Radiant Shadows
Author: Melissa Marr
Publisher: HarperTeen
Young Adult
352 pages
Summary:
Throwing her fist playfully with her father always ends with a too soft hit or careful tap from him in return. Ani wonders why her father can’t accept her into the Hunt and fight with her like he does the others. She wants to fight, she wants to run, she wants to communicate in the pack’s silent language, she wants to growl and ride on her very own steed, but all those things seem nearly impossible by the way people are treating her. She’s not just her father’s little pup anymore; she’s ready to be out there and desperate to feed her hungers.
While meeting up with her sister Tish, she realizes just how long she’s been away from her family. Tish has changed and is now dating Glenn, a friend they’ve known forever. The sisters use each chance of occasional bonding to try and act like times were before; before Ani realized her hunger to feed on mortals and faeries. Dancing her troubles away Ani spots him, a faerie on the rim of the dance floor, and he’s staring at her. A faerie of radiance and shadow, she feels called to him, so she extends and invitation and even over the loud music he hears her.
They share a kiss on the dance floor and somehow the faerie ends up with a drop of Ani’s blood on his finger. Ani watches as he raises his finger to his mouth and tastes her blood. She knows that now he may be able to track her. Would he hurt her?
Devlin, the faerie Ani met that night at the Crow’s Nest, is the brother to Sorcha and Bananach. They created him, the first male faerie; he is both order and discord. When he sees Ani that night he wonders why he saved her when Sorcha ordered her dead by his hands. Would his secret ever be revealed to Sorcha?
Together Devlin and Ani must stand up and face crisis. Their worlds are about to change because of each other. Their lives have always been destined to entwine. Will there connection be their demise?
My rating: 4 ½ stars
This was by far my favorite in the whole Wicked Lovely series. It didn’t have the essence of stubbornness of Wicked Lovely, the overly dark and twisted in Ink Exchange, the risking and fragileness in Fragile Eternity, nor the sorrow and revolution in Darkest Mercy. None of these is a repeat of the others, new points of view on the same world, and everyone has choices to make that could alter their world.
Though I confused the order and read Radiant Shadows after Darkest Mercy, I still didn’t feel like it was spoiled the ending, but I recommend reading them in order.
With open arms I welcomed in the hungry, strong-willed perspective of Ani, Gabriel’s pup. Such fatherly love and protection I didn’t think I’d see coming from the leader of the Wild Hunt.
And yet again I accepted the extreme age differences of the characters, like most of the relationships in the Wicked Lovely series. I believe the only age appropriate one is Seth and Aislinn. I know faeries look like they are in their twenties but how weird would it be to date someone older than your grandparents?! I find that very…unappealing, even if it’s forbidden love.
What do you think about Devlin and Ani as a couple?
No comments:
Post a Comment