Queen B’s Decree: For a shorter book, Radiant Exception didn’t shy away from heavier topics: grief, PTSD, and panic attacks.
You guys know I love a flawed character, and Vaughn definitely fits the bill. I love that despite him looking like a buff, in control captain of the ship, he’s also stubborn, damaged, and really needs a therapist to learn how to communicate. Basically—he’s human.
And honestly, he matches Lark well (we get two servings of stubborn in this book!). They start off with this forced proximity, “I hate that I have to work with you” mood which soon grows to attraction, trust, and love. I really enjoyed them putting aside their disagreements to work together to catch the bad guy. And no spoilers, but there’s a moment where Vaughn goes “Where’s my wife?” and I apologize but I swooned.
Overall, Radiant Exception was a quick and enjoyable read and I would love another book in this universe.
Book: Radiant Exception by AJ Wynn
Series: standalone
Genre: Sci-fi
Plot Devices/Tropes: forced proximity