Six Crimson Cranes

By Elizabeth Lim, Pub date

5 stars. Best Enjoyed when you’re in a reading slump, because this will get you out of it really quick.

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.