5 stars
“A promise is not a kiss in the wind, to be thrown about without care. It is a piece of yourself that is given away and will not return until your pledge is fulfilled.

I am using the exact same quote that I used in A Dragon’s Promise as that story is not a continuity but rather the birth of what will happen many years after in the Six Crimson Crane Duology.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for sending me this advanced reading copy through Netgalley! This has no influence whatsoever on my review.


WARNING: don’t read this review if you haven’t read that duology already or you’ll have spoilers!

At the end of A Dragon’s Promise, I wrote: “What I also loved in this sequel was that we got to see her mother in law not as a villain but as someone who loved Shiori deeply and had made great sacrifices to protect her and her brothers. I was all misty eyes learning about her youth and what she went through. Knowing that she was finally loved was a balm for the heart.”

Well I was so happy when I realized that we would now have more or her mother in law’s story!
Because Her Radiant Curse is her story, Channi’s story.
How she got the face of a monster “thanks” to her awful father at a tender age, how she promised her dying mother that she’ll always protect her sister Vanna and how their fate will unfold, ending up on Channi being heartbroken and trying to heal by having a new family with seven orphaned children.

That story is centered around two main elements:

1) The curse that afflicted Channi but also in a twisted way Vanna’s curse

Channi was an amazing character and what was done to her, how she suffered as a little girl, trying to carve her ugliness out of her face really broke my heart. I was so mad at her father for sacrificing her to the witch!
But at the same time, that curse is also what made Channi what she’ll be: a very strong and competent young woman. Channi also was a very compassionate person and even If the villagers and the kids treated her poorly, she’d never hurt them.
Knowing what happened to her in the Six Crimson Cranes duology only made me want to hug her extra hard and change her future! Elisabeth Lim did a number on my poor heart here!
All the story will see Channi determined to protect Vanna from her fate, protect her from the witch and maybe, hopefully, break her own curse in the process.


2) Sisterhood and the deep love these two siblings have for each other.

And in that way, it truly is connected to Six Crimson Cranes duology as my review at that time mentioned:
“Family is also a big theme in that story and this is something that I loved reading about seeing how tight the family bonds were between Shiori and her six brothers. “
Vanna and Channi’s love was so heartwarming to read about!
I don’t know if Elisabeth Lim has siblings but everything was in the small moments: the comb of each other’s hair to sleep, the press of both cheeks together, the gift of a wild orchid on every birthday and also in the sacrifices they’ll make for each other!

Once again, Elisabeth Lim’s writing is enchanting! I read that story like I would watch a vivid painting! Between lush jungles, sandy shores, fighting arenas, ships “powered” by dragon, going from humble huts through temples and palaces, the story is flying by, sweeping you off your feet. There is never a dull moment and all along we hope against all hope for another ending.

Elisabeth Lim has created a story filled with magic and action that will make you forget the world for a few hours, wishing that you could help Channi break her curse, save her sister and finally have peace.

Thank you to publishers and NetGalley for this eARC

I absolutely loved Six Crimson Cranes and Dragons promise, so I was looking forward to reading Her Radiant Curse and I was not disappointed.
I absolutely loved this story, it was written with the same rich descriptions and the pull into the world was mesmerising. I loved the twists and the origin story.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

A brilliant stand alone! I’m used to the duology coming from this author but I was super impressed with this book! Elizabeth Lim is a beautiful storyteller! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for early access to this title.

3.5 rounded up.

I struggled to get through parts of this book. I don't know if it's because I felt like it takes a lot of time for the action to really kick off. Or just because I didn't feel very drawn to any of the characters, but I'll touch on that a bit more later.

I admit I was a little curious to just see the journey the protagonist takes in order to set the scene for the proceeding books.

I've read a couple of the authors previous books (from the same universe), and I've enjoyed them for the most part, so I knew what to expect from the writing. Despite this book being set in the same universe of Six Crimson Cranes, at first I struggled to remember details from that book which meant it took me a while to connect this one as a prequel. Of course I remembered eventually, but it being sometime since I read the other books, I didn't quite grasp it at first. I feel like I should potentially reread those books, especially The Dragons Promise too as we know it has connection to the dragon Khramelan. In that respect I feel anyone coming into this series and wanting to start reading from this book may well find it a good starting point, BUT I personally think you'll benefit more by reading both Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragons Promise first as it will definitely appeal to the emotions more in that order.

The story unfolds as we follow Channari and her snake companion Ukar for the majority of the story on their quest to break a curse that has been haunting her ever since she was a child. It's the tale of two sisters, Channari and Vanna, whose love and loyalty are so strong despite the many trials and tribulations they have to endure. Where Channari struggles from a life of isolation due to the consequences of a sacrifice she made in order to protect her sister, Vanna grows up blessed with inner light and beauty. When Channari was young, a curse was placed upon her, leading to her growing up with the scaly appearance across her face akin to a serpent. Cast out by her family, who see her as misfortune, her only comfort lies within her close friendship with her snake companion Ukar, as well as the many other snakes that inhibit the forest.
Both Channari and her sister refuse to bend to the whims of their father, who constantly tries to create distance between the two, also not helped in part by the fact Vanna is in the midst of a marriage selection for a worthy suitor and Channari is seen as a hindrance, often told to hide her face lest it bring shame to Vanna.

However, it isnt long before Vanna is targeted by the demon witch Angma, of which consequently drags Channari into a fierce battle of skill, strength and determination, one in which there can only be one victor.

The world Elizabeth Lim has built throughout these series is nothing short of remarkable, and I do feel there's a lot here to further be explored, of which of course the other books in the series continue to deliver. Personally I'm not a big reader of fantasy, so when I can appreciate one, whether it be YA fiction or otherwise, it's definitely a win for me.


I didn't want to leave this review on a negative note but I feel it's necessary to validate the reason behind the rating I gave this book.

Firstly, I felt I didn't feel as passionately about the bond between Channari and her sister. I know they are deeply connected to a lot of the plot devices within Six Crimson Cranes but I didn't really feel there was much time to explore their relationship as I'd have liked. Also I wasn't really sold on the romance (if it even is considered one). Even though it barely manifested into anything I still didn't feel much of the romantic connection between the two that the story was strongly hinting towards, though I'll admit there was a slight chemistry there.
I also found my attention drifting occasionally but I think that was more my ability to focus lately and not the fault of the story so much.

The ending however was nicely rounded off, but is the perfect setup for the proceeding book. Although there's obviously little room for surprises if you've read Six Crimson Cranes as you'll likely have some background knowledge I still feel she managed to weave together a satisfying conclusion.

If you're looking for a captivating fantasy where action and magical realism is incorporated within a beautiful setting, you should absolutely check out this series. I personally would recommend the other books be read first but it's not imperative, though first time readers might feel less of an emotional connection without the context of the other aforementioned books.


Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC of this book for an honest review!

“One sister must fall for the other to rise.”

I was overjoyed when I received the arc for Her Radiant Curse, I’m a massive fan of Asian mythology and couldn’t wait to dive in! The story is about two sisters, one blessed and one cursed…

I hadn’t clicked until I started reading, that this was linked with the Six Crimson Cranes duology, this time following Channari/Raikama’s story. It had me hooked from the first chapter and I just loved seeing the backstory of Channi and how she came to be the serpent queen and Shiori’s stepmother. In Six Crimson Cranes you may have despised Channi before learning of her sacrifice to protect Shiori, but without a doubt you will fall in love with her genuine love for her sister in this book.

I absolutely loved the fascinating plot and the beautiful imagery that made it impossible to put down. Channi and Vanna's sisterly bond was my fave, although sometimes I felt that Vanna was undeserving of it. Ukar also deserves a special mention, I loved how he stuck by Channi until the end.

Her Radiant Curse has lots of tiny details throughout the story that determine how Channi will protect Shiori in SCC. I loved the little link how she helped Vanna to be able to sleep, as it reminded me of Shiori’s curse. Trying really hard not to put too many in spoilers in here! If you’ve read both books, please talk to me! 😂

Overall, a wonderful book about love. It’s not a romance, even though there are romantic aspects in it, but a story of sisterly love, it was heartbreaking yet heartwarming at the same time.

Her Radiant Curse will be available on August 29th 2023. Thank you to @Netgalley and @Hodderscape for the advanced readers copy!

Channi and Vannah officially have my heart. I devoured this book. as I do anything written by Elizabeth Lim. I cannot put into words how magical and page turning this story is, the plot gets you from page 1. Highly recommend.

This was my first experience reading an Elizabeth Lim novel, and although this book was a prequel to her other novels Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon's Promise, it worked perfectly well as a standalone and I didn't feel lost or confused at all throughout the book!

In this one we follow Channari, who has been curse with the face of a serpent in contrast to her sister, Vanna, who has the most beautiful face she has ever seen. Channari's love for her younger sister has no bounds, and she fights to protect Vanna from the witch who promises to come and claim her on her seventeenth birthday.

This book was magical in so many ways and was beautifully written. It was an easy read and I found myself flowing through the pages! There was magic, demons, witches and dragons all welded together in an artful manner and therefore creating the perfect story. This was an absolute dream to read and I'll definitely be reading the other two books in this series soon! Can't wait to see what happens next for Channari.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I actually thought this book was a standalone and was interested to see what new world Lim was dreaming up. But as someone who really enjoyed the SCC duology I was very happy to see this was actually a prequel! The story of Vanna and Channai is a beautiful one and I am glad we got to see it unfold in a feature length story. Again Lim winds magic and enchantment through a great story and it makes it whimsical to read. I loved it.

Firstly Thankyou to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and Elizabeth Lim for an ecopy ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How could this book be anything but: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Stars.

We follow Channi as she fights to save her sister from a curse issued eighteen years earlier, her snake companions help along with a part dragon, who she doesn't know if she can trust fully but cant help feeling drawn too.

I loved finding out Channi's back story from the Six Crimson Cranes universe, she is such a unique character in the fact she is part villain but then you cant help feeling sorry for her and routing for her.

The story is such a interesting concept and I loved diving into the universe. The writing is simply beautiful.

Thank you so much for letting me read this amazing story. And thank you Elizabeth Lim for writing yet an other wonderful Story. I loved being back in this world and get to know Shioris stepmother in a more intimate way.
I would very much like to read many more stories set in this world.

excellent read, loved how it linked to the other book, was gripping and compelling to read, this author has away to capture you in her books and makes you never want to leave and this book did that to me, i was gutted when it finished i wanted it to go on forever.

I have been a fan of Elizabeth Lim's writing since I read her first series a few years ago. Her Radiant Curse immediately went on my tbr when I discovered that it was a prequel set in the world of Six Crimson Cranes and tells the story of Channi, who has a very important role in the previous duology.

It was a delight to step back into the world of Six Crimson Cranes and look at places that the other books had not visited. The world-building was done really well and I feel this book expanded and explained certain things that I didn't understand previously. The writing is beautiful and pulls you into the world and the locations the characters are visiting.

Channi was such an interesting character; her motives really shone through in all chapters. All she wanted was to protect her sister and that becomes her driving force from the start to the end of the story. Her growth, in her powers, in her strength and in her courage, were a delight to read about.

If you are a fan of Six Crimson Cranes and Elizabeth Lim's writing, then Her Radiant Curse is the perfect book for you.

First things first, can we all appreciate how gorgeous the cover it??? I mean damnnnn!!!!!

This is my first book by Elizabeth Lim and Her Radiant Curse has left me longing for more. Lim is a master of her craft and has weaved such a spell-binding story full of complex yet incredible characters. Her world building is also commendable. The way the story is written makes you feel like you are in the story and I can't say that for a lot of authors. Her Radiant Curse is a piece of art and Elizabeth Lim is a skillful artist.

The story is about a young girl named Channari (snake girl) who was sacrificed as a child by her father in order to save his wife and a radiant new born baby girl. However, the Demon Witch instead of killing Channari, curses her and promises to return when her new born sister turns 17. All her life, Channari has trained to protect her sister despite her father's and the town's hatred for her and how she looks. When Channari's sister is of age and is being auctioned off as a bride, Channari encounters a series of events and meets some interesting people along the way. All Channari wants is for her sister to not fall prey to the Demon Witch. How far will a sister go to protect her sister? Read to find out!

After finishing the book, I was a little disappointed that I wanted to know more about what happened. However, I found out that the story is linked to Elizabeth's other books. I am definitely going to read her other books NOW!!!!

Channi lost both her mother and her face the day her sister, Vanna, was born. Despite this she loves her sister more than her own life and will do anything to protect her. Unfortunately, with a beauty to rival a goddess and an internal light that glows outwards, Vanna needs a lot of protecting. Their father is only interested in how much men, ideally kings and princes, will be willing to pay for Vanna’s hand in marriage. Vanna’s suitors are only interested in her looks. And then there is the demon, Angma, whose interest in Vanna stems from something much more sinister.

Some details of Channi’s life are given in Six Crimson Cranes and in The Dragon’s Promise and they were really intriguing so I’m glad Elizabeth Lim decided to explore this in more depth. As usual she has created a cast of wonderfully unique characters and thrown them into a vibrant and chaotic plot. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a snake more! Even side characters had their own distinct personalities and were written in a way that hinted at a hidden depth. A great example of this is the sisters’ step-mother; she sends Channi out the house when a particularly vile suitor visits and the sisters joke about her loving her house more than her husband. The tone of these exchanges show the love and pride she had for her family.

Multiple small plot twists, aided by unpredictable magic and even more unpredictable characters, take this book from engaging to absorbing. Even knowing how it would end, I often found it difficult to see the path to get there. In my opinion this is a sign of true craftsmanship and makes for an un-put-down-able read.

#Bookreview alert [ARC]

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
✏️AUTHOR - @elimpix
📚PUBLISHER - @hodderscape
📆PUB DATE - 29 Aug 2023
🧩GENRE - Teens & YA
⭐RATING - 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕[5/5]
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
•
•°𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠°•

❥・Oh my goodness, this book is an absolute gem! It completely blew me away with its sheer brilliance and left me speechless. I can't even begin to express how deeply this story touched me. It tore my heart into pieces, then stitched it back together, only to repeat the process over and over again. Every aspect of it is just incredible.

❥・And let's talk about the cover! Oh, wow! It's absolutely breathtaking, a true work of art that perfectly captures the essence of this beautiful tale. It's like a gift wrapping that does justice to the wonders hidden within.

❥・Elizabeth Lim has truly outdone herself with this masterpiece. She is a true magician when it comes to storytelling, and she has crafted a spellbinding narrative filled with love, adventure, and enchantment. The writing itself is pure poetry, whisking me away into a world I never wanted to leave. There's something addictively beautiful about the books set in this universe, and they only keep getting better and better.

❥・The characters... Oh, the characters! They are absolutely marvelous. I became completely invested in their journey, rooting for them every step of the way. Channi and Vanna, in particular, are the kind of female characters we need more of. They are strong, intelligent, and capable of holding their own, but their true power lies in their love and unbreakable bonds.

❥・I can't stress enough how much I adored this book. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to read it before its release. It has amplified my excitement for its official debut to a whole new level.

"One sister must fall for the other to rise."

Her Radiant Curse was a prequel of Six Crimson Cranes, take set in Asian inspired world full of magic, witches and monsters. The story following the origin story of Channi the mysterious stepmother from the duology. This book will become spoiler for reader who not yet read the duology.

As long as I remember, I read everything from Elizabeth Lim and enjoy aspects she offer from her stories. Renewing traditional folktales and childhood stories wrapped with mesmerizing storytelling style, combine that with unique plot and well written characters will keep me engaging until the last pages. This one offer strong bond and love between sisters, Channi and Vanna. The characters both MC and sidekick are loveable and easy to remember, even I cant hate the villains. I would love to recommend to reader who love soft magic and beautiful fantasy with family bonds.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodderscape from Hodder and Stoughton for provided my copy. My thoughts and opinions always become my own. Publish at 29 Aug 2023.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for supplying me with a copy of this book*
This book tells the story of Channi.
Going into it, I hadn’t really read anything about it and thus didn’t know that it was the backstory of one of the characters from Six Crimson Cranes. However, I found it an easy read and I don’t believe there is anything that I didn’t understand from not having read the other books.

In Her Radiant Curse, Elizabeth Lim takes us back to her Asian-inspired fantasy world filled with red-eyed demons, witches, dragons and sisters!

Channi, the moon-faced girl cursed by the Demon Witch, must save herself and her sister, Vanna. With her face resembling that of a snake, Channi has spent her life hidden in shadows, but her connection with snakes proves to be her greatest strength. As she embraces her unique abilities and forms unbreakable bonds, Channi's determination to protect Vanna is unwavering.

Set in the same universe as the Six Crimson Cranes duology, Her Radiant Curse stands on its own as an individual and captivating story! One of the few instances where a prequel is better than the original!

It was heartbreaking but worth it: the details (songs, recipes, and the bowl!!) nod to the previous duology, add depth to the narrative, inviting us to fully immerse themselves and dive right back!

“Strange, that in the moment that should come to define me, I felt so little.”

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own

I love everything about Elizabeth Kim’s writing. This book tells the story of Channi who we were introduced to in the Six Crimson Cranes series. Channi is cursed after an incident with a demon witch, the only way to break her curse is to sacrifice her sister.

Channi is a loyal, fierce and awe inspiring main character. She is brave and fights hard for those she loves. Despite facing challenges that affect her every day, she loves hard and will do anything for those she loves.

The writing in this book is simply beautiful; the scenery setting and world building is stunning and totally immersive.

The story gripped me right from the beginning and I could not put this book down.

Absolute perfection