This is a perfect fantasy book.

After not linking Spin the Dawn much, I was hesitant going into this, but I think Lim's writing has improved immensely and the world and characters feel so fleshed out and realized. The plot is super original, and I felt myself literally gasping at the twists.

If you are looking for a good fantasy to read this summer, pick this up!

This had been one of my most anticipated reads of 2021, so I'm super disappointed that I didn't love it. I'd really enjoyed Spin the Dawn by the same author, so I had high hopes for this one. Six Crimson Cranes had a ton of potential, but it failed to capitalize on it.

My main problem with this was the plot. It didn't feel super coherent or fluid. It almost felt like the first half and second half were entirely separate books. This was disappointing because I really loved the first half, it was slow, but it was super enjoyable. I think the second half just tried to do too much.

Other than that, I really liked the characters! Shiori was bold without feeling dumb, which I always appreciate. I also really enjoyed her relationship with Takkan. It was sweet, and I loved how it grew slowly throughout the story. I was wary of how Raikama would be developed, but I loved what Lim did with her character. I can't say too much without spoilers, but I enjoyed how she was different from the stepmother archetype we see in most fairytales.

I also really liked Seyru! As soon as he was introduced, I wanted more of him. I mean, he was a shape-changing dragon, what else could I ask for?! I was kind of disappointed that he didn't play a larger part in the story, but considering where this one left off, he may be more prominent in the next one.

The common thread running through this review is me wanting more. All of the elements for a great book were here, they just weren't expanded upon. I'll definitely be watching out for the next book in the series, especially if it has a cover like this one! .

Thanks to Elizabeth Lim and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was amazing, from the very first page I become completely engrossed. I want a best friend called KIKI, I loved Shiori and her brothers. And of course I loved Takkan!! I loved the magic in this and want to know more, Im not sure if this is going to be a series or standalone but I need more. Honestly this world is beautiful and I loved the romance. I want to see more of that and more dragons of course.

Ultimately I think this book just wasn't for me. I think this probably because my tastes have changed over time, and I'll keep that in mind when I request YA Fantasy in the future. I was really excited for this one because it was based on a fairy tale I really enjoyed, and it even started out really strong. But as I was getting into it I just didn't feel very engaged. These are always the hardest reviews to write because it's not objectively bad and it's hard to put my finger on what just didn't make it click. This book is going to find its reader!

After a few duds and DNF's to start April, this was something I really enjoyed. A beautiful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's Wild Swans, Elizabeth Lim puts her own spin on the fairytale, combining different Asian folktales and inspiration. She adds a new twist to the story as well, which is much appreciated. There's plenty of adventure and magic, and a sweet love story at its heart. Fans of her earlier Spin the Dawn series will not be disappointed, and I'm eager to read the sequel.

4.5

Lim gets better with every story she thinks up. I had a lot of fun with Spin the Dawn when it came out, but this one is even better. This book has such an ease to it it's like listening to someone you love tell you a story. There's never a point of boredom or complete fear, it's an adventure and a balm all in one.

As a retelling this book does gorgeously. You can read an enjoy this story with zero context of the story being pulled from, and you can read this with knowledge of the source without feeling like it's simply being regurgitated. Lim does a wonderful job keeping it fresh and original without spinning out into something unrecognizable, and she also manages to keep the fairy tale like feeling.

I have to say, I love Shiori so much. I did kind of fear that she was going to feel too much like Maia Tamarin at first, but she's a completely different character, magic strong sibling relationships aside. She's a headstrong, somewhat reckless, effervescent character from the start, without ever being overly surface level. As her naivety dissipates, thanks to her the journey her curse sets her on, and she hardens with the disappearance of her privileged life, her shallowness and narrow point of view falls away, but she remains the same person in the most important ways, making her arc just such a nice thing to watch.

I do really love the sibling bonds here too. With so many brothers it's kind of hard to tell them all apart, and they don't equal time on the page, but we still learn about them as individuals and see all the qualities of each that Shiori admires in the brothers. It's rare to see a good sibling dynamic in books, unfortunately, so Shiori's complete love and loyalty to her brothers', and the simple reciprocity of that, makes me really happy.

And I can't talk about love and good relationships without hitting on the romance at play. Because I love it! It's such a nice break from insta love stories to get a slow, mistaken identity, getting to know you romance. And, I won't spoil the end, but the way the identity part of that was dealt with is both incredibly cute and surprisingly unproblematic. Takkan is a darling human being, drinks respect women juice, and deserves every nice thing in the world.

Finally, the pacing is great. As I said, there's never a boring place where you feel you're treading water, or where the plot simply gets recycled. There is new movement all the way through to the end, and it never stops being compelling. Lim does an excellent job keeping this story moving without feeling like there's any filler.
I didn't realize this wasn't a stand alone, and was taken by surprise by the end, but it was one of those rare times where a lack of a full ending isn't unsatisfying or led by a cliff hanger, but instead really exciting because more story! This ending is both well done so that you get a genuine ending to the majority of what was hanging in the balance, as well as a promising lead in to another interesting leg of the story. Second books are notoriously slow, but I actually think this one's, if the writing here is any indication, will be an outlier.

The only thing that left me feeling concerned or letdown was the dragon's role in this story. I expected a bit more, and I'm kind of worried about a potential love triangle in the works, honestly. But that's still left to be seen! And, really, the dragon was one of many, many cool things at work, so I can't complain too much about that.

I loved reading this story! This was one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had this year, and I'm already looking forward to the sequel.

I loved Lim's take on the Wild Swans. It had everything I loved in fairy tale retellings - recognizable bits of the original but told in a way that is creative and original. I also loved the little mentions to other Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales, like Thumbelina and Little Mermaid. I appreciated all the fairy tale references, but someone not familiar with the Wild Swans can still appreciate the story without that background knowledge. This book is perfect for readers of her previous Blood of Stars duology.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for review.

Wow! I really loved this book, if you're a fan of Studio Ghibli, or just fairy tales in general, you need to pick this book up! There is so much to love here, I wasn't aware this was going to be a series (duology maybe?) when I started it, so I thought it was going to be a one-shot and started to grow concerned as we hurtled toward the end of the book with some dangling sub-plots unfinished. I'm glad, though, I love Shiori so much, she's such a fun heroine to follow and even though she cannot speak through most of the book, Elizabeth Lim does a really good job of making her readers feel like they're not missing anything with most of the one-sided dialogue.

So, if you love Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle, with a pinch of Kiki's Delivery Service, this book is 1000% for you! Definitely check it out, you won't be sorry. And the quick pacing makes this a pretty sweet weekend book.

3.5 stars

My apologies in advance for the relatively short review.

Six Crimson Cranes was an enjoyable read! I really liked the incorporation of Chinese and Japanese culture and legends. The middle part of the book was a little slow, and I found myself skimming over some of the paragraphs, but the conclusion made up for it. I also enjoyed the characters of Shiori and Takkan. Oh, and Kiki, my adorable and supportive paper crane.

Overall, Six Crimson Cranes was intriguing, and I finished it within a few hours. However, it's not a book that I would recommend to everybody.

** This review will be posted on both Goodreads and Instagram on June 22, 2021.

This was amazing. I read spin the dawn / unravel the dusk right before this, which I recommend. The writing was brilliant, I loved the plot and the characters and everything! I can’t wait for book two and book one isn’t even out yet *sobs*

You can pre order personalized US copies from Books of Wonder or signed UK copies from goldsboro (there are more options for both but those are the two I got haha)

Thank you NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I need to go eat ice cream and cry now that I have no more books by this author to read 😭

Elizabeth Lim has returned with another book weaving cultural tales into a fantasy. This story was beautiful and intriguing. The character growth Shiori experiences was fantastically done. While she holds to her moral groundings, she still actively becomes a better person. And sometimes, poison is medicine. The romance in this story is truly a semi-unrequited slow burn for the majority of it. This is one of my preferred forms of romance in books, and I loved the way it played out altogether. The ending of this book had me on the edge of my seat. I wanted nothing more than a happy ending for Shiori, her brothers, and Takkan. I really loved the way it was set up for the second book. This was a fantastic story, weaving lore, romance, and life lessons all together in the end.

Full review will be published on July 5th, 2021.

*Spoiler free*

This cover knocked me off my feet. I mean, LOOK AT IT. It's just downright gorgeous. I know I shouldn't judge books by their covers, but dang, this one is amazing. And I did enjoy Spin The Dawn, so I was curious to see what this author was going to be writing next. And a book about a princess with hidden magic, who is cursed voiceless and who's brothers are cursed to turn into cranes, sounds like something I would enjoy!

Oh, I loved this book so much. So, so much. Lim is a masterful storyteller, and the way this one is woven is just brilliant.

I'm starting off talking about Shiori, because I love her so dang much. She was a heck of a main character. Incredibly bold, fierce, and ready to take on the world if that is required of her. She's funny and stubborn and has so much grit. She's also cursed not to speak for most of the book. She still has her thoughts, but I honestly think it's an amazing feat to have a character that is this vivid, and this amazing, and have her dialogue be nothing for most of the book.

Shiori was not the only amazing character in this book. There is the sweetest love interest, one who loves to tell stories. Really, all the side characters were brilliant. There's also a so many siblings, and that means a ton of sibling shenanigans, which was amazing. The familial relationships were also top notch. I can't say more than that to avoid spoilers, but just know that the role family plays is a big one, and the ties between them were strong and wonderful.

There is even a little magic paper bird named Kiki who is adorable and I love her.

This book's humor was something else that I loved. It's not a funny book, because it's about a cursed princess trying to make sure her brothers stay alive, but the way humor was slipped in there was amazing. In the rebellious little sister and the sarcastic magic paper bird, just amazing.

The way this story was told was another highlight for me. I was not expecting it to go in the direction it did, multiple times. But truly, it is top notch storytelling. It's vivid, and shocking, and thrilling, and all around spectacular.

I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away. But this world, it is one that is so vast. There are dragons and demons and magic plants. There are hidden plots and danger lurking behind the corner. Shiori ventures to places she doesn't expect, and so many different things are thrown her way. She has to deal with being cursed and trying to save her brothers and trying to stay alive.

Just, this is a brilliantly told book, with brilliant characters, and a brilliant world. It went in directions I was not expecting, and I ended up loving it because of exactly that.

If it's not obvious, I loved this book. It is amazingly written and told, I fell completely in love with Shiori, and just everything about it as spectacular.

The Six Crimson Cranes book seemed like a mix of the Thousand Furs myth with the 6 Swans myth but set in China. I enjoyed the new setting and diverse cast of characters. I liked that there weren't too many YA tropes abounding (no insta-love, not really a love triangle) and that there were dragons but I would have loved to see more of them. I think the story may be a little slow for some and more character than plot driven. Overall a quick enjoyable read with a diverse cast for anyone who loves fairytales!. Fair warning there is a cliffhanger! I will definitely read the next book to see where this goes.

So while this book may not be the most mature YA book I’ve read and it can read slightly younger, it was still a joy to read this book. I love the story that this is a retelling of And have since I was really young and I adore how this was done. The author was really good at describing things and the way that things came together, was really well done. I really enjoyed the characters, even though they sometimes read a young teenagers. I can’t wait to read more of Lim’s work and would highly recommend this book.

This book was stunning! I had read Elizabeth Lim's Spin the Dawn several years ago (haven't gotten to read the second in the duology, but definitely would like to eventually!) and remember enjoying her storytelling. This book, Six Crimson Cranes, was just lovely to read. The storytelling was spun with rich, vibrant details of the world of Kiata, interesting characters, and lots of action. And the PLOT TWISTS. There were sweet moments too. I loved the weaving of fairytales, and Elizabeth Lim says that she was greatly inspired by folklore and stories from Asian cultures, which was really lovely. I also adore the Asian representation. (On this note, can I mention how GORGEOUS the cover art and design is? On the Spin the Dawn's cover as well!! Breathtaking! I feel like there are not too many novels illustrating an Asian character on the cover, and I am so happy to see Shiori, the clever and strong-hearted protagonist of this story, front and center on the cover of Six Crimson Cranes).

I wasn't expecting this book to end of a bit of a cliffhanger (I actually thought this was a standalone book) - now I must wait for the next book to see how Shiori manages with the pearl! I'm really looking forward to it, though, and I think Elizabeth Lim has become an author whose books I will gladly look to read!

I want to give a thanks to the publisher for providing me a digital ARC of Six Crimson Cranes via NetGalley. What a wonderful read!

Elizabeth Lim fabricates another amazing story, lush and compelling.

Shiori is a stubborn and willful protagonist. Her existence seems to be accumulated in a colorful and charming myriad of sewing classes, festivals, writing letters, and other expectations befitting her station. While she gives her stepmother and six brothers trouble, her greatest secret and vice is a paper crane she enchanted to fly. Magic is outlawed in the kingdom, and to be discovered is to be ruined.

Shiori does well keeping her talent hidden...
Until she falls into the lake and befriends the dragon residing there.

Once she begins to unravel her powers, there's no going back, especially in the face of betrayal. To break the curse upon her and her brothers, she must now turn her stubbornness into resolve, and find and hone a strength she never knew she could wield, or else her family and kingdom will pay the price.

The writing in this story is colorful and oftentimes vivid, honed with a traditional deference that bespeaks the culture and time. The story and plot follows and reads like folklore, oftentimes pushing (but never breaking) the limits of believability in the same way a fairytale would. The firm grasp on the culture adds to this, creating an authentic and gripping tale. Lim's writing has absolutely evolved over her last few books as she hits her stride as a writer, the tempo in this book being expertly paced, with even the most insignificant of characters becoming intriguing and memorable.

Lim has a great way of gracefully splitting her novels without leaving them on explicit cliffhangers. While I'll no doubt be eagerly awaiting book two, this ending was not rushed and was absolutely satisfying.

Six Crimson Cranes absolutely stands as a 'Must Read' in an oftentimes over-saturated genre, with a unique and well crafted story that is singular and expertly wrought, a beacon amongst its peers. THIS is a prime example of how you rewrite traditional fairytales!

This is a set in the same world as the authors previous books this is has magic, family ties, and some romance. This reminded me of the brother Grimm Six Swans with new twists. This also as beautiful cover art that will draw people in.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this eARC for an honest review.

Ever since the release of Spin the Dawn, Elizabeth Lim climbed to the top of my favorite story tellers. Her affinity for fairy tales is evident in her own stories, borrowing beloved elements from classic tales, and weaving them into new and enchanting ways. Six Crimson Cranes, which takes place in the same world as her STD duology, is reminiscent of Ella Enchanted, with the main protagonist cursed and unable to talk about it.

Another positive facet of Lim’s work is that her female leads are independent and headstrong. I would argue that this is a coming of age story, since her characters must mature, grow, and persevere against the odds.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a strong female lead, spellbinding adventure, and captivating writing.

Elizabeth Lim brings her expertise in stunning character development and exciting plot twists to Six Crimson Cranes! Six Crimson Cranes transports readers to a land where magic flows, strong and steady, but is outlawed. Princess Shiori knows that she must keep her own powers a secret or risk damaging the relationship she has with her father, and her kingdom. When her path crosses with a dragon after a chance meeting, Shiori quickly embraces the powers that lay hidden within. As she practices forbidden magic and avoids the boy who she is to be married to, Shiori find betrayal -- magical betrayal -- at the hands of her stepmother. Cursed and alone, Shiori must find a way to save herself, her family, and her kingdom.

Shiori does not want to get married, but as the only Princess of Kiata, she has been promised to Takkan for years. She runs away from their betrothal ceremony following her magical paper crane Kiki. She meets a dragon Seryu who agrees to teach her how to use her magic, Magical people have not been present in Kiata for a long time and it is not allowed to practice magic. Seryu suspects that Shiori’s step-mother is also magical. When Shiori finds out that her step-mother has magic, her stepmother curses her and her brothers. Her brothers become cranes and she becomes an anonymous peasant girl with a wooden bowl stuck on her head so no one can tell who she is. If she speaks, her brothers will die. Together they figure out how to break the curse, but it opens up other mysteries- is her stepmother evil after all or is something else at work here? Overall I felt that this book had too many extra plot threads that I was not interested in and felt that the story was overly complicated. It could have been streamlined into a more coherent story, I really enjoyed Lim’s Blood of the Stars duology so this was a letdown for me.