Radiance

I love everybody in this book. The MCs are etched in my memory for all time. The evil queen part well played. Every character is testimony to how amazing this book is.

Tender, mysterious, and an interesting take on a fantasy world and fantasy culture. It easily avoids annoying tropes of the genre and provides a beautifully human vision of a world of monsters, magic, and of course, romance.

This book is an amazing read filled with humor and love.❤️

This is my first time writing a review. I’ve read about 20 books so far this year. I’ve had a book hangover from acotar and didn’t think I would fall in love with another book. And I found this book by chance. Such a great story, with an arranged marriage between two people that want to make the most out of it. The writing is incredible, I loved the taunting humor between them, and the love scenes weren’t too much, but just enough. The love blossomed and didn’t feel forced at all, and it was a fantastic ending. I will be buying the rest of her books now.

This was a delightful find off of a Marriage of Convenience Goodreads list... although it is in actuality an arranged marriage. I’ve finished the series and have re-read this first book twice. ❤️ Heroine: 4 Stars Hero: 4 Stars World Building: 5 Stars Romantic Chemistry: 5 Stars Spicy Scenes: 3 chili peppers Villain(s): 5 Stars Best: Really enjoyed the strength of the couple working together! I can get frustrated with the misunderstandings from lack of communication that drive plot conflict (majority of historicals). Majority of the conflict in THIS book is external and the heroine and hero desire to help each other succeed. Partially charmed with the descriptions of attempting to eat/enjoy food from the other one’s culture.

Things I loved about the author’s writing: - Character development and the love between the two main characters. It was so refreshing to read a novel that started and ended with love in mind. - the romance part of this novel is very well written and enthralling. I full heartedly love a good love scene. I also appreciated the use of, “less is more” when continuing their bedroom escapade until dusk! - The flashbacks were artistically placed! At times, it felt like reading a script from a movie. Even though the reader can recall the action that took place, the well timed flashbacks improved the storyline beautifully. - I enjoyed the language of this novel. It made me feel like the author respected the reader, in a way. They didn’t use lumpy, childlike descriptions and recognized the quality of writing someone might be looking for. I’ve struggled, in the past, finding an author with “smart” language, good storyline, AND good flow/pace to the story. This book has it! - The pace was nice, but I had wished we got more out of the ending of this book. Another 100 pages could have elevated the story even more in my opinion. Great read and the right mix of fantasy and romance.

And then go read a few more of this author's works. I have too many books to keep track of them all, and had no idea that some of them were Ms. Draven’s work until something about the style here felt familiar. Turns out I’ve purchased a half dozen e-books over the years and looking at them now as a collection for the first time, I enjoyed them all. I’ll go and re-read them as soon as I’ve finished reading the four other books of hers that I purchased as soon as I finished Radiance. She’s an author worth collecting if you’re a fan of fantasy worlds with interesting potential and an intimate focus on relationships. The style is almost gothic, with its appeal to drama and emotion, but not overdone. Reading this was a fulfilling adventure. It doesn’t delve too deeply into othering, but it touches on the concept with humor and hope. Some books put you into a different headspace and timing than you might have otherwise been, and this is one of those books for me. And Grace Draven might be a many-times published author, but she’s got a talent ninety percent of authors don’t, even the published ones. She is a magnificent storyteller.

Wow so good! I love stories where the love interests actually like each other the whole way through a novel. So cute and the banter between them is great. The author did a phenomenal job with their stories. I need more love stories like this, please!

I love the bond between them and how it deepens over the course of the story. I was so glad that there was never any resentment or anger between the two of them over being forced into the marriage. A lovely little love story!

I enjoyed this story, characters and humor. badly edited and sketchy in some needed plot details.