3.75 ⭐️

The story of Channari and Vanna is so very sad.

I loved getting to see the origins for some of the events that happen in six crimson cranes. Little touches like the use of the bowl were great additions and added to the emotions of the original duology. The author does say you don't have to read that first, but I definitely would. Reading this first would absolutely change your perspective of things.

The friendship between Channi and Ukar the snake was so sweet. They had an excellent running banter that was a nice counterbalance to how sweet her relationship with Vanna was. I loved the end of the book. I did get a bit teary.

I found my interest waning a little in the middle, though. I'm not sure why. Maybe I felt a little repetitive in some of the action scenes. Someone always gets bitten, and the blood trick always happens. The slight romance angle didn't really do it for me either, maybe because I knew how it was going to turn out. For me, this story was more about the relationship between the sisters than anything else.

Overall, I enjoyed it. I think Elizabeth really did Channari justice and gave us a way to fully understand her pain. I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim is a beautifully crafted fantasy novel that captivates with its lyrical prose, intricate world-building, and emotionally resonant characters. Lim’s ability to weave a story that combines adventure, romance, and self-discovery makes this book a highly enjoyable read.

The protagonist, a young woman cursed with a unique and dangerous power, is both relatable and compelling. Her journey of learning to navigate her curse and the complex world around her is filled with emotional depth. Lim does an excellent job of portraying her inner struggles as she faces her own fears, desires, and the consequences of the curse she bears. The character development throughout the story is well-executed, making her growth both believable and satisfying.

The world-building is rich and immersive, with a vivid setting that feels magical yet grounded. The political intrigue, mythical creatures, and magic systems all come together to create a fascinating world that readers will want to lose themselves in. The romance, while a key part of the story, doesn't overshadow the protagonist’s personal growth, which I appreciated. It's a slow-burn that builds naturally, with enough chemistry to keep readers invested.

The pacing is generally strong, though there are moments where the plot slows down a bit as the story delves deeper into the character's internal struggles. However, these moments of introspection are balanced with action and intrigue, ensuring the story never loses its momentum for too long.

Overall, Her Radiant Curse is a wonderfully engaging read that will resonate with fans of character-driven fantasy. Elizabeth Lim has crafted a captivating tale of curses, courage, and self-empowerment. If you’re a fan of fantasy with strong emotional depth and a touch of romance, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. For more reviews, check out my bookstagram @blondesbooknook

I absolutely love Elizabeth Lim's novels and I love the Six Crimson Cranes duology. I honestly don't know why it took me so long to read this prequel especially because this was a story I was dying to know more about! Maybe I was scared but let me tell you this did not disappoint.

I loved being back in this amazing world and story that Elizabeth has created and I really loved getting to know these characters more, especially Channi, who is a fantastic character. She will do whatever it takes to protect her sister and I just loved how fierce she was.

I honestly recommend picking up all of Elizabeth's Lims books and if you've read the Six Crimson Cranes duology, then you definitely need to pick this one up!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I'm so sorry it's so late!

I’m already a huge fan of Lim's work, and this book definitely lived up to the hype.

The story is a stunning mix of magic, myth, and a touch of romance. It follows a cursed princess who’s bound by a spell that makes her light a curse rather than a gift, and the whole story is her journey to break that curse while uncovering deeper secrets about herself and her family. The world-building is rich, as always, and Lim’s writing is lush and immersive. The pacing was pretty spot on, and I got completely lost in the magic and mystery.

The characters were strong, especially the protagonist—she’s resilient, complex, and relatable. The only reason it’s not a perfect 5 stars for me is that there were a few parts where I felt like the plot dragged a little, but that’s a minor gripe in an otherwise excellent story.

If you love fantasy with magic, strong female leads, and an emotional journey, Her Radiant Curse is definitely worth picking up. Can’t wait to see what Elizabeth Lim does next!

I love that we got his prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes duo. I find this to be a lighter read maybe a young adult but that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it which I thoroughly did. I love the main character and I thought that the secondary characters were interesting and well thought out. Really well thought out story and world with a good flowing pace set throughout.

I read this back in 2023 so my memory is hazy but all I can confidently say is Elizabeth Lim can do no wrong. Every book of her's that I have read (which I think may be all of them?) have been beautifully crafted and executed brilliantly. This was a side story to the Six Crimson Cranes duology which I love dearly, and I really enjoyed it!
I need to reread these books this year, I am craving it!
Thank you for the eARC!

I loved this even more than the main series! The characters are so good! Beautiful book.

Thank you for my copy.

Since I really liked “The Six Cranes” dilogy by Elizabeth Lim, I was really excited about the prequel “Her Radiant Curse”. We finally find out the story of Shiori's stepmother and I can finally understand a lot of things much better. Elizabeth Lim once again has a great writing style that grabbed me and ensured that I couldn't put the book down. It was very exciting right from the start and you couldn't help but root for Channi.

The characters were very well developed and I quickly took Channi to my heart. Life has never been easy for her, but she hasn't let it get her down. And Channi leaves no stone unturned to protect her sister. Even though I wasn't that keen on Vanna, I liked the bond between the two. This one was a bit special. Small highlights for me were Ukar and Hokzuh. Both were there for Channi in their own way and helped her as best they could.

The ending broke my heart and it shows once again that wishes can come true, but not in the way we probably always expect.
I really liked “Her radiant curse” and it clarified some questions that I still had about the previous dilogy. If you like Elizabeth Lim's other books, you shouldn't miss her new one. I have a clear reading recommendation.

In my opinion Elizabeth Lim can do no wrong. I absolutely love her lyrical and descriptive writing. Her world building is incredible.

I think Her Radiant Curse may be my favourite so far as, if you have read Six Crimson Cranes, it really helps you understand a lot of things that happen.

Channi and Vanna's relationship despite the different paths their life has taken is so strong. I think one of Elizabeth's strengths as a writer is how well she writes familial relationships.

Also Channi's best friend is a sassy snake named Ukar!

Highly recommend if you are looking for a new whimsical world!

One thing I love is a good fantasy I love a book that can make me forget what's going on in the world and go into an imaginative world where the impossible happens and you meet characters and creatures you would never meet for real and this book had ot all

Was expecting much but was an ok read... 3 out of 5 stars somewhat felt the story to be dragging.. a medium paced book and a predictable ending...

I have read the majority of Elizabeth Lim's books and by far have found this to be one of her best.

I loved learning more about Channi and her sister. The monstrous and the beautiful one. But at its core, what really mattered and was important was the family love and bond between them both, regardless of everything else. I found this book gripped me in terms of storyline, but it really moved me with some of the plot choices. I highly recommend reading this if you've read the rest of the series!

Prequels are a precarious situation cause they can either be a hit or a miss. I don't think there's a way for them to be mid. Thankfully, this was a hit for me. Coming back the characters that I already know in a world that I am fond of, felt like a warm hug. This book is great and does well to establish a back-story for beloved characters in the main story. A definite must read!

This was a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes and because I'd already read that duology and pretty much knew how this was going to end, I still enjoyed this very much.
This is not exactly a happy tale, but it does end with a message of hope for a better future, and well... we all know how that worked out for Channi in the end..

I did not expect to like Channi as much as I did, but I actually really loved her! She's badass, she's a fighter, but she's also very insecure. In the end she lost almost everything, and I can totally understand how she ended up being the semi-villain because of this origin story.

Prequels scan sometimes be a hit or a miss and this one fell somewhere in between for me.

I love Lim for her incredible world building and rich storytelling and Her Radiant Curse continues to dazzle in her unique manner.

However, while I very much enjoyed diving back into this world, i found that I just didn’t care much for the story

⭐️ 5 ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I think this was my favourite book by Elizabeth Lim. My criticism was always that I really loved book 1 and that the sequel seemed unnecessary. I am glad she chose to do a standalone for Channi´s backstory.

The whole story was heartwarming and gut wrenching. The end made me quite emotional. I highly recommend reading the book, although I would still say read Six Crimson Cranes before this one.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Channi is a young girl who has turned into a monster because of her father and she decides to offer herself as a sacrifice to the Demonic Witch for her sister Vanna, who's the only one that can still see the beauty in her despite her face resembling that of a snake.
I loved the story and Channari, I felt super emotional reading it as I've always loved Raikama in the Six Crimson Cranes duology. I believe Elizabeth Lim is one of the best authors out there and she keeps feeding us these beautifully written masterpieces!

I was drawn in by the premise and shallowly the beautiful cover but this just fell quite flat for me and I found myself uninterested in finishing

Brilliant enjoyable read, first time reading this author’s works which I have heard quite a lot about. Loved her writing style and the book kept me entertained throughout.

elizabeth lim can do no wrong. i haven't read a single "bad" book by her yet. six crimson cranes still remains my favourite book, although i still really loved her radiant curse. i particularly enjoyed reading about vanna and channi. i loved their sibling relationship and the twist at the end!