What a lovely book! Had I started reading Six Crimson Cranes this on a weekend, I would've stayed up all night reading it (but no, I started it after a full day of work, with another full day of work ahead, so sleep got me, it happens when you get older and quit caffeine, okay). It was a little tense at the beginning, reading through her pre-banishment relationship with her stepmother, but since we know that's not the main struggle of the story, I was able to get past it and that's when I knew I was committing myself to being sleep-deprived for the next workday. Shiori's tenacity, detective skills, and her relationships with the "mercurial dragon" and not-fiance made it very hard to put this book down. Without giving it away the ending of Six Cranes was very satisfying and tied up loose ends of this arc nicely while setting it up for the second book in the series. (I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.)

I loved this story and how beautifully written it was. The characters were well developed and there were quite a few surprises I did not expect.

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for this e-arc of Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim.

[CW: death, demons, poisoning]

She's done it again, friends! Elizabeth Lim never ceases to amaze me with her brilliant storytelling and phenomenal imagination. This reimagining of The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen, mixed with Chinese dragon folklore and Japanese legend is a beautiful blend of cultures and fairytales. From the moment I first began reading, I was totally mesmerized. I couldn't stop - and truthfully, I didn't want to! I was hanging on to every word. In this book, you'll find darkness and hope, adventure and romance, and so many jaw-dropping moments.

Shiori is such a strong protagonist who finds true power in her silence (listening and learning from those around her and utilizing her other senses) and ingenuity (coming up with creative ways to accomplish tasks and communicate) - rather than just relying on others. She's the literal definition of a badass leading lady. She doesn’t need Takkan or her adorable origami sidekick, Kiki, but they provide excellent supporting roles and bring life and laughter to the story when it's needed most. Shiori wants to see past what other people see and tries to think the best of even the worst characters. She's someone that I could learn a thing or two from, that's for sure.

One of the things that I liked the very most about Six Crimson Cranes was that no one is who they appear to be - but they’re also not who you might suspect they are. I kept thinking I had sorted out the truth behind a character and it was honestly thrilling to be proven wrong. As someone who is often disappointed by the predictability of some "plot twists," reading this book was incredibly satisfying.

For those who read the Spin the Dawn duology, you're in for a treat! A few familiar names, places, and items are mentioned throughout this book and it felt like discovering little easter eggs along the way. It also made me want to reread Spin the Dawn... especially when I reached the ending. (Dun dun DUN).

I was so lucky to have the opportunity to receive the ARC of this book and I'm anxiously anticipating its release... along with the announcement for the next book - because I'm impatient and absolutely dying to learn what happens next. What a wild ride! This is a story I will continue to recommend for a long, long time!

This is the perfect novel for folklore based fantasy. It draws on mythology and folklore from East Asian tales and tells the epic story of Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, cursed and on a quest to save herself, her six brothers and all of Kiata.

The story is both an epic tale of saving the land and also the personal struggle of saving her brothers and discovering her true self.

This is a story for anyone who loves folklore and mythologies, wants to discover more folklore from lesser-used sources, or enjoys a story about self discovery with a strong heroine set at the center.

A princess cursed to not speak, six cranes, and a magical journey that will change their lives. Princess Shiori’anma “Shiori” is the only princess of Kiata and harbors a dangerous secret, she has forbidden magical abilities. When one of the cranes she has brought to life accidentally reveals her secret, suddenly her stepmother has cursed her 6 brothers to turn into cranes and that if Shiori ever speaks of the curse or reveals herself, her brothers will be killed. She is left in a place she does not know, with no money, no ability to speak, and must find her brothers and break their curses. Along the way she meets a dragon and runs into her ex-betrothed. Soon she finds herself enduring task after task in order to find some way to rescue her brothers and break the curse, all the while facing more demons, evil magical wielders, and a dangerous court life. She must find some way to embrace the magic that she has tried to keep a secret and uncover the truth about not only her stepmother, but the magic that is inside her.

This was a magical story mixed with different fairytales and myths from the six cranes story to the girl with the bowl to many more. I absolutely adored the blending of fairytales and the distinct storytelling style that Elizabeth Lim has. I cannot wait to see where the story continues and where Shiori goes next!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Everything Elizabeth Lim writes is so breathtakingly beautiful (and the cover too!) that I want to read it all in one sitting. The characters were so compelling, especially Shiori, who I could grow with as the story progressed. The fairy tale elements were well done. I can't wait to see the sequel!

I love pretty much everything Elizabeth Lim has written and Six Crimson Cranes is no exception. I love the reinvention of classic tales and the new magic that was imbued in them. The pacing alternated from slow to fast throughout the novel, but I personally didn't mind and enjoyed it. You really get to live through Shiori's character development and see her become more than just a pampered princess. All of the close family relationships were so sweet, and I love how the Stepmother was developed most of all. This book hasn't even been officially published, and I can't wait for book two!

What a thrilling magical adventure! I absolutely love Elizabeth Lims writing. She writes so poetically and her attention to detail is beautiful. I was enthralled with Spin the Dawn so I was excited to get back into another book by this author. Very well written and great pacing. An amazing story with magic and fairytales.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy.

I really enjoyed this retelling of the Six Swans fairytale set in a rich and deep Asian-inspired world. Author Lim creates a complex and fascinating set of characters and lore including the protagonist and her brothers, her stepmother, and those who help and protect her along her journey. The villains are dangerous without being cartoonish, and the pacing is quick. Lim makes a few sly references to the stereotyped Asians of previous children's and young adult books like Tikki Tikki Tembo, which only enhanced my joy in reading a book about fantasy Asian characters written by an Asian author.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Random House Children's and Knopf Books For Young Readers, for the chance to read and review this book!

Shiori'anma is the only princess of Kiata and she has a secret. She has magic, forbidden magic. Usually she's able to conceal it, but on the morning of her betrothal cerimony, she loses control and the wedding, a wedding she never wanted, is forestalled. Her mistake also catches her stepmother's, Raikama, attention. The woman is a powerful sorceress and she banishes the young princess, turning her six brothers in cranes and warning Shiori that she mustn't speak, for with every word she says, one of her brother will die.
Alone, penniless, voiceless, Shiori is determined to find her brothers and break the curse and in her journey she discovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. In order to prevent it, she places her trust in her magic paper crane, Kiki, a mercurial dragon, in her brothers and in the same young man she didn't want to marry. That also means facing and embracing her own powers.

Six crimson cranes is a spellbinding fairytale, narrated by Shiori's POV, full of intriguing characters, thrilling story and fascinating worldbuilding, where reality, gods and myths are woven together.
Drawing inspirations from "The wild swans" and East Asian folklore, this fantasy is original and really well written, focusing on Shiori's journey, both physical and psychological in finding her brothers, breaking the curse and saving her kingdom.
Shiori is a very complex main character and the reader follows her growth, from a young and careless princess, protected and loved by her father and brothers, to a strong and able woman, willing to do anything in order to protect her family and those she loves. Her journey is intense and Shiori finds herself without money, voice and family, but she's brilliant and resourceful and won't let anything stop her.
If the main character captures the reader's attention right away, the side characters are also wonderfully written. Shiori's brothers, Takkan, Seryu, Megari, Raikama, Zairena, Hasege add layers to the story, each of them complex and with their own stories and motives and intricacies.
I really enjoyed reading Shiori's relationship with her brothers, because it's wonderfully strong and moving. Also reading how slowly she gets along with, love and trust Seryu, Megari and Takkan, even though very different from one other, was so lovely to read.

The worldbuilding is interesting and fascinating, with talking dragons, princes turned into cranes, gods and magic, demons and curses and in this world Shiori faces adventures after adventures, finding, in her quest, also romance and love.
The storytelling is absolutely brilliant and I devoured this book, because I couldn't stop reading it and it was so compelling. Shiori, Seryu and Takkan are awesome characters and I can't wait to know more about this world.

First of all, I am in love with that cover. More Asian girls on covers, please!

Second of all, WTF Elizabeth, I did NOT expect that!

This is my first book by Lim and now I'm itching to get her other books asap. Not only was this magical and lyrical to read, but it also felt like watching a beautiful Disney film or losing yourself in a fairy tale that is both unique and yet familiar. I loved Shiori as the main character. She might have been a bit childish and naive in the beginning, but her growth was amazing and the relatability present was astonishing. Even though her journey consisted of more lows than highs, I appreciated how each change turned her into someone who is stronger, wiser, and better. It didn't hurt too that she was the kind of heroine who would do literally anything for her family.

I think the middle section of the book can be a bit dragging to some, but for me, it was the slow-burn I needed and gave me a clearer picture of the events taking place and made me enjoy guessing who's the real enemy. It was enchanting the way Lim described 1. the food, 2. the festivities, and 3. the legends and folklores. It was all woven together wonderfully.

Lastly, the romance. If you're looking for a new book boyfriend, trust me when I say, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS. I'm not going to mention any names because spoilers, but the cliffhanger ending had me on the edge of my seat. I AM TERRIFIED. Please don't ruin my ship, Elizabeth. I'm too fragile for that kind of pain. But also, GIVE ME MORE DRAGONS.

Lush and lovely moisture of fairy tales. The redemption arc in the background was lovely to read. I really enjoyed this.

I received this arc for free but I will tell you that my opinions are totally me own. I have no problem giving this four stars, 41/2 really because I really enjoyed the book! I am a sucker for fairy tale retellings anyway but this was done so well it was a joy to read! I have already got several friends putting it on their "want to read" lists and I am anxiously waiting for what I believe will be a sequel. Bravo Ms. Lim for a great read!!

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<p>Review copy provided by the publisher.</p>
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<p>One of the things that I feel like adult readers and particularly adult reviewers have to be careful of in reviewing books in MG and YA categories is remembering that young readers will be encountering tropes for the first time that are old hat to many adults, so the amount that one should "ding" a book for having them is quite different. And in this case I was very glad that I stuck around, because basically everything that made me say "oh this again" or "this is going to hit all these beats, is it" was expanded, undermined, or unraveled in the middle of the book.</p>
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<p>This is a six swan brothers story, told by someone who wants her own Asian cultural heritage to inform and inflect her work. Which is, okay, pretty cool to start with. But then it's got other things stirred into the mix--other fairy tales, from other places, and which of them you spot will depend on which kind of fairy tale nerd you are, who's been telling you stories, whose stories you've gotten to hear. And it's got...oh, some questions about the fairy tale villains, the shape of their villainy, and some interesting answers.</p>
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<p>And the ending...this is a first-book ending. This is not a stand-alone ending. These characters, with their politics and their families and their crafting and their demands, have miles to go before they sleep. Don't let the very genre-central beats of the first few chapters deter you from going with them.</p>
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Yessssssss. Please judge this book by the cover because the inside is just as dazzlingly gorgeous as the outside.

Elizabeth Lim knows how to create an atmosphere and weave a story that is both consuming and easy to understand and follow, which is such a difficult balance. You really feel immersed in this story of magic, family bonds, and secret machinations on machinations. The romance is crafted with a light touch which I loved. The relationship between Shiori and her family is wonderfully believable and *every single character* is well-drawn and multi-dimensional. And there's even a freaking adorable paper bird sidekick named Kiki who I am absolutely obsessed with.

One of my favorite YA fantasies of the 2021. I'm already excited for the next installment.

When I got this ARC - I literally screamed! Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's
Knopf Books for Young Readers for sending me an ARC of this lovely book!

ELIZABETH LIM IS A QUEEN, ALLOW ME TO BOW DOWN.

Six Crimson Cranes follows Shiori, who keeps her magic abilities hidden, until the morning of her betrothal ceremony. Her stepmother, Raikama, is mortified. With her own magical abilities, she curses Shiori and her six brothers. Her six brothers are turned into cranes, and Shiori is cursed with a bowl on her head and the knowledge that if she speaks one word, one of her brothers will die. Determined to warn her father about their evil stepmother, Shiori sets out on an adventure to reverse this curse and gets some help from some unlikely friends along the way.

I loved this book. I loved it. Elizabeth Lim is 100% one of my favorite authors. I have now read three of her books and have been enchanted by each one.

Shiori is so different from Maia (main character in Spin the Dawn), and I loved her. She starts out more juvenile, more hard headed, and immature but as the story progresses, you get to watch her grow and flourish and mature. I loved watching her grow and come into her own with her magical abilities that she had tried so hard to hide. I love when strong women write strong female main characters.

Kiki is the cutest little sidekick I have ever read. I love her sarcastic banter, and that she always kept Shiori grounded. Who knew you could love a little paper crane so much?

TAKKAN - my wholesome, sweet, kind hero. I loved him. I loved watching Shiori fight her feelings for him.

The plot took a direction that I really did not expect! I was expecting more of the brothers and Shiori together, and was pleasantly surprised that Shiori was left to her own devices.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book, and I was never bored. Elizabeth Lim does a great job of being descriptive and explaining the magic system, the history of the world without info dumping. I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE KIATA. And the way she describes food?! I was hungry for 90% of this book. Shiori is a teenage girl and I think that Lim perfectly captured how a teenage girl would speak.

The romance in this book is so subtle, and slow and sweet and heartwarming - I found myself smiling while reading more than once!

The ending was a perfect setup for a sequel that I am already impatiently anticipating!!

Engaging, Asian-inspired retelling of the fairy tale "The Six Swans." As the youngest child with six well-loved older brothers, Princess Shiori is self-assured and determined to control her life. This means NOT being forced to marry some Duke's son from the edge of her kingdom, but continuing to live blissfully under the adoring eyes of her father and brothers, as well as the cold eyes of her stepmother, Raikama. A chance encounter with a dragon boy gives Shiori the chance to develop her recently discovered, and extremely forbidden, magical abilities. At the same time, Shiori becomes increasingly suspicious of her stepmother. When she realizes Raikama is using magic on her family and warns her brothers, the result is banishment. Her brothers are turned into cranes while Shiori is sent to the other end of the kingdom, with most of her face covered by an unremovable bowl, plus the promise that for each word she speaks aloud, one of her brothers will die. Unrecognizable and unable to reveal her plight, Shiori must use her wits, her determination, and her compassion to be reunited with her family. My favorite part of this book was the protagonist's personal growth - she begins the story as a spoiled teen princess, though a good-natured one. But through hard work, as well as attention to the people around her, Shiori grows in wisdom, and finds romance. The books ends with a set up for a sequel. Highly recommended for ages 10 and up.

5/5
Spoiler free!
I LOVED this! Six Crimson Cranes is a fairytale retelling set in an East Asian inspired fantasy world. This is the first book in a series, and it follows Princess Shiori on a quest to save her brothers after all of the royal children fall under cruel spells. It felt different and fresh for the genre while still retaining elements that I love. I think what made this really different for me was that this perspective felt true to the narrator as a teenage girl in a fantasy world, the voice of this storytelling was fantastic. There are no wasted words in this book, the author has found that golden balance between saying enough and describing too much, and even though this is a dense story, it’s fast moving— I found myself looking back for major passages and being surprised that they had only taken up half a page.
Who do I recommend this for?
I think this could be a great read for a wide age range of fantasy readers, it’s age appropriate for -18 and even though the mc is a teenager, I found her story enjoyable at 23. If you like adventure, magic, dragons, family centered stories, with romance on the side, you’ll like this!

I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Lim's works and her fairytale retellings—and Six Crimson Cranes was no different! I absolutely LOVED it—and dare I say it might be my favorite of her books?

It begins a little quieter than Spin the Dawn (although don’t get me wrong, it is packed full with action and is wonderfully executed!) and slowly eases us into the world and story. As always, Liz’s writing has this gorgeous, rich and warm voice reminiscent of the old school fantasy books I used to read as a child, which as you know are my favorite.

To no one’s surprise, the romance was my favorite part of this book! It was so beautifully done—achingly tender and sweet—and reminded me of the romances of my favorite fairytale retellings including Daughter of the Forest and The Goose Girl.

Of course, I won’t give anything away, but the ending made me even more excited for the sequel, as it promises more magic, world, and adventure. I cannot wait to see what Liz does with the story and I will very much be looking forward to reading the rest of Shiori’s tale!

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it to lovers of fairytales and fans of Liz’s previous works!

This is a magically enchanted adventure that is just perfect for YA readers that are wanting to step into fantasy novels, and one I will likely recommend!

Thank you so much to #NetGalley, Random House Children’s and the author for the electronic arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion!