I’m so excited to be part of the TBR & Beyond tour for this book. Find the full tour schedule here.
About the book
Her Radiant Curse
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publishing Date: August 30, 2023
Synopsis:
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.
Book Review
A complex, moving fairytale for those who don’t believe in the simplicity of happily ever after.
When a sacrifice went wrong, one daughter was left with a supernatural golden glow, while the other daughter bore the face of a snake and poison in her veins. Channi’s been told the only way to break her curse is to bring her sister to Angma, a tiger witch, before her eighteenth birthday. Now, Vanna, the golden one, is participating in a selection ceremony to find her new home and kingdom, while Channi tries to find a way to save Vanna from Angma, who has sworn to kill her on her birthday.
This is a tale of unlikely allies, betrayals and the power of sibling love. It kept me enthralled, with a sarcastic talking snake best friend and an untrustworthy dragon. The world is rich and enchanting, as Channi and Vanna travel far beyond their village home as they struggle to understand the power they have been granted. The action is non-stop, but it also doesn’t skimp on character development as each of the sisters comes into her own.
Her Radiant Curse is set in the same world as Six Crimson Cranes but can definitely stand on its own. I didn’t realize it was a prequel for much of the book and enjoyed it for its own merits.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and TBR & Beyond Tours for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
About the author
ELIZABETH LIM grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was raised on a hearty diet of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Before becoming an author, Elizabeth was a professional film and video game composer, and she still tends to come up with her best book ideas when writing near a piano. An alumna of Harvard College and the Juilliard School, she now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
Elizabeth’s internationally bestselling novels include Spin the Dawn, Unravel the Dusk, and Six Crimson Cranes. She is also a contributor to Disney’s ”A Twisted Tale” series.
Need more to read? Find all of my young adult recommendations here.
