Radiant Shadows Review

Author: Melissa Marr

Publisher: Harpers Collins 

He was sculpture perfect but had a tangled feel. Shadow and radiance. He didn't look much older than her, until she saw the arrogance in his posture. Then, he reminded her of the faeries who walked through courts and crowds confident that they could slaughter everyone in the room. Like chaos in a glass cage.

"Come dance." Ani turned her back and let herself be swept into the crowd.

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 an 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?

Review:

Radiant Shadows is an amazing addition to the Wicked Lovely series. This story develops more characters - Devlin, Ani, & Sorcha- and focuses on Marr's fantastic Dark Faerie court as well as delving deeper into the realm of Faerie, which is falling apart due to Sorchas unwellness- the conflicts Bananach inflicts through the courts almost seems unmanageable with no resolution in sight- who will Die and who lives or will all of Faerie be at jeapordy. There is not one dull moment in this book.

The growing connection between Ani and Devlin is romantic and tragic through out- Devlin dealing with the betrayal of his sister-mother Queen and Ani not knowing her capabilites of harming Devlin. They become bound by blood and even so a peaceful end doesn't look bright.

The land of faerie is never predictable and just when you think you figured out the next move, things shift and fates are altered.