I loved this book! It was such an enthralling YA fantasy. I felt wonderfully immersed in the beautiful world, and I loved the way the MC - who wasn't my favorite at first - grew on me over the course of the story. It was a vibrant, compelling tale that was never predictable or stale. I LOVED the unique take on dragons in the story. And I CAN'T WAIT for book 2 (seriously, I need it now, I'm so eager to find out what happens next).

Wow this book left me speechless, I really love how Elizabeth lim writes, very pure and wonderful, despite the disappointment that takes me in unravel the dusk, I feel that everything went very fast and some situations were missing, this book returned to the taste of this author. I love the magic of this book and of course Chinese culture, I can't wait to read the second part and hope it has a good ending

A truly beautiful story—Elizabeth Lim has done it again. I loved the Blood and Stars duology and as a follow-up, this book did not disappoint. This is a stunning retelling of the story The Wild Swans, in which the princess' brothers are turned into swans, though in this case, it is cranes. Lim crafted an incredible fairytale story, full of rich, East Asia-inspired world-building, lovable characters, and a twisting, magical plot.

Six Crimson Cranes has everything you could want out of this kind of book: an arranged marriage trope, heartfelt themes of family, magic paper cranes (we <3 Kiki), dragons, and curses and quests.

Shiori was a great main character and so interesting to follow. Watching her turn from a silly girl, chasing after her brothers, falling into ponds, avoiding her stepmother, and trying to shirk her royal duties into a strong woman, determined to protect those she loves at all costs was such a fun ride. The moment Shiori is cursed and sent away from her home, she takes everything in stride, coming into her own in a new way: through tough labor and being a social pariah.

When she finally meets Takkan and that part of the plot takes off, it was so great. I love the Little Mermaid vibes we get as the two get close, despite the fact that Shiori never says a word. I very much enjoyed the romance in this story. And I always love a good little sister (unrelated to the main character, I mean).

I didn't love every second of this book—there were some slow bits in the middle and I really wanted more of the water dragon Seryu—but it didn't take away too much from my reading experience, since the writing was so gorgeous and the atmosphere one you can really sink into. I am very much looking forward to the second book in this duology.

Lim has done it again -- crafted yet another original, beautifully-written fantasy, with fairytale vibes, that easily transports you to a magical world filled with dragons, enchanters, and sorcerers! Six Crimson Cranes was a delight to read, packed with action, adventure, political intrigue, and romance. This fast-paced read captivated me, to say the least, and I couldn’t put it down!

Princess Shiori of Kiata possesses forbidden magic that has allowed her to animate a paper crane named Kiki. Shiori’s control over her magic goes awry on the day of her betrothal ceremony, which leads to a near-death experience. Fortunately, Shiori is rescued by Seryu, a dragon. Although her dreaded arranged marriage to Prince Takkan is, fortunately, forestalled, Shiori uncovers secrets about her stepmother, Raikama, that she curiously investigates. As a result, Shiori and her brothers end up cursed. Shiori is silenced and unrecognizable with a bowl obscuring her face, and her six brothers are turned into cranes. Thus begins Shiori’s quest to break the curse, during which she uncovers a plot against her kingdom and encounters a host of side characters -- some sweet, others evil. There are shocking twists, thrilling challenges, and significant growth that happens along the way!

I especially loved the characters and elements of East Asian culture spun throughout this book. Shiori was feisty, witty, mischievous, determined, and...a foodie!!!! Also, she didn’t rely on her magic to be a total bada$$, which I appreciated. Her familial/platonic/romantic relationships were endearing. Takkan was kind, protective, and just an absolute cinnamon bun! And I could taste the red bean paste and rice balls through the pages, as well as picture the vibrant seasonal festivals!

Overall, I was really swept up by this world and I can’t wait to return to it! I was left feeling hopeful and the cliffhanger wasn’t unbearable :) If you enjoyed Spin the Dawn, as I did, I think you’ll love Six Crimson Cranes, too!

Finally, a HUGE thank you to Netgalley, Knopf, and Elizabeth Lim for sending me an ARC. To say I was thrilled to receive this would be an understatement, as Six Crimson Cranes has been on my TBR for over a year and it is clear that Lim has become a new favorite author of mine. Not to mention, the cover is absolutely stunning!

ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Y'all Elizabeth Lim is BACK and she's giving us all the coolest fantasy magic vibes! Six Crimson Cranes is a story that draws on lots of East Asian folklore, giving us a story that you likely have not heard before. Our MC Shiori is the only princess of the Emperor, youngest after her 6 older brothers. Faced with a betrothal she does not want, Shirori's secret magic (in a land where magic is eradicated, duh), is revealed, propelling her into danger. Before she knows it, a curse has been cast -- her stepmother has transformed her brothers into cranes and sent Shiori away with a warning: for every word you speak, one brother will die.

Silenced, far from home, and without hope, Shiori must find a way to free herself and her brothers from this curse.

Great things that I loved about this story: the culture! the folklore! the magic! a journey of self-discovery and growth! sibling love! So many wonderful pieces went into this story.

However, there was one aspect that I could not get over, and that was our MC's naiveté. While a bit of this would make our character relatable, it seemed like Shiori couldn't make a rational decision for a lot of the book. At one point, there was a line that said something like "I am seventeen now, I am wise enough to...xyz" which resulted in a big eyeroll. She was an interesting character, and definitely showed some good growth, but having a MC that annoys you for a lot of the book is tough to get over.

But the story kept me in place and I will definitely be excited to see what happens next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There was so much buzz about Six Crimson Cranes, and I was eager to get to read it! Elizabeth Lim did a fabulous job creating this world in Six Crimson Cranes! Shiori, the main character, was likable from the start, and Lim quickly dives into weaving this fantastic tale of family, friendship, and love.
I had not heard of the six cranes fairy tale, so I didn't have any biases while reading the book. The slow burning, hinted at romance was just enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. I'll definitely be recommending this awesome novel to the students when we get back to school!
A wonderfully, fabulous tale!!

What a delightfully unexpected story. I'm not too familiar with Hans Christian Anderson's "The Wild Swans," but as far as retellings go, they tend to be pretty predictable. This was not the case with "Six Crimson Cranes." It starts off as any typical fairy tale: a spoiled princess must go through trials and tribulations to learn a life-changing lesson. But Elizabeth Lim made Princess Shiori just so gosh darn relatable that you root for her from the very beginning. Then it's just twist after twist after twist with East Asian folklore beautifully woven throughout. Don't worry, we're not talking M. Night Shyamalan twists, just more like sudden changes of direction. Kind of like how a snake might move (- ‿◦)

If none of that is convincing, then read it for the cover. It is gorgeous beyond words.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shiori’anma is the princess of Kiata, and as the seventh child and only girl has lacked for nothing, beloved by both her father and brothers. But she has long hidden a dangerous secret – she possesses magic, forbidden in Kiata. When on the morning of her betrothal ceremony to Takkan, a lord from the distant north, she loses control over it, it brings her to the attention of Raikama, her stepmother. Unknown to everyone, Raikama is a sorceress, and with dark magic, turns the six princes into cranes and strands Shiori on a remote island with a warning that for every word she speaks, one of her brothers will die. Voiceless and alone, Shiori is determined to find her brothers and break the curse, but in the process, stumbles upon a deeper conspiracy that stretches far beyond Raikama’s betrayal. It’s up to her to restore Kiata to what it used to be, and when she unexpectedly crosses paths with Takkan, learning to trust him could be crucial to her success as danger draws closer.

“Find the light that makes your lantern shine. Hold on to it, even when the dark surrounds you. Not even the strongest wind will blow out the flame.”

I had pretty high expectations for this book after how much I enjoyed the Spin the Dawn duology, and Six Crimson Cranes managed to exceed all of them! Set in the same world as A’landi, this book certainly had its share of magic, myth and lore, but what I personally appreciated more was the complex plot and trying to figure out what each character’s motivations were, because things are definitely not what they seem at first glance. Elizabeth Lim’s writing is beautiful and she has a wonderful way of bringing the world and characters to life such that it transports the reader into this riveting story that is impossible to put down.

This book is entirely narrated from Shiori’s perspective, and it works, because she has the most to endure and learn, going from princess to nameless, faceless servant girl in the blink of an eye. I did feel that this part of Shiori going through all these hardships stretched too long at times but her transformation from a sheltered, spoiled and headstrong princess we first meet is perfectly portrayed. There is still so much more room for her character to grow, which I feel is a very good sign for the sequel. The romance between Shiori and Takkan was very sweet, and I liked that it didn’t distract too much from the story. I wondered for a while if Seryu, the dragon prince, was going to be a love interest but I’m glad that didn’t happen. I was quite disappointed though, that Seryu didn’t have a more central role to play, and apart from the few magic lessons he gives Shiori, he hardly features, so I hope that will change in the next book. I also really enjoyed Raikama’s character, to my surprise and her role was an intriguing one.

While Shiori’s character arc is excellent, one area that was lacking was any actual explanation of her magic itself. Of course, with her magic being blocked for much of the book, there weren’t too many opportunities for her to actually do anything, but some more background as to the nature of her abilities would have been nice.

The ending wrapped up far more plot points that I expected it would for the first book, but it also leaves things at a very interesting place going into the sequel, with a possible reappearance of a familiar foe. I’m really curious to see if this means we might get some sort of cameo from Maia or Edan. Six Crimson Cranes was a fantastic read, and a fast-paced adventure. I really enjoyed this book inspired by old fairytales and folklore, and would highly recommend it to fans of both fantasy novels and retellings! This is definitely one book not to be missed this summer!

This is a beautifully crafted story based on a well-known myth about a girl and her six brothers, who run afoul of a witch and are punished, the brothers by being turned into cranes and the sister by being given a nearly-impossible task, to create a net out of a deadly nettle to capture the witch's enemy; otherwise, the brothers will remain cranes forever. For the duration of the curse, the girl cannot speak.

In this iteration, Shiori is the youngest daughter of the emperor, and her father and six brothers dote upon her. Like many youngest children of royalty, she is betrothed to a young man she barely knows, and dreads her upcoming marriage. As she strives to escape her fate, she discovers her stepmother's secret - and in response, her stepmother retaliates by turning her brothers into cranes and sending Shiori to the far reaches of the empire, with a bowl permanently affixed to her head, and the knowledge that each sound she lets escape her throat will cause the death of one of her brothers. Full of twists, turns, and a surprise ending, this rendition will capture your attention, and hold it to the very end. Highly recommended for readers of both mythology and fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC!

Elizabeth Lim's retelling of The Six Swans is full of heart, twists, and beauty. Our protagonist Shiori is just beginning to master her secret magic when she discovers her stepmother is a sorceress. Her six brothers are cursed to turn into cranes every day, and she is given an impossible task that she must complete without making a sound.

I've loved this story since I read Daughter of the Forest (another excellent retelling), and I think Six Crimson Cranes might be my new favorite version. I found the characters engaging, flawed, and compelling. The worldbuilding was also gorgeous--and the descriptions of food made me hungry!

I've had difficulty recently finding YA that truly felt like YA in all its best qualities--full of page-turning adventure, loss, and hope--and Six Crimson Cranes has reminded me of all the reasons I love this age range. Could not recommend it more.

Also Takkan is bae and I ship him/Shiori with all my heart. (Pleaaaase don't become more of a love triangle in Book 2!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Princess Shiori lives a carefree life with her six brothers, stepmother, and her father, the emperor. But she is engaged to a man she has never met, from a far-flung region, and she has no desire to go through with the wedding. When she stumbles upon hidden magic in a kingdom where magic is supposedly eradicated, she finds herself banished and her betrothed is the only person who can help her.

The story is inspired by fairytales and by Asian folklore. I enjoyed that fairytale tone to the story, and the romance plot line. Something about the magic system did not work for me, however. I could not piece together the different elements of the world, like dragons, demons, magic, sorcerers. The writing was also not as vivid as I would have liked, making it difficult for me to bring the scenes and the world to life in my mind.

I did enjoy the setting, which reminded me of her previous series, the Blood of Stars duology. I loved the inclusion of Asian-inspired folklore and characters. The writing and the plot confusion led me to give this a lower rating, but it was a fun YA fantasy read.

This took me practically the whole month to read and I have also forgotten how to write reviews.

This book was such a throwback to older fantasy books I've read and enjoyed. The writing style, the story, the slowburn romance...I really loved Shiori and Kiki, and seeing Shiori grow into such a strong, independent women. The romance was perfection. Takkan is everything you would want in a love interest. He has a softer, more thoughtful and creative side, and also a brave, sword-wielding, I-shall-protect-my-loved-ones side. Best of both worlds. The romance didn't overpower the story, but was subtle and grew slowly. It's so rare to see that in books nowadays and was what reminded me of older fantasy.

The plot itself was fast-paced and exciting. I really loved seeing so much of the world and Megari was probably one of my favourite side characters. I also loved all of Shiori's brothers and how different they are from each other, but their relationship with Shiori was my favourite part.

While the end hints at more to come, I kind of wish the book could have ended in one. I don't know why, but the story just feels finished (or it could have been finished in one). And my only worry is that book two will drag on, potentially lead to a love triangle, and we won't be able to see more of Takkan and Megari and Shiori's brothers.

But other than that, this was really beautifully written and I loved the story. 4.25/5 stars.

“I think of it as a duty to one’s heart. Food feeds the belly, thoughts feed the mind, but love is what feeds the heart.”- Elizabeth Lim, Six Crimson Cranes
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Out Now! Thank you to @knopfteen and @netgalley for my copy. How BEAUTIFUL is this cover?
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It is a first book in a new series BUT the way it ended wasn’t in a terrible cliffhanger. So while I’m excited about the next one I don’t feel like I was abruptly kept hanging. Here are a few things about this book and things I loved…
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-Shiori, the Princess and youngest of 7 children and the only girl
-Magic/ Folflore
-Dragons/ demons
-Lots of yummy food references
-curses
-slow burn romance
-friends to lovers/ arranged marriage
-magical paper crane
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Shiori, lives in Kiata where magic has been banned and where it’s no longer practiced. Shiori is a young 16 year old when the book starts and she’s very adventurous and also engaged to be married. She of course hasn’t met him yet and has no intention of marrying. Shiori also discovers that she has magic and your dragon offers to help her with it since even practicing it is prohibited. Well she soon discovers that her stepmother is hiding secrets and she herself has magic. Shiori and her brothers end up being cursed by her. Shiori, with a bowl on her head and unable to speak finds herself away from home. With every word she decides to speak a brother will die. Her brothers on the other hand are turned into cranes. Shiori then begins to look for answers and ways to break the curse.
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Like any first book in a fantasy series, this one had a lot of world building. I would have liked more info formation on certain things but I also didn’t feel lost as I have felt with other books. I loved the magic and folklore aspect. Shiori was an amazing character. Not everything is as it seems. ALOT of stuff happened in the last quarter of the book. I still very much enjoyed it and was happy how it ended! It was a beautiful story about family, love, bravery, and forgiveness.
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I really loved this read. I thought it was super unique read. The structure reminded me so much of the structure of spin the dawn. I was a tad more invested in these characters and really loved how the fairytale elements was mixed with fantsay elements. This book also had some really fun and unexpected twists and turns. I also really loved the main character of this read and the focus on siblings realtionships. I also really loved the political alliance (marrige that was featured) def excited for the sequel!

If you’ve been around me for any amount of time, you know I love retellings, and Six Crimson Cranes is an absolute gem of a reimaging. While the story is largely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Wild Swans, it also includes bits of other classics like Rumpelstiltskin, Cinderella, Snow White, Thumbelina and elements from Chinese and Japanese legends including the legend of the moon goddess, Chang’e (嫦娥), Madame White Snake (白蛇傳), The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Chinese dragon folklore, and The Girl with the Black Bowl. It seems like a lot, but Lim effortlessly blends Western fairy tales and East Asian mythology, all the while managing to create a story uniquely her own.

Have you seen six cranes with crimson crowns?



It took me a few chapters to adjust to the cadence of the book, but I was quickly enchanted by Elizabeth Lim’s lyrical prose as the story unraveled. She masterfully weaves a tale using vivid imagery and detailed descriptions to pull you into her world, making Six Crimson Cranes an immersive reading experience. The atmosphere is mythical and magical and captures the fairy tale/folklore vibe perfectly. The book is filled with gorgeous settings I want to visit, festivals I want to attend, and food I want to eat. (Seriously, I want to eat all the food.)

(As a side note, Six Crimson Cranes is set in the same universe as the Spin the Dawn duology, but I’m proof you don’t have to know anything about the series to enjoy the book.)

If anyone was a seer, perhaps it had been Mama— for naming me Shiori, meaning “knot.” A symbol that I was the last of her seven children, the one who would bring my brothers together, no matter how fate conspired to pull us apart.



I didn’t particularly like Shiori initially, but her growth and development over the course of the book quickly changed my mind. Strong Female Characters™ in YA can be a little one note at times, but Shiori is such compelling protagonist. She’s fearless and reckless and a little headstrong at times, but she’s spurred on by a quiet, inner strength and a deep-seated love for her family. She literally spends most of the book without her voice but never lacks any agency. I love the fact that she isn’t simply simply a strong independent heroine who goes off on her own to save the day but grows stronger because of the bonds that tie her to her family.

The rest of the characters in Six Crimson Cranes did not disappoint. Maybe it’s because I secretly want a giant herd of big brothers, but the scenes with Shiori and her brothers were some of my favorites. Seryu, the dragon prince, is the kind of cocky, charming character I can’t help but love. He doesn’t play a big role in the book, but he very nearly stole the show. (Though I might be biased because he was giving off some major snarky Haku vibes.) Lord Bushian‘s family and Chiruan, his gruff head chef help round out the cast nicely, and I was ridiculously attached to them very early on.

My only complaint about the book is that it was over too soon, which led to some issues with pacing and development. (Or maybe issues made me feel like the book was over too soon? 🤷🏻‍♀️) As I mentioned, the book starts out a bit slow. There’s some info dumping towards the climax, and the ending feels a little too rushed. I also wish some of the characters–especially Shiori’s brothers–were a bit more developed. The princes are great as a collective unit, but individually they don’t have a ton of distinct personality traits. It’s understandable since there are six of them and they spend most of the book as birds, but I’m hoping we’ll get to know them better in Book 2.

Other than that, Six Crimson Cranes had everything I wanted and more: heartwarming family moments, lovable side characters, immersive storytelling, a cute romance and a some Disney x Spirited Away vibes. I am now hopelessly sleep-deprived and want to build a time machine so I can go to 2022 and read the sequel, but it’s totally worth it.

This flows so well that I was barely aware of the chapters passing. Each scene melds into the next and even when there wasn't a lot of action happening, I was still engrossed in the story. I appreciated that there was a bit of romance but not the main focus of the plot. Takkan is a cutie and the friendship they developed without Shiori speaking was sweet.

I'm not sure what fairy tale this is a retelling of but this has magic and dragons and a paper crane come to life and it's pretty cool! I definitely hope we get to see more dragons in the sequel, as well as meet some more friends along the way. Shiori changes a lot through the course of the book and as she loses the entitlement she had as the princess, she gains allies to help her fight dark magic. I loved Shiori's journey and with that ending, more excitement is coming!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for the copy

This book was really easy to read!!

If I’m being honest, I’m inflating my rating. If this novel was by any other writer I would have docked it 1-2 stars for… characters being… too kind? And considerate? And if I was rating novels purely on how well crafted they were, this book would get a lower rating. The pacing is a little uneven. Shiori spends two(?) months at an inn as an indentured servant and then gets a boat and a boat driving lesson in less than an afternoon (the boat never becomes relevant again). A more critical beta reading team probably would have helped iron out and refine some of these scenes. However, I loved how welcoming the novel (and its world) was. As a reader, it was easy to slip into the characters' lives and enjoy the ride.

I enjoyed how the novel wove itself into Lim’s existing cannon with her Blood of Stars duology. Overall this novel succeeded in giving me a sense of whimsy and feel-good smilies. I came to care for the brash protagonist, the prideful (and weird) dragon, and the sensitive warlord’s son.

Parts of the novel (particularly the betrothed’s easy acceptance of the protagonist) had me trying very dearly to suspend my disbelief. In many ways, one needs to approach the entirety of Lim’s novel as a fairytale. Somethings just don’t make sense and you just need to roll with it. Elizabeth Lim’s world is a kinder one than we dare dream. Within the story, the more ugly facets of human behavior get dulled. Characters are just kind sometimes and the protagonist can sometimes just sow up a debilitating injury on the fly. For all my gripes, hers is a fantasy world I want to live in (thats more than I can say for most other fantasy writers).

I am very, very much looking forward to another novel. I thought that this would be a standalone but by the end of the novel we are left with unanswered questions. Also, the crimson cranes gang never met our favorite enchanter from Lim’s other series. I’m hoping all that (and more! Like dragon boy *cough cough*) are going to feature in book 2.

Promotional taglines for makeup products are not usually what comes to mind when I think of books I enjoy, but I can think of no other story that better fits the “easy, breezy, beautiful” motto than Elizabeth Lim’s Six Crimson Cranes.


Easy. For a fantasy story in a land that comprises several different myths, Six Crimson Cranes could not be an easier world to step into and become entangled with. It begins with a typical set up: a 16 year old protagonist whose privilege as the single princess in a court of six princeling brothers allows her a level of freedom, vivacity, and willfulness that leads her to rebel against the restrictions that an impending marriage would force. Even more familiar, Shiori’anma, the main character, is irked by her step-mother who seems to make her life difficult just to spite her wants. This all comes to a head when Shiori’anma builds a relationship with the young dragon who saved her from death following an act of headstrong rebellion, despite the fact that dragons have not been allowed in her kingdom for centuries. Her life is even more impacted by her decision to spy on the only other person who seems to hold forbidden magic, her stepmother. What comes next is a wild quest that sees Shiori’anma realize the pitfalls of receiving what you wish for — even if all she desires is the life that she once led.

Breezy. Six Crimson Cranes is a short novel. It took me about four hours to read the entire story; the book sets a breezy pace in prose and plot. During Shiori’anma’s quest to return to her freewheeling life with loving, but perpetually preoccupied brothers, we are treated to logical action and build up that moves the story by the flip of each page. From Shiori’anma’s time working at an inn being an introduction to her life outside of the palace under dire restrictions that she cannot dare to break to her finding out more about the true nature of the man she is betrothed to, each segment of the story follows a beat that is consistent without becoming tiresome or predictable. Her moments of sadness, hope, encouragement, and resignation ebb and flow in a rhythm that allows the reader to actually go through the emotions with her without suffering from being over or underwhelmed.

Beautiful. Descriptive scenes from garments worn at the palace, festivals, landscapes, and magic use are a treat. Because Shiori’anma and her brothers travel throughout their kingdom, Kiata, readers learn the difference between the sunny palace lands where they grew up to the neglected islands, and frozen northern ranges that make up their journeys. The writing lends itself to building these scenes, in such a way that this book should be a joy for readers who enjoy picturing the worlds around them.

A surprise aspect — that I cannot wait to hear other fans of retellings talk about — is the integration of some of the Sleeping Beauty story within this novel. It was a delightful realization for me to reach but I also understand that many myths are universal, so while this part of the story may be reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty for me, I’d love to hear if there are other story retelling components that I missed and what their inspirations are. All in all, I enjoyed Six Crimson Cranes and hope to soon be in conversation with readers about the aspects of the story that brought them joy. I will definitely pick up the sequel!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Six Crimson Cranes has been on my mind ever since I came across the book on Goodreads. So when I saw that I was going to go get in one of my Fairyloot boxes? I freaked out. Then when I saw an email receiving the ARC from NetGalley - I freaked out all over again. After all that, I ended up buying the actual audiobook too.

So, yeah, I have a problem.
A good problem in my eyes but details.

After diving into this beautiful book, I'll admit that it started off great and ended great. Somewhere in the middle it did feel like things were dragging a bit because nothing was really happening. Plus, I wasn't a huge fan of the step mother so whenever she was mentioned I was just kind of frustrated. As for getting to know Shiori, eh, she was an okay character for most of the book. It did take her a while to catch onto things which kind of annoyed me but at least she got it eventually?

Other than that, I actually liked the book and the ideas within it. Trouble always seems to find Shiori and I was very intrigued with all the curses too. I'm not sure what to think about the ending because it didn't really do anything for me but I will still dive into the sequel. Mostly because I just want to see what is going to happen next.

I hope it has a lot of action in it because I need it.

Shiori'anma is everyone's strong heroine, a beautiful Princess from Kiata who harbors a dangerous secret that could mean exile or death if anyone were to find out. Soon, Shiori's magic is revealed to none other than Raikama, her step-mother who casts a dark spell on Shiori by placing a magic bowl on her head obstructing her perfect features from the eyes of others and forbidding her to talk or the lives of her six brothers who have just transformed into crimson cranes will be in jeopardy. Then she is cast far far away from everyone she knows and left on her own to figure out how adult. No longer living as a teenager princess, Shiori has a long road ahead of her in her quest to find and save her brothers.

Author Elizabeth Lim weaves together mythology from classic literature/fairytales (The Wild Swans/Cinderella) and Chinese folklore as well ) Madame White Snake, Chan E The Moon Goddess, Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, and The Girl with the Black Bowl). Lim is brilliant at combining East and West mythology and creating a vibrant story with characters that are really developed. I can see this as a huge movie series. There is so much to unpack in this first book in this new fantasy series.

Although the target audience may state young adult, this book is perfect for any adult as well. Has all the makings of successful reading: action, adventure, fantasy, magic, exile, quests, and a bit of romance here or there. I am quite impressed with Elizabeth Lim as an author, because to work her magic on Six Crimson Cranes takes an organized and creative genius! Can you tell that I highly enjoyed and truly recommend Six Crimson Cranes? Go pick it up right away, it is out now!

Did I mention there are dragons?? Oh almost forgot to throw in that quick teaser. Yes, at least two dragons! Prepare for an epic adventure.