Her Radiant Curse was a brilliant standalone and an amazing prequel from Six Crimson Cranes.

You don’t necessarily have to read Six Crimson Cranes before going into this as I did, but I will say that the experience of reading a tragic story when you know how it ends is very interesting and quite sad.

The writing was so great that made me care a lot for these characters, despite knowing the fate that awaited them. There’s a big sense of foreboding throughout the book and the author knew how to do it well.

This wasn’t a flawless book but it’s overall a very well rounded story that I would recommend.

🦇 Her Radiant Curse Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

❝ "Find the light that makes your lantern shine," I say softly. "Hold onto it, even when the dark surrounds you. Not even the strongest wind will blow out the flame." ❞

❓ #QOTD What's your spirit animal? ❓

🦇 One sister must fall for the other to rise. When her father sacrifices her to the Demon Witch to save her mother and sister, Channi's life changes forever. She's cursed with a serpent's face, scales and all, while her sister Vanna is a radiant source of light. Her scales and slanted snake eyes convince the village she's a monster, but that doesn't keep Channi from keeping her promise to protect her sister, even from her radiant curse.

💜 Elizabeth Lim weaves together pieces of Asian folklore, Beauty and the Beast, and Ember in the Ashes in this stunning prequel to her Six Crimson Cranes duology. Despite a curse that would leave most with self-esteem issues and self-doubts, Channi's love for her sister becomes a far more powerful force. As the older sister to three younger ones, I understand that ferocity. Even a curse can't sever the powerful, unrelenting bond between them. I'm grateful that this was a story of two sisters. Even when they're apart, even with the conflicts—internal and external—Channi is forced to face, that never wavers. Lim also touches on important themes: that we put too much weight on someone's outward appearance, and that beauty is its own curse in disguise.

🦇 Given that this is a prequel to the events in Six Crimson Cranes, I understand the ending. However, it's difficult to continue empathizing with Channi when—blinded by rage and grief—she allows history to repeat itself. The ending has to happen the way it happens, I know, but that doesn't make it easier to swallow. The poignancy is almost there, but as someone who can bawl at a well-written cartoon, I'm disappointed to say I didn't have as much as a glisten in my eye at the end—Channi's cold rage eclipses her grief, weakening the ending.

🦇 Recommended to fans of all Beauty and the Beast retellings, Six Crimson Cranes (of course), Ember in the Ashes, and The Selection.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🐍 Cursed MC
🐍 Asian Folklore
🐍 Found Family
🐍 Animal Sidekicks
🐍 Fantasy YA

🦇 Major thanks to the author @elimpix and publisher @randomhousekids for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #HerRadiantCurse #SixCrimsonCranes #ElizabethLim

Elizabeth Lim's Six Crimson Cranes has been on my TBR list for a while and was excited to see this standalone book by the same author only to find out that it is a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes. The good thing is that this prequel stands alone pretty well. I enjoyed the character development and the build-up of the plot. The author takes the time to get the reader familiar with the characters and their circumstances, slowly developing the story. This is definitely not a fast-paced action-pact story from the start but gets you invested by the time the narrative reached the apex. The book is well written, easy to read and keep reading all the way to the end. I enjoyed the tale thoroughly and am now invested enough to go pick up Six Crimson Cranes. I might even want to reread this story once I finish SCC (and The Dragon's Promise).
If you are already a fan of Elizabeth Lim's this is probably on your TBR but for anyone else looking for a nice fantasy-myth that tells a good tale where the greatest love story is that of a sister (not much romance), I would highly recommend this book.

I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

✨ Her Radiant Curse ✨

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publishing August 29, 2023

Wow. This story was incredible. The twists and turns found throughout kept me guessing until the very end.

Her Radiant Curse follows Channi while she fights to save her younger sister, Vanna, from a demon witch. The same demon witch that her father tried to sacrifice her to in order to save his wife. However, the demon witch didn’t want Channi, she wanted her sister. Channi is curse with the face of a snake, and the only way to break the curse is the bring the witch her sister before she turns 17.

The bond that Channi and Vanna have is beautiful. Channi battles against her own trauma, and some horrible creatures for her sister.

This story is heartbreaking and beautiful. It’s fast paced, and never has a boring moment.

I don’t want to go into too many details, because I think it is best to be surprised and go into this story without knowing much.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy and Asian folklore.

I didn't really think this book was as strong as her other books.
But Elizabeth is one of the authors that I always have to read

Loved this story. I suggest reading the Six Crimson Cranes duology first to truly appreciate the full impact of this book, as it discusses the back story of one of its characters. Lim writes with such lyrical prose, and your heart really goes out to the sisters and their love for each other. Definitely happy to have this in our collection.

Elizabeth Lim never disappoints with their storytelling! As usual, the world building felt realistic and vibrant, and the characters were all engrossing. Some of it seemed so dark for YA, such as any of the King Meguh scenes. I didn’t actually know Her Radiant Curse was a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes going in, but once I realized, I spent the rest of the time just waiting for certain events to occur. I think that’s often a difficulty prequels have, when the whole book feels like a build up to an event. But the story is still so enjoyable! If you enjoyed SCC, I would definitely recommend this spinoff.

Like most people, I didn't catch that this was a prequel until a fair bit into the book. But man is this the prequel that we deserved! And even better, I think it totally works as a standalone in this universe. I loved watching Channi grow as she tries to save her sister from a loveless marriage and a prophecy that stands to doom them all. We get a bit more information as to the significance of a dragon's pearl and more insight into the land's lore. Channi is so fierce throughout the book, fighting witches and demons left and right. But ultimately this is a story of sisterly love and how beauty is only skin deep. There's so much trauma wrapped up in these 432 pages, both familial and self hatred, but it ends with me longing to reread Six Crimson Cranes and I'm perfectly satisfied.

*Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for an ARC and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

I loved six crimson cranes, and it was fun getting to see the history behind the book, but this book didn't do it for me, which I was disappointed by.

**Thank you, Netgalley and publisher, for giving me an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

A wonderful prequel to Six Crimson Cranes, I loved ever second if Her Radiant Curse. A tale of two sisters bound together by a curse and a promise. Filled with cute romance and descriptive fight scenes, it is a must read if your interested in Channari's story that was hinted at in Six Crimson Cranes.

Two sisters: one blessed with the light of the gods, one cursed with a monstrous face.

In an attempt to save the life of his wife as she brings their second daughter into the world, Channi’s father tries to sacrifice her to the Demon Witch. Channi is instead cursed with a serpent’s face, forever marking her as her beautiful sister Vanna’s polar opposite. Although Vanna is blessed with an otherworldly beauty, she has also been marked as the Demon Witch’s future victim - and Channi will stop at nothing to protect her little sister.

Let me start off by saying that although this is a prequel, it really can stand up on its own apart from the Six Crimson Cranes duology, which is a good quality. I thought the sister dynamic and the powerful bond between them was so beautiful and sad. I found it to have a generally fast-moving plot, which is a feature I have come to expect from YA Fantasy (although the way the action sequences were written didn’t always ‘wow’ me!) I also love a villain who is not just one-note with their evilness, but instead has complex layers.

I think the story element that was most difficult for me was the protagonist, Channi. There were many times that I thought “am I supposed to love her or hate her?” There’s moral gray-ness and then there’s a ruthlessness and a single-mindedness that just doesn’t feel as realistic, and I think Channi wobbles a bit on that line.

Thank you, Netgalley, for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my review.

I liked this. but some things were nagging at my mind co I couldn't give this 5 stars.

1. I'm just so tired of how the author torturing her MC without mercy YET AGAIN, where they're almost completely helpless and just followed the drastic plot. Let's focus on Channari this time because this is her story. For example: She was ambushed! sure she attempted to break free! But then something distracted her so the evil guy got her anyway!!
2. the annoying, arrogant entitled men who create the conflicts OMG and this book not only has 1 but THREE OF THEM.
3. the demons superstitions nonsense my God pls give it a rest.

But sure, the connections to Six Crimson Cranes duology were pleasant. The Epilogue made me weep a bit but that's that.

Even if you haven't read the Six Crimson Cranes duology, this book is a win!
Lim's story telling is so beautiful, she really develops her characters will. Although I knew how this story would go overall I still really enjoyed myself and the characters as well. Definitely worth picking up.
Also, this cover is so beautiful!

3.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------
*Received an eARC from netgalley for an honest review. Thank you!

Okay, admittedly, I did not read Six Crimson Cranes or A Dragon's Promise yet, so I feel like I may be missing some crucial worldbuilding. Take this into account when reading my review. Be it as it may, it still reads as a standalone in my opinion.

This book has an interesting premise, no doubt about that. I was hooked into the idea of two sisters fighting for each other, against all odds and enemies. It's one I was hoping to find endearing and most likely bittersweet, given that the quote "One must fall for the other to rise" hint at a rather foreboding prophecy.,,, and damn, I was excited to know their story.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book much. While the author creates beautifully woven tales of the supernatural intertwined with mortal lives, I felt the magical aspect of that is stripped away by the main character I ended up despising. She is headstrong and stubborn, so much so it becomes her demise most of the time. She reads very immature and I kept finding myself frustrated with her lack of learning. The amount of times she rushes enemies, only to be beaten immediately is more than I can count on my fingers. Her choice to not head any warnings from her friends and mentors multiplied that frustration. I wish I could relate with the main character more, but she makes so many questionable decisions, not only on her own behalf, but also on the behalf of others that I did not enjoy reading in her perspective.

In truth, I found myself not caring much for any of the other characters. They were either very selfish to the end, or made just as questionable decisions as the main character.

Additionally, I think I might just not be a fan of the writing style. It felt very redundant at times, which I think is part of the reason why the main character reads very juvenile. The worldbuilding was kind of lackluster, but again, that may be my fault for not reading the duology first. But even with that said, the world wasn't very memorable.

Since I have the duology, I may need to read those and revisit this book a second time to get a better feel of its setting. While it was captivating at times, I was not very enthralled by the story or writing.

I LOVED Six Crimson Cranes, but wasn't wild about the sequel so I was a little unsure about this at first. It was so nice to be back in the world of SCC though, and I do love a villain origin story.

It was very engrossing, and I felt like I read it at a very fast clip. Ultimately though, I didn't connect quite as deeply with the characters as I did in SCC. It was better than the sequel though, and I understand it's hard to live up to the perfection that is SCC.

Before I begin my ramblings I want to thank Netgalley, Knopf Books, and Elizabeth Lim for the honor to read this masterpiece in exchange for an honest review.

“One sister must fall so the other can rise”
Channi was once a moon-faced girl with hopes and dreams who was betrayed by her father and dropped in front of the Demon Witch, Angma, in order to save her mother. Channi was bitten by the Serpent King in order to save her life and protect her new baby sister, Anna’s. As punishment, Channi is cursed by the Demon Witch with a serpents face to match her poisoned blood. As the Demon Witch walks away she warns Channi that she will come back for Vanna when she turns 17 and will take one sister no matter what. Channi’s mother’s dying wish is that Channi will protect Vanna no matter what.

Seventeen years later when Vanna’s seventeen birthday is at their doorstep Channi fights to protect her sister whether it is from being forced to marry a king or from Angma. This leads Channi down a path of self-discovery she did not see possible for herself and unbearably hard choices for herself and her beloved sister.

This novel is a prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes series, it can most definitely be read before or after you have read the series. This book had me in tears, especially the last 150 pages. From the SCC series I already knew what happens at the end but it did not make it hurt any less. This book has everything:
-FMC who can talk to snakes
-dragons
-asian mythology
-enemies to reluctant friends to lovers
-found family
-curses

I loved Channi in SCC but to see her own story told pulled at my heart strings. It really gave her character life as in SCC she was more a figure of the story and less of a main character. She is forever my Serpent Queen and I loved loved this book.

This is a prequel to the Six Crimson Cranes duology. This story explains how cursed Channi becomes Raikama, Shiori’s stepmother in Six Crimson Cranes. Channari (Channi) spends most of the novel trying to save her beautiful sister Vanna from being killed by a demon witch , as it was prophesied that one sister would have to die for the other to survive.

Thanks to Netgalley for this amazing ARC. This book follows Channi who was cursed with a snake's face, battles to save her sister. I love how all of Elizabeth Lim's books connects and how we get to learn about the step-mothers story from Six- Crimson Cranes. I love the main character Channi who is a strong female character. The plot is fast paced and filled with magic.

I was originally going to give this around 4 stars. But in the end I am rounding it up to 4.5 stars. I have wanted to read Elizabeth Lim’s other books for a while now. I even own physical copies but I decided to start with Her Radiant Cur.se. Her Raidan Curse is a book that has dragons, witches, demons, curses, and above all the love of two sisters who would do anything for each other.

Upon her sisters birth Channi was taken to the jungle for the tiger. It was not her that was meant to be sacrificed but her father refused to give up his newborn daughter. When given the wrong daughter the tiger placed a curse on Channi and now her face is not what it once was. The only thing to correct the curse is to give the tiger her sister upon her 17th birthday.
I absolutely loved the devotion the sisters had for one another. Channi would give up anything for her sister. She promised her mother that she would protect her. Her sister was born glowing she is special and will be a great beauty that everyone will come from far and wide to see.
Channi’s unwavering devotion to protect her sister and make sure that she is happy is all that Channi could ask for. Their father doesn’t have much to do with Channi once she comes back from the jungle the next day after he left her out there upon her sisters birth. I would say if there was one character I really didn’t care for and really could easily forget it was his.
A lot of YA books you will have a romantic type of relationship still in this book but this one really is just centered around the importance of the two sisters relationship. It was a refreshing change and I can’t wait to dive into Lim’s backlist!

“Her Radiant Curse” follows Channari on a quest to save her sister from the demon who promised to kill her when she came of age while also coming to terms with her own curse.

There is just something about Elizabeth Lim’s writing style that I love. I loved Six Crimson Cranes, and I loved this too. Her characters are well written and not two dimensional. I also love that she does not shy away from sadness and poor outcomes in general. It makes it difficult to tell where the story will go because you aren’t guaranteed everything will wrap up in a happy little bow at the end. 5/5 stars.