Gaslight Hades by Grace Draven

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Wanting a little bit of a change of pace in the Romance Takeover Readathon - Light v. Dark, I decided to pick up Gaslight Hades by Grace Draven next. This is the first book in her Bonekeeper Chronicles series and worked to cover both second change and fantasy. Gaslight Hades also worked perfect to cover the Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo prompt steampunk and Summer of Swoon 2nd board prompt indie romance.

Lenore has just lost her father and is waiting to make sure his body in properly interred by the graveyard workers. As she waits, the Guardian of this location shows up to observe the proceedings as well. She is frightened by him, but also intrigued. She approaches him to make sure he will be on the lookout to keep her father's body from being stolen by the ressurectionists. Lenore gets a feeling of familiarity with the Guardian, but writes it off. What she doesn't know is that when her former lover Nathaniel died, his soul was moved into a new body and created to be a Bonekeeper Guardian. As they find themselves drawn together again and again, Nathaniel, going by Colin, joins Lenore on an airship test run to watch over her.

This is the first steampunk fantasy I've read in a while and this was so much fun! I loved really getting into this new world by Grace Draven. It was a little bit info-dumpy at times, but it didn't feel too dry for me. Maybe because I read a lot of historical and have read some steampunk before some of it felt more of a refresher. I can see if you are new to either of those sub-genres that it might be a little much, so I just want to put that little warning out there. Otherwise I thought the magic behind the Bonekeepers was super unique and I'm intrigued to read more set in this world. I hope all of the Bonekeepers end up with books (even though we really only meet one or two others). Honestly, the only reason I didn't give this the full five-stars is I wanted more from the romance department. I just wish we saw more of the little moments between them. This is more long novella length though, so maybe if we got a little closer to the 200 page mark I might've gotten everything that I wanted.

This was super fun and I can't wait to read more in this series. There's already a cover for the second book in the series but it hasn't been posted yet. I will pick up anything that Grace Draven writes, but I loved how unique this felt compared to her other works. I can't recommend her enough! If you are working your way through her backlist as well, don't put Gaslight Hades off. I myself am sad I didn't pick it up earlier this year during FaRoFeb.

Have you read Gaslight Hades?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Gaslight Hades, Grace Draven, 4.5-stars, 0 days, eBook, 144 pages, published in 2015, indie published

Master of Crows by Grace Draven

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 I decided for June 2022 to start doing a tbr as part of a revamp of my Booktube Channel. I had prompts with multiple options: backlist author, new to me author and continue a series. For backlist author I ended up choosing Grace Draven! A favorite fantasy author of mine, I decided to pick up Master of Crows. This is the first book in her Master of Crows series (and is set in the same world as The Wraith Kings!). I was able to use this for Summer of Swoon to cover the prompt indie romance and the Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo to cover the prompt takes place in a made up country.

Silhara is the Master of Crows, a mage with a lot of magic power. He is fighting off becoming the avatar for the god Corruption. As Corruption continues to try to seduce and blackmail Silhara giving in to his power, he starts looking for ways to defeat the god once again. He reaches out to the Conclave for help, specifically an apprentice that can read/translate ancient languages. Martise is brought to be his apprentice, but that's not all. She's also expected to spy on Silhara for the Conclave and report anything they can use to finally be rid of him once and for all. Also asked is for Silhara to try to figure out what Martise's magic gift is and activate it. As Silhara and Martise work together in the library and tending his orange grove, they start to become close. Silhara guessed she was a spy from the beginning, but as he starts to see who she really is, he struggles with falling for the woman sent to spy on him and is worried that if he has to kill her, he won't be able too.

I have to say, this one took a little longer for me to really sink into. I think you can tell it's an earlier book by Grace because it doesn't quite grab you as much as other books I've read from her. I think once we got the setup done and through the first little bit where Silhara and Martise aren't interacting as much, things started to pick up. I loved that they had this push and pull relationship. Silhara is such a grump with Martise, partly because he knows she's a spy and partly because he keeps finding himself drawn to her. Every time they start to get close he gets grumpy and pushes her away, but we see that he is just so torn on wanting her but also trying to protect himself and her from the influence Corruption is trying to enforce. For me, things really starting picking up once they started working together in the orange grove, but really got going once they went to "visit the lich."

I also loved the mystery and delve into what kind of magical gift that Martise had and how it manifests for the first time. I also love how when she finally is able to tap into her magic and Silhara asks her to bond with him so he can learn more about it she completely opens up to him and allows almost too much; she practically drains herself. The way that she pushed back and really forced him to allow her to help, even knowing what could happen was just so awe-inspiring. She was more than happy to make the sacrifice to bring down Corruption. I do have to say though, I do wish there a little more emphasis on the romance and it felt more romantic overall.

I'm so happy to read more of Grace Draven and have another book of her backlist done! She's one of my favorite fantasy romance authors and I always love getting lost in the worlds she creates. While I understand why a lot of people don't like this one as much, especially when compared with Radiance, I think this is a beautiful and special fantasy romance in it's own right. It's just a different vibe and an earlier work. If you've enjoyed a lot of Grace's other books, definitely give this a try. Just try to temper your expectations a little.

Have you read Master of Crows?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Master of Crows, Grace Draven, 4-stars, 4 days, Paperback, 392 pages, published in 2009, indie published

Sunday's Child by Grace Draven

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With one prompt left for FaRoFeb, I needed to find a FaRoFeb author. I also wanted to cover a prompt for the 2nd board of Winter's Kiss, but it was harder to find one that would also cover a holiday or winter prompt. When I found Sunday's Child, a holiday novella by Grace Draven, I was so happy! You don't see fantasy romance holiday novellas too often if at all. I did end up using this for the holiday romance prompt for Winter's Kiss.

Andor is trouble for sleeping with his king and uncle's mistress. When he receives a thousand year exile he gets paired with Saint Nicholas on Midgard (a.k.a. Earth). One night when assisting with Christmas duties (as Santa Claus) they come across Claire, a young girl that is a Sunday Child. She has the excess magic to see through Andor's "Santa's Elf" glamour to his real elf self. For Sunday Children the magic slowly fades if not exercised, usually along with their belief in magic and Santa. When Andor runs into Claire years later as an adult, he's immediately drawn to her. As they start a tentative relationship, Claire is worried about starting something new. Her last relationship didn't end too well and is left as a single mother to an autistic son. As they get closer and Andor befriends her son, his exile has come to an end a decade too early.

I really enjoyed this, but it is Grace Draven. However, this one was a little more confusing. I'm still not a hundred percent sure what's going on, but I feel like Andor is a mix of Norse mythology and Fae. Then we threw in Christian mythos with the original Saint Nicholas and then how he became Santa. It just was a little much and I think it could've been less confusing since almost all of the story took place with Nicholas. I really liked how Andor and Claire connected and it felt like a quick coworkers to friends to lovers. I also loved the way that Andor was able to connect to Claire's son and how he was able to be both understanding.

I also could've used more of the fantastical elements outside of Andor just being non-human. I was a little disappointed that it became Andor giving up his specialness instead of sharing it with Claire and her son. I also could've used more focus on them together. We do get a romance between them that's really sweet with a little bit of steam, but I feel like the beginning and ending more focused on Andor specifically. It wasn't a typical HEA type ending and I did want Claire to join Andor and her son when he made fireflies for him for Christmas. I just wish that Claire was included.

I still loved it overall, but it just didn't feel as complete as some of the other novellas I've read from Grace. I will certainly continue to read her and I can mark another book off of my backlist list for her! If you are looking for the rare holiday fantasy romance novella, certainly pick this up.

Have you read Sunday's Child?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Sunday's Child, Grace Draven, 4-stars, 0 days, eBook, 127 pages, published in 2017, indie published

The Undying King by Grace Draven

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I knew going into the Black FaRoFriday Readathon I wanted to get to one of my favorite fantasy romance authors, Grace Draven. I also had one prompt left for the 2nd board of Fall in Love, brown on the cover. I went through the books I had of hers to read and found The Undying King. This is a novella that originally was released in a duo bind up with Jeffe Kennedy called For Crown and Kingdom. For the Black FaRoFriday Readathon, this covered the prompts Epic Fantasy, Witches, Post a Cover Pic & Tag FaRoFeb and Historical Setting.

Imogen is taking care of her adoptive mother Niamh. As she is close to passing, she tells her daughter that the stories she heard growing up about The Undying King are actually true. She had taken care of him when injured before Imogen was born and received a key that would lead to him when needed. She passes the key along to her daughter with the hope that he can help with Imogen's curse. Known as Death's Handmaiden, Imogen cannot have skin to skin contact with anyone. If there is contact, the other person dies. After Niamh passes, Imogen accidentally activates the key and knows that she has to track Cededra down, if only to take the key back.

This was such a great novella. I am so impressed with Grace Draven, especially with her novellas. Do I wish it was longer? Yes, but only because I love her writing and the worlds she creates. I think that she plots out her novellas super well so while I'm left wanting more, the story still feels wrapped up and complete. There's definite room for more in the world and even with Cededra and Imogen, but at the same time I can see them living their HEA in secluded Tineroth. 

There was some time jumps here, which doesn't bother me as much here. They felt natural and if this were a movie or TV show I could see where the time jumps were as montages. We don't really need to see Imogen wandering the ruins day after day by herself. I liked seeing the moments between Cededra and Imogen and how they both were really able to open up to each other. While Imogen was innocent for the most part, Niamh did try to at least keep her learned about the relationship between men and women. I loved that even though they both ran from each other at times, they both came around. It really felt almost fated mates-esque and I loved it. The way that they were drawn to each other based on their unique experiences was so nice to see from both POVs.

I can't wait to continue reading Grace Draven and just fall more in love with her writing with every step. If you are interested in trying Grace Draven, I feel like this is a good starting point. The magic system isn't too complicated here and it's a quick read. If you enjoy fantasy and haven't tried Grace Draven yet, I couldn't recommend her more!

Have you read The Undying King?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

Statistics: The Undying King, Grace Draven, 5-stars, 1 day, eBook, 190 pages, published in 2016

The King of Hel by Grace Draven

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As with the previous couple books I've read, I continued looking for books that fit unfulfilled prompts for Bang in the Night Bingo. I ended up finding The King of Hel by Grace Draven. This works for the prompts Hades and Persephone retelling. I'm not quite counting it, but it could also cover for I put a spell on you if you are needing something with magic. I also used this for the Fall in Love board two prompt illustrated cover. Let's be honest for a second, not only does Grace Draven have some of the best covers, but these are the best kind of illustrated covers (in my opinion). So freaking pretty.

Castil is best friends with the betrothed to the King of Helenrisia. When he shows up to marry and take her back to his home, Doranis meets Castil. She is a scribe and acurately translates a broach. While Doranis spends a lot of time with Castil before the wedding going over scrolls. Many of the other people avoid Doranis as he's been marked with the magic of the Waste. Castil doesn't and they become close. When Castil receives a letter from her friend worried about giving birth and feeling like she's dying, she leaves for Helenrisia.

Oh my gosh. First off, at this point Grace Draven can do no wrong in my eyes. This short story/novella is only 51 pages. Once again, only 51 pages and I was completely transported and drawn into this new world. I'm not sure if some of her other novellas or stories are set in this same world, but I want more. The pacing was so well done here and outside of just wanting more, the story didn't really need more for me to trust in the HEA. There were a couple time jumps here, but it didn't bother me much. I don't want to go too much into it since it is so short. 

If you are looking for a quick, steamy and fun fantasy romance definitely check this out. I love Grace Draven's writing and need to definitely get through more of her backlist. I hoping to get some more off my list come February for FaRoFeb.

Have you read The King of Hel?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: The King of Hel, Grace Draven, 5-stars, 0 days, eBook, 51 pages, published in 2005

A Wilderness of Glass by Grace Draven

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The last story I had in Grace Draven's Wraith King series was A Wilderness of Glass. This is novella set in the same world, but back in the village that we were introduced to in The Night Tide. There isn't an official number I've seen for this, but it was published before The Ippos King in the Anthology Seasons of Sorcery.

I read this as a stand-alone, although I'd love to have a physical copy of all of this series. Before I get too much into my review, can I first say that I absolutely love these covers. The artwork is so gorgeous. So I knew going in we'd have a difference species (race?), but I was pleasantly surprised it was a merman and human woman romance. I think I've read mermaid romance before, but one of the couple is always able to transform. Here they aren't (although we are introduced to the idea that magic can turn either of them), and I weirdly enjoyed it. I also found it very intriguing that Ahtin had more of a dolphin style tail and that he was more physically compatible with Brida than expected.

I have read alien romances before, but this felt different. A lot of the alien romances I've read still had the "alien" species at least mostly humanoid. This was not and maybe more similar to monster romance? I'm not sure, haven't tried any of those yet, although I have added some recently to my tbr. But back to A Wilderness of Glass. We didn't get any glimpses of the Wraith King Andras except in the beginning, but no mention was made of his hand. This makes me think that this story occurred before Eidolon. I'm very intrigued in how the ocean/water magic and events are going to factor in to the overall story. Brida and Ahtin's romance was so sweet and I loved the connection they formed when she found him and his niece stranded on the beach. I really can't wait to read more from Grace Draven, especially in the Wraith King series. It seems like the magic in the world is getting more complex and we learn more with each entry. I can't wait to read more! Maybe I'll dive into her Master of Crows series next, especially with it being in the same world.

Have you read A Wilderness of Glass?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: A Wilderness of Glass, Grace Draven, 4-stars, 0 days, eBook, 121 pages, published 2019

The Ippos King by Grace Draven

 

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The third full novel in Grace Draven's Wraith Kings series is The Ippos King. I continued on in this world after catching up on on a book club book and the Lunar New Year Readathon. I have to say, I loved getting to this series for FaRoFeb.

This was another great entry into the Wraith Kings series. I loved that this was a road trip romance. I was wondering if it would focus on the romance like in Radiance, or have a new "big bad." It was kind of neither. While the romance definitely is a major component of the book, it wasn't quite as centrally focused. We do see Serovek and Anhuset in forced proximity, but I love that it was Ahuset that put herself in that position. I loved how fairly quickly Anhuset stopped fighting and pushing back as much almost right away. 

The reason this was a 4-star instead of a 5 was that it felt a little too long. There were too many twists and turns in the plot. It was nice to see how things are progressing with Megiddo and I just know things are leading up to rescuing him. Although I'm sure he's going to have severe PTSD and maybe other mental issues after being tortured in the galla dimension all this time. Despite the various issues that occurred on the trip, I still had fun. I just though there were too many things, especially since a good chunk of them were wrapped up in this book as well. I almost wish that they were spread between the other books, or just not dealt with directly.

I am definitely continuing in the series and can't wait for the next book, whenever it is. According to the end of The Ippos King, the next book is The Nomas King. We also did get a cameo of the Wraith King from the nomadic/barbarian clans. I'm not sure if it'll focus on him or one of the others. I'm guessing that the last book will deal with Megiddo, or that he's the last solo book (since I can see a final battle book as a finale depending on how the world continues to evolve). 

One more thing I'd like to mention is the nicknames Grace Draven's characters give each other. I absolutely love that Serovek calls Ahuset his "firefly woman." It just gives me all of the feels. (As a side note, I don't think I mentioned it in either of the previous reviews, but Ildiko and Brishen call each other "Woman of Day" and "Prince of Night.") I'm super excited to get to the last novella set in this world and get completely caught up!

Have you read The Ippos King?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: The Ippos King, Grace Draven, 4-stars, 3 days, eBook, 437 pages, published 2020

In the Darkest Midnight by Grace Draven

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After finishing up the Lunar New Year Readathon hosted by LaceyBookLovers and remarkablylisa and the book for the Historical Hellions Book Club, I jumped back into FaRoFeb and Grace Draven's Wraith Kings series. The next book I had was the novella numbered 2.5, In the Darkest Midnight.

This starts in the past and made several time jumps in the series. We start out with our heroine Jahna 15 years young hiding from some mean girls at the winter celebration of Delyalda. Jahna has a large birthmark that covers half her face down into her neck and gets a lot of snide remarks and looks from most everyone she meets. After Radimar chases away the three girls, he speaks to Jahna to come from her hiding spot. I love how he barely reacts to her face and Jahna is very intrigued by the swordmaster. Her father has hired him to train her brother and they are meeting for the first time at the celebration. At the same time Jahna is getting set up to be a chronicler for the king, a sort of record keeping of history. 

They are so cute together and I love that he has no qualms about Jahna taking records of his teaching style and customs from Ilfindan. He has her take the lessons in the morning with her brother and they both grow to become great friends. There is an age gap, but it's only 7 years and once they've grown up, it doesn't feel so large. This book is definitely slow burn, but I didn't mind since we started with Jahna so young. The first jump is to the first Delyalda celebration where her borther is to be apart of the fighting exhibitions. During the preparations, Radimar gets challenged by the king's champion. Before the bout he says some very unsavory things about Jahna. They have all become close and both Radimar and her brother Sodrid have to fight to keep their anger in check. Then we have another time jump to a couple years later. Jahna is not ready to become an apprentice to the chroniclers and her brother a member of the king's guard. There are some tensioned filled moments between Jahna and Radimar culminating in a scorching kiss.

The final time jump is 8 years later. Radimar had run away after the kiss, returning (slightly) earlier than planned to return to his homeland. Sodrid is now to be married and Jahna is a competant chronciler. She does meet with Lord Sangion to get his story about fighting the galla and it was fun to see how this novella will fit into the world. Jahna and Radimar are FINALLY reunited and they can't help but act on their attractions. They are going to get married and Jahna will join Radimar in his nomadic lifestyle, sending back her chronicles to the archives. It was so sweet and I loved getting into more of this world. I'm hoping we'll see Jahna and Radimar, even just in passing, in future books. I loved the slow burn and it felt perfect for the who they were both as individuals and as a couple.

I have one more book, The Ippos King (book 3) and one more novella. Then I'm all caught up! I hope the next book comes soon. I just absolutely love this world Grace Draven's concocted and am ravenous for more. I do believe that her Master of Crows is set in the same world, so maybe that'll be my next read? We'll see. The only thing more I want from this book is time with them as a couple after they've come back together. It was just too short once they decided to get married. I would've even loved an epilogue or something!

Have you read In the Darkest Midnight?

Bookishly Yours, 

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: In the Darkest Midnight, Grace Draven, 4-stars, 0 days, eBook, 121 pages, published 2018

Eidolon by Grace Draven

 

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Oh this book! It tore me apart and put me back together again. Before I get too carried away, I'll do my introduction blurb. So book number 2 in Grace Draven's Wraith Kings series is Eidolon. This book continues with the focus on Brishen and Ildiko and the galla that were called into the world by his horrible mother. 

This book jumps around just a little between different groups of people. So the prologue takes place almost immediately after the epilogue in Radiance, just focused on the newest infant to Brishen's older brother and her nursemaid. There is cute banter between the nursemaid Kirgipa and the palace guard Necos. Then the galla attack and another palace guard comes in and all three are able to escape. It's a terrifying chapter and I could feel my adrenaline surge a little reading their escape. Chapter 1 jumps back to Brishen and Ildiko at home. I'm not sure if it jumps back in time a little bit, but if so it's not much. Soon the news reaches them and things start escalating. They start accepting refugees and everyone trying to escape the galla.

Despite how firm Ildiko and Brishen felt in their relationship at the end of Radiance and the beginning here, they do go through some hardships. It's believed that the rest of the royal family has passed and Brishen is now King of the Kai. He steps up and plans to keep Ildiko as Queen, however being that they're different races, children is not an option. Despite their love for each, a king needs heirs. Thankfully, as the reader, we can see updates on the young infant's progress in getting to Brishen and Ildiko and that the true ruler is still alive. However, this throws Brishen and Ildiko through the ringer as Ildiko's practical nature comes forth and knows, before it's even mentioned, that he'll need to renounce her and pick a Kai wife. She doesn't want it and will do anything to still stay with Brishen, even as a mistress, but duty keeps her firm that their relationship now has an end date. Brishen, obviously, does not like this and there is a lot of strife, misunderstandings and distance created between the two.

I was tearing up a lot throughout most of this book with both of their hearts breaking. I did love that they came to terms with everything before Brishen and the other 4 warriors and monk became wraith kings. Their love and intimate moments became less desperate. They also came to an agreement of sorts that after doing what Brishen would need to to save the Kai, he deserves whatever wife he wants. The battle of the wraith kings and the galla was so well written without taking up too much of the story and being unnecessarily drawn out. I was very excited to see Andras show up last minute, but it was weird seeing him act so different to how he was in Night Tide. 

The galla were defeated and pushed back through the portal. Brishen was able to close the portal, yet the monk was pulled in by the galla. I'm intrigued that his body is still alive, but soul is trapped in this other dimension and can't wait to see how Grace Draven moves the plot forward. The next full book is The Ippos King and is focused on Lord Pangion and Brishen's cousin Anhuset. I'm super excited to see their romance finally and hope it's similar to Radiance in that the romance is the focal point. I'm super excited to see the other wraith kings find their HEAs as well and how the world recovers. I'm not sure if there's going to be another "big bad," but I'm glad that the galla were defeated. 

I'm so happy that FaRoFeb brought cause for me start this series above others on my tbr and am completely obsessed with Grace Draven's writing. It's so eloquent and completely sucks me in. I will definitely be adding whatever books from her backlist that aren't already on my tbr to it. Plus I definitely want hard copies of these books because the covers are so gorgeous. I won't jump right into the next novella in the series since I've got the Lunar New Year Readathon first over Valentine's weekend, but I'll be jumping back into it just as soon as I can!

Have you read Eidolon yet?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Eidolon, Grace Draven, 5-stars, 1 day, eBook, 328 pages, published 2016

Lover of Thorns and Holy Gods by Grace Draven

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The next book in Grace Draven's Wraith Kings series is Lover of Thorns and Holy Gods. This is a collection of three short stories. The first two are from her Master of Crows series (that is set in the same world). I did read all three, but for this review I'll focus on the third story, A Matter of Trust. 

This was such a steamy and sweet short story centered around an evening out for Ildiko and Brishen. It starts out with our lovely couple having dinner at his neighbor Lord Pangion's. Ildiko is with some of the court ladies and they are discussing the finer details of coupling with Lord Pangion and is reputation as the Beladine Stallion. The women quickly turn their sights on Ildiko and want more information about her couplings with Brishen, being he's Kai and not human. I am very much along the same lines as Ildiko, where I don't like to share and discuss private/personal things like that, especially with virtual strangers.

They do bring up oral, and since Kai have sharp fangs as teeth, Ildiko thinks about trying to pleasure Brishen and if he'd be trustful of her mouth "down there." Since Kai have fangs, she's pretty confident that that specific intimacy isn't one that Kai men would receive or even know about. Like I mentioned before, this was very steamy and I really enjoyed the way that Grace Draven writes intimacy and the feelings and other aspects that play into such a scene. It was nice to also get a moment of peace between them, especially knowing what is coming for Eidolon after the epilogue of Radiance. So excited to continue the series for FaRoFeb!

Have you read Lover of Thorns and Holy Gods?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Lover of Thorns and Holy Gods, Grace Draven, 4-stars, 0 days, eBook, 39 pages, published 2016

Night Tide by Grace Draven

 

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After getting caught up with Milla Vane's A Gathering of Dragons series, I immediately jumped back into Grace Draven's Wraith Kings. The next book in the series is the novella Night Tide. So excited to continue this series for FaRoFeb!

So knowing that book two still focuses on Brishen and Ildiko, I was surprised to meet a new heroine and hero. Zigana is the bastard daughter of the local nobleman, but lives with her birth mother and father (in all aspects) in a costal city as a trawler. She has a wonderful horse Gitta (that seems sort of magical and/or special). He half sister returns with her husband and reunites with Ziga. She learns of her daughter and finally meets her husband, Andras. They have been banished from the city due to Andras' father starting a rebellion. Andras smartly did not join, so they have been banished.

At the same time there is some creepy skeletal monster thing using a melancholic siren type of call to bring villagers to the water to die. Ziga and Gitta end up meeting Andras on the beach when her father is threatened and destroy the creature. There seems to be a spark between Ziga and Andras. I'm super intrigued to see how this story will fit in as we move along. Being as the name of the series is Wraith Kings, we still have yet to learn what exactly a Wraith King is and who they are. I'm hoping that Andras is one. At the end of the novella there's a note from the author that they'll be back in book 5, but only the first three books are out. I feel like the story felt resolved, but it definitely left me wanting more in a good way. I can't wait to get to the next little novella and then start Eidolon!

Have you read Night Tide?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Night Tide, Grace Draven, 4-stars, 0 days, eBook, 72 pages, published 2018

Radiance by Grace Draven

 

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My third book for FaRoFeb was Radiance by Grace Draven! This is the first book in her Wraith Kings series. I have heard great things about Grace, specifically this and her Master of Crows series. I was very excited to try her for the first time and absolutely adore the cover.

I LOVED this book. 5-billion stars. This is kind of a friends to lovers trope despite Brishen and Ildiko being married in the first chapter. There are so many things that made this book for me. I guess I'll just start going down the list. Brishen is such a great hero. He's part cinnamon roll and part bad-ass. I love it when characters are strong AND nice. I also loved that even though they thought each other's race was hideous, he was constantly kissing her palm and knuckles and always found ways to touch Ildiko in little ways. Being that's a love language of mine, I was all in. It also helped build the tension between the two in a subtle way. 

I loved how Ildiko stood up to Brishen's mother and father and didn't falter despite how terrified she was on the inside. She saw Brishen as himself and I loved how attracted to his personality she was from the get go. The world building was also done subtlety and didn't feel at all like an info dump. It's always helpful when one of the main characters is learning this new world/magic system/etc along with the reader. It just feels so much more natural. I also loved the way their relationship moved from being friends to a couple in love and lovers in all sense of the word. When Brishen was kidnapped and tortured at the end, I love that Ildiko still stayed strong and was there for him despite the injuries he suffered. I'm so excited to get to book two after the craziness in the epilogue. I was surprised to see that we still have Brishen and Ildiko as the main couple in Eidolon, but it looks like we'll change couples from there.

Have you read Radiance?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: Radiance, Grave Draven, 5-stars, 1 day, eBook, 297 pages, Published 2015