Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she le...
read full description
reviews
Aug 11, 2011
Cinnamon
rated it: 
This review may also be found on A Thousand Little Pages.
Having read a bit of Alyson Noel’s paranormal series The Immortals before, I started Radiance with expectations. The beautiful pastel blue cover and the rolling field of blue flowers were undoubtedly attracting factors. However, Radiance proved to be less gorgeous than its cover -- far less. After the first few pages, it became just another one of those mediocre what-life-is-like-after-you-die YA stories. For me, this type of p More...
Having read a bit of Alyson Noel’s paranormal series The Immortals before, I started Radiance with expectations. The beautiful pastel blue cover and the rolling field of blue flowers were undoubtedly attracting factors. However, Radiance proved to be less gorgeous than its cover -- far less. After the first few pages, it became just another one of those mediocre what-life-is-like-after-you-die YA stories. For me, this type of p More...
6 comments
like
(7 people liked it)
Apr 27, 2011
Rebecca
rated it: 
I thought this was a really nice book and it was definitely what I needed to get back into my 'reading mode'. It was an easy and quick read that managed to hold my attention throughout the whole book. I'm usually not into Young Adult books too much, but after reading the first page of the sample on Amazon, I just had to give it a try.
It was definitely noticeable that it was a YA book; both on the language and the fact that it was all from a twelve year old girl's perspective. I did l More...
It was definitely noticeable that it was a YA book; both on the language and the fact that it was all from a twelve year old girl's perspective. I did l More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jul 16, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
I think radiance is a wonderful and delightful read.
It tells the story of a young girl whos life has just been yanked from underneath her feet. And who has to brave the challenges of her new world. For Riley, the here&now is a little bit like her life on the human plane. Except there is no one that she knows besides her family. There is also no time or date, its always here & now.
Join riley in the adventure of her next life. And maybe even earn a little bit radiance for yourself.
It tells the story of a young girl whos life has just been yanked from underneath her feet. And who has to brave the challenges of her new world. For Riley, the here&now is a little bit like her life on the human plane. Except there is no one that she knows besides her family. There is also no time or date, its always here & now.
Join riley in the adventure of her next life. And maybe even earn a little bit radiance for yourself.
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jul 04, 2011
Liliana ღ's Mythology
rated it: 
I have to say, this was a very quick read. Very simple, yet entertaining.
So Radiance is about a 12-year-old girl Riley, who died in a car accident a year before. Now, in Here & Now (in a way I guess it could be Heaven) she is placed (since every one is destined to be placed somewhere) as a Soul Catcher. Meaning that she goes back to Earth and tries to convince earthbound spirits to cross the bridge (no, there is no light lol). So with the help of Bodhi, her guide/teacher/coach/boss ( More...
So Radiance is about a 12-year-old girl Riley, who died in a car accident a year before. Now, in Here & Now (in a way I guess it could be Heaven) she is placed (since every one is destined to be placed somewhere) as a Soul Catcher. Meaning that she goes back to Earth and tries to convince earthbound spirits to cross the bridge (no, there is no light lol). So with the help of Bodhi, her guide/teacher/coach/boss ( More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 14, 2011
Emily
rated it: 
This book was so good and the title explains it all! Witch means the title mean bright light so a ghost girl with light she is very bright and smart so you kinda have a taste of the book.I really liked the book I really would want y'all to check it out!
8 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 09, 2011
Reading Vacation's Mom
rated it:
REVIEW
I felt like I hit the jackpot when I read Radiance. It has a feisty girl as the main character, a lovably dorky boy, and a loyal dog. Add a plot with unexpected twists and a completely stunning ending and you’ve got one sweet novel.
One of my favorite parts about this book was the idea of Here and Now. An enchanted place where everything you wish for comes true. If you wish to live at the ocean, then you live at the ocean. Here and Now is only limited by your imagination.
I also loved t More...
I felt like I hit the jackpot when I read Radiance. It has a feisty girl as the main character, a lovably dorky boy, and a loyal dog. Add a plot with unexpected twists and a completely stunning ending and you’ve got one sweet novel.
One of my favorite parts about this book was the idea of Here and Now. An enchanted place where everything you wish for comes true. If you wish to live at the ocean, then you live at the ocean. Here and Now is only limited by your imagination.
I also loved t More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Dec 02, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
"Radiance" by Alyson Noel
This book Radiance is about a young 12 year old girl named Riley who has recently died in a car accident along with her dad, her dog Buttercup, her sister, and her mom. In the car accident Riley and her family died instantly. Once she realizes that she is dead, Riley's family tells her to cross a bridge to go back onto the earth plane to live a normal life, even though no one can see you. Instead she doesn't listen and her family leaves her and More...
This book Radiance is about a young 12 year old girl named Riley who has recently died in a car accident along with her dad, her dog Buttercup, her sister, and her mom. In the car accident Riley and her family died instantly. Once she realizes that she is dead, Riley's family tells her to cross a bridge to go back onto the earth plane to live a normal life, even though no one can see you. Instead she doesn't listen and her family leaves her and More...
Oct 17, 2011
MaryAnn
rated it:
True fans of The Immortals Series by Alyson Noel will love this spin off book told in the eyes of Ever's deceased sister, Riley.
This story is about Riley's existance into the afterplace, after leaving her sister's world of the living. In true Noel style, you are captured by the fantastic way she unravels a story right before your eyes, with chapters and ideas flowing smoothly from one into another.
I loved that we are introduced to what life is like in the afterlife. Grant it, it wa More...
This story is about Riley's existance into the afterplace, after leaving her sister's world of the living. In true Noel style, you are captured by the fantastic way she unravels a story right before your eyes, with chapters and ideas flowing smoothly from one into another.
I loved that we are introduced to what life is like in the afterlife. Grant it, it wa More...
Oct 16, 2011
I had met the dynamic Alyson Noel at Anderson's Bookstore in Naperville, IL and purchased the first three books in her Riley Bloom series. I was excited to read them. But, when a fifth grader came to our house for dinner with her family and saw the novel on my living room table, she absolutely RAVED about the series! So I knew I had to put Radiance on the top of my list. After the family left, I picked up Radiance and started reading it. Boy was that fifth grader right! Radiance is a book about
More...
Jul 30, 2011
This book is funny and well written.
I love the way Reily tries to come to terms with that she had to die as a 12 year old girl and that she is to be an apprentice to become a Soul Catcher and that her teacher, Bodhi, is a goofball (according to Reily).
She doesn't show him any kind of respect and she really acts as a spoilt brat who says what she wants without thinking about anybodys feelings.
She's a real teenager at 12.
Bodhi takes her to her first assignment with "The Radiant Boy" a More...
I love the way Reily tries to come to terms with that she had to die as a 12 year old girl and that she is to be an apprentice to become a Soul Catcher and that her teacher, Bodhi, is a goofball (according to Reily).
She doesn't show him any kind of respect and she really acts as a spoilt brat who says what she wants without thinking about anybodys feelings.
She's a real teenager at 12.
Bodhi takes her to her first assignment with "The Radiant Boy" a More...
Jul 29, 2011
Brina
rated it:
Riley Bloom scheint auf den ersten Blick ein ganz normaler Teenager zu sein. Sie liebt Mode, ihre Familie und ihren Hund. Aber das ist nur die eine Seite.
Riley ist tot. Mit ihren Eltern und ihrer Schwester Ever ist sie mit dem Auto verunglückt und nur Ever hat diesen Unfall überlebt.
Nur schwer schafft es Riley, sich an das Leben in der Anderswelt zu gewöhnen.
Da in der Anderswelt jeder seine Aufgabe erhält, bekommt Riley an ihrem ersten Schultag ihre Aufgabe. Sie darf zurück auf di More...
Riley ist tot. Mit ihren Eltern und ihrer Schwester Ever ist sie mit dem Auto verunglückt und nur Ever hat diesen Unfall überlebt.
Nur schwer schafft es Riley, sich an das Leben in der Anderswelt zu gewöhnen.
Da in der Anderswelt jeder seine Aufgabe erhält, bekommt Riley an ihrem ersten Schultag ihre Aufgabe. Sie darf zurück auf di More...
Jul 22, 2011
Sara
rated it:
Plot: 2.5 Stars
This was a very short novel, and it really showed. It seemed like a lot of the details were glossed over, and some elements of the plot were a bit rushed. Riley's conflict and resolution were a bit early on in the story compared to most, and there really wasn't much to it. It seemed like Bodhi's conflict and resolution were more important and given more detail, but he was not the main character. There were also some details that didn't always add up. At one point, Riley is t More...
This was a very short novel, and it really showed. It seemed like a lot of the details were glossed over, and some elements of the plot were a bit rushed. Riley's conflict and resolution were a bit early on in the story compared to most, and there really wasn't much to it. It seemed like Bodhi's conflict and resolution were more important and given more detail, but he was not the main character. There were also some details that didn't always add up. At one point, Riley is t More...
Jul 21, 2011
Kayleigh
rated it:
I will honestly say that I was quite disappointed with this book.
I had first read Evermore, which is the first book in Alyson Noel's more popular series The Immortals, Evermore happens to be the book where Riley the main character of Radiance, appears as Ever's younger sister, who is a ghost.
She was my favorite character in Evermore, which was the main thing which attracted me to reading this book. She seemed like a pretty awesome and funny character. But this did not follow through in More...
I had first read Evermore, which is the first book in Alyson Noel's more popular series The Immortals, Evermore happens to be the book where Riley the main character of Radiance, appears as Ever's younger sister, who is a ghost.
She was my favorite character in Evermore, which was the main thing which attracted me to reading this book. She seemed like a pretty awesome and funny character. But this did not follow through in More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 03, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Okay, so I picked this book up because my "asserting her own independence" daughter deemed that she would buy this book from her elementary book fair AFTER I told her not to do so. I believe, based on reviews & summaries, that the book is more appropriate for middle school students. She has set the book aside (as is her style... read 40 pages then switch back to another book she has been reading) but I know it will again be back to the top of her pile. I must read this to see what I
More...
Mar 17, 2011
Brooke
rated it:
'Radiance' by Alyson Noel is the beginning of what will be a series starring Riley, a 12 year old ghost. You may remember Riley in Noel's 'Evermore' series. All in all, 'Radiance' was a fun read. At 183 pages, this is also a very quick read. Plot points are laced together well and rapidly. The characters are likable and a bit mysterious, at least in the case of Riley's guide in all things spirit catching, Bodie.
Noel has a unique take on the afterlife and Riley's voice is engaging More...
Noel has a unique take on the afterlife and Riley's voice is engaging More...
Mar 04, 2011
Hderaps
rated it:
Radiance is a middle grade story that deals with a topic that is hard to broach with this age group: death. It can be difficult to talk about death with children, particularly in cases where the person who dies is very close to a child or where the person who dies is very young.
The main character of this story, Riley (only twelve years old), has just died along with her parents and dog. She references her life on the "Earth Plane" briefly, but does not appear to dwell on his More...
The main character of this story, Riley (only twelve years old), has just died along with her parents and dog. She references her life on the "Earth Plane" briefly, but does not appear to dwell on his More...
Feb 08, 2011
Heather
rated it:
Kids aren't supposed to die before they get a chance to live their lives, to become teenagers. It's just not fair. All Riley Bloom wanted to do was become a teenager and be just like her older sister Ever. Unfortunately she died at the age of twelve and now has to finish growing up in the 'Here and Now'.
She doesn't like it one bit and her dorky guide, Bodhi, is given the challenge of helping her learn her new job as soul catcher as well attempting to integrate her into her new ' More...
She doesn't like it one bit and her dorky guide, Bodhi, is given the challenge of helping her learn her new job as soul catcher as well attempting to integrate her into her new ' More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 11, 2011
Sophie
rated it:
The books Radiance had to be one of the better the books that I have read. Riley Bloom, her father, and her mother have all died in an accident and have arrived in a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog Buttercup have been reunited with her parents and are trying to settle into the afterlife, until Riley is summoned by the council. The Council tells Riley about the secert of the afterlife, it’s not just all relaxing, apparently Riley has to work. Her work, a soul catche
More...
Jan 06, 2011
Annabell
rated it:
Synopsis:
“Most people think that death is the end.
The end of life–of good times–
the end of, well, pretty much everything.
But those people are wrong.
Dead wrong.
And I should know.
I died almost a year ago.’
Welcome to the Here & Now.
Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife- a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunite More...
“Most people think that death is the end.
The end of life–of good times–
the end of, well, pretty much everything.
But those people are wrong.
Dead wrong.
And I should know.
I died almost a year ago.’
Welcome to the Here & Now.
Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife- a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunite More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 29, 2010
Karissa
rated it:
I have been curious about Alyson Noel's The Immortals series, but because of mediocre reviews haven't wanted to commit to such a long series. When I saw that Noel had released a short novel that was a spin-off of the series I thought it would be a great way to get a feel for her writing and see if I wanted to read more by her. This book was okay, but the character's were a bit flat and immature for me.
Riley is dead and is living in the Hear and Now. Her parents are there and her hou More...
Riley is dead and is living in the Hear and Now. Her parents are there and her hou More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 01, 2010
Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids
rated it:
Riley Bloom is a cute, feisty, sassy 12 year character that I completely adored in Radiance. She's learning how to cope with crossing over into the Here, after the accident and leaving her sister Ever behind. With her dog Buttercup at her side, Riley begins to learn more about herself, and realizes that her life wasn't all she thought it was. Now she has the task as a Soul Catcher, and with the help of Bodhi, and Buttercup, she will be helping other's cross over the bridge, that she herself didn
More...
Nov 28, 2010
P.M.
rated it:
12 year old Riley Bloom is a typical, younger sister, mouthy brat. She is also dead. She has spent time on the earthly plane because she didn't want to cross the bridge to the Here and Now. Finally, she is ready to attend the first day of school where she will be judged. She is mortified to have her life shown on a screen while the Committee deliberates. She is assigned to be a Soul Catcher under the tutelage of Bodhi, a.k.a. Dorky Guy. Buttercup, her yellow Lab, accompanies Bodhi and her as the
More...
Nov 07, 2010
Allison
rated it:
Right after I finished Shadowland, I went looking for Dark Flame and discovered Radiance. Wow. It was fun. It was fun like the first two books in the Immortals series were fun. It was over too quick for me too. I am looking forward to the next installment coming out in the Spring 2011.
What I really liked was that I could really feel the voice of a 12-year-old telling the story. She says "bum" instead of "butt" or "ass", for example. She expresses More...
What I really liked was that I could really feel the voice of a 12-year-old telling the story. She says "bum" instead of "butt" or "ass", for example. She expresses More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Nov 05, 2010
Nicola
rated it:
Reason for Reading: I enjoy reading fictional stories that involve death and imagine what the afterlife is like. I have my own unwavering religious beliefs but I can still enjoy the whimsy of what an author creates.
I have not read any other books by Alyson Noel. This new series concerns Riley, who was killed with rest of her family, except her older sister, in a car accident. Riley has just made it over the bridge, is settling into life in Here & Now and is given her job. She is to b More...
I have not read any other books by Alyson Noel. This new series concerns Riley, who was killed with rest of her family, except her older sister, in a car accident. Riley has just made it over the bridge, is settling into life in Here & Now and is given her job. She is to b More...
Oct 25, 2010
Allison
rated it:
When I grabbed this book from the library, I didn't know that it was a spin off from another series. I haven't read the other series, so I can't say how they compare, but I enjoyed this book despite lacking whatever background I missed.
Riley has died and is now learning about life in the Here & Now (author's idea of afterlife, kind of reminded me of how JK Rowling represents the afterlife). She is assigned to go back to earth to collect a soul that has refused to cross over.
More...
Riley has died and is now learning about life in the Here & Now (author's idea of afterlife, kind of reminded me of how JK Rowling represents the afterlife). She is assigned to go back to earth to collect a soul that has refused to cross over.
More...
Oct 14, 2010
Kari
rated it:
Set with an interesting new take on the afterlife and pushing Riley to the spotlight, Radiance is a cute, overall light read with a few more suspenseful moments thrown in at the right times. Introducing a new setting and one primary new character, there is very little tie in with the events of the Immortals series, making Riley's story a great stand alone, at least with this first book.
Riley is a brat. Self centered and stuck up, much of her thoughts center on herself, along with her More...
Riley is a brat. Self centered and stuck up, much of her thoughts center on herself, along with her More...
Aug 23, 2010
Alison
rated it:
A fun read for the 'tween crowd.
Riley Bloom is not a new character to anyone who has read Alyson Noel's YA series, The Immortals, which starts with the book, Evermore (link to review). Allow me to give a little background. Riley is Ever's sister. Ever is the only survivor of a car crash that killed the rest of her family, which makes Riley...well...dead. In Evermore, Riley did a bit of haunting, and didn't want to leave her sister, but she eventually crossed over - and I shed a t More...
Riley Bloom is not a new character to anyone who has read Alyson Noel's YA series, The Immortals, which starts with the book, Evermore (link to review). Allow me to give a little background. Riley is Ever's sister. Ever is the only survivor of a car crash that killed the rest of her family, which makes Riley...well...dead. In Evermore, Riley did a bit of haunting, and didn't want to leave her sister, but she eventually crossed over - and I shed a t More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Aug 20, 2010
Ellz
rated it:
My thoughts...This new series by Alyson Noel is a spinoff of the Evermore series geared toward middle grade readers. The heroine is Ever's deceased sister, Riley. Ever finds herself in a place called Here & Now and has to find her way and herself.
Riley is mature for her age. While she is only 12 years old, her character is very smart, brave, and full of intuition. She thinks fast on her feet and is not afraid to prove herself. That being said, Noel keeps the character very believabl More...
Riley is mature for her age. While she is only 12 years old, her character is very smart, brave, and full of intuition. She thinks fast on her feet and is not afraid to prove herself. That being said, Noel keeps the character very believabl More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 19, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
This is the first book in a new series, which is sort of a companion series to her Immortals series. (But more appropriate for younger readers. So if you have a teenager who's reading about Ever, this would be completely appropriate for her younger sister.)
As readers of the Immortal series know, it pretty much opens with a car crash. Ever, her parents and younger sister Riley and their dog, Buttercup, die in a car accident. For much of the first book, Riley "haunts" Eve More...
As readers of the Immortal series know, it pretty much opens with a car crash. Ever, her parents and younger sister Riley and their dog, Buttercup, die in a car accident. For much of the first book, Riley "haunts" Eve More...
Feb 08, 2012
Erica
rated it:
I started out by liking the idea behind the book but not the characters. Life after death is always fascinating to me, though this version is rather depressing to my sensibilities because I don't like the idea of having to continue the life I left, just on a different plane with different skills and the ability to do all the things I never had a chance to do while alive. When I die, I want rest, not action. But that's just my hope. I still enjoyed the story's take on life after death.
I didn More...
I didn More...
