Thank you for the ARC! I had enjoyed Elizabeth Lim's first two books on Shiori and now I get to read the back story on her stepmother, Channi.

It tells the tale of two sisters who grew up tight as thieves but raised differently by their parents who treated them differently because of their looks and whatever curses and blessings they believe each one will bring them.

As Channi grows up training herself to kill Angma in the hopes of protecting her sister, Vanna, whom Angma had sworn to kill when she comes of age. Channi, with her cursed snake-like features and with poison tainting her blood battles through wild animals, witches, demons, and fellow human beings in her bid to fulfill her oath to her dying mother to protect her sister. However, at the end, in order to truly save one of them, another has to "fall" as the book's tagline states. It is a gripping tale of sisterly love peppered with fast-paced action and adventure that fans of Lim's other books will find entertaining.

I couldn't move those pages fast enough as I took in all the action.

Despite not having read Six Crimson Cranes, I was excited to read Her Radiant Curse after loving Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim. And while I liked her Radiant Curse, it did not come close to how I felt about the other book. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, even though I did like Channi and wanted her to be happy. I liked her relationship with her sister and how we learned more about Vanna throughout the story, I just wish there was more. I also wanted more romance!
I mostly kept reading because I wanted to see what happened and despite some of the beginning of the book being predictable, the ending was not at all what I thought would happen. In some ways I liked that, but in other ways I thought some of the decisions Channi made really didn't make sense, especially when the reason's for other character's actions had already been explained.
Maybe I would've enjoyed the story more if I had read the other books even though this is prequel. It did make me slightly interested in reading the other series and seeing how they connect.

I have been obsessed with Lim’s works since reading Six Crimson Cranes. When I found out we were getting Channi’s backstory, I squealed with delight. Lim didn’t disappoint with weaving the tale of the two sisters and dropping in Easter eggs from Channi’s life to come with our cast of characters from SCC. The characters were complex and lovable. The love and bonds of sisterhood made for a compelling story. Overall, I highly recommend this book.

Elizabeth Lim blew me away with her storytelling ability in this book! It was well written and beautifully complex, but not overwhelming world and story. She also makes sure to pack in plenty of action and drama so that you’re never bored while reading. It felt like something big happened every chapter that made me want to keep reading. This story has the essence of mythology and folklore, with the focus on the relationship between sisters Channi and Vanna, whose love for each other is the strongest bond they have. It’s told from Channi’s perspective, who is seen as this monster by everyone but her sister, who she’s doing everything to protect. Channi really goes through a lot in this book and I really enjoyed it, even if she didn’t. This is also a prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes duology, which I haven’t read yet, but it does read as a standalone. However, after reading this I want to read more!

Overall, this was a great ya fantasy that I recommend you read when it comes out!

Read if you like…
•sibling bonds
•mythology/folklore
•monstrous mc
•YA fantasy

An enchanting prequel that was beautifully written!

This book is one of my most anticipated releases of 2023, and it did not disappoint! This prequel was so refreshing, and I was captivated within the first ten pages.

When I heard about this book, I was honestly so excited. This storyline was one of my favorite things from the Six Crimson Cranes duology, and I was thrilled to see that we were going to get the full story. Everything about Channi's story was so beautifully written. I feel like this book was everything I've ever wanted to find from a prequel story. I enjoyed getting to know Channi's character better. I also enjoyed the pacing of this novel. Everything seemed to move along at a decent pace, and I felt like it also wrapped up in the perfect way.

Another element I enjoyed about this book was that it wasn't a romance, or at least I should say not in the typical sense. This book deals heavily with the bond between sisters, and the power of the love one sister can have for another. This was a really refreshing approach, and I enjoyed getting to read a different kind of love story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I think it's the perfect setup for Channi's character, and it makes her more relatable and easy to understand. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who read Six Crimson Cranes and also to anyone who might be looking for a light fantasy read.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review
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Overall Rating: 4.7/5

4.25/5 stars

This prequel is the perfect dose of enchanting young adult fantasy filled with magical creatures and powers. Readers can expect the same mythological vibes and lush world building as the Six Crimson Crane duology but with a more mature heroine and a slightly darker story. Channari is our stubborn and determined main character who has been training to protect her sister. I thought she could be very relatable for any older sisters out there and the reader will be rooting for her throughout the story.

The story follows Channari as she tries to protect her sister from various dangers such as the Demon Witch and cruel suitors. Channari ends up on an epic adventure exploring this magical fantasy world and making cute friendships along the way. I thought the author artfully included twists that I enjoyed and felt like I could see the hints for. I will say I did feel like there was a little bit of romance that felt rushed/ forced that I did not love, but it was a small sub part of the story that I felt like I could ignore.

I did enjoy getting to learn more about this mysterious character from the original duology and thought that the book provided us with such a rich backstory. Although it is not necessary to read this prequel, I think readers will enjoy it as long as they realize the book is indeed a prequel and the ending might be spoiled by the duology. I would recommend this to fans of Six Crimson Cranes and fans of the Asian Fantasy genre.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me with a digital ARC of this book.

This was a fast paced and wonderful prequel to Six Crimson Cranes.

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.

𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘝𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪, 𝘸𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩—𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘦, 𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘢, 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪’𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵.

This story had so much action, I just flew through and as always, Lim’s writing was superb (if the author can make you truly hate a character, you know they’re good 🙌🏻) As someone with a sister whom I would do absolutely anything for as well, this story really spoke to me and Channi’s love for her sister just really resonated. HRC was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and I’m so pleased it didn’t let me down!! I definitely recommend this book for any YA fantasy lover, especially those of us obsessed with Asian mythology. Thank you to @getunderlined , @elimpix and @netgalley for my arc!! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book hooked me right from the beginning, which was no surprise since I loved the Six Crimson Cranes duology so much and was really looking forward to getting the backstory story of Channari and her sister. It was fast paced, full of action and intrigue and such a great cast of characters. I absolutely loved Channari and Vanna’s relationship. They truly loved each other and did their best to keep the other safe. I thought the Helen of Troy vibes were really interesting, especially with the selection of suitors. Channari herself was such an incredible character. Her resilience, her strength and also her desire to be loved and accepted made her so compelling. Also, I loved Ukar and how fiercely he loved Channari. This book definitely tugged at my heartstrings several times, but there was also some great humor and of course, amazing food descriptions. This was a beautiful story of sisterly love, friendship and magic. I highly recommend it and also the Six Crimson Cranes duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Publishing for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Channi's father sacrificed her to the Demon Witch, causing her to be cursed with a serpent’s face. Channi is now the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna. At seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a contest that will enrich the village leaders. Channi, plans to defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors, but that makes her his target. A grisly battle ensues, creating a quest over land and sea, forcing Channi to make an impossible choice.

Featuring another gorgeous cover by Tran Nguyễn, this book is full of details. Exploring beauty and sisterhood, Elizabeth Lim weaves Asian folklore into a Beauty and the Beast type of tale. Vanna sees marriage to a king as the only way out of their tiny village, but they literally bid on her and don't intend to make her queen, only a concubine. They plan to exploit the divine light emanating from her, so Channi steps in. Cursed and full of venomous blood, she spent her time in the jungle when not hiding her face or getting beaten. Trying to keep Vanna safe sets in motion the prophecies that were laid when Channi was a child: one sister will rise as the other falls. The Witch is searching for the other half of a dragon’s pearl, which gives it magic and enables it to truly fly. The dragon in question is cursed to never see it, and the reader will figure it out before he does.

The book is very much an adventure story, with the sisters' love for each other at its heart. Vanna wanted a better life for Channi, and Channi just wanted Vanna safe. Channi certainly has the more difficult part of the story, battling the dragon, demons, and creatures along her path. The Witch has allies borne of fear, after all, and Channi has too little to work with. She tries and continues, even when she feels like all is lost; the end was not one that I predicted at all. It's a beautiful and compelling read, where I had to continue to the end. Like Elizabeth Lim's other novels, it's well done, finely crafted, and will leave you with a book hangover.

Her Radiant Curse tells the story of sisters Channi and Vanna — one cursed with a serpent’s face while the other is graced with beauty beyond compare. Despite their opposite fortunes, both sisters love each other completely with a bond that can’t be broken. When Vanna is offered up in a marriage selection, Channi knows she has to protect her sister from the cruelest suitor setting off a chain of events neither sister could have predicted. Now, they must fight together to destroy the evil that has been unleashed on their world.
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Lim is well know for creating rich world building with a well developed cast of characters, and Her Radiant Curse is no different. This story was quite simply enthralling. I loved the tidbits we glimpsed of Channi in the Six Crimson Cranes duology. I couldn’t wait to delve into her backstory and learn about the events that led her to Shiori’s family. Channi is every bit the fierce FMC I expected her to be. I adored her relationship with Ukar. The banter between them was top notch and probably my favorite part of the story. I enjoyed seeing how Channi came to have a relationship with snakes that’s alluded to in Six Crimson Cranes. I also loved how Channi’s character continued to grow through her relationship with Hokzuh even if I already knew how that storyline would play out. I did find certain elements repetitive, particularly where Vanna was concerned. Overall, this story was well worth the read and highly recommended for those who enjoyed the Six Crimson Cranes duology.

I just want to hug Channi, give her a snack and a snake squishmallow, and slap away anything even remotely negative that gets within 50 feet.

In other words, I had some big feelings reading this book. I actually had to read this in stops and starts because it's intense.

As a prequel, Her Radiant Curse has to tell a compelling story to readers who already know the end. In this case, almost all the major plot points were revealed in The Six Crimson Cranes duology. But you get invested in the characters and their relationships and how/why they end up how they do. The duology sets you up to feel sympathy for Channi because you know her story is sad. The dramatic irony carries a sense of dread through the narrative. It's almost like a horror story in that way.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I've preordered a physical copy for myself. (I was lucky enough to receive and read an e-galley.)

This is a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes so it would probably help if you've read that book first. I'm so happy we get a villain POV. It is so rare to see that in books. I got tired hearing about Vanna being so beautiful. Yeah i got it the first time. This book is good if you've read Six Crimson Cranes and enjoyed it.

Her Radiant Curse
Elizabeth Lim

⭐5⭐

I adored this book, as I’ve adored all of Elizabeth Lim’s books. A gorgeous story of love, sacrifice, acceptance, family, and friendship. I laughed. I cried. I’ll never stop recommending this.

Some of favorite quotes from this book:

“Yet great beauty is not always a gift; it can be as much a curse as great ugliness. Better than anyone, I understand the burden she bears”

“Fact is that you’re a snake girl, immune to venom. Why do you let a few poisonous words hurt you?”

“‘I don’t have a heart,’ Hokzuh replies matter-of-factly. ‘I don’t care whether people like me. You, on the other hand, do have a heart. And it isn’t as strong as you pretend it to be.’”

“‘Seventeen years ago on this day,’ Vanna is addressing the court, ‘I was born with this light inside me. It has brought me great happiness–-and great distress. A radiant curse, I’ve always thought it.’”

“I wrap my arms around her back, press my cheek to hers, scale to fur. ‘Find the light that makes your lantern shine,’ I say softly. ‘Hold on to it, even when the dark surrounds you. Not even the strongest of wind will blow out the flame.’”

“A mother’s love is special; it is the purest love. Boundless, unconditional, unyielding. It is the love that I’ve missed most”

“All the riches and power in the world cannot buy someone who loves you truly.”

“‘Butterflies celebrate all love, Channi, because every love is precious. And mine for you, above all. That love is forever.’”

“‘Gadda says that this life is merely a stepping-stone to the next. I have faith that in your next one you will find each other again. The lanterns will guide you.’”

I adored this book, as I’ve adored all of Elizabeth Lim’s books. A gorgeous story of self discovery and self worth,

And, best of all:
“This is an island of idiots, I decide”

Review copy provided by the publisher.

This is a stand-alone prequel in the world of Six Crimson Cranes; if you know the characters and the events of that book, some events of this one will be enhanced, but this is a perfectly reasonable entry point to this world and its people.

Channi's life revolves around her amazing and beautiful sister Vanna, and it always has. When she was a toddler, Vanna was born with a special magical glow--perfect, beloved, amazing. Her father attempted to sacrifice Channi to the jungle witch Angma to save his wife, and it failed--she was cursed with the face of a serpent and poisonous blood, and her mother died anyway. In all the years since, Channi and Vanna have grown up together, each other's polar opposite in looks--but always the best of friends.

Now their father is choosing a suitor for Vanna. Kings from all around will come to bid on her hand. Her sister Channi, however, is more concerned about her sister's happiness than about their cruel father's wealth. Her friends the snakes of the jungle are willing to try to help her protect her little sister--but the entire endeavor gets, as one would expect, quickly complicated, with dragons, demons, and armies pursuing them around the island landscape.

The relationship of sisters and snakes is devoted and charming, and this book serves well either to add dimension to a world already known or to introduce the reader to its environs.

Thank you to Random House Children's / Knopf Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will preface this by saying, I didn't read the first two books. Now having said that, I hadn't even finished this book and was in my local Barnes and Noble to make sure that when I was done I had a copy of those books because this was so, so good. This isn't a book where I will say there were laughter and tears because only half of that was true.

It was so emotional towards the end, that I was brought to tears at least twice reading the book and choked up more then once. The story built into this incredible ending and that I just found myself emotionally ripped open with these characters. Is it a happy ending? I don't know, I haven't read the first two books and this was only the prequel. So I have no idea what will happen in the end for this character, what will come for her. I hope this isn't the end of Channi, I who identified all too easily with her isolation from those around her and the world want to see what else is in store for her.

The pacing I found to be good, when I finally sat down to read the book I was able to finish it in about 2-3 sittings but I found myself constantly looking for excuses to steel away and read more. I wanted to continue to exist in this world with these beautiful characters and myths. With dragons and witches and tigers oh my. This is a great fantasy read full of love and revenge and heartbreak.

“But a promise is a promise, 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.”

If you loved Six Crimson Cranes and Dragons Promise then this prequel will absolutely stand on its on while still being just as beautiful and immersive as her Cranes duology. This story was beautiful but heartbreaking, which comes as no surprise since we know Channari's story was not a happy one.

This story is about two sisters who love each other deeply and that love is tested again and again throughout this story. Not only do we have two strong female characters in Channari and Vanna, but we also get to see some familiar faces and get some new loveable characters along the way.

As always with Lim, this story is steeped in intricate Chinese Mythology and reads like a Lucius fairytale. I really loved seeing how Channi became Lady Green Snake and what exactly happened with her beloved sister. Its a sad and heartbreaking tale but it was an immersive journey from start to finish. There were so many beautiful quotes in the story and so much discussion about what it means to be a monster, to learn to love yourself and to fight for what you love.

This is a very worthy prequel for this duology and I am so beyond grateful I got the chance to read it early via netgalley!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for this book!

First and foremost, I adore Elizabeth Lim's style and writing. She never fails to create unique, beautiful, fantasy novels inspired by mythology.

This novel is a fantastic prequel to Six Crimson Cranes. The story centers on Channi, and establishes her backstory.

Overall, the novel succeeded in slowly building tension, which culminated in a shocking plot twist. I was captivated from beginning to end.

10/10 recommend!

After reading and...not totally loving one of the author's books, I decided to give her another go as the description for this one sounded awesome. And you know what? For the most part, it was awesome, so I'm glad I tried it.

The book follows Channi, who was left in the woods by her father as a small child as a sacrifice to a demon witch. Instead of dying, the king of serpents saves Channi, but she still ends up cursed with the face of a snake and poisonous blood - along with the prophecy that on her sister's 17th birthday, one sister will rise, and one will fall. So, since that ill-fated day, Channi has been trying to protect her sister and track down the demon witch to end the curse once and for all.

Channi eventually becomes verrrrrrrrrrrrry bloodthirsty, and I love a bloodthirsty hero with righteous anger, so all of that was really working for me. Channi's a great character - her sister, Vanna doesn't get much development and more or less just exists to move the story forward. There's not much romance (yay!) but the sort-of love interest is a dragon, so we love that, but by FAR the best character was Ukar, Channi's best snake friend. I also gotta say that I loved the way snakes were portrayed here - snakes are often misaligned, but I loved how the author presented them here (basically just kinda grumpy). My only real problem was with the end, which didn't make sense or really seem to match up with our characters and their motivations. So, horrible ending aside (it's bad), the book is worth a read for sure.

Until the last 10% or so, this was a 5 star read, but I really hated where the characters ended up SO 4 stars - widely recommend to YA fantasy readers, especially those that enjoy East Asian mythology.

Thanks to Knopf & Netgalley for the eARC, which I received in exchange for an unbiased review.

review ♥
her radiant curse m- elizabeth lim
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
🏮🐉✨🐍

“You were the light that made it shine brightest, Channi.”

This book. I thought I loved Six Crimson Cranes when it was released, but this is Elizabeth’s best book yet. My heart was with Raikama at the end of the first novel, and I had craved her backstory for so long. Finally learning the story of Channari and Vanna was so beautiful and heartbreaking. It truly made me connect to Channi and her transformation into the “evil stepmother” in Shiori’s story. Her life was never great, and she always had to struggle and fight for what she wanted. Channi is a testament to true love and the strength of a bond between a sister. I loved every minute of it! Being an older sister myself, I connected deeply to fighting for my sister and doing anything possible to keep her safe. O loved Channi’s fierceness to fight for what she loved and her selfless nature. She truly deserved happiness, and I am glad she found some solace and comfort in Shiori.

I was obsessed with finding the easter eggs in the original duology. From the beginning with Emperor Hanriyu to the love story with Hokzuh, this was the prequel of my dreams!!! I am so grateful to have read this book in advance, it tore my heart apart but filled a place that desperately needed this story. Thank you for letting me ball my eyes out. It was completely worth it for Channi and Vanna.

Two sisters, both cursed. Channi bears the face of a serpent, marked as such when her father attempts to sacrifice her to the Demon Witch in order to save her mother. Vanna stumbles under the weight of incredible beauty and glimmering radiance. While Channi is forced into hiding, Vanna is paraded around in the hopes of fetching the family and village great wealth. However, when Channi is forced to step in to protect her sister from some of the suitors, she starts a great battle, spanning across countries and oceans. In the end, Channi will have to determine if her undying love for her sister is enough to save them both.

What I really loved about this book was the focus on sisterly love. This is an intense love story, but not typical in nature. Vanna and Channi would truly do anything for each other, but both find themselves incapable of doing enough. It is heartbreaking, and while I don't think you need to have read Six Crimson Cranes in order to understand this prequel novel, it adds a deeper layer to an otherwise fairly simplistic message.