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Radiance #2
The Paladin's Shadow
Kidnapping with benefits.
Karis is the arrogant young prodigy of the Radiant Order, and his talents have found him plenty of admirers but far fewer friends. There’s one thing he has to hide, though: the voice in his head that tells him to do very un-paladin-like things. Sometimes it’s helpful. Sometimes it gets him into trouble.
This time, trouble’s name is Ronan.
Ronan’s done more for the gods than any paladin, but an insidious conspiracy means he’s the wanted criminal. Fine by Ronan. When he's captured by the corrupt Radiant Order, Ronan doesn’t think twice before kidnapping a cute little squire to cover his escape.
His new hostage is a lot more complicated than he expected.
Between escape attempts and counterspells, Karis keeps getting under Ronan’s skin, and Ronan keeps getting inside Karis’s head. And the longer they stay together, Karis starts thinking less about escaping, and more about how Ronan might taste.
But the conspiracy they’re tangled in is more dangerous than either of them know.
Karis is the arrogant young prodigy of the Radiant Order, and his talents have found him plenty of admirers but far fewer friends. There’s one thing he has to hide, though: the voice in his head that tells him to do very un-paladin-like things. Sometimes it’s helpful. Sometimes it gets him into trouble.
This time, trouble’s name is Ronan.
Ronan’s done more for the gods than any paladin, but an insidious conspiracy means he’s the wanted criminal. Fine by Ronan. When he's captured by the corrupt Radiant Order, Ronan doesn’t think twice before kidnapping a cute little squire to cover his escape.
His new hostage is a lot more complicated than he expected.
Between escape attempts and counterspells, Karis keeps getting under Ronan’s skin, and Ronan keeps getting inside Karis’s head. And the longer they stay together, Karis starts thinking less about escaping, and more about how Ronan might taste.
But the conspiracy they’re tangled in is more dangerous than either of them know.
266 pages, ebook
First published November 15, 2021
235 people are currently reading
833 people want to read
About the author
Tavia Lark
29 books785 followersTavia Lark writes m/m fantasy romance and erotica. Her favorite romance tropes include hurt/comfort, sharing a bed, and enemies to lovers. She writes from a sunny little apartment with the constant "help" of her fluffy cat. He just really likes typing, okay.
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Plus, there's a Facebook group!
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
September 7, 2024
I thought I would like this book better than the first but that didn’t turn out to be the case. The romance was a bit rushed, I was seeking more of that slow-burn “The Necromancer's Light” had. Also I wanted more on Ronan, I wanted more backstory, more memories, more bad dreams about Arthur. Because Arthur is hardly mentioned at all!! I get their relationship was all “part of the plan” but if Ronan isn’t really this bad guy he was brought out to be then he has to have some remorse right? More haunting thoughts? It was brought up eventually but in such a short scene 😭. Anyway, I did like Karis, I liked his personality and I liked the way he clashed with Ronan. All that running around and committing crimes for a ”secret plan” stuff was pretty cool. So, although this book wasn’t quite what I wanted it to be, I still enjoyed all its high points and that mix of hurt/comfort.
June 29, 2022
DNF ~38%
I went into this one a bit nervous, because one of the MCs is a man who was really cruel to one of the MCs in the previous book, and I wasn't sure if the author would be able to redeem him enough for me. And, sure enough, they didn't, at least not in the first 1/3, and based on what I read, I have no reason to think that will change in the rest. Just for me personally, I needed more than Ronan having a "good" reason for what he did--I needed him to show some remorse for the people he had to hurt as part of the collateral damage considered acceptable in pursuit of this "worthy" cause. That doesn't happen, and I found it off-putting that Karis doesn't seem to find that at all concerning. Karis basically immediately wants to jump into bed with Ronan, and though we kept being told about their sexual chemistry, I honestly didn't feel it at all. I didn't really like either of these characters, and though I still find the world interesting, and the plot itself was super promising, I just couldn't get behind these two enough to keep reading. On the fence if I'll read the next...
I went into this one a bit nervous, because one of the MCs is a man who was really cruel to one of the MCs in the previous book, and I wasn't sure if the author would be able to redeem him enough for me. And, sure enough, they didn't, at least not in the first 1/3, and based on what I read, I have no reason to think that will change in the rest. Just for me personally, I needed more than Ronan having a "good" reason for what he did--I needed him to show some remorse for the people he had to hurt as part of the collateral damage considered acceptable in pursuit of this "worthy" cause. That doesn't happen, and I found it off-putting that Karis doesn't seem to find that at all concerning. Karis basically immediately wants to jump into bed with Ronan, and though we kept being told about their sexual chemistry, I honestly didn't feel it at all. I didn't really like either of these characters, and though I still find the world interesting, and the plot itself was super promising, I just couldn't get behind these two enough to keep reading. On the fence if I'll read the next...
September 2, 2023
“Your church and your order will change. ”
Segunda parte de la trilogía Radiance. Tengo que admitir que los mundos que crea la autora son bastante interesantes, por eso sigo leyéndolos.
Ahora, esta novela desde un punto de vista argumental me ha parecido mucho más interesante que el primero y me ha mantenido interesada, sin embargo, los protagonistas no me han gustado nada, por separado sí, pero sinceramente no veía ninguna química entre ellos. Es más, se me hizo bastante forzada, al menos en mi opinión.
Igualmente, el libro ha dejado con buen final para la tercera y última parte.
Segunda parte de la trilogía Radiance. Tengo que admitir que los mundos que crea la autora son bastante interesantes, por eso sigo leyéndolos.
Ahora, esta novela desde un punto de vista argumental me ha parecido mucho más interesante que el primero y me ha mantenido interesada, sin embargo, los protagonistas no me han gustado nada, por separado sí, pero sinceramente no veía ninguna química entre ellos. Es más, se me hizo bastante forzada, al menos en mi opinión.
Igualmente, el libro ha dejado con buen final para la tercera y última parte.
November 17, 2021
I really tried
I just could not get into this one I just could not forgive Ronan for what he did to Arthur no matter HOW righteous the reason.
I just could not get into this one I just could not forgive Ronan for what he did to Arthur no matter HOW righteous the reason.
July 6, 2022
2.5 stars. This review may contain spoilers.
While I enjoyed the first book in the series, this one didn't do it for me. I didn't emotionally connect to the characters, and didn't care much about either of the MCs or their romance. The side characters also felt flat, which in turn made it hard for me to care about the overall plot.
The relationship between the MCs felt imbalanced to me, not necessarily the romantic aspect but plot-wise, with Ronan in charge of moving the story forward throughout practically the whole book. Karis wasn't completely passive as an MC, but it seemed that he barely had any goals or aspirations of his own (other than some perfunctory attempts at breaking free), only ones that aligned with what Ronan and Vara wanted him to do. At the end Karis thinks about how glad he is that Ronan saw Karis as himself and not just a prophet or paladin, but in the narrative itself his whole character arc was defined by Vara, so I didn't get much of a feel for who he was outside of that.
It seemed that this book was an attempt at a redemption arc for Ronan, but it wasn't successful in my eyes. To me at least some part of redemption is about righting your wrongs, but Ronan never took any meaningful action to do that. When he , it aligned with his existing plans and he didn't really have to make any compromises. When it came to his betrayal of Arthur, . While Ronan showed some remorse and had a reason for doing what he did, I didn't feel that he took any initiative to heal the wounds he'd caused.
Like in book one, the romance was on the instalove side. I didn't mind it as much in the first book since it set up Shae to be touch-starved and longing for human contact, which made it make sense to me that he could fall quickly for someone who got close to him, but in this book it felt less believable for the characters. I also had issues with some anachronisms; I'm not generally picky about historical accuracy in fantasy (after all, it's fantasy!) but things like resin dice and calling someone Buzzcut broke my immersion and could easily have been avoided.
While I enjoyed the first book in the series, this one didn't do it for me. I didn't emotionally connect to the characters, and didn't care much about either of the MCs or their romance. The side characters also felt flat, which in turn made it hard for me to care about the overall plot.
The relationship between the MCs felt imbalanced to me, not necessarily the romantic aspect but plot-wise, with Ronan in charge of moving the story forward throughout practically the whole book. Karis wasn't completely passive as an MC, but it seemed that he barely had any goals or aspirations of his own (other than some perfunctory attempts at breaking free), only ones that aligned with what Ronan and Vara wanted him to do. At the end Karis thinks about how glad he is that Ronan saw Karis as himself and not just a prophet or paladin, but in the narrative itself his whole character arc was defined by Vara, so I didn't get much of a feel for who he was outside of that.
It seemed that this book was an attempt at a redemption arc for Ronan, but it wasn't successful in my eyes. To me at least some part of redemption is about righting your wrongs, but Ronan never took any meaningful action to do that. When he , it aligned with his existing plans and he didn't really have to make any compromises. When it came to his betrayal of Arthur, . While Ronan showed some remorse and had a reason for doing what he did, I didn't feel that he took any initiative to heal the wounds he'd caused.
Like in book one, the romance was on the instalove side. I didn't mind it as much in the first book since it set up Shae to be touch-starved and longing for human contact, which made it make sense to me that he could fall quickly for someone who got close to him, but in this book it felt less believable for the characters. I also had issues with some anachronisms; I'm not generally picky about historical accuracy in fantasy (after all, it's fantasy!) but things like resin dice and calling someone Buzzcut broke my immersion and could easily have been avoided.
September 3, 2024
"He locks the door behind him, but he can’t lock the heat of desire out of his blood. Fuck. This really is not how he intended this kidnapping to go."
This was so fun,I was having a blast reading this.
I had high expectations from this book and it did not disappoint,it delivered in every aspect.
Karis and Ronan had such good chemistry,their whole relationship was just full of passion and it made me smile so many times.
Karis is definitely one of my favorites characters,he was such a brat but in a endearing sort of way.
Ronan proved that he was more than just the emotionless mask that he hid behind and I adored the moments between them.
I liked how the author portrayed the gods in this world,they were original and their past history was interesting,I do wish that the author added a bit more on that through.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series....anyway on to the final book,so excited for that one too .
This was so fun,I was having a blast reading this.
I had high expectations from this book and it did not disappoint,it delivered in every aspect.
Karis and Ronan had such good chemistry,their whole relationship was just full of passion and it made me smile so many times.
Karis is definitely one of my favorites characters,he was such a brat but in a endearing sort of way.
Ronan proved that he was more than just the emotionless mask that he hid behind and I adored the moments between them.
I liked how the author portrayed the gods in this world,they were original and their past history was interesting,I do wish that the author added a bit more on that through.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series....anyway on to the final book,so excited for that one too .
April 3, 2022
This is a very enjoyable magical fantasy novel with interesting characters, a great storyline, and lots of magic. Karis is a new recruit to the Radiance Order. He's always been able to communicate in with his god and he keeps some of his magical powers hidden, so others don't understand the extent of his capabilities. Ronan, an acolyte of the Trickster god, is captured as a thief of religious artifacts. What will happen when the gods conspire to bring the two men together? This well-written book has an abundance of sacrifice, friendship, passion, and love. Read the first book in the trilogy prior to this one for maximum enjoyment.
March 4, 2022
Probably would have been pretty good if the author wasn't dead set on selling us a Ronan redemption story. Jesus christ, Ronan is easily one of the most unlikeable characters I've ever seen an author try to make work in a romance. Stop trying to make Ronan happen, Tavia.
I just can't forgive him for what he did prior to the first book, or for the shitty way he treats Karis when he kidnaps him. I also can't believe Karis is too busy fawning over how attractive his kidnapper is to not feel outraged and humiliated and violated from having his freedom stolen. It's bullshit. The first 25% of the book or so is very difficult to read.
I also can't bring myself to care about how bad Ronan claims to feel about everything he's done. You deserve to feel bad, dude. You're a bad person. Also, his declaration of love around 50% felt super random and out of nowhere. All we'd seen was mentions of physical attraction to Karis and now he decides he's in love with him? What a psychopath. Karis could have done much better.
I just can't forgive him for what he did prior to the first book, or for the shitty way he treats Karis when he kidnaps him. I also can't believe Karis is too busy fawning over how attractive his kidnapper is to not feel outraged and humiliated and violated from having his freedom stolen. It's bullshit. The first 25% of the book or so is very difficult to read.
I also can't bring myself to care about how bad Ronan claims to feel about everything he's done. You deserve to feel bad, dude. You're a bad person. Also, his declaration of love around 50% felt super random and out of nowhere. All we'd seen was mentions of physical attraction to Karis and now he decides he's in love with him? What a psychopath. Karis could have done much better.
July 9, 2022
ok so Karis does have a book and i loved it🔥. the action at the end (if you can even call it that?😭) was underdeveloped but so was the first book and so will be the next i suspect. as a romance though this series was awesome till now.
i have a strong feeling the next is Leth's book and boy am i excited for that one🌚.
“Be nice to me. I was kidnapped today, and it was very upsetting.”😭he says this to his kidnapper. baby you've got bratty down to an artwork.
Karis lifts his chin and declares, “I want a ring.”all because he saw Arthur and Shae wearing rings😩so adorable istg.
Ronan pauses the thigh massage. “A ring?"
“You have to wear one too,” Karis says quickly. That’s the important part; everyone has to know that Ronan belongs to him.
Ronan’s hands shake against his thighs. “Karis.” His voice trembles with restrained laughter. “Are you proposing to me?”
Karis crosses his arms. “If that’s what it takes.”
i have a strong feeling the next is Leth's book and boy am i excited for that one🌚.
October 27, 2022
Entertainment value is pretty good. Karis is literally perfect though, and when whatshisface betrayed him, for the first time ever I wanted Karis to be able to save himself and go find someone better. Ronan also just wasn’t well redeemed from what went down in book one.
August 1, 2022
Second book in the Radiance series, we can say I was less enthusiasm than the first.
Plot: This time we're following Karis our little squire who was furtively present in the first book and Ronan the thief who seems charged of a dangerous quest.
Like I said, I wasn't enthusiasm at all principally because of Ronan and his butchered "redemption arc" if we can really call that one...
The plot is still fast paced, the love story too (which kinda disappointed me) but the world building was far better than the first. More places, more characters and more informations about these differents Gods !
Main Characters: I didn't really get caught in their relationship, even though it follow the same schema than before it was badly executed and Ronan backstory rather empty with his past "mistakes" barely addressed.
Side Characters: I love the Locksmiths and would protect each one of them with my whole heart !
The bad guy was rather absent until the very end so mehh.
The Radiant Order are still shitty and a little bit too bootlickers towards the end 🙄
Rating: 3/5* only for the Locksmiths
Plot: This time we're following Karis our little squire who was furtively present in the first book and Ronan the thief who seems charged of a dangerous quest.
Like I said, I wasn't enthusiasm at all principally because of Ronan and his butchered "redemption arc" if we can really call that one...
The plot is still fast paced, the love story too (which kinda disappointed me) but the world building was far better than the first. More places, more characters and more informations about these differents Gods !
Main Characters: I didn't really get caught in their relationship, even though it follow the same schema than before it was badly executed and Ronan backstory rather empty with his past "mistakes" barely addressed.
Side Characters: I love the Locksmiths and would protect each one of them with my whole heart !
The bad guy was rather absent until the very end so mehh.
The Radiant Order are still shitty and a little bit too bootlickers towards the end 🙄
Rating: 3/5* only for the Locksmiths
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2024
2024: same as 2021, only slightly less exuberant. :)
2021 review:
Delightful. Great characters, great plot, abundant humor and angst and danger and falling in love and mistakes and I read the last third without stopping, which means the pacing is excellent. This one's as good as the first one and as different and yeah. Read these!
Before I read the first book in this series, I was unaware of a way to make me like a series with gods in it. I've tried several, and while I finished reading some of them, they were problematic for me. But this series is exactly the kind of gods content I didn't know I wanted.
AND, these characters are unique and interesting and fun, and the author's craft is excellent, and so yes, I will be reading all these as soon as each one comes out!
2021 review:
Delightful. Great characters, great plot, abundant humor and angst and danger and falling in love and mistakes and I read the last third without stopping, which means the pacing is excellent. This one's as good as the first one and as different and yeah. Read these!
Before I read the first book in this series, I was unaware of a way to make me like a series with gods in it. I've tried several, and while I finished reading some of them, they were problematic for me. But this series is exactly the kind of gods content I didn't know I wanted.
AND, these characters are unique and interesting and fun, and the author's craft is excellent, and so yes, I will be reading all these as soon as each one comes out!
September 22, 2025
December 2021
2 stars = okay
~ A Basic M/M Fantasy Romance ~
After rating the first book 4 stars, I was eagerly looking forward to this one. Sadly, it turned out to be quite the disappointment. 😢
The MCs:
Karis is the arrogant young prodigy of the Radiant Order. His tracking magic is able to track both objects and people. He also serves as the making him very special.
Ronan is an infamous thief and murderer. He’s also a heretic bc he worships the Trickster god. His secret mission is to gather holy relics to help free five gods, who've been bound for 200 years. He kidnaps and recruits Karis to join his group, the Locksmiths.
What I Didn't Like:
(1) I felt no connection to the MCs, as they remained flat and underdeveloped. Even halfway through, they still felt like strangers, so I started skimming.
(2) The lack of a real connection between the MCs. Karis’s sudden declaration of love halfway through, after only a few interactions, was jarring. Their love wasn't felt or believable. In the end, the romance was flat and disappointing.
(3) Karis seemed weak. After being kidnapped by Ronan, he made only a half-hearted escape attempt before becoming too infatuated with him to care. There was little tension or danger, and Karis was passive, going along with everything. It made it hard to believe he had great magical ability.
(4) The story became too convoluted with numerous names of people, places, gods, and objects. It was difficult to keep track of it all. 😵💫
(5) Karis concealed his true identity from Ronan, seemingly just to create a dramatic conclusion. Predictably, both MCs had their own secrets—a tired plot device. Naturally, they quickly forgave each other because, of course, 'love conquers all.' 🙄
I'm hoping that someone who gave us, "The Necromancer's Light," will be able to write another good book, but it'll doubtfully be in this series. I won't be continuing on.
2 stars = okay
~ A Basic M/M Fantasy Romance ~
After rating the first book 4 stars, I was eagerly looking forward to this one. Sadly, it turned out to be quite the disappointment. 😢
The MCs:
Karis is the arrogant young prodigy of the Radiant Order. His tracking magic is able to track both objects and people. He also serves as the making him very special.
Ronan is an infamous thief and murderer. He’s also a heretic bc he worships the Trickster god. His secret mission is to gather holy relics to help free five gods, who've been bound for 200 years. He kidnaps and recruits Karis to join his group, the Locksmiths.
What I Didn't Like:
(1) I felt no connection to the MCs, as they remained flat and underdeveloped. Even halfway through, they still felt like strangers, so I started skimming.
(2) The lack of a real connection between the MCs. Karis’s sudden declaration of love halfway through, after only a few interactions, was jarring. Their love wasn't felt or believable. In the end, the romance was flat and disappointing.
(3) Karis seemed weak. After being kidnapped by Ronan, he made only a half-hearted escape attempt before becoming too infatuated with him to care. There was little tension or danger, and Karis was passive, going along with everything. It made it hard to believe he had great magical ability.
(4) The story became too convoluted with numerous names of people, places, gods, and objects. It was difficult to keep track of it all. 😵💫
(5) Karis concealed his true identity from Ronan, seemingly just to create a dramatic conclusion. Predictably, both MCs had their own secrets—a tired plot device. Naturally, they quickly forgave each other because, of course, 'love conquers all.' 🙄
I'm hoping that someone who gave us, "The Necromancer's Light," will be able to write another good book, but it'll doubtfully be in this series. I won't be continuing on.
February 5, 2023
January 30, 2023 re-read: This was my favorite of the Radiance series the first time around, in large part because I was so intrigued by Ronan, the Locksmiths, and their mission. Luckily, it was just as enjoyable the second time, and I think I appreciated the creativity of Ronan’s Trickster magic even more this time. Although the books in this series are perfectly paced, sometimes I wish they were three times as long just so I could see more of the magic and worldbuilding, because it’s fascinating.
Ronan and Karis are a great pair, and I love how Karis’s brash confidence and magical strength help even out the power imbalance between the two. Ronan is also immediately sympathetic despite what we learned about him in the first book.
---
Original review: Book 2 in the Radiance series. A paladin with a magical gift for tracking is kidnapped by a thief stealing religious artifacts. I liked book 1 in this series (The Necromancer's Light) and thought book 2 was an improvement in every way. For one thing, it's about 100 pages longer than the first book, allowing Lark to more fully flesh out the worldbuilding, the MCs, and the side characters alike. The magic and religion in these books is intriguing and I get the sense that the author cares just as much about the setting as she does the romance, which is not always the case in fantasy romance. The setting strongly impacts the characterization of the MCs and isn't just decoration. I'm very much looking forward to book 3.
Ronan and Karis are a great pair, and I love how Karis’s brash confidence and magical strength help even out the power imbalance between the two. Ronan is also immediately sympathetic despite what we learned about him in the first book.
---
Original review: Book 2 in the Radiance series. A paladin with a magical gift for tracking is kidnapped by a thief stealing religious artifacts. I liked book 1 in this series (The Necromancer's Light) and thought book 2 was an improvement in every way. For one thing, it's about 100 pages longer than the first book, allowing Lark to more fully flesh out the worldbuilding, the MCs, and the side characters alike. The magic and religion in these books is intriguing and I get the sense that the author cares just as much about the setting as she does the romance, which is not always the case in fantasy romance. The setting strongly impacts the characterization of the MCs and isn't just decoration. I'm very much looking forward to book 3.
January 6, 2025
Such a fun adventure!
Nothing like starting off a romance with a good kidnapping lol. I loved that both characters have hidden depths and strengths (and flaws!) of their own, and complemented each other so perfectly once they overcame some obstacles. This has rich world building, humor, action, magic, and swoony romance. I just love pretty much everything by this author!
Nothing like starting off a romance with a good kidnapping lol. I loved that both characters have hidden depths and strengths (and flaws!) of their own, and complemented each other so perfectly once they overcame some obstacles. This has rich world building, humor, action, magic, and swoony romance. I just love pretty much everything by this author!
Read
December 11, 2023Can’t read this book because of what Ronan did to hero in Book 1 of series. I can’t ever view Ronan as a hero. However, I did skim for excerpts of book 3 heroes and story arc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2022
4.5
Well, that was ridiculously fun and steamy: another winner from Tavia Lark.
I was a bit nervous about this second book, mainly because I was so damn unsure about Ronan as the lead, although I was curious to see how he'd redeem or justify himself after all the havoc he wreaks on Arthur and the order.
And now, after finishing this book, I can confirm I'm both surprised by the unexpected way that was dealt with, and also, very, very satisfied.
First things first, I really adored the plot: the story, the whole subplot about the gods and their binding, the Locksmiths' mission and Karis' peculiar powers... all of that was extremely fascinating and, needless to say, I managed to devour this book in a day.
I already loved the world-building in the first novel, but I think Tavia Lark outdid herself here: the world she created, with all the different magic powers, religious orders and meddling gods, is utterly fabulous, vivid and fascinating.
I also totally adored both leads. Like I said, I was unsure about Ronan as the main lead, and in some ways, his "redemption" is both satisfying (we finally discover what drove him to act so abominably) and isn't actually a redemption, at all. He has his (very good) reasons, and he's ruthlessly driven towards his goals, so of course he doesn't regret his actions. His morally ambiguous, ruthless and at times cold, attitude would have bothered me, IF Karis wasn't as equally ambiguous and morally grey. Karis is bratty and reckless, and as ruthlessly driven as Ronan, and they complement each other so well.
I loved their romance, I loved how smitten Ronan was towards Karis (there's nothing better than a kinda-reformed scoundrel shamelessly indulging their love interest, showering them with gifts and praise and affection), and I loved how, despite the age-gap and Ronan's past, they're pretty much equals in their relationship.
I think Tavia Lark handled their story seamlessly and fabulously.
I also adored the side characters to bits, and the found family vibes were truly impeccable.
I'm excited, so damn excited for Leth and Evain's story.
Well, that was ridiculously fun and steamy: another winner from Tavia Lark.
I was a bit nervous about this second book, mainly because I was so damn unsure about Ronan as the lead, although I was curious to see how he'd redeem or justify himself after all the havoc he wreaks on Arthur and the order.
And now, after finishing this book, I can confirm I'm both surprised by the unexpected way that was dealt with, and also, very, very satisfied.
First things first, I really adored the plot: the story, the whole subplot about the gods and their binding, the Locksmiths' mission and Karis' peculiar powers... all of that was extremely fascinating and, needless to say, I managed to devour this book in a day.
I already loved the world-building in the first novel, but I think Tavia Lark outdid herself here: the world she created, with all the different magic powers, religious orders and meddling gods, is utterly fabulous, vivid and fascinating.
I also totally adored both leads. Like I said, I was unsure about Ronan as the main lead, and in some ways, his "redemption" is both satisfying (we finally discover what drove him to act so abominably) and isn't actually a redemption, at all. He has his (very good) reasons, and he's ruthlessly driven towards his goals, so of course he doesn't regret his actions. His morally ambiguous, ruthless and at times cold, attitude would have bothered me, IF Karis wasn't as equally ambiguous and morally grey. Karis is bratty and reckless, and as ruthlessly driven as Ronan, and they complement each other so well.
I loved their romance, I loved how smitten Ronan was towards Karis (there's nothing better than a kinda-reformed scoundrel shamelessly indulging their love interest, showering them with gifts and praise and affection), and I loved how, despite the age-gap and Ronan's past, they're pretty much equals in their relationship.
I think Tavia Lark handled their story seamlessly and fabulously.
I also adored the side characters to bits, and the found family vibes were truly impeccable.
I'm excited, so damn excited for Leth and Evain's story.
March 14, 2022
This was as good as the first book in the series, and maybe a little better. I enjoyed all the secondary characters - they were developed enough to be individual, without taking over the story. The romance between Karis and Ronan was adorable, and seeing them work out their hangups and come together was so cute. I liked the overall plot as well - high stakes for sure.
Overall, another great read in this series.
Overall, another great read in this series.
April 26, 2022
4 stars
A lot better than book one! More going on and the I felt the romance more in this.
I think this could technically be read as a standalone but you won’t get some of the things brought up about Arthur and Ronan…
I am glad I gave this book a chance!
A lot better than book one! More going on and the I felt the romance more in this.
I think this could technically be read as a standalone but you won’t get some of the things brought up about Arthur and Ronan…
I am glad I gave this book a chance!
January 17, 2022
Tags: Ageless fantasy realm, religious orders, divine intervention, voices in your head, forced proximity, verbal sparring, bad guy redeemed
Loved this. The worldbuilding around different gods and religions was even more developed in this book. A lot of things that seemed strange in book 1 (creepy radiants!) were explained and I for one feel vindicated. Karis and Ronan are adorable, and there was just enough tension to keep things interesting. Definitely recommend!
Loved this. The worldbuilding around different gods and religions was even more developed in this book. A lot of things that seemed strange in book 1 (creepy radiants!) were explained and I for one feel vindicated. Karis and Ronan are adorable, and there was just enough tension to keep things interesting. Definitely recommend!
February 28, 2022
Of all the three books in the series, this was my least favorite. Don't get me wrong, the world-building and the lore in the story was well-written and quite fascinating. There are some parts that was bit dragging and some parts that felt-rushed IMO but overall the writing was good. I liked that the supporting characters were given enough focus that one grows attached to them. The tension and chemistry between Karis and Ronan is engaging enough though their relationship could've used a bit more development from them driving each other crazy to I am in love with this person.
What made me not enjoy this book as much are the characters of Karis and Ronan. Yes, they were fleshed-out nicely here, but I just couldn't like them no matter what. I was hoping that during the later parts of the book, I'd grow to like them but it just didn't work for me. Overall, this is still good, action-filled and fun story where this time I continued reading for the plot.
This would be 3.75 stars out of 5 stars for me.
What made me not enjoy this book as much are the characters of Karis and Ronan. Yes, they were fleshed-out nicely here, but I just couldn't like them no matter what. I was hoping that during the later parts of the book, I'd grow to like them but it just didn't work for me. Overall, this is still good, action-filled and fun story where this time I continued reading for the plot.
This would be 3.75 stars out of 5 stars for me.
January 19, 2025
Romance bad ❌
Plot good ✅
Honestly I don’t know how to feel. I adored Karis. I did not adore the book. I stayed with reading because I was interested in him and his story despite being romanced by wet cardboard, and was generally rewarded for my efforts.
But then they got together, and Karis changed. He felt like an empty shell of himself. Just a young man, desperate and whining for the attention of his lover. He stopped being so snarky, and started acting like a ✨princess✨ (derogatory)
I was just about to call it quits at that point, but then the plot picked up. Felt like I was reading a genuine heist novel, and that kept me locked in for the last 45% of the book.
Would I recommend this to someone? Probably not. But I also wouldn’t warn someone away if they’re interest in the series. 🤷♀️
Plot good ✅
Honestly I don’t know how to feel. I adored Karis. I did not adore the book. I stayed with reading because I was interested in him and his story despite being romanced by wet cardboard, and was generally rewarded for my efforts.
But then they got together, and Karis changed. He felt like an empty shell of himself. Just a young man, desperate and whining for the attention of his lover. He stopped being so snarky, and started acting like a ✨princess✨ (derogatory)
I was just about to call it quits at that point, but then the plot picked up. Felt like I was reading a genuine heist novel, and that kept me locked in for the last 45% of the book.
Would I recommend this to someone? Probably not. But I also wouldn’t warn someone away if they’re interest in the series. 🤷♀️
October 13, 2022
Another winner from Tavia Lark. This hovered somewhere between a 4 and 5-star read for me, but I ultimately rounded down because there was something about the pacing of the romance that felt a little off. In any case, this story is about a young acolyte with a hidden power, and a roguish outlaw who end up embroiled in an adventure that will upend the very foundations of their society. Karis, who is only 18 to Ronan's 28, was a great character - snarky and resilient. And Ronan was all broody mystery. It's a great romance and a great fantasy story, with lovely world-building and excellent writing. I've got the next in the series lined up and can't wait to start reading.
June 10, 2024
I listened to the audiobook which was free on audible plus
M/m, fantasy, insta love, hea, gods, magic, part of a series but can be read as a standalone
Spice: low to medium
Plot: Ronan has an imperative mission that will rock the foundations of the world. Karis just so happens to get in his way and gets dragged along for the ride but once he figures out what Ronan's mission is, he has no choice but to join in the cause.
My opinion: the story was so good but I had issues with the insta love. This book probably should have been at least 900 pages
M/m, fantasy, insta love, hea, gods, magic, part of a series but can be read as a standalone
Spice: low to medium
Plot: Ronan has an imperative mission that will rock the foundations of the world. Karis just so happens to get in his way and gets dragged along for the ride but once he figures out what Ronan's mission is, he has no choice but to join in the cause.
My opinion: the story was so good but I had issues with the insta love. This book probably should have been at least 900 pages
April 7, 2022
good sequel
I wasn’t sure how I could like Ronan after the last book but I shouldn't have been.
He redeemed himself and more.
I’m off to grab the next one right now!
I wasn’t sure how I could like Ronan after the last book but I shouldn't have been.
He redeemed himself and more.
I’m off to grab the next one right now!
February 5, 2022
4.5 stars!
This was a delight! Great characters, an interesting world, a quest to fulfill, secrets, action, danger, friendship, and love. I really liked both Ronan and Karis, and I loved the epilogue.
This was a delight! Great characters, an interesting world, a quest to fulfill, secrets, action, danger, friendship, and love. I really liked both Ronan and Karis, and I loved the epilogue.
March 1, 2022
Honestly, I was surprised when I found out that the main character in The Paladin's Shadow, Lark's second installment of the fantasy Radiance series was none other that Ronan Vizia, who was mentioned as a thief who betrayed Arthur (the paladin from book #1) by stabbing him in the back. The worse fact is that Ronan and Arthur were lovers.
Talk about redemption book! Because yes, I was highly curious! Ronan was described as villain there.
Well, apparently there's a reason of Ronan's action. And I really LOVE the way Lark expands the universe in this book, giving backstory about bounded gods, their acolytes, and their prophets. I think it makes the book has better substantial storyline. It fleshes out considerable because there's a mission that Ronan is doing, and well if he has to kidnap a squire to do so, so be it.
Karis also appears in the previous book, a young recruit in the Radiant Order. However, there's more to Karis than meets the eye, and I love reading about his power.
Karis and Ronan together feel good and I wholeheartedly approve of that last chapter . Nice closure nonetheless.
Now I'm curious what will happen in book #3. I mean . So what will Evain and Leth involve with?
Talk about redemption book! Because yes, I was highly curious! Ronan was described as villain there.
Well, apparently there's a reason of Ronan's action. And I really LOVE the way Lark expands the universe in this book, giving backstory about bounded gods, their acolytes, and their prophets. I think it makes the book has better substantial storyline. It fleshes out considerable because there's a mission that Ronan is doing, and well if he has to kidnap a squire to do so, so be it.
Karis also appears in the previous book, a young recruit in the Radiant Order. However, there's more to Karis than meets the eye, and I love reading about his power.
Karis and Ronan together feel good and I wholeheartedly approve of that last chapter . Nice closure nonetheless.
Now I'm curious what will happen in book #3. I mean . So what will Evain and Leth involve with?
June 23, 2022
I'm still mad at Ronan! Stabing Arthur doesn't make any sense to me. They were toghether for months and Ronan didn't think about recruiting Arthur, but he thought it was a good idea to recruit the person he kidnaped after a few days of meeting him 😬
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2023
DNF
The one thing that got me about this book was the lack of character development. Ronin doesn't grow, doesn't change. He stays the same. Isn't resentful, doesn't regret his choices and how he used and attempted murdered our previous MC.
The one thing that got me about this book was the lack of character development. Ronin doesn't grow, doesn't change. He stays the same. Isn't resentful, doesn't regret his choices and how he used and attempted murdered our previous MC.
dnf
March 23, 2022DNF at 55%. Couldn’t connect to it. Ronan didn’t work for me as a character at all.
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