Stolen Radiance

by Brit Bryndell

I was raised to marry a prince.

Instead, I was taken by the fae during the war.

All the years of tutoring and preparing…

and now I live in a cramped room without a window in my half-sister’s castle.

The fae love to stare.

Having human ears doesn’t help me blend in.

Neither does the sword I carry, and haphazardly wield.

It won’t matter for much longer.

The prince of Estlen has invited me to his kingdom to explore a marriage pact.

I said yes.

Now I’m being escorted by Fyn, the fae Lord Chancellor.

Provoking me is his favorite pastime.

The things he says could drive any woman mad.

But two can play that game.

A banter romantasy with fairytale vibes:
- he’s escorting her to marry someone else (unfortunately)
- one bed (and no one is happy about it)
- he falls first & yearns
- all the wrong nicknames

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Brit draws inspiration from her hands-on historical experiences, including archery, falconry, and exploring ancient ruins. When she’s not creating fantasy worlds, she loves to read, travel, and spend time with her family in Florida.

Follow Brit:
Instagram @BritBryndell
Tiktok @AuthorBritBryndell

Reviews

[Amanda Gratia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author's blurb: I was raised to marry a prince. Instead, I was taken by the fae during the war. All the years of tutoring and preparing…and now I live in a cramped room without a window in my half-sister’s castle. The fae love to stare. Having human ears doesn’t help me blend in. Neither does the sword I carry, and haphazardly wield. It won’t matter for much longer. The prince of Estlen has invited me to his kingdom to explore a marriage pact. I said yes. Now I’m being escorted by Fyn, the fae Lord Chancellor. Provoking me is his favorite pastime. The things he says could drive any woman mad. But two can play that game.
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Stolen Radiance is what I would consider a high stakes, cozy-ish fantasy. There are fae, and there is magic, and humans, but there is also mention of war and destruction (hence the high stakes). Our FMC Ashlyn is a human living in the fae world, and is being escorted by the fae MMC Fyn to meet the human prince for an arranged wedding. Fyn is all the green flags - super sweet, respectful, and utterly adorable. I love his random nicknames for Ashlyn and I love the banter and the yearning. This has dual POVs, which is nice to get to see inside Fyn's mind as well as Ashlyn's. It's a wonderful comfort read that also has an intricately built world and an exciting plot line. I will definitely be continuing this series! Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this early!
🩷
5/5⭐ The perfect read for a quiet day, maybe cuddled up with your favorite reading buddy, whomever that may be. Can definitely see this series becoming one of my comfort reads!

[Bri West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual POV & No Spice


This is the first book in the Everlight Duology and takes place after the Starwoven Duology. This is interconnected with the Starwoven but it focuses on different main characters and can be read on its own. You will appreciate our MMC more if you get him from the Starwoven series first.


Princess Ashlyn, a human, was kidnapped and brought to live in the human realm where her half sister is Queen. She doesn’t feel like she belongs and yearns to return to the human world. So much so that she hastily agrees to the proposition of a proposed arranged marriage with another human kingdom.

She is escorted by our MMC Fyn, a charming green flag Lord Chancellor, who is secretly in love with Ashlyn but will always put his feelings aside to do what’s best for her.

Along the journey, Ashlyn tried to deny any idea that there is a connection between her and Fyn. She even panics and runs away, leading to her drinking sacred Starlight. No one knows what this could mean for a human….

They venture to the human kingdom of Estlen to meet her possible bethrothed Prince Soren, but Ashlyn learns quickly the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and maybe she doesn’t want to live in the human world as much as she thought. Her brother, king of the other human realm is highly invested in this arrangement to put pressure on the fae world who he has been at war with. The royal family hate magic and have strong expectations of how she will act as the future bride to a prince.

Forced to confront her feelings for Fyn, and risk political consequences for following her heart, Ashlyn must make tough choices.

I’m very excited to see what happens in part 2 of the Duology and am thankful for the author for the eARC of this book!

Tropes:
- forced proximity
- Banter
- He falls first
- Yearning
- Nicknames
- One bed
- Court politics
-


Favorite Quotes:
- My soul burns because yours does.

[Krista Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jumping back into the same fantasy world, but this time following the queens younger sister and the lord sworn to protect her.

You drop back into the fae realm, this time following an FMC who’s been raised to be married off to a human prince, and when she feels as though she no longer fits in her sisters realm after the war, she makes plans to visit the princes kingdom to see if their marriage is something she wants. Unfortunately for her, the broody fae lord Fyn will be her escort to this kingdom and chaperone her while she decides what she wants. The only thing is, the more time she spends with him, the more conflicted she becomes on what she truly wants, especially after an accident leads to an unexpected change in her own body and the life in this human kingdom isn’t all she imagined it to be.

I so enjoyed all the banter and bickering between the FMC and MMC and how they slowly drive each other mad. It makes the tension between them grow each chapter and I kept rooting for her to pick him and a quiet life instead of the crown she was raised for. The way magic came into play and seeing through all the nefarious plots around her had me so worried for the FMC and that sequence the last few chapters has me excited for the next book and what will happen next for this pair as a consequence of the choices they made! It was great to jump back into this world and I can’t wait for what’s next. My rating 4.6/5!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!

[Taylen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stolen Radiance is the first book of the Everlight Duology that takes place after the Starwoven Duology. Although you don’t have to, I would recommend reading the Starwoven Duology first as it provides the history leading up to this one and you’ll probably appreciate and enjoy it more. However, it does follow different main characters and its own storyline so the choice is yours. I’m glad I read the other two books first as my own opinion.

⚔️one bed
⚔️ fairytale vibes
⚔️ yearning
⚔️ nicknames
⚔️ arranged marriage

Stolen Radiance follows the storyline of our favorite side character from Starwoven Duology Fyn and Queen Aelira’s sister Ashlyn. Ashlyn, a human, was kidnapped and saved from the human realm only to agree to an arranged marriage to get back to the human realm she misses. Our witty, green flag MMC Fyn is willing to set aside his own feelings to get her safe as they journey from the Fae realm back to the human realm to meet her new prince and husband. A true testament to the grass is not always greener on the other side as Ashlyn finds out. Forced to acknowledge her true feelings and finally face a choice that only she can decide for her self, she is finally ready.

A whimsical, fairytale vibe that focus on the characters and fantasy world vs smutty romance. You get a dual POV and so much yearning and banter between the two characters. It’s an easy, relaxing, comfort read that makes you wanna cuddle up on a cold day with a warm cup of coffee and dive on in!

[Marlena M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review of Stolen Radiance, book 1 in the Everlight duology.

Stolen Radiance just jumped to the #1 spot as my top fave book by Brit Bryndell! I loved it all: the banter, the yearning, the magic, I could not put this book down! I laughed out loud, I gasped, I cried & I swooned. I wanted to savor it slowly but it was so good I had to read the whole thing in one sitting. & now I’m already yearning for book 2! Fyn is the witty, protective, bantering, sarcastic yet chivalrous & gracious MMC we all love. This will definitely be a re-read for me when I need a cozy, familiar story to cuddle up with. You will root for him the whole story through. The author excels at making it simultaneously an exciting adventure yet still a cozy & comforting read. The dual POV was done so well, each perspective complemented the other & felt so natural with their banter. I adored getting to read Fyn & Ashlyn’s romance develop & am eagerly awaiting the continuation of their story. I am so grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This is book 1 in the Everlight Duology & it takes place in the same world as The Starwoven Duology so I do recommend reading that first, to familiarize with the world-building & get some background on the characters (not necessary, but it’s helpful).

This book is for you if you enjoy:

One bed 🛌
He YEARNS for her ❤️
Magic ✨
The greenest flag MMC ever 💚
Strong-willed FMC 💪🏼
Playful banter 🤭

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars!

First of all, I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to be an arc reader for this book! All thoughts opinions in this review are my own.

This. Book. Oh my gosh…
I knew it’d suck me in as soon as I got into the storyline and I wasn’t wrong! I didn’t read the Starwoven duology before this story, so it took me about 30% of the book to kind of get a feel for everything. After that 30% mark, WHEW! I was enthralled…

✨ One Bed
✨ He Falls First
✨ Yearning
✨ Nicknames
✨ No Spice
✨ FAE Wine

Ok I can’t say much about the MC’s without giving spoilers, BUT…my goodness, someone tell me…how was Fyn SUCH a walking green flag!? I’ve never seen such a green flag FAE MMC! The way he treated Ashlyn? Swoon…

I also felt very strongly about the entire human kingdom, but that’s all I can say for now 😌 you’ll understand once you read the book.

I do wish I had read The Starwoven Duology first to understand the characters better & have some backstory…so I 100% recommend jumping into that series before this book!
I’ll absolutely be going back to read that while I wait on book 2, because WHAT WAS THAT ENDING!? It kind of gave me a faint hint of a scene in OUABH that also wrecked me equally as bad…like…that cliffhanger was cruel 😫😩 Ya girl cannot wait for the second half of this duology to release! Catch me lining up first to read it 💁🏼‍♀️

[MzHyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for giving me an early copy so I can travel into this world early.

This was a very sweet and heartwarming read. Their banter was very organic and playful. I felt myself smiling a lot throughout watching their relationship change and grow. I do wish we saw more of Ashlynn with the sword but that's just because I do love me some action. The yearning was immaculate.Fyn from the get go reminds me of a kid who thinks a girl is pretty and decides the only option is to be mean to them to show they like them. I do love that it was a very slow burn especially since it felt like a fairytale. Ashlynn & Fyn are perfect for each other and they bring out the best in each other. With all these heartwarming vibes, it did get me when the plot twists happened. It really had my heart in a grip and my breath caught. But I am glad there was a somewhat resolution that will segway into the next book, which I'll definitely read. As I'm writing this, I feel like a kid sucked into a fairytale that doesn't want to leave because of how much joy and comfort I am experiencing after reading this.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy received by Author.

I was so excited to start this ARC read! I had been following this author on Instagram, and the character art and little quote snippets she shared completely pulled me in. I couldn’t wait to dive into this world.

The story starts fast, introducing the two main characters right from page one. I do think readers who have read the The Starwoven Duology may pick up on some of the history a bit quicker, but it definitely isn’t required to enjoy this book. As the story progresses, more backstory is naturally revealed.

And the banter? Absolutely top tier. I was smiling constantly and genuinely laughing at some of the exchanges. The chemistry between the characters was so fun to read.

Then the plot twist hit, and I was way too invested to stop. I ended up staying up late just to finish because I needed to know what happened next.

If you love:
• Princess fairytale vibes
• A total green flag MMC
• Sharp banter
• Secret magic
• Mild cliffhangers

…then this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.

Thank you to the author for providing me with this wonderful ARC read!

[Hannah Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Language clean
Romance clean

At the beginning of the book I was slightly confused. While this is a separate series then the duology featuring her sister, I think maybe you get some important background info in those two book. You get immediately thrown into the story with Ashlyn and Fyn, without past information. So I think because I haven’t read the first two I wasn’t fully able to understand/connect with the FMC and MMC at the beginning. Felt like there was a disconnect between what was written and what was actually being said that I couldn’t grasp.

That being said, once I pieced together the needed information I enjoyed the story. It is a book full of slow burn yearning.
Fyn is very much a walking green flag. He so loves Ash’s fire and personality.

The book ends on a cliff hanger. More of a soft one, like it has a mattress at the bottom rather than a canyon without a parachute.

All-in-all I would recommend for those that like

-slow burn
-yearning
-protective green flag MMC
-fiery FMC
-starlight magic

I received a free ARC in exchange for a review.

[Lyra Blackveil · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, the formalities- I was provided an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Phew! Now to the good stuff!!

This is the third book I’ve read by Brit and I think that speaks volumes!

Her ability to create a world, like Nythrel, and make you feel like you’re there is incredible. While we’ve moved away from Lioran and Aelira’s story, the world is maintained in such a way that is seamless. Characters introduced in the first 2 books are carried in to this new duology and let’s just say some things did not change (you’ll still hate them 🫣).

I absolutely loved the fact that Fyn is the epitome of a gentle fae. He lives for his king and queen, and would never force his love or desires on anyone unwilling. Equally loved is the independence that Ashlyn shows and her failure to acquiesce is totally badass.

While this is a duology following Fyn and Ashlyn, I do highly recommend reading the Starwoven duology because (1) it’ll make things make more sense in this duology and (2) they’re equally great books!

[Keeley Ribchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stolen Radiance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first book by Brit Bryndell and it definitely won’t be my last. I flew through this romantasy and completely loved the mix of fae politics, forced proximity and sharp banter. This was a gem and just really enjoyable.
Fyn absolutely stole the show for me!! His constant teasing, yearning and chemistry with the FMC made every interaction entertaining, and the tension between them was addictive. The “escort her to marry someone else while secretly falling for her” worked incredibly well for me.
The world had strong fairytale vibes annd just enough intrigue and emotional tension to keep me fully invested throughout. Add in one bed, witty dialogue and a heroine with absolutely no filter, and this became such a fun and bingeable read.
A fantastic first read from Brit Bryndell and I’m already looking forward to reading more.📚✨

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️4.5
🫑 only chaste kisses
No strong language

This was a fun, clean romantasy with endearing characters. The banter was great, tension was glorious and the swoon factor was on point. Buckle up because the last 10%ish was a ride! I kept looking at the percentage left and thinking saying " no, no, no".

My only complaint is that the kissing scenes ended very upbruptly. I think more description and drawing them out a bit would really enhance the romance. Doesn't need to be explicit intimacy but one spot was literally "his lips crashed into mine" and then back to dialogue. I almost thought I imagined reading that they kissed!

Favorite elements: dual POV, his yearning, magic, funny nicknames.
First in a duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC! These opinions are my own.

[Kiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stolen Radiance by Brit Bryndell takes you on a journey of choice and sacrifice.

Where is one's place? A place where you belong and call home... This book raised the question of that. Where does one belong and how can I make a place for myself. Throughout the book the FMC was struggling with choice, between duty and what she wanted. Reading this book gave me a look into carving a place for onself in stone. The FMC and MMC were forced into hard situations and it seemed like there was no room for air! That cliffhanger! This book was intense and gripping until the final pages.

If you want a beautiful fantasy with a strong FMC and a yearning MMC this is the one for you.

Thank you Brit Bryndell for the free book.

[Tresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, thank you so much to Brit Bryndell for giving me the chance to read this amazing book before it's release!
Now, on to the good stuff, of you are looking for a book with the sweetest MMC, who cares deeply for the FMC, and would do anything for her, then this is the book for you! Fyn is Fae and Lord Chancellor of the kingdom Ashlyn's sister is Queen. Forced to live there during the war between her own kingdom and the Fae's, Ashlyn has felt like she doesn't belong and longs to be back in the human realm..
When a marriage opportunity is presented, Ashlyn agrees, not knowing what she is agreeing to isn't actually her choice.
This book sucked me in from the very beginning, I fell in love with the characters, the story and I absolutely can not wait for the second book!!! EZ

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🚫🌶️

The main characters Ashlyn and Fyn had fun, witty banter that made their interactions enjoyable and kept me invested in their relationship. While the beginning felt a little rushed and the pacing was uneven at time throughout the story, the middle section really shined, especially with the yearning and emotional tension between them.
I do wish the story had gone a bit more in depth with both the plot and character development.

Overall, this was a nice, easy read with charming moments.

[Troi Stith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! Ashlyn and Fyn are so much fun! I’m here for the banter. The banter was everything! This was cool because it was a fast read too and really did very well with painting an entire picture of a world while not droning on. This book also kept me on the edge of my seat in a lot of parts! Talk about stressful. Overall, I love this book! I’m so glad I got to be part of the ARC team for Stolen Radiance! I can’t wait for the next one!

[Bryanna Phillips]

✨ARC review ✨ DNF at 30%. The flow of the story felt a bit clunky to me, and there was a subplot where the FMC asks for something to keep her from becoming pregnant and is given an elvish potion that is essentially a fantasy version of the plan B pill. The book did not have spice and up to the point I stopped reading there was no reason for her to use the elf potion, I do not know if it comes into play later on. I will not be finishing this book.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the lighthearted fairytale vibes. The banter between Ashlyn and Fyn was sooo cute! But the YEARNING is what really had me engaged. What I really appreciated and what really made the characters stand out for me though, was that Ashlyn's personality and decision making skills seems very rational and not over emotional, unlike most romance books. This made her feel more relatable. Overall, it was a great read and I look forward to the next book.

[Claire Kohler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this story from a new-to-me author. The main characters’ romance was compelling with lovely yearning and likable MCs. I didn’t read the author’s other series, and there wasn’t much backstory given about the characters/situation at the start of the book, so I felt like I was jumping into book 2 without having read book 1. Returning readers should have no problem following the story.

[Amber S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to get to read this as an ARC. I enjoyed the story and it was a pretty quick read. The only thing I had a hard time with was that I was a little bit confused with the world building at first, as I didn’t realize that this was a spinoff of another series. I think I may have enjoyed the book even more had I known and read that series first. Overall it was a good read.

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up way too late reading Stolen Radiance. Between the banter, yearning, and plot twists I simply couldn’t put it down. It felt like a fairytale. The magic was so unique and I just loved Fyn and Ashlyn’s love story. Now I officially need a Fyn in my life.

Looking forward to book two!

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the interaction between the main characters hilarious throughout. With each chapter the banter felt more and more relatable as you get to know Ashlyn and Fyn. Laughed out loud multiple times and couldn't put it down.

[Tina Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhhh this was such a good read! I loved Ashlyn and Fyn's banter, the yearning, the political intrigue, the friends to lovers was beautifully written. I very much so look forward to the continuation of their story. Thank you Brit, for the honor and privilege of being able to read your book. 💙

[Hira Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun! I think I finished it in about 4 hours. I absolutely love Fin and Ashlyn. Their banter had me giggling and laughing so much. For some reason, I thought this was a standalone so I was surprised about the cliffhanger but I can’t wait to read the next one.