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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
After devouring everything else by Elizabeth Lim, especially SCC and TDP I was worried this might not be as exciting since I knew the ending already sort of. Phew. No need to worry! It felt as cozy as the other legends but still novel still exciting. I love any legend by Lim it feels like her stories were trained by Studio Ghibli but are as exciting as Mulan legends. Just incredible.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Elizabeth Lim is a master story teller.
Absolutely loved this book. It was beautiful to see and understand Channi as we see so little of her in Six Crimson Cranes and much is misunderstood.
Her determination to protect her sister reminds me of Shiori. I’m so excited to reread Six Crimson Cranes.
I loved the small links to Six Crimson Cranes, they were impactful and not forced - Elizabeth Lim is a master at crafting these interlinked stories.
Spoilers for Six Crimson Cranes
The fact she used a wooden bowl to cover her sister’s light and then her own as a form of protection and it’s what she cursed Shiori with as a way to protect her - so beautiful and such a gorgeous way to bring in that motif.
Absolutely loved this book. It was beautiful to see and understand Channi as we see so little of her in Six Crimson Cranes and much is misunderstood.
Her determination to protect her sister reminds me of Shiori. I’m so excited to reread Six Crimson Cranes.
I loved the small links to Six Crimson Cranes, they were impactful and not forced - Elizabeth Lim is a master at crafting these interlinked stories.
Spoilers for Six Crimson Cranes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Grief
a rare good prequel haha. authors don’t usually pull those off well but she did. not as good as six crimson cranes but still very enjoyable
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
This was a beautiful and magical tale. Having read the Six Crimson Cranes duology in the past, I knew how the story ended but had completely forgotten how it got there and this was absolutely wonderful. I have half a mind to re-read the Six Crimson Cranes eventually... I absolutely loved this and can't recommend it enough, whether or not you have read the Six Crimson Cranes first. The magic and the adventure, as well as the beautiful love between the two sisters, had me go from laughter to shock to tears. A wonderful story to read if you love fairytale-like stories with a twist and breathtaking adventures.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4/5 ⭐️
Wow, this was such a great prequel to Six Crimson Cranes. We got a glimpse at her stepmother at the end of the first book, but to see how she came into her strength and heart and power was so interesting. Just like with Six Crimson Cranes, it felt like it could’ve been a real folktale, but this one had an even more badass female main character. But beside taking inspiration from Chinese folktales, I loved how there were elements in this story that reminded of the tale of Helen of Troy. And the dynamics between Channi, the witch demon, and the dragon reminded me a lot of the relationship dynamics in Spirited Away from Studio Ghibli.
If you’re a fan of folktale retellings that are so rich and engaging that you can’t stop thinking about them even after you’re done, check this out.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children’s for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
Wow, this was such a great prequel to Six Crimson Cranes. We got a glimpse at her stepmother at the end of the first book, but to see how she came into her strength and heart and power was so interesting. Just like with Six Crimson Cranes, it felt like it could’ve been a real folktale, but this one had an even more badass female main character. But beside taking inspiration from Chinese folktales, I loved how there were elements in this story that reminded of the tale of Helen of Troy. And the dynamics between Channi, the witch demon, and the dragon reminded me a lot of the relationship dynamics in Spirited Away from Studio Ghibli.
If you’re a fan of folktale retellings that are so rich and engaging that you can’t stop thinking about them even after you’re done, check this out.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children’s for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
adventurous
emotional
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