Raikama changes all the princes into cranes and exiles Shiori from the palace. She is told that for every word she speaks, one of her brothers will die. Can she break the curse on her brothers and free herself and her land from her stepmothers machinations? You have to read the book to find out.

I read the other two books set in this world, The Blood of the Stars duology and was impressed. This book was an enjoyable read and I can't say enough about the fabulous cover. Shiori starts out a spoiled brat and progresses into a heroine you can root for. I loved the way that Ms. Lim wove several folktales and gave it an Asian twist that is more than a retelling of old stories. There has to be another book with these characters because the author left it with a cliff hanger.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's for this ARC.

I loved Elizabeth Lim’s Spin the Dawn and enjoyed its sequel, Unravel the Dusk, so I was excited to see what she’d come up with next. Six Crimson Cranes exceeded my expectations. It’s my favorite of her books to date.

Six Crimson Cranes has a Shannon Hale-esque feel to it with fairy tale, characters and settings all sharing the spotlight. Shiori is the central character — strong, smart and loyal. I particularly enjoyed her growth after she loses her ability to speak. Equally important, though, are her six brothers, the dragon, and the people who take her in when all seems lost.

The story unfolds throughout the kingdom of Kiata, and because of that, readers are transported to several different climates and landscapes. You quickly find yourself in places that are weighted in reality but have a little something else, too.

There’s a charm to Six Crimson Cranes that wasn’t present in Lim’s Blood of Stars duology. Perhaps this came from writing two books in the Disney universe — Reflection: A Twisted Tale and So This is Love: A Twisted Tale. Or perhaps it’s just natural progression. Either way, it makes for immersive text and engaging plot. I can’t wait for the next book in this duology.

I absolutely loved this book! This story begins with an arranged marriage, and unscaled power. I adored the theme of undying love between family, and the willingness to do anything for each other. If you like magic, dragons, talking paper cranes and more, this is the book for you!

“We all have our secrets. One day, Shiori, you’ll have your own.”
ARC provided by the publisher Knopf Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An enchanting story of an exiled princess and her six brothers cursed by their step mother after they discover her true identity. Princess Shiori is Kiata’s only last hope to unraveling the wicked conspiracies that threatens the throne all the while silenced and her identity hidden.

First and foremost I would like to thank TBR and Beyond Tours for choosing me as one of the many amazing book bloggers for Six Crimson Cranes tour from July 5th to July 11th. Thank you as well to the author and publisher Knopf Books for providing an ARC (Advance Readers Copy) as part of this blog tour.

“But not all poison is bad. Sometimes it’s a medicine in disguise.”

Towards the end of 2020 there were many announcements of new books releasing in 2021, one of those books that caught my eye with a STUNNING cover is Elizabeth Lim’s first book to a new series, Six Crimson Cranes. Following up Lim’s success with The Blood of the Stars duology, Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk, she is back drawing inspiration from a classic fairytale story The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen and East Asian folklore. I have never read a book by Elizabeth Lim so this will be my first ever experience reading a book by Lim. Going into this book I went in completely blank and throughout reading the book I had zero expectations. I surrendered myself fully to Elizabeth Lim’s writing and story telling.

Before I dive deeper into my review I want to put a spotlight to both the UK version and the US version of the book. The US version is done by award winning Vietnamese-American illustrator Tran Nguyen, the same cover artist that made the covers for Elizabeth Lim’s The Blood of the Stars duology. Cover design is done by Alison Impey and lettering by Alix Northrup. OH MY GOD! It is so stunning and it is done with acrylic and colored pencil, you can see the strokes in every inch of the illustration. To check out more of Tran Nguyen’s art visit her website here. For the UK version I can’t seem to find info on it but it is as equally as stunning as the US version. The UK covers for Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk is also has the same design as the covers of Six Crimson Cranes so all three books will look so good on your shelf.

“One day you won’t say that. One day, you’ll despise me.”

Six Crimson Cranes is an enchanting story that takes place in Kiata, Kingdom of the Nine Eternal Courts and the Holy Mountains of Fortitude. In the story we follow Princess Shiori’anma, the youngest child and only daughter of Emperor Hanriyu. Princess Shiori is no ordinary princess, she has a secret that will doom her life to exile. That secret is magic. Magic is deemed non existent and evil in Kiata. Because of this Shiori tries her best in hiding this secret from her family, especially her father the Emperor. Since she was a child, Princess Shiori is betrothed to the son of a third ranking warlord. Adamant about her future of being married to a stranger Shiori lives her life in the castle to her fullest by eating good food and sometimes skipping her lessons. Even though Shiori’s life turned out to be more lonely with her six older brothers : Andahai, Benkai, Reiji, Yotan, Wandei, and Hasho; becoming more occupied with their duties, Shiori finds company in an enchanted paper crane she made. On the day of Shiori’s betrothal ceremony Shiori lost control of her magic causing a bit of trouble that could possibly expose her magic. Divided between her father’s ire by abandoning her betrothal ceremony and being exiled because of magic, she chose the former. These series of events caught the attention of her stepmother Raikama. Which lead to Raikama cursing her brothers by turning them into cranes and Shiori being cursed to silence for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die. Voiceless, alone, and stripped of her privileges as a princess, Shiori goes on a journey to find her brothers and figure out a way to lift the curse that fell upon her and her siblings. During her journey Shiori uncovers a sinister and deceitful plan to overtake the throne. The only hope for Kiata is Shiori and her brothers with the help of the boy she’s suppose to marry and been avoiding all her life.

My stepmother had broken me. She’d cast me away from my brothers, my family, my home. Even from myself.

Lim’s writing is magnificently enchanting and carries a melancholic beat to it. It is riveting, precise, and simple. I adored every single page I read and I liked that I didn’t need to overthink anything going into the story. From the first page I can easily slip into the world and conjure an image of the world. Me and my friend Sasha both agree that Six Crimson Cranes is a type of book that grows on you the more you read. Lim skillfully structured the plot and delivered the simple premise so well that I didn’t even think about it until after I finished the book. Maybe this is one of those instances where I completely lost myself. I kid you not I finished 70% of the book in a day and that says a lot for me as a slow reader. What I love about Six Crimson Cranes is how Elizabeth Lim designed the story, she took a western fairy tale story, The Wild Swans, weaving in East Asian folklore, myths, and legends into it. Some of the stories that became inspiration for the book are : folklore about the Chinese dragon, Madame White Snake (about a snake spirit who turns into a human), the myth of Chang E the Moon Goddess, the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (about a radiant girl who discovers her true heritage), and the Girl with the Black Bowl. The stories that is weaved by Lim enriches the whole story giving it a fresh new take that serves to give readers, especially readers of East Asian descent, more representation in books.

But I knew it wasn’t enough for just my skin or my voice to be strong. All of me had to be, if I wanted to break our curse. My heart, especially.

The world building in Six Crimson Cranes is straightforward, fairy tale like, and carries a nuanced atmosphere in the changing seasons throughout Shiori’s journey. In the story it starts of in the middle of summer which progressed to autumn then by the end of the story to the last remnants of winter heading towards spring. It also helps that the seasons can give readers a time window of how long Shiori’s journey is. The harsher Shiori’s journey got the more cold the season is, it is as though the season reflects Shiori’s own emotions. Each scene is well intentioned and carries a cinematic flare that I’m itching to see an adaptation of. Each setting of the story left an impression but none can beat the Rabbit Mountain, a mountain with peaks resembling rabbit ears when covered in snow near Castle Bushi’an. I keep imagining the place where the rabbits are similar to the back mountain of the Cloud Recesses in Mo Dao Zu Shi by MXTX. The magic in the book is straight forward as well, it is some sort of spoken evocation magic. Where words can imbue enchantments on things or make people act a certain way. It isn’t overly complicated anyone can definitely grasp it. Though I hope we can see more of the magic in the sequel because it didn’t leave a strong impression on me.

“If fate is a bunch of strings, then I’ll carry scissors,” … “My choices are my own. I’ll make them as I please.” Easy for a princess to say, but I was a princess no longer.

Let’s discuss the characters and relationships in Six Crimson Cranes. The strongest point of Six Crimson Cranes is the characters, the thing that got me to keep reading is seeing the development of the characters and how their relationships intertwine. Personally I am genuinely impressed by Lim’s ability in creating lovable characters with very well fleshed out personalities. Spear heading the story is our lead and main protagonist Princess Shiori’anma. The story is told mainly from her perspective. Shiori’s character during the start of the story didn’t leave an impression on me. She is a sheltered, spoiled, and sometimes careless princess. Being the only daughter, youngest child, and the Emperor’s most favored, she has always done things her way. Though Shiori is charming, brave and true to herself, she lies a lot to the point that she gains the title Princess of Liars. I understand that all these traits isn’t the most ideal but it gives room for character development. Shiori is stripped of her privileges as a princess after she is exiled and cursed. Pushing her to grow up and fend for herself with nothing, not even her voice. I love it when characters are pushed to their limits because their development will a thousand times more satisfying (yes, I like seeing characters suffer). Shiori’s overall development came to a full circle, with each incident or predicament she grows to be a stronger character which by the end of the book she becomes a different Shiori.

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

The other supporting characters in Six Crimson Cranes are also well written, believable, and has a strong presence. The six princes plays an influential part in the plot of the story, as the book is titled Six Crimson Cranes. Though most of their development are done off page it contributed to the plot though not as significant as Shiori’s. For me only three of the six brothers stood out to me and they are Andahai, Benkai, and Hasho. They are probably the brothers that have the most presence of all. Andahai and Benkai are the two eldest brothers they are the grown ups of the bunch, with Andahai taking role as the leader which could be said is a birthright role for him being first born. Benkai is much softer, compassionate, and loving towards his siblings. Hasho is the closest to Shiori, he has a stronger bond with her having a closer age gap and being the brother that will always have Shiori’s back no matter what. Deep down I’m a bit sad Lim didn’t show more sibling interaction in the story but I still adore the times when the brothers pop up.

“The rabbits have told me that past the light you shine, your eyes are dark with sorrow. I have no gold, and I have no kingdom, but I would give this comb to hold up your hair so that I may see your eyes and light them with joy.”

Next let’s talk about the dragon and the betrothed. The dragon, Seryu, is another character that will play a huge part in the future books as hinted in this first book. Seryu is entertaining, boastful, proud, and confident especially in front of Shiori. Though his scenes were relatively minimal he manages to leave an impression. There is one scene when Shiori reunites with Seryu and for some reason Seryu was acting “funny” *wink wink*. The interaction is just so cute! I had a good chuckle out of it. Lastly, Takkan the betrothed. Takkan will have to be my favorite character in the story. Something about his loyalty, humility, and overall heart melting devotion is truly remarkable. His personality and gestures isn’t out of this world, Takkan is actually very believable! I am thoroughly impressed by Takkan’s characterization. There is no other leading man that can fit the mold for Shiori. Ugh and the yearning between Takkan and Shiori! Such small scenes that left me breathless.

All I wanted was for this night to last forever. To find that our strands had been crossed and knotted all along. Ironic, wasn’t it, that I—a girl who always wanted to make her own choices—now wished for nothing more than to surrender to fate? I chuckled quietly at myself.

Final thoughts, Six Crimson Cranes is a well written story with a staggering amount of impactful and lovable characters that will surely pull you in the more you read the book. Everything from the plot, premise, and overall structure is executed beautifully by Elizabeth Lim. Lim’s writing has an addicting qua lity to it in it’s simplicity and clearness in her storytelling that is captivating that left a huge impression on me. Rest assured the ending is satisfying and didn’t leave me crippled with a cliff hanger. Overall the Six Crimson Cranes is a fun read and a well done first book to a duology. Hopefully the sequel will live up to it’s predecessor. I highly recommend this book for readers who are looking for something light and immersive please do pick up this book! By the time this review is up the book will be officially released so get your hands on a copy right now!

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.