Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

9780593300916

464 Pages
Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
Release Date: July 6, 2021

Fiction, Teen & Young Adult, Mythology

Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, is spoiled and used to having her father give in to her. That comes to an end when she misses her engagement party. She had used her magic to bring a paper origami bird to life. Unfortunately, the bird flew toward the lake and Shiori'anma followed the bird into the water to save her. She feels like she is drowning until a dragon comes to her rescue. When she tells her family she saw a dragon, her brothers dismiss the incident as a vivid imagination, but her stepmother is skeptical.

She and her six brothers are cursed by their stepmother. The brothers are turned into cranes and Shiori'anma has a bowl stuck on her head so no one will recognize her. She travels around looking for her brothers and hopes they can work together to break the curse.

This book reminds me of the Six Swans, a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The story is well written and is easy to read. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys fairy tales.

I really enjoyed this book, and never thought I would be so worried about cranes. It is a fairytale with a curse, a family that truly cares for one another, and the arranged marriage trope. All are a good time and make for a grand adventure.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim is an amazing book. The representation was amazing, and the character writing was phenomenal. My favorite character is, Shiori, and I loved her character development, and how she actually acted like a teen.

Thank you for an ARC!!

In this sweeping adventure, Lim draws on elements from many stories and traditions to weave something wholly new and enthralling. It's a clever mix of comfortingly anticpated genre tropes and delightfully unforeseen twists and turns. You can expect an enchanting, mischievous princess, a powerful, mystical stepmother, magic paper cranes, dragons, and six brothers cursed to change forms in daylight. It has the lyrical, mythical tone of a fairy tale that you only find in the most excellent retellings.

Shiori makes a loveable protagonist that is easy to cheer for in all her impish curiosity, impulsive exploration, and love of food. Best of all, we get to see some well-paced character growth and self-discovery as she fights to break the curse holding she and her brothers. During her adventures, readers experience many stressful situations but with satisfying results. The story balances with acrobatic precision family and romantic love, magic and mystery, curses and trials, foes both internal and external, and multiple strands of lore on a vast siren call of a map.

All in all, this is easily one of the best ya fantasy reads I've picked up this year and on a general list not limited by time. It has all the joys of the genre without falling into any of the traps. It's an exquisite piece of high fantasy, a fulfilling fairy tale retelling, and a spellbinding cast and plot irrespective of genre. For fans of Lim's Spin the Dawn duology, look forward to some fun easter eggs and full tie-ins that I didn't know to exepct. Plus, the last sentence of the book is one, brutal word that has me screaming for book two.

Thank you to Knopf Teen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book, out this week on 7/6.

Honestly I loved this book it was amazing and I didn’t see the plot twists coming.

Shiori was mute most of the time which I thought would be annoying or a problem for the narrative but the author found creative ways to still convey words out loud. Shiori while annoying at times also became a great and strong character and I loved her. Also I really want my own Kiki where do I get one?

Also the love and bond between the siblings was absolutely adorable and I want so much more interactions between them as humans. Their dynamic was honestly the best.

Btw can we talk about Takkan? I love him he was so well written and such a sweetheart I fell for him along with Shiori. I applaud how well done he was. At one point I actually had to sit there and think wow he’s too amazing. Btw his sister is so cute I need more interaction between talking shiori and megari!

I love the world this was set in as well, both real and magical at the same time I could see that it drew upon East Asian culture and was well blended. The world holds so many different possibilities in it I need more!!

I think it does drag on a bit long but it was totally worth the read despite that and even then it was barely dragging. I’m just impatient honestly. I got this as a netgalley book but I definitely want to buy the physical copy of it!

What would you do if you, a princess, discovered your stepmother was secretly a sorceress? Upon your discovery, she curses you and your six brothers, turning them into cranes by day and cursing you to exile from your kingdom with a bowl permanently attached to your head and for every word you speak, one of your brothers will perish.

Shiori must now search for her brothers and try to break the curse on them and herself without the ability to utter a sound. She sets out on an epic quest to free them all from her stepmothers curse and save her kingdom. Her only real companion is a magical origami swan and occasionally, a dragon.

This book is an amazing Asian inspired reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans”. I have always loved Hans Christian Andersen since discovering the origins of The Little Mermaid as a child. This reimagining surpassed my expectations and is probably one of my favorite reads so far this year. The plot was captivating from the start. It’s a beautiful rich fantasy that really comes to life through the vivid descriptions of the world. There’s a slow build romance in this one that isn’t the main focus of the storyline and I enjoyed that aspect. All the characters were fully fledged out and I loved Kiki the paper swan so much!

Before picking up Sic Crimson Cranes, I had heard of Elizabeth Lim but had never read one of her books before. I have been hearing about Six Crimson Cranes for a while because it is really hyped up within the book community so I never expected to be approved but I am so thankful. Saying I really enjoyed this book is the understatement of the year.

First of all, the cover (and also the map) is absolutely stunning and is probably what so many people gravitate toward initially aside from the author, but that's not even close to the best part. Elizabeth Lim does a phenomenal job with the world-building in Six Crimson Cranes and her ability to have Asian culture woven in is my favorite part. As a reader, you get transported to this magical world filled with familial bonds, self-discovery, animals, and so much more.

The plot itself was so captivating and grabbed my attention from the very first page. Six Crimson Cranes is essentially a reimagining of Asian folklore, specifically, "The Wild Swans" by Hans Christian Andersen. Although I don't have any previous knowledge of "The Wild Swans" it seems like all of the important elements are included in Six Crimson Cranes and Elizabeth Lim successfully incorporated its essence. There was a great balance of action, lore, magic, and relationships between characters.

My favorite characters by far were Kiki and Megari. Kiki is essentially a paper crane brought to life and I enjoyed everything she offered to the overall story. The idea of being able to create your best companion out of paper is adorable and hopeful. Megari was just so precious and I think she added great comic relief and a sort of sweetness to the story that was needed in between some of the more intense action and emotions being felt. Shiori is a really unique protagonist to read about and I truly enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes.

An interesting aspect of the plotline to me was the fact that romance was not very prevalent. I'm not sure what made me assume this book would have a good amount of romance in it but I was wrong. Don't get me wrong though, there are still moments of romance throughout the book but it definitely takes a backseat to the plot and lore. Typically the romance is my favorite element of a book and I tend to avoid those without it but I'm glad I picked up Six Crimson Cranes.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Six Crimson Cranes. The basis of my enjoyment stems from Elizabeth Lim's brilliant writing and world-building. I can truly say that I understand the hype now and I plan on reading more from her, hopefully including the inevitable sequel. This is a book that I will definitely be recommending to many people.

Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for sending me an ARC for an honest review.
5/5 stars
I was so excited to read this one, and Elizabeth Lim did not disappoint! Six Crimson Cranes was a rich fantasy that came to life through vivid descriptions of food and scenery along with interesting elements of magic and mythology that blend together to create a well-rounded setting for the story. Along with the worldbuilding, the characters were well fleshed out, and I enjoyed being in Shiori’s head. The writing flowed easily, and I was engaged the whole time. The pacing felt good for the story. Shiori’s journey takes a few months, but I felt like even when there weren’t any big and action-packed events happening, there was still progress being made for her journey in some way.
Shiori is a Princess, and she’s a bit of a troublemaker. When snooping about reveals secrets, Shiori is cursed and sent away from her home. As part of her curse, her six older brothers are turned into cranes. Shiori is unable to speak because for each word she utters, one of her brothers will die. This is quite the predicament, and Shiori was a character who persevered and grew over the course of her journey. I liked her relationship with Kiki, and I enjoyed the slow burning romance between Shiori and her betrothed. Taken was a great character, and I like how he balanced Shiori.
This book was exciting, intriguing, magical, and so much fun to read. I’d recommend it to readers looking for a new fantasy adventure with elements of mythology who enjoy a slow burn romance as well as strong characters.

I LOVED IT. This story gradually got me more and more hooked as the story progressed. By the middle of the book was so invested! Going into the book I had not realized it was a re-telling story of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Wild Swans.” Lim successfully took the concept of the story, but completely made it her own. Elizabeth Lim gave us such a fascinating story in a world of fairy-tale elements, adventure, love, friendship, sibling bonding, plot twist, and so much more! The story and world building was fantastic from start to finish. The character development also was great. I liked how how this story was centered around Shiori, her brothers, and the curse, but branched into so much more. You could always feel the love and care they have for each other coming off the pages.

Shiori is an incredible main character. I found her to be very entertaining and such a strong girl. She was so dedicated to the task no matter how much obstacles came in her way. I loved watching her march forward with no fears or what she would face. Shiroi grew a lot from when we first met her in the book.

The story ended so nicely for Book 1 and left me so excited for the sequel!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Six Crimson Cranes tells the story of the stubborn princess Shiori, whose choice to run away on the day she's meant to meet her betrothed earns her a run-in with a dragon. The dragon, Seryu, teaches Shiori to use the magic she has been keeping secret for fear of being thought a demon. But after Seryu leaves for the winter, Shiori discovers that her stepmother may be the magical being that everyone should be worrying about.

I can't say enough good things about this book! From the fairy-tale elements, to the brilliant adventure, to the sweet romance, every page kept me absolutely enthralled. Lim kept the perfect balance of playful fairy-tale and serious fantasy-adventure. I grew to really love Shiori and her paper crane, Kiki, and her brothers and Takkan found a special place in my heart by the end as well.

All in all, I adore this book, and I look forward to what Elizabeth Lim has in store next!

bestie it was so good!!! i'm such a fan of elizabeth lim, i used spin the dawn as the basis for a fantasy fiction seminar capstone project, she doesn't miss. a great extension of her world, a really compelling story and heroine that kept me on my toes, we love to see it.

3.5 or 4 stars

A huge thank you to NETGALLEY for providing me with an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The retelling aspect was done extremely well, and I was definitely invested in all of these characters. The relationship that the main character had with a certain mythical creature as well was so so fun to read about. All of the characters, in my opinion, were very well developed, and the end left me craving the sequel already. The relationship near the last half of the story is definitely one of my favorites ever. The entire plot of the story was done very well, and I was hooked in this story from the start.

For me, the pacing felt off during the middle of the story, and as we neared the ending of the story, some things weren’t explained as well as I thought they could have been. Finally, I felt as if in the start of this story, it was going in multiple different directions at once, which wasn’t my favorite, but I didn’t mind it.

I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoyed wicked fox or priory of the orange tree!

*4.5 stars

I had very high expectations for Six Crimson Cranes and those were all blown out of the water. Absolutely stunning read.

Six Crimson Cranes is a reimagining of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Wild Swans” that incorporates Chinese folklore. The book follows Shiori, the princess of Kiata, who hides the fact that she has forbidden magic. After losing control of her magic on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, she catches the attention of her stepmother, Raikama, who has dark magic of her own. Raikama banishes Shirori, turning her brothers into cranes, and warning Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die. Lost without her voice, Shiori searches for her brothers and along the way, discovers a new threat to the throne that only she can save the kingdom from. But to do so, she has to place her trust in her ex-betrothed and embrace the forbidden magic she tried so long to contain.

I found the plot of this book to be so intriguing. The premise of the book, from the curses to the dark magic to the magical creatures, is so fascinating. There were so many plot twists that I was never able to predict and shocked me every time. AND THE CLIFFHANGER OH MY GOD I had an entire crisis over the last line in that book. Sequel immediately please.

Shiori was a lovely main character to follow. She's courageous, curious, and strong-willed, and I just love her so much. I also loved the side characters, and it was super interesting to see their development. They definitely shocked me a bit.

I hate to make comparisons, but I found the romance in this book much more interesting than that in Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim. There's also not a...500 year age difference. The romance is a spin on the arranged marriage trope, and it's essentially a super slowburn strangers to friends to lovers. Takkan is the golden-hearted cinnamon bun boy of my dreams I love that man so much. I want to give him a hug HE'S JUST TOO GOOD. I kind of sense a love triangle coming in the sequel, but I'm going to pretend that possibly doesn't exist.

Above all, this book focuses on family. I loved seeing Shiori's bond with her brothers as well as her other family members. The story really emphasizes how deeply Shiori cares for her family and the lengths they would go for each other. It was also interesting to see the family dynamics of other families featured in the story.

As always, Elizabeth Lim's writing absolutely sucked me in from the first page. Her writing is so lyrical and absolutely beautiful. The worldbuilding was captivating, and the food descriptions definitely made me very hungry. I also need a moment to admire the cover. PLEASE it's so beautiful.

For those of you that are fans of Spin the Dawn, then you'll be happy to hear that Six Crimson Cranes is set in the same universe! There are some mentions of A'landi, as Kiata is a neighboring kingdom, and the magic system works pretty similarly.

My only critique is pacing. This is also something that I noticed with Spin the Dawn; the story starts out super fast-paced and I couldn't put the book down. Then, the pacing slows down until finally picking up for the last 25%. I was hooked in the beginning in the end, but I did lost interest a bit in the middle.

Go pick up this book when it comes out July 6! Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

tw: death, violence, slight gore

Elizabeth Lim continues to enchant in this beautifully written fairytale adaption of The Six Swans. Shiori is the princess of Kiata, and is able to perform magic, which was said to have disappeared from their kingdom. She is the youngest of seven, and has six older brothers. Her stepmother Raikama is mysterious, and when Shiori stumbles upon a secret of hers, her brothers are transformed and she must set out on a quest to save them.
I have read other versions of the original fairytale, and I was still surprised by this book. Six Crimson Cranes takes the original fairytale and beautifully integrates it into this new retelling. The descriptions are gorgeous, and Shiori is a likable and strong heroine. I enjoyed the interactions between Shiori, and her two possible love interests. Shiori had such great character growth over the course of this book, and the ending was really good and unexpected. The only thing I think that could be improved are the descriptions of her brothers, only a few were really described well to where I could differentiate them. I sped through this book, and am highly anticipating the sequel!

** Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review**

The cover art is what drew me in, the synopsis hooked me in and Elizabeth Lim's obvious love and passion for fairytales made me a fan!

If you love;
- Fairytale retellings
- Dragons
- 6 brothers and 1 sister who love one another so fiercely
- A twist to traditional tropes
- Fun fairytale tropes
- Heroine who, while scared and alone, pushes through life's trails to save her family
- A super cute beginning to a love interest.

Overall, I couldn't put this book down! Jump into this new novel with both feet

Elizabeth Lim's Six Crimson Cranes is everything you've ever needed in a fantasy novel inspired by East Asian folklore. Princesses, dragons, an evil stepmother- a classic fairytale with modern twists that promises this novel is just the beginning of a spellbinding magical fantasy series.

I've never been so quickly attached to a storyline as I was with this book. This culturally rich fairytale will captivate you so thoroughly that you'll have to remind yourself that you're actually not living in a world with such an enchanting magic system. Not only was I deeply invested in the Kingdom of Kiata and the story building, but I found myself fully engaged in every single relationship. Lim crafts familial bonds in a way that will make your heart ache and swell with happiness at the same time. The romance melds harmoniously with the plot and leaves the reader grappling after every single interaction they have. If I could bottle up the feeling of being a child and being fully immersed in fairytales, that nostalgia would lead me directly to this book. My childhood self adored this book. My adult self RAVES about it. Read it. Love it. Cry. Everything this book makes you feel is so worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Shiori, the only sister to all her brothers. A magical sister, and also princess of the kingdom of Kiata. Her magic, though beautiful, is also feared, concealed, forbidden. Concealed until it's mistakenly unleashed on the day she's betrothed to someone she doesn't want. The wedding is put on hold, but her future stepmother, the sinister Raikama, fixates her attention on Shiori from that moment on, and sees to it that Shiori is banished. Shiori, now fallen from grace, also loses her brothers, for Raikama has turned them into cranes, and sealed Shiori's lips with threat of their certain death. Shiori must gather her courage and her wits to find her brothers, learn more about her magic, discover the positive qualities in her betrothed, and save her kingdom from her snake of a stepmother.

How do you solve a problem if you can't tell anyone about it, least of all your parents? Shiori has to figure that out in this interesting, beautifully imagined story about a girl with magical gifts who is targeted because of them, and unseated from her birthright. She then learns more about herself and her kingdom, and also the person she was supposed to be betrothed to, and realizes that it's not just her who's at risk, it's her entire kingdom! I really enjoyed the dynamic between Shiori and her brothers, as well as how her views evolved about her betrothed. Her magic starts off as something rather unimpressive, but seeing it grow into a more respectable power was great. Shiori is one of the coolest youngest sisters you're bound to read about, and Six Crimson Cranes is her story. Recommended for readers who enjoy stories about family ties, girls saving kingdoms, budding magical powers, and giving others a second chance.

Ahhhh! I loved this book, I truly did. This is one of my favorite books in 2021 so far, and my top book for a new series. I was hooked by the first chapter. It was my first time reading anything by Elizabeth Lim and I'm really looking forward to Spin the Dawn now. Its light and magical and has beautiful emotional moments. I really enjoyed how the author wove in different fairytales into this, I recognized a couple from my own childhood.

Shiori is also an incredible character. I struggle with first person POVs because if you don't like the character's personality it can get pretty annoying but I didn't have this issue with Shiori. Her growth though out the book is really well done.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this! ^.^ I ended up pre-ordering from Books of Wonder half-way through my read haha.

I finished Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim a few days ago, and I am still in awe of this fantasy tale. The storytelling, world-building, and characters are all just exquisite and weave together to tell a story I did not want to stop reading, even when there were no more pages.

What I Loved

I already mentioned world-building, characters, and storytelling. What could be left to love? So, so much! The theme of family and the relationship between Shiori and her six brothers is heartwarming. It gives each of them an added dimension that enables the reader to instantly connect to them and empathize with their plight, even when the brothers are cranes and Shiori is trying to break the curse that has them all bound in one way or another. Shiori tells the story, so you get to know her brothers as intimately as only a sister can share them.
Dragons! Did I mention that there are dragons in this story? They have magical pearly hearts, can take human form, and live in an underwater city that is said to be so amazing it is beyond human imagination. I especially loved the mischief and cleverness that is the very essence of Seryu, Prince of the Easterly Seas and favored grandson of the Dragon King, Nazayun. I eagerly anticipated his appearance as the story developed and was never disappointed with his wit, wisdom, and playfulness.

I also enjoyed the Cinderella story threads that snuck in at various points. Lost slippers, a wicked stepmother, and a princess that is cursed to do menial labor by her stepmother all reminded me of Cinderella, but that is where the similarities stop. So do not think this is a Cinderella story because I made that mistake and found myself blindsided by the twists and turns in the book's last quarter. Twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and are the reason I ended the book, never wanting to leave this world.

I also loved how the love story played out and the lessons Shiori learned as she had to manage in a world with a bowl over her head that covered her face and not communicate by talking or explaining her situation to anyone until breaking the curse. The only thing that bothered me about the story is that bowl over Shiori" s head. The essential specifics were not explained to my complete understanding initially, so there were a few things about it that puzzled me, such as seeing through the bowl because no one could see her eyes, so the wooden bowl must have covered them, yet she could see everything.

To Read or Not to Read

This is the best fantasy I have read so far this year (and I have read some great stories), so YES! I think you should sit back and let this tale whisk you away to an imaginative world with genuine characters and elements that will take your breath away.

I absolutely judged this book by the cover (both US and UK), they’re both stunning but after reading the premise it became one of my anticipated releases. I love retellings and Elizabeth Lim has spun an enchanting fairytale that easily grips you with it’s simplistic writing and story.

Six Crimson Cranes follows Shiori, a princess with forbidden magic, who along with her six brothers are cursed by their step-mother, causing them to become cranes and preventing Shiori from speaking. And so starts her adventure as she sets off to break the curse.

My favourite aspect has to be the writing. Lim uses effortless and mesmerising prose throughout to create vivid settings and an engaging character traits. I was immersed into the chapters, moving through the pages quickly as the story moved forward and could clearly envision the landscapes, forests or palaces like I was transported there myself. Adding East Asian folklore, magic, and action to the exquisite writing it felt like I was reading a fairytale.

Shiori was a delightful protagonist—curious, headstrong, reckless at times but determined. The first person narrative made Shiori’s character all the more interesting to follow because we’re given direct insight into her thoughts, struggles and internal monologues. Her character arc was really strong as she went from a privileged princess to a girl who strived to survive and save her brothers.

Family relationships were a great addition to the story. Her bond between Shiori and her brothers was heartwarming. Despite the rivalry and misunderstanding they come together to form a great support system. I always looked forward to their interactions. And her friendship with Kiki was so adorable!

While the romance was not the main focus in the book, we get the arranged marriage trope with a swoony and slow burn romance. The friends-to-unknowns-to-lovers build-up was so lovely and pure to read about.

The plot is fast paced, packed with action. I was quickly invested in Shiori’s journey, in a state of anticipation as the events unfolded. The writing made it easy to breeze through the book. I loved to see Shiori make progress and face her mistakes. The magic system and worldbuilding never felt like info dumps, but were brought to attention as and when the scenes required them to, which is another reason I enjoyed reading it so much.

Six Crimson Cranes is a promising and refreshing YA fantasy, best for readers looking for a book with fairytale vibes, fast paced action, magical adventure and delightful bonds. I’m so excited for whatever awaits me in the sequel!