Book Review: Radiant Shadows

Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely #4)

By: Melissa Marr

Narrated By: Nick Landrum

Published By: Harper Audio

Format: Audiobook

Publication Date: May 2010

Length: 9 hours, 6 minutes

Buy it at Amazon 

Source: Library

Audience: Young Adult

I love Melissa Marr's writing. She transports me into dark worlds and keeps me on the edge of my seat. I have tried to spread out my reading of the Wicked Lovely series because I knew like all good things it would eventually come to an end. I read the first two books in traditional format, but I opted to try the audio for book three and truly enjoyed Landrum's narration. As I prepared to attend the Smart Chicks tour in Seattle, I decided it was time to listen to Radiant Shadows. The audiobooks for this series are some of my favorites. Landrum is able to tell the story with such emotion; it only adds to the wonderful stories that Marr weaves.

Radiant Shadows allows the reader to spend time with Ani and Devlin. Ani, the daughter of Gabriel, longs to join the hounds in their hunt, but her father is not keen on allowing her to do more than participate on the edges. He fears that if people know the truth about Ani's unique feeding capabilities that they will choose to use her for nefarious purposes. Meanwhile, Devin, the assassin of the High Court, is learning that the things he has kept hidden for so long are starting to rise to the surface. As the two seek to understand their roles in the changing world of the fey, they will have to face their differences and seek to discover why they are drawn into the company of the other.

I enjoyed getting to spend time with these two characters after having them lurk along the edges in the previous books. Ani is one of my favorite Marr characters. I love her spunk and tenacity. Devlin was also an intriguing character; there is so much more to him than what is on the surface. Seeing him work through his inner conflict was fascinating. I also felt bad for him throughout most of the novel. He craves companionship, but doesn't think he truly deserves something so basic. Ani and Devlin make an amazing couple.

I will say that while I got glimpses of Seth in this book, I wish that there had been more of him. He is one of the main reasons I have become so invested in this series. I realize that in Fragile Eternity we got a lot of his story, but I just feel like he's an old friend at this point and I miss him when he isn't around. I have to admit though that not having Keenan around didn't bother me one bit. I feel more drawn to the dark court side of things for the most part and I enjoyed not having to deal with Keenan's whining.

Finally, I really love the lore of this one - perhaps even more than the lore present in previous books. I was fascinated with learning more about the twins and their balance of one another. The dream walker aspect was also very interesting and I enjoyed seeing how that played out within the larger plot. Rae was also an intriguing new character. Melissa Marr has readers poised to enter the war that is surely on the horizon in the final chapter of the Wicked Lovely Saga. I am anxious to read it and find out how my favorites will fare, but it is also bittersweet because I don't know that I am ready to let go of this world.

One Last Gripe: I can't talk about it without spoiling the read.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: Ani and Devlin's relationship

First Sentence: Devlin stood immobile as the spectral girl approached.

Favorite Character: Ani

Least Favorite Character: Bananach 

Summary:

Hunger for nourishment.
Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in the penultimate volume of Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.