‘The Wild Swans’ is one of my favorite fairy tales. I remember watching every animated adaptation that I could get my hands on. In Six Crimson Cranes, Elizabeth Lim managed to weave a mesmerizing tale of familial bond, love, betrayal, and fate–drawing inspiration from East Asian folklore.

The vivid descriptions of the settings and the characters really made me feel as if I was accompanying them on their quest to break the curse. I love Shiori’s character development from a petulant princess who refuses to tie her freedom to marriage to a princess that’s patient, brave, and compassionate.

There are parts of the story that are too predictable and I felt overwhelmed with revelation after revelation, especially, at the concluding chapters. But overall, it was an enchanting read and I am very much looking forward to the sequel!

This book, in a way, is a compilation of folklores, which I absolutely adore. I love reading tales about dragons, demons, and goddesses. It’s a world full of lush magic, adventure, and scrumptiously described food (it made me kinda hungry). Most importantly, it’s a tale that reminds us of how we can shape our own destinies no matter how impossible others perceive it to be. A highly recommended read