Elizabeth Lim has an extraordinary capability of transporting readers to luscious and sometimes brutal worlds, and Her Radiant Curse is no exception. Similar to her other two series, The Blood of Stars, and Six Crimson Cranes, Her Radiant Curse is a unique tale with various elements of Asian folklore, high fantasy, and adventure. The unique interpretation of demons and dragons, as well as some other creatures in the story specifically, is a breath of fresh air to the fantasy genre.
The book begins by providing a rich backstory to Channi and her sister Vanna, while simultaneously showing the divide between legend and fact in their world. Born with an internal light and goodness, Vanna is the yin to Channi’s cursed yang. Their independent journeys centre around them constantly fighting for each other while learning how to fight for themselves.
As the story progresses, Lim weaves a diverse world with varied landscapes richly detailed with their own cultures. While the pace of the book was fast to keep the story progressing, I found I wanted to stay just a little longer in these different locations to explore them a little more. Each setting had its own unique personality with different wildlife and customs which were only just touched on before moving the characters along.
The way Lim built Channi and Vanna’s characters was at times predictable, but overall smooth and comprehensive. The way she wrote their relationship provided great backstory, along with the story and character development. You can’t help but love them both and for the duration of the book, you’ll find yourself rooting for them to succeed and find their happiness while being heartbroken whenever they experience setbacks.
Most of the side characters also had a surprising amount of depth; the exception being Channi and Vanna’s father and step-mother, who seemed really two-dimensional to fill the hole of a secondary adversary.
A personal favourite was Ukar the snake, who is also Channi’s best friend—his snide comments and unwavering support made him immediately endearing. His sass and disdain when it came to certain love interests was amusing while simultaneously not what you want to read if you’re a romantic at heart.
While nowhere near a romance novel, Lim explores young love from a couple of angles including a burgeoning romance that is forbidden, and the tried-and-true enemies to lovers trope. Whilst somewhat predictable, you can’t help wanting it to happen all the same.
As a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes, you may feel like it’s necessary to read those prior to enjoying Her Radiant Curse, but that’s not the case (although you might get some more references). In fact, I hadn’t read Six Crimson Cranes before reading this, and I think I enjoyed it more, as I didn’t know exactly where the characters were going to end up.
It might be worth mentioning though, like with her other books, the worldbuilding isn’t as obvious and laid out as some other fantasy novels. The beginning sets the scene for most of the mechanics of the world, as it progresses, some new details emerge, leading you to sometimes alter your perception of how things work. This can be at times frustrating for some, as it leads to wanting a little more detail about how the world works. Luckily you can continue to experience the world and find out more in Six Crimson Cranes.
That being said, it was a really enjoyable, easy to read, YA fantasy novel. It was interesting, compelling, and written in a way that didn’t underestimate the reader. Her Radiant Curse is a masterclass of heartbreak and longing, exploring sisterly love, and complicated family dynamics.
Her Radiant Curse from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 29th.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
From the New York Times bestselling author of SIX CRIMSON CRANES comes a tale of two sisters—one as beautiful as the other is monstrous—who must fight to save each other when a betrothal contest gone wrong unleashes an evil that could sever their bond forever.
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.
Weaving together elements of The Selection and Ember in the Ashes with classic tales like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching fantasy that explores the dark side of beauty and the deepest bonds of sisterhood.
