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mariahmmm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a beautiful retelling of my favourite fairytale (Grimm's "The Six Swans"), transported to an Asian-inspired fantasy world mixed with traditional myths and folklore.
When Princess Shiori stumbles upon her hateful stepmother (the Nameless Queen) casting dark magic, her stepmother retaliates by transforming Shiori's six brothers into crimson cranes and cursing Shiori to be unrecognisable. The only way to reverse the curse is to gather and weave a net of the wickedly painful starstroke nettle and cast it over her stepmother while saying the Nameless Queen's true name. On her journey with Kiki (a paper crane she brought to life), Shiori will cross paths with an insufferable dragon, warlords, assassins, and her loathsome betrothed. Through it all, Shiori must guard her tongue, and her heart, as for each sound she utters, one of her brothers will die...
The Asian twist made so much sense and really enhanced the story! However, there was far too much going on and it felt like there were multiple disconnected stories crammed in. Most of the twists were incredible, but the major one was disappointing and definitely felt wrong for how the whole book had set things up (but I still wept like a baby after the revelation...). The romance, too, felt unnatural with unbelievable choices and circumstances pulling me out of the story.
When Princess Shiori stumbles upon her hateful stepmother (the Nameless Queen) casting dark magic, her stepmother retaliates by transforming Shiori's six brothers into crimson cranes and cursing Shiori to be unrecognisable. The only way to reverse the curse is to gather and weave a net of the wickedly painful starstroke nettle and cast it over her stepmother while saying the Nameless Queen's true name. On her journey with Kiki (a paper crane she brought to life), Shiori will cross paths with an insufferable dragon, warlords, assassins, and her loathsome betrothed. Through it all, Shiori must guard her tongue, and her heart, as for each sound she utters, one of her brothers will die...
The Asian twist made so much sense and really enhanced the story! However, there was far too much going on and it felt like there were multiple disconnected stories crammed in. Most of the twists were incredible, but the major one was disappointing and definitely felt wrong for how the whole book had set things up (but I still wept like a baby after the revelation...). The romance, too, felt unnatural with unbelievable choices and circumstances pulling me out of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty
s3ag0at's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
lizy's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Good book. Would have liked to know in advance that it was a series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Torture, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: War
serendipity421's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
estock36's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and War
williamabookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
An immersive read, a strong and authentically written, genuine appearing female main character, a cute quirky sidekick, a very cute slow burn and of course magic and a dragon, all set in ancient china. This was a premise of what I liked, what I didn't care for was the changing pace that was too slow sometimes, hence the often dragging story, the tenseness and so the lack of light-heartedness and the amount of pain that is thrust on the main character. </Also the lack of a happy end was displeasing (not that there wasn't one), it just basically immediately started with the second book without any celebration of the overcome hurdles and problems./ In conclusion a magical mythical read which was good but not great on my opinion. Still looking forward to the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
renpuspita's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I can't help to compare Six Crimson Cranes with The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, since I read Six Crimson Cranes 1-2 weeks after I finish The Girl Who Fell. Both influenced by mix and match of Asian Mythology and written by Asian American author, although Six Crimson Cranes apparently happen in the established world of Lor'Yan that also become setting for Lim's previous Novel (Spin the Dawn duology). Personally, I enjoy Six Crimson Cranes more than Girl Who Fell.
The strength of Six Crimson Cranes is in the heroine character's development. Shiori'anma or Shiori, the only daughter of Emperor Hanrinyu of Kiata Kingdom, first come of as a spoiled brat (or princess). She detest her betrothal to Lord Busian's son and prefer to be together with her six brothers. But, when her stepmother, Raikama, detect her magic and since magic is forbidden in Kiata, Raikama curse Shiori's six brothers into cranes while Shiori herself find her head covered by bowl and can't talk. One word escaped from Shiori's lip and one of her brother will die. Shiori's journey in order to save her brothers and expel Raikama's curse is the the highlight of this book, because Shiori changed from a spoiled princess to a girl with strength and determination forged by difficulties and obstacle that she face during her journey.
The story itself pretty much YA and straightforward, simple to follow but still enjoyable to read. I can't help to feel annoyed reading part when Shiori being bullied by Zairena. As for Shiori's spoiled attitude at first, I didn't mind it because well, Shiori act her age and Lim also write that Shiori kinda regret her past actions especially when she finally meet Takkan, Lord Bushian's son that she supposed to marry. The world building is also like the story, pretty simple and straightforward but still interesting to read. There are some twist near the end and the story also end in a cliffhanger that will continue in book 2, The Dragon Promise.
As for the romance, it's not a main focus but there's hint of romance, especially between Shiori and Takkan. I know that there's also possibilities of love triangle because Shiori also get close with Seryu, the grandson of Dragon King (so, he's also dragon), but although I can see that Seryu is infatuated with Shiori I feel that theirs relationship more like friends. I prefer Shiori with Takkan, lol, maybe because I like Takkan's soft boy personalities and I enjoy her interaction with Shiori. Not only romance, but the love between Shiori and her six brothers also a delight to read, and how complicated Shiori and Raikama's relationship was.
For a YA fantasy with Asian mythology at its core while also a retelling of The Six Swans fairy tale, Six Crimson Crane is a must read.
The strength of Six Crimson Cranes is in the heroine character's development. Shiori'anma or Shiori, the only daughter of Emperor Hanrinyu of Kiata Kingdom, first come of as a spoiled brat (or princess). She detest her betrothal to Lord Busian's son and prefer to be together with her six brothers. But, when her stepmother, Raikama, detect her magic and since magic is forbidden in Kiata, Raikama curse Shiori's six brothers into cranes while Shiori herself find her head covered by bowl and can't talk. One word escaped from Shiori's lip and one of her brother will die. Shiori's journey in order to save her brothers and expel Raikama's curse is the the highlight of this book, because Shiori changed from a spoiled princess to a girl with strength and determination forged by difficulties and obstacle that she face during her journey.
The story itself pretty much YA and straightforward, simple to follow but still enjoyable to read. I can't help to feel annoyed reading part when Shiori being bullied by Zairena. As for Shiori's spoiled attitude at first, I didn't mind it because well, Shiori act her age and Lim also write that Shiori kinda regret her past actions especially when she finally meet Takkan, Lord Bushian's son that she supposed to marry. The world building is also like the story, pretty simple and straightforward but still interesting to read. There are some twist near the end and the story also end in a cliffhanger that will continue in book 2, The Dragon Promise.
As for the romance, it's not a main focus but there's hint of romance, especially between Shiori and Takkan. I know that there's also possibilities of love triangle because Shiori also get close with Seryu, the grandson of Dragon King (so, he's also dragon), but although I can see that Seryu is infatuated with Shiori I feel that theirs relationship more like friends. I prefer Shiori with Takkan, lol, maybe because I like Takkan's soft boy personalities and I enjoy her interaction with Shiori. Not only romance, but the love between Shiori and her six brothers also a delight to read, and how complicated Shiori and Raikama's relationship was.
For a YA fantasy with Asian mythology at its core while also a retelling of The Six Swans fairy tale, Six Crimson Crane is a must read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Murder and War
oakairi's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Murder and War
dollwon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I expected this to be a five star rating until I was about two-thirds of the way through, so rest assured it is very good! I was quickly swept into the setting and lore of Kiata, an East Asian-inspired land where dragons roam the seas but magic like Shiori's has been banned. Shiori was such a compelling (and witty!) character and I loved how much self reflection and growth she had throughout the story. However much she changed, she remained dedicated to her brothers and her father; her strength in navigating her curse was awe-inspiring to say the least. Sometimes when I stopped reading I would realize that I'd had my mouth sealed shut to keep myself from making any sounds! Her hero's journey was deftly-plotted as she crossed paths with her brothers, her betrothed, her dragon friend, and her mysterious enemies.
Unfortunately, the ending felt rushed (and I can't believe I'm saying this about a 450+ page book) and there were multiple villain monologue/exposition dumps just to fill in all of the gaps. This was disappointing because I felt Shiori had done a lot to piece together bits of the puzzle up until this point, and all that effort felt wasted when she was just told the answers to her questions. (I don't want to spoil any of the other details that didn't quite make sense, but there were a few.) I was still flying through the pages but I wasn't enjoying myself as much as I was throughout the rest of the story. Still, the hype is real with this fantasy retelling of The Wild Swans, and I'm very glad I read it!
Unfortunately, the ending felt rushed (and I can't believe I'm saying this about a 450+ page book) and there were multiple villain monologue/exposition dumps just to fill in all of the gaps. This was disappointing because I felt Shiori had done a lot to piece together bits of the puzzle up until this point, and all that effort felt wasted when she was just told the answers to her questions. (I don't want to spoil any of the other details that didn't quite make sense, but there were a few.) I was still flying through the pages but I wasn't enjoying myself as much as I was throughout the rest of the story. Still, the hype is real with this fantasy retelling of The Wild Swans, and I'm very glad I read it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence