Six Crimson Cranes
by Elizabeth Lim

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this beautiful book! I never heard the bedtime story of this but THIS story certainly is not a bedtime story! It's too beautiful and touching! A beautiful princess, a dragon, six princes, a stepmother that is a sorceress, and a groom-to-be that is shamed are most of the key players.

Nothing works out as planned for the princess. There is so much she doesn't know and she is young and brash. She only thinks of herself. This gets herself into all this trouble, and her brothers! It's a sad, scary, and suspenseful, but things end up ok, sort of. The book ends up leaving it open for book two. Not really a cliffhanger, because this book was solved but it gave us a glimpse of what to expect in book two.

I loved the dragon character and the groom-to-be. The dragon was a bit rebellious but that was being a dragon. The groom-to-be was very devoted and perfect for her (everything she was not). Our princess was a bit hollow but I couldn't help feel sorry for her. She grew as she went.

The writing style seemed to try to stay with the myth-type but did have a distinctive flair that added interest. I liked the Oriental take, I don't know if the original had this or not. I loved the cover!!!

It's supposed to be for teens but I am certainly past teen years and I really enjoyed it. Middle grade ages would probably like this too! Highly recommend! Wonderful adventure, fantasy, and love story.

Six Crimson Cranes is based on The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen and East Asian folklore and legends. The author uses elements from various fairy tales, myths, and legends to create
a thoroughly unique story. I look forward to recommending this book to teens who enjoy retellings. There is plenty of action for those who enjoy adventures and can be recommended to even the youngest teen.

Six Crimson Cranes is a retelling of Western fairy tale "Six Swans" in an Asian-inspired setting. Shiori and her six older brothers are the children of the emperor of Kiata. Dreading her upcoming marriage to a nobleman's son in the remote north, Shiori longs to stay at home with her brothers and Kiki, a paper bird she has brought to life with forbidden magic. When she discovers that her stepmother is secretly a powerful sorceress, the consequences are terrible. Her brothers are transformed into cranes, and Shiori wakes up alone far from home. If she utters a sound or reveals her identity to anyone, her brothers will die. Shiori bravely takes on a painful, arduous task in an attempt to break the curse as she finds an unlikely ally in her erstwhile fiancé, but encounters danger and enemies all around her.

Six Crimson Cranes reminded me a lot of Juliet Marillier's Daughter of the Forest, as they are based on the same tale. It's a premise with so much great dramatic potential that I did not mind the superficial similarities. In both versions, the crucible that the heroine must undergo is truly harrowing and makes for some nail-biting tension. An interesting love story develops when she is taken under the wing of a sympathetic and kind man, but cannot speak to him or explain her predicament, and encounters members of his household who wish her harm.

Naturally, Lim puts her own spin on the tale in several key ways, the most obvious one being the magical East Asian environment filled with shapeshifters, demons, and dragons. With its descriptions of festivals, oceans, forests, palaces, fortresses, and snow-capped mountains, Six Crimson Cranes would make a visually striking fantasy film. There's also bit of political intrigue and mystery which helps ground the more otherworldly elements. In the end, the story takes a detour from the usual trajectory to make a truly inspired and emotional plot twist, with the groundwork carefully laid throughout the novel.

Lim's characters are interesting and memorable. I loved Shiori's passion for food (plus the mouthwatering descriptions!) and zest for life. The headstrong princess trope has been done to death, but Shiori's characterization feels fresh because her irrepressible nature is both an asset and an actual detriment. Her indefatigable spirit is necessary to keep her from despair as she strives to break the curse, but she also eventually realizes how her immature, self-centered actions have negatively impacted others. Her personality nicely contrasts that of her love interest, Takkan, a kind, strong, quiet type. Supporting characters such as Takkan's funny kid sister and Shiori's magical companions also had a lot of life to them.

I raced through the book and thoroughly enjoyed most of it, but a few issues kept it from a 5 star rating. I was a let down by the ending, which immediately shifted to tee things up for the sequel, whereas I had been under the impression that the book was a standalone. I just needed some more catharsis to help me recover from all the tension! A lot of magical rules are thrown at the reader, occasionally lacking enough explanation about how and why they exist. Of course not everything in a fantasy/folklore novel needs to be explained, but at times "that's just the way it is" is insufficient.

I highly recommend this novel to fans of fairy tale/folklore retellings and East Asian mythology!

There’s no way I can skip commenting on this cover – it would be a disservice to the designer. It’s a work of art and perfect for the story.

Before learning this novel is based on a fairy tale I’m unfamiliar with, I was thinking how it reads just like a fairy tale. Shiori could easily be a future Disney princess. She’s strong, curious, loyal, and determined not to let anyone else define her. Having six older brothers, she easily holds her own with them and is probably the most mischevious of the bunch. She’s also hiding her forbidden magic. After learning her stepmother possesses dark magic of her own, Shiori is banished and her brothers turned into cranes. Even worse, if she speaks to anyone, one of her brothers will die for every word she utters. I needed to know how this princess would survive and overcome the odds.

The sibling bonds are strong in this story, and I liked how protective Shiori’s brothers are of her even though she didn’t always need it. Takkan is honorable and astute from the beginning, and I loved that he crafts stories for his little sister (who’s pretty feisty herself). Encouraging people to look beyond appearances or misunderstood actions is an important theme this book brings to the forefront.

The first quarter of this book had me riveted. I was angry with Shiori’s stepmother and the people that treated her so badly when she was only trying to survive and anxious for her to find her brothers. She knew her mission and was fixated on it. Then things took a turn. The next half of the book mainly focused on the romance, and Shiori’s urgency to undo the curse wasn’t the driving force I’d expected. Toward the end of the story I didn’t see how plot lines could fall into place for some kind of resolution, but over the span of a few pages, several reveals come to light. Some are easy to predict, but others come out of left field and left me scratching my head because of the lack of hints along the way.

I’m a reader who doesn’t mind romance in a book as long as it’s not the primary focus, but this novel spotlighted it more than I’d expected from the description. That’s just a personal preference and in reading other reviews, I’m definitely in the minority on this. Fans of fairy tales, magic, and romance will be thrilled with Six Crimson Cranes, and while I enjoyed the story, it wasn’t exactly what I’d anticipated.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Much like her previous "Blood of Stars" duology, Elizabeth Lim's Six Crimson Cranes is a beautifully written fantasy that effortlessly incorporates East Asian legends and folklore in a way that makes her work immediately stand out from other YA stories hitting shelves this summer. (Plus, there's this gorgeous cover!)

The story may be loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson's "The Wild Swans", but Lim makes the basics of the tale into something entirely new, forging them into a story about identity, family, and the (often incorrect) assumptions we make about others. Plus, there are dragons, magic, cursed cranes, a sassy talking paper bird, and an enforced betrothal that turns out to be true love.

Lim's prose is lush and evocative, effortlessly weaving Asian folklore and culture into what is often traditionally presented as a very Western sort of story. The settings are beautifully described, from the run-down fishing village the disguised Lina initially finds herself in to the frigidly beautiful Northern territory of Iro, where she unexpectedly becomes a guest of the very family whose daughter-in-law she was meant to become.

Shiori's slow-burn romance with Takkan - because fate always has its way, of course - is utterly charming, and somehow completely unexpected, despite being a twist that was spoiled in the original synopsis for this book! A completely heartfelt soft boy who composes poetry and loves food, Takkan is Six Crimson Cranes' most delightful surprise and I can't wait to see how his relationship with Shiori develops in the next book.

I loved this! The story pulled me in and kept me hooked. I thought the characters were well done and interesting, the story had some surprises I didn't see coming and I definitely wanted to keep reading to know how it was all going to end. I'm excited for the sequel and definitely plan to read it.

*Thank you NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchanged for an honest review* This is my first time reading anything by Elizabeth Lim and I think I fell completely in love with her. Six Crimson Cranes is a gorgeous retelling with beautiful writing and a whimsical setting. Lim's world-building is stunning and I felt immediately immersed in this brilliant world she's created.

Shiori and Takkan have quickly become two of my new favorite characters! Shiori is an excellent narrator and the journey she takes throughout this book is brillaint. Not only does she intend to break the curse set upon her & her brothers but she also strives to become a better person. Shiori's relationships with her brothers and stepmother were easily the highlight of this book for me. I loved reading all of their interactions and witnessing the complexities of their relationships.

If you're thinking about picking up this book, I definitely recommend! The cover is also absolutely gorgeous. Now I just need the second book to be released lmao

Six Crimson Cranes is a fairytale retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “Wild Swans,” but also integrates elements of East-Asian folklore. The story follows Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, a land that has outlawed magic. When her stepmother Raikama discovers that Shiori possesses magical ability and Shiori discovers Raikama’s own secret magic, Raikama curses Shiori into silence, turning her six brothers into cranes and exiling them from home. If Shiori so much as utters one word, one of her brothers will die. Thus begins Shiori’s quest to break the curse.

This book was a joy to read! It was actually a bit nostalgic: Lim’s writing style, plot and characterization reminded me of some of my favorite books growing up, Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted and Shannon Hale’s Goose Girl. They’re all fairytale retellings featuring young female protagonists who are shaped by the consequences of magic and come into their own as a result. There are hidden identities to be disclosed, earnest romances to root for... There's a beautiful simplicity to the storytelling that feels so comforting to read.

The really lovely thing about Six Crimson Cranes is that I felt like I had my own “version” of these kinds of stories as an Asian reader; Lim weaves in many allusions to Asian culture: pickled cabbage with minced pork over rice (my favorite meal), plum blossoms, lantern festivals... The intricate details come together to create an immersive world that is both new and familiar. (Here I should note that this book is set in the same universe as Lim’s first duology, which I haven’t read yet, but will have to now!).

If I had any criticisms, I felt the pacing moved along too quickly in the first act, but I think the book found its footing once Shiori makes her way to Iro. I also found that the magic system was maybe a bit nebulous. However, this is probably because I read another fantasy book right before, and that book was very specific and consistent about how magic worked in its world down to a science. I don’t think this book promises to be that nor has to be that to still be thoroughly enjoyed!

But I loved the complexity of Shiori’s character arc: her impulsivity is tempered by the consequences of acting and speaking carelessly, so that she more carefully assesses her circumstances; she also learns about the danger of blind stubbornness in overlooking what is good and beautiful. But what clearly rings through from beginning to end is the love she has for others even if it means making her own sacrifices. The relationship she has with her brothers is heartfelt, and though there are six of them, Lim does a great job of giving each distinct traits individually and in how they interact with Shiori. The arranged marriage trope is present (kind of!) in Shiori's romance with Takkan, who is a kind and gentle love-interest, and a lover of story and poetry which is a bonus in my eyes! I’m looking forward to seeing how Shiori will continue to develop along with these relationships in the sequel.
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Thank you to Random House Children's Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Drawing inspiration from The Six Swans and The Wild Swans, Six Crimson Cranes tells the story of Shiori, the Princess of Kiata, trying to get away from her arranged marriage to Lord Takkan Bushian, and on the day of the betrothal ceremony, loses control over her magic. Magic is forbidden in Kiata, and her stepmother Raikama, a powerful sorceress in her own right, curses Shiori and her six brothers by turning her brothers into cranes, banishing Shirori, and cursing her such that every sound she speaks causes one of her brothers to die.
The worldbuilding was absolutely stunning - I loved the way that the myths and fairytale elements blended together. The introduction of magic, dragons, quests, curses, and demons all blended so well in this fantasy land of Kiata. Even the two festivals that were showcased in the book were so different from each other but both had Asian elements that felt so familiar to me as I read it.

And the descriptions, especially of the food! I don’t often get to read about persimmons in fiction, so it was great to see one of my favorite fruits spotlighted in a book. Shiori is a foodie, and I found myself salivating over all the brilliant descriptions of the food that Shiori encounters, as well as the memories she associates with various dishes and recipes.

I loved the sibling dynamics, both between Shiori and her brothers as well as between Takkan and Megari. I wish Seryu and Shiori’s relationship had been explored more, but I know it was mostly set up so that it could be explored more in the upcoming sequel. I loved how Raikama wasn’t just reduced to the “evil stepmother” trope, but their relationship was filled with complexities that had me crying at the end of the book. And I loved Shiori’s companion Kiki, who was incredibly hilarious.

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read the sequel.

A thank you to Random House Children’s Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the ARC.

Yes, Lim always delivers amazing enchanted stories that suck me and drag me into adventures full of heartbreak, strength, and hope. Six Crimson Cranes is no exception. To say I loved it would be an understatement. Lim sucked me in and tore me apart on this journey with Shiori in the most wonderful way. Can I have book 2 now?!

The premise of a whimsical fantasy wrapped up with tales inspired by childhood stories and legends I hold near and dear to my heart quickly made this one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it did not disappoint.
There’s a lot of inspiration from old Asian folktales and mythology, which is something I grew up with so it was nice to see it incorporated into a piece that allow these folklore to reach a larger audience, especially people who grew up experiencing different cultures compared to mine.
One of the things that stuck out to me was the family relations in the book. The main character, Shiori, is the youngest daughter among six older brothers, but their interactions and relationship stays true to real life sibling interactions. Additionally, Shiori’s relationship to her stepmother in the past is very loving, which makes the story even more heart wrenching.
The romance builds up slowly over the course of the book, but it can’t be described as a slow burn. It’s also not the center point of the story which I also really enjoyed because it allows the reader to focus on the main plot point and conflict.
Overall, it’s a solid read and I’m definitely going to be preordering this book for an official physical copy when it comes out, and I’ll be looking forward to the sequel.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good fairytale retelling and Six Crimson Cranes delivers that and more. The basics: Princess Shiori is tasked with saving her brothers from a curse that has turned them all into swans. But there's also forbidden magic, dragons, gorgeous worldbuilding, an arranged marriage, and some of the most delicious descriptions of food I've ever read. The ending is satisfying in itself but I cannot wait for the sequel. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that COVER!

A most beautiful retelling for Hans Christian Anderson's fairytale "Wilde Swans". Lim creates a magnificent world with magic, dragons, demons, and princesses who will do the saving. Shiori is a wonderful narrator she takes us not only on her journey to break the curse placed on her and her brothers but also on her own personal one to become a better person. She proves throughout the story that she is not only strong of character and observant, but also has a big heart.
Honestly, my heart is split between Seryu and Takkan. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next and how much more Shiori will grow.

I have heard/ read so many good things about this book, but I ended up not finishing it. I may go back to it at some point, but the slog of the story was just too much for me to handle. I love the concept, but the story is soooo sloooow.

This was a very interesting book with a plot I enjoyed. I am not familiar with the fairytales and folklore references in the novel, but I really enjoyed it. I loved all the main characters, Shiori and her brothers. But especially Kiki. Kiki stole the show. This was a great fantasy novel and unlike other novels in the genre. My only complaint is that it read a bit younger than YA. Maybe it would be good for the age group at the very young end of YA. It had components that felt a bit middle grade to me, but the writing was YA. Overall, an interesting fantasy novel.

i loved this so much, i'm obsessed with elizabeth lim's writing. this book is fast paced, with amazing worldbuilding & characters. the plot twists caught me by surprise and i deeply enjoyed this


thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC

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

First off, as a reader of Asian descent, I was so happy to get approved to read this ARC! I have enjoyed Elizabeth Lim's books since I read Reflection, her retelling of Mulan for the Twisted Tales series, and I want to support #ownvoices authors of Asian descent in the book industry. As Lim writes in the foreword, it's very rare to see Asian girls on book covers. I wish that there were more books like this featuring Asian protagonists in the YA fantasy genre. Thank you again to the publisher for this opportunity!

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim is an exciting retelling of fairy tales that includes plenty of action and romance. As she writes in the foreword, she was inspired by fairy tales from all around the round, including East Asian stories but influences from Western countries as well. I think that the story that she draws the most from is The Wild Swans / The Six Swans, which happens to be one of my favorite fairy tales. I was immediately drawn into the gripping new Asian-inspired fantasy world that Lim creates.

The protagonist is Shiori, a princess who hides her secret magical abilities from those around her, and who is engaged to marry a lord that she hardly knows. The action kicks off when she discovers the true nature of her stepmother, Raikama. Raikama transforms Shiori's brothers in cranes, and she curses Shiori into silence. If she reveals her identity to anyone or even utters one word, her brothers will die. The story was intriguing from page 1, and I particularly enjoyed the second male character, Seryu, who is a dragon who can take human form. Even though she's supposed to end up with her betrothed, I was shipping her with Seryu the whole time.

Here is an excerpt from an opening chapter when Seryu is introduced:

"I was still staring at him, at the thick stripes of green wisped around his templates; it was a color I'd never seen before on anyone - even the pale-haired merchants who came from the Far West. His skin had little warmth to it, but there was a pearlescent sheen. I couldn't decide whether he looked bizarre or beautiful. Or dangerous.
Maybe all three.
"You're... you're the dragon! From the other day in the lake."
...
In his current form, he was a boy, a young man not much older than I. But with green hair and ruby eyes and sharp, clawlike fingernails.
"How are you human?"
"All dragons can do it," he replied, his grin widening. "I haven't practiced shifting into human form much until now." He blew at his bangs. "Always thought humans were boring.""

Overall, Six Crimson Cranes is a beautiful blend of fairy tales from many cultures, and it will appeal to fans of the world-building in Avatar: The Last Airbender. In fact, the whole time I was reading this, I was thinking of what a great movie this story would make - similar to Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. I found myself wanting to slow down and savor each chapter, which is something I rarely do with books. If I had to complain about one thing, I would say that the majority of the book is at a slow pace, so when the last 1/3 introduced so many new magics and monsters, I felt confused. In particular, one magical rule that was established early on in the story was broken. I feel that magical rules should be kept intact because we as readers are already suspending our disbelief to "believe" in the author's fantasy world. I did enjoy the exciting ending though, and I will definitely be picking up the second book in this series. If you're intrigued by the excerpts above, or if you're a fan of the YA fantasy genre, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in July!

OMG, I loved this one so much!

Princess Shiori is the youngest sibling with six brothers. Shiori realizes that she has some magic, but she needs to hide it from everyone. Magic isn't allowed in her home and she'd be sent away. She's already upset about being betrothed to a young man from the north, Takkan. Shiori makes a paper crane and brings it to life. Kiki, the crane, becomes her best friend. They're able to communicate without speaking out loud. Shiori meets a dragon one day after almost drowning. No one believes her when she tells them though. Her stepmother makes a face that seemed odd, but even she told her that there were no dragons and that dragons are dangerous. Shiori practices magic with Seryu, the grandson of the dragon king. Seryu tells Shiori that her stepmother is a sorceress. Shiori started watching her and followed her one day. She sees things and thinks that her stepmother is actually a demon. After telling her brothers, stepmother tries to erase their memories. When that doesn't work, she puts a curse on them. Shiori has a bowl stuck to her head and she can't speak or make a sound out loud. If she does, a brother will die. The brothers all become cranes.

Shiori searches for her brothers and they try to find a way to break the curse. Luckily Kiki can communicate with them. Shiori is treated like a demon because of her appearance. She's given a job as a cook where she finally meets Takkan. After awhile, she saves his life and is given safety in his kingdom. She quickly adores his younger sister. But there are others there that do not treat her well. Every day is a challenge for Shiori and she finds out more about her magic. What she finds out isn't good and she now knows why she was told that her magic would be dangerous one day. Not everything is as it seems and there are some twists throughout the book.

I loved the relationship that started and loved the closeness between Shiori and her brothers. She was brave and strong. I loved her growth throughout the book. Shiori is definitely a new favorite character. Takkan, too.

I gave this book 5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

Warnings for captivity, fire, blood, poison, death.

**Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's/Knopf Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed my rating**

To start with, to the artist who created this cover: Bravo(a). This is beautiful and definitely a selling point of the book that will make many a curious reader pick it up from a shelf at their local book store or library.

In this book, Lim weaves together many fairy tales/folk tales, including The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo cutter. Not being familiar with any of these stories but Cinderella, the only other one I could for sure pick out as I was reading was the Wild Swans. However, having done some research into them, the influence of the other stories is definitely there for readers who are more familiar. I also would add references to Sleeping Beauty and the Little Mermaid.

While I enjoyed this book from an entertainment standpoint, I do think the attempt to mix so many stories together is a detriment. There are parts of the narrative that feel unnecessary or that seem to be there just for a plot twist. My hope is that these elements are there as set up for book two and that this feeling will be rectified then. For example, the dragon part seems like it will take more precedence in the next book, but in this one, Seryu felt a little like a deus ex machina who shows up kind of randomly. There are other ways that Shiori could have learned what she needed to learn without Seryu's inclusion, which doesn't work for me. There are also two side characters once she gets to Iro whose plot kind of drag and go on forever, which made the red herrings and reveal kind of a let down.

That aside, there are also side characters and relationships that work very well. I loved Shiori's relationships with her brothers, each of whom has a unique personality which makes them easy to remember despite there being six of them. I also liked her relationship with her paper crane, Kiki, and thought that was an interesting touch. It almost reminded me of the Baba Yaga stories in that the protagonist has a relationship with a supposedly inanimate object. Kiki was a lot of fun to read.

I would have liked more of the romance aspect from this book and I suspect a love triangle is being set up, which I'm not fond of. I really liked Takkan and Megari and thought the way Shiori interacted with both him and his sister was a stronger point of the book.

While I was entertained by this book, I'm unsure if I would continue the series. The elements that work don't outweigh the elements that don't for me. I'm sure there are many readers who will love this, but for me, the pacing was a bit off and made it feel like maybe there were too many stories being woven into this one narrative.

3/5 stars

Six Crimson Cranes is a beautiful retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale the Wild Swans. When Shiori’s brothers are turned into swans by her stepmother and she is cursed to silence, lest one of her brothers die for each word, they must seek help from unconventional and unexpected allies to break the curse, all without being unable to reveal their true identity.

Shiori is a fun character, full of life, wit, and tenacity. The growth she experienced from a petulant child to a passionate yet responsible princess was done wonderfully. I also love how her relationship with takkan developed and was so natural and wholesome. He was a solace to her throughout her journey without ever taking away from the core familial theme of the story.

I do wish that Shiori’s brothers had been explored a lot more. Assigning a few traits to them whenever Shiori goes through her list of brothers did not seem sufficient to me, and although they were not with Shiori the entire journey, I think there was sufficient opportunity for their dynamics to be explored further, rather than them being predominantly plot devices. I also do think that some complications were resolved a little too easily, when they had the potential to add depth to the players in the game.

Despite these criticisms, Six Crimson Cranes was such an enjoyable read and I feel a strong warmth towards this book. The relationship between Shiori and her stepmother was beautiful and it’s complexity a clear highlight. I can’t wait for the sequel to see how Lim develops this world and these characters further.