Title: Radiant
Series: The Color Theory (#2)
Author: Ashley Bustamante
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 4/5 stars
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
Overview: I won Vivid, the predecessor of this book, in a giveaway last year, not expecting to be so wholly drawn into this world where magic comes from colors and where dark secrets lurk behind the semblance of light. I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel since, and I’m honored to have received an eARC! Radiant carries the story well, leaving readers begging for more.
Characters: Ava is still such a cute heroine! She’s grown a lot over the course of these two books, gaining more confidence (perhaps too much confidence!) in her abilities. She’s growing up, but she’s still the sweet, innocent Ava we know and love from Vivid.
And Elm… Ah, Elm. He’s still our favorite pretty boy, complete with elegant speech and flamboyant attire. His character doesn’t develop much, but since we’re all in love with him already, it’s hard to complain.
The supporting cast has definitely expanded, filled with a variety of colorful characters. It was sometimes a bit hard to keep track of everyone, but they all contribute well to the story, and it was fun getting to know them!
Content: Some characters are said to curse (we don’t actually hear what they say). Characters get into fights, and sometimes there are injuries.
Ava and Elm share a few kisses. Their romance is so sweet and innocent, though!
Writing: Bustamante’s writing is excellent, keeping me invested in the story. The pacing is a bit slow, and the plot doesn’t progress all that much, but I still definitely enjoyed reading it. Ava is developed especially well. And the ending… ACK! How can I wait a whole year to find out what happens next? *sobs*
Summary: While this wasn’t quite the story I was expecting, Radiant is a worthy sequel to Vivid. It explores deep themes of forgiveness and revenge, all while exploring different facets of the story’s intriguing magic system. Fans of Vivid will love returning to this world!
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