REVIEW: Radiance by Grace Draven
Dear Ms. Draven:
What a refreshing and different book! Again, I can’t recall who recommended this to me although I know that Has and Lou of the Bookpushers are huge fans of yours.
Radiance is the first in a series of books called The Wraith Kings and this story is about Brishen Khaskem, a prince of the Bast-Haradis kingdom of Kai, and Ildiko, a niece of the Gauri King. To the Kai’s, the human Guari’s are quite distasteful.
“His upper lip curled in distaste at the sight of her skin. Pale with pink undertones, it reminded him of the flesh of bitter mollusk Kai dyers boiled to render amaranthine dye…Her eyes bothered him most. Unlike the Kai, hers were layers of opaque white, blue ringed in gray and black pinpoint centers that expanded or contracted with the light…the way that contrasting colors made it easy to see the eyes move in their sockets gave the impression they weren’t body parts but entities until themselves living as parasites inside their hosts’ skulls.”
To the Gauri the Kai are just as hideous with claw tipped fingers, gray skin and mouth full of razor sharp fangs. They have strange habits such as an aversion to the sun. But Brishen and Ildiko are to marry and cement an alliance between the Gauri and the Kai. Both are rather expendable. Ildiko is the orphaned niece of the current ruler. She was no Cinderella who was mistreated but pragmatically she understands that this marriage is the price of her being housed, fed, and clothed during her childhood. Likewise, Brishen is a younger son with many heirs between him and the throne. He lives on a hostile border where his people make a purple dye coveted by outsiders and the threat of intruders from Belawat, a Beladine stronghold.
The Beladines and Guaris are at odds with each other and the alliance between the Gauri and Kai places the Beladines at disadvantage. While Ildiko and Brishen are eager to make their lives work together despite their many differences, those around them aren’t so keen on the pairing.
Both characters are pretty perfect in their open mindedness. In some ways, they were the same character. They were both very tolerant. They both had a good sense of humor. They were both kind. They did not allow their past prejudices to affect future relationships. There was a sort of mirroring in the progression of the story.
In the first half we see Brishen struggling with the food and customs of the humans and later we see Ildiko wrestling with the same things during the wedding celebration with Brishen’s family.
One thing I thought was interesting was that later in the book there is some indication that there have been Kai and human pairings in the past yet we don’t see them. It would have been in character for Brishen to seek them out for advice on how to go forward with his new human wife.
There was much made of the fact that the physical mating between the two would be near impossible but in all the important parts, the two fit without many problems. It’s not a closed door romance but neither is the sexual part of the story the focus. This is truly a fantasy romance with an entire political drama playing in the background and providing plenty of excitement for future stories.
B
Best regards,
Jane
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My apologies, but
is not quite correct. If memory serves after two readings :grin: is more that there will be no offspring, because the two species are so different. Avoiding bedding each other at the beginning, it seemed to me, was more because, without the possibility of children, there was no point putting themselves through a distasteful (they find each other repugnant, after all) exercise.
I read this on the author’s website when it was a work in progress and enjoyed it very much.
This book was simply delightful (my DTB copy is on its way as I need to actually “hold” my favourite books) but then I haven’t yet found a Grace Draven I didn’t love or at least like very much. Now, I’m patiently awaiting the sequel and the sequel to “Master of Crows” and, well, anything else she’ll write.
I don’t read a lot of fantasy however this novel was sooooooo good. The characters were honest with each other and their love grew in a natural progression. They understood each other so well as they had similar court experiences. And what I loved was that although it was hard for them to look at the other at first, their mutual admiration and respect slowly made them appear attractive to the other.
Meljean Brook recommended this on FB, so even though the cover did nothing for me I bought and LOVED it. Just can’t wait for the next one.
I enjoyed this one as well. I wish there had been a little more conflict in the relationship to give it a bit more tension, but overall I thought it was great. Anxiously awaiting the sequel.
Sounds great but I get nervous when I hear people clamoring for a sequel. Without spoilers, does the book have a cliff-hanger ending? Thanks.
The story is complete in itself, so not really a cliff-hanger ending but it does leave an obvious door open into the next book.
Read it. Loved it. Recommend it.
I’ve read most of Grace Draven’s stories and haven’t been disappointed in anything. Her writing and world building is fantastic. I’m not a serial fan but she hooked me with this one and I’ll be following her new Gaslight Hades serial, too.
And for authors who wonder…I didn’t hesitate to buy Radiance even though I’d already read it online. Readers will buy what they love.
I agree with lada on all points. I actually won a copy of the completed book and still bought it. grace draven (and illona Andrews) give stuff away that is better than 1/2 the stuff available and I want to support them in my capacity as a reader.
I love, love love this book. I followed this on her website and bought a copy when it came out. Yes Jane, “refreshing” is the word I also use when describing this book. Ildiko was strong, mature sensible, pragmatic and had a great sense of humor (I wish I was more like her). So rarely are woman characters portrayed in this manner. Loved Bishon too. I loved the way they reacted to each other, and as time passed the way they acted to each other. Grace is a wonderful writer and I can’t wait for the next book.
Fantasy romance? Well THIS certainly has my attention. ^_^
I did read the book as a serial on the author’s website and bought it as soon as it was published. One of my favorite reads in a long time. I did like both Ildiko and Brishen, such wonderful characters. It is a great book.
Just FYI, when I click on the ARe button at the bottom of the post, I go to the ARe site and get this:
This has been happening when I try to go to ARe from reviews here for quite a while. I figured it’d be fixed eventually, but it hasn’t been, so I thought I’d mention it. Maybe I’m the only ARe customer who reads reviews here? Or maybe we’re all just waiting for it to be fixed…? :)
Angie
I read it as a serial and bought it as soon as it came out. I really loved it. I’ve been recommending it to everyone.
Exciting to read all of the recommendations. I’m going to try it! Thanks, everyone, for bringing it to my attention :)
I agree with the points Lada and Susan make. I followed the Radiance serial and my enjoyment of it prompted me to buy other stories by Grace Draven. Like Ilona Andrews, her generosity to readers in posting “freebies” draws me to her site and doesn’t stop me buying the book when it is released. For example I read Ilona Andrews’ Clean Sweep as a serial on her website and then bought the ebook, the audiobook and the paperback. Why? I appreciate the author’s generosity and want to support her. As well I am a re-reader of favourite books and always want a book at hand. We travel a lot so my iPad enables me to carry a library with me, I still like the “feel” of a real paper book so I can sit quietly at home reading when time allows. Plus an audio book really makes boring household chores, long drives etc more bearable.
I really liked this book because of the characters and the interesting world created by the author. I loved the fact that Ildiko and Brishen genuinely thought each other hideous at the beginning but became friends in spite of their physical appearances. However, I think it would have made their romance more emotionally involving for me if there had been more distance between them for a time, if they had taken longer to warm to each other. From the very start they are physically affectionate (embracing and kissing chastely, etc) and trust each other implicitly, which means their marriage is pretty much complete except for sexual attraction.
@azteclady: I absolutely agree. The careful wording makes clear that the characters have no expectation of offspring, but that’s all. When I saw there was an epilog, that’s what I expected.
Warning: If you don’t like cliffhangers, DO NOT READ THE EPILOG. It serves more to launch the next story than tie up anything significant in the novel.
It was a great read, called to my attention by this review, so thanks DA.