FTC disclaimer: I was not sent this product. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 2 / 5
My plot introduction:
Ildiko is a human. She is part of the Gauri family, but it too far from the throne to have any political importance.
The same can be said for Brishen, the man Ildiko is going to marry (before she has ever met him). Except, Brishen isn’t human, is nocturnal, and has a mother plotting to kill anyone who gets in her way!
Review:
Starting with the good: ‘Radiance’ was a nice book to unwind with. It’s friends to lovers, which made it quite a gentle, comforting read.
Ildiko, the main female character, is good-natured and kind. As you readers will know, most main female characters in fantasy romance are these powerful, feminist, strong, loud people. But Ildiko was powerful in a more subtle way which was refreshing.
The smut is balanced between male and female gratification, which I was pleased to see. Often it is in fact solely centred around the female protagonist, which Draven nicely avoided.
However, Draven wrote ‘Radiance’ in a third person narrative, which unfortunately contributed to my sense of disconnection with the characters. There was little suspense, because their love story was predictable from the get go. Both Brishen and Ildiko are ‘good’ characters with little to no moral greyness, which made the novel less thought-provoking.
For me, ‘Radiance’ just wasn’t particularly memorable.
Grace Draven website – https://gracedraven.com/home
‘Radiance’ on Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24473763-radiance
Buying ‘Radiance’ - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Radiance-Wraith-Kings-Grace-Draven/dp/1506119719/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MPA0JQ08MT5P&keywords=radiance+grace+draven&qid=1650277595&sprefix=radiance+grace+draven%2Caps%2C59&sr=8-1