Radiance (Wraith Kings, #1)

plot was just okay but the romance was prime

Me encantó es un mundo muy sencillo así que es fácil de leer, yo lo terminé 3 días así que es una lectura rápida ( tomando en cuenta que yo leo despacio )

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!

One of the best books I have read in a while. The characters were humorous and relatable. The plot was slow enough that it felt realistic while still being very engaging at the same time.

I’m torn between 2 and 3 stars. There was nothing to not like, it was all very easy and pleasant. Just a bit of a snooze fest sadly.

3.5 stars

As someone who's had hit or miss success with the fantasy romance subgenre, I've been wanting to try out some more to see if I can nail down exactly what works for me. I've seen Radiance recommended by a wide range of folks so it seemed like a natural pick.

Where this worked best for me was definitely the character work. I loved that Brishen and Ildiko were initially not attracted to each other as different species, which gave time for them to get to know each other. By far my favorite part was the humor and the banter between them and the teasing from some of the side characters as they got more obvious about being into each other. I loved getting to know both of them, as both come from complicated families and have their own levels of trauma.

On a writing level though, I definitely had some frustrations. There's a lyrical style to it that quickly got on my nerves and some long descriptions and slower pacing in parts that I think will work great for cozy readers but strained my patience. And as much as I loved getting to know the characters, it was super annoying to have abrupt flashbacks in the middle of scenes. These frustrations weren't enough to ruin the book for me but definitely kept it from being a new favorite.

Overall, I enjoyed Radiance and I would consider continuing with the series. At least it gives me an indication that I should look into more arranged marriage and slowburn fantasy romance. And banter!

This book was just delightful. I love the world and am definitely interested enough in reading more.