{"product_id":"six-crimson-cranes-isbn-9780593300947","title":"Six Crimson Cranes","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER • A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse... Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this original fantasy from the author of \u003ci\u003eSpin the Dawn\u003c\/i\u003e is perfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eShadow and Bone\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePenniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear--no matter what the cost.\"A dazzling fairytale full of breathtaking storytelling. \u003ci\u003eSix Crimson Cranes\u003c\/i\u003e elegantly weaves between whimsical and heart pounding as it takes readers on a magical adventure full of entwined fates, surprising curses, and beautiful mythology. It also has a very sexy dragon.” \" —Stephanie Garber, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eCaraval\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"This book is magic! The writing will transport you, and you will love Shiori. I myself loved her from the moment she jumped out the window to escape her betrothal ceremony—which was the very first scene.\" —Kristin Cashore,\u003ci\u003e New York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eGraceling\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003c\/i\u003eA stunning remake of a fairytale\u003ci\u003e. \u003ci\u003eSix Crimson Cranes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e is the perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness, with twists and turns that will tug at your heartstrings\u003ci\u003e.\" —\u003c\/i\u003eChloe Gong\u003ci\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of\u003ci\u003e \u003ci\u003eThese Violent Delights\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A resilient heroine, a cast of imaginative characters, and creative plot turns make this gem of a novel sparkle.\" —Stacey Lee, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eThe Downstairs Girl\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“A gorgeous version of an old fairy tale, told with flair and originality. A must-read for lovers of folkloric fantasy.” —Juliet Marillier, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eDaughter of the Forest \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eWildwood Dancing\u003cbr\u003e​\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"An unputdownable, sweeping fairytale that thrills as much as it delights. Lim is a master storyteller which is apparent with every magical turn of the page.\" —Kerri Maniscalco, #1\u003ci\u003e New York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Kingdom of the Wicked\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Six Crimson Cranes\u003c\/i\u003e is a fairytale that feels at once both epic and intimate. Shiori’s quest to save her brothers, her kingdom, and herself is heartfelt, riveting, and as magical as the talents the princess tries so hard to hide.\" —Sarah Henning, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eSea Witch\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Princess Will Save You\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"Seamlessly intertwining western and East Asian folklore, Lim embroiders a richly imagined landscape in this vibrant, fast-paced duology starter.\" —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Fast-paced excitement is balanced with a satisfyingly intricate plot that weaves in elements from Western fairy tales and East Asian folklore. A must-read for fans of folklore– and fairy tale–inspired fantasy.\" —\u003ci\u003eSLJ\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Part exciting adventure, part thoughtful coming-of-age novel, this story retells and overturns familiar tropes.\" —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Magic abounds in this mesmerizing YA fantasy based on East Asian folklore and fairy tales.” \u003ci\u003e–\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eELIZABETH LIM grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was raised on a hearty diet of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Before becoming an author, Elizabeth was a professional film and video game composer, and she still tends to come up with her best book ideas when writing near a piano. An alumna of Harvard College and the Juilliard School, she now lives in New York with her husband and her daughters.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eElizabeth is the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eSpin the Dawn\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eUnravel the Dusk\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSix Crimson Cranes, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eHer Radiant Curse\u003c\/i\u003e. She is also a contributor to Disney's A Twisted Tale series.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVisit her at elizabethlim.com\u003cbr\u003eFollow her on Twitter at @LizLim\u003cbr\u003eFollow her on Instagram at @elimpix\u003cp\u003eChapter One \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe bottom of the lake tasted like mud, salt, and regret. The water was so thick it was agony keeping my eyes open, but thank the great gods I did. Otherwise, I would have missed the dragon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe was smaller than I’d imagined one to be. About the size of a rowboat, with glittering ruby eyes and scales green as the purest jade. Not at all like the village-sized beasts the legends claimed dragons to be, large enough to swallow entire warships.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe swam nearer until his round red eyes were so close they reflected my own.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe was watching me drown.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHelp, I pleaded. I was out of air, and I had barely a second of life left before my world folded into itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe dragon regarded me, lifting a feathery eyebrow. For an instant, I dared hope he might help. But his tail wrapped around my neck, squeezing out the last of my breath.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd all went dark.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have told my maids I was going to jump into the Sacred Lake. I only said it because the heat this morning was insufferable. Even the chrysanthemum bushes outside had wilted, and the kitebirds soaring above the citrus trees were too parched to sing. Not to mention, diving into the lake seemed like a perfectly sensible alternative to attending my betrothal ceremony--or as I liked to call it, the dismal end of my future.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, my maids believed me, and word traveled faster than demonfire to Father. Within minutes, he sent one of my brothers--along with a retinue of stern-faced guards--to fetch me.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo here I was, being shepherded through the palace’s catacomb of corridors, on the hottest day of the year. To the dismal end of my future.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs I followed my brother down yet another sun-soaked hall, I fidgeted with my sleeve, pretending to cover a yawn as I peeked inside.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Stop yawning,” Hasho chided.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI dropped my arm and yawned again. “If I let them all out now, I won’t have to do it in front of Father.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Shiori . . .”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You try being woken up at dawn to have your hair brushed a thousand times,” I countered. “You try walking in a god’s ransom of silk.” I lifted my arms, but my sleeves were so heavy I could barely keep them raised. “Look at all these layers. I could outfit a ship with enough sails to cross the sea!”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe trace of a smile touched Hasho’s mouth. “The gods are listening, dear sister. You keep complaining like that, and your betrothed will have a pockmark for each time you dishonor them.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy betrothed. Any mention of him went in one ear and out the other, as my mind drifted to more pleasant thoughts, like cajoling the palace chef for his red bean paste recipe--or better yet, stowing away on a ship and voyaging across the Taijin Sea.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeing the emperor’s only daughter, I’d never been allowed to go anywhere, let alone journey outside of Gindara, the capital. In a year, I’d be too old for such an escapade. And too married.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe indignity of it all made me sigh aloud. “Then I’m doomed. He’ll be hideous.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy brother chuckled and nudged me forward. “Come on, no more complaining. We’re nearly there.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI rolled my eyes. Hasho was starting to sound like he was seventy, not seventeen. Of my six brothers, I liked him most--he was the only one with wits as quick as mine. But ever since he started taking being a prince so seriously and wasting those wits on chess games instead of mischief, there were certain things I couldn’t tell him anymore.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike what I was keeping inside my sleeve.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA tickle crawled up my arm, and I scratched my elbow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJust to be safe, I pinched the wide opening of my sleeve shut. If Hasho knew what I was hiding under its folds, I’d never hear the end of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom him, or from Father.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Shiori,” Hasho whispered. “What’s the matter with your dress?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I thought I smudged the silk,” I lied, pretending to rub at a spot on my sleeve. “It’s so hot today.” I made a show of looking out at the mountains and the lake. “Don’t you wish we were outside swimming instead of going to some boring ceremony?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHasho eyed me suspiciously. “Shiori, don’t change the topic.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI bowed my head, doing my best to look remorseful--and covertly adjusted my sleeve. “You’re right, Brother. It’s time I grew up. Thank you for . . . for . . .”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnother tickle brushed my arm, and I clapped my elbow to muffle the sound. My secret was growing restless, making the fabric of my robes ripple.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“For escorting me to meet my betrothed,” I finished quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI hastened toward the audience chamber, but Hasho caught my sleeve, raised it high, and gave it a good shake.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOut darted a paper bird as small as a dragonfly, and just as fast. From afar, she looked like a little sparrow, with an inky red dot on her head, and she flitted from my arm to my brother’s head, wildly beating her slender wings as she hovered in front of his face.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHasho’s jaw dropped, his eyes widening with shock.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Kiki!” I whispered urgently, opening my sleeve. “Come back inside!”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKiki didn’t obey. She perched on Hasho’s nose and stroked it with a wing to show affection. My shoulders relaxed; animals always liked Hasho, and I was certain she would charm him the way she’d charmed me.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen my brother swooped his hands over his face to catch her.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Don’t hurt her!” I cried.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUp Kiki flew, narrowly avoiding his clutches. She bounced against the wooden shutters on the windows, seeking one that was open as she darted farther and farther down the hall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI started after her, but Hasho grabbed me, holding fast until my slippers skidded against the whispery wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Let it go,” he said into my ear. “We’ll talk about this later.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe guards flung open the doors, and one of Father’s ministers announced me: “Princess Shiori’anma, the youngest child, the only daughter of Emperor Hanriyu and the late empress--”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInside, my father and his consort, my stepmother, sat at the head of the cavernous chamber. The air hummed with impatience, courtiers folding and refolding their damp handkerchiefs to wipe their perspiring temples. I saw the backs of Lord Bushian and his son--my betrothed--kneeling before the emperor. Only my stepmother noticed me, frozen at the threshold. She tilted her head, her pale eyes locking onto mine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA chill shivered down my spine. I had a sudden fear that if I went through with the ceremony, I’d become like her: cold and sad and lonely. Worse, if I didn’t find Kiki, someone else might, and my secret would get back to Father . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy secret: that I’d conjured a paper bird to life with magic.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eForbidden magic.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI spun away from the doors and pushed past Hasho, who was too startled to stop me.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Princess Shiori!” the guards yelled. “Princess!”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI shed my ceremonial jacket as I ran after Kiki. The embroidery alone weighed as much as a sentinel’s armor, and freeing my shoulders and arms of its heft was like growing wings. I left the pool of silk in the middle of the hall and jumped out a window into the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sun’s glare was strong, and I squinted to keep my eyes on Kiki. She wove through the orchard of cherry trees, then past the citrus ones, where her frenzied flight caused the kitebirds to explode from the branches.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI’d intended to leave Kiki in my room, tucked away in a jewelry box, but she had flapped her wings and knocked against her prison so vigorously I was afraid a servant might find her while I was at the ceremony.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBest to keep her with me, I thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Promise to be good?” I’d said.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKiki bobbed her head, which I’d taken as a yes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWrong.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDemons take me, I had to be the biggest idiot in Kiata! But I wouldn’t blame myself for having a heart, even for a paper bird.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKiki was my paper bird. With my brothers growing older and always occupied with princely duties, I had been lonely. But Kiki listened to me and kept my secrets, and she made me laugh. Every day, she became more alive. She was my friend.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI had to get her back.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy paper bird landed in the middle of the Sacred Lake, floating on its still waters with unflappable calm--as if she hadn’t just upended my entire morning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI was panting by the time I reached her. Even without the outer layer, my dress was so heavy I could hardly catch my breath.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Kiki!” I tossed a pebble into the water to get her attention, but she merely floated farther away. “This isn’t the time to play.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat was I going to do? If it was discovered I had a talent for magic, no matter how small, I’d be sent away from Kiata forever--a fate far worse than having to marry some faceless lord of the third rank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHurrying, I kicked off my slippers, not even bothering to shed my robes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI jumped into the lake.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a girl forced to stay indoors practicing calligraphy and playing the zither, I was a strong swimmer. I had my brothers to thank for that; before they all grew up, we used to sneak to this very lake for summer-evening dips. I knew these waters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI kicked toward Kiki, the sun’s heat prickling against my back, but she was sinking deeper into the water. The folds of my dress wrapped around me tight, and my skirts clung to my legs every time I kicked. I began to tire, and the sky vanished as the lake pulled me down.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChoking, I flailed for the surface. The more I struggled, the faster I sank. Whorls of my long black hair floated around me like a storm. Terror rioted in my gut, and my throat burned, my pulse thudding madly in my ears.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI undid the gold sash over my robes and yanked at my skirts, but their weight brought me down and down, until the sun was but a faint pearl of light glimmering far above me.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFinally I ripped my skirts free and propelled myself up, but I was too deep. There was no way I would make it back to the surface before I ran out of breath.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI was going to die.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKicking furiously, I fought for air, but it was no use. I tried not to panic. Panicking would only make me sink faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLord Sharima’en, the god of death, was coming for me. He’d numb the burning soreness in my muscles, and the pain swelling in my throat. My blood began to chill, my eyelids began to close--\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat was when I saw the dragon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI thought him a snake at first. No one had seen a dragon in centuries, and from afar, he looked like one of my stepmother’s pets. At least until I saw the claws.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe glided toward me, coming so close that I could have touched his whiskers, long and thin like strokes of silver.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis hand was extended, and above his palm, pinched between two talons, was Kiki.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor an instant, I bubbled to life. I kicked, trying to reach out. But I had no strength left. No breath. My world was shrinking, all color washed away.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith a mischievous glint in his eye, the dragon closed his hand. His tail swept over me from behind and encircled my neck.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd my heart gave one final thud.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ember","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304242565349,"sku":"NP9780593300947","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593300947.jpg?v=1767736702","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/six-crimson-cranes-isbn-9780593300947","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}