I really looked forward to reading Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim. I loved Spin the Dawn and enjoyed Unravel the Dusk by Lim, and the synopsis sounded fantastic! And I’m happy to share that my instincts about Six Crimson Cranes were correct––it was fantastic!

The vibe of the story as a whole reminded me of the fairytales I was told as a child. I think it was the manner in which the story was told, as well as the elements involved. But whatever the case, I absolutely loved it.

I was so hooked! And this doesn’t happen often with books that don’t have an epic love story at its centre. But I often found myself wondering what was going to happen next in Six Crimson Cranes while I was working, or running errands, or doing other adult things.

This story was beautifully woven and kept me engaged all the way through. I consumed some parts of it in audiobook format, and therefore also wanted to make a note about that––the narrator was really great and helped bring the story of Six Crimson Cranes to life! I highly recommend this book in all formats!

I think I had heard this fairytale at some point in my childhood, but this interpretation made for such an exciting story. Elizabeth Lim's writing was truly a treat to read. Shiori was such a lovely protagonist the story was woven together so elegantly that I couldn't stop reading. This was an excellent start (with gorgeous cover art) and I'm so excited for book 2 to come out.

Elizabeth Lim has a way with fairytales. Six Crimson Cranes is a retelling of The Wild Swans, and it’s probably my favorite book that I read in 2021. Six Crimson Cranes has such a nostalgic feel to it (probably because I grew up watching the Hello Kitty version of The Wild Swans), and I couldn’t put it down. Shiori’s growth across the tale is incredible, and I can’t wait to see where the next book takes her! I mean, if you’ve read the book you know where she’s going, but I can’t wait till I have the actual book in my hands so I can finish this story. I highly recommend you pick up Six Crimson Cranes or any of Lim’s books if you’re in the mood for an epic fairy tale retelling—trust me, you won’t regret it!

Read this book last year, as a NetGalley arc, but I didn't have Goodreads back then (I used my Instagram).
Already a The Blood of the Stars fan, I think I liked this book even more. Elizabeth has a gift for descriptions, if you are into East Asian cooking this book will make you SO hungry! Set in the same universe as the previous duology, it plays with classic fairytale tropes in the same charming way, but with a very different tone.
It's entirely possible to like one duology but not the other because the tone is quite different; while The Blood of the Stars duology is more dramatic and epic, Six Crimson Cranes is more like a palace romcom and its characters are younger too.
Don't get me wrong, SCC has a lot of traveling and adventure too (and quite a few high tension scenes) but there are many funny characters and Shiori's spoiled brat point of view is a comedy element by itself.
Definitely recommended, can't wait for the second book!

Am I supposed to care what happens to Shiori? She’s just awful. So self-centered and reckless. I think if this had focused on a different main character (or even been in third person so I didn't have to listen to Shiori whine quite so much), I would have been more on board. As it is, I'm 15% in and very little has happened and I have no character worth rooting for. So I'm steping away.

Six Crimson Cranes is absolutely just as gorgeous as its cover. It is a story woven deeply with forbidden magic, curses, strong familial bonds, and mythology. The story telling is strongly reminiscent of the fairy tale it drew inspiration from, with a vivid folklore atmosphere throughout. Key fairytale elements - an evil stepmother, royal secrets, and a curse - are heavily leaned upon, but not in a way that impacts the original story Lim has woven.

The familial relationships depicted are strong, tangled, and complex, and a true highlight within the book. Even the trope of a mysterious, soft love interest was introduced in an interesting way, that avoided cliche that such a trope typically holds. A stunning story, that no doubt will have a stunning sequel in the future.

Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC version of this amazing and wonderful book. All opinions here are my own.

Beautifully written and breathtaking. I pretty much loved everything about this book and really loved that fact that the main character, Shiori, really had to learn and grow in the novel to make it. I loved the characters and really enjoyed so much of the adventure because the worldbuilding was PERFECT. Definitely one of the books that I would recommend to others.

I loved the writing style and the unique retelling of the classic story. Will definitely handsell and recommend to customers

Thank you to penguin team for sending me an eARC of this book and exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know where to start but I absolutely loved this book so much! I devoured it in less than 24 hours I could not put it down and I could not stop reading. And I’m not someone who tends to read books fast.

First off this story follows Shiori, A princess who is a beloved by her father and her six brothers. In the beginning, she is on her way to meet her betrothed which has been in the works for the last seven years, when she runs into a lake And meets a dragon. She soon finds out that she actually has magic. Little did she know that her stepmother also has magic and she puts a curse on her and her brothers. She turns her brothers into cranes, and if she speaks a word every word she speaks a brother with die. Desperate to break the curse and save her brothers, she heads out until her world to find a way to break the curse.

This book has everything. Family relationships, fantasy, world building, interesting creatures, magic, folklore and so much more. When I was reading this book, it literally felt like I was reading a fairytale. The relationship that Shiori has with each individual brother is so fun to read. I was able to grasp who each brother was, his relationship with Shiori and what order they were in (in terms of oldest to youngest). That’s hard to do with so many characters in the beginning but Lim made it easy. The character development is very well written and I love that Shiori doesn’t need a man or her brothers to save her. She really grows from a princess to a strong woman.

Elizabeth Lim has done a wonderful job in fusing Asian culture and folklore into the world. I do not have words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. Although I do not believe this is going to be a five star raid for everyone, I think if you really enjoy Asian culture, anime,KDrama and fantasy you’ll really enjoy this book.

I cannot wait for book to. It is going to be a wild ride I already know and it is on my anticipated releases this year!

this was so good, i loved it. a bit predictable, but it’s a fun, whimsical and magical read, and made me feel warm.

I loved the book from the first page on. Intriguing characters, a reluctant-bride-princess, her brothers, her is-she-good-or-is-she-bad step-mother, magic and even a Chinese Dragon! While it was reminiscent of fairy tales I read as a youth, it evolved into a more involved story where we’re never quite sure whom to trust and whom to be wary of. One of the signs of great writing is that when you’re done reading, you yearn for more. And yes, this left me wanting MORE!
Full review to come on YouTube.

Thank you so much to Random House Childrens/Knopf Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for sending me a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.



“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.”

I absolutely loved this book. The combining of mythology and classics fairytales was breath-taking. The way the Elizabeth Lim wrote this story was beautiful and magical and lyrical. The world she created was just so enchanting and like a breath of fresh air. It totally feels like its own fairytale, and it just put me in the best mood while reading.

The characters were so well developed and fleshed out. I really felt for the main character, Shiori, throughout the whole book. But as fresh as Shiori is, the other characters are even more a delight. From her friends, a mercurial dragon, an enchanted, sassy paper crane named Kiki, her brothers, her betrothed, and even the villainous stepmother; the whole cast of characters was spectacular! Shiori is a princess of Kiata and she has a big secret, she possesses forbidden magic. On the day of her betrothal ceremony her magic gets out of control, so she runs away. Unfortunately, it caught the eye of her stepmother, Raikama; a sorceress in her own right. Raikama curses and banishes Shiori, turns her 6 brothers into cranes and gives dire warnings not to speak of the curse, because if she does, her brothers would die.

Overall, I was completely enchanted with this new fairytale, and I think it would make an excellent Disney film! Would scream from the rooftops, highly recommending this book to anyone and everyone!

Shiori is the only daughter of the Emperor. She is also one of the only people in the land of Kiata to have magic, a practice forbidden by her ancestors. One day she learns that she is not the only magic wielder in Kiata when she and her brothers are cursed. The journey to find a cure to the curse leads Shiori down a path of self discovery filled with magic and some of the best characters I have read in a long while. I highly recommend this compelling fantasy read!

A fantastic fairy tale, retold in a new and exciting way. I loved the imagery of this book, it felt lush and like I'd fallen into the story so completely. Can't wait for the next installment!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. I love fairytales and this read very much like one, which was nice for a change. I always find retellings tricky, and I can be quite the picky reader.

Highly recommend this one for those who enjoy East Asian mythology and character driven stories.

Wowww! What a wonderful adventure! Elizabeth Lim writes a compelling and enchanting tale.
Shiori is the only princess of Kiara, and one with a very strong will. She is not afraid to take control of her own destiny, to the point that she misses her own betrothal ceremony. Little does she knows that it will only be the beginning of her own misfortune, bringing a curse upon her and her family, and awakening a thousands year old legend.

The characterd were endearing and the plot unpredictable! I can't wait for the second installment to continue to explore more of this magical world and its lore that Elizabeth Lim has creatievly penned. Especially since we'll probably see more of the dragons :)

4.5/5

My first read of February was a blast to read! I absolutely loved how Elizabeth Lim brought this world of Kiata to life with the descriptions of customs, food, and legends. We follow our protagonist Shiori, a princess of Kiata, who has hidden magic that is revealed after she runs from her wedding ceremony. Her step-mother, Raikama, transforms Shiori's 6 brothers into cranes and warns her that she not speak or write of this situation to anyone. Shiori - forced to be a mute and have a bowl on her head making her unrecognizable - is now navigating her way to seek the answers to break the curse.

What I loved:
- Fantastic world-building with fairytale vibes
- Magical cranes, dragons, quests
- Tasty descriptions of food and cooking
- Strong protagonist + you grow to care for her
- Sibling bonds
- Arranged marriage trope & slow burn romance with Takkan

What should be improved upon:
- Not enough dragon lore with Seryu
- Cliffhanger ending
- Action sequences were rushed, making pacing a little off
- Emphasized "chosen one" trope

I highly recommend this book that has Asian mythology and made me nostalgic for childhood dishes. I can't wait to read more the sequel and the Spin of the Dawn duology!

Before I begin the normal cadence of one of my reviews, let me first say that as soon as I finished this, I immediately moved forward and devoured the first in her Blood of Stars series, Spin the Dawn. I absolutely adored both and I am sitting on my hands waiting for the sequel to this one.

Shiori’anma of Kiata is preparing for her betrothal to Lord Takkan, who lives far in the north within a land of barbarians. She is not looking forward to any of it. However, on the day of her betrothal ceremony, she escapes from the palace and retreats to a nearby pond, into which she falls only to be rescued by a dragon. Of course, no one believes her. Magic was banned in Kiata a long time ago and no one has seen dragons for longer than that. However, Shiori knows magic exists. She has some of it herself, some that she has hidden to the best of her ability since she was a young girl. However, when the dragon returns and begins to teach her magic, she unwittingly learns that she is not the only one in the palace with secrets. Her stepmother, Riakama, has magic of her own.

When Shiori tries to expose Raikama, she finds herself at the center of a curse involving her and her brothers, who are turned into cranes and sent far from the palace. Shiori is banished far away, a magic bowl is stuck to her head and covers her eyes, and is told not to utter a word or for every sound that escapes her lips, one of her six brothers will die.

Shiori, silenced and alone, must fight her way to her brothers as best as she can and find some way to break their curse and return home before the kingdom is plunged into war. However, Shiori finds that the world is not as it seems, and there are underlying plots that are taking place she never could have imagined. She must find the resilience and strength necessary to not only save her brothers and herself, but also everyone and everything else she loves.

This was an absolutely magical retelling of the Six Swans fairy tale mixed with a heaping helping of the Goose Girl. I honestly had the hardest time sleeping while reading this as it invaded all of my thoughts. This was my first introduction to Elizabeth Lim and I can honestly say that it has made me a fan for life. The heartbreak in her stories caused tears, the triumphs lead to audible sighs of relief, and the twists to gasps and held breathes.

Every character came to life on the pages. It was like the ink leaped from my e-reader to paint gorgeous shadow shows full of dragons, forests, jewels, and far away castles. I was so absorbed that I felt like I was there at times. I also kind of feel like I am waiting for the rest of my life to start. I am so psyched to read the next one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for a copy of this incredible story in exchanged for this fair review. I loved it.

the writing style was stupendous but the plot was 10x better. it was interesting and original and had a steady pace. really good plot twists and the last few chapters were so nerve-wracking I kept flexing my toes anxiously 😭 can't wait for the next one

I love Lim's writing so much. Each of her novels feels like reading a fairy tale and this one certainly felt like an instant classic. It was a true journey from the exposition, fall out, and redemption. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.