[A quick note: You do NOT need to read the Blood of Stars duology before reading this one. It can be read as a stand alone or before Spin the Dawn if you wish. It is, however, set in the same world, many years before and in a different part of the world. Elizabeth Lim has become a favorite of mine. I actually got TWO copies of this book. The US edition (shown here) and the UK edition from Fairyloot shown in the image at the bottom. The US edition I ordered as signed/personalized. That’s how much I love this author! Plus I wanted all the preorder swag.]
“𝗧𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀, 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗮 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗱, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.”—Elizabeth Lim
From the author of Spin the Dawn comes a story about growing and maturing set in the same world. Six Crimson Cranes is a beautiful tale inspired by East Asian folklore. Princess Shiori possesses a forbidden magic. When she escapes her betrothal ceremony and attracts the attention of her stepmother, she is banished and her brothers are cursed into cranes. She is forced to silence and her identity stripped away. Voiceless, penniless, and alone, Shiori must turn to the man she fought so hard not to marry. The only way to break the curse is to subject herself to silent misery by weaving a net of starstroke stolen from the dragons. But what if breaking the curse is exactly what her enemies want?
A princess in exile, the boy she left at the alter, six enchanted cranes, and a magical dragon, this story left me so warm and full! It was beautifully written and difficult to put down. Not only is it set in the same world as Spin the Dawn, but sheds light on the Blood of Stars duology. Elizabeth Lim’s writing is an absolute pleasure to read. It’s sure to be a favorite for anyone who loves stories with siblings. The bond between the royal children was WONDERFUL!
I loved seeing Shiori’s struggles and growth. She transformed from a spoiled trouble-maker to a serious, mature woman. Her journey was anything but easy. Not only was she forced into silence, but her stepmother cursed her to wear a ridiculous bowl on her head that hid her eyes and nose and couldn’t be removed. Everywhere she went, she was called “demon” and mistreated. The only person who took her seriously turned out to be the man she’d scorned for half her life. Her intended. Having never met him, she was shocked to find Takkan was anything but what she’d imagined. Not only that, he showed her kindness when no one else would.
“𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗹. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗲’𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜’𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁.”—Elizabeth Lim
I loved the twist of plot. I really thought everything was going to be straight forward. Gather starstroke on the dragons’ island, go through the torture of preparing it and weaving it into a net, confront Stepmother and use the net to break the curse. Nope! I was so wrong. The story blossomed into SO MUCH MORE and the last handful of chapters were so unexpected.
I had no idea this wasn’t a stand alone. I was looking forward to all the lose ends being tied, but there’s enough to warrant a second book. However, the main plot was resolved in a satisfying way. I adore Shiori and Takkan and really hope they’re end game. Elizabeth Lim has become one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next! 𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝟱/𝟱⭐️
