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wormbroth's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
Magic system was cute, nothing ground breaking but cest la vie. Really enjoyed the reimagining of this classic fable, not impressed with the love byline, enjoyed the emphasis on family connection.
gnovel_gnome's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
breezy610's review
4.0
This really good. Everyday life got in the way so i had to reading on hold for a while.
laura_bird's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
vaishsviews's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-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? No
4.5
This book has sat on my shelves for the longest time and I genuinely regret not starting it sooner. I didn’t think I’d love it as much as I did but I’ve already bought the sequel and am excited to dive straight into it.
Shiori is a princess and the only daughter of the Emperor which comes with its own duties. Among these, is an unwanted betrothal that she desperately wants out of. On the day of her betrothal ceremony, she gets caught by her stepmother, Raikama, in possession of forbidden magic. What follows is the banishment of Shiori and the transformation of her brothers into cranes but most importantly, for every word she utters, one of her brothers will die. Desperate to undo the curse, she instead stumbles across a conspiracy against the throne and now must focus on saving her kingdom, with the help of a paper bird.
Shiori is complicated but I love how close to real it comes across. To her, it feels like overnight, her life has changed and she doesn’t want to accept it. She doesn’t want to get married but would rather spend more time with her six brothers. I love that each brother was given their own distinct personality and by the end of the book, I was able to differentiate between the brothers and what Shiori needs from them.
I also adored the relationship between Raikama and Shiori. It was nothing short of complicated but family relations usually are. I felt like this particular storyline was resolved perfectly and at the right pace - it felt true to how it could happen outside of a book.
Lim’s writing is compelling and I couldn’t stop myself from flying through this. At every given opportunity, I would read a few chapters and then I knew I had to finish it today. It’s incredibly easy to read and follow but it has a way of luring you in. One chapter slowly becomes so much more. I think it’s partly due to the very lifelike characters that jump off the page and how they each come to their own.
iri00's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cerro7's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
3.75
sarahboudereads's review against another edition
5.0
Way too good for my heart! This exactly what I needed in an Asian inspired retelling of this tale. Great character dynamic, soft™ love interest! I'm hooooked. Can't wait to read the second book.
*Thank you to the publisher for the review copy*
*Thank you to the publisher for the review copy*