Radiance is amazing! A perfect (but unfortunately rare) example that you don't need ridiculous miscommunication and silly drama in arranged marriage trop to create tension and compelling relationship

I always appreciate how you read and talk about self-published books! I’m a self-published author , and I interact with many other self-published authors. Often, it’s really difficult to convince people that these books are worth reading.

Radiance is one of my favourites but I agree it would be interesting to see that relationship dynamic in a more epic fantasy!

I highly recommend Reign & Ruin by JD Evans! It's a series of (so far) 5 companion novels (different couples) with a continuous plot and villain between them all.

I read Emperor's Edge a long time ago when it was available on Wattpad. It's only recently I came across the author again and remembered the book and having enjoyed it. I'm definitely going to be reading the rest of the series. Radiance was good but I also have the same problem of not finding the right balance between fantasy and romance. Now I have to check out your first recommendation too!

Thank you for these self published books videos. I love reading self pubs. It can definitely be hit or miss with idie books, but i feel like in general they tend to be more unique. I dont usually feel like im reading the same book over and over again but with different covers and character names (which is how i sometimes feel with books from big publishers).

The Emperor’s Edge has been one of my favorite series since high school. I’ve spent a lot of time hunting for another series with a similar feel, but to no avail. They’re just so unique. I love them so much.

I just finished the third book of The Emperor's Edge! really enjoying this series ❤ discovered it from your previous recommendation video. thank you!!

I loved Radiance, it really kept you guessing at times.

A self-pub fantasy romance i just finished is Daindreth’s Assassin by Elizabeth Wheatley. I thought the balance between the growing romance between the main couple and the fantasy aspects of the first book was done very well. It is also a completed 5 book series.

Yaaaaassss🥳 I’ve been waiting for you to read Radiance. So genuinely romantic and sweet!

Radiance on my radar and I might read that this year. I recommend The Dagger and The Forbidden Heir by Emilia Jae. It's an amzing self-published fantasy.

Can you check out Reign & Ruin by J D Evans? I've heard a lot of people say it's a great choice for those looking for both fantasy and romance!

I have a fun self-pub Fantasy-adjacent book rec! Nightfall in the Garden of Deep Time by Tracy Higley... bookshop.. secret garden.. portal fantasy... time travel?.. literary references... bit of mystery and bit of adventure.. plus the cover is gorgeous! Oh and a small romance sub-plot for those of you who like that sort of thing. 😉

Thanks for the review! Love hearing about self-pub books!

Glad you enjoyed Emperor's Edge! I absolutely always describe it as fun... The rest of the books are like that as well, up till the finale. Great series. The best book imo is the one that comes after the big finale - it's like a post-quel? called Republic. My favourite within the main series is Conspiracy (book 4).

The second book after Radiance is Eidolon. There is much less romance there and far more action and angst and a quest they have to fullfill it is also darker.... Also another beautiful done Selfpublisher Series is The gifted Thief (Highland Magic) by Helen Harper It reads fast at times like a fairy tale 4 grown ups, there are dark secrets, found family, funny sidekik and in my opinion its very cozy😊

OMG I watched your other inde/self-pubbed recs video and the way I got Emperor's Edge so fast haha and I loved it!! You do not disappoint with your recs for real, it's crazy how alike our book tastes are (altho some books you disliked, I loved lol but that might just be our age difference mainly). You're also one of the booktubers that convinced me to start reading Brandon Sanderson's work altho me being me, I started with Stormlight Archive, no regrets though at all and Words of Radiance lives in my head rent-free

I had seen the first book before and was tempted to pick it up! I was wondering if you had any grimdark or horror fantasy recs, it’s so hard to find something like that

Radiance sounds so good!

I've only heard positive reviews on Radiance. I've been on a fantasy romance kick lately so I'll definitely pick it up soon. I recently got Phoenix Unbound by the same author after hearing great reviews too!

These all sound great. When is your second book coming out? I read your first book recently and really liked it!

I know you probably have a reading list a mile long, but if you ever get around to checking out Grace Draven's other works, I highly recommend Phoenix Unbound. I enjoyed Radiance, but I absolutely loved Phoenix Unbound. It's enemies (to reluctant allies to individuals who come to genuinely respect each other despite their tumultuous meeting) to lovers done right, and the world itself is much more fleshed out than some of Draven's other works. The fantasy aspects are still a little light in the sense that all these magical elements exist but the whys, and hows are rarely touched upon. They're there and that's all you need to know to enjoy this story. But the slow burn relationship between our two main characters is some of the best I've come across in a long time. Our MCs are two individuals who are forced into doing things they never want to due to the stark circumstances that surround them, but they're constantly trying to make the best of things even if they have to through gritted teeth and spite. Each of them separately casts their own flickering, sometimes guttering, light in the dark, but when they finally come together, their light (and love) becomes something beautiful to behold. They both have been hammered down by life, but together they are able to soothe and heal one another through mutual respect, compassion, and honestly, a sense of maturity that readers of Radiance will recognize immediately as it's one of the hallmarks of Draven's works (out of the ones I've read, that is).

Excellent review on all 3 of these books 📙📖📚📚📖📙📙📙📖📖📖📙📖📚📖📙📙📖📖📙📙🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Read Meet me In the Ether !! It’s an indie fantasy romance and I ADORED IT. The characters were so complicated and developed psychologically. And it had great atmosphere. It was the book that got me interested in indie fanro. It does have some types but I didn’t even care. I thought the writing was just so good.

The Emperors Edge is my favorite series and one I have reread a few times. I look forward to your thoughts on the rest of the series.

I’m not much for romance, but Radiance actually sounds interesting. And so does The Emperor’s Edge. I’m always looking for good self-published authors, so thanks for this!

Interesting to hear that Radiance is the strongest in the series. I enjoyed it but thought the villain was too two dimensional. Had no urge to read more in that series, and got the info I wanted either from the next blurb or from a review. I do like that their relationship isn't centered on procreation, something that I don't love in cishet romance.

Great Video!

Omg love Radiance!!❤❤❤❤

Love this do you take submissions for reviews?

I can't wait for your review of the Relic of the Gods! That's all I'll say! :D I would actually love an in depth review of the first three Echos books to get your thoughts. I loved them!

Thanks for supporting indie authors!!! 🎉 If you're into fantasy check out The Midnight Rose by Catalina Paris 🥀

I love Rise of the Ranger. They just get better with each book. The second trilogy has more new characters, ❤their POVs. I think you were talking about Tauren I love his character. All nine of the Echoes Saga are on Kindle Unlimited. I also listened and read some of them. Steve Brand reads them on Audible. He is great. However, I am getting the actual physical books because they are awesome.

I LOVE Radiance!!

hey Elliot, you should know I love your this hairstyle too. it looks good on you too. keep it up.

The Wandering Inn Series by Pirateaba is self-published and epic. Still growing too.

Some of my favourites are indies!

I haven’t even heard about any of these! 😱

Do you ever review small press books? We are often an overlooked category. And there is some great stuff being done in small publishing houses.

Odd question, but there's a book on your shelf I'm curious about! It's the one to the left of the Divine Rivals special edition, with the orange along the spine that looks like leaves. It's really pretty and it caught my eye! :)

I've read the first 3 books in The Echoes Saga and have really enjoyed them.

Consider the Spellmonger Series. Epic-er fantasy!

I accidentally read Radiance twice, because I'd forgotten enough of it after years and picked it up again because I heard it was good lol.

I enjoyed Rise of the Ranger, but for some reason I didn’t really like the writing style. So far that’s kept me from starting the sequel, but I might soon

Have you read The Blood Stones by Tori Tecken?

The plot of Radiance sounds a little bit like Hawksong

I am writing a arranged marriage fantasy romance in a very heavy fantasy world it is called When the Tides Danced Across the Stars. I hope I could send it to you one day and it scratch that perfect balance itch you are looking for.

PLEASE read One Piece (or i will comment it everyday) 🤣🤣