Via Justine De fant

Radiance

The Sleepy Press

By Grace Draven

January 11, 2015 • 297 pages

3.5 stars

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

What do you get when two protagonists find each other physically repulsive but must marry each other for the political good of their kingdoms? An endearing friends to lovers story that’s a far from your conventional romance. 

I absolutely adore the main characters in this novel. They are both kind, witty, and honorable people whose relationship grows naturally. There is not one toxic bone in their bodies, and it is a refreshing take on romance when physical attributes are not the driving force for connection. 

The plot of the story was pretty typical but because it wasn’t complex, there is a lot more room to focus on the characters and the world. There are deeper themes on beauty and family, and I found the Kai people and their culture fascinating. There are spicy scenes but the story itself isn’t filled with too much tension so I’d say it’s on the lighter side of fantasy romance. 

The relationship between the two main characters takes precedence in this book, but it is a trilogy so I expect a more conflict in the proceeding novels. The book ends on a cliffhanger, implying that the world is much more complex than you think. 

I only gave it a 3.5 because I’m personally a fan of enemies to lovers and look for tension in my romance novels, but Radiance is still a fun and quick summer read.

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Hi there! My name is Via and I reside on the beautiful island of Guam, where the ocean is about 10 to 15 minutes away from any standpoint and the sunsets are as breathtaking as the mosquitos are abundant. I graduated from the University of Guam with my B.A. and M.A. in Literature in the Fall of 2020. Roughly 6 years ago, I wrestled with the idea of starting this blog for no other reason than writer’s insecurity; but I told myself, “Fuck it dawg. Life’s a risk,” and haven’t regretted it since. For as long as I can remember, I have been an aspiring writer (I mean, what does that even mean, right?) and one of my goals is to become a published author. I’m not sure if that’s the path I’ll end up on, but I feel I owe it to myself to try. I’ve also learned that the key to bettering my craft is to open it up to criticism. So please feel free to interact with me and let me know what you enjoy reading or what you feel might need work. This blog, in many ways, is a record of what the universe is teaching me and a timeline of my progression both as a writer and as a regular person navigating her way through life. It is a privilege to share it with you. I’m a lot more active on my IG page: @a_coldroom_poetry. Feel free to check me out there!

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