This was a tough one to make my mind up on. Rating-wise, I think it's roughly a 3.75/5—it's a solid Elizabeth Lim story, but it does feel very reminiscent of every other book I've read by her. Once again, we have a cursed heroine, strong family dynamics, a journey, and a dash of romance. There is nothing wrong with knowing your strengths and writing to them—God knows plenty of other writers have built their careers off of it—it just stood out to me quite a bit with Her Radiant Curse for some reason.

Of all the books I've read in this universe, the worldbuilding felt the weakest here. The southeast Asian cultural inspiration was a nice touch, but the lack of development regarding the governance and function of these island nations felt off? Religious figures also play a major role in the story, but the role of their religion in society and their belief system felt murky. This book felt quite slim and could have used a little more work to make Channi and Vanna's world feel more solid.

However, one of the reasons I stuck with this book to the end was Channari's character. She's hardly complex, but she's strong-willed and tragic in a really interesting way, given her complex relationship with her sister. I enjoyed her arc, and the outcome of her story felt refreshing as well. There was just enough in here to keep me reading, but at the end of the day, I don't think this will be a standout book for me this year.

This book just reaffirms what i knew while reading Six Crimson Cranes. Elizabeth Lim is an automatic must read/buy for me. I adored Channi and loved her relationship with her sister and with the snakes. I adored Urka her bff as well and seeing her relationship with all snakes and learning about the history/ about snake magic and the rivalry between snakes and dragons was very interesting. I need a book just full of these snake history and magic. This book focuses more on Channi and her realtiosnhip with her sister Vanna and her desire to keep her safe which utlimately leads to her being cursed and friends with the snakes. Vanna and Channi have a very unique realtionship with Vanna seeming to be the only one to continue to accept her after she is cursed. The curse placed on channi and the her quest for revenge against the demon witch is hugely entertaining and interesting. This is a definately a young adult book with fairy tale quailties especially once we get into Vanna’s betrothal and the quest for revenge. The demon witch and Hokzuh were both super interesting and complicated characters and I so desperately want more of Hokzuh and to see what happens to him now. It was also fun seeing the characters from Six Crimson Cranes and their little cameos and seeing how the relationship between Channi and her future husband works.

I'll admit that this book made me weep.

Elizabeth Lim is a fantastic storyteller, and her writing pierces you right through the heart. Her Radiant Curse is a beautiful prequel to Six Crimson Cranes that follows Channi's path to becoming queen. Along the way, she encounters all manners of struggles in an attempt to save her sister's life.

More than anything else, Her Radiant Curse is about the love between sisters and the love for oneself. At the beginning, I was ready to dislike Vanna because she is naive and blind to the pain of her sister but I think that is by design. Channi is not a saint who doesn't view Vanna's faults, and neither should we. But Channi's love for Vanna is both in spite of and because of those faults. No character in this is solely good or solely bad, it's much more complex than that. I have a special place in my heart for the love between Channi and Vanna, as well as between Channi and Ukar. These relationships were so well mapped out and beautiful.

Whatever Elizabeth Lim writes next, I'll be first in line for the next copy.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars. Steeped in folklore this was an intriguing and heart pounding adventure. I love Channi and her dedication to her sister was as heartbreaking as it was empowering. Family is everything and the bonds between siblings can never be broken. This was beautiful and sad but so so worth it.

Elizabeth Lim's books are all so unique. I loved this return to the world of Six Crimson Cranes, and the worldbuilding here is just so well done. Well written and engaging. I couldn't put it down!

Content Warning: violence

I don’t know what I was thinking when I started reading this book, or I wasn’t thinking and just wanted to read an Elizabeth Lim book because she is an amazing storyteller. But this is the prequel to Six Crimson Cranes and I didn’t realize it until halfway into the story! This is Raikama’s (Channi) story, Shiori’s step-mother who was such an intriguing character in Six Crimson Cranes. Now we get her backstory.

The story telling as always with this author is magical. It just seems so effortless! The story takes us on an adventure through what feels like South East Asia. The climate is tropical, with tigers and snakes and food ingredients that I recognized because they are used in Filipino cooking like, pandan! That was a nice surprise!

Channi is cursed with a snake face, whereas her sister, Vanna shines like a jewel. When the witch/demon who cursed Channi comes to claim her sister as promised, Channi fights like hell to save her with a few allies. This was such a beautiful story about sibling love, it broke my heart in the end.

And I love Ukar, Channi’s snake friend! He was such a loyal friend and I love Channi’s connection to him and the snakes. The message of the book was beautifully conveyed too. Channi was cursed with snake scales on her face and she lived a life of struggle because of it. And Vanna is born with beauty but she too endures a few personal struggles even though she’s given everything. So they both were unhappy, beautiful or not. Also, Angma’s story is heartbreaking, even though she is the villain. It goes to show be careful what you wish for because the consequences of it can be unknowingly devastating.

I wanted more romance between Channi and Hokzuh but that’s just because I love romance in my fantasies. Their story is a bit of a tragedy though, which was sad.

Why you should read it:
*the sibling love between Channi and Vanna
*beautiful storytelling

Why you might not want to read it:
*you didn’t read or like Six Crimson Cranes

My Thoughts:

This is a wonderful prequel to Six Crimson Cranes! If you wanted to know more about Raikama, Shiori’s stepmother, then here is your chance because this is her story when she was just a girl named Channi who loved her sister Vanna so very much.

I could not wait to release this! There are different aspects of fairytale, mythology, and fantasy that just blended together so well to make this book happen. If you're a fan of Elizabeth's other books, trust me you'll want to read this one too.

This was my first ever book from this author so I really wasn't sure what to expect. This book is set within the same world as Six Crimson Cranes, but as someone who didn't read that story I would say that this is stand-alone enough. I can tell there are some small things that having read that work would unlock for me, but overall it is something I would say you could read independently. This was a beautifully written and twisty-turny tale of two sisters with Channi growing and reflecting in such a compelling way. I loved getting to know her through-out the story. Every moment of this was steeped in beauty and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I had never read Six Crimson Cranes because the synopsis didn't quite draw me in, but I have added it to my TBR just to get more from Lim's writing! I also think that whoever designed this cover needs a raise because it is *chef's kiss*

Her Radiant Curse was actually my first read by Lim, and I'm thrilled to add her to my must-read list! She's an absolute creative genius who will have you immersed into her world into just a few pages.

Channi's story is no different and will have you reflecting upon many of her struggles and challenges as your own. Her character has endured so much, and her growth is so courageous and inspiring in many ways.

When I started reading Her Radiant Curse, I hadn't realized it was meant to be a prequel, and I don't think I came to the realization until closer to the end. But this can be read as a standalone.

So I don't know how to review this book without ruining all the secrets and amazing twists, but I am going to try! This book is set within the same world as the author's prior series 'Six Crimson Cranes' and brings a whole new view onto that story and what it means to live within the world. It tells the tale of two sisters, one beautiful and the other cursed. The relationship between them was beautiful to see, and the growth of the main character was such a journey, and I loved every step of it. It made me smile and get teary-eyed at parts.

Shout out to my favorite character, the snakes!

This was definitely one of my favorite ARCs received and I will be buying the hardcopy to go along with the other books of hers that I already own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Childrens and Elizabeth Lim for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you know me, you know I loved Lim's Six Crimson Cranes duology. It reminded me of Sailor Moon and the story just enthralled me. So when Lim announced that they had written a prequel following Shiori's stepmom, Raikama/Channari, I freaking knew I needed to apply for an arc. Firstly, I would recommend that if you're interested in reading this, please read the Six Crimson Cranes duology first as this is a prequel that contains direct spoilers for the duology.

Okay, first and foremost, Lim shows off her gifts of world building and creating a narrative that draws your attention and holds it. Lim has done such a beautiful job of creating a tragic foundation for Raikama's motivations in the original duology. Channi in this is a young woman who I just loved. She's so brave and self-sacrificing and so loving in spite of how her father had treated her since her mother's death. The relationship between Channi and Vanna is central and it's so heartbreaking, especially having read the original duology.

Speaking of, I think I spent the last 20-30% crying and sobbing.

I loved every second.

As a huge fan of Lim’s duologies, I was really excited to read her new standalone. Especially since it’s an origin story for a character introduced in Six Crimson Cranes (my favorite Lim book). She has beautiful prose and knows how to deliver a rich, vibrant story.

Even though it is a prequel, I absolutely recommend reading this after SCC. It spoils the best twists from that duology since this story basically leads to SCC and Channari is a very pivotal character in that. Her Radiant Curse expands on Lim’s worldbuilding and adds some great insight into who Channi is as a character. Channi is an extremely selfless heroine who would do anything for her radiant younger sister, Vanna. I found her to be an easy character to root for and loved how she always remained strong in the face of adversity. Plus, it’s just a fantastic backstory steeped in rich mythology and is beautifully tragic. Like, super tragic. I have felt incredibly glum since finishing. Which personally is a vibe I love when I finish a book, masochistic tendencies and all that. Overall, this was a fantastic story about the love between two sisters and the lengths one would go to protect their family.

Unsure who cried more in the last few chapters, me or Channi.

From the first chapter, I was obsessed. Everything just fit together so well. This is my first taste of Lim's writing and I NEED MORE. Screw the TBR list I'd set out for June, SCC is going to the top of it. My only complaint is that I got an eARC so I can't display this beautiful cover on my bookshelf (but I will buy it for a reread).

The characters were my favorite part of the book. Channi and Vanna specifically, but they also made me cry the most. Their sibling relationship is so well woven into the story, and I rooted for/loved each in their own ways. I want my own Ukar, his commentary and friendship with Channi was adorable. And the romantic tension with the (somewhat obvious) love interest, oh I was there for it, squealing with excitement when their fingers brushed. The villains are masterly crafted. You have the obvious demon witch but a cast of fantastic "everyday" villains. The prejudice, the hate, the fear, it all gut-punched me. And no one was evil for the sake of being evil, each was complex with their own contradictions.

And if I wasn't already in love with the book, the storytelling left me speechless. It is a bit flowery, but so gorgeously done that I didn't mind. I was sucked into the world, in awe from the start of the everything Lim crafted. I read this in one day, only put it down long enough to wipe my tears away so I could actually read.

10/10 recommend to EVERYONE.

I have received a free arc in exchange for a review.

Everything here is obviously my opinion, and I still dearly love this author. But I am so disappointed. Spoilers ahoy.

I had coincidentally been reading Six Crimson Cranes again when I saw this book on NetGalley. I had gotten approved almost instantly but I decided to read both the SCC and The Dragon's Promise (which I had never read) before reading this. I did not know this was the prequel and Raikama's story.

In order to know how I felt about Her Radiant Curse, you have know my sad story of the series.

I beyond loved SCC. It was the best book I've probably ever read getting a better score than even Fire by Kristin Cashore. It had heart, hardship, realistic characters, no happy endings, only realistic endings. I tried Spin of Dawn but hated the change of the story near the middle so I DNF'd it. I hear it shares the same universe.

Now I thought the TDP had no possible way to be bad. This author is great at storytelling, and plot, so how could it go wrong?

But it did. I slogged through TDP, hated every moment except for the near end for some bits. The first third of the book was ok, but too easy for the character. And any character changes that happened in SCC? GONE! This is Shiori of the past. Annoying, and she made no sense. Why save Gen? Because he's a boy--a child. Why risk the rest of her life and never seeing her family again? Because he's so wittle.... OK. She never did this in the first book. And they butchered Seryu and he was pitiful and a pushover now. His mother let Shiori get away with stuff, as well as Shiori's entire family.

The brothers lost all their character and the married one was only brought on to talk about the wife. And then suddenly we are talking about Raikama again. She was such a mystery in SCC that was the brilliance of it. We didn't NEED to know about her.

Khemelan in this book was made to be remorseful, and then suddenly we are UNLEASHING ALL THE DEMONS ONTO KIATA. And they SWEAR NOT TO KILL ANYONE. What?

Now let's go to HRC...

It destroyed Raikama's character. Raikama in SCC was a homemaker. Liked the simple life. Was so strict on Shirori.

But here, apparently she is now a rough and tumble tomboy snake girl who just wants to be in the jungle...

No. No. no. no. no.

The whole first chapter should have been omitted. It was unneeded and everything was explained in the prologue.

Vanna was a naive girl and WHY DID SHE HAVE THE PEARL? The worldbuilding is so all over the place and it explains things with Gadda and Nuir that we don't even need to know. Makes me think that she is setting up a different book. BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE DANG PEARL.

And apparently Hokzah is Khemelan. He was ok enough. But he was so wishy washy he didn't feel real. Just kind of went with the plot. Everyone goes with the plot.

This book was obviously a different book, that sort of fit into Raikama's story so the author changed it. But it doesn't fit. Oshli in TDP didn't know that Vanna was the one buried. He knows almost from the beginning of the change in HRC. Khemelan said he betrayed Channari. But he didn't. HE WAS A DEMON HUNGRY. That was literally not how it came across in the book. and Lim had the nerve to make him feel like he was at fault. Channari was totally in the wrong.

And it makes Shiori in the wrong for LETTING OUT THE DEMONS if they apparently don't have any self control.

Hokzah cared for her. He did want to help Vanna. He promised. It was all wrong. And to through a love story in it is so gross.

Vanna getting the mind control aspect only explains stuff in SCC. It doesn't do anything in this book. I feel like everything in this book makes sense only if you have read SCC. It doesn't make sense if you've read both the other books. And it doesn't make sense that Raikama would feel bad for him after all the time and call him the Wraith because he... looked like a wraith in the sky... She would call him Hokzuh.

And I love how the Serpent King literally led her to the person that would kill Vanna. Makes sense.

Angma was fine until they gave her a "sad backstory". She is the perfect villian, just leave her evil. But then they had her transform into Vanna but then she needed Vanna again... Why didn't she just kill Vanna. It makes no sense honestly. Hunting Angma would have been a fine story, it didn't need anything like this dragon pearl or anything. Honestly, if this was just a spin off, without Raikama and Hokzah it would be great.

I love how also Vanna really loved Oshli and would leave a prince for him... but only when she was dead.

There's way more but it was an interesting read for the original parts. All the inconsistencies and the bad motivations really killed it for me. I will leave it at a two star, because the writer can still write nice scenes and Uzar was great.

When I requested this book from NetGalley, I didn’t even bother to look at the description I just knew I was going to love it because I love everything that this author writes. Imagine my pleasant surprise when this book is kind of a prequel to six crimson cranes and a dragons promise. Well, not directly related it does give us the backstory of the “evil stepmother” in six crimson grains. As always the author does a gorgeous job of weaving Chinese mythology and folklore into the stories, so not only are you engaged by the characters, but are learning as well. Vanna has a light that shines from within that no one really understands, her sister, however, was cursed by a demon witch, and has spent her life hiding in the shadows of the forest. As these two young women find their strength and their love for each other, they both grow and evolve, I will always look for any book by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children's for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic prequel to "Six Crimson Cranes" that focuses on the primary villain of the next two books. Lush storytelling and worldbuilding with fantastical creatures and monsters. I really enjoyed Channi's best friend the snake, ha.

If I had to nitpick, I'd say that many of the characters came across as flat, even the sister, Vanna. I will say I can get why they're written that way since this is a prequel to the "Six Crimson Cranes" duology and set before the events of the story--the characters aren't relevant in the next two books, aside from the protagonist. So, I get not wanting to write too much about them because they're not going to be mentioned again. Still, I did enjoy the story and each character served their purpose in the narrative.

Her Radiant Curse is a stunning and epic fantasy novel by Elizabeth Lim, the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes. The novel follows the story of Channi and Vanna, two sisters who are descendants of the Fates, the ancient goddesses who control the destiny of all living beings. Channi was cursed with a serpent’s face when her father offered her as a sacrifice to the Demon Witch, while Vanna was blessed with beauty and grace. The sisters love each other dearly, but their lives are in danger when Vanna is forced to participate in a betrothal contest that will determine the future of their village. Channi vows to protect her sister from the cruel and greedy suitors, but she soon finds herself in a deadly game of love and war with one of them: Alex, a handsome and mysterious prince who has a secret connection to the gods. As Channi and Alex clash and spark, they discover that their fates are intertwined in ways they never imagined, and that their choices could either save or destroy their world.

This book is a breathtaking and enchanting read that will transport you to a rich and immersive world that draws on various mythologies and cultures. The author does an amazing job of creating a complex and layered plot that is full of twists and turns, action and adventure, mystery, and magic. The romance between Channi and Alex is intense and passionate, with a lot of conflict and chemistry. They are enemies turned lovers who must overcome their prejudices and mistrust, as well as the obstacles and dangers that threaten their lives and their love. They also have to face their own destinies and decide whether they want to follow them or change them.

The book also explores the themes of beauty, sisterhood, family, loyalty, courage, and sacrifice. Channi and Vanna have to deal with the consequences of their father’s betrayal and their mother’s death, as well as the expectations and judgments of their society. They also must learn to accept themselves and each other, as well as their powers and responsibilities. They are supported by a cast of secondary characters who add humor, drama, and depth to the story. Some of them are friends, some are foes, and some are both.

Her Radiant Curse is a brilliant and captivating fantasy novel that will keep you hooked until the end. It has everything you could want in a YA fantasy: humor, emotion, passion, conflict, and resolution. It also has a unique and creative twist on the Fates theme, with references to various stories and legends. If you are looking for a new fantasy novel to sweep you off your feet, look no further than Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim.

First off, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC of this book! As someone who is a huge fan of Elizabeth Lim and her works, I was very excited when I got the opportunity to read Her Radiant Curse. And OMG where do I start?! This book was absolutely beautiful. First off, straight from the get go, the premise of the story was very intriguing. The careful selection and description of the world that pulls in a variety of cultures made for a unique setting. Added on top of this was the author’s prose that not only made it feel like the world had gotten off the pages and transform into one that was real, but the way that the sentences very seamlessly transition from one to another made the book enjoyable to read. I found it extremely difficult to put the book down, and all I wanted to do was find out what happened next.

And I can’t help but feel so much sympathy for Channi. Adah’s character was simply unforgivable for how poorly he treated Channi just because of her appearance. On one hand, this reasoning may seem ridiculous, but in truth it still happens in real life. The bond and trust and love the sisters have for each other, I would say, was the main highlight of the book. The way they would sacrifice everything for each other was inspiring, and made me love both characters so much. Which made it the more intriguing of a read as their fates (even with Hokzuh) were such a tragedy.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED WITH THE PLOT TWIST?! This book, once again, is a reinforcement of the popular saying: Be careful what you wish for.

Overall, what a lovely lovely book, and I CANNOT wait for the sequel! Highly recommend to all fantasy lovers!

Writing a prequel is hard. The readers, who have likely read the sequels, know what happens to the heroine. Despite this difficulty, Elizabeth Lim crafted a masterful story that kept me at the edge of my seat! She fit together so many pieces from A Dragon's Promise! I loved hearing Channi's story and would recommend the book to anyone!

Thanks publishers for the free e-arc!

nobody in the young adult fantasy landscape does it quite like elizabeth lim. i'm just consistently impressed with her creativity and style, how she never succumbs to the genre's worst habits and tropes, all while creating beautiful stories of loss and selfhood and coming of age. you simply cannot outdo the doer. 4.5 rounded up. mwah to netgalley and knopf for the early copy