Audible Book Review: Radiance, Wraith Kings, Volume 1, by Grace Draven

This is a lovely romance.
Radiance
Wraith Kings, Volume 1
By: Grace Draven
Narrated by: Gabrielle Baker

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 06-10-15
Language: English
Publisher: Grace Draven
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

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

Review:
Brishen is a ‘spare’ prince, a second son of the Kai. The Kai is a race of people with dark skin, long talon fingers, fang teeth and light-sensitive eyes. They are active at night, sleeping during the day. Brishen’s elder brother is married with several sons so it isn’t likely that Brishen will take over the throne. Still, the kingdom is plagued with raiding enemies and needs to make a treaty to secure favorable trade routes. That means marrying a Gauri noblewoman, no matter how ugly she may be.

Ildiko is a niece of the Gauri king, who has no value other than her royal blood. Ildiko is pale with bright red hair and bright eyes. Her own race finds her beautiful, but the Gauri are unattractive to the Kai. That won’t stop Ildiko from doing her best to serve as a dutiful wife when she marries a Kai prince as part of a treaty.

Ildiko and Brishen meet before the wedding without knowing who the other is. They are honest with their insults and find humor in their exchange. This allows them to become friends rather than complete strangers at the wedding. Brishen and his entourage suffer through the Gauri dinner. When they set out to travel back to the Kai kingdom they are soon attacked by one of the Kai rivals. Ildiko learns that the Kai people have a legacy of magical abilities as well as fierce battle skills.

Ildiko learns more about Brishen and his family when they arrive home and she meets his rather heartless and evil parents. Ildiko refuses to be cowed, standing up to the Queen. This generates anger from the Queen but respect from others. Ildiko has to suffer through some strange food dishes too. But now Ildiko has to worry about threats from the Queen as well as enemies of the Kai.

The friendship between Brishen and Ildiko grows as they spend more time together. They visit a human neighbor and Brishen begins to see Ildiko through another’s eyes. Then they are ambushed and almost lose each other. Will this serve as an opportunity to further their commitment?

I was quickly pulled in by the characters and how they overcame their differences. The lead characters are unique and I totally enjoyed the warmth of their friendship as it grew into love. The traumas and danger within Brishen’s family and the raiding neighbor tribes add to the interest of the story. I will look to read more books by this author. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a warm, fantasy romance.

Audio Notes: Gabrielle Baker did a lovely job with the narration. She provided distinct voices with fitting emotions. I am glad that I got to enjoy the audio.

Source: 11/25/18 $4.95 on Sale at Audible. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.