Tamsin's a seriously cool roommate.

And also, it tells you something about how much I'm enjoying this when I'm laughing over several scenes/phrases in this book. It's actually really cute.

The only thing I can say that works against it (well, for and against) is the brevity. Super fast read, but the details are minimal.

Grace Draven has mad skill when it comes to fantasy...

I remember reading Master of Crows by her and it was brilliant as well. I love to read her stuff because she resists cliches at every single turn, and isn't giving in to pressure and creating whatever kind of romance is fashionable at the minute.

Radiance was vanilla by many standards but guess what? It worked for this novel. It really did. I loved this book.

It was fast paced and action filled on one side, it was sweet and leisurely where the romance was concerned. It blossomed and grew into something truly magical. The author didn't rush, and the love between Ildiko and Brishen was so engaging because of it. It tells you of the authors confidence in her story. It's so refreshing.

A lot of fantasy, PNR and UF is simply filled with insta-lust out there. Since in these type of novels some sort of magic is a given, sometime authors tend to overuse it to cover for the lack of true plot development. It reads as a kind of nervousness, like the author can't wait to dangle a bit of exposed flesh in front of your eyes, hoping that if they use enough cleavage, genitalia, body fluids and grunts people won't notice that apart from that there isn't much of a story.

Grace Draven doesn't do any of that. She will take the time to stroll trough the mind of her characters, bringing them to life with all too understandable human emotions and dreams that everyone can relate to. She isn't afraid to reel in the arrogance. The goddamn sass that is simply too common these days, too cliche, too unbelievable and simply too boring. You know, those cheesy one-liners that should be some kind of testimonials to badassery? The unintelligent, 'mean cheerleader' kind of snappy behavior from the heroine to the hero. We've seen them all, we've read them all, we are simply unimpressed.

This novel is such a breath of fresh air. It speaks of courage of not hiding behind a facade, of friendship and love. It speaks of new worlds, new beginnings and old magic. It's a brilliant, bloody amazing read....

And that cover???? I know people say never judge a book by it's cover, but goddamn, it just works for me....

Life is strangely unpredictable, you never know where a day could bring you, I am aware of it, came to expect it after a while. But to think there will come a day where I would feel gooey over a fictional Neanderthal, would be a far stretch even for me. Yet here we are...

5 stars for originality.
5 stars for execution.
5 stars for the emotional impact.
5 stars for the sheer joy I got from reading it.
5 stars to Yasmine....because of reasons. (she knows them)

Hell I'll toss enough stars in there to light up the sky, this is how I feel at the moment.

Ehd, I just simply call him Eddie, and he is an Eddie, the sweetheart. He is just so lovable, and I thank the author for that. His thoughts were simple, honest, pure, and most of all believable. His loneliness was touching, heartbreaking even in his simple desire to belong to a group of people again. Everybody can relate to that, and I have to admit that I thought of the bravery needed to face ever day alone, not knowing will he ever meet another soul. When he finally did, the sheer fierce determination to never lose her was staggering.

Ok, there weren't any swords, there weren't any massive fires, i might have embellished slightly(a lot), so sue me! There were moments in this book where the sheer TRUE manliness of Eddie would send all the usual 'Alpha Males' running back to their mommas.

The writing was so effortless and gripping, that it took me over 50% of the novel before I've even thought about why Beth was truly there. I was simply that immersed in the story from page one. When I did, though, i had a feeling of such foreboding, thinking this couldn't possibly end well. The story was too sweet and promising, and i just don't know how i would feel if there was some sort of tragedy in the end. It was so easy for me to connect with the characters that I could already see myself sobbing like an infant, snot flying everywhere if one of them died or left unexpectedly.

We are all very happy it didn't happen...trust me. :D

I don't know what i expected, but that ending seemed to be what true love is all about. Their dedication, their family, their time spent together, just left me with a feeling of warmth and contentment.

A lot of authors seem to waste a helluva lot of time, trying to make their characters seem fluent, natural and relaxed. They try so hard it translates to the pages, you can see the effort, that comes from somebody trying to anticipate what people would like to hear, instead of doing what feels right. And this, all of this just felt right.

This novel makes the top five in 2014, and I am glad it's December so there is a full year of reading material behind me, so when i say it's one of the best, it really means something.

It sat on my TBR for ages, and i must admit, I forgot about it. So if you are like me, shift your ass and read this. You won't regret it.

Yelena killed her benefactor's son, and now she rots in a dungeon. It has been almost a year, before she faces her execution day. But the hangman's noose is stayed after the Commanders second in command, Valek, offers her a job...
Since her life is already forfeit, she is to become a food taster, to check for poisons...A chance to live again got Yelena intrigued.

Valek has a way of making sure Yelena stays in line, by poisoning her, and giving her a small dose of antidote every day.. and so her poison study commences.

The Commander is set against any and all magic users, sentencing them to death and forbidding any use of magic..

A foul plot is afoot as Yelena struggles against the assassination attempts, taking private solace in the quiet, firm and confusing ways of her mentor Valek. She doesn't know what to make of him...
He's mysterious...

He's powerful....

He's errrr.....

I loved the story, it was unique, made for an engrossing read. I only had one small problem though. The way they got together in the end. There was so much aloofness and distance trough the entire novel, leaving them fighting for their lives one second, so when the next scene popped in and they were at it like rabbits made me think....well, that was kinda sudden. But the insta-pheromone spray in the face can be forgiven, because it was, undeniably a fabulous read!