Six Crimson Cranes
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4.6 • 133 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse... Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.
"A dazzling fairytale full of breathtaking storytelling." --Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval
Shiori'anma, 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.
A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns 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 uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear--no matter what the cost.
Weaving together elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Elizabeth Lim has crafted a fantasy like no other, and one that will stay with readers long after they've turned the last page.
"A stunning remake of a fairytale. Six Crimson Cranes is the perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness, with twists and turns that will tug at your heartstrings." —Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights
"Fast-paced excitement is balanced with a satisfyingly intricate plot that weaves in elements from Western fairy tales and East Asian folklore." —SLJ, starred review
“A richly imagined landscape . . . vibrant, fast-paced.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
As the emperor of Kiata's only daughter and the youngest of six, Princess Shiori'anma, 16, is promised to wed warlord's son Bushi'an Takkan to strengthen alliances with the North. But on the day of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori follows her escaped paper bird Kiki—crafted from her own forbidden magic—into the Sacred Lake. A breath from drowning, she comes face-to-face with a small dragon whose species has remained un-observed for centuries. The shape-shifting entity soon reveals himself to be arrogant 17-year-old dragon prince Seryu, who offers her magic lessons before leaving for his grandfather's palace. Shiori's luck takes a turn for the worse when she witnesses her cold, opalescent-eyed stepmother Raikama's true demonic form. Cursed to be voiceless, magicless, and unrecognizable by Raikama, strong-willed Shiori faces impossible odds: she must defeat her stepmother, restore her brothers from their own cursed crimson-crowned crane form, and save her country from impending war due to Kiata's now ostensibly heirless throne. Accessible dialogue and compassionately rendered family dynamics cohere in a nuanced, compelling cast. Seamlessly intertwining western and East Asian folklore, Lim (the Blood of Stars duology) embroiders a richly imagined landscape in this vibrant, fast-paced duology starter. Ages 12–up.
Customer Reviews
cried (in a good way)
This book was beautiful !! I loved every minute of it, even the parts that had me stressing ALLLL the way out and wanting to skip to the end. My only gripe, which is not really a gripe at all, is that we didn’t get to see more Takkan and Shiori!!! TT Even though I was reaaally rooting Seryu to win her heart (he won mine!!), i’m so glad we’ll see more of him in the next book with Takkan and Shiori’s relationship possibly developing ?! Exciting!!
Wow
Just wow. Truly an adventure for the ages. Shiori showed significant character growth by the end of this book. She kept me on my toes and guessing along the way of what would happen next. Truly a great and incredible read. 10/10 I’m grabbing the sequel ASAP.
Incredible, But Slightly Confusing
[Spoilers ahead]
This was an incredible book. I loved the detailed language and plot. Shiori’s also such a great character, and I love the romance between her and Takkan. One tiny thing, though, is how the book can forget to tie up loose ends. For example, when Takkan has been seized by the Wolf, and the Wolf changes into a demon and kills Yuji, it doesn’t actually mention that Takkan got freed from the Wolf’s grasp, just moves on to the next scene where Takkan is no longer held. Other than that, it was a great book. I loved reading it, and probably stayed up later than I should’ve reading it. Thank you, Ms. Lim, for writing it.