~THE PRINCE OF NO VALUE~
Brishen Khaskem, prince of the Kai, has lived content as the nonessential spare heir to a throne secured many times over. A trade and political alliance between the human kingdom of Gaur and the Kai kingdom of Bast-Haradis requires that he marry a Gauri woman to seal the treaty. Always a dutiful son, Brishen agrees to the marriage and discovers his bride is as ugly as … as ugly as he expected and more beautiful than he could have imagined.
~THE NOBLEWOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE~
Ildiko, niece of the Gauri king, has always known her only worth to the royal family lay in a strategic marriage. Resigned to her fate, she is horrified to learn that her intended groom isn’t just a foreign aristocrat but the younger prince of a people neither familiar nor human. Bound to her new husband, Ildiko will leave behind all she’s known to embrace a man shrouded in darkness but with a soul forged by light.
Two people brought together by the trappings of duty and politics will discover they are destined for each other, even as the powers of a hostile kingdom scheme to tear them apart.
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Author’s note: this tale contains scenes of graphic intimacy.
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This is my favorite book in fantasy romance. In fact after reading this book only I got more interested in this genre. This is how I like any romance stories to be..not instant love based on just physical attraction but rather love which starts with friendship, caring and eventually develops into amazingly deep love for each other. Here the main characters being of different species, find each other physically repelling. Yet they find themselves married to each other for political advantage and eventually settle for friendly relationship. The author has a done a great job at world building and creating interesting characters. For anyone who is interested in this genre should definitely give this book a try.
I loved the medieval fantasy world setting of this book. I had been wanting to read one of Ms. Draven’s books for a while and I’m so glad I did. Radiance was a different kind of romance. The two leads are different species and absolutely do not find each other physically attractive, but the way they come together is so beautiful. It was really fun to watch the relationship between Ildiko and Brishen grow to a fever pitch and I can’t wait to read the second book in the Wraith Kings series now.
The way Ms. Draven takes two beings who are unlikely to have come together by choice, then creates a powerful bond that grows stronger through an epic tale, is inspiring.
This book makes me so happy! It’s a friendship to lovers story for the ages I tell you. Different worlds doesn’t even begin to cover explaining this relationship but the way they rely on and trust one another from the start starts an epic foundation that is the very foundation of the story of intrigue unfolding behind them. Can’t wait to continue on with the next book.
This story was so beautifully written. It’s a definitely a slow burn and focused very much on just the couple and a few other family/friends characters. I fell in love with Brishen. His obvious high esteem of Ildiko and his amazing character really made him shine. His soul seems so beautiful in the story. The cover on this is fantastic, too! Loved all of it! 5 stars
A beloved novel in the fantasy romance genre and one of my all-time favorites!
I was lucky enough to read Radiance years ago when Grace Draven first serialized it for her fans on her blog. It’s held a special place in my heart ever since.
Radiance is an arranged marriage romance set in an alternate world. I adore themes of diplomacy and court intrigue in fantasy, so I thoroughly enjoyed the political considerations surrounding the relationship.
Ildiko is a level-headed and resourceful heroine. She accepts that as the king’s niece, she’ll marry to further her people’s interests. But she didn’t bargain on her groom not being human.
Our hero, Brishen, comes from a fantasy race called the Kai. On the surface, he’s a gray-skinned creature with glowing eyes, fangs and claws. But Ildiko quickly discovers the honor and kindness in his heart.
Brishen is so many of my favorite tropes rolled into one swoon-worthy book boyfriend! All dark fantasy sexiness on the outside, pure beta hero on the inside.
He embraces his role as the spare prince, destined never to rule. He doesn’t come to the marriage as an alpha male taking charge or making decisions for Ildiko “for her own good.” He respects her views and ability, and he wants to build a partnership with her.
But don’t imagine a beto hero can’t be badass. Attempts to undermine the treaty give Brishen his chance to show how he fights for those he loves.
The heart of this novel is how the characters base their marriage on respect, which grows into friendship, desire and love. Expect a slow burn that rises to a hot, hot, hot steam level!
As they try to bring their lands together, Brishen and Ildiko discover the radiant beauty in each other, which transcends appearances and cultural differences.
Don’t miss this FaRo classic!
Radiance is a tender friends-to-lovers fantasy romance. An alliance is made with an arranged marriage between a prince of the Kai and the niece of a human king. Their relationship is built on honesty from the get-go. Not only do the two have to learn to look at each other without being repulsed, but they also have to learn about each other’s cultures. Together, they face the judgment of others and attempts on their lives. I felt a few lines got repeated more than was necessary but that might just be a preference thing. I also found a few lines worth highlighting. It’s a love story with memorable characters and the first book in a series.
What a story! I tend to stay away from romance because it’s not always my preferred genre, but every so often, I come across a real winner like this one! The characters were fun to follow, lighthearted and very fleshed out. I loved their dynamics together and a part. And then there was the story! It kept me so interested from start to finish. I loved the political elements, the mysteries…and that ending! You better believe I’m picking up book 2 ASAP!
One of the most beautiful characters ever existed.
This was so sweet and right up my alley. The romance was a sweet slow burn and I loved the world created here. It’s a great high fantasy world combined well with a sweet romance.
I loved this book. The cover is stunning and called me to take a look, the blurb intrigued me and then the story was a thing of beauty, unlike our two main characters lol!
Ildika, human niece of the Gauri King, is set to marry Brishen, second son and prince of the non-human, night loving Kai kingdom of Bast-Haradis. It’s an arrangement to benefit the two kingdoms, but one both are dreading on account of their very differing looks……
This is not insta love or lust, quite the opposite in fact! Human and Kai are repulsed by how the other looks physically and that is what made this book so different and refreshing. Ildika and Grishen are two very beautiful souls. Their relationship begins (despite the hardship of having to look at each other) and builds on a very solid base of friendship, mutual respect, honesty, openness and humour. The descriptions of their looks spoken openly to each other made me chuckle but also warmed my heart the more they got to know each other and started to realise the beauty on the inside far outweighed the apparent ugliness on the outside.
I really loved both these characters. Ildika was gentle and kind in nature, but shrewd and quick witted and made the perfect match to Grishen’s intelligent, caring, protective, loyal warrior personality and she adapted with strength and grace to a very difficult situation.
Theirs was a slow burn love, enthralling, easy to read, beautiful to behold and one that bloomed into a burning hot passionate connection.
Radiance, a fantasy romance story on the whole was a gentle stroll, even with the danger lurking mostly in the background. Not everyone was happy with their union, so the suspense and action gradually ramped up, especially in the last 20% and set up what I’m sure will be a much angstier second part with an evil enemy set to cause even more havoc.
I really enjoyed this, it made me feel warm inside the more I read and I can’t wait for more by this new to me author.
Sometimes I stubble upon a book with no knowledge of what is inside, the cover and blurb intrigue me so much I just have to start reading. Radiance looked right up my ally and I was hooked with the first pages. It was such a sweet story of friendship amongst loneliness. I felt for each of these races and the royalty they produced. Arranged marriage stories are a favorite of mine so much good tension can be worked into these stories. This was just a gently unfolding, nothing angsty or tension filled. I was a little shocked at some of the violence toward the end, because the whole feel of the book was not like that at all. There is also a sex scene for those who want that warning. That also came out of nowhere this book had a language and flow that did not suggest it would go so dark. It was like a YA story so I wasn’t expecting it. I enjoyed it a lot but probably won’t read the next. The love story is wrapped up and all I can foresee in the next story is a lot of violence. The 3rd story is about different characters and that looks interesting but probably wouldn’t make sense without the 2nd book.
This is my first fantasy romance, and, WOW! I was immediately immersed in the world, and the characters had me invested from page 1. It’s filled with action and romance, and I couldn’t put it down. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.
I love that this book showcases how a romance can grow out of kindness, honest communication, loyalty, and an authentic revelation of self. The characters in this book made my heart glow. I adored it.
I don’t reread many books, but This is one I reread with regularity. It speaks in a unique way to racism and prejudice, and is just a great story overall.
Radiance by Grace Draven is the first book in the Wraith Kings series and exactly what I didn’t realize I needed! I love fantasy, and I love romance. Grace Draven blends the two genres for Radiance. I devoured it. Unlike any I’ve ever read, I fell head over heels in love with the two main characters, their relationship, and the world-building. Gah! That world-building is fantastic. I have every intention of reading the sister series set in the same world. Radiance is a story of obligation, friendship, and love between two people of different races that should be repulsed by each other.
Ildiko is the orphaned niece of the Gauri King and set to wed the youngest prince of the Kai when the story opens. She’s resigned to this fate and slightly scared. The Kai are not known as kind people. They aren’t even human. They are a nocturnal Elder race, with sharp claws and pointy teeth that remind Ildiko of wolves with her as their prey. When she comes across a Kai in the palace gardens before her wedding, he puts her at ease. He is kind with a quick wit, reminding her that even though his appearance may scare her, they aren’t that different. This Kai happens to be her betrothed.
Brishen is the spare prince, the youngest of the Kai king and not in line for the throne. He always knew that his marriage would be one of political gain, not for love. Before the ceremony, he takes a few minutes in the palace gardens and encounters an enchanting human. While he finds her repulsive, he also admires her courage, wit, and mind. Learning she is to be his wife, he finds himself at peace. She may not give him children, but they can form a friendship, if not a true marriage one day.
I love both Ildiko and Brishen. Ildiko adapts quickly to her new home and her husband. He isn’t what she expected. He’s kind, empathetic, and a true gentleman. He puts her needs before his own and is fiercely protective of her. Brishen is everything you might want in a husband even if you couldn’t stand his looks. Their relationship is one built on friendship, and the romance is a true slow burn. I found myself falling for them before they fell for each other. I love how the author conveys their relationship. It’s believable and strong as a result.
Overall, I devoured Radiance. I loved Ildiko and Brishen. My heart ached for them as they adapted and got to know one another. I highly recommend this fantasy romance for anyone that enjoys a slow burn.
“I’m not human, wife,” he whispered into the darkness. Shock rounded his eyes at Ildiko’s response, slurred with sleep and nearly incoherent. “But you’re still mine, husband.”.
So this is a reread, I absolutely devoured this duet first time around so a reread was always on the cards with this one.
Sometimes a second going through can be disappointing and doesn’t have the same original impact.
Well, I am so pleased to say that was not the case here, I bloody devoured and adored this just as much this time around.
This is up there with my favourite reads of all time a beautiful love story that resonates with such care and adoration, love and acceptance.
I could actually feel the emotion resounding off the page at me.
I also adored the lyrical quality that ran through the narrative here it’s one of my favourite aspects of this book, the language here used is just so descriptive and charming in its deliverance.
Theirs was an agreement based on the beginnings of friendship, respect and an intuitive understanding of each other that still left him slack-jawed with amazement. He refused to taint that accord by inviting vulgar conjecture.
So this is most definitely a fantasy novel one set in a fictional universe but if you like historical fiction this really did have a medieval feel to the whole story.
If it wasn’t for the Kai themselves and the magic this could have been any arranged marriage back in the days of old.
The setting, the weaponry the day to life this very much had that flavour about it.
The premise here is simple an arranged marriage between two separate royal households to cement an alliance and as a gesture of good faith.
But in this case, we actually have two separate species: Ildiko is human and all that entails and Brishen is Kai not so much.
Brishen has grey skin, unmoving yellow eyes long claws that can slash his enemies to ribbons and scarily sharp teeth with fangs.
He moves by night: Ildiko by day opposite ends of the spectrum.
“Woman of day,” he said slowly. “You mean everything to me.” No amount of blinking this time held back Ildiko’s tears. They streamed down her cheeks to drip off her chin and onto Brishen’s shoulder. “Prince of night,” she said in a watery voice that echoed another moment when she’d greeted him with the same words. “You’ve come back to me.”
Ildiko and Brishen where do I start, I loved these two Lovers from such different cultures both open-minded and willing to bridge the gap between two very different species the humans and the kai, loved seeing these two very different people fall for each other their personality’s and character shone through, both managing to find the beauty in each other’s differences it was wonderful to be an observer in there melding of hearts.
This is not a high angst tale and I really did appreciate the simplicity of there connection.
That’s not to say nothing happens here, there is plenty of action but it’s mostly confined to what’s going on around our newlyweds.
I don’t really want to give to much away within the storyline but there was definitely enough here to keep me turning the pages and also go back for a second read.
I only re-read books again that have touched me in some special way and this is one of those times.
I really can’t wait to read the next book after that fantastic finale.
Funnily enough, I myself have my own kai at home my 11-year-old son no sharp teeth and claws on him through.
Give this book a chance it really is one I recommend highly.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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I really hoped that this book would be exciting, but after reading it I’m kind of disappointed, which makes me even more disappointed since I really wanted to like this book. I mean, I really liked the idea behind this story and, honestly, I had no big problems with it and there was some interesting parts.
It was unique in the way that the lovers found each other ugly, which I really liked, mostly because many other books describes the head characters as beautiful and they fall in love in first sight. This book however was not that cliche and that’s what made it unique. Ildiko and Brishen had to get to know each other before any romantic feelings could develop and they had to get past their differences in looks. I especially liked how they explained human eyes as scary. It makes me wonder how aliens would see us humans as, and weirdly enough, it made the book more realistic. We are so used to perspectives from a humans point of view that we can’t ever really know how a nonhuman would interpreted us, but this book gave a pretty good idea of how we look for an “outsider”.
Even the author’s writing is good with the formulations, metaphors and general storytelling. The reason however, as to why I couldn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to is the fact that it misses that flare and drama to get lost in the world the story is painting for us. For me, the relationship was pretty dull and drama free. There were no disagreements between the lovers and they pretty much liked each other from the very beginning. Even though I get behind the idea of love growing over time, there just wasn’t any excitement in their relationship. They liked each other all the time with no arguments, no twists or turns and no drama to add that flare the book needed. What made it worse was the fact that very little happened in the book except in the end. The story was built to make you follow their evolving feelings for one another, but since not much was happening there either it made the book over all forgettable and a bit dull.
I see potential in this author and even though I couldn’t get behind this book I can see why many others likes it. I’m not saying “do not read”, I’m saying try it out and create your own opinion of the story and understand that this is just my own view of the book. I myself am content with not continuing reading this series, but I’m happy that I gave this book a shot.
I was totally sucked into this book. Great writing and world building. Characters developed as the plot thickened. It’s the first in the series, so I expect I will be hurrying off for book 2.
Love this book it’s one of my favorites! I highly recommend this!!!!!!