Book Review: Radiance (Wraith Kings #1)

I just recently read a book, and I must share it with all the people that frequent our page. This book had me thirsting for more and more with every page that I turned. Set in a world where humans and nonhumans coexist just made this book that more interesting and I was super excited that the writer of this book had written another.

Ildiko is a beautiful human woman with warm skin and fiery red hair that was born into the Guiri king's family, she is his niece and has no real value until she is married off to someone to secure contracts or bind other lands together. Brishen Khaskem is a dark gray presence that has fangs as teeth. Brishen and ldiko are very much in the same boat as he too is born into a royal family as a prince with many other siblings in front of him in the line of succession.  These are two people of no real importance other than to marry for diplomatic means.

As they both have become very aware that they are to be wed one day to a stranger they surprisingly enough have become so accepting of this fact that it was just something that eventually would come to be. However, as a shock to both, especially Ildko she is surprised to find out that not only will her future husband be an unknown person from a distant land but that he would not be human either.

These two strangers must be married to seal a treaty between the both of their lands for political alliance and trade. Having no choice and Ildiko and Brishen being the loyal people that they are to their kingdom they go on with the forced arranged marriage without any complaints and it goes smoothly astonishingly enough.  I did have a chuckle though at the very beginning of the book, and after I read it and burst out laughing, I knew this book was for me. Ildiko and Brishen had met in the courtyard before they were intended to be married and had no idea that either one of them was to be their intended.

You find me ugly, don’t you?

Hideous. A hag of a woman. And you? You don’t think me a handsome man?

Had you crawled out from under my bed when I was a child; I would have bludgeoned you to death with my father’s mace.

How would this not entice someone to read more?! I thought it was light fun banter that danced alongside charming and morbid, but because it was melancholic that is what made it right up my alley, and I think others would enjoy it too.

After they are married, they travel back to Kai lands Ildiko is thrown into a new land, new people, customs, and food. This would be daunting for most, but Ildiko makes due and presses forward. As her name does mean, a fierce warrior, I would imagine no less from her. Her mother-in-law, of course, is the stereotypical horrific new family addition but in a terrifying way because Kai are physically strong and can crush bone without even flinching.

Ildiko’s new found inhuman husband, however, is aware that his new bride will need help adapting to her new home she helps in every way possible while maintaining the playful morbid banter I described earlier. As this book moves forward, we follow this new found odd couple on a journey of self-awareness, exploration, and perils that seem to surround them and want to destroy them.

The sex scenes are long and very detailed; however, it did take a long time to get to them as you would expect because they had to get to know each other and each thinks the other is hideous. It’s interesting, to say the least how it all plays out but It does, and the author wrote it out so well that it was captivating and not clichéd at all.

The erotic nature of this book paired with the battle scenes plays to the reader’s animalistic primal needs leaving us fulfilled and read the second book. If I had to rate this book I would give it a 4 out of 5 because I think it has a delightful story, love scenes are very sensual and itis a light read that can be finished within a short amount of time. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for an enjoyable read and an enjoyable time.

~Evette Suarez