Radiance

5 stars. What a hidden gem! I won’t lie: without the very enthusiastic review of a fellow Goodreads friend I would never have read this book. I did not find the cover appealing and would have overlooked it. But the saying is true: don’t judge a book by its cover because this story is little treasure. That’s quite ironic as one of the main topics of this book is to see beyond outer appearance to discover the real beauty: that of the soul. Maybe every reader has to follow the same path our heroes did: disregard the plain book cover, go beyond the surface and look for true beauty nestled inside the pages. I’m really smitten with this story, with the gorgeous (I would say courteous as it has a medieval tint to it) writing, with the exceptional characters, with the topic broached, with the universe. The topic as stated above is about true beauty. It’s also about love, not insta-love but a love built on a partnership, on mutual respect. It’s about the fear of the other, the one different in culture and coloring from your people. It’s a timeless topic treated with finesse and grace. The intrigue takes place in a medieval/fantasy universe. Three kingdoms compete with each other, two inhabited by humans: The Kingdom of Gaur and the Kingdom of Belawat while the Kai Kingdom hosts the Kai people, some non-human creatures. Gaur will unite with the Kai through the wedding of the youngest Kai prince, Brishen and the Gaur King’s niece Ildiko. Both characters are “spare pieces” as they’re not destined to rule their kingdom and their value resides in such arranged marriage to strengthen strategic alliances. Ildiko with her red hair, blue eyes with black pupil , pale skin and flat teeth is ugly to every Kai as they’re black skinned with full yellow eyes void of pupil and harbor fangs and claws. Both people find the other abhorrent. One lives in daylight and the other in moonlight. They can’t conceive children together. They could not be more different. Ildiko is orphaned and has never known love at her uncle’s court. She avoids her aunt the Queen at all costs and finds solace in the beauty of the gardens. Conscious of her duty, she’s determined to be the best wife she can. Brishen is also lonely and has never loved his father’s court, a real nest of viper with his mother Queen Cimse being THE evil queen (trust me, the Queen in Snow White or The Sleeping Beauty are child’s play compared with Cimse). When they first meet, they’re not aware they’re in the presence of their intended. ”Brishen braced for an ear-pinning scream from his unexpected visitor. The Gauri woman who stared at him wide-eyed with her strange gaze did neither. He’d obviously startled her with his presence in the garden. She flinched away when he raised a hand in cautious greeting but she didn’t run. “Forgive me, madam” he said softly. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” They’ll both be honest and blunt throughout this encounter, enjoying a refreshing and honest moment, far from the court’s hypocrisy. I loved reading about their mutual perception, how they saw each other, both honest, curious but respectful at the same time. In a few sentences, I was enlightened about these characters and already in love with their souls. ”You find me ugly,don’t you?” “Hideous, a hag of a woman.” “And you”, he said. “you don’t think me a handsome man?” ”Thank you for not lying what you thought of my appearance. You might have a face to turn my hair white, but your honesty is handsome.” They’re both so accustomed to the lies of courtesans they value highly honesty. ”She was a challenge to look upon without wincing, but he very much liked her wry humor. Brishen had no expectation about his bride, but he hoped she might possess a small amount of the pleasant demeanor this woman exhibited.” As different as they seem at first glance, Ildiko and Brishen are very similar in their hearts. Brishen wasn’t human but he was “congenial and gracious”. He swore to help Ildiko and teach her about the Kai and Ildiko thought some women marry men “with handsome faces but ghastly souls”. They both found themselves very fortunate. Very soon, they formed a strong bond, a partnership built on respect and mutual admiration. They valued the other and what began as forced wedding evolved into beautiful and strong love once they saw beyond the appearances. ”Brishen would kill whoever had tried to hurt his wife, split his skull the way he’d done with the Beladine raider who attacked her. She was ugly; she was beautiful, and she was his.” I discovered two very lovable and strong characters. Both are the one you overlooked all your life, people of low importance, content to live far from the court’s conspiracies but lonely. They may be discreet but they don’t lack in strength, astuteness and determination. I really fell in love with the author’s writing. It has its own magic and flows effortlessly, with a graceful quality. It makes us think about what true beauty is it demonstrates that strength is not a show of brute violence but rather lies in tranquil determination. Ildiko will be seen as the ugly wife by the Kai people and will adapt to a new life, living at night and sleeping the day. She’ll have to adopt their customs, even the one consisting in eating pies prepared with very living deadly insects (they reminded me of gigantic scorpions). She may have no claws or jagged teeth but she has a strong backbone and can use her silver tongue like the best to duel with the formidable Queen Secmis. She has my utmost admiration as she handled all this with pride and poise. Brishen with his unwavering support, his huge brute force but true gentleness with his wife has also gained all my love. I’m so taken with this series I’m already 55% into the second book and I can already see a sleep deprived reader tomorrow. ”Will you be that for me, Ildiko? That beacon in the void?” Ildiko’s heart cracked. Loneliness had been her constant companion, the silent shadow that hovered over her for years. “The void is vast, like the sea at night and no land in sight. I’ll be the beacon, Brishen.”

I couldn't put this down! Draven's writing style is lovely and compelling. Her characters were beyond charming, and so endearing that I was happy watching the "friends to lovers" unfold. This has that touch of dark fantasy that many crave, but without the controlling/abusive MMC - a trope I detest! The MMC, Brishen, is loveable and sweet, (something we always need more of) while still being a fearsome warrior who protects his own. The MFC, Ildiko, is witty and fierce, making her easy to admire and respect. I enjoyed her journey adapting to a new culture with grace and fearlessness. This ends in such a way that you want to pick up the second book and continue on with the story. In some ways, it comes off as more the setup to the bigger battle and struggles to come, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable! If you need a good romantasy, read this! And for those who need smut: Yes, this does have steamy scenes ;P

This book follows Ildiko, a Gauri human woman of low royal standing, whose duty is to marry for political alliance. She's sent to the distant kingdom of Bast-Haradis after her wedding to the "Prince of No Value." On the afternoon of her wedding, as she takes one last walk through her castle garden, Ildiko meets a stranger with glowing yellow eyes and terrifyingly sharp teeth. He’s clearly one of the Kai, a citizen of her future home. They share a quick, pleasant conversation that calms the butterflies in her stomach. Their banter is sharp and witty, each finding the other strange and hideous in equal measure. Our other protagonist is Prince Brishen of the Kai—a race with nocturnal eyes, drow-like skin, and formidable claws, built for battle. Bound by duty, he must marry a human woman and bring her home to his kingdom. Resigned to his fate, he counts down the time until he meets his bride. That is, until he encounters a peculiar woman in a foreign garden. Her unsettlingly small eyes and equine teeth leave him bewildered. Still, her easy laughter and sharp wit captivate him. By the end of their conversation, he hopes his future bride will be as companionable as this woman. To both their surprise and delight, they reunite at the altar that very evening and head off to Brishen’s home together. What follows is a romance that blooms slowly and beautifully. They forge a deep connection while navigating court politics, facing dangerous encounters, exchanging ideas, and eventually sharing some VERY spicy encounters. By the time passion ignites, both wonder how they ever found the other ugly. This book is so charming! High fantasy with a touch of magic, richly developed political intrigue, and beautifully crafted character arcs. The worldbuilding is immersive, with well-thought-out cultures and captivating settings. The prose is stunning, the pacing perfect, and the romance one of the most genuine I’ve read in a long time. Whether you're a seasoned fantasy reader or curious about dipping your toes into the "monster romance" genre, this book is an absolute must-read. I cannot recommend it enough! 🌷

This is a more romantic type of book than the ones I've been reading lately, which was a good break for my mind. It was well written, had compelling characters and an interesting story. I fell in love with the main character, Ildiko. She's quite an interesting person. The end of the book left a lot to ponder on, and presented a possible break to the lovey-dovey stuff. Now the conflict begins! :)

I love how the story shows a fervent romance between two different creatures who did not chose each other but were destined to be together forever. Some scenes still remain a mystery to me. However, I will definitely buy the next installment.

"You find me ugly, don't you?" "Hideous. A hag of a woman. And you? You don't think me a handsome man?" "Had you crawled out from under my bed when I was a child, I would have bludgeoned you to death with my father's mace." *falls over laughing* The above takes place between our two main characters, Brishen Khaskem, a Kai prince with gray skin, solid yellow eyes, razor claws for fingernails, and teeth meant for tearing flesh, and Ildiko, a human woman who happens to be the niece of a king. They're destined to marry, and for that, everyone pities them. The two races find each other physically repulsive, and as you can tell, that extends to our MCs. While their appearances couldn't be more different, their souls share a kinship. They're both witty, intelligent, and quick to laugh. Which basically means that their interactions are frigging hysterical. They first meet just before their wedding, and recognizing this kinship in each other, form an alliance based on mutual respect and honesty. I KNOW, HOW REFRESHING, RIGHT?! Their marriage is one that will secure an alliance between their kingdoms, and while both were pushed into it, neither one resents it. BECAUSE - HOLY CRAP - THEY'RE BOTH DESCENT "PEOPLE". What follows can only be described as one hell of a love story, set against the backdrop of a world balanced on the brink of war. As there is no physical attraction between them (at first *waggles brows*), Brishen and Ilkido form a fast friendship. This love story is a slow burn, a realistic joining together of two souls with more meaningful things to draw them to each other. Like compatibility. I just blew your mind, didn't I? Trust me, this book blew mine. It was so incredibly refreshing to actually buy into a relationship for once, an ACTUAL relationship, and not just people lusting after each other for no frigging reason aside from the OMG, ABS/OMG, BOOBS that dominates most romance novels. My only complaint is that I wish there were more to this. I wish Draven delved deeper into this world. I wish there were more descriptions of journeys, surroundings, and cities. But honestly, that tells you just how much I enjoyed being in this world. And how sad I was to leave it.

A fascinating book that capitalizes on the differences of the races the main characters come from. Funny details, likable main characters, enough action without unnecessary drama. Looking forward to the second part.

Es uno de los mejores libros de su género que he leído. Realmente lo recomiendo. Y la historia se pone aún más interesante en el segundo libro.