Wow, I don't know where to begin. I thought this was such an amazing book. Once I got started it was hard to put down. I loved all the characters and plot of the story. I loved how this was inspired by both a common fairy tale, but with Asian mythology twist. I thought Shiori was a great main character and she grew so much through out the book. I can not wait for the next book to come out so I can get answers from that ending.

This was such an enjoyable book. It reads like a classic fairytale, and the naivety of the main character is realistic and believable. This book was magical and I was instantly drawn into the world and fell in love with all the characters. More than once I got anxious for the characters, worried about how they planned on getting out of their dire situations.
This is the first book I've read by this author, and now I can't wait to read more by her. And I can't wait for the sequel when it comes out.

Elizabeth Lim is my new favorite auto buy author! Her twists on classic fairytales are beautifully and thoughtfully rendered. I loved the world she created with SIX CRIMSON CRANES and wanted to linger in it for as long as possible!

This story brings together a childish wonder of fairytales with Chinese fairytales and folklore. There was a lot of magic in between these pages, with a beautiful world and vidi characters. The writing style wasn't personally my style, since I prefer more mature young-adult novels and have veered farther away from younger-voiced protagonists.

Anyone seeking a story with a well-sculpted world and the magic of young fairytales, this is the story for them.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley.

As a huge fan of Spin the Dawn I was ecstatic when I heard Elizabeth Lim was writing another book, and let me say Six Crimson Cranes does not disappoint. Lim’s whimsical fairy tale writing style is in full force here to bring past readers back to a somewhat familiar world.

The world of Six Crimson Cranes is one where magic is scarce, legends are often true, and holidays are always celebrated with a bang. The lush descriptions of tantalizing food and dazzling landscapes transport the reader and ensure that you try to make ever food described.

I found the magic system interesting but somewhat underdeveloped, I want to know more but I feel like we only got a smattering and I’m still not really sure how it works.

The subtle nods to Spin the Dawn are perfect. If you’ve read the Blood of Stars duology some of the world building and characters will seem familiar but not blatant enough to make new readers confused.

My only turnoff for this book was just how awful everyone was to Shiori all the time. Like it was hard to read because it felt like no one was on her side at all. Especially around the middle of the book, she was miserable and I was miserable reading it.

The whole story felt like a fairy tale with a plot structure reminiscent of The Odyssey. I had no idea this book was the first in a series and am curious to see what Elizabeth Lim does next.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WOULD BE A CLIFFHANGER ENDING. I'm slightly freaking out now, because I need to know what happens next but am left only with my own imaginings! I thoroughly enjoyed this story but waiting for more (will there be more? I don't see how there can not be with an ending like that) is going to be agony. AGONY, I say!

So good.

(ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes my rating or review.)

4.5 absolutely touching stars!

This book owns my whole heart. The touching family relationship that is so rarely represented in YA was gorgeously depicted in Six Crimson Cranes, and Elizabeth Lim managed to make every character realistic and incredibly human. I managed to grasp which brother was which remarkably fast, which shows the brilliance of Lim’s characters, and Shiori was one of the most powerful heroines I’ve ever read about. Her character development from a mischievous and self-centred princess to a tough and determined young woman was stunning to watch, and I couldn’t help but root for her and her brothers every step of the way.

“You’re yourself, Shiori. The knot that holds us together, whether we like it or not.”
(Shiori’s brother, Reiji, talking to Shiori.
This quote may not be in the published version of this novel, it was copied from the advanced reader’s copy.)

The unique worldbuilding and magic system was really beautiful to read about, and I loved the Asian royalty rep and the clear South-East Asian culture woven throughout Six Crimson Cranes. Also, that cover? STUNNING. I know I received this as an ARC, but I feel like buying it anyway, just so I can admire that cover.

Another stunning aspect of this book was the way the villains were depicted, and I can’t go much into this without spoiling, but there were some really touching twists that added to the unique-ness of Six Crimson Cranes. I didn’t love the love-interest or Shiori’s relationship with him as much as I loved her relationship with her brothers, but he was still really sweet and kind, and it’s always nice to see more non-toxic YA men. I think he was definitely a good match to strong-headed and determined Shiori, and I can’t wait to see their relationship further develop in the next book!

“If fate is a bunch of strings, then I’ll carry scissors… My choices are my own. I’ll make them as I please.”
(Shiori talking about fate.This quote may not be in the published version of this novel, it was copied from the advanced reader’s copy.)

All in all, I’m desperate to read the next book in this series, and I’m so glad I was able to snatch an ARC of Six Crimson Cranes! A gorgeous retelling of a rarely-mentioned fairytale. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and TBR & Beyond Tours for the ARC copy!

Will there be more??

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. With different Asian folklore weaved in, we follow Shiori as she discovers who she is and what her role is in a world with "ready" to burst at the seams with magic. Lim does a fantastic job creating this world and giving life to the characters as well as keeping the readers guessing at what will happen next. I hope there will be another story!

Six Crimson Cranes was an enchanting, bewitching retake on the beloved Children’s classic – The Wild Swans. When I was a child, my dad used to read me Hans Christian Andersen’s stories to sleep every night through this giant book of his stories I had, and The Wild Swans was one of my favourites. At that time, one of my favourite parts of the story was the sibling relationships, and how each of the princes, as well as the princess cared so much for each other.

But, even now, nearly 10 years later, the sibling relationships in Elizabeth Lim’s retelling tugged at my heartstrings. Everything from the banter, to the unexpected “are you okay?”, and overprotectiveness hit close to home, and was so well written. It wasn’t just Shiori’s and her brother’s relationship that I loved reading, but also Takkan’s and Megari’s – because that, too, wa so heartwarming and beautiful. There was so much care, and thought put behind every sibling interaction written, and that was something I truly appreciated.

The romance, also miraculously did not actually ruin the book, and,I’m so happy, that I thought the love interest was actually swoon-worthy! Usually I love a YA fantasy, and it’s the half-hearted romance with two characters who have no chemistry that destroys it for me, but this time, I found myself rooting for the romance, and the main relationship.

Although all of these characters and their personalities complimented, and fit with each other so well, the characters on their own were also three-dimensional and well fleshed out, plus the growth, and the character arcs (especially Shiori’s) were simply phenomenal. We see Shiori grow from someone who’s slightly selfish, and extremely mischievous, to somewhat more of a listener, and that progress in maturity levels was so well developed, I couldn’t help but fall in love with her character along the way.

Elizabeth Lim’s storytelling sucked me into the story right from page one, and I fell in love with the rich world she created. With references to multiple myths, and a blend of cultures in the story, I fell straight into the beautiful fairytale-esque world. The narrative pulls you in, and the vivid descriptions help make all of the myths and folklore jump off the page, and come to life.

The legends and folktales incorporated into the plot helped Six Crimson Cranes stand out from The Wild Swans, and I think it’s one of the things that truly set both of these lush stories apart. The references to the original story were there, and formed the core plot, but everything else was new, unique, and seemed to jump off the page as I read.

The writing, and prose in this gorgeous novel invoked so many emotions and reactions within me. It was whimsical, lyrical, and added to the atmosphere as well as the mood. Although the prose was lilting, and delicate, the pacing was never slow, or tiresome, and I flew through the pages.

The beautiful writing also helped add to the world building, and brought all the wonderful settings in the book to life. I could picture everything from the desolate, picturesque snowy mountains, to the bustling, crowded city during festivals, and I think that’s what made Six Crimson Cranes all the more magical.

There was nothing, really, wrong in this book, or anything I didn’t enjoy, but I just wish we had more. Raikama (the stepmother) was such a complex, intricately written character, but there wasn’t too much of a focus on her, and her thoughts.

Her character arcs was one of my favourites, and in this interview that Cherelle had with the author, it’s mentioned that a prequel/short story about Raikama was really how Shiori’s story bloomed – so I’m hoping that, in the future, that short story will be published as a novella, and we get more of an insight into Raikama’s character.

Overall, Six Crimson Cranes is a story about growth. About sacrificing, and fighting for the things you love, but most of all, about hope. A retelling of The Wild Swans, Elizabeth Lim builds on the original story, and makes it her own with gorgeous worldbuilding, focus on the importance of fighting for good, as well as heartwarming family dynamics. Shiori’s story provided a perfect, whimsical, escape from reality, and I flew through all 464 pages in one sitting!

This book was absolutely amazing.

The character development, the world building, the everything! I had such an amazing time reading this book and couldn't put it down.

My expectations of Six Crimson Cranes was neutral as to not over hype it for myself but I didn't need to worry at all. I can see myself reading this over and over again!

4 stars

Starts off simple and slow, but once you fall into this story it is one word—mesmerizing.

Writing: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★ and ★★★★, depending on how far you are in the book
Enjoyment: ★★★★ 1/2

So first off, for those who miss clear clues like me, this is the first book in a duology! It is not a standalone novel. Six Crimson Cranes is a beautiful, mesmerizing, and classic YA retelling tale that involves all the best elements of the genre and a few unique twists. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. When her stepmother, also possessing magic, discovers Shiori's secret, she curses Shiori and her six brothers. Shiori's brothers turn into cranes, and Shiori herself is cursed with silence and her identity is hidden by a covering on her head. They are then magically flung from the palace and separated.

Once a princess, now a mute and unidentifiable girl in the rural countryside, Shiori is stuck and in need of a plan. She has to defeat her evil stepmother, break the curses on herself and her brothers, and save her kingdom from the outside forces who want to overthrow the land.

It's a tall to-do list, that's for sure.

But Shiori's endurance and sense of self are strong, and she knows she can do this. Armed with her sentient paper crane, Kiki, and a will to live, Shiori sets off on the adventure of a lifetime.

(Shhh, I won't talk about it anymore. Go read it!)

My thoughts:
What? Amy loved a retelling? No way. Yes, way. I did. I thought this was a beautiful novel with quite a lot going for it.

Six Crimson Cranes starts off extremely simple. In fact, for the first section of the plot I thought to myself, "oh boy, I don't think this will be a favorite. It's too classic." But I was wrong. Once you get into the plot itself, Lim's talent for detail, emotion, and simplistic—yet elegant—plot shines through. I was entranced by Shiori's struggle and coming of age moments. This reminded me of the best kinds of retellings, the old-school classic movies, the works.

I also loved several things that are serious spoilers. Not going to touch on those in this review, but I'll say that this isn't as basic as you might assume, and just because the template is reminiscent of other fairytales does NOT mean that Lim takes us through the motions. There are some very cool and unique flips here.

I was absolutely blown away by this book! I loved Lim's Spin the Dawn duology, so I had high hopes for this one, and it did not disappoint! I also noticed a few crossover details from the duology, so I was excited to spot those Easter eggs!
The world that Lim creates with her descriptions is so lush and beautiful that I wanted to fall into the story. The story itself sucks you in so fully that it's difficult to escape. I felt very connected to the characters and I loved seeing all of the little pieces of the story fall into place. I don't know why I thought this was supposed to be a standalone, but the ending was left wide open for continuation, and I'm so excited to see where the story goes from here!

I’m a sucker for a fairytale or anything that feels like one. This book lived up to the expectations. It now has me curious about its folklore inspiration, The Wild Swans. It was magical, dreamy, and action-packed! It felt creatively refreshing and that kept me interested.

I immediately clung to Shiori and yearned for her success in breaking the curse. I was devastated for the hell Raikama puts her through, but what a riveting adventure to follow! Once you get going with this story, I don’t expect you’ll want to put it down!

A beautiful, beautiful story, even though the start was slow, the pace quickened and I could not put it down even though I had 40% more to go. Mesmerizing tale, plot twists at every corner, the ending that was so heartbreaking yet complete. The characters are written very well, I felt Shiori's anger and pain, Takkan's longing and sorrow, even little Kiki's impatience and wit. I am looking forward to the next tale ans keeping my eyes on Seryu, I still don't think he is good 100% but after all...he is a dragon, one does not trust a dragon completely.

Six Crimson Cranes creates a lush, vivid, immersive, reading experience and is an incredible addition to the resurgence of YA mythology genre.

I appreciated the author’s note at the beginning, because Kim explained the roots and inspirations for her novel. These connections are vital for readers not well-versed in ancient Eastern mythology, folklore, or even Western fairy tales.

I want to add this text to my World Mythology Remix lit circle unit because not only is it beautifully written, pulsing with relatable characters, and brimming with adventure, it’s also a largely underrepresented narrative in my school’s curriculum.

Six Crimson Cranes, by author Elizabeth Lim, is the first installment in the authors Six Crimson Cranes duology. This is retelling of The Six Swans, a German fairy tale. The story follows 17-year-old Shiori'anma, the only daughter of the Emperor Hanriyu and the late empress of Kiata. She has six older brothers who are as different as they come. But what makes Shiori so interesting is that she is able to wield forbidden magic which allowed her to make a paper crane she calls Kiki come alive.

On the day of her betrothal ceremony to a boy from the North named Takkan, she ends up chasing her friend Kiki straight to the palace lake where she nearly drowns. She meets Prince Seryu of the Easterly Seas, who just happens to be a dragon, and who just happens to save her from drowning. He also offers to help Shiori learn about her magic. Shiori's trouble begins after she learns that her stepmother, Raikama, is a snake like human who can perform dark magic and doesn't appreciate Shiori learning her secret. Raikama curses Shiori by putting a bowl magically glued to her head, even her eyes are covered by bowl so nobody can recognize her.

Raikama also curses her brothers into cranes, and tells Shiori that if she speaks one word, her brothers will die. Now lost and alone in a far off land with a bowl on her head and unable to speak for fear of killing one of her brothers, Shiori sets off to find a way to break the curse. On her journey, she discovers enemies, allies, and schemes that she never could’ve imagined. She'll discover the boy that she ran away from isn't as bad as she made him out to be and he ends up being part of her journey to discover a way to save her brothers. She'll discover that she is the glue that keeps the family together even though she has an adventurous spirit that longs to explore her own magic and often gets her into trouble.

It is fair to say that the book ends on a cliffhanger. It is the only reason that there must be a second and final book in this series. Shiori's journey is far from over. She still has a Dragon Lord to deal, she has demons eager to get another chance at Shiori, and she has to find a way to save her family from the horrors they face in this story. I'll be waiting for the sequel.

Six Crimson Cranes is possibly the only YA novel that has felt so authentically like a fairy tale. It's woven with such care, and incorporates all the aspects that a book would need to be good. I read it so quick, and so lovingly.

Shiori is a wonderful protagonist. Not too perfect, but not too wrong. She's just the kind of heroine a fairytale needs— she's someone who becomes better at the end of gruelling whimsical curse but she's also a sister and a daughter who comes across so well. The first person POV has never worked better for me.

Lim is a fantastic author who brought out not just some much needed creativity in YA, but also created a world that was sustained by her own fascination of fairytales and Asian culture. If you pick up a single new release, pick this one.

The only reason it misses the 5 star mark for me is due to there being too much packed into this one book. I'm a reader who likes to see less happen, rather than seeing a lot happen while not quite seeing how the pieces moved the way they did. Which is why I wouldn't dare to miss the sequel either!

Pros
Teenage Voice: So rarely does a YA book actually have a teenaged voice. Sure, there's (almost always) a teenaged protagonist, but that doesn't mean the voice matches. I've found the voice is often too mature or too juvenile--with too juvenile being the ultimate sin. No one wants to read a book with a whiny middle-school-esque protagonist. That being said, this book gets the teenaged voice just right. Shiori thinks and acts like someone who is just getting her footing in the world while at the same time being independent and, for the most part, level-headed. And that's a rarity.

Whimsical Magic: When so much of current fantasy can be described as "dark" and "gritty," it's really nice to find a piece with some whimsy to it. Paper cranes come to life. Shapeshifting dragons swim in the rivers. Needles can sew for you. It's fun and enchanting--and full of flutteringly magical elements.

Animal Companion: Sure, the animal companion may be a bit of a fantasy trope, but it's definitely not one that's been featured a lot recently. Kiki the paper crane is a great edition to this book. She is delicately magical while also being snarky and sarcastic. She's just the right sort of animal companion, too--complimenting Shiori's weaknesses without getting lost in this primary plot function. Kiki is a fun addition for her.

Cons
Fairytale Light: The worldbuilding is fun. The magic is whimsical. And though the fairytale plot has points of tension, it's ultimately light and pleasant. Because it is a fairy tale, though the stakes are high, there's an ultimate sense that things will work out just fine in the end. And that is fine. It's bright and lighthearted. Those looking for some "gritty reality" complete with "gray" characters might be disappointed, though. This book is fairytale light.

The Bowl: This critique sounds weird, right? And it is weird--fairytale weird. For a large part of the book, the main character has a bowl on her head. That in itself isn't a problem. The problem is that I ultimately couldn't picture how this worked. How was it on her head? How much of her head did it cover? This book is written in first person, so there are generally few times when the protagonist describes herself. Therefore, the narrative type is part of the problem. But Shiori does, in fact, describe herself after the bowl gets added several times--mentioning that she looks different--but she still doesn't really describe how the bowl works. I just couldn't picture the bowl. How does it look? I need explanation!

Evil Women: Yes, I know. It's a fairytale trope, and the evil women characters are in fact important to this particular respun tail. Still, I'm always sad to see evil stepmothers and rivals on the page. Women don't always have to be each other's enemies. Sometimes I wish we could see more of women being kind to each other, especially in fairy tales.

Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6/10

Fans of Rena Barron's Kingdom of Souls will sink right into this lush new fantasy world. Those who like the whimsy of Jessica Day George's Dragon Slippers will love this respun fairytale.

**Thanks Netgalley and to the publishers for providing this for an honest review!**

This was my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it! I was unfamiliar with the original fairytale, so I wasn't expecting anything! I loved the magic, storytelling, and the characters. Kiki the paper bird was the best, and I really wanted more of the dragon. The middle was a little slow for me, but overall I really enjoyed this. I am looking forward to more from this author!

This book was so good it had me do a double take when someone asked me a question and I had to speak. Lim's writing is so engaging I believed I had seven brothers that were in danger if I made any sound. I enjoyed every minute of reading this and would want it on as many shelves as possible.