Pages: 454
Published: 6th July 2021
Genre: Fantasy
Content warnings: Injury detail
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 forswearn – matter what the cost.
This is a story that sparkles and shines with an intensity that remains undimmed from beginning to end. With the help of a gutsy protagonist and a plot that continually carries high stakes, it has that pulsating quality to go alongside a whole host of technical highlights such beautiful, detailed world building and gloriously witty writing style that also evokes genuine emotion.
For a fantasy novel that contains mythical creatures and a unique magic system, the fast pace of the action is a pleasant surprise and never does it get bogged down in complicated lore. Instead, the plot and characters are in equal parts the centrepiece and it is hard not to feel enraptured by both, with plenty of thrills and tense moments – as well as a few surprises – along the way.
The engaging opening sets the tone, as we are immediately given the chance to feel immersed in the setting and forge a connection with Shiori. In no time at all we are rooting for her and sharing her infectious curiosity, which is just as well, as we are soon living and breathing every scene with her once she is exiled and one wrong move could spell catastrophe.
Those early chapters are fairly light as we learn about Shiori and her six brothers, are introduced to her cute paper bird Kiki, and witness her flirtatious relationship with mysterious dragon boy Seryu. Still, Shiori’s hidden ability to perform magic and the power of her hostile stepmother Raikama means there is always a sense of trepidation, which suddenly explodes about a quarter of the way in.
When she is exiled and her brothers are cursed, it is a shocking moment that shapes the rest of the book, putting you completely on edge. It changes the atmosphere to one of melancholy at first as we realise the hopelessness of Shiori’s situation, yet although there are many occasions from here where she is persecuted or finds herself in danger, it is also uplifting at times too. Whether the mood is happy or sad, the vibrancy of the writing makes it ceaselessly gripping.
It must be a real challenge to have a narrator who is unable to speak for a large percentage of the story and still make her entertaining to read, but the author overcomes that hurdle extremely well with the telepathic link Shiori has with Kiki playing a crucial role. The time they spend at Castle Bushian is fascinating too as they live a fragile existence, with lots to enjoy in Shiori’s slow burning relationship with Takkan but also fear at the thinly disguised resentment she receives from Hasege and Zairena.
Takkan’s introduction actually serves as the first of the major plot twists, and it creates a intriguing dynamic that is rewarding to see play out. However, the second one, which happens quite near the end, is seismic. It is the kind of twist that takes everything we thought we knew and turns it on its head, and it is the book’s crowning moment, leading on to a beautiful conclusion that is moving in a most unexpected way.
That Shiori is everything one could possibly wish for in a protagonist cannot be emphasised enough. Inquisitive and headstrong, she has a playful mischievous streak that makes her endearing, but then we see a different side to her once she exiled; silently determined. Being a princess, her whole livelihood changes amid the terror of the curse and she has to find a way not only to survive, but to save her brothers and kingdom.
Not every character is multi-dimensional, but they are all well developed. Seryu is likeable if a little arrogant, but we barely scratch the surface with him and there promises to be much more to come in the sequel. Takkan is just really sweet and while it is easy to be taken by his initial kindness, it is much more powerful when we find about all the letters he wrote and his wild imagination.
The extent of Raikama’s power makes her a force to be reckoned with, very much playing the role of evil stepmother. There are some similarities with Zairena, who is another character you love to hate although she is more vindictive and has a different agenda, whereas Hasege is just mean and horrible. Along with Takkan, the shining light in Castle Bushian is Megari, who is joyful and not unlike Shiori herself.
But remarkably, perhaps the best and most enjoyable character to read is Kiki. How could a paper bird be so adorable? Well, she is unstintingly loyal to Shiori and saves her multiple times, but she is also very sassy and there is great fun to be had in all of their dialogue. It is no exaggeration to say that this book would not be the same without her.
It is a vividly drawn setting that you feel fully embraced in, and that is despite the author not going too heavy on the descriptions. Shiori’s kingdom is bright and has a upbeat energy to it that is offset by the ban on magic and the threat of Raikama, while the place where she is exiled and then Castle Bushian both have a less forgiving atmosphere. There are some lovely whimsical touches too, such as the festival and Shiori’s liking for rice cakes.
All of this is enhanced by the writing, which has a boundless energy and breeziness about it that gives you a connection to the story. It transitions easily between humour and urgency, taking us along for the ride. That is also where the character of Kiki is so crucial, as she effectively acts as the voice of the reader while Shiori is rendered mute.
Overall, this is a delightful book that brings together engaging writing, characters who elicit an emotional response, and an absorbing plot with good twists. It is fantasy at its uncomplicated best with fantastic storytelling at its heart, and when you want the ending to give you something extra special, it delivers. Six Crimson Cranes = five golden stars.
Elizabeth Lim first began writing fanfiction when she was a child, but initially her career took her in the direction of her other passion – music. She has a doctorate in musical composition and wrote the scores for independent films and video games.
However, she returned to writing after vowing to publish a novel, and she has become a prolific author for children and young adults. She first made waves with Spin The Dawn in 2019 which was given a sequel a year later, while in 2021 she released Six Crimson Cranes, the first of another duology. Lim lives in New York with her husband.
I loved it throughout but coming towards the end I still felt that something tiny was missing. THEN came the twist and the emotion of the last chapters, and that sealed it for me.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
