OVERALL

5/10

PLOT

Mainly based on The Six Swans, mixed with some other fairy tales and elements from Eastern folklore.

The plot is predictable. Whatever you think is going to happen, it will probably happen. Whether this is a good or a bad thing depends on how much you like the other aspects of the book.

Logic almost doesn’t matter here, especially during the action scenes. How does one girl manage to snatch all the arrows from armed men on horses and run away before they can do anything? Is there only one spinning wheel in the whole region? An army is about to attack, how is putting your defence forces to sleep a good idea? How can a kitchen maid be given a room that close to a princess and a prince?

The book introduces the main conflict quickly in the beginning. The six princes turn into cranes and Shiori has to concoct a plan to save them. Her wish to free her brothers is the main driving force of this story, however, at times, it seems more like a side plot. As soon as the romance is introduced, THAT becomes the focus. Things slow down, there is no urgency and Shiori enjoys herself way too much for someone under a curse, with brothers out there surviving on raw fish.

PROTAGONIST

As the leading protagonist of the story, Shiori is fine. She isn’t particularly unique, but she is likeable enough.

There are some instances where Shiori downright disregards common sense and other people’s warnings and marches into danger, but since the plot cannot move along unless Shiori gets in trouble, I can’t complain about it.

While the story insists that Shiori is spoiled and therefore this journey is meant for her to become more humble, I don’t quite see it. She seems perfectly fine in the beginning. Sure, she tends to under-appreciate her luxurious life, but that’s the extent of it. For the most part, she is obedient, sympathetic and kind.

So the good news is: Shiori won’t annoy you. The bad news: if you’re looking for development for her, it’s probably not there.

CHARACTERS

In terms of depth, Kairama the stepmother is the best character in Six Crimson Cranes. Shiori’s reflection on her is what keeps this story engaging. Kairama’s plot twist is not convincing, the trouble she goes through could have been avoided with some simple communication, and the big reveal about her relationship with Shiori is told in long paragraphs of exposition in the end rather than built into the story. Regardless, Raikama is still the most interesting part of the book.

The next best thing is Kiki the paper crane.

Most of the other characters are somewhat two-dimensional. Either they are evil or they are not. Either they are on Shiori’s side or they are not.

The ones who act like the bad guys are the bad guys. The big brute is a big brute to the end.

Megari adores Shiori for no particular reason and exists solely to ship Shiori and Takkan. There is no deeper connection between them.

The surprise villain, the Wolf, is someone that you don’t meet until the very end and therefore have no emotional investment in. Also, he, Lord Yuji, and Guiya — the three antagonists of this book — talk and act in one identical fashion. So, once again, it’s hard to tell them apart or sympathize with any of them.

Shiori’s brothers are described — by Shiori — to have very different personalities, but we don’t see enough of them to see the differences. Perhaps I should feel bad to hear that one of them may die when the curse breaks? But I don’t. It doesn’t make any difference if Shiori has six or just one brother because they ultimately feel like one person.

ROMANCE

With all the time Takkan and Shiori spend together – and that is a lot – the story fails to establish a believable connection between them. They meet, she makes him soup, hides him from assassins, makes him some more soup, and he starts to trust her unconditionally. From that moment on, anyone who is against Shiori is automatically Takkan’s enemy. Whatever she says is his truth. The foundation of their romance hinges entirely on the few interactions during their childhood, and the long-distance yearning Takkan has for Shiori.

Takkan is as nice as a sweet bun. Unfortunately, he is too perfect. His kindness toward Shiori overshadows everything else he could have been. He can sing and is a great storyteller, but these things don’t serve the plot or his character as much as they are there to make Shiori feel bad for ditching him before.

At one point, when reminded of an impending war, Takkan’s reply to Shiori is: I’m bound to you first. No… no, Takkan, as a lord and a warrior, you are bound to your king and the people you serve first.

If this trait will serve as Takkan’s flaw in the next book, then I am all for it. But with Crimson Cranes, that is not the case, and it is hard to care about a male character who is defined only by his yearning for his love interest.

The idea, I understand: a spoiled princess who falls in love with the man she shuns and misunderstands even before she meets him. But both Shiori and Takkan do not have enough personality to carry this out. When they do spend time together, the lingering tension between them is exaggerated and distracting. It’s almost like the book is screaming “this is your lead couple, ship them!” every time.

And the fact that Shiori is unable to speak serves no purpose because Takkan is always able to understand her perfectly.

BOTTOM LINE

Six Crimson Cranes is a quick read. It is wholesome, simple, and with an abundance of Eastern cultures’ references. The stakes are not high and you can be sure that nothing bad will happen to the nice people. Think of it as a Disney movie experience. Look for something deeper than that and you might just be disappointed.