Radiance

I read Radiance about 5 years ago and it still is in my top 5 “read it to feel good” books. I love the language, the dialogue and sensible characters. It’s refreshing to read about two adults handling a difficult situation with grace and finding love in the process. Brishen and Ildiko are a wonderful couple.

I don't know about you but I am sick of fantasy romances where the male lead is a possessive control freak who can't go two pages without ruining the female lead's confidence or independence. Thankfully, this book was nothing like that. :) Brishen and Ildiko's lovestory is unique, heartwarming, and draws you in right from the start. And the best part is the story has more to it than just a romance. It has a distinct plotline. I am not much of a book reviewer, so I will ask you to trust the blurb. It's an accurate description of the story. In conclusion, this is like Beauty and the Beast where both the MCs think the other is hideous but fall in love with the person on the inside...until they both realize that the other was always beautiful. Their hearts saw it before their eyes did.

A beautiful friends to lovers inter - race fantasy story. I loved the fact that initially since both the protagonists were from different races - found each other ugly. They were loyal friends first and then lovers. And the entire journey has been crafted beautifully by Grace Draven. A must read. Please give this gem a try. And do read the other books by Grace Draven as well. Master of Crows is another masterpiece. :)

Hello Ms. Grace . This is an amazing book. I really loved it. The plot was quit intriguing. Please it's a request from me, kindly put your books on kindle unlimited. I really wish to read all of your novels, but their prices are very high for me. Please do consider.

Beautiful tale of mature love. Ildiko looks as hideous as a hag to Brishan's eyes while he looks like a nightmare to her. Yet they are wed to secure an alliance for their respective kingdom. One of the best slow burn romance that I have read, Radiance is poignant and lovely.

Friends at first sight, interspecies arranged marriage, in-laws drama, royalty politics, hot side characters, slow burn romance. Not top of the charts intensity for a slow burn. But else was a great read.

Human Gauri woman, Ildiko, is her king’s orphaned niece. The king chooses her husband. Brishen is prince of the Kai, a race of people with grey skin, penetrating eyes, knife-sharp fang teeth and razor sharp claws for fingernails. Kai are people of the night, blinded by the sun. They are not quite human. When they meet, Brishen is repulsed by Ildiko’s appearance, despite that she is a great beauty to humans. Her eyes in particular make his hairs stand on end. To him she is ugly. She considers him ugly right back. They are the spares in their respective kingdoms. She is a royal noble woman, he is 8th in line to be king. His royal parents therefore feel they can sacrifice him to a marriage with a human - made for political alliance and mutual benefits of both their kingdoms. Ildiko and Brishen both accept what is chosen for them, dreading their marriage. However, when they meet they become friends. They are funny, mature, protective, willing to learn all about the other, respectful, caring, and from friendship their love grows. The story is told in a beautiful, light writing style. I connected with both characters. Their love had a slow build and as they grew closer and loving, their sexual awareness grew too. I felt their first kiss and love scenes to be heart-warming and heart-thumpingly good. There is action, adventure, danger, gruesome battles, brutal torture and killings of people, awful villains and the mother of all nightmarish mothers-in-law. Some of this is not easy reading if you avoid violence in your reading preferences. Oh, and there’s magic in this fantasy world but used sparingly and to excellent effect. The book is a complete novel and ends with a satisfying HEA for this couple. If you want, you can leave this couple there. However, outside events arise that impact directly on their future. This is the impetus for a continuing novel featuring this couple. Ordinarily, I would groan and complain about being drawn into a story that continues into a second book. But here, I am delighted. I want more of this couple. I want to see them battle through and succeed in the next chapter of their lives. I loved everything about their dynamics, banter, loving, humour, and determination to accept their differences and get along. What a great book to draw parallels with racial, gender, religious, and socioeconomic differences in our modern world. I could not put this book down. It is so well written, the pacing is just right, the world building is easy to follow. The characters are so likeable that you want them to succeed and overcome evil and prejudice. This was my first novel by Grace Draven and I am wowed. I can’t wait for the next instalment. In the meantime, I’m exploring her back-catalogue. *Includes sex scenes