Six Crimson Cranes review: A whimsical world, characters + map
Six Crimson Cranes summary:
A princess in exile, the boy she left at the altar, six enchanted cranes, and a dragon from the deepest sea.
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.
From the author of Spin the Dawn comes a breathtakingly original fantasy inspired by East Asian folklore and perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo or Tomi Adeyemi.
Six Crimson Cranes map
Let's begin by discussing Elizabeth Lim's worldbuilding, which can only be described as majestic. Every aspect of the world she has created is rich and immersive.
To really visualise things, illustrator Virginia Allyn has crafted a beautifully detailed Six Crimson Cranes map.
Six Crimson Cranes map.
You can check out more of Virginia’s illustrations on her website.
Six Crimson Crane characters and quotes
You'll encounter several characters in the first book of this captivating duology.
Shiori, the cursed princess.
“If fate is a bunch of strings, then I’ll carry scissors. My choices are my own. I’ll make them as I please.”
In the beginning, we meet our main character and narrator, Shiori, and learn that she’s brash, captivating, mischievous, rebellious, and immature.
I personally loved watching her character arc and development from beginning to end.
Shiori’s “Jiminy cricket-esque” sidekick, a magicked-to-life paper crane named Kiki, is an utter delight too.
Takkan, the “faceless” fiancé.
“The contents of the knapsack confirmed my judgement of his character:...There were volumes on poetry and classical painting and history. And there was the sketchbook I’d seen him with earlier--filled with drawings of mountains and crescent boats on a river, and a little girl with pigtails holding a rabbit.”
Takkan, in the beginning, is betrothed to Shiori. However, at the betrothal ceremony, Shiori stands him up, distracted by other “priorities”. During the book, we get to learn more about Takkan and we find out he is the absolute sweetest, most sensitive, compassionate, and profound character. He writes poems, stories, draws and sings. He’s a complete onion with so many layers.
No wonder we witness Shiori and Takkan’s blossoming of a connection, compelling Shiori to reconsider her perceptions of Takkan.
Seryu, the shape-shifting dragon.
“The dragon’s smile widened, revealing his sharp pointed teeth. The look was not quite as feral as a wolf’s, but it was enough to remind me that he wasn’t human, no matter how much like a boy he looked.”
Seryu is a dragon. And not just any dragon. A dragon that can shape-shift into a human. With his vibrant green hair when he’s in his human form and glittering red eyes, he's a sight to behold, oozing mischief, charm, and an irresistible allure.
I craved to see a lot more of the elusive grandson of the Dragon King.
Raikama, The Nameless Queen.
“She was the one person I could not read. Flecks of gold rimmed her eyes that ensnared me with their coldness. I couldn’t tell whether their depths were hollow or brimming with an untold story.”
Raikama, aka “The Nameless Queen”, is Shiori’s stepmother. She’s a mysterious enigma and when she eventually transforms Shiori’s six brothers into cranes and curses Shiori so that for every word she speaks, one of her brothers will die, we learn that she is, in fact, a powerful sorceress.
Full list of Six Crimson Cranes characters.
Shiori
Takkan
Seryu
Kiki
Hasho
Andahai
Benkai
Reiji
Yotan
Wendei
Raikama
Lady Bushian
Megari
Zairena
Hasege
Guiya
Pao
Oriyu
Chiruan
Lord Yuji
The Wolf
Rai
Kenton
Mrs. Dainan
Six Crimson Crane review.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5
Shape-shifting dragons, forbidden magic, evil stepmothers, a cursed princess and princes, ensorcelled kingdoms, and a delightful companion in the form of a chatty paper crane named Kiki. Six Crimson Cranes takes East-Asian mythology and culture and blends it with classic fairytales to give it a modern and innovative twist.
For comparison notes, you can read the classics here:
But I digress! Out of all the books I've read in 2023, Six Crimson Cranes may be the standout of the year thus far. Full guilty disclosure: I adore some Disney movies (not the racist, sexist ones, gosh), and I grew up on a staple diet of The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, so this vibe is right up my alley.
Here are a few of my favourite things about the world of Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim:
1. The worldbuilding.
From Kiata to Mount Rayuna, to Iro, Rabbit Mountain and Castle Bushian, the Zhensa (never-ending forest) and the Sacred Lake, Lim needed to nail the worldbuilding. And she did.
2. Seryu.
A flush instantly colored his pointed ears. “I meant I thought you were pretty for a human,” Seryu grumbled. “You’d be a hideous dragon.”
I would like a green-haired mischievous dragon friend that teaches me magic too, thx.
3. The sibling relationships.
“You’re yourself, Shiori. The knot that holds us together whether we like it or not.”
Heartwarming, and not in a cheesy way. The relationship between Shiori and her brothers feels authentic. They tease each other, they stick up for each other, they fight, they laugh, and they’ll always be there for each other, no matter what.
4. Kiki, Shiori’s trusty and mouthy paper crane sidekick.
“What are words but silly sounds that tire the tongue? You don’t need them to find your brothers. You have me, and you won’t be alone, not as long as we search together. No more tears until we find them, all right?”
I would also like a magical paper crane imbued with a part of my soul that can communicate with me through thoughts.
5. Lim’s lush and whimsical prose.
“The lonely moon hung round and bright as a dragon’s eye.”
In context, it’s even better.
6. Takkan.
He grew on me like a mollusc.
7. Just the actual story itself.
Lim’s re-interpretation and transformation of a classic fairytale/s into a modern and diverse masterpiece is creative, innovative and magical.
A shout-out to the cover artist as well, Tran Nguyen. Have you ever seen anything so full of splendour?
Delighted to have discovered this author and her flawless prose and I highly recommend this book. 5 iridescent stars!
If you enjoyed reading Six Crimson Crane, you may also enjoy reading:
Circe, by Madeline Miller (Greek mythology retelling).
Fourth Wing, by Rebecca Yarros (Dragons also included).
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (Romantasy / historical fantasy).
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig (Dark fantasy).
A Stolen Heir by Holly Black (YA fantasy)
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (Dark academia fantasy)
