Friday, June 9, 2023

Six Crimson Cranes

Today's fiction post is on Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim. It is 464 pages long and is published by Knopf Books. The cover has the main character and her swan brothers behind her. The intended reader is someone who likes fantasy, re-telling fairy tales, and light love stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from first person close of the main character, Shiori. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- 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.
Peniless, 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.

Review- A wonderful re-telling of the swan brothers in an Asian inspired fantasy. Shiori runs away from her betrothal ceremony and falls into a pond. She meets a dragon who promises to help her learn to control her magic. But before that can happen, her step-mother curses her and her six brothers. Far away from home, alone, and unknown, Shiori has to find her brothers, feed herself, and discover a way to free herself and her brothers. The plot is good, the characters are interesting with Shiori being a stand out, and the setting is very fun. Shiori is smart, she is brave, and she is willing to learn from her mistakes. I am looking forward to reading the next volume. 

I give this novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library. 

No comments:

Post a Comment