This brilliant prequel of the Six Crimson Cranes series immerses readers in the captivating world of Channari's heart-wrenching and epic backstory! If you are already a fan of alum's previous works, this book will undoubtedly exceed your expectations, delivering an action-packed, thrilling, and intense fantasy experience intertwined with exquisitely crafted magical realism. Prepare yourself for heart-throbbing battles, incredibly compelling trials, and the mesmerizing presence of dragons that adorn the pages of this extraordinary tale.

It look me a while to get into, but it was a beautiful book to read with a rather unexpected ending. So glad I got to read this book. The writing was so beautiful and touched on beauty standards, guilt and grief in such a profound way.
My only critique is that we got more character development from Vanna. It was clear the Channari loved her but it felt a bit flat at times as she was deemed as a nice person who was loving and protective of her sister.

<i>I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i> What an immense privilege it was!

This book was truly wonderful! I loved everything about it and I’m not sure I have words in me to do it justice. The cover however, is stunning and a perfect package for this beautiful story.

<i>“A promise is not a kiss in the wind Channi, it is a piece of yourself that is given away and will not return until your pledge is fulfilled.”</i>

Elizabeth Lim is a master of storytelling and created a heartwarming story full of love, adventure and magic. The writing is beautiful and completely immersed me in this world. The characters are wonderful and I was fully invested in their journey and outcomes.

Channi and Vanna are exactly the type of female characters I want to see more and I’m glad the new generation of readers will grow reading about it. They are strong, smart and able to fight for themselves but their greatest strength is their love and bonds.

This book is the prequel of <b>Six Crimson Cranes</b> and it was my introduction to this world. I must say, in no way this affected my enjoyment of the book and it was probably the twist I was needing to pick up a story that I already know and love.

Her Radiant Curse will be published in August 29th and I couldn’t recommend it more. I hope I can get my hands in one of the exclusive editions.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Her Radiant Curse' by Elizabeth Lim.

Elizabeth Lim does it again!! 'Her Radiant Curse' is the newest fantasy novel by Lim and it sparks so much joy inside my heart. Beautiful writing with lush characters and plot points - Lim truly is a standout author in the YA Fantasy genre.

With thanks to @hodderpublicity @hodderbooks @netgalley for the DRC of this amazing book.
Her Radiant Curse is a spin-off of Six Crimson Cranes about Raikama.
Once again full of adventure and action the emotional story of Channari and her sister Vanna and the lifechanging fight against Angma the demon witch. The story grabbed me because I have also read Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon's Promise and in them you get to know the story of Channari's future. Combined with her childhood makes this a complete and emotional story. Channari grows up with a snake face while her sister grows up as the coveted and beautiful sister.
There is little romance in it but the build up in tension between Hokzuh and Channari was impossible to ignore. The role of Ukar, Channari's best friend, brings the necessary humor. Channari's love for Vanna and mutually is heart breaking and makes this a story about two sisters and their love and loyalty for each other. I think you can also read this book before you start Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon's Promise that will give you a sequence of events.
Elizabeth has proven herself again with this story that does not disappoint at all but leaves you wanting more! I hope there will be another book!!!

Aannesjnrkenjw. Review: done. Mic: drop.

Just kidding. I was so thrilled to hear about a standalone Six Crimson Crane spinoff and boy, when it was revealed it was going to be about Raikama/Channari, hoot! I was awed by the layers that got peeled back in The Dragon's Promise (SCC #2) as it deepened a misunderstood character, got me to root for her even more and more fascinated by the additional mystery of her history. I ended up going back to TDP to refresh my memory of the snippets of Raikama/Channari's past and it was gratifying and remorseful to know how things ended and imagining how the time passed had affected the characters. I think if one digs into HRC right before starting the SCC duology or after finishing it will have their guts punched a little harder.

Elizabeth Lim's writing is light and smooth as always, making it incredibly easy to flow from one paragraph, then chapter, to the next. Yet, she never fails to pepper imagery into every chapter, tackling you with descriptors of (especially) food, geography and fashion. I'm in love with Ukar, Channari's best friend who's a snake and the son of the Serpent King, whose level-headedness balances out Channari's impulsive angry personality. Their sarcastic, pessimistic outlook unites them. Again, it was so satisfying to go back to TDP and realise where he had fit in, smiling at his brief mention. We also get to see a host of characters that made brief roles or mention in that novel, like Oshli, Vanna and Khramelan. Whatever secrets and feelings they harboured in TDP, we see their origins here. Breathtakingly, the novel spans only a few days, yet their life courses are forever determined by the events of HRC. Despite the scope of the events that make the story feel epic, the story is always grounded by Channari's sisterly love for Vanna and beats on a solemn quiet heart.

I'm so excited to see what's up next for Elizabeth Lim and will eat up whatever she writes.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

As beautiful as everything Elizabeth Lim writes, her work is poetic and flowing in nature, and this book is no exception. The characters are well crafted, and their storylines make complete sense for who they are as characters. We have gorgeous descriptions of the world, and where and how the characters came to be. The connection to the other stories in the series is also excellent and fits in nicely with everything. The story telling is so vivid, and the use of mythology to tie everything together – I couldn’t get enough! The words and pages flowed beneath my fingers, it was over before I realised, and my only complaint, I want more of these characters and this world!

An interesting novel steeped in mythology. Fast paced and unusual, perfect for fans of daughter of the moon goddess.

Having read the Six Crimson Cranes duology, the reader is somewhat aware of how this story might go. Yet, it’s the journey that makes it even more heartbreaking.
Channi is a marvel of characterisation and I’m thrilled we got to deep dive into her backstory. Everything ties in perfectly with the other books and makes me want to re-read six crimson cranes again as it allows us to better understand her actions.

Wow, just wow. It is rare that I give a book a 5/5 star rating but 'Her Radiant Curse' deserves it and way more! This spellbinding novel incorporates the perfect amount of fantasy, action, and love which makes it a story you can't put down! The fact that this story focuses on sisterly love rather than romance is beautiful and very unique! The way this is written is perfect too! I will definitely be reading more novels written by Elizabeth Lim in the future!

This is the first book from Elisabeth Lim I read. Six Crimson Cranes is still in my TBR, however I can easily follow the story and world building in Her Radiant Curse. I love the different vibes between the childhood and the current days told from the main character's POV. It showed her improvement and growth so well. I don't really love the adventure part of this book since it goes back and forth among places, even though I really love seeing how different kingdoms/lands are told. The friendship between main character and the snakes is my favorite even though the sisters' relationship seemed not as cool as them, for me. Everyone who loves Six Crimson Cranes, YA fantasy adventure with a little bit romance in it, dragons, curse, and durian trees need to read Her Radiant Curse!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
Opinions:
I was so insanely excited to read this book and honestly, it met my expectations. As always, Elizabeth Lim's characterization is absolutely phenomenal. I fell in love with so many new characters and found so many similarities between them and the characters of the main duology. I loved spotting all the references to the previous books (or the ones that follow in this case I guess since it's a prequel). The plot twists throughout the story were also great, I have to admit that I guessed most of them but I had a sense of satisfaction when I found out the truth rather than boredom because it was so obvious, since most of them weren't. I feel like I should be financially compensated for having my heart broken so many times... I'd remembered roughly what Channi's story was supposed to be like from the recounts of it in the other books so I had an idea of where the story had to go but it was too much for my heart to handle and the last few chapters of the book absolutely broke me, I cried for around half an hour straight because each time I stopped there was a line which made me start again. It's insane how many quotes I highlighted because they just hit so hard and overall it's just an amazing addition to this series.

The only qualm I have with this book is that a couple of times the writing felt a bit off, sort of like it was a draft of something she wanted to write. In saying this, I only encountered this around 3-5 times so it didn't really bother me that much in general. And the main issue that I had with the dragon's promise, which was that there was too much being crammed into one book and too much action at all times, wasn't an issue in this either.

I'm so insanely grateful that I've been able to read this book and also the dragon's promise before their release, I love being in this world so much and although I don't really know what she could expand on, I do hope Elizabeth Lim returns to this world and writes more of these characters we know and love.


Final rating: 4.75⭐ rounded up

I didn't read Six Crimson Cranes, and it speaks for the author that one doesn't need to to understand the worldbuilding or follow the story.
I love fairytales, retellings, and curses, so from the start I was hooked although the beginning was a little slow. The premise of Channis curse was also interesting.
Lim's writing is superb, she emerges her readers into her world with adorbable details.
The first 70% were amazing, I especially loved the quest feel of the nook, but later on the fight scenes were a little repetitive and overall there were too much in total for the length of the book. I ended up skipping some fighting near the end, which is actually supposed to be the grand finale. I loved that Channis and Vannas love was the Center, though I did like her love interest. I expected a happy ending for only one of the,, what I didn’t expect was that neither gets one. I think that made the book end on a sadder note than it needed to be, which could’ve easily been fixed if we got a epilogue where the sister meet in the afterlife or are reborn together as that’s what Vanna promised Channi, to wait for her, so we could’ve seen them get the happy life together they wanted so much, but that’s personal preference, so I didn’t let that drag my rating down.

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim is an exquisite and enchanting tale. Lim's writing is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid images of the characters and the world they inhabit. The author's attention to detail and her ability to craft atmospheric settings add an immersive quality to the story, making it easy to lose oneself within its pages. Channi is a remarkable protagonist whose strength and resilience leap off the pages. Despite the cruelty and prejudice she faces, she refuses to succumb to despair. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns to embrace her own worth and find the beauty within herself. Vanna, on the other hand, is a complex character torn between duty and her own desires. Lim deftly tackles themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the importance of looking beyond appearances. The narrative also incorporates elements of classic tales like Beauty and the Beast and Helen of Troy, adding layers of depth and familiarity that will resonate with readers. Overall, Her Radiant Curse is an absolute triumph—a spellbinding blend of fantasy, romance, and folklore. Lim's storytelling prowess is on full display, as she takes readers on an unforgettable journey filled with danger, sacrifice, and the enduring power of sisterhood.

<i>I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Please keep in mind this is 5th book in the 'Blood of Stars' universe, but at the same time the earliest one chronologically. If it's hard to understand, imagine 'Shadowhunters chronicles' order of reading kind of problem. I'm writing this review as a person who already read all the others in the series, but that doesn't mean you couldn't start Elizabeth's fantasy world adventure with this one. Do as you like! You can read it chronologically starting with this one, then following Shiori's adventure and later Maia's, but you could also read them in the order they're published (Maia-Shiori-Channari). Choice is yours ^^ just be aware there might be spoilers in this review for the later adventures in Blood of Stars universe.

Back to the review - oh boii, I was so excited for this one! I'm a sucker for all the original characters of Elizabeth Lim, and hearing we're getting Raikama prequel I couldn't contain myself 2023 will be another year blessed by Blood-of-Stars book. And although it didn't mark my 100% perfect score, I've really enjoyed reading abouth young Raikama's "fall".

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<b>"For so many years, I've been focused on saving her life. I forget how many times, in little ways, she's saved mine."</b>
Right from the beginning we get to see the very origin of how Her Radiance came to be who she is. Being the older sister, she's amazed with the toddler wiggling by her dying mother. Sacrifice had to be made, but because of the inner light baby shone with it was Channari who's offered to the merciless god by her father. She survives the night, but becomes scared with snake's face and blood full of deadly venom. Thou she's alive, it was at that moment her life itself became hell. Ostracized from the society and her own family, except her sister, and her mother already in heaven she was lackig human friends. But who need humans when you're "blessed" with snake's face given by the snake king himself? Channari found her own society within snakes themselves. Her life wouldn't be so bad this way, if only her sister wasn't a perfect mare to be sold for marriage. Things get complicated when several mighty bachelors arrive, and auction her off to the most cruel one. Channari took this case into her own hands revealing her monstrous look and standing up for her sister in a fight. Althou she won, they get separated, one leaves with charming prince to become princess, other is being sold as new champion to a menagerie of a foreign queen.

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<b>"If people want to be afraid of your face, let them be. Why should you be the one who's afraid?"</b>
Channari thought she'd always be the unwanted freebie coming with her sister in a deal package, but turns out her monstrous face grabbed attention of a cruel king adding her to his champion lineup alongside half-dragon-half-demon which she gets to kinda befriend. If you're an avid Elizabeth Lim reader you might've noticed how we get a splendid squad of characters with each story, so this not so heavenly dragon completes the team for her radiant curse -- Channari, her BFF snake and this dragon on their way to save the radiant sister from being shut down on the day of her 17th birthday, as it was foretold by the merciless god when she spared Channari's life, as <i>one sister must fall for the other one to rise.</i>

<img src="https://media.tenor.com/N6ipXeAVSbsAAAAd/love-between-fairy-and-devil-dylan-wang.gif" width="400" height="auto" alt="description"/>
<b>"<i>Are you all right? Normally I can sleep through a monsoon,</i> he says, <i>but you... you were screaming."</i></b>
If you've read <i>The Dragon's Promise</i> you might recall a grumpy dragon Khramelan and how he had some past with Her Radiance. I'm really glad we got to see what really happened between them all these years ago, and what exactly caused the whole grudge that made him suffer for so long. If you're looking for romance in this story, you might find some echo of it right here, but I'd rather say that Lim focused on spinning the sisters tale rather than havng some lovey-dovey content we got from other OTP of her series. To say the least - get ready for a waterfall of adventure, with a few drops of delicious flirting-by-teasing.

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<b>"What do you know of Kiata? The kingdom of the crimson crane."</b>
What do I say, we all know we're all here for the prequel-to-six-crimson-cranes aspect. And friends, Elizabeth did deliver. Ofc at the time of these events happening Shiori is just a baby shrimp in her palace at the other end of the world, making everyone's life brighter since de*th of her mother, but we do het to see the emperor's curious advances on her radiance. And the way Kiata content got introduced and wrapped made my cry tears of pure happpiness and anger, considering later events. Don't get me wrong, I found it really beautiful, I just had to have mixed emotions because life's all about up and downs. Anywa, it was PERFECT and I couldn't imagine better introduction than this. My only complain would be about "artificial" way Raikama ended things and called herself iconic Radiance just so it would be a puzzle-perfect-fit with six crimson cranes. It could've been done smoother, but at least it was done the way it makes most sense.

To sum up, I'm still very in love with this universe, and forever grateful that althou it's explored backwardly it's explored and widened anyway because I'm in a NEED to read each book with all the others surrounding me so I could look up every connection between them - it's so! much! fun! All the fates intertwined between different stories to be woven into beautiful story. I wouldn't mind getting another spin-off, so for now I'lll just sit in the corner, leaving the door open, hoping one day I'll hear through them another tale is being spinned within 'Bloof of Stars'.
4.25/5 from me!

HUGE Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:5/5
First of all, let's take a moment to appreciate the stunning cover..... The color scheme, the details, the snake and the tiger.... it's perfection!
Favorite quote: “Find the light that makes your lantern shine. Hold on to it, even when the dark surrounds
you. Not even the strongest wind will blow out the flame.”
I adore Elizabeth Lim's works for their whimsical quality and studio-ghibli kind of vibes. That, combined with her beautiful writing style, makes them a truly delightful read!
The moment I finished reading the SCC duology, I immediately craved more from the characters. Princess Shiori was a great MC, but it was Raikama who stuck with me. 'Her Radiant Curse' is the story of Raikama, the Nameless Queen(whose original name was Channari) and not-really-evil queen from Six Crimson Cranes.
I loved the bond and the heartwarming interactions between the sisters -Channi, cursed to have a hideous face resembling a serpent, and Vanna, the golden one, whose radiance is adored by all. The book is packed with rich world-building and fast-paced adventure, and also contains splendid descriptions of mouthwatering dishes, pristine forests, islands and temples and much, much more. It's a very visual book and a treat to immerse yourself into.
Seamlessly blending elements incorporated form Western tales like Helen of Troy and Beauty and the Beast as well as Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim weaves a breathtaking tale of the bond of sisterhood and the sacrifices we make for the ones we love. The book had me SOBBING by the end. I wasn't prepared for how devastated I'd be, although I knew the sisters' fate having read the SCC Duology. I'd definitely read anything that Elizabeth Lim writes next!!

i really llive elizabeth lim and her stories because it always creates a sense of wonder about the fantastical elements and the turmoil for the characters.

i cannot believe the ending because it wasn't very happy. in fact it was very unhappy and sad. however it was very in line with the characters and their arc throughout the book. this was very important because many times, authours make their characters do surprising things that come across as weird.


i thought channi's journey around the novel was quite sad but admirable. i really liked it.

i wished we could see more of the book's world because it seems to be quite exciting.

Actually liked this more than Six Crimson Cranes! It's everything I hoped for and more. From page one my heart was aching and breaking for Channari. The side characters are also amazing. I want more!

Actually liked this more than Six Crimson Cranes! I’m not really much of a YA reader anymore but this fairy tale esque story of sisterhood and fortitude was utterly compelling. Lim’s writing is as lovely as ever and overall this was a very satisfying read.

Thank you Netgalley, Elizabeth Lim, and Hodder & Stoughton for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

“A promise is not a kiss in the wind Channi, it is a piece of yourself that is given away and will not return until your pledge is fulfilled.”

"Her Radiant Curse" by Elizabeth Lim is, a spin off to the "Six Crimson Cranes" focusing on Shiori's stepmother Channi and her sister Vanni before "Six Crimson Cranes."

I would give "Her Radiant Curse" by Elizabeth Lim a 4-star review because, I loved learning more about Channi, I love the idea of two sisters one blessed and the other cursed, Lim wrote this novel wonderfully, and I liked how it stayed true from Six Crimson Cranes.