Book Review: Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: August 29th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

FANTASTIC BOOK.

I love a good origin story/prequel novel. And I kind of wish I had this book before the two other duologies in this world because I really think it set-up a lot of wonderful context and world building to those duos.

I loved how deep this sister relationship went and what they both did to each other. There’s an imbalance they have and I like how that was represented and handled between them. There’s many poignant moments and things that made me feel ALL THE THINGS. The interwoven romantic, politicking and magic plot lines really brought this book home.

These characters absolutely had my attention and I loved seeing Channi’s story come to life. There’s plenty of action and mystery and honestly wondering how things were going to wrap up. Highly recommend this book!!

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate-high
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents, loss of loved ones, battle scenes