In Alyson Noël's Whisper, Riley Bloom might really have bitten off more than she's ready for. After practically begging the Council for a more challenging Soul Catch, she is assigned an actual Roman gladiator—Theocoles, the Pillar of Doom. How is Riley, a skinny twelve-year-old, supposed to get through to him? Then she meets the beautiful Messalina, who convinces her that her only chance is to become part of this world. To accomplish this, Messalina helps Riley through a dramatic, mystical makeover, transforming her into the beautiful and mature teen she's always wanted to be. Finally, Riley can experience her first boyfriend and her first kiss. With a dream this enchanting, will she ever want to leave?
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"The fourth book in the Riley-Bloom series, is officially my favourite by far. Not just because I'm proud that Riley has finally matured and understood the concept she's been trying to understand for so long; but...she is also introduced to a...boy. YES! At long-last! A boy that notices her and shows an undeniably strong attraction to her. Man! I cannot wait till the next one comes out, now."
— Ariadne (5 out of 5 stars)
“Riley, who appeared in ghost form to her older sister, Ever, in Noël's bestselling Evermore, takes center stage in this middle-grade spinoff, first in a planned series. . . . her wit, attitude, and maturation should have readers gladly following her into the second installment.
— Publishers WeeklyI must admit there is not one thing I don't like about this book. I just listed it all the pros and there are no cons. I would rate it FIVE STARS if I was a critic. And I guess I am. Now I have something to look forward to, the second book coming out in Spring 2011.
— Hadley, at AllyKatzz.comI like Riley . . . She's faced with challenges and loves to meet them head-on. I'm very pleased with this book. . . . Riley's story is touching, moving, and uplifting.
— Biliophilic Book BlogNarrating in a contemporary voice with an honest and comfortable cadence, Riley is imperfect, but always likable as she sweeps readers to her faraway land where she makes herself and readers assess their behaviors and, quite possibly, make adjustments. In the midst of this wildly fanciful setting, Noël is able to capture with nail-on-the-head accuracy common worries and concerns of today's tweens.
— School Library JournalA tale for lovers of the genre . . . For those preteens who like a mild supernatural adventure with romantic overtones, you go, ghost.
— Kirkus ReviewsRiley is such a great, refreshing character and I loved her voice. She has some great inner monologues that made me laugh out loud . . . I really enjoyed Radiance . . . I'd definitely recommend YA fans of Alyson Noël to pick it up. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next with Riley and Bodhi.
— Mundie MomsAlyson did a great job writing Radiance. It was what I expected and more . . . She was able to catch that young voice and portray it beautifully. . . . Radiance is a great summer read. I give it 5 BITES!
— Books With BiteAnother highly creative and well thought out series for Alyson Noël! . . . Noël creates another imaginative world that is so well described it sucked me in from the very beginning. She has a very poetic style of writing that will appeal to any age . . . I highly recommend.
— Bellas NovellaRadiance is a sweet story, a perfect summer read . . . Like the Immortals series, Noël's world building is superb. Radiance was the perfect book to tide me over until the next Immortals book comes out. As far as middle-grade books go, it's one of the best I've read.
— I'd So Rather Be ReadingI think I found a great new series with tons of potential, and that series starts with Radiance . . . This book is so cute!
— Bloody BookaholicI loved reading this book! . . . Its beauty and simplicity blend perfectly with romance and humor. I'm sad that I must wait until next year for Shimmer, the sequel. I will definitely miss Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup! Also the cover is just beautiful!
— Novel ThoughtsThe author has a way of making the world she has created come off the pages and into your mind! A book that will keep you captivated from page one until Riley's flight of Radiance at the end!
— My Overstuffed BookshelfKathleen McInerney's pacing and inflection are perfect, and she imbues Riley with the right amount of sass, personality, and petulance.
— School Library Journal on Shimmer" I really enjoy the Riley bloom series. This book was the best out of all four of them. It's a quick but fun read and I found myself laughing numerous times at Riley's different adventures and her reactions to the different obstacles she faced. "
— Katrina, 2/14/2014" an amazing conclusion "
— Chanelle, 2/13/2014" What a good way to end this series with Riley being happy but disappointed that this is the last book. I will miss reading about Riley and the good things she accomplished in the afterlife. "
— Linda, 2/9/2014" Alyson noel is an amazing writer. I love her riley series. I love them.so much just the conxept of helping tortuted souls pass over is amazing.. "
— Nina, 2/7/2014" My favorite Riley Bloom book yet! Full review HERE. "
— Karis, 1/21/2014" I really liked this book. In the earlier books, I feel like Riley acted really childish and stubborn, not like most 12-year-olds. But I like that in this book Riley finally really grows up. "
— Zoe*PTV, 1/16/2014" Really enjoyed this whole series! "
— April, 1/9/2014" I loved how full of adveture this book was. "
— Lisa, 12/11/2013" I really enjoy reading these book. :) "
— Heather, 12/4/2013" I REALLY loved the book!Had a great ending, I was surprised she didn't end up with Bhodi thou, I wish it wasn't the last book in teh series, een though accoridn to wikipedia it is "
— Anny, 11/28/2013" Great book! Riley learned from the events in Dreamland, and for that I'm proud of her, and yeah, she grew up! And we got to see some past characters, at least, for a little bit! Can't wait for the next book! "
— Louisa, 10/23/2013" This was the best book in the Riley series so far! "
— Jenny, 10/18/2013" Sorry it's the last one. Liked reading about the here and now. "
— Sherry, 7/15/2013" What a twist i thought she would end up with Bodhi but noo... intresting, very intresting indeed "
— Grace, 7/3/2013" I love all of the Riley bloom books, they are beautifully written a really sweet story, just love them. Really can't say more than that, I only wish I had a daughter so I could share them with her. "
— Jossie, 4/9/2013" Another good read... And fast! "
— Amanda, 3/26/2013" This is my favorite book in the spin-off series to the Immortals series. It is a fun, light read that I recommend to my middle school students who enjoy paranormal themed books. "
— Ally, 3/10/2013" This was the best Riley Bloom book so far. "
— Mindi, 3/6/2013" A quick and engrossing read that can be read in 2 hours. "
— Anthea, 9/28/2012" Quick,easy read.just like the 3 books before this one.they r a spin off off the immortal series.it is nice 2 c how Riley continues 2 grow & change w each book. "
— Rose, 9/26/2012" Great for a middle school student! "
— Amy, 8/11/2012" good way to end the series. "
— Nemiha, 7/14/2012" This was my favourite one yet. It was impressive that alyson noel could write a reapeating scene in the book more than two times without it becoming boring or uninteresting. There were concepts that were sometimes hard to understand but once you did you realised the deeper meaning of the book. "
— Georgina, 6/2/2012Alyson Noël writes young adult novels in fiction, fantasy, and romance, as well as children’s fiction. She has had nine books on the New York Times bestsellers list, with more than eight million copies in print. Her books have been translated into thirty-six languages and have made numerous US and international bestseller lists. Learn more about her books at alysonnoel.com.
Kathleen McInerney won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration in 2011 and was a finalist for the Audie in 2010 and 2015. Her narrations have also earned several AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has performed in New York and around the United States in both classical and contemporary theater. Her credits also include television commercials, daytime drama, radio plays, and a broad range of animation voice-overs.