Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (ARC Review)

Title: Six Crimson Cranes
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Type: Fiction
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Date published: July 6, 2021

A complimentary digital copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted, but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

Raikama has dark magic of her own, and she banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes, and warning Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and, on her journey, uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne—a conspiracy more twisted and deceitful, more cunning and complex, than even Raikama’s betrayal. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to contain—no matter what it costs her.

⤖ My Review ⬻

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 (and I cannot wait for the sequel, The Dragon’s Promise)!

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!

⤖ About the Author ⬻

Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, “Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that’s kinda cool!” Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She lives in New York City with her husband.