Elizabeth Lim

Six Crimson Cranes

Ellie M.

What an exquisite retelling of The Wild Swans! Set in an East-Asian inspired fantastical world, we meet Princess Shiori and her six older brothers. With magic long lost in Kiata, its practice is a strictly forbidden act, but when Shiori finds out that she is able to wield magic by bringing a paper bird to life, she grabs the attention of Raikama, the king’s concubine and her stepmother, eventually cursing her brothers into cranes and exiling her from the kingdom she’s known her whole life. Determined, Shiori sets out to find her brothers and break their curse altogether. With a catch: she can’t speak lest her brothers die. Six Crimson Cranes is a well-executed, captivating, and beautiful tale of family, young love, and friendship that will leave one crying or laughing altogether. I cannot fully describe the feeling of reading this book for the first time, but it is a colorful story imbued with magic and dragons and eventually fulfilling one’s destiny.

This has to be one of my favourite retellings. I quickly recognised which tale it was a spin on, as I'm quite familiar with it from my childhood. Normally books with less action don't leave a strong impression on me but this one was truly beautiful and I loved it. The book itself is also stunning and I'm so happy I have a physical copy. 

I absolutely adore Kiki. It was nice to see the love interest not be a jerk for a change. The evil stepmother trope was nicely subverted.

I'm so mad they got interrupted when they were about to kiss 😠

I couldn't really feel the bond between Shiori and her brothers. Hasho was the exception. 

4.24 stars

This has to be one of my favourite retellings. I quickly recognised which tale it was a spin on, as I'm quite familiar with it from my childhood. Normally books with less action don't leave a strong impression on me but this one was truly beautiful and I loved it. The book itself is also stunning and I'm so happy I have a physical copy. 

Characters: 7/10

Enjoyment: 9/10

Plot: 9/10

Worldbuilding: 7/10

Writing: 10/10

I absolutely adore Kiki. It was nice to see the love interest not be a jerk for a change. The evil stepmother trope was nicely subverted.

Shiori and Takkan were cute together

I'm so mad they got interrupted when they were about to kiss 😠

I couldn't really feel the bond between Shiori and her brothers. Hasho was the exception. 

Six Crimson Cranes

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