Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

Ultimately, this book was alright but not amazing. I enjoyed the changing landscapes, the rising stakes, and the vivid sense of time and mythos alongside the contemporary worldbuilding. However, overall, it held back on its characters, unable to let them flourish as they seemed to want to, which dampened the overall feel of the story.

I could feel towards the end that things didn't seem to be resolving themselves, which of course is because Her Radiant Curse is a prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes duology. I love those books dearly, and I have to say that this is the most involved, engaging and satisfying prequel I've read in a long time - so much so that I forgot it was a prequel for most of it. But, it's still a prequel and at the mercy of meeting certain plot points and having limits to its character's arcs.

Impressively done within its own confines, Her Radiant Curse unfortunately falls into the pitfalls of many prequels, though it's a fun journey to get there.

Her Radiant Curse is the prequel to Six Crimson Cranes Duology. I adore Six Crimson Cranes and when I saw she wrote about Channi, I was so excited. In this book, we learned Channi's backstory, how she cursed, and what happened to her sister. I loved this book so much. Channi and Vanna had a really strong sibling bond. Elizabeth Lim's writing was so magical. She wrote an amazing story. It was heartbreaking. I cried in the end. I think this book is a solid standalone but I highly recommend reading Six Crimson Cranws duology before this book. Also, I loved to learn about Ukar more. Maybe she write another story in this universe too. Thanks to the publisher and the Netgalley for the arc.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this advanced copy.

It was such a fun book. However just like her previous work, Elizabet Lim didn't have any solid magic system. All magics in her books and her world she created didn't have any single solid connection. It was sad because all her fantasy books shared the same world.

This is my very first Elizabeth Lim novel, and I've been eager to read some of her books for a long time. This book surprised me due to the fact that it wasn't exactly what I expected it to be about, but I nevertheless enjoyed it. I wasn't too interested in this one at first, but it soon took off and I became completely immersed in the story's arc. This was a wonderful Young Adult fantasy that I believe would appeal to people of any age group. It's an amazing narrative about the dark side of magic and beauty. I've been devouring a lot of fantasy books lately that have a strong focus on Asian mythology, and this one was no exception. It's an entertaining tale about two sisters' relationship and the distinly different paths they took in their lives. Channi, with her cursed face and ability to communicate with snakes, and Vanna, with her beauty and shinning light. This contains a well-thought-out story containing some beautiful world-building. I believe this is a prelude to Elizabith's Six Crimson Cranes Duet, and there were a few references to it throughout the course of the novel.

"I would rather face a thousand tigers than the monster that is my reflection."

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.5/5 stars rounded down.

My relationship with Lim's books has been confusing, to say the least. I absolutely adored Six Crimson Cranes but despised her Blood of Stars duology. It's because of my experience with Lim's first two books that I have yet to read SCC's sequel. But then I snagged this book's ARC and didn't know how to define my expectations when I started reading.

I'm glad to say this was a really good one.

I really adore Channi's strength and devotion to her sister, the lengths and feats she would go through in order to protect her sister. I love that's ultimately what's at the core of this book: Sisterhood. Yes, there is a brief romance, but it's really the relationship between Channi and Vanna that shines inside this book's heart.

The side characters got a lot of attention, too. I particularly loved Ukar, a snake and Channi's most loyal, and sarcastic, companion. Even the villain, the witch who cursed Channi, is explored in depth and is made to be sympathetic; luckily she isn't redeemed and is allowed to be bad until the very end.

The writing is very gorgeous, with lush descriptions and great dialogue between characters. The only gripe I had was that it stretched out a bit too long at some points, making the plot drag a bit, but it didn't deter my enjoyment too much, otherwise.

Overall, this is a great book. I think this would need to be read after SCC, otherwise some major plot points will fly over your head.

I love Elizabeth Lim's books. As a fantasy reader, the prose is always beautiful to read and the characters relatable and heartbreaking. As a teacher with a form of Year 8 (12-13yo) students, the books fit perfectly in that space where there is nothing that even the pickiest parent might find inappropriate if I recommended the book to their child, but the plots and characters are complex enough not to feel childish to students who want to be treated like grown ups.

That being said, I did find the start of this story a little slow. I plodded through the first third and then raced through the rest. Channi and Vanna's story is heartbreaking (I knew it was going to be from meeting Channi in the Six Crimson Cranes duology) and everything I hoped, I just wish the action of the story had started a bit sooner.

4 stars overall

I gave this 3.5 stars.

This is a prequeal to the Six Crimson Crane duology, focussing on one of my favourite characters, and in general I am always down for a villain origin story.

Some of my issues with the orignal duology still stand here, namely occasional clumsy exposition and too much repetition, but I preferred this overall. This is mainly because Channi was more interesting to follow and it felt like she had a stronger sense of character.

The story is fast paced and the world feels evocative, but I do think Elizabeth Lim tries to fit too much plot into one story. The ending felt slightly rushed, and I just wished we spent more time with the emotions of the characters rather than rushing through plot beats.

Overall, pick this up if you liked Six Crimson Cranes, because I think it is better done, but its not revolutionary.

4*

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

I loved Six Crimson Cranes, so I was very excited to receive another book set in this world. I love the way that Elizabeth Lim paints the bonds between siblings in such a magical, fairytale way.

I enjoyed the dark edges of this story, the way that Lim handles isolation and the way that she wove heartbreak into the ending so perfectly. Another beautifully crafted story.

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.