Six Crimson Cranes

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

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.** PRAISE FOR ELIZABETH LIM **A dazzling fairy tale full of breathtaking storytellingThis is a gem for all lovers of whimsical fantasy!This book is magic!A resilient heroine, a cast of imaginative characters, and creative plot turns make this gem of a novel sparkleA 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.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 journeyA 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 heartstringsA must-read for lovers of folkloric fantasy, told with flair and originality. Readers will be captivated by Shiori's journeyPositively enchanting, and absolutely worthy of its hype. I felt like I was pulled into the most beautiful fairytale, and I never wanted to leaveSure to delight even the most jaded of fantasy readersWhat an amazing creation! Every time I thought I knew where it was going, I was wrong. This is a white-knuckle read!A nuanced, compelling cast. Seamlessly intertwining western and East Asian folklore, Lim embroiders a richly imagined landscape in this vibrant, fast-paced duology starterAn addictive magical adventureElizabeth Lim is such an incredible storyteller . . . This amazing story will leave you breathless and aching to keep reading it long after you've finishedElizabeth Lim weaves a magical tale of a determined young woman who lets nothing stand in her way. I for one cannot wait to read the second . . . It's a definite hitEnchanting and lyrical, this book offers young adult readers an immersive tale of grit and adventure with a princess who will win their heartsCaptivating, magical, and immersive... a breath-taking fantasy and one of this year's standout book releases - Voice Magazine review