Raven Kennedy| 2020 | 402 Pages | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Adult, Retelling
Trigger warnings: emotional abuse, manipulation, violence, attempted rape, Stockholm syndrome, and gaslighting.
SUMMARY
The fae abandoned this world to us. And the ones with power rule.
Gold.
Gold floors, gold walls, gold furniture, gold clothes. In Highbell, in the castle built into the frozen mountains, everything is made of gold.
Even me.
King Midas rescued me. Dug me out of the slums and placed me on a pedestal. I’m called his precious. His favored. I’m the woman he Gold-Touched to show everyone that I belong to him. To show how powerful he is. He gave me protection, and I gave him my heart. And even though I don’t leave the confines of the palace, I’m safe.
Until war comes to the kingdom and a deal is struck.
Suddenly, my trust is broken. My love is challenged. And I realize that everything I thought I knew about Midas might be wrong.
Because these bars I’m kept in, no matter how gilded, are still just a cage. But the monsters on the other side might make me wish I’d never left.
MY THOUGHTS & OVERVIEW
Plot:
Gild plunges readers into a dark, angst-filled world where Auren, the golden treasure of King Midas, lives in literal cages. Midas' touch has turned her entire body into gold, making her his prized possession, symbolizing his power. For the past 10 years, Auren has lived trapped in Midas' castle, convinced that his control over her is a form of protection. After all, Midas once saved her from a life of slavery and poverty. But as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Midas is more interested in Auren's value as a symbol of wealth than in her well-being.
Auren's relationship with Midas is complex. Through flashbacks, we learn that she harbored feelings for him when they were both younger, complicating her emotions now. Despite Midas' manipulative behavior, Auren believes he still cares for her. However, as Midas uses her as bait in his political games, pitting her against King Ravinger (also known as "King Rot"), Auren slowly begins questioning her gilded prison and the role Midas has forced her into.
The world-building introduces us to Oria, a land of six kingdoms, each ruled by kings who wield magic. Midas, ruler of the Sixth Kingdom, uses Auren as a pawn in his bid for power. The story hints at a deeper connection between Orea and the Fae, though this connection remains underdeveloped in this first installment. The political intrigue is interesting, but the true focus of Gild is Auren's gradual awakening to the truth about Midas.
My Thoughts:
Gild was an addictive read, gripping me from the first chapter. Although it's not a literary masterpiece, the emotional depth and dark atmosphere pulled me in. Auren's journey from a naive woman, blinded by her devotion to Midas, to someone slowly recognizing the truth of her situation is fascinating. Raven Kennedy's subtle portrayal of emotional manipulation and abuse feels raw and real without romanticizing the toxic relationship between Auren and Midas.
Auren is a deeply conflicted character. She's trapped in a cage, both literally and emotionally, but she doesn't fully realize it at the start. Her attachment to Midas makes sense, given their shared history, but it's hard to watch her defend someone who clearly doesn't care for her the way she believes. Still, her slow realization of the truth is empowering. Watching her begin to confront her emotional captivity is one of the most compelling aspects of the story.
Midas is a character I loved to hate. His obsession with power, control, and status is apparent, and while he may have once cared for Auren, he now views her as an object, not a person. His manipulation is masterfully portrayed—just enough affection to keep Auren loyal but not enough to actually make her happy. It's frustrating to watch Auren cling to the idea that he loves her, but it's also a realistic portrayal of someone trapped in a toxic relationship.
The world-building in Gild is intriguing but basic, laying the foundation for future books. While the political dynamics between the kingdoms and the hints of Fae lore are interesting, this first installment focuses more on Auren's internal journey. The pacing is a bit slow at first, but it picks up as the story progresses, and by the second half, I was fully engrossed.
One of the standout themes in Gild is the portrayal of emotional manipulation and how difficult it is to break free from such a relationship. Auren's internal conflict, the push and pull between what she knows deep down and what she wants to believe, is gut-wrenching. It's clear she has a long journey ahead of her, but the seeds of her eventual growth are planted in this book, and I'm excited to see where her story goes.
Conclusion:
Gild is a dark, addictive start to The Plated Prisoner series, offering a deep dive into emotional manipulation, toxic love, and the slow realization of self-worth. While the world-building and plot have potential for expansion, Auren's character development truly drives the story. Watching her begin to question her life in the gilded cage is both heartbreaking and empowering, and I'm excited to see where her journey takes her in the next book.
If you enjoy dark fantasy with flawed, complex characters and a focus on emotional growth, Gild is worth a read. It's not your typical fantasy romance—this is a grittier, more character-driven story that doesn't shy away from complex themes. While it may not be perfect, Gild is an enthralling beginning to a series that promises much more to come.
CHARACTERS:
Auren's character arc is the emotional heart of Gild. She starts as passive, utterly devoted to Midas, and blind to his manipulation. Over time, though, we see her begin questioning her situation, longing for freedom and real connections. Auren is a victim of emotional abuse, and her slow realization of this makes her journey incredibly compelling. By the end of Gild, she's still far from free, but her eyes are beginning to open, setting the stage for future growth.
King Midas is manipulative, controlling, and power-hungry. He keeps Auren not out of love but as a symbol of wealth and status. His subtle manipulation of Auren, feeding her just enough affection to keep her loyal while exploiting her for his own gain, makes him a frustrating yet fascinating antagonist. He's a master manipulator, and while I despised him, I couldn't deny how well his character was written.
Digby is Auren's silent protector and is one of the few characters who genuinely cares about her. He acts more like a father figure than a guard, and his quiet loyalty is one of the few comforting presences in Auren's life. I hope to see more of him in future books, as his care for Auren is a refreshing contrast to the manipulation she faces elsewhere.
Rissa, one of the women in Midas' harem, is an intriguing character. While her motivations are still unclear, she seems to be one of the few people who could become a true ally to Auren. Their relationship is tense, but there's potential for growth, and I'm curious to see how their dynamic evolves.
Sail is another of Auren's guards and is one of the few men who sees her as a person rather than a golden object. His friendship with Auren offers a glimpse of what a healthy relationship could look like for her, and his kindness stands out in contrast to the other men in her life. I'm eager to see how his character develops in future installments.
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