Before I begin the normal cadence of one of my reviews, let me first say that as soon as I finished this, I immediately moved forward and devoured the first in her Blood of Stars series, Spin the Dawn. I absolutely adored both and I am sitting on my hands waiting for the sequel to this one.

Shiori’anma of Kiata is preparing for her betrothal to Lord Takkan, who lives far in the north within a land of barbarians. She is not looking forward to any of it. However, on the day of her betrothal ceremony, she escapes from the palace and retreats to a nearby pond, into which she falls only to be rescued by a dragon. Of course, no one believes her. Magic was banned in Kiata a long time ago and no one has seen dragons for longer than that. However, Shiori knows magic exists. She has some of it herself, some that she has hidden to the best of her ability since she was a young girl. However, when the dragon returns and begins to teach her magic, she unwittingly learns that she is not the only one in the palace with secrets. Her stepmother, Riakama, has magic of her own.

When Shiori tries to expose Raikama, she finds herself at the center of a curse involving her and her brothers, who are turned into cranes and sent far from the palace. Shiori is banished far away, a magic bowl is stuck to her head and covers her eyes, and is told not to utter a word or for every sound that escapes her lips, one of her six brothers will die.

Shiori, silenced and alone, must fight her way to her brothers as best as she can and find some way to break their curse and return home before the kingdom is plunged into war. However, Shiori finds that the world is not as it seems, and there are underlying plots that are taking place she never could have imagined. She must find the resilience and strength necessary to not only save her brothers and herself, but also everyone and everything else she loves.

This was an absolutely magical retelling of the Six Swans fairy tale mixed with a heaping helping of the Goose Girl. I honestly had the hardest time sleeping while reading this as it invaded all of my thoughts. This was my first introduction to Elizabeth Lim and I can honestly say that it has made me a fan for life. The heartbreak in her stories caused tears, the triumphs lead to audible sighs of relief, and the twists to gasps and held breathes.

Every character came to life on the pages. It was like the ink leaped from my e-reader to paint gorgeous shadow shows full of dragons, forests, jewels, and far away castles. I was so absorbed that I felt like I was there at times. I also kind of feel like I am waiting for the rest of my life to start. I am so psyched to read the next one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for a copy of this incredible story in exchanged for this fair review. I loved it.

the writing style was stupendous but the plot was 10x better. it was interesting and original and had a steady pace. really good plot twists and the last few chapters were so nerve-wracking I kept flexing my toes anxiously 😭 can't wait for the next one

I love Lim's writing so much. Each of her novels feels like reading a fairy tale and this one certainly felt like an instant classic. It was a true journey from the exposition, fall out, and redemption. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.

Lim has written another excellent fantasy series starter! Shiori undergoes excellent character development throughout the text and the supporting characters were well-developed. In particular, the dragon elements she incorporated were interesting and leave readers wondering if Lim is setting up for a love triangle in the second book. Though the book lagged a little in the middle, overall the plot and world-building were engaging. Additionally, Lim did a great job playing with the source material while also pulling in fantastical elements and Asian mythology. The twist with the stepmother was genuine and very interesting. On the whole, it's a solid fairy tale retelling, but also a YA fantasy novel that can stand on it's own.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the world and the characters and the plot. I’ve never heard the Wild Swans fairy tale but this was a beautiful story and I can’t wait for the sequel. It was a little slow to start but I once it came to the curse, I quickly became enthralled and breezed through the rest of the story. 4.5 stars.

It's not you, Six Crimson Cranes, it's me.

A fantastical tale of magic, family and change - of character and opinion - that has really well flowing and descriptive writing, this book should have swept me away but it just didn't. I felt like too little time was given to build up the relationship between Shiori and her brothers - given, there were six of them, so it would have taken a while - before the curse was cast. I didn't feel the love Shiori felt for her brothers and as such didn't really believe in her quest as much as others did. From the very beginning it seemed obvious there was something not right about Zairena, and it was frustrating that it took Shiori so long to figure it out - having said that, the follow up twist about Zairena took me by surprise, so well done!

It felt like this book was really setting the scene for the next book which is not what I hoped it would be.

Still, if you enjoy folklore inspired fantasy with a character who grows into herself and has a plucky paper bird sidekick, who discovers she was in the wrong about things and then admits it and tries to change and help, then this book is for you!

Honestly loved this book so much more than I had expected. I held off reading it because I was not too excited about the whole "brothers being turned into swans" idea and I'm not usually a lover of fairy tale retellings. This book was so refreshing and had strong world-building, well-fleshed out characters, and a well-envisioned storyline. Can't wait for book 2.

I didn't write an official review, Instead, I posted updates on Goodreads as I was reading. It was very good!
December 10, 2021 –
86.0% "What a great twist!"
December 10, 2021 –
74.0% "hmm interesting sometimes poison is medicine in disguise, she is wondering about her stepmother's reasons"
December 10, 2021 –
69.0% "the letters, that's so sad!"
December 10, 2021 –
26.0% "I wasn't expecting all these turns of events. I like that I was unable to guess the turn of events. I wonder what else will happen!"
December 10, 2021 –
16.0% "ooo now we are getting some info about the step mother with that creepy snake lady part"
December 10, 2021 –
13.0% "seems to build off of spin the dawn because of the talk of enchanters and demons"
December 10, 2021 –
11.0% "The stepmother warning her must mean she has a past with dragons hmm the stepmother is even more curious now that she likes having all those snakes! strange!"
December 10, 2021 –
8.0% "Dragons can turn into humans in this world like the raya movie, I like this, they have good chemistry and banter"

an absolutely remarkable and breathtaking read. I have always adored Lim's writing style, but she really brought it up a notch in SIX CRIMSON CRANES. I will forever be in love with her lyrical and lush novels and the way that she writes about her heroines as these women who discover the true power within themselves.

My Thoughts:
Ms. Lim does a mash up of European and East Asian fairy tales to create a magical girl power, love triangle, dragons, demons and curse adventure story that was a devour worthy book on a cold winter evening. I just love how these authors of color are pushing their way into fantasy while also privileging their own cultural stories and mythologies. I have nothing against the fey, and TLOTR is always going to be the gold standard in fantasy and world building, but face it, these characters, even if not human are white. Their culture, their values. . .white. Julie Kagawa has opened up the door for more #AAPI fantasy writers and I love it!!

Shiori, later known as Lina when she is cursed by her step mother, is a spoiled, head strong, but beloved princess who finds that she has magic in a kingdom where magic has died. Yes, nothing novel about that. But what makes Six Crimson Cranes so fabulous is that Lina loves strong. She takes abuse and hardship with humility. Her brothers love and protect her as much as she loves and protects them. She is an unabashed lover of food. Most importantly, she is lovable and she learns and reflects like someone much older than her 17 years.

Finally, a sign of a well written book is that when I look at the % number at the bottom of my Kindle and see that I am over halfway to the end, I already start getting frustrated and sad because I know that book 2 by Ms. Lim is not coming out yet. I start slowing down my reading even if I want to tear through to the end. What makes it good is that although I start to slow down by putting the book down, five minutes later, I have to pick it up. The twists and turns, as well as the surprises again, are not novel, but appreciated all the same. That is a sign of a great fantasy book.

Mild blood and gore, several almost kisses makes this appropriate for middle grades as well as YA (and adults). Now to wait until August for The Dragon's Promise.

From the Publisher:
Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear--no matter what the cost.

Weaving together elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Elizabeth Lim has crafted a fantasy like no other, and one that will stay with readers long after they've turned the last page.

What a amazing book! I feel in love with this one. The story is spectacular, all the characters are super vivid. I recommend with my heart.

slightly too long and slow in some parts but all in all, this was 100% the magical fairytale everyone says it is. i honestly loved reading this and it was so fun 🥺 this reads more MG/true YA than i wished it would’ve but that’s not enough of a reason to knock it a star tbh!

I often describe this story as a Disney movie in a book, because it's filled with lovable characters, high stakes, well-earned arcs, and a general feel adventure. I'm so excited to see what happens in book two!

Six Crimson Cranes is a lovely piece of work with inviting world-building, engaging characters, and a strong foundation of east-Asian mythology. Both whimsical and magical, this book had plenty of character growth, high stakes, and a warm-hearted romance. Upon reflection, one of the most satisfying parts of Six Crimson Cranes was how it re-examined the role of its' antagonist, challenging what looked like a classic cut-and-dried case of villainy and instead exposed a deeper motive. It would have been satisfying to see more atmospheric and descriptive world-building, at times the story felt a little thin. Regardless, it is a lively and intriguing re-telling of a classic fairytale.

I enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to my future students.

First impressions are not always what they seem, and that applies to many of the concepts in Six Crimson Cranes. The first few chapters were rushed and weak indicators of the adventure to come, but once the curse had been placed and the impossible adventure underway, I couldn't stop wishing to have the book in my hand. Fairytale lovers have many tropes to chew on with unwanted arranged marriages, evil stepmothers, a princess, princes, and mischievous dragons. As cliche as the tropes initially seem, the tropes turn your expectation against you and leave you with a, sometimes tragic, surprise. Although far from a love story as Shiori endures a curse of silence that often leaves her suffering abuse and dangers, a budding yearning slowly blooms into an unexpected romance.More fairy tales could use a hero like Shiori's, who saves and nurtures our heroine without taking away her personal victories or solving the dilemma for her.
The magic's worldbuilding and Shiori's relationship with the dragon were rushed, and then both stalled as neither could be explored further during the curse. Book two promises to do justice to these two, though, and I look forward to accompanying Shiori once more as she sets out on another adventure.

5/5 stars

I really loved this beautifully written and immersive YA fantasy with a sweet bit of romance. This story had everything I love in fantasy including dragons, magical lands, romance, curses, and adventure! The overall feel of adventure throughout the story and surprising twists that popped up made this story a faster than normal fantasy read. Shiori was such a great main character and I loved following her on her adventure and watching her grow through every challenge. Overall, I loved Shiori and her brother's story, the bit of romance and can't wait to read the sequel to return to this magical world. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year!

Magic has been forbidden in Kiata and when Shiori, the youngest of seven and the only daughter of the Emperor of Kiata, is found to have magic she and her six brothers are cast from her home and cursed by her stepmother Raikama. Without the use of her magic or voice Shiori must find her brothers and make a plan to defeat Raikama. This YA fantasy is fantasy done at it's finest. Shiori learns who she is and what power she really holds. It really centers on her story and the small dash of romance doesn't overpower her journey.

"Six Crimson Cranes centers an exiled princess who must unweave the curse that turned her brothers into cranes, assisted by her spurned betrothed, a mercurial dragon, and a paper bird brought to life by her own magic."
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I genuinely cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. It was so good. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to shut up about it.

If you’re a fan of east-asian fantasy mythology-based novels and/or fairytale retellings (specifically “The Wild Swans” by Hans Christian Andersen), this is the book for you.

Shiori is such an amazing character who shows immense growth despite the hardships she faces. I also really liked the romance, especially because it was a slow burn. And after that cliffhanger, I’m so excited to read the next book. I actually wanted to cry when I realized that I would have to wait over a year to read the sequel.
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Lim is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Also, her books always have the most beautiful covers. a BIG shoutout to Tran Nguyen for creating such amazing illustrations.

This was a excellent YA Fantasy novel, that I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Another stellar title from Elizabeth Lim! I was a huge fan of the Spin the Dawn duology and this doesn't disappoint. And how cool it is knowing that this was, once upon a time, Sailor Moon fanfiction!