Book Review: Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon’s Promise by Elizabeth Lim

‘Six Crimson Cranes’, and ‘The Dragon’s Promise’ are a duology by author, Elizabeth Lim, with the first book coming out in 2021, and its sequel being released in 2022. Now a prequel novel, ‘Her Radiant Curse’, is due to be released later this year.

The books follow the seventh imperial child, and only princess of Kiata, Shiori. She is just sixteen at the start of her journey, where she nearly drowns in the Sacred Lake persuing her magic paper crane, Kiki on the day of her Betrothal Ceremony.

I loved how Lim threw us straight into the action in both ‘Six Crimson Cranes’ and ‘The Dragon’s Promise’. She grabs you by the horns and drags you into the fray with Shiori, her older brothers and the rest of the characters. I really enjoyed how immediate and prompt the pacing was, it meant that I was able to read the second book within 24 hours, despite being nearly 500 pages long. Honestly, her command of pacing is great.

Despite my saying so, I do wish there were more chances to sink in and indulge in details. I wish there were more opportunities to learn about the characters, places, and lore of the world we are exploring through Shiori’s eyes. I genuinely feel like this series could have been far longer, and with the open ends that Lim has left, there are ample opportunities to return to this world and the characters. Hell, she could do a Julia Quinn and monopolise off the backs of a huge family line and write books about each of Shiori’s brothers and their adventures pre and post ‘Six Crimson Cranes’. Perhaps I am slightly too attached to this world.

That being said, the second I finished the second book, I went to preorder ‘Her Radiant Curse’. The character of Raikama is so incredibly interesting and the backstory that readers become privy to throughout the duology probably only scratched the surface of what exists in Lim’s mind.

She has created amazing characters. While I didn’t necessarily feel the same closeness with each of Shiori’s siblings, I did enjoy seeing her grow fonder of each of them throughout the story. I did wish that the ill fated issues didn’t seemingly befall the same siblings time after time. What are the odds that it would always be them,. One out of six, and yet it is always Hasho, who draws the short straw. Again. The things I’d give for Hasho’s post-canon exploits to be revealed, oh my gosh. Can I also add, that Lim has a great use of the whimsy and magical in her world. She manages to weave an intricate world of mythologies I wasn’t previously aware of at all, into the story so I could remember the significant mythological figures and feel the necessary awe and emotions that readers better versed in mythology would be.

I also loved her use of tropes. The idea of bargaining with divine entities always makes my spine tingle. The consequences are fantastic and I loved relishing in the implications of those deals and bargains, particularly during the first quarter of ‘The Dragon’s Promise’. Seeing Shiori, Kiki and the Dragon Prince, Seryu interact within the Dragon Realm of Ai’long, was so much fun There was so much story there, and lore, with rich and interesting characters that I wished that Shiori could have spent far longer under the sea even if it meant her beloved Takkan had to wait even longer. What can I say – the potential love triangle element had me in a vice. I would have loved it if Lim could have explored that possibility more in the second book. I believe that going into more detail about Seryu’s feelings toward Shiori would have certainly offered the readers an even greater chance of wanting her to go with him, whether or not she was bound to her betrothed.

Regardless, I loved the romantic progression between Takkan and Shiori across the two books. Their lengthy betrothal is fantastic, and I loved how it seemed that the fate of the world as they knew it truly hd no respect for culture or customs, as their ceremony was constantluy postponed. It was funny. And to make things better, Shiori coming back from Ai’long and seeing that her beloved Takkan had grown close with her six brothers, meaning there was more rapport among them in the second part of the story was very evocative, as potentially losing him would have impacted the whole family, not just Shiori. It was clever for that off-screen bonding to take place during the time Shiori was away.

Saying that, I did wish that the antagonists of these books considered more people and things significant weaknesses to the protagonists, instead of Shiori’s one true love, Takkan. Especially since in the first book, it is clear that Takkan has many flaws and weakenesses, including his love and inability to resist his younger sister;s whims. His adoration of Megari and need to please her made him more compelling. I would have loved to see him miss her more in ‘The Dragon’s Promise’. Though, it truly does feel like I’m poking holes in a tapestry here,becase everything seemed so magical and immersive.

In short, I truly would recommend this duology to fanatsy readers, mythology lovers and people who love lovers that adore each other more than sense. It was an exciting, fast-paced, immersive duology and i can’t wait to read ‘Her Radiant Curse’ when it comes out.