Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
A book review by Mina
Shiori’anma is the princess of Kiata, and she has a secret: forbidden magic runs through
her. Typically, she conceals it well but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, she loses
control and stalls the wedding she never wanted. However, it catches the attention of Raikama,
her stepmother. A sorceress herself, Raikama banishes Shiori and turns her brothers into
cranes, placing a curse on Shiori that if she were to ever speak, each word that escapes her
mouth will cause the death of one of her brothers. Cast out of Kiata, Shirori is now a regular
citizen, forced to work while searching for her brother. While searching for her brothers, Shiori
uncovers a conspiracy for the throne where Shiori will have to decide whether the throne or her
brothers are her priority.
As a huge fan of Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk, I had high hopes for Six Crimson
Cranes, and I was not disappointed. While reading Spin the Dawn during early high school, I
fell in love with her story writing and her ability to describe fantasy so intricately and beautifully.
Now reading Six Crimson Cranes as an adult in college, I found the writing to still be intricate
and delicate, even if I find it a bit juvenile. I would’ve loved Six Crimson Cranes if I were still in
high school, but I did find the book still enjoyable. I really enjoyed the plot and the inspirations
that inspired the book; however, I did find that the main character got really lucky most of the
time she ran into trouble. It played off as her figuring it out, but I find that it was luck or chance
that she was able to figure it out, so I felt that it slightly diminished her strong resolve. The plot
was really consistent, and I really enjoyed the character development. Some of the plot twists
were a little predictable, but it was still a great read nonetheless. Additionally, I really enjoyed
the magic aspect in the fantasy world. While the romance was well-written, I love the
importance of family in this book. You can tell that Shiori prioritizes her brothers and that her
love is extensive for them, and it shows through what she goes through in order to find them.
Also, I found that this book defied stereotypes, especially through certain characters that made
me rethink their entire personas. I don’t see many adult readers enjoying this series, but I could
see a middle schooler wanting to transition from juvenile fiction to young adult, and this would
be a great book to start off with!
Books similar to Six Crimson Cranes:
● If You Could see the Sun by Ann Liang
● Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
● Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
