Description

A princess in exile. Six enchanted cranes. An unspeakable curse.

A beautiful and immersive YA fantasy retelling of the Grimm brothers’ The Six Swans fairytale, set in an East-Asian inspired world, by the author of Spin the Dawn.

‘A dazzling fairy tale full of breathtaking storytelling’ Stephanie Garber, Sunday Times bestselling author of Caraval

Shiori’anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs in her veins. And 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.

A sorceress in her own right, Raikama 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.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and 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.

Praise for Six Crimson Cranes

‘An unputdownable, sweeping fairytale that thrills as much as it delights’ Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Kingdom of the Wicked

‘This book is magic!’ Kristin Cashore, New York Times bestselling author of Graceling

‘A stunning remake of a fairytale’ Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

‘This is a gem for all lovers of whimsical fantasy!’ Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire

Publisher Review

** PRAISE FOR ELIZABETH LIM ** A dazzling fairy tale full of breathtaking storytelling * Stephanie Garber, Sunday Times bestselling author of Caraval * This is a gem for all lovers of whimsical fantasy! * Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire * What an amazing creation! Every time I thought I knew where it was going, I was wrong. This is a white-knuckle read! * Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tempests and Slaughter * A resilient heroine, a cast of imaginative characters, and creative plot turns make this gem of a novel sparkle * Stacey Lee, award-winning author of The Downstairs Girl * A princess with a secret, forbidden magic, betrothals gone awry-Six Crimson Cranes is an unputdownable, sweeping fairytale that thrills as much as it delights. Lim is a master storyteller which is apparent with every magical turn of the page. * Kerri Maniscalco, #1 NYT bestselling author of Kingdom of the Wicked * A must-read for lovers of folkloric fantasy, told with flair and originality. Readers will be captivated by Shiori's journey * Juliet Marillier, award-winning author of Sevenwaters and Wildwood Dancing * This book is magic! * Kristin Cashore, New York Times bestselling author of Graceling * Six Crimson Cranes is a true fairy tale adventure with a vividly drawn world, a lovable and dynamic heroine, and a complex wicked stepmother. With her skillful combination of folklore and surprising plot twists, Elizabeth Lim takes readers on a captivating and wholly original journey * Melissa Bashardoust, author of Girl, Serpent, Thorn * A stunning remake of a fairytale. Six Crimson Cranes is the perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness, with twists and turns that will tug at your heartstrings * Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights * Sure to delight even the most jaded of fantasy readers * NPR * An addictive magical adventure * School Library Journal * A nuanced, compelling cast. Seamlessly intertwining western and East Asian folklore, Lim embroiders a richly imagined landscape in this vibrant, fast-paced duology starter * Publishers Weekly, starred review * Elizabeth Lim is such an incredible storyteller . . . This amazing story will leave you breathless and aching to keep reading it long after you've finished * The Nerd Daily *