Six Crimson Cranes

Starred review from May 24, 2021
As the emperor of Kiata’s only daughter and the youngest of six, Princess Shiori’anma, 16, is promised to wed warlord’s son Bushi’an Takkan to strengthen alliances with the North. But on the day of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori follows her escaped paper bird Kiki—crafted from her own forbidden magic—into the Sacred Lake. A breath from drowning, she comes face-to-face with a small dragon whose species has remained un-
observed for centuries. The shape-shifting entity soon reveals himself to be arrogant 17-year-old dragon prince Seryu, who offers her magic lessons before leaving for his grandfather’s palace. Shiori’s luck takes a turn for the worse when she witnesses her cold, opalescent-eyed stepmother Raikama’s true demonic form. Cursed to be voiceless, magicless, and unrecognizable by Raikama, strong-willed Shiori faces impossible odds: she must defeat her stepmother, restore her brothers from their own cursed crimson-crowned crane form, and save her country from impending war due to Kiata’s now ostensibly heirless throne. Accessible dialogue and compassionately rendered family dynamics cohere in a nuanced, compelling cast. Seamlessly intertwining western and East Asian folklore, Lim (the Blood of Stars duology) embroiders a richly imagined landscape in this vibrant, fast-paced duology starter. Ages 12–up. Agent: Gina Maccoby, Gina Maccoby Literary.

June 1, 2021
Girl meets magic. Hijinks ensue. Shiori'anma, Princess of Kiata and eldest daughter of Emperor Hanariho, is the intrepid protagonist in this folktale retelling. About to turn 17 and be married off to a third-rank barbarian lord, Shiori desperately looks for ways out of the engagement. Her emerging talents in forbidden magic and a run-in with a young shape-shifting dragon help to pass the time before she is doomed to relocate to the cold North. Things take an even worse turn, however, when she uncovers her stepmother's secrets. As a consequence, her six brothers are cursed into assuming the form of cranes by day. Shiori is whisked away and coerced into silence, for every word that escapes her lips will mean the death of one of her brothers. She must learn to survive on her own and use her wits and hard-won experience to save both her family and country. Readers here revisit the East Asian-inspired world established in Lim's The Blood of Stars duology. Despite a few hiccups in the logic of the magic, the author cleverly maintains the basic structure of this well-known European folktale type while weaving in rich elements of Asian mythology, including dragon pearls and the goddess of the moon. The exploration of complicated family dynamics is a particular strength, especially the challenging of the evil stepmother clich�. Part exciting adventure, part thoughtful coming-of-age novel, this story retells and overturns familiar tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 13-17)

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Starred review from July 1, 2021

Gr 7 Up-Dangerous magic, untimely romance, and more than a few twists await readers in a magical adventure set in the same world as Lim's "Blood of Stars" duology. Princess Shiori'anma, the youngest child and only daughter of the Emperor of Kiata, has successfully hidden her forbidden magical abilities for years. But one fateful day, desperate to escape a dreaded betrothal ceremony, Shiori slips up and reveals her secret to her stepmother, who is discovered to have dangerous powers of her own. Now Shiori and her six older brothers have been cursed and banished-her brothers doomed to transform into six cranes by day, while Shiori is rendered unrecognizable and warned that for every word she utters, one of her brothers will die. Shiori must summon every ounce of grit and resourcefulness she possesses to survive, track down her brothers, and solve the mystery of their curse. Fast-paced excitement is balanced with a satisfyingly intricate plot that weaves in elements from Western fairy tales and East Asian folklore. Princess Shiori, with all her shortcomings, is an endearingly determined protagonist whom readers will be excited to follow into promised sequels. VERDICT A must-read for fans of folklore- and fairy tale-inspired fantasy.-Darla Salva Cruz, Suffolk Cooperative Lib. Syst., Bellport, NY

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February 25, 2022
Grades 8-12 When 16-year-old Princess Shiori is introduced to her betrothed, she panics and flees, appalled at the notion of constrained life as a married noblewoman. Shiori is feisty, adventurous, and close to her six older brothers, and she will need all those qualities when stepmother Raikama reveals her dark magic and curses to Shiori and her brothers, changing the princes into cranes. Shiori must act on their behalf to break the curse, with the help of origami crane Kiki, who she brought to life with her own magic. Lim combines Andersen's ""The Wild Swans"" with many elements of Asian folklore while complementing fast pacing with the richly detailed world of both courtly life and the natural world. Large and small cultural details bring authenticity: the importance of the number four (considered bad luck), the folktale of the girl with a bowl on her head, the legend of 1000 paper cranes and culinary and religious details are seamlessly incorporated. A comfortably predictable romance emerges between Shiori and her intended betrothed, and the folk and fairy tale elements will lend a similar feeling of warm familiarity for many readers.

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