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lilithmoon 's review for:
Radiance
by Grace Draven
...It just wasn't that great in my opinion. I can see why so many people loved the story but I feel like there were lots of big issues I just couldn't get past enough to look back and say that I think this was a good book. I had lots of thoughts and feelings while reading so this is quote long...
Starting with things I did like...
They are spare heirs which makes them both different to the stereotypical royal couple and this isn't as often explored in books so I did appreciate this unique take. It tells the story of characters who are forced to uphold their roles and marry to form an alliance but they aren't entirely dictated by the societal expectations thrust upon them so they act pretty independently. Demonstrated by...
I did enjoy the fact that they weren't attracted to each other because they are different races. It wasn't something I had read lots of before in young adult fantasy books and it was refreshing not to have they constantly describe how attractive the other is. It allowed for their relationship to form because of mental attractiveness rather than just superficial beauty. This was later undermined by
They are honest to each other from the start and this was both a good and bad thing in my opinion. On the one hand, it's always good to see a relationship based on honesty in young adult books but on the other hand it also seemed out of place for members of royal families to immediately be so honest with each other. It seemed to be counter intuitive for them to start insulting each other as they were both brought up in settings where emphasis was placed on social decorum. I would have appreciated it a lot more if this honesty had developed over time rather than just being so immediate for no real explainable reason.
Another thing I liked was the detailed explanations of the differences between the Kai and Gauri people, both cultural and physical. This led to a more detail story and the unique idea of two drastically difference races being in an arranged marriage was a unique storyline that I haven't come across before.
The issues I just couldn't get over...
Very early on we learn Idako's parents have been dead since she was young and the way it is initially brought up made me think it was going to be a substantial part of her character development or something important to the story but it is never mentioned again... leaving me wonder what happened there, does it come up in a later book in the series? Brishen also has problems like this in his characterisation. His brothers are mentioned maybe twice in the whole story and we learn very little about his past making him lack depth as well. Neither of them ever discuss any or contemplate any meaningful issue going on in their lives.
Idako also leaves the court of Gauri and pretty much doesn't care at all. The given reason for this is that she doesn't like the court but Idako seems almost instantly connected to people yet we are supposed to believe she just had no friends or anyone she liked enough to even think about once after leaving. I think it would have added depth to her character if she had missed parts of her old life so it seems like a missed opportunity that this wasn't brought up more. What I didn't like about Idako's character in general, was that she was fine with everything in her life completely changing. I understand that she was raised to expect to be married off but she had no bad emotional responses to having to adapt to the Kai world which was compared as being the literal night vs day to her culture. I wanted her to have a more realistic and relatable reaction to such a significant change in her life but sadly we didn't get that. Some longing for something she can't have anymore would have made this a less 'squeaky clean' story. (The most we got was her not liking on of the meals the Kai ate.)
We are told initially that they find each-other hideous but from the second they meet, Brishen is constantly touching Idako, wanting to be with her and thinking about how amazing she is and this just annoyed me. I would have loved if their relationship had been much more of a slow build as that would have left me feeling like their loving relationship was deserved but everything (relationship wise) went right for them the whole time.
This story went from dealing with no dark themes, choosing instead to look at everything in a positive light, to suddenly having some really messed up stuff happen...
My final thoughts...
I don't feel motivated to continue reading this series because of the issues I found in the first book.
It is a good book to read if you are looking for something short and easy which will give the enjoyment of a predictable love story. However, I feel that continuing reading won't convince me to love this series any more than I do at the moment.
Starting with things I did like...
They are spare heirs which makes them both different to the stereotypical royal couple and this isn't as often explored in books so I did appreciate this unique take. It tells the story of characters who are forced to uphold their roles and marry to form an alliance but they aren't entirely dictated by the societal expectations thrust upon them so they act pretty independently. Demonstrated by...
Spoiler
the fact she isn't a maiden before her wedding night or displayed by they way they live away from the royal court and aren't expected to have kids because the Kai royalty already have a secured family line.I did enjoy the fact that they weren't attracted to each other because they are different races. It wasn't something I had read lots of before in young adult fantasy books and it was refreshing not to have they constantly describe how attractive the other is. It allowed for their relationship to form because of mental attractiveness rather than just superficial beauty. This was later undermined by
Spoiler
the part when she first sees him undressed because she just magically realises he is actually gorgeous which doesn't make all that much sense because it's implied she just suddenly likes him because she realises he is fit. She also makes lots of references to understanding that Kai women would find him attractive implying she sort of finds him attractive the whole time.They are honest to each other from the start and this was both a good and bad thing in my opinion. On the one hand, it's always good to see a relationship based on honesty in young adult books but on the other hand it also seemed out of place for members of royal families to immediately be so honest with each other. It seemed to be counter intuitive for them to start insulting each other as they were both brought up in settings where emphasis was placed on social decorum. I would have appreciated it a lot more if this honesty had developed over time rather than just being so immediate for no real explainable reason.
Another thing I liked was the detailed explanations of the differences between the Kai and Gauri people, both cultural and physical. This led to a more detail story and the unique idea of two drastically difference races being in an arranged marriage was a unique storyline that I haven't come across before.
The issues I just couldn't get over...
Very early on we learn Idako's parents have been dead since she was young and the way it is initially brought up made me think it was going to be a substantial part of her character development or something important to the story but it is never mentioned again... leaving me wonder what happened there, does it come up in a later book in the series? Brishen also has problems like this in his characterisation. His brothers are mentioned maybe twice in the whole story and we learn very little about his past making him lack depth as well. Neither of them ever discuss any or contemplate any meaningful issue going on in their lives.
Idako also leaves the court of Gauri and pretty much doesn't care at all. The given reason for this is that she doesn't like the court but Idako seems almost instantly connected to people yet we are supposed to believe she just had no friends or anyone she liked enough to even think about once after leaving. I think it would have added depth to her character if she had missed parts of her old life so it seems like a missed opportunity that this wasn't brought up more. What I didn't like about Idako's character in general, was that she was fine with everything in her life completely changing. I understand that she was raised to expect to be married off but she had no bad emotional responses to having to adapt to the Kai world which was compared as being the literal night vs day to her culture. I wanted her to have a more realistic and relatable reaction to such a significant change in her life but sadly we didn't get that. Some longing for something she can't have anymore would have made this a less 'squeaky clean' story. (The most we got was her not liking on of the meals the Kai ate.)
We are told initially that they find each-other hideous but from the second they meet, Brishen is constantly touching Idako, wanting to be with her and thinking about how amazing she is and this just annoyed me. I would have loved if their relationship had been much more of a slow build as that would have left me feeling like their loving relationship was deserved but everything (relationship wise) went right for them the whole time.
Spoiler
Not a single fight fight the entire story which isn't expected of normal healthy relationships, let alone arranged marriages between different races!This story went from dealing with no dark themes, choosing instead to look at everything in a positive light, to suddenly having some really messed up stuff happen...
Spoiler
Brishen being tortured was not a direction I saw this book taking at all. It came completely out of left field and what was even more unexpected was how he dealt with this traumatic event... by not caring at all. He had his eye and claws removed and didn't have a hint of PTSD, not a single detrimental psychological effect, even when his mother brought him his severed eye to him in a box. Seems unrealistic...My final thoughts...
I don't feel motivated to continue reading this series because of the issues I found in the first book.
It is a good book to read if you are looking for something short and easy which will give the enjoyment of a predictable love story. However, I feel that continuing reading won't convince me to love this series any more than I do at the moment.