Review

SIX CRIMSON CRANES by Elizabeth Lim

“Find the light that makes your lantern shine.”

The US cover of Six Crimson Cranes was edited on my ereader

SIX CRIMSON CRANES by Elizabeth Lim is a beautiful and enchanting tale

This was so beautiful. I finished SIX CRIMSON CRANES in two days, and I already want to reread the book. I loved everything about it, from the characters and storyline to the magic and world-building. While reading SIX CRIMSON CRANES I also fell in love with Elizabeth Lim’s writing and I will definitely read her two other books.

Synopsis

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.

First of all, both covers (UK and US) are stunning. I chose to edit the US cover on my e-reader (for my Instagram picture) because I could only find that one in good quality!

What an enchanting tale. SIX CRIMSON CRANES is beautifully written. I loved everything about this book. The world-building and writing were immaculate, and the characters felt so real and honest. I had heard amazing things about Elizabeth Lim’s writing, and I can confirm all the statements are true. While reading SIX CRIMSON CRANES I fell in love with these characters and the magical world they find themselves in. But I also fell in love with the story itself and the author’s writing.

The writing in this book was immaculate. I love the way Elizabeth Lim writes. I had high expectations (don’t ask me why) and they were definitely met.

I loved seeing the beautiful friendship between Shiori and Kiki, but also the bond Shiori has with her brothers. Princess Shiori is a complex character, which I loved a lot. The character growth in this book – together with the storyline, magic and world-building – was one of my favourite things. You can see Shiori become a better person, step by step. And have you seen this gorgeous cover?

After reading SIX CRIMSON CRANES all I can say is: go read this book. I’ll be reading Lim’s other two books because I’ve become hooked to her writing.

Would I recommend it?

Oh my god, yes! Please go read it so we can talk about it together.

eArc provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Details

Trigger warnings
Confinement, death of a parent
Representation
Japanese main characters
Genre
Fantasy (young adult)
Pages
464
Publication date
July 8th, 2021
Publisher
Hodder & Stoughton
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!” But after one of her teachers told her she had “too much voice” in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.

Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel — for kicks, at first, then things became serious — and she hasn’t looked back since.

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.