Review: Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

RADIANT SHADOWS by Melissa Marr
Pub. Date: April 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 352pp
Age Range: Young Adult

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?

I was quite clueless going into this series not knowing that each book would be told from various viewpoints. After I finished reading FRAGILE ETERNITY, I assumed the next book in this series would go back the love triangle involving Seth, Ash, and Keenan. So, after reading the summary of RADIANT SHADOWS, I started grinning from ear to ear. I could almost forget I missed the aforementioned love triangle. Almost.

While reading FRAGILE ETERNITY, there was something interesting about Devlin when I was introduced to him. I knew I wanted to know more about this mysterious character. He’s dark, seductive, and alluring rolled up into one dangerous package. I guess when you’re the High Court’s assassin, what do you expect? All I can say is I forgot all about my crush on Niall. There’s a new bad boy in town. Devlin and Ani were perfect together- each hungering for more that could very well have big consequences. Marr did a brilliant job pulling things together while staying true to the characters.

In this installment, the stakes are higher. Secrets long kept come to light that could destroy many lives. I have to say this is the best installment yet. RADIANT SHADOWS is full of dark and seductive intrigue. I got to spend a lot of time with my favorite faeries in this book. Niall, Irial, Seth, and now Devlin. What’s a girl to do when a book packs this much glamour? With the way events unfolded in this installment, I’m dying to see what Marr throws at these characters next.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars