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fragrant_stars's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Of all the books in the Six Crimson Crane series, this one has my heart. I loved SCC but this book? I adore this book. I feel like Elizabeth Lim was able to show off a bit more of her creativity for storytelling in this book compared to SCC and she really really did not disappoint. I will be thinking about this story universe for days.
I initially picked up SCC because I'm always eager for a good East Asian fantasy- and I was very much delighted by the world Lim described in books one and two. My heart skipped a beat in book two when I realised that Raikama's-- Channari's-- home was inspired by Southeast Asian culture, and now there's a whole book's worth of story about it? I could have jumped for joy. As a Chinese-Indonesian, I'm so happy to see snippets of both my cultures in this story.
Don't get me wrong, Shiori is a plenty loveable character in her own right, but my favourite has always Raikama, so learning more about her in this book was basically everything I wanted. I can't help but feel that Channari was the real protagonist all along, over these last three books. I love her so damn much.
I initially picked up SCC because I'm always eager for a good East Asian fantasy- and I was very much delighted by the world Lim described in books one and two. My heart skipped a beat in book two when I realised that Raikama's-- Channari's-- home was inspired by Southeast Asian culture, and now there's a whole book's worth of story about it? I could have jumped for joy. As a Chinese-Indonesian, I'm so happy to see snippets of both my cultures in this story.
Don't get me wrong, Shiori is a plenty loveable character in her own right, but my favourite has always Raikama, so learning more about her in this book was basically everything I wanted. I can't help but feel that Channari was the real protagonist all along, over these last three books. I love her so damn much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Self harm, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, and Slavery
Minor: Alcohol
chaptersofmads's review against another edition
5.0
“Never will I apologize for being the monster they made me.”
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: blood, body horror, bullying, death, death of a loved one, pregnancy, self-harm (it's not for the intent of self-punishment, but it is quite detailed and a large part of the story), slavery, torture, violence.
First things first: Elizabeth Lim supremacy. I've said it a thousand times and I'll continue to say it. No one does it like her.
This might actually be my favorite book she's ever written, which is insane to me because the Blood of Stars has been my favorite duology since I read it. But this book was just on another level. It was everything I wanted and more.
Her Radiant Curse was everything a prequel should be. It was a fantastic, heart-breaking story in its own right but with the context of Six Crimson Cranes? Devastatingly glorious. Not only did I not want to put this book down, it made me want to immediately reread SCC. Every reference was so well-done and never made me feel like they had been included solely for the purpose of being a reference, if that makes sense.
This book is perfect for anyone that loves whimsically dark stories with a thread of mythology that runs throughout, a story that - at its heart - is ultimately about the power of familial love and the strength that it can give us, whether by blood or not. It's the kind of story that transports you, that leaves you disoriented when you're pulled out because you were that engrossed.
I don't rave about books often, but this deserved it.
I am a mess of a emotions that is heartbroken this is over and still so shocked and grateful that I received an arc for it. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year. No contest.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: blood, body horror, bullying, death, death of a loved one, pregnancy, self-harm (it's not for the intent of self-punishment, but it is quite detailed and a large part of the story), slavery, torture, violence.
First things first: Elizabeth Lim supremacy. I've said it a thousand times and I'll continue to say it. No one does it like her.
This might actually be my favorite book she's ever written, which is insane to me because the Blood of Stars has been my favorite duology since I read it. But this book was just on another level. It was everything I wanted and more.
Her Radiant Curse was everything a prequel should be. It was a fantastic, heart-breaking story in its own right but with the context of Six Crimson Cranes? Devastatingly glorious. Not only did I not want to put this book down, it made me want to immediately reread SCC. Every reference was so well-done and never made me feel like they had been included solely for the purpose of being a reference, if that makes sense.
This book is perfect for anyone that loves whimsically dark stories with a thread of mythology that runs throughout, a story that - at its heart - is ultimately about the power of familial love and the strength that it can give us, whether by blood or not. It's the kind of story that transports you, that leaves you disoriented when you're pulled out because you were that engrossed.
I don't rave about books often, but this deserved it.
I am a mess of a emotions that is heartbroken this is over and still so shocked and grateful that I received an arc for it. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year. No contest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
Minor: Slavery
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