Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Title: Six Crimson Cranes

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Six Crimson Cranes # 1

Publication: July 6, 2021, 454 pages

Source: Personal Library.

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A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse...

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.

MY THOUGHTS

I just finished reading Elizabeth Lim’s latest novel, A Forgery of Fate, and was so impressed that I immediately went back to explore more of her work. Six Crimson Cranes, a duology set in the same world, felt like the perfect place to start.

Lim masterfully weaves elements from various fairy tales, Cinderella being the most prominent in this story from what I noticed, which I’m starting to realize is a signature of hers. Our main protagonist, Princess Shiori, and her brothers are banished by her stepmother. Cursed into silence, Shiori sets off on a journey to find her six brothers and break the spell.

It took me a little longer to warm up to Six Crimson Cranes, but the writing and worldbuilding were just as strong as in A Forgery of Fate. While I usually enjoy multiple subplots, the curse, the romance, and the looming threat to Kiata didn’t blend smoothly for me. Just as I’d start to get invested in one storyline, the focus would shift, which occasionally disrupted my engagement. Personally, I might have preferred a more streamlined narrative but I understand why Lim chose to give Shiori a voiceless curse, as it plays a key role in her character development.

I generally liked the characters, but with such a large cast, none of them truly stood out. I didn’t feel much connection to the brothers, Raikama, Sheryu, or even Kiki. While I enjoyed the first half of the book, my interest started to wane around the midpoint. The ending felt a bit anticlimactic and left me unsure whether I want to continue the series or read the Raikama spin-off.

Overall, Six Crimson Cranes was a decent, very quick read, but I won’t be rushing to pick up the sequel.