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.
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.
(P)2023 Penguin Random House Audio
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.
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.
(P)2023 Penguin Random House Audio
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Reviews
Magic leaps from every page of Lim's exquisite fairytale. Teeming with romance and adventure
Elizabeth Lim's masterful storytelling immersed me in a vivid world full of magic and romance, and had me rooting for the star-crossed lovers at every turn
A dazzling fairy tale full of breathtaking storytelling
An amazing creation!
This is a gem for all lovers of whimsical fantasy!
This book is magic!
Lim is a master storyteller which is apparent with every magical turn of the page
Elizabeth Lim takes readers on a captivating and wholly original journey
Every page of Elizabeth Lim's masterful writing shimmers with beauty and emotion. With characters who steal your heart, a rich world of legend, and a gorgeous romance, this is a journey you'll wish had no end
Her Radiant Curse glows from start to finish. An origin story that stuns even knowing how it will end, bringing new beauty and darkness alike to Raikama's tale. Elizabeth Lim's writing is a marvel
Elizabeth Lim's worlds and words are always magical
Her Radiant Curse blew me away with its breathtaking descriptions of the fantasy world that the author has created and her wonderfully crafted characters
'Her Radiant Curse is an enchanting and mesmerising fantasy novel that so utterly transports you to another world, that you are left disoriented when you are reluctantly pulled away from its pages