Radiance

Wraith Kings, Volume 1

By: Grace Draven

Narrated by: Gabrielle Baker

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

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 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.

©2014 Denise Shaw (P)2015 Denise Shaw

Great story, but sex maybe too graphic for YA?

Just a warning: there are some quite graphic and detailed love scenes in this book which I posit may be a little too intense for younger readers/listeners.

Although the love-story aspect is pivotal to the book, I almost felt like the sex scenes - though more-or-less well-written - were gratuitious.

Also, I found the sexy slang a bit grating at times; a bit immature. The word 'cock' was used too often. I kind of wondered how Gabrielle Baker read it through with a straight face (or voice?), but kudos to her, she narrated those scenes with conviction. Although her lisp, though cute, doesn't really lend itself to sensuousness... Sorry.

I do get that the author probably thought using the actual binomial nomenclatures of body parts would seem too clinical and ruin the mood.

love it

I've listened to this a couple of times now. I really enjoy the fun, honest way the main characters interact and how those relationship develops sweetly over time.

Great story, hard to get over the lisp

Absolutely loved this story, however, the lisp of the narrator was hard to get over. The narrator did a great job with the voices, but the lisp was a little distracting.

Lovely

I loved the first 4 chapters ... probably my favorite. I have listened to it many times.. The story is lovely, and cant help but love the characters.

Delightful!!

A very welcome change of pace from the routine romance novel. Quite charming and refreshing.

One of my favorites!!

This is a great story about love true love. I enjoyed this story so much! When the H meets the h they both express how unattractive they find the other. But they are both kind and respectful of each other. And you get to watch as they get to know each other on a deeper level. There is action and adventure...and swoon worthy moments. The story is so well written. And the narration is awesome!! This was my second time to read this one. I loved it just as much as the first time.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Often I am on the fence about "arranged relationship" stories as one, or both, of the characters may spend a significant amount of time agonizing over the unfairness of the arrangement and that can be annoying, depending on the amount of time devoted to the character(s) angst. However, in reading the reviews for Radiance, one of the reviewers indicated this was not the case in this book...so I took a chance. I am so glad I did, enjoying the book on its own and also as the start to a new series.

Arranged marriages are commonplace at the time of this story and our H/H have been aware all of their lives that this will most likely be their fate. Brishen is a second son and prince of the Kai while Ildiko is a niece to the king of her people; neither of them is considered worthy of a prime marital alliance, but they are suitable to marry each other in order to seal the war and trade agreement between their kingdoms. This particular arrangement brings our H/H additional uncertainty as the kingdoms represent different races; Kai are not human, bringing a legacy of magic, grey skin, glowing eyes, fangs and claws. They are unsettling to Ildiko's kingdom of humans and neither race finds the other physically attractive.

Brishen and Ildiko marry and begin by making a pact to be honest with each other. As they leave Ilkido's kingdom to travel to Brishen's family, they soon discover qualities to admire in the other, enjoy spending time together and, as life brings them challenges, they realize their knowledge of the other overshadows their initial perceptions and each becomes devoted to the other. I became devoted as well...to Brishen's humility and strength and Ildiko's sense of humor, adaptability and curiosity. Each character knew their own worth and there was a great dynamic between them.

And let me also mention there is a wealth of detail pertaining to medieval costumes, habits and warfare as well as intrigue, suspense, interesting secondary characters, and more questions to answer in future books! IMO, a creditworthy listen!

A Radiant Book!

My first experience with "Radiance" was to read it. I love paranormal romances and particularly stories of different worlds and creatures. I loved this book. It is one of my all time favorite romances. The story line is excellent. The romance is a delightful discovery of affection and love between two different creatures. When I heard that an audio book existed I purchased it right away. So I enjoyed the audio version just as well. Gabrielle Baker is an excellent story teller. Can't wait for the sequel.

Guilty Pleasure

Loved this! This is a fairy tale, steamy romance, polticial, and action novel. If that makes sense. The romance is believable and blooms over time so that when the steamy parts do come they aren't harsh, instead they just seam perfectly placed. I love the characters, I love the descriptions, and I love love love the love between Brishen and Ildiko. Definitely a story for a tad older audience (not kids/preteens). But also genuinely beautiful and intelligent.

😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

This was sooool goood!!!!!!
The characters were never boring! And for once we have vanity at the back burner and true pure love deep from the should be on the front!!!!!
Already finished the second book too! Just came back to give this review!

Excellent narration!

RECOMMENDED BOOK FOR SURE!!!!!