A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and
an unspeakable curse... Drawing from 'The Wild Swans' and East Asian
folklore, this breathtakingly original fantasy from the author of Spin
the Dawn is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo or Tomi Adeyemi.
Shiori'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.
A 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.
Penniless, 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.