Eidolon (Wraith Kings Book 2)

‘Eidolon’ is the second book in the ‘Wraith Kings’ series. You really have to read the first book before reading this one, because it is the continuing story of Ildiko and Brishen (the couple of the first book).

OMG!! What a story this was!! I was a bit nervous when I started this book because I loved ‘Radiance’ so much. It’s one of my favourite paranormal books, so my expectations were very high for this book and to my delight, the writer made me love this book even more than ‘Radiance’. There were so much emotions in this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t stop. I read it in one day! Brishen and Ildiko are really my favourite couple, the way that they love each other, trust each other. It’s wonderful to see.

The story is again told in both POV’s. In this story Brishen has a few difficult decisions to make, not only for himself and Ildiko but also for his country. Because Brishen’s mother has done something terrible. She has brought galla (demons) to their world and to save their world, Brishen has to take great risks. But that isn’t even his ‘greatest’ problem. No! Because he’s the ruler of the Kai’s now, there is pressure from his people to provide for heirs, something that he can only do with a Kai woman, not with Ildiko, his human wife. So now, he doesn’t only has to save his people but he also has to fight for his marriage to Ildiko. Can he save both? Or will he only save his country to lose the love of his life?

If you loved ‘Radiance’ than you will love this story too. You could really feel the love between Brishen and Ildiko and their heartbreak for the situation they were in. Where they had to choose between their responsibility and their love for each other. It was emotional to read and you were really hoping that they could find a solution to stay together.

I’m hoping that we will get another story in this series soon. Fingers crossed!

An amazing conclusion to Ildiko and Brishen’s story!

This book picks up right where the first one left off and it did not disappoint. In this one we see Ildiko and Brishen make extremely tough choices about the kingdoms and their own futures. It was so emotional and heartbreaking I got teary eyed at some parts.

The Wrath Kings were fascinating and scary. I wouldn’t want to mess with them. I do wonder if we will get a story about Megiddo. I really want to know what’s going to happen to him.

Overall, I loved this series and will be reading more of Dravens books in the future

A great follow-up to Radiance. In this sequel, we get to know the main characters and some of the secondary characters a little better. Ildiko, Brishen, Anhuset, and Serovek (along with their friends) are put to the test, and make the ultimate sacrifice by going through a horrific ritual in order to protect their world from an evil threat. And during this ordeal, Ildiko and Brishen must face the real possibility of losing one another. If you enjoyed Radiance, then Eidolon is a must-read. Am eagerly awaiting the third book in this series!

Eidolon blew me away! I loved it more than book 1 and that is saying something. Where book 1 was slower and had very little action, angst, and drama; book 2 was fast pace, and full to the brim of magic, and action. Brishen really shined in this book. He was so strong and stead fast in this love for his wife, were as Ildiko was going to give him up for duty he wasn’t give her up. There was tons of drama in this book as Brishen’s mother the evil queen unleashed demons called the Galla on the world and they were killing everyone they came across. Poor Brishen was made King, as it was believed that his whole family was wiped out by demons.
Everyone is telling him not only did he have to stop the demons by dying and becoming the wraith king, and raising an army of the dead, they want him to give up his human wife, and marry a Kai woman that can give him an heir. This rough patch in their relationship almost tore my heart out. Both Brishen and Ildiko were dealing with so much, trying to stay strong all the while they were hurting deeply and in fear of losing each other.
I hated that Ildiko was willing to give up her husband so he could be king. I understand why and I could feel her pain but I do wish she would have fought for her love from the start. I love that Brishen wasn’t having any of that shit. He was willing to give up the throne before he would give up his wife. He fought for his love and for his kingdom. Even with all the bumps in the road of their marriage in this book I still loved them as a couple. Their love felt real, deep, and raw.
I really wished they could have had babies of their own, but I was glad that their love was enough either way. The plot of the Galla demons trying to wipe all life from the world, and Bristen and four other humans having to use magic to die an become wraith kings, raise dead to fight and seal the Galla back to were they came was awesome. It was Fantasy at its finest. Plus there was plenty of romance in the story to keep me happy. There was a side romance blooming with Anhuset and Serovek, even if Anhuset is prickly and tried to fight it. I seen that their book is next and I can’t wait! I am loving this series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

While I didn’t love this one as much as the first, I really appreciated how the story unfolded. I was on the edge of my seat, flipping pages so quickly, because I had to know how this would end. And what an ending it was.

Ildiko cupped Brishen’s face. “It’s so dark in here. Except for your eye, I can’t see you.” He kissed her, tracing her lips with the tip of his tongue, before sliding into her mouth to gently tease her tongue. When he pulled back, they were both gasping. “That’s not true,” he said between planting more kisses across her forehead, cheeks and nose. “Dark or not, you see me. From that first day in the gardens at Pricid—our wedding day—you’ve always seen me.”

This is the conclusion to Brishen and Ildiko story and this started where we left off in its predecessor with the Shadow Queen of Haradis in her quest for power unwittingly unleashing a living nightmare onto the populace of the land.
The Galla malevolent creatures of cruelty that feed on magic and leave nothing but a trail of death and destruction in their wake cut a path across the countryside hunting the fleeing Kai as they lay waste to all in their path, none is safe from these demons neither Kai or human stands a chance against the dark stain spreading and infecting the land.
The Humans and Kai now have to join forces to contain this threat to there very existence and as magic brought them forth so it must be used to banish them back into the dark abyss they sprang forth from.
The answer Wraith Kings of kai and human alike to summon the dead and coral the Galla back to whence they came.
There is also some added strife between Brishen and Ildiko brought forth because of there current circumstances and the weight of now holding the crown.

“Privilege,” she said gently, “gives the crown its shine. Duty gives it its weight. It’s because you are now king that you can’t do as you wish. The person you are—honorable, brave—will do what’s required.”

This has two separate story arcs on a collision course one the new king and his queen and what he must do to save his people and secure the crown and two palace guards escorting a nursemaid and her precious charge to safety.
Like the first book, this still felt very medieval in its setting and execution.
I adored the old day’s fantasy vibe it gave off.
The prose used here was just so beautifully lyrical and I appreciated this just as much as when I first read this a few years back.
This author just has such a way with words and has yet to produce anything yet that I haven’t adored.
As well as the action in this one this is also such an exquisite love story.

“I would have been content to live my life as just Brishen,” he whispered into her hair. “Who was loved by Ildiko.”

This duet is up there with my favourite reads of all time and is one I really do recommend highly.

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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