Radiance (Wraith Kings, #1) in My Vampire Book Obsession

Aug 09, 2017 Monica **can't read fast enough** rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-romance, audio-books

The best part of this one was the narrator, who did a great job. The few things that happened were resolved very quickly and too easily. The world was interesting and I enjoyed the fact that neither Brishen nor Ildiko were initially physically attracted to the other, but instead went into their marriage with the idea that they could at least be friends. I would have enjoyed this more if there had been more character and plot development. Even with a decent ending to the story that obviously lead ...more

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Mar 17, 2016 Belle rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2016

3.5, I enjoyed this very much. One of the better romance books I've ever read.

I picked this up on a whim because I had just finished shedding tears for “Burial Rites”, I felt heavy afterwards, I wanted something romantic but not YA and I didn’t have anything on my shelf to satisfy that so I picked up this ebook. In Radiance we have the story of 2 races of people. The humans and the Kai. The Kai is a nocturnal race that looks quite monstrous to our human eyes but in turn they are both petrified a 3.5, I enjoyed this very much. One of the better romance books I've ever read.

I picked this up on a whim because I had just finished shedding tears for “Burial Rites”, I felt heavy afterwards, I wanted something romantic but not YA and I didn’t have anything on my shelf to satisfy that so I picked up this ebook. In Radiance we have the story of 2 races of people. The humans and the Kai. The Kai is a nocturnal race that looks quite monstrous to our human eyes but in turn they are both petrified and disgusted by human vestige. In order to conduct a peace treaty between the races Kai Prince Brishen, the younger spare heir is married off to Ildiko, the nice of the human King to seal an alliance. I found it refreshing that they each thought the other to be repulsive looking but right off the bat there is tenderness in their shared sorrow of marrying someone they find so vulgar. This alone I truly appreciated. Brishen is not an asshole who makes Ildiko’s life hell, on the contrary he is protective of her, considerate and so kind. Ildiko is a good heroine, she’s bold but not a caricature, she navigates court politics with aplomb and is not a damsel in distress at all. She’s not a shivering virginal medieval dunce, she’s experienced but real, sweet but sassy and her closeness towards Brishen is evident right off the bat.

The burn is slow and gradual and the two begin seeing past their ‘ugly’ spouse and to the person they are. This was sweet and well crafted but not corny, unlike many romance novels out there. I loved the richness of the world building, the culture and the mythology along with the magical elements.

Now, here’s where it fell short for me and I think it’s because I was expecting more out of it than it was intended. I felt that the plot was virtually non-existent and it was strange because the world is so rich and the culture so well defined that the lack of plot had me completely confused and floundering especially with an end that was suddenly epic. I felt that this needed more. The reasons I felt like it needed more is because I think this has the skeleton of a really great fantasy but it never got there and I felt let down because I loved the skeleton. You have likable characters, great world-building but no driving plot until the last 15-20 pages where it ends and you’re like ‘WHERE THE HELL DID THAT COME FROM THERE WAS A PLOT??’

So, I know this book will have a sequel and I will pick it up because I’m hoping that in the sequel Draven delivers what I felt was missing in this one. ...more

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Jan 02, 2016 A.R. rated it it was amazing

What an unbelievably beautiful story about two people falling in love with each other’s souls not appearances, I just love the premise of the story and Grace Draven did not disappoint.
I was on a train on the way to Dublin when I started crying because of a scene in this book and the woman sitting across from me startled when I just looked up to tell her it was because of a book and not to worry....she moved seats after that 😂
Did I care, not one bit.
Great book! Everyone needs to read this.

*revie ...more

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