Review: Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Title: Radiant Shadows
Author: Melissa Marr
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 04/20/10
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.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
Wicked Lovely will always be my favorite book of this series, but Radiant Shadows comes in a very close second. I absolutely loved the way Ani and Devlin's stories weaved together. I find all of the different faerie courts in Marr's world unique and interesting, especially how the author balances them all. The twist at the end has left me pining for the next book. It took me completely by surprise, but was better than anything I was hoping would happen.

Pace: 5 Stars
I couldn't put this novel down. I was a little worried because both Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity were slow reads for me (they each had a bit of downtime in the middle that I had to push to get through), but this installment kept me on the edge of my seat. The author bounces between points of view with ease. It never feels disjointed and it helps the reader get a better idea of the big picture.

Characters: 4 Stars
Ever since I first read about Ani and Tish in a previous book, I've wanted to know more about them. Although I would've liked to have seen a bit more of Tish, it was great get to know Ani and her troubles of growing up half-mortal. We got to see into a side of the Dark Court that wasn't shown in earlier book. I liked seeing more about Gabriel and the Hounds. My favorite character though was Devlin; I enjoyed following him through the inner turmoil of his balancing act between order and chaos. I just wished Ash and Seth could've had slightly bigger parts because I will always love them.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
I have adored every cover in this series, and Radiant Shadows doesn't disappoint. I love how the cover models are out of focus, while a different element is in focus. It's a very unique idea. I also love the titles in this series. They are very eloquent in their opposites and are always subtlely found in the text. The detailing around the titles is another touch that ties them all together as a series. Although the cover for Radiant Shadows isn't my favorite, the color scheme is my favorite out of the four.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I won a copy of this book from a contest on Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings.