My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: Her Radiant Curse
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Format: eBook (NetGalley)
Pages: 432
Publication Date: 8/29/23
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Categories: Prequel, Series, Fantasy, Family, Young Adult
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
One sister 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.
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.
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.
Book Links:
Arc Review: Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Unravel the Dusk (The Blood of Stars, #2) | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Six Crimson Cranes by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Dragon’s Promise by. Elizabeth Lim | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 
I wondered when reading the blurb if it was about the stepmother. I’m intrigued. Lim is such a great storyteller. Great review!
Yes! It’s about the stepmother and I agree Lim is an amazing storyteller.
Aah, I totally missed that this was being released but I have been so curious about Channi and Vanna’s story ever since learning more about them in the SoC series, so I’m glad that Lim finally gave us their story! It sounds wonderful and I’ll definitely be picking this up asap. Great review 🙂
Thanks Dini! I hope you like it! I was also very interested in Channi and Vanna’s story and I’m so glad we get it in this book.