Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim Review

 Title: Her Radiant Curse

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Age Group: Teen/Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Tales of Lor’yan, book two

Star Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

I bought a copy of this book and reviewed it.

Elizabeth Lim is one of my very favorite authors; I’ve read almost every single book she’s ever written. I bought Her Radiant Curse a few years ago, as a birthday gift to myself. I’m trying to put a dent in my massive backlist, and I was eager to read this book. Lyrical, beautiful, and immensely sad, I was absolutely captivated by this story of two sisters, devoted to little else but one another. This book is technically a prequel, tied to Six Crimson Cranes, which I’ve already read but haven’t yet reviewed. This is one of my favorite books of 2025, and I will never forget it. I don’t cry often at books anymore, but this one tore out my heart and stomped all over it, and I cried many tears.

Channari and Vada, two sisters, are divided by a curse. As a consequence for not giving The Demon Witch, Angma, her younger sister Vada, Channari, or Channi as she is known, is cursed to have a face like that of a snake. Golden-eyed and scaled, she loves little else but her lovely sister, Vada. When the time comes for Vada to get married, Channi is determined to protect her and the light she has carried since birth. But when Channi is offered a way out of her curse, she can’t help but be tempted. On a journey all through Lor’yan, Channi will do anything to make sure her sister becomes happily married. But for one sister to rise, the other must fall, and Channi’s choice comes with unexpected consequences…

This book was so lovely, beautiful, and sad. I was instantly spellbound by Channari’s voice, and the pacing was breakneck. I love retellings of fairy tales and myths, and this book scratched that itch exquisitely. I love books about relationships between sisters, they make me both happy and sad. I loved all of the characters, but my favorite was a tie between Channi and Ukar, King of Snakes. The land of Lor’yan was so very beautiful and vivid to me as I read the book, and one of my favorite things about Lim’s books is the worldbuilding and the lore. The ending was the most bittersweet part of this novel; it made me cry so much! This book was such a bittersweet and gorgeous tale, and I will never forget it. Elizabeth Lim never disappoints, and this book didn’t let me down! The bottom line: Rich, bittersweet, and transporting, I loved Her Radiant Curse! Next on deck: The True Queen: Katherine of Aragon by Alison Weir!