Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read this novel.

I absolutely love Elizabeth Lim and her writing. It's no surprised that I loved this novel.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. It just worked perfectly

A great premise that fell short in the end

I loved getting to know these characters and the fast paced action made it exciting to read along however we needed more development with the plot and characters

The first thing I read by this author and as I had a feeling... I was very hooked. It is a unique volume that introduced me to a world totally different from ours, without going too deep, without explaining much how this world is, it managed to quickly make me interested in the story of our protagonist.

I liked the relationships that were formed, the development they had, the outcome, the plot, the simplicity but at the same time intricate way of telling things.

Elizabeth Lim invites you into her world where when you least expect it you are totally absorbed by the story, where the characters seem to be close to you, where you manage to empathize with them, where you suffer with them and are outraged by them.

I liked that the romance is something totally tertiary, it is not the central thing in this story. It is present, but it is something complementary, something that is there and that gives it a different touch, nothing more.

I really liked the relationship between the sisters, the enemy, the gray and conflicted characters, the twists in the plot, I loved it!

I will definitely continue reading it.

Thanks Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m soft DNFing this at 100 pages in
The first 100 pages provided no new information to anyone who had read the Six Crimson Cranes duology. While this is technically a standalone novel, it’s also a prequel. I suspect I might have enjoyed this more had I not read the duology as I was a wee bit bored with the slow build up
This also felt a much younger read that the Six Crimson Cranes duology, each were YA but this felt more like Middle Grade
I decided to give up on this book for now. I may come back to it at a later date, I have preordered a copy which I can’t cancel so I probably will…maybe

As the cover tells us: one must fall for the other to rise.

Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna-the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.

A heart-wrenching story of siblings and sibling love. Although this is a weaving of classic stories, like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, it felt entirely new and I couldn't put it down. As my first Elizabeth Kim book, I can definitely say it has made me want to read the rest of the series.

I have followed Elizabeth Lim's writing through out The Blood of Stars duology and then Six Crimson Cranes duology, and despite me having a bad experience with The Dragon's Promise, I was intrigued with Her Radiant Curse as it follows Channari who I thought was an interesting character in Six Crimson Cranes. Compared to TDP, I enjoyed this one better. The pacing was really good and I think it made a good prequel for SCC. I also enjoyed going back into that world again, and I loved the friendship and siblings elements in it as well.

However, I just feel like although we're following another character here, the way the plot is constructed, I didn't feel there was anything unique that separated this book with the others. Also this is definitely a "it's me not you" case because some parts I just felt really bored and disconnected with the story. This book just didn't quite draw me in like how Six Crimson Cranes (the first book) and Spin the Dawn did.

I would still recommend those who love the SCC duology to read this! I think this provided Channari with a much needed backstory and would be a great addition to read if you've finished the duology.

Thankyou to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the premise of this book was great. I enjoyed the curse and snake aspects, and the relationship between the sisters was sweet.

However, some parts felt superficial and needed more development, and some elements were dropped in and not really explained.

The ending also felt quite depressing and was a bit of an anti-climax.

Real rate: 4.5
This book was an epic fantasy with curses, hard choices, betrayal, and unconditional love between two sisters.

It was a great surprise! When I first started this book, I had no idea it was Six Crimson Crane's prequel. I think I enjoy it even more not knowing Channi's future.

Elizabeth Lim's writing is truly sublime. I love her way of rewriting Asian mythology. She causes me to cry again because of the impossible love between the FMC and the dragon/demon. Although their story was not the main theme, I would have sold my soul for more.

My favorite part of the book was how fierce and independent the FMC was. I loved the bond between Channi and her best friend, Ukar. It was my favorite since Vanna and Channi's bond is also beautiful, but sometimes, I taught Vanna didn't deserve her.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

— 4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

📖 | 432 pages
👤 | author Elizabeth Lim
🏢 | publisher Hodderscape
📅 | release date 29 August 2023

Trigger warnings: violence, gore, death of a family member, estranged and abusive parent.

I went into this book unaware that is was a prequel spin-off of the well-known Six Crimson Cranes duology and was therefore concerned that I would be unable to follow the storyline, however this was thankfully not the case. Her Radiant Curse is an artfully written tale filled with loss and heartache, which tells the story of two sisters Channi and Vanna. Channi was once a normal girl like any other until her father sacrificed her to the Demonic Witch in hopes of saving his wife's life. Displeased by the offering which proves unsuccessful, Channi is forever changed with the face of a serpent. A monster to all but her sister Vanna, Her Radiant Curse is a heart-wrenching tale which focuses on the themes of sisterly bonds, courage and loyalty.

This book is a first-read of mine by author Elizabeth Lim, and I was expecting great things due to the well-received reviews that I have seen of her Six Crimson Cranes duology. I was not left disappointed with Lim's beautifully crafted world-building and well-paced writing that was easy to read. The plot kept me engaged from beginning-to-end and had me feeling every emotion I could think to name. I loved the relationships shown with the supporting characters, especially Ukar. And I of-course cannot forget to highlight the strength and love in the bond that Channi and Vanna share. This book feels like a love-letter for sisters filled with adventure, loyalty and emotion. I do feel I would've better connected with the characters had I known to read Six Crimson Cranes first, and based on other reviews I can see that this book sets up the main storyline found in the duology very-well. The ending of this book left me heartbroken, and I look forward to reading more from this author as I move on to read the duology that follows this prequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I‘ve read most of Elizabeth Lim‘s previous books and enjoyed them all, so going into this I already knew that it would be great. What I somehow managed to not realise, however, was that this is a spin-off prequel to her Six Crimson Cranes duology, and about a character that I remember finding very intriguing back when I read those books. However, my memory did fail me a little in terms of what I knew about the main character already, and I regret that so I might just go ahead and reread SCC next.

Anyway, I was perfectly able to understand the story without any background from the apparent sequels anyway, so let’s dive into that! Obviously, what I liked the most in this book just as with all of the author‘s other works was the world building and the way the magical system was crafted. A true masterpiece! Add lots of action, the incredibly loyal bond between two sisters and a strong, determined, unwavering, courageous, loveable main character and you have yourself a truly compelling fantastical story that kept me hooked from the first page until the last. Let me tell you, that ending was amazing!

And I even liked the romantic subplots! They were so nuanced and well developed and added so much to the story. The interactions between all character are definitely one of the strongest suits of this book, but I especially enjoyed the slow development of Channi‘s complex and layered relationship with Hokzuh. Oh, and Ukar was the most hilarious supporting character. I adored him!

4.5/5 stars.

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim is the origin story of Channi from the Six Crimson Cranes Series.
 
I absolutely loved the Six Crimson Cranes Series and Channi was only seen as the evil stepmother. Therefore, I was so curious to see her story and this book was amazing.
 
Channi grew up on a small island and when her sister was born, her father offered her as a sacrifice to the Demon Witch. This turned her life upside down and the innocent childhood was immediately over. The Demon Witch found a liking in her and therefore gave her the ability to speak with snakes and cursed her beauty simultaneously. The people around her start seeing her as a monster and at some point, she just embraces it.
 
This book shows how everyone has a story and you shouldn’t just condemn someone. Channi also has a very loving side and I loved how her relationship with her sister was shown. She fights and protects her sister Vanna until the very end and that just shows how strong of a person Channi is.
 
Overall, this is such a captivating and heart-wrenching fantasy novel and I appreciated Channi‘s story. 4,5 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim is a prequel to the best selling Six Crimson Cranes duology, telling the story of Channi who readers of the duology will know as Raikama. Channi/Raikama has an integral role in Six Crimson Cranes, which I will not say more about here to avoid spoilers for new readers, but in Her Radiant Curse we really get to see another side of her, and see how her life has often been shaped by forces beyond her control .
Her Radiant Curse is the story of two sisters, and fate has decreed that one must fall for the other to rise, but the bond of sisterhood is strong, and neither is willing to see the other fall.
Channi is sacrified by her father in an attempt to save her mother who has almost died in childbirth. The demon witch Angma is disappointed however, she was expecting to receive the blood of the new born baby Vanna, and when the Serpent King bites Channi the witch is further thwarted in her plans. Instead of killing Channi she curses her with the face of a serpent, and leaves her there for her father to find. Disgusted by her new appearance, he insists on hiding her away to ensure that she does not damage the marriage prospects of Vanna , his beautiful golden child. As the years pass Vanna is the only one who sees beauty in Channi , and in turn she is the only one that Channi cares about. Years pass and Vanna comes of age, meaning that it is time for her to be married off to a suitable suitor, but when it seems likely that the cruellest of the suitors will prevail, Channi is forced to reveal herself as she tries to fight him off. This unleashes a catastrophic chain of events that will see Channi captured and forced into a gladiatorial style combat arena, but will also introduce her to an enemy that could become a friend, and force her to embark on a quest for revenge that will put both Vanna and herself at risk from an old enemy.
This book reads like an epic adventure tale, full of drama and tension, and I found myself falling in love with the characters, especially Channi and her reptilian and sarcastic sidekick Ukar . The book is an emotional read, this author is certainly not afraid to tug at the heartstrings , and it is a testament to how well she has crafted the characters that the reader feels like they are experiencing the highs and lows alongside them. Even though I had read the Six Crimson Cranes books, and so knew to some degree what the outcome of this book must be I never felt like that detracted from the tension of the story or my enjoyment of the book .
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own,

Firstly I just want to thank the author/publisher and NetGalley for accepting my requests to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon’s Curse - I felt like they were very whimsical and magical and the end of TDC hit me so hard in the feels so I had a good feeling about this book

And for the most part I was right! This was a fast paced and fun and engrossing book that kept me glued to the page from start to finish.

However

I am a sook, and didn’t click with which character we were following, and the ending as beyond depressing for me - especially when we see what happens in SCC.

I felt like this book was almost useless in that nothing we are reading and hoping for really happens - it’s just grim and disappointing. I would not want to reread that ending again…. Like ever.

SO

I know the others will LOVE this - and I feel like it’s a bit harsh to take off 2 stars based on my critique but the lasting impression of a book is what I think is most important.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for providing an eARC to review!

Something I've really enjoyed about Elizabeth Lim books is that she always portrays her female villains with nuance. So when I heard there was going to be a prequel for the 'villain' of Six Crimson Cranes, I was really excited to see what Lim would do.

Unfortunately, I think this might be my breakup with Lim's books. I never find myself really connecting with her stories or characters, and for me this one felt especially flat. I didn't feel really invested in seeing where Channi went, though it did seem that things picked up towards the end.

I would still recommend her books as a transition point from middle grade to YA, especially with the kind of cozy fairytale vibes her stories have. But sadly I just don't find myself falling in love with her books as much as I'd hoped.

I’d like to start this review by thanking Hodderscape, Elizabeth Lim and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC to review!

Her Radiant Curse is a prequel Elizabeth Kim’s Six Crimson Cranes series, but you don’t need to have read these to enjoy this book! The story follows Channi- cursed with the face of a snake by a demon witch after her father attempts to trade her life for his wife’s, Channi has never known love or friendship. The only person who sees Channi for the person she is underneath is her beloved sister, Vanna. When Vanna is to be married off in a contest, Channi has to take desperate measures to protect her sister from the vile participants. The consequences of her actions force Channi on a quest to reunite with her sister, kill the demon witch and end her curse once and for all.

I absolutely adore the lush, immersive world that Elizabeth Lim has created and the way it is so different yet links to her world in Six Crimson Cranes. The elements of magic and all the mythological creatures were a lovely addition and made reading the book a magical experience. Also, I’m a huge fan of talking animal companions so the fact Channi can talk to snakes and is accompanied by her snake friend, Ukar, makes this book perfect. I also found the lore about the demon witch and dragon pearls fascinating and love how it is inspired by Asian myths and culture. The world is built very well, and we get to see many different parts of it throughout the book!

I think the primary relationship in this book is the sisterly bond between Channi and Vanna and I love how it was developed and tested throughout the book. The sisters are so devoted to each other and their love is a really beautiful thing to read. Channi is an amazing main character- she’s loyal and determined and honestly my heart breaks for her throughout this book. She is constantly judged, feared and outcast by everybody because of her snake face despite being a pure soul and you can feel her longing for someone to just look past her face and see the person underneath. I love her developing relationship with Hokzuh, the half-dragon who she finds herself stuck with on her quest to save her sister. They are both outcasts and, while they mistrust each other and have opposing goals, the comfort they find in each others company is quite sweet and I was always rooting for them.

Overall, this book was incredibly well written. The pace was fast enough to match the urgency of Channi’s quest but still managed to develop a lush world filled with magic. The characters ion this book are incredibly done- all cursed in their own way and I felt sympathy for almost every single one of them. I love how the ideas of sisterly-love, sacrifice and loyalty are explored and Channi’s journey really spoke to me. There are so many twists and backstories and the final twist at the end shattered my heart! I 100% recommend this book, even if you haven’t read Six Crimson Cranes!

This book is a spin-off prequel to the ‘Six Crimson Cranes’ series, and follows the epic backstory of Channari, which is very interesting, not to mention heart-wrenching

The author did an amazing job in creating a story that deliveries in terms of intriguing and artful world-building, strong characters which are worth rooting for and we want learn more about them. The author expertly tells fascinating legends.

It was a great book! If you liked the author previous works, I’m sure this book will be to your taste. It’s very action-packed, thrilling and it’s an intense fantasy experience.

Arc generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A couple of months back, I completed the Cranes duology. One of the much better celestial mythology-inspired fantasy we have read, very much enjoyed with a good plot and nice mix of battles and drama, humour and romance. I was so pleasantly surprised to find out at that point that Elizabeth Lim will be releasing a prequel to this duology. And this time, circling around one of their titular characters.

In the Cranes duology, we were introduced to Shiori's stepmother who cursed her brothers to be cranes and for Shiori to wear an unsightly bowl, stuck over her head covering her face. We were made to see their stepmother as a serpent worshipper with witchy powers. A villian of sorts, typical stepmother outlook. But as we go on, we learn that was far from the truth. Which is what this book is all about. An epic backstory to she who was once Chiannari.

We learnt through the second Crane book that she actually had a sad past. And boyyy we are not prepared for how sad! One filled with curses and an obsessive need to protect her younger sister, Vanna, from a demon named Angma. A curse that left her with a serpent like face, while her sister shines majestically like gold. From the start, the fantasy in this was just colourfully bursting. Dragons and demons, serpents and shamans. Frustrating baddies and wholesome friendships and bonds. It had everything, an action-packed story start to finish.

This can be read on its own but I'd highly recommend to read the duology first and then move on to this. As everything comes full circle and you fully relate and understand and immerse yourself in all the anger and sadness that happens in the 3 books. If the Cranes duology had a good end, this spin off just made it fully complete. A heartbreaking tale on one's loyalty and faithfulness to the people they love, a sorrowful one filled with yearning and hope.

Thank you @netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for approving this e-arc.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton, NetGalley and Elizabeth Lim for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Her Radiant Curse" by Elizabeth Lim is a captivating fantasy that delves into themes of sacrifice, sisterhood, and inner strength. The story follows Channi, cursed with a serpent's face, as she fiercely protects her beautiful sister, Vanna, from a cruel betrothal contest. Lim's enchanting storytelling weaves magic, mythology, and emotion, creating a world where appearances are challenged, and the power of love shines. The narrative's pacing, rich world-building, and compelling characters make it a must-read. As Channi's journey unfolds, her resilience and devotion highlight the beauty of true inner strength.

As someone who hasn't read Six Crimson Cranes, this was a fantastic introduction into the universe. It was beautifully written and an interesting read with many twists and turns that I hadn't predicted. The characters are loveable and well-written - It was refreshing to read characters who balance the line between good and evil. The universe created by Lim is well-built, overflowing with myths and lore, creating a believable and interesting world.

Overall a worthwhile read and another stunning edition to Elizabeth Lims portfolio.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

"Never will I apologize for being the monster they made me."

Her Radiant Curse is a prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes duology, a tale of two sisters-one as beautiful as the other is monstrous- who must fight to save each other when a betrothal contest gone Wrong unleashes an evil that could sever their bond forever. We follow Channi, who is cursed with a serpent's face after being sacrificed to the Witch to try and save her mother. She spends the next years hiding in the jungle with the other snakes, her only friends. The only human who is nice to Channi, is her sister, Vanna. Vanna is the most beautiful girl of the country and was born with a golden light shining from her.
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Her Radiant Curse was everything a prequel should be. It was a fantastic, heart-breaking story! Not only did I not want to put this book down, it made me want to immediately reread SCC.

This book is perfect for anyone that loves whimsically dark stories with mythological elements and Asian folklore, a story that - at its heart - is about the power of familial love and the strength that it can give us!
I loved everything!
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Thank to netgalley hodderscape and Elizabeth Lim for providing me with this ARC!