Book Review
May. 19th, 2025 01:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariRadiance
by Grace Draven
This romantasy novel was very sweet. Ildiko is a human woman, niece to the Queen of Gaur. As part of a political alliance, she is married off to Brishen, the younger son of the Kai king and queen. The Kai are an elder race, nocturnal, clawed, and fanged (think Dark Elves without the obligatory evil alignment). Humans and Kai generally find each other unnerving and unattractive, the political advantage takes precedence over the personal reservations for Ildiko and Brishen. Luckily, they are both accepting of their roles as minor members of their respective royal families, and strive to make the best of their union. Even more luckily, Ildiko and Brishen find they truly like each other and slowly fall in love.
I really enjoyed this slow burn friends to lovers romance. Ildiko and Brishen are both good people who want to do right by each other and their marriage. Ildkio is brave and very savvy in her approach to living among the Kai. It doesn't take her long to see Brishen for the good and caring person he is. Brishen is considerate towards her and quickly comes to admire her indomitable nature. They form a great partnership that fosters a deep love. It was really interesting and in some ways refreshing to read a romance where physical attraction was not a very big or important part of the love story. I liked seeing physical attraction develop from the feelings rather than the physical attraction being a key catalyst for the feelings.
by Grace Draven
This romantasy novel was very sweet. Ildiko is a human woman, niece to the Queen of Gaur. As part of a political alliance, she is married off to Brishen, the younger son of the Kai king and queen. The Kai are an elder race, nocturnal, clawed, and fanged (think Dark Elves without the obligatory evil alignment). Humans and Kai generally find each other unnerving and unattractive, the political advantage takes precedence over the personal reservations for Ildiko and Brishen. Luckily, they are both accepting of their roles as minor members of their respective royal families, and strive to make the best of their union. Even more luckily, Ildiko and Brishen find they truly like each other and slowly fall in love.
I really enjoyed this slow burn friends to lovers romance. Ildiko and Brishen are both good people who want to do right by each other and their marriage. Ildkio is brave and very savvy in her approach to living among the Kai. It doesn't take her long to see Brishen for the good and caring person he is. Brishen is considerate towards her and quickly comes to admire her indomitable nature. They form a great partnership that fosters a deep love. It was really interesting and in some ways refreshing to read a romance where physical attraction was not a very big or important part of the love story. I liked seeing physical attraction develop from the feelings rather than the physical attraction being a key catalyst for the feelings.
