My Review:
My thoughts: The cover is what first caught my eye of this book, the beauty of the colors and the Faerie on the cover. I admit to falling for covers and having to read the books. Sometimes the books live up to the covers and sometimes they don't. Radiant Desire is an example of the book being so much more than the cover.
I have read two of Ms. Scott's young adult novels and really enjoyed them so I was wondering how her adult novel would be. She makes a very natural transition over to the adult romance realm taking with her the paranormal that she already uses in young adult, but instead of humans with magical powers she moves into the Fey realm.
In the beginning we meet Kaia Verde the Faerie Handmaid and seductress of the Queen of the Fey, Zafira. Kaia is pretty much used to go out and seduce men and then leave them embarrassed and wanting. Kaia truly has no use for men and thinks they are all cheaters and liars so she doesn't think twice when her Queen sends her out to seduce Garrett Jameson. But then there is something different about Garrett. When Kaia finds pleasure with Garrett and is sentenced to make Garrett fall in love with her as a human without magic, we get to know a very different Kaia.
This is when I started liking Kaia. The Kaia at the beginning of the book is very unfeeling and cruel and hard to like. But as a human she starts to like people and develop emotions and become real. I loved watching Kaia develop and here is where the story really begins to flourish is with the relationships between Kaia and Rachel who is her boss and Garrett's best friend's fiancee. What started as a way to use someone to get near Garrett becomes so much more. And when Garrett comes back into her life, that relationship is different too. So much happens and it was so interesting to watch, I just about could not be pulled away from the book for family movie night. But alas I had to be. I did keep sneaking pages in though because I wanted to know what would happen next. Garrett was fascinating too. He did not get close to people either and slowly through Kaia's touch and talking, the reader learns why he is the way he is and he begins to grow and change as well.
Ms. Scott beautifully crafted this romance and relationship novel so that the relationships bloom in front of your eyes. The fun part is even though the people involved don't see it, the reader does and of course you get to finally witness that a-ha moment but will it be too late for Kaia and Garrett? You'll just have to find out. And I dare say you will be quite surprised by the little story that Ms. Scott has created for the climax. It fits well and it surprised me - I really never saw it coming! The other great thing. Kaia is one of four sisters and handmaids of the Queen Zafira, so this is just the start of what looks to be a great series. I can't wait to see what happens with the next handmaid and hopefully get another glimpse of Kaia and Garrett.
Great romance, stellar relationship building, interesting world building, great future tie-in for other books, and just an all-around fun book with a beautiful cover. Radiant Desire is a book you should run out and get this week!
My Rating: 5.0/5.0
About the Book:
Kaia Verde is one of the four Faerie Handmaids of Zafira, Queen of the Fey. To redress an ancient wrong done to Zafira by a human king, the Handmaids make sport of mortal men, seducing and humiliating them. When Kaia sets out to seduce Garrett Jameson, but ends up being the one surrendering to pleasure, Zafira is furious. Kaia's punishment is simple: make Garrett fall in love with her by the summer solstice, then break his heart, or face eternity without her wings—or her soul. To make the task harder, Zafira tells Kaia she cannot use her faerie magic or charm to lure Garrett into her bed.
About the Author:
Inara grew up in winter wonderland of Buffalo, NY. Consequently, she spent much of her childhood complaining about being cold. To spare the world her whining, she fled the cold climate and eventually wound up in the Pacific NW, where she practiced law for ten years before getting up the courage to quit her day job and write full time. A proud author of fantasy and romance for adults and young adults, Inara firmly believes that great literature doesn't have to be depressing, true love does exist, and everyone deserves a happily ever after.
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FTC Information: I received this book through Netgalley for an honest review.
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