Her Radiant Curse Review

Her Radiant Curse

By: Elizabeth Lim

Published Year: 2023

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Series: Spin-off of the Six Crimson Cranes duology and part of the Legends of Lor'yan series. It can be read as a standalone, but personally, I would say it's best read after reading the Six Crimson Cranes duology (referred to in this review as SCC). And given I've read SCC, I'll probably be referring to those books and the characters often in this review, meaning there might be spoilers and things thrown around without context :)

Kindle Unlimited: no

My Review

Rating: ✨5/5✨

Review Updated: 6/24/2024

"One sister must fall for the other to rise."

This book made me laugh, cry, smile, and it made me fall in love with Elizabeth Lim's writing all over again!

Cursed with a monster's face and snake eyes, Channi is the exact opposite of her sister Vanna. She is hidden away while her sister is paraded around as the Golden One. Yet the two are very close; Vanna is the one person (aside from the snakes of course) who Channi loves, the one person who doesn't treat her like a monster. Yet when she turns seventeen, Vanna is to be married off to the richest of the suitors who have come from all over to claim her hand. Fiercely protective of her sister and battling an impending curse, Channi is the only one who can protect her sister from the cruel selection. Yet doing so thrusts her into the spotlight and completely alters her life. No longer hidden away, Channi races across different, often dangerous lands, pursued by demons and witches, to get back to her sister and save her. Along for the ride is her best friend and a mysterious dragon, part enemy, part friend, and partly growing closer to her, in more ways than one. But things are more complicated, and Channi will have to face dangerous enemies and even more difficult choices as she races to defeat the source of her curse.

I've been waiting to get my hands on this book ever since it was published! Learning about the true Raikama at the ending of SCC instantly made me curious to find out more about her, and when I found she had her own spin-off and that her backstory was going to be explored...I had to read it!

Her Radiant Curse did not disappoint! From the descriptive world building, to the emotions, to the amazing cast of characters, it had all the ingredients for the perfect recipe of a book (and steamed cakes of course!).

My favorite part of this book was the characters. There was so much of Channi that I could see in Shiori, yet there was so much more to her too! And as the book progressed, it became clear that Vanna was more than just the Golden One. The sisters' love for each other, and the bond between them was so strong, even though I had an inkling as to what would happen at the ending, I still wasn't prepared for how my heart shattered while reading the last few chapters! Me being the emotional me I am, I still cried at the ending, even though my heart did somewhat rejoice knowing what Channi had ahead (a found family, a daughter who will love her, a land mostly free from enchantments, and a garden full of snakes).

"A promise is 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."

From the moment I started to know Hozkuh, it was clear he was Khramelan. All his moments with Channi were precious, if only because I knew what was to happen, but wow, the way Elizabeth Lim writes characters, to challenge what you first think about them and make you love them all so much....

It was probably my greatest joy that Channi had someone to confide in, a best friend of sorts, the way Shiori had Kiki. Ukar was like the witty, sarcastic, humor adding, loyal, and caring Kiki in a snake form. I never thought I'd like snakes, but seeing Channi's relationship with Ukar, and snakes in general, thawed my heart towards these creatures a little...actually a lot. That being said, I might still get scared (ie scream and run away) if I ever saw one near me, but I'll try not to :D

So, as you can see, I absolutely loved this engaging, emotional book and would highly recommend it, especially for fans of Six Crimson Cranes and the Legends of Lor'yan!