Her Radiant Curse

From book to book, Elizabeth Lim continues to outdo herself more and more.

Her Radiant Curse tells the story of Channi, a young girl who has become a monster because of her father, who offers her as a sacrifice to the Demonic Witch.
Her face resembles that of a snake, and the only person who, despite everything, can still see the beauty in her is her sister Vanna.
And she is also the only person she trusts.
And she is the only person Channi cares about and is willing to do anything to protect her, even antagonize an entire village and the cruelest of Vanna's suitors.

Lim is one of the few authors who can seamlessly mix in outside elements and create a unique story.
In this case there are elements reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and, of course, could not miss, a bit of Asian culture.
The book flows that a marvel, worldbuilding is well described and in some cases I feel like I am there with Channi and Vanna.
The whole novel is dynamic, as are the protagonists, who are really well delineated.
Since this is a fantasy, of course there is also the villain within the story, but I noticed that despite the battles and subterfuge, the theme of family prevails a bit more and I appreciated that.

P.S. However, let me say that the covers also play its part, and I would buy any edition of Elizabeth Lim sitting down.

ALL THE STARS!!!!!

this was SOOO good. I had intended to read it slowly, but once i started it, i couldn’t stop reading — it was that good!!! 👏🏼
honestly, i expected nothing less from Elizabeth Lim. Her books are always the best.

the plot was very engaging and interesting. action-packed. there wasn’t a single dull moment.
friendship-based and sibling-relationship-based stories are my favourites. i love love this trope, and this book has both of them. that too, in the most heartwarming of ways!!
the relationship Channi and Vannah shared 🥺❤️ favourite part of the book.

and the characters have my heart 🥺 Channari, Vannah, Ukar, Hokzuh — all of them won my heart!!!! i really liked Raikama's character in Six Crimson Cranes and reading her tale was a delight.

thanks so much to the publisher and netgalley for the free copy.

ps. i don’t know if we are supposed to mention this, but i will mention it any way that i noticed editing mistakes in the arc.

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!

Ever since I've read The Dragon's Promise, and got a glimpse of Channari's backstory, I was dying for more tales about her. When Elizabeth Lim announced Her Radiant Curse, I was so happy, and even more when I was gifted the chance to read it early.
And it's everything I hoped for and more. From page one my heart was aching and breaking for Channari. The girl with the snake face and the oh so human heart. The monster that is an utterly good person and queen in her own rights. Driven by the love for her sister and by so many self-doubts, she always tries to do what is right and what protects those she loves.
The side characters are also amazing, not one of them I didn't love (or loved to hate).
Knowing what will happen later - with it being a prequel of sorts - takes away nothing of the story. On the contrary, it even adds to the overall narrative, and made me wanna reread Six Crimson Cranes.
I want more! There is still time and space for more stories of Channari right? Right??

5/5 stars

Thank you so much @netgalley and @hodderbooks for the eARC!

i knew right from the start that i was going to love this book as i was obsessed with the crimson cranes duology. elizabeth lim truly has such a wonderful writing style that captivates you from the first sentence and will never leave you disappointed with what she writes.

i loved the story of vanna and channari so much. normally i am very apprehensive when it comes to prequels and spin offs but this book really stood out to me and missed the curse of the spin-off! this story is about love, not the romantic love, but the love between sisters. for a book that is so breathtakingly beautiful, it caused so much pain. there were moments where tears were streaming down by face as i was ugly crying. but i couldn’t be happier about that.

every book by lim gets better and better each time. her world building is fantastic, and even though you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover… these ones are always beautiful. there was not a dull moment in this book and i urge everyone to go and pick this up.

thank you so much to hodderscape and netgalley for allowing me to read this beautiful book prior to publication. i cannot wait to have this in my hands in august.

4.5☆

I was overjoyed when I received the arc, and I read it right away, relieved that it was better than TDP. Yes, even though HRC is no longer about Shiori but her stepmother Channi/Raikama, it had me hooked from the start. We learned more about Channi. You may have despised Channi before learning of her sacrifice to protect Shiori in SCC, but you will fall in love with her genuineness and love for her sister in HRC.

Lim's writing never ceases to amaze me with a fascinating plot and action-packed sequences that make it impossible to put down. What I like best is Channi and Vanna's sisterly bond.

There is a brief romance between Vanna and Oshli, and Channi’s first meeting with Shiori's father piqued my interest. Hokzuh, Angma, King Meguh, the serpent (whose name I forgot lol), and Channi’s father, who is crueller than Angma, all have an impact on the fast-paced plot. GREAT!

HRC retains a strong magical element, which reminds me of the white snake legend (idk if it's just me) I like the tiny details stated, such as Vanna's wooden bowl, but it reminds me of the dish used to curse Shiori; is it the same bowl? It's written from Channi's pov, therefore I know very little about Vanna. She could have fooled Channi. However, the ending made everything clear. Their sisters' love is beautiful, and it made me cry a lot. Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder for the arc! 💕

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!!

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.

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!

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

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!

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!!!

Every time I read a book from this world it is somehow better than the last. Elizabeth Lim writes so fun, fast paced fantasy stories with the serious and emotional elements. I love how she writes her characters, the in depth world building. I loved reading the story of these two sister, especially after the part we read in Dragon's Promise. I really hope there are more books set in this world. If there is or not, I will most certainly be reading whatever Elizabeth Lim writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance copy of Her Radiant Curse for an honest review.

Her Radiant Curse is a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes covering Ramaka or Channi's story.

Channi was made a Monster by her father's offer to sacrifice her to the Demon Witch Angma. Now cursed with the face of a serpent Channi is the opposite to her sister Vanna who is beloved. Vanna is the only person Channi trusts and who sees her as more than a Monster.

At 17 Vanna is to be married off for money and Channi is intent on preventing her getting married to some of the vulgar suitors. In doing this she gets mixed up in one suitors wrath and ends up over seas starting a battle to return to Vanna's side and protect her from the curse of the Demon Witch.

After The Dragon's Promise felt abit disjointed I was interested to read Lim's next offering and I must say this is a return to form.

Her Radiant Curse was a fantastic epic YA fantasy steeped in Asian Folklore. I was hooked on this book and couldn't stop reading.

The story was well crafted the characters were enjoyable and it gave us fantastic insight into Channi's origin. While being a prequel I wouldn't say you need to read Six Crimson Cranes first but it does give good context and there are some moments dropped in that lead you back to aspects of Six Crimson Cranes.

A fantasticly crafted story and I look forward to whatever Elizabeth Lim releases next.

This absolutely beautiful prequel to Six Crimson Cranes duology was amazing!
This book was amazing and one I stated I couldn’t put it down. It was absolutely heartbreaking at points and I really felt all the emotions coming across from the writing. The world building is fantastic and the author truly captivates a magical story.
Channi is such a strong and Beautiful character, I enjoyed learning her backstory and everything she did to protect her sister.
I loved meeting all the characters and they were beautifully developed throughout the book. I absolutely loved going back into this beautiful world and would love more stories from this world.

Thank you to the author, netgalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes duology that introduces the empresses back story to us and it was action packed and heart-wrenching. It made me tear up and feel so many different emotions. My favourite yet from the author

<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.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

This book is a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes however it can be read without any prior knowledge to this world. There are some references to SCC but not in the sense of you feel like you are missing some of the story by not understanding the references.

This book is perfect for anyone that loves whimsically dark stories with a thread of mythology. It is ultimately a story about the power of familial love and the strength that it can give us, whether by blood or not.

I would say that there are some trigger warnings that should come with this book such as death, blood, torture and human sacrifice.

I really enjoyed this book and was another great edition to this world that Lim has created.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

As with all of Lim's books in this universe, this book was such an easy read. If I had had the time, I could easily have devoured this whole book in a single sitting. In fact, I may very well do that when my physical copy arrives because I absolutely adored this!

There is something about the books in this world that are just so beautifully addictive and they only ever seem to get better. I absolutely adored Spin the Dawn and, when I read it, I didn't think I would be able to love the sequel any more. When the next book came out, I thought the same. Yet, I am continuously proven wrong and that fact makes me so very happy.

Before I even get excited about Channi and her arc throughout this novel, I want to take a moment to appreciate the extent of the world building throughout these novels. We have seen so many different parts of it and it is so rich with culture, landscapes and religions. It is an absolute joy to get to see more of it, especially when it is crafted so seamlessly.

Now... Channi! Oh what a fun character she is to see this world through. She is a character forged by the necessities of the world she is in and we see that in her every interaction. She is not a happy, friendly girl who is ready to take on the world; she is angry and hurt, but also determined and loyal. I absolutely loved seeing how she adapted and grew from the first to the final page.

I absolutely adored this book and am so grateful that I got to read it already. It's got me even more excited for its release than I already was!

DAMN, THOSE LAST CHAPTERS!

Her Radiant Curse is a prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes series which tells the story of love, betrayal, pain, and heartache.

*spoiler*

It is not a bittersweet ending. It is not a happy ending but a haunting one for the protagonist.

Ms. Lim mesmerized her readers once again with the world of Six Crimson Cranes. I do love the first book but we don't speak of the second one haha.

Channari and Vanna's characters are well developed and these are the type of characters you would be so invested with.

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

#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.

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!!!!

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.

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.

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.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for sending me an E-arc of one of my most anticipated releases of this year.

I absolutely adored the Six Crimson Cranes series and was dying to know more about Raikama, and this book delivered and then some!

In this prequel (that you can also read as a one shot), we meet Raikama, or should I say Channari as a child and follow her story, who she was and how she became Raikama.
Once again we fall for the wonderful build-up world of Elizabeth Lim, The magic and mythological influences are all around us, making us travel through the Asian mystical world like always.

I especially liked the different dynamics and relationships present in the book, as the amazing characters development.

I could not recommend this book enough,you will for sure spend an amazing time!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
I have to say that I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a pure delight. The book's main focus is on sisterly bonds and trying to survive as an outcast in a hostile environment. I really liked the connection between Vanna and Channi. And even though I knew how the story will end it didn't make it less sad. It was great to see the whole story through Channi's eyes and learn more about her childhood and her as a character. I really recommend this story to anyone.

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Her Radiant Curse
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: Prequel to Six Crimson Cranes Duology
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Elizabeth Lim
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fairytale/Fantasy
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: eARC
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 29th August 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 16th July 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.5/5

“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.”

A gorgeous and emotional tale that depicts a sisterly bond like no other. One considered goddess-descended in her beauty and manner, one considered a frightful monster to be kept away from the village. I loved that Elizabeth Lim chose the monster’s perspective of this story.

This is a prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes series, which I have not read yet, so I cannot acknowledge any references made to that story yet but I do look forward to reading the duology with the added context the prequel lends. Saying that, I believe this works as a standalone, perhaps the ending would be more impactful if I’d know the implications but I genuinely loved it nonetheless.

I thought that this would be loosely based on the Asian folklore legend of The White Snake, but it only borrows some elements (such as the snake-girl and the enemy being able to occupy mortal form) to turn this into a rich and fast-paced story.

In fact, whilst The White Snake is a story based on love and devotion between husband and wife, the romantic component in Her Radiant Curse is a flutter of a butterfly’s wings compared to the prowling tiger of the fierce and protective bond between the two sisters, Channi and Vanna, in the story.

I really enjoyed the exploration of ‘pretty privilege’ in the story. I believe this is where the Beauty and The Beast component comes into play as this story depicts how the village saw Vanna and Channi as ‘good and evil’ simply based on their aesthetic. It does show the other side of the coin though, hence the title ‘Her Radiant Curse’ and how the pretty privilege can transcend into the pretty problem based on the eye of the beholder.

Her Radiant Curse is a stunning story that struck me as fairytale-esque. The pretty writing, the magical elements, prophecies and curses, dragons and demons, witches and kings. It is definitely a fairytale with darkness, depth and with feeling that will be enjoyed by many.

—Kayleigh🤍

Thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved every aspect of this book, from the characters to how the plot developed. Because of this, I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone, and cannot wait to read the other works from this author. 5/5 stars!

Having read Elizabeth lims other books I was excited to read this one too. I didn't realise it was a prequel to six crimson cranes which i loved. I really enjoyed this book and the authors writing is as always engaging, interesting and easy to read. She always creates books you want to keep reading and not put down.

As someone who really enjoyed the author's 'Six Crimson Cranes' duology, to which this book serves as a prequel, I was really excited to dive back into this whimsical, beautiful world and learn more about one of its most interesting characters.
And I really loved it! "Her Radiant Curse" is gorgeously written, I'd say the writing, as in the craft, is better and more polished even than in Lim's duology. Channi is an amazing protagonist and her relationship with her sister is so heartfelt, so complex, so epic that it made the entire book for me. It is, in the end, a love story, and while the love between these sisters is a complicated one at time, they would always die for each other.
Not that the rest of the characters isn't great - I even enjoyed the love interest, which says a lot because I find myself being mostly annoyed by ya love interests nowadays. The romance is subtle, never at the forefront, but it's beautiful and definitely different from what I'm used to in ya fantasy, especially its conclusion. I loved that both of them consider each other monsters and actually look like ones too, Channi the snake, Hokzuh the dragon. There was, finally, not the typical stark focus on perfect beauty. The characters were allowed to not look like models straight off the runway and I loved them even more for it.
The plot is fast-paced, but never feels hectic (which was my main criticism of the duology, so I'm very happy this one has improved so much in terms of pacing) and allows for all these quiet, important moments of self-reflection and relationship building. There's also just that little bit of moral ambiguity both in the story and the characters that I really enjoyed - though, admittedly, the villainous father was a bit one-note, but I didn't care about him anyway.
5 stars, would recommend reading the duology before this one but honestly, I think it works on its own, too.

Book Review 📚
Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim - 4.5/5 ⭐

I haven't enjoyed a fantasy book like this since I read Fourth Wing. Wow. Lim has such an interesting outlook on how she plays her characters, it's fantastic. I've had Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon's Promise sitting in my TBR for too long, but when I saw Her Radiant Curse was a prequel I thought I'd read it first. I was not let down.

Our female lead is supposed to be this horrific creature but I loved her. She was so broken and fragile and yet done anything for her sister. Ukar is the kind of friend you want, funny but annoying. And then the OTHER character, I wanted to hate him at first but he genuinely seemed like he wanted to help Channi. It was such a blend of mixed characters and they all work well together. Ukar, obviously, had doubts about the OTHER character but as Channis friend, I'll allow that.

The story just jumped straight in from the first few pages and didn't let up throughout the book. I was engrossed and enjoyed every single bit of it. It's so different to usual fantasy books, but it such a good way. It's a breath of fresh air. Lim really captured my attention and I couldn't put this book down. I really love the whole thing. I spend majority of my time heartbroken for Channi and everything she was going through and at the same time I felt like she was going to destroy the world to protect her sister. Channi deserves so much love and happiness.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It's beautifully written, it's amazingly crafted and it really does capture your heart and soul. I'm now off to read Six Crimson Cranes 🙏🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

I absolutely adored the six crimson cranes duology, and was so impressed with the quality of storytelling in her radiant curse. Whilst the connections between both books were subtle enough to read as a stand alone, I really enjoyed stumbling across something that nodded to six crimson cranes, especially character wise.

This book had the perfect balance of action, and adventure, but also had such a strong sense of hope, and love throughout the book that it was difficult to put the book down. I adored the way the characters were written, and really felt the urgency that Channi felt. The character development was really worked on and emphasised in this book, whereas I felt it lost focus a little in the duology.

I thought the expansion of the kingdom, and the small glimpses of things that weren't mentioned in the duology was a great feature and really expanded the story, adding more whimsical magic and depth to the world that Elizabeth Lim had created.

Her Radiant Curse follows Channi, a girl who was cursed with a serpent’s face at a young age when her father attempted to sacrifice her to save the rest of their family, whose quest to save her sister from the same demon witch that cursed her leads her into a new and dangerous land where she must fight for both her own life and her sister’s before they both run out of time.

Every single Elizabeth Lim book that I’ve read has been a masterpiece, and this one is absolutely no exception. The writing is stunningly lyrical and the world-building so intricate and realistic that, despite reading this book in a lot of short bursts, reading just a few paragraphs at a time had me completely engrossed.

I had no idea going into this book that Her Radiant Curse would be a prequel story to Six Crimson Cranes, but it was really interesting to see the overlaps and delve further into that world through the eyes of a brand new and incredibly easy-to-root-for protagonist. I loved the romance elements between Channi and Hoksuh, but I found Channi’s dedication to her sister to be even more compelling, and adored the underlying messages about inner beauty, familial love and loyalty that persisted throughout the story.

This book is beautiful, and I’m sure will be adored by both fans of fantasy standalones and people who want to delve deeper into the existing world from Six Crimson Cranes. The lyrical writing, intricate world-building and fairytale quality of the story made this book completely unputdownable, and I’m desperately awaiting whatever Elizabeth Lim writes next.

I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Everything I’ve read by Elizabeth Lim so far has been anything between good and phenomenal. Her Radiant Curse falls into the last category once again.

From the start, Her Radiant Curse is captivating. The writing is immersive, and you immediately get pulled back into the world already established in Six Crimson Cranes, albeit in a different part of the world. Lim’s writing is simple, yet it manages to captivate her audience, in a way that few books do.

All of the characters are well thought out. Even those characters that, at the start of the book, seem as perfect as can be, are deepened out throughout the novel, and have their own flaws and struggles that are portrayed through the eyes of Channari. It was nice to see the way she realised that other characters had their individual struggles as well, and that it wasn’t just her who struggled in life, even though the other characters’ life may seem perfect at first.

The main selling point for this book to me was the focus on Channi. I already loved her as a character in the Six Crimson Cranes duology, so seeing her character fleshed out even more and seeing her origin story made me very happy. Seeing how a character came to be remains fascinating if executed well, and the author managed to do so for sure.

Lastly, I loved the small references to the Six Crimson Cranes duology, especially at the end. Seeing Shiori and all her brothers mentioned just made me very happy.

Although readers of The Dragon’s Promise already know how this story will end, Elizabeth Lim manages to write a compelling story that makes you want to continue reading until the very end.

🐍Her Radiant Curse🐍 by Elizabeth Lim - Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh. My. God.

So right off the bat I knew this would be good. I have read the Six Crimson Cranes and Blood of Stars duologies from Elizabeth Lim and adored them both. The chance to get to know the Anti-Hero of Six Crimson Cranes - Shiori’s mysterious stepmother- was one I simply couldn’t pass up.

Lim’s writing style feels slightly more mature in this book, while still keeping that gorgeous, rich, whimsy style that makes you feel like you’re watching a fairytale unfold.
Channari is everything I love about Lim’s heroines - rash, flawed but deeply loyal to those she loves and willing to risk it all to keep them safe.

I won’t spoil the ending but I do want to point out that it had me sobbing. It was so bittersweet and truly broke my heart, especially as I know Channari’s ultimate fate. The bond between these sisters is truly precious and neither deserved the hand they had been dealt, which made me really feel their pain and their joy with them.

A gorgeous book, truly. A must read if you enjoyed Six Crimson Cranes. Thank you so much to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgally for this E-arc to review!

Thank you to the author Elizabeth Lim, to the publisher Hodder & Stoughton and to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for this honest review.

This story tells of two sisters and their very different experiences of life seen through the eyes of Channari, the eldest sister. Channi is cursed to live with a serpent's face after she is sacrificed to the Demon Witch in order to save her mother. She then spends the next few years hiding away deep within the jungle with the other snakes, her only friends except for her sister, Vanna. Vanna on the other hand was literally born with a golden light emanating from her and is seen as the most beautiful female for miles around.

I need more of Channi's friendship with Ukar and I absolutely 100% need so much more of her relationship with Hokzuh please and thank you.

I absolutely loved this book. I sped through it and I definitely wouldn't have been able to put it down for love nor money. I knew about halfway through that this would be a 5 star book for me and the ending not only proved me right but has now left me wanting to read more.

This was my first book by Elizabeth Lim and I would definitely recommend it. Although, some are saying that this is a prequel or a spin-off to some of Lim's other books, I read this as a stand-alone just fine, so don't let that put you off giving this a try.

Full review on my Goodreads at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5618062554

Despite knowing how it ends, I enjoyed and suffered a lot with the story 🥺

In Six Crimson Cranes we have very little information about Channi because she’s not the main character, but it makes it clear that she was someone with secrets and had her own story. In this book she tells us about her sad life and the love she had for her sister.

Channi's childhood was hard and was marked by a curse because of her father, however, she never gave up and instead, she used everything in her power to become a strong and capable person. Throughout the book she tells us her story, how she spent her childhood training and preparing to save her sister from any danger, how hard she tried to keep her alive and how, despite the outcome, in the end she got one of the things she longed most: the love of a family.

I enjoyed this prequel too much and how it also resolves all the loose threads left in the previous bilogy. The author manages to continue to impress with her pen and with the worldbuilding of this wonderful world full of magic and magical creatures.

PS.: I loved Hokzuh and Ukar and obviously Channi🤩.
PS2: Hokzuh didn't deserve that ending, but I can understand why it happened 🥺

Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim
This was a fantasy story set in the world of Six crimson cranes. I haven’t read Six Crimson cranes yet, but I did enjoy Her Radiant curse as a standalone.Am a huge fan of @elimpix books. This one was no exception. Most of them were coverbuys, (Her books have absolutely gorgeous artwork u guys!😍) and loving them after reading them.
This was the story of Channari and her beautiful sister. How a curse in childhood puts them in danger and how Channi overcomes it. It was fast paced and character centric and as usual was woven into a beautiful tapestry rich in colour and culture. Loved it!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Wow! I have no words.This book had no right to make me cry like that. Few times actually. By the end I could barely see the text from my vision going blurry. This was the most beautiful story I have read in a while.I loved SCC but I adored this.I am so glad we got a story on Channi .I even went back to refresh my memory how it all ended and it made me cry even more. I was a wreck. Beautiful! 10/10 recommend. I am so looking forward to more work by this author.

I absolutely loved this book. While it is telling the backstory of Shiori’s stepmother from Six Crimson Cranes, it can be read just as easily as a stand-alone. In some respects I actually feel it is the stronger story of the two and it is neatly and succinctly, satisfyingly tied up in one volume.

Channari and Vanna are both very sympathetic characters and I loved their character arc. This is a beautiful fairy story about both sister and motherhood, with dragons, competitions and witches.

A solid 4and a half stars, rounded up to 5.

This was AMAZING. Gave me the same feels as her first book Spin the Dawn and I was worried I wouldn't get those feels again (didn't much love Six Crimson Cranes duo) but this gave me faiiith. However I feel like I need to read these damn books backwards so they're in chronological order and things make sense. I was Googling so much stuff both in SCC duo and this book to make sure I was putting the pieces together again. I will however be re-buying the FL editions of SCC because I just love the way it pulls everything together.
This is super fun, this story. I loved the ending, the lack of romance, yet also how easy it was to read. Nothing complicated about it. Anticipating her other books!
Thanks to @netgalley and @hodderscape for accepting me for an early copy

Well, Elizabeth Lim did it again !
First of all, thank you Netgalley for letting me reading this book, I'm so happy about it.

For Her Radiant Curse it's not an obligation to read her previous series The Dragon promise but, in it you will say hello to Channari and that's our main character so it could be good to do it. And to be honest that's a wonderful duology so what are you waiting for ?

So ! Here's my review !
It's the perfect amount of fantasy, retelling, love and action. From page 1 to the last one, my heart was with Channari and I just so sad to let her go. When I talk about love is about love of two sisters and it's so delicate.
Elizabeth create a spin off of all her other works and she's doing it perfectly.

Just read this book, you won't regret it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the eARC.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought it would- there were moments where I did not want to finish, only because I knew it would break me. Elizabeth Lim creates a world filled with wonder and builds the world and expands it, I enjoyed the build up from start to end.

This book is a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes, it explores the backstory of the stepmother, it begins with her childhood and it follows her journey in saving herself and her sister from the exploitation of the world. Her biggest fear is the "witch demon" who started the whole curse and pain she had to endure. Throughout this story we are introduced to a variety of characters and we explore the adventures of Channi and her friends.

Overall, I rate this book 5 stars due to the beautiful writing and world that was created alongside the emotions that were felt along the journey.

Her Radiant Curse starts off throwing you straight into the action, with the mother of Channari (Channi) having a difficult labour whilst giving birth to Vanna, her little sister. Channi’s father does the unimaginable, he tries to sacrifice Channi to try and save the mother’s life. So, we meet Angma, the demon witch, early and within the first chapter. She vows to return for Vanna, cursing Channi’s appearance at the same time.

From chapter two we get a pretty big time skip of 17 years, and Vanna has grown into a woman of renowned beauty, whilst Channi has been hidden by her father and stepmother due to the curse. In spite of their wildly differing upbringings, the two sisters love each other unconditionally and it’s clear that Channi especially will do whatever it takes to keep Vanna safe.

One cool thing that happened when Channi was cursed is that she gained the ability to talk to snakes, which leads to a prevalent side character of Ukar, her best friend who just so happens to be a literal snake. Ukar is an adorable addition, even though he’s small he does everything to protect Channi, and she protects him as much as possible also.

There is a bit of a romance element to Her Radiant Curse, but throughout the story the emphasis remains on family and, with Ukar and other snakes, it’s really found family. When human characters found her less worthy due to her looks, the snakes saw past this and accepted her as one of her own.

There is another character from the Six Crimson Cranes duology who we find out more about, and it makes the events of The Dragon’s Promise a lot more significant.

Ultimately, if you’re already a fan of Lim’s work then Her Radiant Curse adds more depth to the existing stories and you’ll also love this instalment into the world. If you’re unfamiliar with her work then it really is an excellent starting point, and I’d highly recommend investing in the other four books at the same time!

One of the best books of 2023. This was such an amazing read, I love the other books set in this world but 'Her Radiant Curse' finally tells the story I've been waiting to hear about since 'Six Crimson Cranes.' If you want something to tear your heart out and give you background to one of Lim's best characters, I highly recommend this one! Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. 10/5 cups of coffee lolol.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stroughton for sending me a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

4,5/5 stars

Her Radiant Curse is a prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes duology. 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.

This book was so well written. I was hooked on this book from the start and couldn’t stop reading. The plot expands on the story that was first told in The Dragon’s Promise. The story was well crafted, and the characters were all enjoyable and well developed. Because it’s a prequel I personally wouldn’t say you need to read the Six Crimson Cranes duology first, but there are some moments that lead back to Six Crimson Cranes.

I can definitely recommend this book if you’ve read Six Crimson Cranes or other books inspired by Chinese mythology.

Enthralled by Enchantment – A Review of "Her Radiant Curse" ARC by Elizabeth Lim

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

"Her Radiant Curse" by Elizabeth Lim is an enchanting journey that captures the heart and mind, weaving an intricate tapestry of plot, magic, and profound themes. From its captivating storyline to the richly developed world of mythology and magic, this book is a masterpiece that leaves readers awestruck.

The plot of "Her Radiant Curse" is a mesmerizing dance between light and shadow, following the life of the protagonist, Channari, as she navigates a world of secrets and deceptions. The pacing is expertly crafted, effortlessly blending moments of tension and calm, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Lim's skillful storytelling breathes life into the characters, making their struggles and triumphs deeply resonant. As the layers of the plot unfold, it's impossible not to be drawn into the characters' emotions, feeling their joys and pains as if they were your own.

One of the book's most captivating aspects is the magic, which is both innovative and rooted in folklore. The intricacies of the magical arts are unveiled gradually, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the wonder of the world Lim has created. The manipulation of energy feels natural and enthralling, making the magic as much a character as the protagonists themselves.

The mythology surrounding snakes and dragons adds a layer of depth that is both fascinating and symbolic. Lim masterfully incorporates these mythical creatures into the narrative, infusing them with significance beyond their appearances. The symbolism of transformation, rebirth, and hidden power draws parallels to the characters' personal growth, making every encounter with these creatures a revelation.

At the heart of "Her Radiant Curse" lies a powerful and relevant message: "Don't judge a book by its cover." As the characters navigate a world where appearances can be deceiving, including her own, they learn the importance of understanding, empathy, and looking beyond the surface. This moral underpinning resonates deeply, reminding us all of the value of seeing others for who they truly are.

In conclusion, "Her Radiant Curse" is a triumph of storytelling, blending an enthralling plot, a unique magic system, captivating mythological elements, and a poignant message. Elizabeth Lim's exquisite prose and world-building skills are on full display, creating a reading experience that is nothing short of magical. This book is a must-read for anyone who seeks a tale of adventure, self-discovery, and the power of sisterly love.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I couldn't put it down!

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!

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.

Before I get to the review proper, I want to note that Her Radiant Curse is a standalone novel. I’ve seen some reviews mentioning that they didn’t realise that it is part of a series, especially when they picked it up on NetGalley, and that’s because it can be read on its own. It’s set in the same universe as the Six Crimson Cranes duology and reading the duology will give you some extra information. However, the duology is not required reading to enjoy this book. Personally I would read the Six Crimson Cranes duology first as I think reading Her Radiant Curse will give away part of that story, but that’s up to you.

I wasn’t sure about reading Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim because I didn’t know if there was much of a story to be told. Lim told us Channi’s story in the Six Crimson Cranes duology, and sometimes prequels just repeat a story that we already know just with more detail. I didn’t need to worry. Her Radiant Curse is as rich and fulfilling as the original duology. I personally loved this book more than the previous two books and found it much more compelling.

What Lim had told us about Channi’s story was just a tiny portion of this woman’s story, and the rest is told with raw power and brutal honesty. I’ve seen people refer to this as the villain’s story, and I dislike that description. Channi is very much an unwilling victim whose life is turned upside down when her father drags her into the jungle and leaves her at the mercy of a witch, attempting to exchange her life for her mothers. When he fails, his wife dying after giving birth to a second daughter, he takes it out on his eldest daughter especially when she returns with a face of a snake, a constant reminder of what he did.

I was in awe at Channi’s strength and tenacity, as Lim’s wonderful storytelling built up a little girl and older sister to the stepmother that carefully watched over Shiori in Six Crimson Cranes. I loved the way that Lim showed Channi’s love for the Emperor’s children even before she met them, confirming that she was never a villain and everything she did was for love. She used her experiences to protect her new family to the best of her ability.

I don’t know if Elizabeth Lim will return to this universe again, but she has definitely found a place as one of my go-to authors after this book.

Her Radiant Curse follows the story of Channi, after her dying mother gives birth to her sister, Vanna (who is beautiful with a radiant glow) her father leaves her as a sacrifice to the demon witch in order to save his wife. However the after Channi is bitten by a snake the Demon Witch does not kill Channi but curses her with he face of a serpent. Now her sister is turning 17, Channi must protect her sister from the suitors her father is trying to sell her off too, the return of the demon Witch.

I haven't read any Lim before and I really enjoyed this standalone story. The flow of the sory was great and the world & magic was unique. Vanna reminded me of Helen of Troy but added into such a enchanting world. Channi was a really interesting character and I enjoyed the banter between her and Hokzuh, but the stand out relationship in this has to be between Channi and Vanna.

Overall if you are looking for a story that tests the limits of what you would do for sister, set in a beautiful world of magic and monsters, you will definitely enjoy this

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.

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.

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.

I am incredibly blown away by this story! I have not read any book by this author before so I have no knowledge of what comes after, which I did not have a problem with! I enjoyed the hardships and struggles that Channi has been through. Years of being different and reviled have made her incredibly strong and resilient. Her sole weakness is that she would do anything for her sister. She has spent years preparing for the return of Demon that wants to claim her sister. But she may not have prepared for everything and that could cost her what she loves most. Exciting and heartbreaking and so full of love and devotion. The world building and the lore that surrounds it has me desperate for more! A tale I will always remember.

With Her Radiant Curse, Elizabeth Lim delivers the absolutely stunning tale of the origins of Raikama, the nameless queen, stepmother, and at times villain in the Six Crimson Cranes duology. Before she was Raikama, Channi was Vanna’s older sister, abandoned in the jungle by her father and cursed on the night of Vanna’s birth.
It’s a story about the bond between siblings who love each other ‘unconditionally, fully, and with every fibre of [their] being’. Shunned by her village and her father, Channi spends her time tending to the family home and attempting to break the curse that changed her looks and hangs over her sister’s future. For me, the family dynamics were what made this story special – from absolute outrage at the way her father treated Channi to being enchanted at how Lim included small everyday scenes that showed the love between the sisters, the representation of Channi’s family was emotional.
The backdrop against which the story unfolds is vivid and mesmerizing – settings range from the jungle and small island villages to palaces and temples across the sea, with scenes set in battle arenas, and flying with a dragon. I also loved the varied cast of characters, including Ukar, Channi’s snake friend, Hokzuh, the dragon prince, and Hanriyu, the emperor, on whom she takes a chance to find a new family.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for my eARC through NetGalley!

The opening chapter of this book where the infant Channi is left in the jungle by her father as a sacrifice to the demon witch Angma, gripped me and the book didn’t let me go until the very last page. It was an amazing read and I found it so hard to put down.
I loved Channi with her single mindedness and ability to dive head first into disastrous situations. Her character arc through this book as she becomes more insightful and thinks through her actions more was great to read. I really liked her relationships with Ukar and the dragon prince but it is the bonds between the two sisters and Channi’s determination to save her sister that drive her forward and never let her give up.
As with the previous books in this world, the world building and scene setting are incredible and you get a real sense of place whether that’s deep in the jungle or imprisoned below decks on a ship.
The plot twisted and turned like a dragon in flight but it always made sense both in this stand alone story but also with what comes after in the Six Crimson Cranes duology. Everything then comes together in the final few chapters which really pack an emotional punch.
I would definitely recommend this to any YA reader or indeed anyone who loves a good fantasy novel. Huge thanks to Net Galley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to a sacrifice when she was a child, Channi is cursed with a serpent's face. For her curse to be broken she must bring her sister Vanna to the tiger witch before she is 17 or the witch will come for them both. When Vanna comes of age she is to be auctioned off in a betrothal contest. In her attempt to save and protect her sister Channi must face all the challenges that are thrown her way, destiny tripping her up, leading her to a path not of her choosing.
"One sister must fall for the other to rise"

This is a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes, the let's call it origin story of one of its beguiling characters. Channi's perspective picks you up from the get-go and plants you firmly and lovingly in her world. The narrative is inviting and so easy to devour. You 'live' this narrative.

The weaving of this tale has the wondrous fairy tale elements the author is known for as her writing sails into the water of the protagonist's deepest thoughts and emotions. The enchanting way words are used is tinged with bittersweet melancholy.

Channi's determination radiates hope. She has a proud but wounder heart, not a stranger to kindness, also not to anger. The relationship of the two sisters is beautiful to behold, their antithesis not only in appearance, fuelling the story. Ukar is a delight to read, and the protagonist's dealings with an unforeseen enemy/ally/who-knows-what are a lot of fun. This prequel is full of characters that breathe on the page that you can love or hate fiercely.

I love those aha! moments when you are enjoying a prequel and there are things that connect it to a story you already know. Noted are the parallels too: stepmothers, curses, wearing things to hide one's features and taking someone's place.

This book is about the power of love. How everyone deserves the chance to be cared for. What constitutes a monster has nothing to do with appearance. It is about fighting for yourself, finding your inner strength.

I more than adore this thrilling adventure with jaw-dropping revelations and masterful storytelling that makes you feel so much, leading to the heartwrenching finale we know is coming. Wiping the tears from my eyes, Elizabeth Lim, I bow before your extraordinary talent.

Spoiler Free Review

What an amazing story.

Emotional, compelling and surprising.

Serving as a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes, we follow Channi, a girl who's cursed with a snake face and her love and determination to save her beautiful sister Vanna from the clutches of The Demon Witch.

TW: Abusive father.

Elizabeth Lim has done it again with brilliant storytelling.

Perfect for fans of:
*Strong sisterhood
*Strong female protagonist
*Dragons
*Talking snakes
*Traveling to new places
*Magic
*Good vs Evil

Elizabeth's writing keeps getting better and better. I've read all of her book by now and I'm always surprised at her way of tellings stories. Channari and Vanna's story definitely left me with tears on my eyes and just like Channi I would also protect my siblings with my own life if necessary. Another favourite for sure!!

This book broke me. I thought that I would be okay. I knew how it ended from reading Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon's Promise. I was prepared. Or at least I thought I was. In reality it was so intensely tragic.

The thing I loved most about it was all the little nods to Six Crimson Cranes. The bowl that Vanna sleeps with over her breast to stop the light keeping her awake. Shiori's father coming to see Vanna and offering a crane sculpture. All of it made me so happy, because I loved Six Crimson Cranes so much.

I was really worried it wouldn't live up to my expectations, but it did. It may not have been as perfect as Six Crimson Cranes, but it stood out as a book in it's own right and had the beautiful writing style that I've come to expect from Elizabeth Lim. I loved Channi's character, so different from Shiori, but still someone you could really like and root for.

Honestly it was better than I ever could have hoped for a prequel.

4.5 stars I absolutely loved this book. It was so beautiful and filled with magic in every page. I'm in awe of Elizabeth Lim's writing and I literally cannot wait to read more from her. Full review to come soon!

An amazing and incredible prequel to six crimson cranes.
We knew it would be good. But it was better than expected!
Has everything the other books has and more. Lim is one of those authors you crave to read.

5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an e-ARC copy. All thoughts are my own.

As I expected, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Captivatingly tragic, this prequel to Six Crimson Cranes tells the story of Channari, and all that it took for her to become Her Radiance as known in the main series. I grew quite fond of Raikama in SCC that I eagerly awaited this release, and it didn't let me down at all.

Even with the knowledge that things must go poorly for Channari in the end, I was hopeful for her and how hard she fought for her sister Vanna. I actually found myself not a huge fan of her sister - and her father is a real piece of work - but the way Channi would go to the ends of the earth to protect her was praiseworthy. She's easily relatable and admirable for how much she's had to endure and hasn't entirely turned against her family. I also like the comparison of her heart, and how much it hopes and wants compared to the likes of the other entities around her, especially Hokzuh.

Once again, along with family ties being stronger than love, I do like the friendship that is built between characters. That Channari has such kindness towards the captured demons and beasts, her budding connection with Hokzuh, and her long-standing alliance with the snakes and Ukar - it's all so heart-warming. This is a trait of the main series that I liked a lot, so I'm glad to see it return in this story. I also enjoyed the moral ambiguity of the characters, and how Hokzuh, Angma, and even Channi all have done things because they're desperate for what they hope and dream of. The villains of this story are just as tragic as Channi's journey, and I felt really sad for Hokzuh's ending in this.

The world-building is sumptuous and feels just as dangerous as Channari experiences it to be. I've read two series by this author, and have come to expect immersive settings, magical prose, and enchanting descriptions that place the reader in the world. I experienced this again with Her Radiant Curse and was very pleased with the rich depictions of the jungle and the places Channari travels to off her homeland.

Whilst the romance sub-plot remained as such throughout, I enjoyed it and appreciated the way it shaped Channari. It's beautifully tragic and I mourned Channi's loss of love, something she had wanted so much for herself. Knowing how she ended up in Kiata after is bittersweet, and yet, I'm grateful that she was given what she craved so much. The epilogue is poignant to the reader who is well-acquainted with how Shiori feels about her stepmother. I truly wish things could have been different for Channi in many ways. Yet I'm equally grateful Lim gave us insight into this character's backstory and all the easter eggs that are shared for readers of the main series were rewarding.

What can’t Elizabeth Lim do? Her world building is top tier. Her characters are phenomenal and the entire storyline is just so engaging. Am I a No.1 fan? Yes

**Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this eARC. All thoughts are my own.**

After reading Six Crimson Cranes & A Dragon's Promise last year, when I heard we were going to get Channi's story, I was so thrilled.
This book did not disappoint. I loved every second of reading this, so much so that I finished it in one day.
This tale is about two sisters, one golden, beautiful, and full of light, and the other is called a monster, for she has the eyes of a snake, and scales on her face to match.
When Channi's sister was born her father took her to the jungle and left her for dead, to sacrifice her to the witch Angma in hopes it would save his wife, but Channi was spared and left with a disfigured face. The serpent king gave her gifts, as Angma swore she would return for her sister Vanna on her seventeenth birthday.

I adored the magical elements of this story and the friendships Channi makes along the way. The connections she forges even when she feels she has no one. The love she has for her sister is the one thing that keeps her going.
Her life isn't easy, and her journey reflects that, but I'm so glad we got to hear her story.
She was one of my favourite characters in the Six Crimson Cranes duology.
This book made me cry. It is a heartbreaking, and sad story, but also one of resilience, strength, and courage, as she fights to save her sister, and discovers her true self along the way.
5 out of 5 stars!

Elizabeth Lim strikes again. As a massive Lim fan prior to Her Radiant Curse, I had pretty high expectations but boy was I blown out of the water! Lim's prose is as whimsical as ever, immersing you straight into the world and not letting you go.

The best element of this book is the relationship between Channi and Vanna's relationship. As someone who doesn't have sisters, I could feel the love between the two and how it has persevered throughout their varying lives and of one being too beautiful and one not being beautiful enough by their society's standards.

This book is hugely successful for either giving existing fans of the Six Crimson Cranes duology extra intriguing background of a character they know, or for readers like me who have not read the duology yet (though I have read the Spin the Dawn series, thankfully).

My one issue, which may be on my behalf, is that I couldn't fully visualise Hokzuh based on the descriptions alone until I saw the promotional art. Otherwise, an incredible read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I have to be honest, I was quite hesitant about this one. I loved Six Crimson Cranes, but The Dragon's Promise ended up being very disappointing for me, so I didn't really have the urge to return to this world, but then I saw the cover and it swayed me to give this a try.
And I am so glad I did because this was SO GOOD.

I'm not always a fan of prequels but I think this one was done really well, because it stands pretty well on its own while also providing context for the original duology. It is set in the same world, of course, but in a different part, with little overlap to the part of the world we see in SCC.
I read the original duology over a year ago and therefore didn't remember a ton, but from what I could tell, HRC mostly just gave nods to things that happen in SCC, but you don't need SCC to understand what is happening here.

Her Radiant Curse is about Channi, a character in SCC, and we learn all about her backstory and how she became cursed in this book. It is very character-driven, the politics and world are really mostly there to support her journey, along with the mythology and magic that is woven into the world.

I really loved the setting. I'm a fan of Asian-inspired fantasy books in general, but the tropical setting was so cool (though I read it during a heatwave so that potentially helped me feel even more immersed because IRL temperatures matched the ones in the book :D).
The world felt very rich and the many animal (-like) creatures added to that.

The plot itself was really good, breaking a curse is a classic trope, but several caveats and twists made the stakes higher and I was entirely captivated by the story.
I cried for the last 10%, it really got me there and I think it was such a poetic way to end the book.

I thought a while about the question of duology first vs. prequel first, and I think you can't go wrong with reading it in publication order, but I can't really comment on whether the duology spoils the ending for HRC because I didn't remember enough about Channi's character, so the ending was a surprise to me.
Personally, I think I would have liked reading the prequel first because I really want to re-read SCC now to see how Channi's character acts in the duology. At the end of the day, I think both ways of reading are possible, though.
Overall, I loved this book so much more than I thought I would and needless to say, I am very glad I gave it a chance.

I adored the Six Crimson Cranes duology, and thus was super excited to dive back into their world. Especially since this book follows Channi, a character I wished had more space in them. Here we get to explore her past and how they came to affect her future. Her Radiant Curse is a fantastical story about sisterly love, adventure, dealing with loss, and the mistreatment Channi has to endure for being cursed.

Sometimes prequels can feel a bit unnecessary, because you already know how the story will end. But here it’s not about the ending, but the journey Channi takes to get there. So it’s still really interesting to learn about all the things that lead up to that moment. To the story you already know, and the character they eventually become. This gives the reader a deeper understanding of what has shaped them, an explanation for their actions and their choices - even if they weren’t always the right ones. Family might suck, but the strong bonds of sisterly love are eternal.

It was such a great experience to explore more of this magical world, and Elizabeth Lim’s writing never disappoints. The adventure had me hooked from the start, and all of the wonderful characters found their way into my heart. Especially the emotional parts, mostly in the later part of the book, had me tearing up. So if you’re looking for your next fantasy read, look no further than Her Radiant Curse.