Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim | Book Review

【 SIX CRIMSON CRANES 】

This was beautiful and epic.

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Published: July 2021
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 454 (paperback)

It’s taken me a little while to get around to picking this up, but I’m so glad I finally did. This was a wonderful ready that I adored! When I first started it, the writing felt quite young and I wasn’t certain that I was going to fall in love with this story as much as everyone else seems to have. But I needn’t have worried!

Once this got into the swing of the story, I was nothing but happy and lapping up the narrative. I had my guesses about what the story would be about and how things would end – but it proved me wrong! What I *thought* was going to be covered in the book, happens within the first 100 pages, and everything after that was a delightful surprise.

I loved the setting of this one and the beauty of the cities and places that Shiori visits. It’s got the fun element of a curse the character has to break, which also causes her to be unable to speak to help herself. I though the mythological vibes of this was great (and I confess I’m not sure, not haven’t researched it yet, what this is based off exactly) but it gave the story a really whimsical vibe.

I think this was a great combination of high fantasy, myth and action. The pace is epic and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I wanted to know how Shiori would beat the odds and come out on top, and I just loved the twists in the story.

Let’s not even mention how wonderful Takkan is. Will absolutely be adding him to my fictional boyfriend shelf. *starry eyes*

I can’t wait to pick up the sequel (and am so glad I read this just as the sequel is coming out so I don’t have to wait!) Can’t recommend this one enough to YA fantasy lovers.