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Review: Eidolon by Grace Draven (Wraith Kings #2)

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Eidolon by Grace Draven // VBC ReviewEidolon (Wraith Kings #2)
Grace Draven
Published: April 18, 2016 (Grace Draven)
Purchase: Amazon
Review source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Amanda

Rating (out of 5): 4 stars

Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it does reference previous books. If you haven’t started this series yet, check out VBC’s review of book 1, Radiance.

In her unending quest for more power, the Shadow Queen of Haradis unseals the portal between worlds, setting a horde of galla, or demons, free. They overwhelm the capital within moments and set about decimating the countryside.

When word reaches Brishen, second prince of the Kai, it comes with the news that the king and all his heirs are dead. Brishen’s forced to assume the mantel of ruler with his human wife, Ildiko, at his side. Between strategizing ways to turn back the galla and figuring out what to do with all the Kai surging toward their garrison in need of refuge, Ildiko and Brishen face a more mundane but no less heartbreaking question—they can’t have children. If or when Brishen dies, the line of succession will fall into question, unless he dissolves his marriage to Ildiko and produces heirs with a Kai.

So there may or may not have been happy dancing. Possibly giddy laughter. And hugging of the Kindle. The relationship between Brishen and Ildiko made me do all of those things when I reached the end of Radiance, and Eidolon was no different. It is so very, very refreshing to read about a couple who deal with their problems without drama. The connection these two have is just…swoon. Brishen is madly, passionately in love with his wife, and Ildiko feels the same. They continue to tease each other, and they can’t keep their hands off each other. Their differences are no longer obstacles, but new things to learn about one another, and neither seems terribly bothered by the fact they’ll be childless.

At least, until Brishen becomes king.

It’s an ongoing conversation between the two of them, and while it causes a good amount of tension and hurt between them, they (mostly) deal with it in a rational manner, especially Ildiko. She, more so than Brishen, understands the machinations of court and the impact their childless status will have on the country.

Grace Draven’s created a fantastic world, and getting to dig deeper into it while being surrounded by familiar faces is a treat. We finally learn why the series is called Wraith Kings, and there’s some rather intriguing interactions between Anhuset and Seravek (who get their own book!). The battle sequences in the last quarter of the book are fierce and fast paced, and the prologue made me teary. There’s terror and a strong thread of weariness running through much of the story as the Kai flee Haradis for Saggara, and I do wish Draven had delved a little more into the refugees’ heads. I wanted more of that horror and fear of the unknown from someone who had seen the first ravages of the galla.

For me, though, the heart of this story is Brishen and Ildiko. I heart them. I heart them so hard, and once you read these books, you will too. Get thee to the bookstore, stat!

Sexual content: sex

2 Responses to “Review: Eidolon by Grace Draven (Wraith Kings #2)”

  1. Isabel says:

    I really liked this as well. A good sequel. I cannot wait til the third one.

  2. Alise Stunnenberg says:

    Grace does magic with the Wraith Kings series and Eidolon delivered! Love Brishen & Ildiko and look forward to the #3…thank you Grace!!

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