Elizabeth Lim’s second and final installment of this duology does not disappoint. Picking up almost immediately where the first book ended, it jumps right into the action and it is a whirlwind of events from first page to last. The sister-brothers relationship is as strong as ever. Takken is also allowed to really shine in this story, proving that he can keep up with the impulsive and strong-willed Shiori. Shiori continues to be a headstrong character who sometimes feels more like a bull in a china shop than a princess with magic running through her veins. Deliciously, even when it seems as if the story has concluded, there is another twist in the narrative to create a climax beyond the climax. This is a must read for lovers of fairytales, but be sure to start with the first book, Six Crimson Cranes so that you won’t be lost and you won’t miss out on the relationship building.

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy Provided by Random House Children’s Books

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 6 mild obscenities.

Note: Reference to mythical “gods” not tallied.

Violence/Gore: Character painfully restrained by sea creatures; character stabs a mythical creature with knife; character starts to drown (magical); character shackled (painfully); report that a person was turned into sea foam; report of failed assassination attempt; destruction of property; brief description of magical curse’s painful transformation; character struck by lightning; verbal threats of death; confrontation/fight between mythical creatures, injuries; person poisoned; reports of attacks on people; report of priestess sacrificing themselves, no details; extended scene in which characters are attacked by a mob with rocks, shot at with arrows, pursuit, injuries; vision of the death of a character; threat at knife point; character has been beaten, treated harshly and wounds are evident to observers; character pushed from a height; character knocked unconscious; character wants to punch another; fight with swords; demons attack characters; report of hearing someone receiving a beating from a parent; report that a character intentionally cuts self to leave a dramatic scar; character possessed by a demon attacks another with a spear; brief description of ghosts, skeletal appearance; demons and ghosts battle each other; verbal threats to kill family members; character captured, chained, arms cut so character bleeds; demons attack another demon; report of an execution; report of a village being lit on fire; extended fight/battle scene involving demon fire, arrows, stabbing, character being beaten and kicked by a mob, deaths, demons killing people, people killing people; character cuts hand to give blood as an offering.

Sex/Nudity: Character says she is no-one’s concubine; talk of securing a heir for a son; male offers to wed someone’s nephew as part of a political agreement; male/female embrace; female brushes male’s hair away from face; female character thinks about kissing male character; romantic legend told; characters kiss upon various occasions; arm around another.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death, superstitions.

Alcohol and Drug Use:

Characters drink rice wine; poison.