Her Radiant Curse (Legends of Lor'yan)

This is a prequel to the two books in the “Six Crimson Cranes” series. It is about Shiori’s stepmother who in the "Six Crimson Cranes" came across as rather a mystery and at first seemed to be the usual cold, wicked stepmother. I found out so much more about Channari (her real name) that I feel this book should be included as the first book in the "Six Crimson Cranes" series. This story focuses on Channari's life before she became Shiori’s stepmother. Her childhood was terrible thanks to her selfish father's choices in her life. Despite the fact that everyone loves her sister and fears Channari, their close bond with each other was unbreakable. What happens to her in this book foreshadows the outcome of what follows in the "Six Crimson Cranes". I now know how Channari and Khramelan were connected by the cracked dragon pearl. The explanations of the past that are only briefly alluded to in the "Six Crimson Cranes", are covered in detail here. Reading this book rounds out the series and I highly recommend it as a must read companion to the "Six Crimson Cranes." It made me change my mind for the better about Channari after understanding what drove her motives and the choices she makes. I had to reread the "Six Crimson Cranes" after reading this to see how the story now fits together and feels complete.

Elizabeth Lim is a brilliant writer. After how much I loved her Blood of Stars duology and her Six Crimson Cranes duology, I was thrilled to find out about Her Radiant Curse. While this is considered a prequel to Six Crimson Cranes, it is also an enjoyable stand-alone or an alternative way to begin the Six Crimson Cranes duology. I love how all of Lim's Alandi works tie together somehow, and long-time fans get the enjoyment of Easter eggs and cameos therein. This novel features Channari, before she becomes Shiori's step-mother. Before she travels to Kiata, where magic has faded. Before the fate of her sister is revealed.Upon the night of her sister's birth, Channi's father is on the brink of losing his wife. He opts to make a deal with the demon, Angma, to trade his older daughter for the life of his wife and newborn. But demons aren't exactly worthy of deal-making or their word. Channi loses her mother, gains a sister, and is cursed with a serpent face because of her father. At least she can talk to snakes, which is the only benefit of facing the ridicule from her father and the villagers. Without her snake friend Ukar, and of course her loving sister, Vanna, Channi wouldn't know what to do.Angma promises to come back for Vanna on her seventeenth birthday to claim the special radiant light that shines within her, making her unique and valuable, as well as her life. Channi promises to keep her sister safe, killing all tigers, as that is the form Angma takes. Perhaps one day the tiger she slays will be the demon, but deep down, Channi knows it won't be until her sister's birthday. At seventeen, Vanna is pitched to the highest bidder to be married, her radiant light making her a valuable prize. Where Vanna goes, so does Channi, but when her father sells her to a cruel king and collector of strange creatures, the sisters are split up.Finding kinship and aid with the dragon, Hokzu, Channi has hope that she will find and save her sister from Angma before it is too late. A dragon's secrets will determine all of their futures.In a testament to the strength of sisterhood, Lim crafts a fantastic tale of loyalty. Between dragons, witches, and demons, this novel is full of fantasy flare, action, and adventure. As a long-time Lim fan, it was an incredible journey to see Channi's past and how she eventually comes to live in Kiata.  An incredible journey and I can't wait to see what Lim writes next.

This story grabbed me from the beginning. I haven't read anything else by Elizabeth Lim, but now that I know there are other stories related to this, I can't wait to get my hands on them. I don't feel that I missed anything by not having read the other stories. This feels like it works great as a standalone.Beautifully written with good story-telling. I didn't expect the ending. I personally wouldn't have made some of the choices, but I can understand them. Anger and betrayal can make any of us do things that we later regret.I love the love that Channi and Vanna have for each other. However, Vanna seems like a shallowly written character to me. The story is in first-person perspective, so we don't necessarily get to know the other characters as well as we might want to. However, I did feel that we got to know Hokzah, so maybe Vanna could have been told a bit better. I ended up caring about her closer to the end of the book.Overall, I loved the story, the pacing, the world.

I definitely recommend. This book was so adventurous, fantastical, has sad romance and a beautiful but sad ending. I love the idea that the author wrote a book about the villains backstory. Beauty and power was just described so beautifully in this book. Again I would definitely definitely definitely recommend this and the whole books of the Lor yan world series!!!! My favorite book of all time!

Not only is the cover sooo beautiful, Elizabeth does a great job answering a lot of questions left unanswered from the series. She’s such a great writer to paint an image in your head. I definitely recommend picking this up for a great read.

Spannendes Buch. Teilweise finde die Geschichte etwas gehetzt.

Her Radiant Curse is the prequel to the enchanting Six Crimson Cranes duology, centred on the ill-fated Channari (aka Raikama) and how she became who we knew her as in Shiori’s story…On the island of Sundau, there are snakes, tigers, demons and most importantly, two sisters, one radiant and one cursed. And for one sister to rise, the other must fall… Her Radiant Curse is a triumph of tragedy and family, brimming with Lim’s rich prose fans have come to know and cherish. It is exactly what makes prequels worthwhile.The characters were well developed and truly loveable. I’d probably say the characters in Her Radiant Curse have been my favourite and Lim’s strongest to date. Channari was the perfect balance of fierce, maternal and humorous. Ukar, Channari’s snake side-kick (similar to Shiori having KiKi as her sidekick), was sassy and grumpy with a dash of sunshine. There’s then Vanna, Channari’s sister, who was the perfect balance of entitled, innocence and entirely compassionate. And there’s Hokzuh, who is a character readers will perhaps recognise, and I thoroughly enjoyed this version of him and seeing his connection with Channari/Raikama.My only quibble with Her Radiant Curse, which I’ve felt in most of Lim’s novels with the exception of Six Crimson Cranes, is the pacing and energy of the story dwindles for a period. In Dragon’s Promise it was the middle of the novel, and with Her Radiant Curse, it was nearer the end. However, in spite of this, the ending of Her Radiant Curse is truly magnificent as it is heartrending. As fans of the duology know the story, and have followed the books over the last few years, this backstory has been years in the making and Elizabeth Lim delivered the Star Wars reverse-endings-of-all-endings. And anyone who follows my reviews will see Dragon’s Promise wasn’t the finishing instalment I’d hoped for, but with the prequel’s existence, it now makes details and context in Dragon’s Promise feel more worthwhile after the fact. A very clever and rewarding benefit to writing a prequel! I would throw bouquets of roses at Lim’s feet, but instead, shall aspire to grow a Moon Orchid in her honour.Her Radiant Curse is magical, adventurous and every other sentiment that befits a novel as fairytale enchanting as this. The way Lim pulls this off all the while winding toward the bittersweet end, is nothing short of testament to how talented she is as a writer. She’s one of my favourite authors and has delivered an exceptional prequel that honours the duology by making such a detailed world with memorable characters. Thank you for such a beautiful adventure Elizabeth, I am your loyal reader and I can’t wait to see what’s on the horizon! Meanwhile, everyone who hasn’t immersed themselves in this world, you really need to get some radiant crimson in your life. Seriously, pick this series up!

I enjoyed this.Because it was an enjoyable tale with a compelling protagonist and some well-crafted secondary characters, I persevered through the present tense narrative. I don't understand this choice in contemporary fiction. For me, it creates a lighter and more juvenile tone. The past tense would have given this story greater heft. However, this is the number 1 bestseller in its genre - so the tense is certainly irrelevant to the rest of its readership.Great world-building and descriptive style.

Beautiful story well told and with an easy flow. I am looking forward to the next book.A well plotted story basically about good overcoming evil and the power of love.

Really lovely read, the love of siblings, magic, hope , despair….I can’t decide if there is going to be another one, it’s left finished/ unfinished…beautiful book.