Book Review: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Format: Paperback
Published: July 6th, 2021
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Goodreads

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Oh, I really, truly loved this one. Currently my favourite read of the year, Six Crimson Cranes is a retelling of “The Wild Swans”, set in an East Asia inspired fantasy world. Ever since reading Lim’s Reflection as part of the Disney Twisted Tales series, I have loved this author, who consistently delivers fun fantasy with fascinating heroines and just the right balance of romance.

Shiori is the youngest of seven siblings, but with six brothers, she’s the only princess of Kiata. There’s something else about Shiori – although magic is non-existent in Kiata, she has some, but controlling it isn’t easy, and she enlists the help of a dragon to teach her. When her stepmother Raikama discovers Shiori’s magic, she banishes Shiori and turns her brothers into cranes, inflicting a curse on the princess that means for every word she speaks, one of her brothers will die.

Shiroi’s journey introduces her to allies and enemies alike, though it’s not always clear which camp they fall into. The allies do, however, include her paper bird and the boy she was determined not to marry.

Lim is excellent for great stories that contain a heavy fairy tale air, and centring these unique, spirited girls. The writing is beautiful, really immersing you in the scenes with Shiroi, especially when it comes to some situations where Shiroi is put in a difficult position – she can’t talk to anyone, can’t say who she is, despite coming into contact with the very people looking for her and her brothers. But there’s more to the curse than any of them realise, and gradually, Shiroi uncovers a plot that threatens the whole of Kiata.

It’s a wonderfully written fairy tale fantasy, perfect for teen and us teen-at-heart readers, with beautiful imagery and a great MC who’ll have readers completely hooked.

Reading Challenge
Disney Reading Challenge 2024
Prompt: Belle – Well, Some People Use Their Imagination – a fantasy book

Progress: 2/40 Completed