The first thing that drew me in to this book was the beautiful cover and Elizabeth Lim’s name on it. She always manages to have the most beautiful covers, as with her previous books, and I was so pleased to read this and see the content was just as great. I love retellings of fairytales like this, and the world building was really captivating and made it even more enjoyable to read. I also really enjoyed the arranged marriage trope with a soft prince, and the family dynamics of siblings who would do anything for each other.

WOW, you guys....this book was absolutely INCREDIBLE! First of all, thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced ebook copy, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Six Crimson Cranes was my best read of 2021 so far and it exceeded my every expectation! I already knew it was going to be wonderful, but the tale Elizabeth Lim wove together was so much better than anything I could have imagined. The only thing I hate is that I now have to wait for a sequel! Shiori was an incredible MC and I loved following her on her journey, and I can't wait to see where she goes next. Her character arc was wonderful. She grew and changed so much but still stayed true to herself. My favorite character by far though was Seryu, I wish we got to see more of him but I'm sure he will play a much bigger part in the sequel. The magic, demons, and lore in this book are so interesting and I want to learn more about the dragons and their history. But most of all, I WANT MY SHIP TO SAIL!!! I need a sequel ASAP and it's going to torture waiting for one.

Also, that cover is gorgeous!

Shiori’anma, princess of Kiata, is about to turn seventeen. Seventeen means she will be forced to marry her betrothed and leave her home to live up north, a move she’s dreaded since childhood when her betrothal was announced. But Shiori is hiding a secret: she can do magic, magic rumored not the exist in Kiata for centuries. When she unravels her stepmothers own forbidden magic, the world as Shiori knows it is upended. Her stepmother curses her six brothers into cranes, conceals Shiori’s identity and casts her away to the isolated reaches of the kingdom, where every word she speaks will be the death of a brother. Silenced and alone, with a paper bird and a temperamental dragon for help, Shiori must find her brothers and find her way home. Along the way, she learns more about her magic, herself and the young betrothed she tried so hard to run away from. Elizabeth Lim struck gold with this new novel, the first in a new series (set in the same world as her ever popular The Blood of Stars duology). A beautiful mesh of European fairy tales, Asian folklore and mythology, and pure magic.

My favorite part of this novel is that it takes a fairy tale and doesn’t make it fluff. So many retellings take out the dark bits, but this one embraced them instead of shying away from it. There were assassination attempts, poisoning, murder and just a bit of gore. Six Crimson Swans follows The Wild Swans fairly closely, just enough to retain the core structure of the fairy tale, while the influence of Asian folklore and mythology put it over the top. The world building was beautiful and vibrant. If you love a good retelling, this is absolutely one to read.

I was hesitant to like to Shiori at the beginning. While her dynamic with her brothers and stepmother was wonderful and intricate, she came off as brash, spoiled and naive. Her evolution throughout the story was so well tuned, and who she became by the end redeemed her. Being first person, the reader misses out on the complexity of the brothers, who take a backseat to Shiori. Understandable, but I wanted more of their dynamic. By far the best written character to me was Raikama. Her backstory was heart wrenching and beautiful.

The only thing that fell flat to me was the magic system. I love that there is inherent complexity to magic in Kiata, that magic has consequences and isn’t wonderful, even with the best intentions. I wish there was more explanation on how it works, hopeful that will come in the next book.

This is a cannot miss new release!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to review this eArc! Six Crimson Cranes is a wonderful collage of fairytales and magic, a story of a young princess who must break the curse her stepmother set over her and her brothers—a story of growth and redemption in all forms. Set in the same world, as Lim's bestselling duology, Spin the Dawn, one cannot help but enjoy the rich history and culture of Kiata, from the loathing of magic to the exhilarating festivals. Six Crimson Cranes is a sweeping tale that depicts the importance of forgiveness in those that are misunderstood, and the necessity of hope in times of darkness.

Who knew that this book was set in the same universe as Spin the Dawn?? Not me!! What a lovely surprise!

As usual, Lim beautifully blends storytelling into her books, creating a rich background to her own story.

This is a fairytale retelling of a princess named Shiori, whose 6 brothers are turned into cranes by their stepmother, and Shiori is cursed. Each sound she makes will kill one of her brothers.

The classic fairytale type story with an evil stepmother (those poor ladies always get the shit end of the stick), a curse, identities to be uncovered, a quest, a dragon sidekick (of a sort), etc. etc. Romance was there, but minimal, and quite sweet. In the end, not the focus of the story.

Shiori’s search for her brothers, and her growth, maturity, and bravery during this search, as well as her love for her brothers, compassion for her future husband’s family, and empathy toward her stepmother, are all the real story. Especially as discovers more and more of her magic.

If you enjoyed Lim’s other duology, set in the same world, and love fairytales, folklores, and strong female characters, I would highly suggest reading this.

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. I loved the character of Shiori and how fiercely she cares for her brothers. I couldn’t put this down and read it in less than 24 hours. I absolutely can not wait for the next book.

DNF’d at 33%

I feel awful about giving this book a low review since I was so graciously given an ARC by Random House Children’s... but I also want to be honest.

I really love the cover of this book. There’s a sense of motion, action-packed liveliness, and hey, maybe even a kickass Asian female protagonist???? Finally???????

What I’ve read of the book is disappointing. The writing is elementary and I struggled to see the appeal in the simple style. The characters felt incredibly bland and 2-dimensional. I disliked the protagonist, Shiori, from the beginning. As someone who is of identical age as her, I would NEVER act in such a childish way to my siblings or to my parents. She also didn’t seem to have any redeeming qualities and was endlessly bratty and complacent. I was hoping that she would get better as the story went on, but now I don’t really feel like sticking it through to find out.

The fairytale aspect of the story was also lost on me. This retelling didn’t feel magical or take me to a place I’ve never been before. Every time I picked up the book I just wanted to be elsewhere.

I’m sure, from the raving reviews I’ve read from my friends, that this book has redeeming qualities. I just think that perhaps it’s not the right book for me, at this very moment, in this very place. I’m not going to not recommend it since I think the concept is such an intriguing one and I think many would be enraptured by the style — I’m just going to say that you should take my review with a grain of salt and maybe look closely at the synopsis to see if this is something you’d be interested in.

Elizabeth Lim has crafted a well-written, beautiful fairytale based on East Asian folklore and European fairy tales. Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, is on the cusp of her betrothal. She has been able to conceal the Forbidden Magic that flows through her until the stress of the ceremony causes her to lose control. On the good side, her wedding is put off. On the bad side, her stepmother has figured out that Shiori has magic, so banishes her and turns her brothers into cranes. The stepmother, who is also a powerful sorceress, threatens Shiori with the death of her brothers if she tells anyone what is going on. Shiori finds herself poor, silenced and alone until she gains help from unlikely magical creatures and the betrothed young man she tried to escape. Only by claiming the magic that runs through her veins can Shiori'anma save herself, her brothers and the kingdom. Elizabeth Lim has created a beautiful new tale brimming with magic, love and action. Anyone who appreciates classic fairy tales and folklore will love this new one, as will lovers of fantasy like the series by Leigh Bardugo and Maggie Stiefvater. Many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC.

I absolutely loved this story. The strength Shiori exudes, the family bond, the magic, dragons, this has it all. For me this is a stunning adventure packed with magic carrying just the right undertones of romance. I cannot wait for the second book in this series.

this is one of those books that you should absolutely judge by the cover. because oh my gosh this was incredible.

a nice list of things I loved because im still in shock over how good this was and writing paragraphs would be a mess:

- our main character, shiori. she was strong, curious, brave, a little mischievous, and her development was incredible. she was a fantastic protagonist and i loved going on this journey alongside her perspective.
- the world building and mythology was all so beautiful and so well described. it was never confusing, and i was captivated by the fascinating magic system, mythical creatures, and all the interesting cultures and traditions.
- the WRITING oh my gosh i absolutely loved elizabeth lim's storytelling in her previous book "spin the dawn", and that same lovely, effortless, lyrical prose was present in this book. im running out of adjectives but it is just absolutely stunning.
- the theme of family and shiori's relationships with all of her brothers were also so so heartwarming.
- the plot and pacing is just perfect. not once, from the very first chapter to the the very last, was i ever bored. i was in a constant state of anticipation, and i finished this easily in two sittings. the plot was so well crafted, and there was always something happening or something to look forward to, but it was never overwhelming. again, it just felt perfect.
- the romance. im a sucker for a good arranged marriage, and while i wish this trope was used a little better, the actual romance regardless was still a swoon worthy, sweet, slowburn, with the perfect amount of angsty development. it is a major SLOWburn, but i actually loved how minor it was and how it never overshadowed shiori's main plot line.

this is one of my favorite books this year, and im so excited for everyone to read this stunnigly immersive, gorgeous, thrilling new story.

I love Elizabeth Lim's writing style! She writes such beautifully intricate worlds with characters that have so much dimension. Six Crimson Cranes has such a beautiful fairytale-esque setting. If you have never heard of The Six Swans fairytale, this book is heavily based on this fairytale. And let me tell you... that is one of my absolute favorite fairytales. Shiori will now become on of my favorite characters. There was just so much packed into this book! Dragons, curses, prince and princesses, arranged marriages, magic and demons! I know that I will be picking up a physical copy the second that this book comes out.

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

Six Crimson Cranes is a beautiful riches to rags story about magic, dragons, curses, quests, and touching familial bonds. It also is a reimagining of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale “The Wild Swans” which draws inspiration from Chinese and Japanese folklore and legends.

More than that, I believe it is a story about perseverance, resilience, and survival. I enjoyed following the protagonist Princess Shiori on her journey throughout this novel that transpired as a result of the curse that has been put on her and her brothers and watching her grow and come into her own.

Even though there was some aspects of romance in this novel, this story seemed to put more of a focus on family, which I love. Shiori’s love for her six brothers (and her family in general) was what pushed her to keep going, even when things got tough for her.

As I said, there is some romance in this book and it involves the arranged marriage trope. Honestly I’m not too fond of that trope personally, but I didn’t mind it here.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and I will be looking out for the sequel! I may also be looking into Elizabeth Lim’s other books in the meantime

Even before reading Elizabeth Lim's previous duology, The blood of stars, I was immediately intrigued by her new release, Six crimson cranes.
The covers are something wonderful, I'm talking about both versions, but I'm not here to review the covers.

Shiori'anma has a secret, forbidden magic flows through her. It's something she's always managed to keep hidden, until the day of her engagement ceremony, Shiori loses control of her power.
This mistake of hers will cost her dearly, so much so that her stepmother, a sorceress in her own right, banishes the young princess and turns her brothers into cranes.
On top of that though, the stepmother forced Shiori not to talk to anyone about what happened, otherwise one of her brothers will die.
Well, from here it is very clear that, Six crimson cranes is a retelling based on the famous fairy tale of The six swans by the Grimm brothers, in a very modern key.
I didn't know what to expect from this novel, but reading around a bit, expectations were very high and I'm honest, once I read it I wasn't disappointed at all.
I'm usually one to devour books, but I enjoyed Six Crimson Cranes page by page, taking my time and digesting the story.
Poetic, bewitching and engaging writing, a touching and heartbreaking story of Shiori and her siblings.
The pages of this book filled my heart with sadness for what happens to the young princess, strength for her will to want to work things out and have the place in the world that she deserves, and joy for the incredible love that binds Shiori to her brothers.

Shiori, penniless, voiceless and alone searches for her brothers and discovers a conspiracy to take over the throne.
Only she will be able to put the kingdom back on track, but to do so she will have to rely only on a paper bird, a shape-shifting dragon, and the person she was supposed to marry.
She will have to embrace what she had always given up, which is magic.

Six Crimson Cranes is an extraordinarily wonderful book, honey for the soul, a story that fills your heart but empties it at the same time.
I can't wait to read the second book in the series and I can't wait to get my paperback in my hands.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Six Crimson Cranes is the first book in a duology inspired by East Asian folklore, and this book, in particular, is a reimagining of "The Wild Swans."

Princess Shiori has magic, which she keeps hidden since magic is forbidden in her kingdom. She also has six brothers, a stepmother she doesn't care for, and a betrothal to a northern warlord's son she would do anything to escape (including jumping into a lake where she meets a dragon who can also take human form). When her magic is exposed, and she discovers her stepmother is also a sorceress, Shiori is cursed to remain voiceless and her face hidden lest she risk killing her brothers who have been turned into the titular six crimson cranes. Thus begins Shiori's journey across her kingdom as a nobody who will take on the world to save herself, her brothers, and their kingdom from the curse.

This story felt very epic. Yes, it is over 400 pages, but the journey, and Shiori's character development is immense. I forgot on more than one occasion that this was meant to be a duology, so I thought to myself once or twice that the pacing seemed odd or that questions were left unanswered, but they were meant to be! The last chapter was enough to keep someone hooked to see where this journey could continue. And there was a huge hint (maybe not even a hint) for fans of Lim's first duology.

Aside from Shiori, Seryu, the Dragon King's grandson was probably my favorite character and I believe we will see much more of him in the second half of the duology. There are also several amazing descriptions of food throughout this book that made me very hungry and very jealous.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this but it felt so mediocre through and through. I can’t distinguish this main character from Lims other book. The pacing was so odd because we skip from one place to another. I couldn’t distinguish between any of the six brothers. And the stepmother as the villain just felt contrived and boring. I think that unfortunately Lims writing is just not for me.

June 5, 2021

“Find the light that makes your lantern shine.”

Six Crimson Cranes is the first Elizabeth Lim book that I’ve read and definitely won’t be the last because if there is a single word that I would use to describe what I felt reading this story, it would be LOVE.

A reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans” mixed with Chinese and Japanese, folklore and legends, Six Crimson Cranes also reminded me of Cinderella. The story took me to Asia: the festival, food, scenery, traditions and big family! It is the kind of story you’ll want to see on the big screen, very Disney-ish theme. It was impossible to stop reading especially with the plot that was presented. One would be so intrigued on how the story will continue and how the conflict will get resolved. I kept on asking what kind of plot twist did Elizabeth Lim think of? I got the answer at the end and I may have screamed CLEVER!

There are quite a few lovable characters! The main character, Shiori is strong in her own way. Curious, bold, resourceful, resilient and has a penchant for trouble. I felt her pain and struggle and I had the urge to cry and punish those who wronged her. Her character growth is something to admire. Takkan on the other hand is kind, shy and adorable BUT he can slay assassins, now isn’t that cute?! Another favorite is Megari, she’s such a delight! I immediately loved her with her cheeky and brazen attitude.

I found my next comfort read in Six Crimson Cranes, it was lush, beautiful and magical. There is just something enchanting in Elizabeth Lim’s writing, it was an experience everyone should have. I laughed, giggled, I got angry, hungry, it made me sing but most importantly, it made me feel love in the purest way. I am so so so so excited (and a little nervous) for the sequel!

What you’ll find in Six Crimson Cranes:
-Asian representation
-Dragon
-Sibling dynamics
-Gorgeous cover and map
-Arranged marriage
-Magic
-Telepathy
-An unusual companion
-Arranged marriage
-Hate to love
-Lush world building
-Lots and lots of food

Trigger warning:
Parental death (happened before the beginning of the book)

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for providing me an E-ARC to review!

At a glance: After losing control and using forbidden magic, Princess Shiori and her brothers have been banished and cursed by her stepmother. Together they must try to end the curse and save their kingdom from their stepmother.

🌳 Family Focused
🌏 East Asian Rep
👑 Non-European Royalty
🔮 Magic

Read this if… you love fairy tale magic, strong sibling relationships / sibling bond, cute companions, forbidden magic, stories of a royal family not from Europe, dragons and paper cranes!

Diversity Representation: Chinese-American author, Chinese inspired setting and characters

Content Warnings: Banishment, burns, near death experiences, abuse, kidnapping, confinement

Book Review
Dreamy, action-packed, magical, fast paced, exciting, beautiful

Six Crimson Cranes has been on my radar for quite a long time. I read Spin the Dawn a long time ago, and fell in love with Elizabeth Lim’s writing. She has this way of writing that makes an entire novel feel like you’re floating through a fairytale. Even though the story is more detailed than a fairytale, it moves along so quickly, easily and naturally that it maintains that dreamy magical mood the entire time. It’s such a delight to read any of her books and Six Crimson Cranes was no exception.

Quick Summary: Shiori is the youngest sister of six brothers, the only princess of Kiata, and has forbidden magic running through her veins. One day she accidentally loses control of her magic and her stepmother, who harbors a dark magic of her own, curses and banishes her and her brothers. With a curse that prevents her from speaking, she must try to save her brothers and her kingdom from her stepmother.

The absolute best thing about this book for me was the writing. I adore how Elizabeth Lim writes. She weaves together stories, magic, and fairytales so well that it feels like you have fallen into a fairytale yourself. It adds a spark of magic to the prose to go along with her beautiful stories of about magic. She uses magical elements that always have an epic and mysterious connotation, so the magic always feels so much larger than life. It’s just so fun! I mean how beautiful is it to weave a net out of starstroke, a plant forged by the gods with strands of fate and the blood of stars?

I also really loved the focus on family in this book. It was really sweet the bond that Shiori and her brothers had. Despite any problems or sibling rivalries they may have had in the past, they adore each other and do whatever they can to protect each other. They trust each other, even when they are apart. It’s just such a sweet bond, I’m so glad to read it! I even enjoyed the relationship between Shiori, her brothers and their step-mother. The complex family dynamics that we got to see in this were just wonderful!

Last but not least, I absolutely adored Kiki. She was hands down my favorite character. I loved the sweet magic that brought her to life not only to Shiori, but to the reader. Kiki is a magical paper crane companion to Shiori throughout the whole book. She is her number one confidant and best friend. Where Shiori goes, Kiki goes. I adore stories where the main character has an adorable companion like this. It made me so happy! Although now I’m wishing I had a companion like Kiki!

Summing it all up
Six Crimson Cranes is another delight from Elizabeth Lim. Her writing is so beautiful that she makes you feel like you’re inside a fairytale. They are easy to read and fast paced, told like a folktale would be. Her stories are a delight to read and this is no exception, Six Crimson Cranes is lovely.

I was given an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.


I LOVED this book!! It was absolute perfection from start to finish. Beautiful storytelling, magical world building, and a seamless blending of fairy tales from across the world. I adored every character! This book was everything I need in a book: quick, easy to read, writing that flows naturally, a simple magic system, and artful entertainment.
This book was unique and creative and I loved every second of it.
10/10 will recommend this to everyone. One of the best things I've read this year hands down.