AHHHH! Hi. I’m Haley and I loved this book. Six Crimson Cranes was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and UGH it lived up to all my expectations! I adored Lim’s Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk and was SO excited to get an advance copy of Six Crimson Cranes. Just look at that gorgeous cover!

Plot:

Shiori and her brothers are cursed and separated by their evil stepmother Raikama. The six brothers are turned into cranes and Shiori is cursed with silence and a bowl on her head. Any sound she utters will kill her brothers one by one. When the curse is cast, Shiori finds herself in a distant land all alone. She must find her brothers and find their way home, all while trying to break the curse.

Six Crimson Cranes takes you on so many adventures in pursuit of their goal. I genuinely had no clue what was going to happen next, but I was excited! From working in a sketchy inn to being stuck in castle in the far reaches of her kingdom, Shiori makes unlikely friends along the way. This felt like a bunch of small quests rolled into one excellent grand story.

Characters:

There are so many excellent characters in Six Crimson Cranes. Shiori, our main character, is fierce and brave, a little sassy, with the heart of a warrior. She will do anything to protect her family and return things to the way they should be. The brothers are as protective as you would expect them to be, and have their own personalities and character traits. I did pick up on maaaybe a little bit of a love triangle situation and I’m not a huge fan of triangles, so I’m interested to see where Lim takes us in the next book. One thing I can say with certainty is nearly everyone will surprise you!

Writing:

Lim’s writing in Six Crimson Cranes was nothing short of magical. When I saw that Shiori wasn’t going to be able to speak I thought I was going to hate it. I’m a major dialogue reader and I thought the book just wouldn’t be for me. I did not suffer for one second. Lim is an expert and was able to keep me engaged with the story, even though Shiori couldn’t speak. The adventures didn’t let up, and I am so excited to see what happens next for our characters!

Overall:

Six Crimson Cranes is an absolutely magical adventure. It was everything I hoped for and more! I need to get my hands on the next book right this dang second. Shiori and her paper crane have stolen my heart.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

If you've read Lim's previous duology, you know that she weaves a beautiful story full of mythology and mystery. Six Crimson Cranes is no exception! There were some throwbacks to the Spin the Dawn books, which I loved. The writing was beautiful and I had trouble putting it down. Lovely story, interesting characters, and a long red string of fate weaving the story together.

Absolutely amazing story! After spending the last 5+ years reading YA and adult fantasy stories can begin to blend together, and it is noticeable when a story draws from a well-known fairy tale. However, Six Crimson Crane does an absolutely stellar job at blending eastern and western stories to create its own unique experience. I cannot wait until the rest of the series comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Elizabeth Lim for the opportunity to read Six Crimson Cranes in Exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved Elizabeth Lim's craft and unique storytelling with her The Blood of Stars duology, which includes Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk. Both novels are phenomenal works of art, and when I found Six Crimson Cranes would be coming, and is tied into the world of A'landi (though takes place in a different country and prior to the events of The Blood of Stars), I must say this was one of my most anticipated reads for 2021 and it certainly deserves a 5/5 star rating, 100%!
Shiori'anma is a princess with six brothers, and she is about to be married to a man she doesn't care for, mostly because she doesn't want to be away from her home and family. Once she (and her brothers) marry, they will be going separate ways and will no longer be able to spend time together the way they always have. But Shiori has a secret. She has magic, something that is forbidden in the country of Kiata. She knew she was different when she accidentally brought to life a paper crane that one of her brothers made for her. When she meets a mischievous dragon, he helps train her, but also hints that her stepmother, Raikama, is also a sorceress. Perhaps Shiori can learn from her?
Because magic is forbidden, that is not a viable option. Also, Raikama has it out for Shiori and her brothers. After Shiori catches Raikama in the midst of some strange demonic spell, she finds that her brothers have all been turned into cranes and a walnut bowl has been permanently molded over her head. Shiori finds herself in some far off part of the region with no money and unable to speak. For every word she speaks, one of her brothers will fall down dead. Now Shiori must find her brothers and navigate through the world without using her words, lest she kill one of her brothers.

A good part of the novel brings Shiori to live temporarily at the castle of her betrothed, Takkan, but she can't say who she is. Everyone thinks she's a demon with that bowl on her head and her inability to speak. Takkan and his sister, Megari, take an instant liking to Shiori, called "Lina" as they do not know her real name. But a live-in cousin, Zairena, really seems to dislike Shiori and attempts to sabotage her at every turn. All the while, Shiori uses the cover of night in a gross fish shed to weave a net using the fabled starstroke plant she stole from the dragons, all so she can use the net to take a dragon pearl from Raikama. Her brothers seek Raikama's real name, for together, after taking the pearl and uttering her true name, the curse shall be lifted from them all. But many obstacles stand in their way.

There are so many aspects I love about this novel. The beautiful cover. The character development. The phenomenal writing craft. Dragons. Magic. This book really stands out among others in its genre. It takes various stories in Asian folklore and brings them together to create this magical tale. I also love the references to characters seen in The Blood of Stars duology. You definitely do not need to read those first. It would be fun to read these two series in either order, but the very last word of the novel certainly had me jumping out of my seat in shock at its relation to Lim's other A'landi tale! Lim does a great job with plot twists. There were so many unexpected turns, and it looks like there will be a second installment. I absolutely cannot wait. As I mentioned, Six Crimson Cranes was one of my most anticipated books of 2021 and it was a magical ride of unique excitement that certainly did not disappoint!

Six Crimson Cranes was one of my most-anticipated reads of this year–and, I am pleased to report, it exceeded my expectations. Taking the bones of Western fairytales (especially “The Wild Swans”) and reshaping them in an Asian-inspired world brimming with its own unique mythologies, Elizabeth Lim has created a tale that feels at once classic and wholly original.

This book is positively brimming with things to love. It has classic tropes like a prince in disguise, a fierce princess in exile, and an evil stepmother. It has vibrant new details like a shapeshifting dragon boy, a magical paper bird, and enchanted walnut pouches. It has food descriptions guaranteed to make your mouth water, six loyal brothers you’ll wish were your own, and a multilayered plot that carefully unfolds with each chapter, revealing new depths of magic, adventure, and courtly intrigue. Fans of Lim’s previous duology, The Blood of Stars, will delight in the small Easter eggs she has hidden throughout the book (this story takes place in a different kingdom within the same world, so there are small references to it everywhere). And it all unfolds in beautiful language that makes you feel like you’re reading a chain of fairytales, all linked together, equal parts beautiful and brutal, by turns heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Elizabeth Lim's latest novel, Six Crimson Cranes, is a compelling and extraordinary fantasy novel, one that I cannot recommend enough.

Shiori is the only princess of Kiata. She is unique for another reason, as forbidden magic hides within her veins. Magic that is just begging to burst out and reveal her secret to the world – including her magic-fearing family.

When disaster strikes, it does so quickly. Shiori's magic is revealed when she discovers that her stepmother also has magic. What follows is a magical banishment for Shiori and her six brothers. Now they must find a way to save the kingdom.

“Find the light that makes your lantern shine, " Mama would say. Now, more than ever, Kiki was that light.”

Oh my goodness. Can I go back in time and read Six Crimson Cranes for the first time again? Pretty please? Seriously though, this is a novel worth of time travel; it is that good. Everything about this story demands attention, from the start right up until the end.

Best of all? Six Crimson Cranes is the start of a new series, and I'm already counting down the days for the sequel. Okay, I'm not exactly counting down the days – that would require me to know the release date. But I will be as soon as that announcement is made.

Shiori's story is fantastical, whimsical, and powerful all in one. Her character is so strong and precious, embodying so many wonderful human attributes. The fact that she is also curious and playful just makes her all the more endearing.

And thus, it makes her story and plight all the more captivating. It's hard not to get attached to what is happening here. The secondary characters help to forge a stronger emotional connection, as they all play a significant role in this tale.

“Fear is just a game, Shiori, I reminded myself. You win by playing.”

Six Crimson Cranes is a story built around a classic fairy tale, the swan brothers (also known as the Six Swans). It carries a lot of those classical notes, yet there are some distinct changes throughout the story. Personally, I love the transition from swans to crimson cranes here. It's so fitting, and it makes for exceptionally striking imagery.

Long story short: I loved Six Crimson Cranes, and highly recommend it to everyone, especially fans of Elizabeth Lim. I know I'm going to be adding the rest of her works to my TBR list (I've been meaning to read Spin the Dawn for far too long at this point).

I featured this book in a round up on my blog, sent links to facebook & twitter, and created an IG story. The details will be shared with the publisher in the next round of this review process.

Shiori is a 16 year old princess who is unhappy to have to take part in a betrothing ceremony to a prince who was not of her choosing and whom she has never met. She has known this day was coming since a young age, but instead of accepting her fate, she flees the ceremony and jumps into the lake. At least, that what it appears has happened. She is hiding the fact that she possesses magic, and that her little enchanted paper crane, Kiki, has flown away and fallen into the water. Shiori is sinking under the layers of fabrics she is clothed in and is saved from drowning by a dragon. No one believes Shiori when she tells them about the dragon but her stepmother, Raikama, is suspicious. When Shiori discovers that her stepmother harbors dark magic, Raikama turns Shiori's 6 brothers into cranes and curses Shiori so that she can speak of it to no one, for one of her beloved brothers will die with each word she speaks.

This is a true fantasy novel, with princesses, princes, kings, queens, castles, dragons, and dark magic. The tale is woven with precision, pulling readers into the story to experience Shiori's adventures for themselves. Shiori is a strong female character who you can't help but love. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can't wait for the sequel which I know must be in the making!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #AlfredA.Knopf #RandomHouseChildren'sBooks for an ARC of #SixCrimsonCranes by #ElizabethLim in exchange for an honest review. This is definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys fairy tales, fantasy, or who just enjoys books with a strong female protagonist. 5 stars

Am absolutely thrilling tale with plenty of swoon and magic. I loved getting lost in this fantastical world, and can’t wait to read what the author dreams of next!

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

Six Crimson Cranes lured me in with its beautiful cover. To read that it was also an Asian retelling of The Six Swans fairytale, I was eager to get my hands on this one. Unfortunately, this one read a lot younger, and I found myself quite bored with the story.

The characters were ok. Shiori, our heroine, was a bit flat. I didn’t dislike her, but she seemed a bit unremarkable to me. Her brothers also were not particularly distinct, and I could not keep them apart.

As for retellings of this classic fairytale, I far prefer Juliet Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest. Where Marillier’s had me fully invested in the main character’s journey and even near tears at times, I found myself often skimming ahead of Six Crimson Cranes.

Younger audiences might find more enjoyment in this one than I did. I don’t think I’ll continue with next book.

So I’ve been looking forward to this read for a LONG LONG LONGGGGG time and I am so so SO grateful to NetGalley and Elizabeth Lim for the opportunity to receive this read as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This read was such a unique fantasy that took me on SUCH AN EPIC JOURNEY and ended on such a wicked cliffhanger that I was devastated at the end. I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book because I might explode…..

This storyline was just epic and I don’t know what to do with myself now that it is over. I went into this book completely blind and didn’t know exactly what to expect. I am really really REALLY happy that I did because I was shocked, surprised, aghast and all the other amazing feelings. I just loved this crazy ride of story, characters, magic, fantasy, and fabulous and addicting writing. I went in so blind that I thought this book was a standalone sooo when at 80% things were still up in the air, I was so scared. I was flying through those pages expecting a happy conclusion with my characters happy and everything wrapped up in a beautiful bow, but the last page was the beginning of a new and more exciting adventure for the main character and I was horrified. I almost wish I didn’t go in as blind as I did because maybe I wouldn’t have been so disappointed at the end of it all.

The story reminded me a lot of a mixture of the Little Mermaid (no ocean or mermaids guys, but once you read it, you’ll understand what I mean.) and Cinderella in an elegant, addicting, uniquely magical way. The story was a wonderful and very exciting thrill ride through very original magic systems and twists and turns that would make any reader’s head spin. I was sooooooo on the edge of my seat for the entire ride and I just LOVED THIS READ! The magic in this book was very different and so cool and I can’t wait to learn more about it. I mean the introduction of dragons was a neat surprise, but I needed more details about them and I’m praying and hoping that the next installment will provide me with the answers to all the questions that I was screaming towards the end of the book.

I also was in love with all the characters…. EVEN the villains. The main character, Shiori, was your typical rebellious princess fighting the future that has been chosen for her, but her tale is anything but typical and the roadblocks set before her were INSANE and insanely predictable. I can’t wait to find out what happens next with her and to see her finally get the happy ending she struggled so hard for.

Overall, this book is amazing and has left me in a desperate funk of needing to know what happens next. I MUST KNOW THIS HAPPY ENDING!!!

Many thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the eARC!
Ultimately, I loved this book -- the setting, characterization, relationships (both platonic and otherwise), and even plot were great! It was refreshing to see a YA protagonist that remained capable and "independent" without flat-out refusing to cooperate with the friends and allies around them or not reacting to their circumstances at all, something YA sometimes struggles with for female protagonists especially. The pacing of the story, however, really slowed me down, in the middle especially. It took me a little while to find my grounding in the story as it started out pretty rapidly, so I was actually glad when it settled down a bit, but then so much of the story went at that slower pace that I began to lose interest. I want to emphasize, however, that I don't necessarily think that this pacing was WRONG for this story -- I know that a lot of the fantasy genre is about slow world-building and over-arching plots, but slower-moving fantasy just doesn't click for me most of the time, and I wasn't expecting that level of gradual build from this book. That said, despite the fact that it wasn't a full five-star for me, I'd sincerely recommend it to fantasy and YA readers alike, and look forward to the next story in the series!

Rating: 4/5 paper cranes come to life

Format: ebook. I’d like to thank the author and Random House Children’s for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

To sum up:
Princess Shiori’anma, lives in a kingdom where magic is forbidden. Magic keeps finding its way into Shiori’s life, however. On the morning she is supposed to be married, Shiori and her magical paper crane Kiki, escape her grim future only to be cursed along with her six brothers by her evil Stepmother Raikama. To undo the curse and save her brothers, Shiori will have to travel to places she never wanted to see and fall in love with the most unlikely Prince she could have imagined.

This story weaves together elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, into a dazzling tale of adventure and magic.

This was such a sweet and exciting adventure! I’ll admit it took me a little while to get into the story. I was not familiar with the original tale of the Wild Swans so I wasn’t sure where the story was going, but once Shiori is well into her tale (~30%) I found the story hard to put down! I especially loved when classic tropes get twisted around and are proven false which starts around the 70% mark. The last third of the book was absolutely wonderful! I loved seeing Shiori grow as a character and her slowly start to fall in love with a person and a life she never imagined. I loved that her core motivation was to save her brothers and that they were always fighting their way back to each other!

Overall, this was a super fun and exciting fantasy. I loved being in this world and I loved the things Lim did to familiar fantasy tropes to make them feel fresh and new! I definitely want to pick up the sequel (there better be one!).

“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.”

W. O. W. WOW. This book was so beautiful. I have been waiting for so long to read it and it was one of my most expected reads from 2021. It did not disappoint and it certainly lived up to the hype around it. Also, I'm glad I read Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk before reading this book, because I already felt like I knew this world and the legends, I knew so many things that might be confusing for others. So I recommend reading The Blood of Stars duology first, even though it's not necessary in order to understand Six Crimson Cranes, but it's just nice to know some things. And if you already read Spin the Dawn, the ending of this book will hit you like a speeding truck. It's amazing and totally unexpected!

This is a story about the power of family bonds, about prejudice, about overcoming your fears and survival. It follows Princess Shiori and her six brothers that are turned into six cranes, cursed by their stepmother. Shiori isn't allowed to utter a word, or for every sound that she makes, one of her brothers will die. Separated, they try to find their way back to each other. Unable to speak, it's hard for Shiori to find her brothers. The six brothers only turn into cranes at dawn, so they spend each night in their human forms. Day and night, all they want to do is find their lost sister.

It's a very heart-warming book that made me both happy and sad and I gotta say: Elizabeth's writing style is so beautiful and lyrical and it makes you feel like you're part of a fairytale. This was even better than Spin the Dawn and I LOVED that one so much!

"We were seven, and seven was a number of strength. An uneven number that could not fold unto itself, large enough to withstand many threats, yet small enough to stay devoted."

TL;DR: A fantastic, tightly plotted reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Wild Swans" which does exactly what a fairy-tale retelling *should* do: pay homage to the original story while adding something new -- in this case, adding a layer of diversity, fleshing out the characters' motivations, and empowering the heroine.

Vibes: Classic Hans Christian Andersen meets Mulan (and Elizabeth Lim wrote the Twisted Tales retelling of Mulan, so that makes sense).

Genre: Fairy-tale Retelling.
Marketed as YA, but the only element that seemed YA was the age of the protagonist. Shiori is 16/17, but her age doesn't really play a role in the story. (Especially when you factor in her betrothal, despite the fact that her 6 older brothers aren't engaged yet, it really makes more sense for her to be older than 17.)

Character MVP: Shiori -- but Kiki is a close second, because honestly? That paper bird did a lot of the legwork. But Shiori is a quick-witted, clever heroine who may be a bit spoiled (she is a princess) but she's not cruel, and who loves to eat -- and food comes up a lot throughout the book. (Don't read this hungry.)

Verdict: This was another book that I was really excited for -- and, thankfully, it did NOT disappoint.

Six Crimson Cranes is, as Elizabeth Lim tells us in the intro, a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Wild Swans" -- the basic premise of which is: an evil witch turns the heroine's 11 brothers into swans, and tries to curse her, but she's the Goodest and Bestest Ever, so it doesn't work. Then, like all virtuous Andersen heroines, she has to undergo painful trials AND lose her voice (this is the man that gave us "The Little Mermaid" after all), but in the end, she saves her brothers and gets to marry a king. Lim also tells us that she's drawn to the heroine's agency and strength: she *chooses* to suffer in order to save her brothers, making her the Hero of the story. But, since this is a 21st-century retelling, Lim weaves in threads of Chinese culture and Chinese and Japanese folklore, including Chinese dragon lore. (Which are vastly different than Western dragons which tend to be greedy, hoarding creatures. Just read a really good picture book with my kids about this: Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon.)

Now, this is where my Academic brain kicks in. In grad school, one of my first Children's Lit classes was on fairy-tale retellings, and we used "Cinderella" as the case study. One of the things we really focused on was how each author retold (or didn't) the story. That is, for every Cinderella Story which basically just updates the setting and keeps everything else the same, you get an Ella Enchanted which adds something significantly new, in the case of the latter, explaining why Cinderella was so annoyingly obedient.

What I thought Elizabeth Lim did really well here was add something *new* to the story. (Spoilers Below.)

Disclaimer before I continue: this was probably a 4.5 read for me, because I kind of wish that Lim had revised some of the suffering of the heroine while still maintaining her agency. Shiori undergoes a lot of abuse and pain throughout the book: emotional abuse from Raikama's manipulation and at the hands of Mrs. Dainan and Zairena; as well as physical torment from weaving the starstroke net (and a good deal of starvation, I'm sure). And, like Elisa in Andersen's original tale, as well as the Little Mermaid, she is voice-less for a good deal of the book. Believe me, I know the line between authorial invention and faithfulness-to-the-original-storyline is a tricky one to walk, but I do wish Shiori didn't have to suffer quite so much.

✔︎ -- Point of View And, in all fairness, Lim did offset Shiori's voicelessness by telling the story in First Person POV. She may not have been able to speak to many characters, but (1) we the audience got her inner thoughts as she "spoke" to us; (2) she could communicate through Kiki and with Seryu; and (3) she was able to express herself through gestures and written communication.

✔︎ -- Motivations
At first, I was worried about Raikama -- the Evil Stepmother Trope is quite a tired one in fairytales, and Andersen certainly didn't shy away from the Good Woman/Bad Woman dichotomy in his stories. (See Also: Gerta vs. The Snow Queen.) The Sea Witch in "The Little Mermaid" is actually a really intriguing example, because she's not inherently malevolent -- just knowledgeable.
Here, Raikama is originally presented as the villain -- after all, she's the one who cast the curse. But (in a bit of a sudden info-dump reveal) at the end, we learn more about her complex backstory/motivations, aligning her more with Once Upon A Time's Regina than with, say, Ursula.

✔︎ -- Love Story
Another excellent revision on Lim's part was the portrayal of the romance. I LOVED that Takkan wasn't (1) a walking example of Toxic Masculinity *coughHasegecough* or (2) a bland and flat Prince Charming. He was a supportive, in-touch-with-his-emotions male character, who supported Shiori and wasn't condescending or petty. He had valid emotional reactions and worked through them, and wasn't shy to admit he was wrong. There were also some Frozen II Kristoff vibes in his always asking her what she needed, instead of trying to swoop in and save the day. MORE OF THIS PLEASE, PUBLISHERS.

Their relationship evolved naturally, and we got to see their affection grow. They knew each other for several weeks/months, and didn't fall in Insta-Love. And, in the end (of this book, at least), they don't end up getting married. YAY. I hope they'll end up together at the end of the next book - if it's a duology - and that some characters eat crow after Shiori's identity is revealed (because I am petty like that) - but, for now, Shiori has something she has to do, and Takkan is like, "Cool. I got you. I'll be here when you get back." Which, again, MORE OF THAT.

Just no love triangle with Seryu, please. That's a bit weird.

I loved this book, can't wait to read the sequel, and will probably go find Lim's Mulan retelling for the Twisted Tale series.

First of all, I'm obsessed with how pretty this cover is. Love the worldbuilding here and thought the author did a great job with the story

Thank you NetGalley!

I really enjoyed this! It felt very much like a fairytale and I just loved it so much. The ending was something I DID NOT see coming and I really appreciated that.

The romance was very well done and I am very excited for the next book in this series.

this book was amazing and i couldnt put it down! the worldbuilding was fantastic for a fantasy book and didnt overwhelm me at all. it was such a great read and im excited to see what elizabeth lim will do next!!

Firstly, this is not a standalone, so I ended the book with an excited squeal and a weird book-hug? I had no idea this story would be such an exciting ride, but, wow, I was not disappointed!!

Do you know the fairy tale of the Wild Swans? Familiar with Chinese legends like Madame White Snake, Chang E (the Moon Goddess)? Or Japanese folktales like The Bamboo Cutter or The Black Bowl? If the answer is no, you can still read this and be swept away! If the answer is yes, though, prepare to watch with joy as the author weaves all of these stories together!

I adored the heroine. Shiori is contradictory and impulsive and such fun to root for. She loves her family and watching her try to overcome the bananas things her family is going through...again, wow. There is a healthy mix of storytelling, character growth and heart-pounding action. I won't even get into the magic system and the greater world politics. At no point was I bored.

I mean, I really couldn't have predicted how much I would get lost in these pages, but I'm so glad this book exists and there will be more. I also didn't see all of the subtle questions about how we make hard decisions coming. Well done!!

This book was like a delightful cross between a Studio Ghibli movie and Grimm’s fairy tales: fantastical, colorful, and emotional, but with a darker underside.

The protagonist, Shiori, is a charming, tenacious, and easy-to-root-for heroine on a quest to save her brothers from her stepmother’s curse. On the way, she receives help from a magical paper bird, a dragon, and the boy she was SUPPOSED to marry…before she was cursed.

The pacing is excellent, the imagery is beautiful, and the story is full of emotion and twists. In particular, I thought Lim had a particularly interesting take on the “evil stepmother” trope.

It does read young, however. I would say anyone can enjoy this book, but it seems geared towards the lower age range of YA based on the prose. I was actually surprised that Shiori was supposed to be 16/17. She sounded and acted more like a 12/13-year-old.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of the romance. I really liked Takkan as a character, but his relationship with Shiori felt a little lackluster. But I sense a love triangle coming between him, Shiori, and Seryu in future books.

Overall, I would recommend! 3.5 stars, but happy to round up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.