I absolutely love Six of Crimson Cranes. It's no different for the second book The Dragon's Promise.

The beginning of the story was amazing and interesting but about half way into the book the story has a slower pacing. The world building is magical, a great storyline, and the writing is beautiful and eloquent. Shiori is an amazing character but in this second book she is a bit annoying. Overall, a great end to this duology.

The Dragons Promise was one of my most anticipated sequels for this year and I have to say it did not disappoint!

I did enjoy the first book more than this but that is more of a me problem than any problem with the book. My brain just wanted me to go into a reading slump halfway through unfortunately 😭

This book is full of more fun and dangerous adventures for Shiori and her brothers. She has to defeat an evil demon while also babysitting / returning a semi-sentient dragon pearl who only listens to her like 10% of the time.

However, I am a Seryu fan so the storyline involving him was actually kind of disappointing. He's just such a fun character and I feel like he was not utilized enough since he's gone after the first part of this book.

Overall I'd say this book gets 4 stars. Together the duology gets 4.5 stars.

4.5/5.. I don't know why, but the first part of the book went slow for me, so I'm deducting half, and only half, a star. I don't want to include spoilers so there isn't much I can say except that the transition from the first setting to the next/last was abrupt, and the whole rest of the book I felt like the first part was some kind of dream. It was weird. That being said, the rest of the story was all that I wanted it to be, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the adventure, the romance, and the ending. I was worried I was going to hate the ending, but it managed to keep my heart satisfied with the path it took. I'm sad it's over, to be honest.

THE DRAGON'S PROMISE was a really solid follow-up to SIX CRIMSON CRANES which I had a better time with than book 1. My big issue with SCC was that I couldn't stand Shiori for most of the novel but due to the really good character development in SCC, TDP was a lot easier for me to get through. Shiori shines in this one as an MC and you can see how far she's come as a character here, so props to Lim on that. Also I adored seeing Kiki again, who is probably the cutest and most fun character in this duology. And the romance between Shiori and Takkan thrive and mature was also incredibly satisfying. Those scenes made me smile. I also enjoyed seeing more of the world Lim has created here, especially the realm of the dragons. Watching Lim bring this world alive was beautiful and easily transportive for me as a reader. Ultimately, this conclusion to SCC brings these characters and this story full circle where Shiori faces choices that will impact her world, her love and her family forever.

this book was just so-so. after the brilliance that was six crimson cranes, it came off as mediocre. i kept feeling that the stakes weren’t high enough and there was no tension or sense of urgency to the characters.

also i think it’s a colossal waste to introduce seryuu and then not make more use of his character. he only shows up in the beginning of this book (where he is treated atrociously by shiori, which i get but at the same time, girl had more empathy for a random boy than her supposed tutor/childhood friend). i guess i was just led to believe that he would play a bigger role in the story.

i’ve noticed that i always prefer elizabeth lim’s first books (spin the dawn & six crimson cranes) over her sequels. granted, the dragons promise is much better than unravel the dusk but both suffer from long convoluted plots that drag on and on. at least shiori is much more likeable than maia, even if both have a tendency to make the stupidest decisions.

i would say i’m not sorely disappointed but i would be lying. nevertheless, this is a great read to pass time and as always, elizabeth lim’s writing is gorgeous.

This book was unfortunately a letdown for me, although I remain a huge Elizabeth Lim fan. It seemed very disjointed and like several books meshed together with multiple conflicts that ended periodically throughout the book without a larger one threading them together. I was particularly sad that the dragon storyline ended in the first quarter of the book and we did not see any more friendship between Shiori and Seryu. I did like that we met a young Edan although he was a far cry from my beloved sorcerer in Spin the Dawn.

Overall, this book just felt lackluster. It felt unnecessary and I believe Six Crimson Cranes would have been better as a standalone. Elizabeth has such a phenomenal storytelling capability and a way of weaving fairytales and lore and this just really did not help her talents shine as they should have.

Overall

People have been recommending Six Crimson Cranes to me since it came out, basically, and I had reservations. Why? I don’t really know. I always thought the cover was gorgeous, but the story always felt like one that wasn’t quite for me. Boy was I wrong about that, though! I sat down and read both books over the course of two days, because I just simply couldn’t put them down. Once I started, I was simply in Kiata for two days and had absolutely no desire to leave, thanks.

The Six Crimson Cranes duology blends East Asian mythology and culture with popular fairy tales to create a beautiful, romantic story with sweet romance, sibling bonds, magic, adventure, and, best of all, DRAGONS!

Lim’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, conjuring up the atmosphere of a fairy tale as she weaves popular, well-known fairy tale elements into her story in refreshing, new ways. I loved seeing all the different ways these seemingly familiar ideas pop up in novel reincarnations! While I didn’t love the second book as much as the first (and it has a dreaded love triangle that really never needed to exist), this is an incredibly solid duology that I will forever recommend to everyone going forward. Speaking of which . . . have you read it yet? What are you waiting for?!

My Thoughts

- I have two words for you: Dragon. Kingdom. Oh yeah, this book takes us there. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that the dragon kingdom of Ai’long is my favorite. Because duh. Dragons. It’s also not surprising that they don’t love humans, having infinitely longer lifespans and, you know, magic. Makes sense to me.

The dragon world isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, of course. It’s actually fear and scheming and political machinations. Since they live so long, it’s easy for resentments to build and foster, for things to stagnate and stay the same. It’s certainly not an easy world to navigate, and it’s one that’s heavily moored in its traditions. Would I still visit it anyway? Don’t be silly, of course I would.

I would have gladly spent more time with the dragons than we did, and not only due to my selfish interest. There were characters I was incredibly curious about and really hoped to learn more about. There were arcs that I thought were going to play out that were never brought up again, which was a little bit disappointing, but more due to my own curiosity than anything else. Of all the settings we’ve seen in this duology, though, the aesthetics and ruthlessness of this one appeal to me the most, and I really enjoyed our visit there! You know, even if Shiori didn’t.

- If you thought there was danger in the first book, hold on to your bonnet. This book ratchets the danger level up to 11 and turns up the action. If the first book was a fairy tale of a romance, this one was an explosion of action and adventure. It’s basically a quest story (which I like even better than romances, if I’m honest, though I know that’s not the case for everyone). Now that Shiori’s secret is out, though, there is so much danger. Everyone wants her for their own nefarious purposes. Even the dragons. Though, to be fair, I don’t necessarily consider it a bad thing to be wanted by dragons. Not even these ones.

I would say that the pace was a little wonky in some parts of the book, where it went forward at breakneck speed and then slowed to a crawl at times. For the most part, though, there was almost always some sort of big action or threat to be contended with. Made only worse, of course, by the fact that magic is a thing and it . . . shouldn’t be? According to a surprisingly large number of people who obviously have their priorities mixed up.

- Now that Shiori has learned to embrace her magic, she’s finding that not everyone in Kiata is so eager to do the same. So she has to grapple with her love for her home versus the fear of its people. Specifically, they’re afraid of her and what her magic means. Also, maybe a little bit what it can do. This follows the pretty basic tropes of fear of the unknown, but the important part is how Shiori reacts to it, right? This sets up some really interesting scenarios and opportunities for Shiori to grow, but also for the kingdom to grow. It challenges the status quo, which is always a hard thing to do, and forces people to think about things deeper than “that’s just the way it’s always been,” which isn’t easy.

If you thought all the danger came from outside, think again. Because as I said, not everyone is as enamored with magic as Shiori is. Some will stop at nothing to prevent its return.

- Gen is a new character, and I found him utterly delightful and I wish his role in the book had been bigger, because oh my gosh, he’s my new favorite. Would it be too much to ask to just get a Gen spinoff? I mean, what’s not to love about this character? He’s a sorcerer obsessed with learning and knowledge, intent on becoming the greatest and learning all the magic he can. Whatever the cost. Whatever the danger. Even if that means sneaking into the Dragon Kingdom, because why not? What wouldn’t one do for knowledge?

He’s also maybe a teensy bit sarcastic, a bit nihilistic, and very blunt. As I said, what’s not to love about him?! I was super curious about his history, but even more curious to find out what new troubles he was bound to get himself into.

Sticking Points

- I’m not usually one for love triangles, so it’s maybe no surprise that I hated the love triangle in this. In fact, it felt a bit shoehorned in. Part of it, I think, is because Shiori’s friendship and relationship with Seryu isn’t really earned. It’s not shown on the page. We’re just told that they spent all this time together and that they’re close, but we’re not actually shown that. Certainly not in this book. The way they interact throughout this makes it feel like they’ve only just met, which is confusing for how close they’re supposed to be. Since the reader spent the last half of the first book getting to know Takkan and falling for him, it seems late to try to shove a (wholly unnecessary) love triangle in here when a platonic friendship would’ve served perfectly. Especially with the way this triangle ends, which I found very unsatisfactory. It’s wiped away almost as suddenly as it appeared.

- The plot of this sequel feels a bit all over the place and like it doesn’t completely fit together into one cohesive story. There are, dare I say, too many things going on in this book. Yes, a lot happened in the first one, too, but it was all part of one solid goal: break the curse and save her brothers. Everything went to that ultimate goal. The goal for this book is sold as returning the pearl to its rightful owner, but there are so many detours and so many times that goal is forgotten or dismissed for other subplots that it felt disjointed and like the plot was pulling in multiple ways.

I loved the politics and scheming and danger of Ai’long, the dragon kingdom. However, it was only about a third of the book, and then promptly forgotten, and had very little bearing on the rest of the book. There are cults and demons and varying new romances, the characters growing up and fulfilling their obligations as rulers. Not all of these threads are neatly tied up at the end. Some are left waving in the wind, and by the end, there had been so many meanderings of the plot that I was curious about the ways all these different characters and storylines that had simply been dropped had actually ended.

This book is very different from its predecessor: It feels very much like an adaptation of a Disney animated movie. Cue plucky princess, some magic, cartoony villains, a lot of heart, and the requisite snappy talking sidekick. For those who love Mulan or The Little Mermaid, this is a sure-fire win. For those hoping for more logic, depth, and intelligence in the characters, it may be a bit disappointing. But the read is very easy, flows well, and is entertaining in a very Disneyesque way.

Story: Shiori is whisked off to the dragon kingdom with a goal to take the pearl to the Dragon King (as she promised to do) but not actually give it to him. The angers the King and Shiori finds that she will have to fight for her freedom and escape the King's clutches if she hopes to see her beloved again.

A lot of the book is fight, get captured, escape, get captured, escape, get captured, fight, escape, get captured. Perhaps a bit disappointing is that Seiryu plays very little a part in the book despite hinting at an unrequited love for the courageous princess. Those hoping to see her prince charming will get him more in the latter half of the book.

The tone seems much different from the first book and lacks a lot of the gravitas I have to agree with other reviewers that this would have served better as a stand alone with new characters rather than continuing Shiori's story. There is too much of a tonal shift from YA fantasy to Disney princess - both are beloved genres but I can't help but feel they should be distinct and separate.

In all, a somewhat young-skewing sequel where the plucky princess fights the bad guys and saves the day. Somewhat cartoony, somewhat repetitive, but not necessarily a bad book, either. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

A beautiful story, filled with so much heart. I really enjoyed this satisfying conclusion and I will absolutely pick up more books from this seriously talented author.

I thought this sequel to Six Crimson Cranes held up to the standard of the first book—in addition to diving deeper into the mythology established just for that novel, which I really enjoyed, there were some missing elements from the fairy tale this series plays with, The Six Swans, that showed up in this one and I found that very satisfying.

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I have been ready for this book since the moment I finished Six Crimson Cranes! The plot in this sequel moved along at a good clip, not lingering unnecessarily at any point. I love Shiori and her determination and strength. She speaks her mind and does what she knows needs to be done, regardless of the consequences to herself. Her brothers got plenty of page time, which I was so happy about since I adore them. We also have a hefty dose of Takkan, who really is a fabulous partner for Shiori. He, more than anyone, *gets* her. A fabulous sequel that perfectly wrapped up this duology.

The Dragon’s Promise was an incredibly fast-paced book. I loved Six Crimson Cranes and this book was honestly so much fun! Princess Shiori is one of my favorite protagonists.

So I actually ended up DNFing this book which is really sad cause I really enjoyed all of Elizabeth Lim's other books. This sequel just felt unneeded and was about an entirely different plot and setting that just felt disconnected from the previous book as a whole.

Thank you @randomhousechildrens and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC of THE DRAGON’S PROMISE.

I read and loved SIX CRIMSON CRANES last December and was so excited to get an eARC of THE DRAGON’S PROMISE. Sadly the sequel didn’t live up to the first book for me.

As some other reviewers have mentioned, THE DRAGON’S PROMISE felt more like a series of novellas stitched together than a single book. Shiori, Takkan and her brothers seemed to repeatedly wind up in the same situation and then narrowly escape. It just got really boring and repetitive.

That said, I really loved the ending and wished we had gotten more information about the legend behind the ending. I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to give any spoilers.

Overall, an underwhelming ending to a duology that might have been better left as a standalone novel.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4403551801

One of the best sequel after the first book !!! The wait is totally worth it. I love seeing Shiori, Kiki, and Seryu navigating the complicated politics and the unexpected problems. The world is magical, the writing is eloquent, Shiori is still an amazing main character.

can't wait to see what Elizabeth Lim has planned up next

This was a great follow up to Six Crimson Cranes.I loved the journey that Princess Shiori went on. I was captivated the entire time. There was so much to digest and take in. The world building, character development and pacing were perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐️

#NetGalley #TheDragonsPromise #ElizabethLim

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Six Crimson Cranes should have been a standalone novel. There. I said it. If you loved this sequel, I'm happy for you, but generally speaking it was pretty awful for me. Shiori has gone back to her petulant and selfish self that she started out as in book one. All of that character progress has gone down the drain. She's willfully ignorant and ignores everyone's advice. It's one of those "Shiori, no!" and then she goes "Shiori, yes!" She is standing in her own way so much of the time and after she grew so much in the first one it is painful to see. What makes her regression so much more painful is that all the other characters have basically been reduced to paper cutouts of their former selves. They only serve to further the plot, which honestly was a mess as well.

The plot is scattered across several different storylines and none of them done well. While I can appreciate a link back to Lim's other books, this whole demon plotline feels unnecessary and also uninteresting. The other plotlines don't fair much better. There is no stakes, no tension, no...anything. It was just so boring. Also, after the first 30% or so of this book, the title doesn't even make sense anymore. Why call it The Dragon's Promise if it's only going to be such a small part of the book? Seryu fans, that's why. Reel them in and then take them for a journey they neither wanted nor asked for.

I wish I liked this book. I was hoping for a solid conclusion to the series, but honestly, I wish this wasn't a series at all now. Whenever a sequel makes me wonder if the first one was bad too and I just didn't notice, that is not a good thing. But also, I just wish this wasn't a series because I also wish Lim's first duology wasn't a duology. I disliked the second book for that series soooooo much and now this! It makes me feel like the publishers are telling her to write duologies for stories that would be served so much better as standalones. If the end of Six Crimson Cranes had been tweaked just a little then it would have been a perfectly solid standalone. Or at the very least, tweak the ending so that the two books have a solid tie. Could the stepmother have survived in the first one and then... something? I don't know. I just feel like Lim's first books have so much promise, but then the sequels are abyssmal. It could be that Lim wants to write these as duologies and just can't quite figure out how to do it, but it feels more like they're being forced upon her for the sake of money.

Overall, I wouldn't really recommend this book. I know it sounds rude, but it was just so painful for me to read and basically destroyed my fond memories of the first one. When a sequel destroys your good vibes for the first book, and not because it was so well written it ruined you, then there is a problem. Is it a problem with me? Sure. Yes, let's go with that. I'm sure some readers are going to be perfectly happy and satisfied with where this went. As for me, I am questioning if I will ever pick up another novel by Elizabeth Lim. Maybe if she writes a standalone, but most likely I won't be picking up any sequels.

The Dragon Promise was a very solid conclusion of the duology. I can't say I like it better than Six Crimson Cranes, because obviously that was the superior book between the two, but this book had a solid ending that you couldn't help but adored anyway. Shiori's shenanigans under the sea was very fun to read. Cannot wait for our stepmother's prequel book!

Six Crimson Cranes was the second book I picked up in 2022, and I’m so glad to have had the chance to read its sequel. I missed Shiori so much!

This duology is one of the most tight-knight and wonderful young adult fantasies I’ve read in a while. It’s so perfectly whole, with a magic system contained in myths and legends that feel familiar and yet enticing. Lim is so good at weaving together a fantasy world, and she writes Shiori with so much love that it’s visible in every page.

I love how Takkan off sets Shiori as well. She’s reckless and altogether mischievous, and he’s brave enough to keep up while still tempering her with his patience. I think they’d both hate it if he dulled her light- instead he grounds her ambitions and magic to something more familiar.

And the dragons!! Oh my goodness, the dragons. I’m loving all the dragon stories from East Asia, specifically China that are coming out lately. I’m obsessed with the way the book crafts itself around creatures straight out of a children’s folktale. It feels like perfection for anyone like me, who’s spent a childhood gleaning every bit of magic they can out of myths and folklore

Home, love and sorrow are such beautifully explored emotions, and I adore how family is what drivers our protagonist. We’ve followed Shiori on such a ride from the moment she jumped in the pond- I’m happy to see her get the happily ever after. Elizabeth Lim’s books is what legend is made of- no wonder Shiori’s tale stays immortal in the stars.

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC <3

Let’s start with saying I LOVED Six Crimson Cranes and was sooooo thrilled when I received the ARC of The Dragon’s Promise from NetGalley! And the first 30% of this book when they are in the dragon kingdom is stunning and action packed and I loved every minute of it! However, from there I could not keep myself motivated to read… the plot and the characters were falling flat for me which was so sad! The only redeeming part was the very end of the book (I’m not going to spoil) but it along with the first 30% are why this book still ended up being 3.5/4 stars for me! Is it worth the read following Six Crimson Cranes — definitely as it wraps up the cliffhanger we were left with! Just be aware that it definitely didn’t live up to the first book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC!