Elizabeth Lim strikes again! In this prequel to Six Crimson Cranes, we learn about where Raikama came from and how she ended up in Kiata. This story was beautifully presented with visuals that jump off the page! Channi is on a time crunch to save her sister, Vanna, and keep her out of the hands of a demon who wants to control her. But as Channi goes through trial after trial, we learn the true reason why the demon witch wants Vanna for herself. Filled with Asian mythology, bonds of sisterhood, and found family, Her Radiant Curse is a great addition to any collection!

This is a beautiful standalone prequel to Six Crimson Cranes! Such beautiful world building and an easy flow!

I haven’t read the completed duology yet but even with only reading book one I had a pretty good grasp of the world! Channari was such a gorgeous character and her story is so incredibly heart wrenching. The loyalty between sisters is/was so unbelievably sincere.

I found myself literally gasping and cheering for her the entire way! I loved every gripping moment of this Eastern Asian mythology!

Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity!

Her Radiant Curse was so beautifully woven, and adventure in sisterhood, loyalty, and doing whatever it takes for those you love. It was equal parts heart breaking and lovely, and I love how it wove a story about self assurance and love.

For those reading after the duology that preceded, it is a beautiful glimpse at a character we heard a lot about. We get to see Chanari grow into the woman we see in the duology, and have some of our questions answers as to how she came to be, who she really was, and why she lived and did the things she did. For someone coming to the story for the first time, with no prior knowledge, this story will read like a fable with enchanting magical systems, bittersweet relationships, and a main character whose arc is both solemn and beautiful.

I would like to start by saying that I loved the lush, rich feeling of the atmosphere in this. It felt so vibrant and lovely and I had such a good time with that aspect. Unfortunately, I struggled with feeling as if some of the writing felt a bit juvenile and there were moments that felt as if information was being bashed into my head over and over again. There were some point that the writing felt clunky and I couldn't bring myself to connect with the characters much. That being said, it's still a pretty good read and I finished it fairly quickly.
— A low 3🌟 I don't believe I will be continuing simply because I can acknowledge this just doesn't seem like the right thing for me.

“Her Radiant Curse” by Elizabeth Lim casts a bewitching spell, intertwining fantasy and mythical elements with an evocative exploration and development of a sisterhood bond, while immersing readers in a captivating world. the everlasting and unconditional bond between Channi and Vanna drove the plot and was one of admiration, capturing the essence of sisterly loyalty. Channi’s transformation into a cursed being and the development and exploration of accepting herself adds complexity, and her unwavering devotion for her sister is profoundly touching, despite the various hardships she faces. The setting and world built by Lim is nothing short of enchanting with the seamless fusion of mystical elements. The careful graceful intertwining of suspenseful action while including a romantic subplot maintained an engaging rhythm, leaving me hooked up onto every word. overall, this text thoughtfully probes themes of sacrifice, beauty, acceptance, and the steadfastness of sisterly connection making it a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts who appreciate intricate characters and emotionally charged storytelling.

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!

This was a fantastic story. I did not expect that was a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes so when I made the first connection it was a wonderful surprise. No, you don’t need to have read the other book to enjoy this and yes it can be read as a standalone but it was wonderful to get the whole back story of Channi! She and her sister have a wonderfully sweet bond and that was really special. It could have been so much worse what with Vanna being the golden one, and Channi’s curse. Channi is such a strong young woman and it was easy to love her and root for her through her trials in trying to protect her sister from the demon Agma. Yes, it was bittersweet but it has to be this way for Channi to be who she was meant to be. Such a good book!

That being said, I really really want to go reread Six Crimson Cranes again!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book to read and review.

Thanks to Random House, Knopf Books, and Netgalley for an eARC of this book. It was definitely not clear that this was a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes. I will fully admit that I loved the first book but never finished reading the second (Dragon's Promise). However, while I'm sure that I missed some stuff, I did not really feel like I needed to and I do think it stood alone fairly well since I didn't remember much anymore from Six Crimson Cranes.

This book follows Channi and Vanna, two sisters, one who is cursed by the evil sorceress Angma and has poisonous snake blood and the other who is gentle and glows like the sun. In a battle to save Vanna from being married to a cruel man, Channi teams up with her snake companion and a dragon to fight demons and win her sister back. This battle takes them over land and sea, harnessing magic and true names.

Overall, I liked it; it was engaging and the characters were interesting. I do feel like I wish that the pacing was a little different - I think the beginning was a little slower and then the middle section with teh battles felt very fast-paced. 3.5/5 rounded up to 4.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers.
All opinions are my own, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Fantasy, YA Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Spice Level: Kissing
Violence Level: Medium (there is some of a lot, but I didn't think it was overly graphic)
Language: Low (very little swearing)

In ways this is a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes, telling Channi's and Vanna's stories.

I wondered if it would keep my attention when we already knew something of her history. And it certainly did. You could easily read Her Radiant Curse first.

The twists and turns with a dragon, tiger, priests, snakes, and many kings and princes kept me wanting to turn the pages. There were some characters I outright hated (which was the author's intent) and others were morally gray. I think these were some of the most interesting to watch as they navigated problems.

This book is for all fans of Elizabeth Lim and lovers of any fantasy. It doesn't have that strong YA vibe (that I'm honestly tired of) and is fresh in its perspective. It's absolutely gripping and amazing!

I highly recommend this book!

Happy reading!

PS: Check out the cover!

The illustrators deserve a shout-out for the fabulous work.

Virginia Allyn did the interior map.
Tran Nguyen was the cover illustrator with those amazing characters.
And Alix Northrup was in charge of lettering.
Finally, Kelly Chong was responsible for the UK cover.

I'm clapping for all of you!

Absolutely loved reading Channi’s story and learning her history! Abandoned by her father in his selfish act to save her sister and mother, Channi is cursed and spends her life trying to keep her sister safe.

Elizabeth Lim delivers once again with unique world-building, intriguing characters, and an unforgettable journey for them. For her whole life, Channi's only goal has been to keep her sister, Vanna, safe from everyone and everything. As Vanna's 17th birthday approaches, Channi knows the Demon Witch, Angma is coming for her sister. She does her best to prepare, but through the interventions of other characters as well as Angma herself, everything quickly goes sideways. Channi must find her way back to her sister so that she can fight for her and keep her safe.

As someone who is extremely protective of those I care about, I absolutely understand Channi's urge to protect her sister and her willingness to do whatever it takes to do it. While her choices don't always pan out the way she wants them to, every choice that she makes is understandable when the thing at stake is her sister. I love Channi's journey and her reactions as with every turn, the stakes rose higher for her and Vanna. I cannot state enough how much I love Elizabeth Lim's writing style, and this story is my favorite of hers. It's relation to Six Crimson Cranes made it even more enjoyable as it helps to set up a story that I already love. I would highly recommend this book!

Years before Shiori’s brothers were transformed into cranes, years before an epic struggle of magic and demons faced the world, there was Channi.

Channi used to be a normal girl, but after the birth of her gorgeous little sister, her father attempts to sacrifice her to a witch to save their mother. This backfires, though, when Channi survives, but is cursed with a hideous face. Despite being opposites of each other, Channi and her beautiful sister Vanna love each other fiercely, and Channi will do whatever it takes to keep Vanna safe from the evil witch who cursed her. For she knows that on Vanna’s seventeenth birthday, the witch will come to claim Vanna’s life, and only Channi can stop her.

I received an advanced reading copy of Her Radiant Curse in exchange for an honest review.

Her Radiant Curse is a young adult fantasy novel by Elizabeth Lim. Now, if you’ve been keeping up with my blog for a while, you probably know that I’m a fan of Lim and her Asian-inspired adaptations of fairy tales. I’ve read four of her other books so far, so of course I was excited to pick this up!

Her Radiant Curse is actually a standalone prequel to Six Crimson Cranes, which I really enjoyed. But, what’s even better about it is that you don’t have to have read Six Crimson Cranes to understand this. Of course, having read it, you’ll catch certain details here and there, but otherwise, this book can be enjoyed by itself. And, it’s also a standalone, which was different from the duologies that Lim usually writes. It’s nice to read a standalone for a change!

I really enjoyed Her Radiant Curse, and specifically how much it focused on sisterhood. We’ve gotten a bit of sibling relationships in other books, such as Six Crimson Cranes, but here, maybe because it’s only two sisters, there is a much greater focus on their relationship. Channi promised her mother before she died that she would protect Vanna, but it’s not just that that motivates her. It’s clear the sisters love each other, in the ways they interact, their shared memories, and their goals. It works throughout the book, and it was moving to see this relationship being put to the test when faced with danger.

Oh, there is plenty of danger! Channi has trained almost every day to face the evil witch, and there are many exciting action sequences involving her. She’s a great heroine, who can stab with a spear when she needs to, but also loves making cakes with her sister. I did like the action sequences, but as usual, the quiet moments between characters were what drew me in.

Well, that and the world! Can’t forget that! Here we have a world that is filled with magic and stories. We have dragons and demons, and many a talking snake. There’s also kings and politics, and it made for such a great mixture when seeing this world come alive in my head. There were many contrasts between the places that Channi visits here, and it helps expand the world a great deal from what we’ve previously seen in Shiori’s experience.

Her Radiant Curse was a lot of fun, and a great addition to the world created for Six Crimson Cranes. I’d recommend it to those who like fantasies, are looking for standalones specifically, love fairy-tale inspired books, or those filled with Asian-inspired worlds!

Her Radiant Curse will be released on August 29. You can preorder your copy from Knopf Books for Young Readers here.

Her Radiant Curse is an enchanting and wonderfully written story that is set in the same world as Six Crimson Cranes. I love Elizabeth Lim’s writing and the Six Crimson Cranes duology is one of my favorites, so I was excited to read Her Radiant Curse. I enjoyed learning more about Channi’s character and her relationships especially with her sister Vanna. Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Six Crimson Cranes or is looking for a magical YA fantasy read. I can’t wait to see what Elizabeth Lim writes next!

Thank you NetGalley and
Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers for an ARC!

Sixteen years ago Channari was a small child living happily with her parents on the outskirts of Puntalo Village near the jungle. She loved eating sesame cakes and listening to her mother sing. Now people call her a monster and fear her. It all began on the morning of her sister Vanna's birth. Channari's mother lost so much blood that her father chose to bring a sacrifice to the tiger demon Angma with the hope that she would grant him a wish in exchange for the body of an infant. In order for his request to be honored he should have brought his newborn Vanna to trade for the life of his wife, but Adah was transfixed by the golden light that shone from his new child and instead he brought Channari to the sacrificial stone in the middle of the forest. The serpent king chose to protect Channari however. He bit her ankle and imbued her blood with the fatal poison of his kind. No tiger would eat her now and no wish would be granted that would save her mother's life. In anger the tiger demon cursed Channari's face but left her otherwise unharmed.

This fateful day sets in motion all the adventures in this terrific young adult novel. Rather than hate Vanna for her beauty Channari also adores her golden sister and only wants the best for her. While her father looks for ways to use Vanna's special light for profit, Channari wants her to be free and happy. When the day comes for Vanna to be auctioned off to a wealthy husband, Channari fights (literally) for her sister's freedom. During this battle she meets a great ally yet soon uncovers a terrible enemy.

Her Radiant Curse was full of adventure and mystery. The plot had many twists and turns, some of which I was anticipating and others which completely took me by surprise. Do not expect a novel full of YA fantasy tropes, this book breaks the mold.

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was lovely to dive back into this world again, especially given Lim’s readable, whimsical storytelling and the focus on a main character we’ve met previously (this is a prequel of sorts). I did find myself easily swept up in this tale, but I could have used more development for the characters and their relationships.

A heart-wrenching tale of a cursed older sister who will do anything to protect her younger sister.

When Channi was little, her sister was born with a bright light inside her. But their mother was dying. Their father was to sacrifice the baby for his wife but took the older daughter instead. Angma, the Demon Witch cursed Channi with a snake face and promised to come back for her sister. Seventeen years later, and with the help of her snake best friend, Channi will still do whatever it takes to keep her sister safe, even ally with a half-dragon.

I am not a fan of snakes by any means. So I had to think about it too hard while reading but otherwise this is a beautiful and haunting story about Channi's love for her sister while shrouded in the world's mythology. The world building is incredible, and Channi makes for an excellent anti-hero.

Two sisters, two curses, only one of them can survive ? I mean if that doesn’t draw you in, I’m not sure what would ! This is absolutely gorgeous, beautiful, fantastic, there aren’t enough words to describe how much I enjoyed reading this.I loved Channari's challenges, her journey and her protective nature is beautiful. I also really enjoyed the friendships in the story too. I love this it’s so much more than a 5 star read I can’t recommend it highly enough

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“A girl who hunts her nightmares yet cowers from her dreams."

---------------------

This is the story of two sisters born to a family cursed by a Demon Witch. One is blessed as the most beautiful with a radiant light that surrounds her, she is a boon to her family and they expect she will marry a king. Meanwhile, her older sister has been cursed with a serpent's face and poisonous blood. The two sisters adore one another and are bonded by their circumstances. When the competition begins for beautiful Vanna's hand, her sister, Channi, crosses a king who sets his own monster upon her. When Channi realizes that this monster is key to her fight against the Demon Witch, she needs to free him and get him on her side to save Vanna.

I loved this story. The beautiful sisterly bond. The lush and vivid world building. The bond of the snakes as a community. The slow burn I’ll fated love story of two "monsters" with better ethics than most "good" people. It all just hit the perfect note for me. I love stories based in mythology and folklore but this one resonated so beautifully in the modern world of YA fantasy. I loved the weaving of the present story with the ancient magical stories of their land. I haven’t read the first two books set in this world, so I’m excited to go back and do so.

Thanks to Random House Children's and Knopf Books for Young Readers for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own. I have purchased a copy of this novel.

I was super surprised by this one. Not by the writing, Elizabeth's writing is always fantastic, but by the worldbuilding. Everything was just *screams*

Better review to come out when the book is released and my library owns it.

First things first, I love that this is a standalone. I sometimes feel so overwhelmed starting book one in a series, that I sometimes don't even bother reading them. I love the Asian folklore, descriptions of the characters, and the bond between Channi and Vanna. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Channi and Ukar; it was something understated, yet special. Hokuh was an interesting character; if there as a sequel to this book, I'd enjoy to hear his story.
One thing I did not see happening was the ending! It is so hard to find a book ending that will surprise me, but it wrapped up wonderfully.
Thank you NetGalley & Knopf Books for Young Readers!