Six Crimson Cranes follows Princess Shiori and her six brothers. Princess Shiori is expected to marry for the benefit of her family, but she has no interest in her unknown groom. One night, Shiori uncovers a terrible secret about her stepmother and finds herself cursed. With one stroke, her true identity is hidden and her brothers are transformed into cranes. Shiori must fight to free herself and her brothers, while outwitting a conspiracy to take the throne.

Six Crimson Cranes was a beautiful and compelling story. Lim has a way of storytelling in a timeless, classic way. The writing is lyrical and filled with sensory details. I loved how she wrote the powerful bond between siblings! Within this book is a masterful blending of several tales: The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang’e, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.

I particularly loved the inclusion of Kiki, the paper crane that Shiori brings to life with her magic. As she undergoes the trials necessary to break the curse, seeing Shiori grow and strengthen her abilities was powerful. Shiori and her stepmother possess magic that is a wily beast with a mind of its own. Six Crimson Cranes is a spellbinding tale where nothing is ever exactly as it seems!

If you enjoy reading about fairy tales with a twist, sibling stories, curses, and dragons then you need to read this book! If you are a fan of Renée Ahdieh, I would also recommend this book. I truly enjoyed Six Crimson Cranes and can’t wait for the sequel! Thank you so much to Elizabeth Lim, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.