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Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim, A Lush Mythological Fantasy Prequel

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Time to fall back into the world of Six Crimson Cranes with this lush new fantasy prequel.

When you open Her Radiant Curse, you’re immediately thrown into the gorgeous prose and vivdly descriptive world of a classic Elizabeth Lim story. There’s such a fairy tale quality to it. It reads like getting lost in a myth where there are talking snakes and shapeshifting demons and an innocent girl who asked for none of the misfortunate about to befall her. This is the tale of two sisters (one beautiful and one monstrous) and their complex relationship that sets off an unstoppable chain of events.

Channi is only two-years-old when she’s cursed by a tiger and saved by a snake. It is the catalyst for an unfair future in a world were beauty is perceived as everything and women with snake-like features are hidden and shunned. And in true fairy tale fashion, Channi’s little sister is so gorgeous that kings and rich rules from all over the world are literally lining up to marry her, creating a polarising contrast between the sisters. All Channi wants is to break her curse, but first she must kill the tiger and figure out a way to to save her sister. Because either she stays cursed, or the demon gets her sister.

“I’m already a monster. What fear need I have of the Demon Witch?”

It is such a tale of sisterhood, of Channi and Vanna’s unbreakable bond that is just so rooted in love and affection for each other. The ending had me feeling way too many things–though of course this is the “step-mother origin story” from Six Crimson Cranes, so I knew a little of what would happen. I do think you can read this without having read SCC though!!

“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. Understand?”

Read it for:
♡ fairy tales and myths coming to life
♡ talking mythological creatures like serpent kings and dragons
♡ complex villains
♡ female rage
♡ face-paced plot with plenty of action
♡ deep sisterly love
♡ a girl who would destroy the world to save her sister
♡ imaginative and pretty fantasy world descriptions

A fairy tale not to be missed, this is a beautifully told story that will take you through a roller-coaster of emotions as you are swept up in a world of Asian mythology.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for the review copy!

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 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.

goodreads | dymocks | amazon | hachette aus

published august 29th, 2023

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