Raven Kennedy| 2022 | 705 Pages | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Adult, Romantasy
Trigger Warnings: emotional manipulation, abuse, violence, memory loss.
SUMMARY
" I was nothing but a road to Midas. A means to get to where he wanted to go, and I paved that path in gold."
My life has been made up of gilded lies. But death has been shaped from rot.
Like a phoenix caught fire, I will need to rise from the ashes and learn to wield my own power. Because my wings may have been clipped, but I am not in a cage, and I'm finally free to fly from the frozen kingdoms I've been kept in.
Yet the world doesn't want to let me.
That's the thing when you turn against a king—everyone else turns against you.
Good thing I have a different king in my corner.
But even with the dark threat of Slade Ravinger, the other monarchs are coming for me.
So I will fight for him and he will kill for me, and if we need to become the villains, then so be it.
Because so long as I live in this world, I won't be used again.
MY THOUGHTS & OVERVIEW
Plot:
Glow, the fourth book in Raven Kennedy's Plated Prisoner series, picks up where Gleam left off and throws us back into Auren and Slade's intense and chaotic world. While this book had a slower pace compared to the previous ones, it offers a deep dive into character development, particularly focusing on Auren's journey of healing and self-discovery. Though the middle dragged in some parts, the final quarter made up for it with action, emotional intensity, and jaw-dropping revelations. It's definitely a stepping stone between major plot arcs, serving as a crucial bridge that sets the stage for the next phase of the series. Despite this, it's still an essential and engaging part of the series.
In Glow, Auren is dealing with the fallout from Midas' death. Trapped in her rot-state, she struggles to regain control of her power, while Slade races to keep her safe from enemies who would take advantage of her vulnerability. Queen Kaila spins a false narrative, accusing Auren of killing Midas out of jealousy and framing her as a dangerous threat. As a result, Auren is summoned to the Conflux for a trial that's more of a setup than a true judgment.
The trial was incredibly frustrating—a mere five minutes of "Oh, trust me, she's guilty," and the monarchs were ready to send Auren to her death. The ease with which the rulers were manipulated felt realistic, but it still made me want to scream. Did they really think they could sentence King Rot's love to death and not face his wrath?
Despite the trial, Glow isn't solely about the Conflux. Much of the story is set in Drollard, where Auren has to confront her trauma and the loss of her ribbons. Without them, she feels vulnerable, her identity shattered. Her journey to reclaim herself is not just emotionally charged; it's a raw and deeply personal struggle. The book follows her as she fights to control her power again and rebuild her confidence, with the support of Slade, the Wrath, and Digby offering her the space to heal.
Auren's growth is a central theme—she's no longer the passive figure from Gild. Now, she's learning to trust her power rather than fear it, turning her trauma into strength. It's a slow process, but watching her embrace her identity and overcome her fears was incredibly rewarding.
While Auren works through her inner battles, Slade navigates the political fallout from Midas' death while protecting her. We also get a deeper look into his past, with heart-wrenching flashbacks to his childhood and his relationship with his mother. Slade's vulnerability adds complexity to his ruthless exterior, making his connection with Auren even more impactful.
As for the Conflux, it was a farce. The monarchs' blind acceptance of Queen Kaila's narrative—without any evidence beyond her word—was infuriating. It was a sharp reminder of how easily power can corrupt and how quickly people can be manipulated. Still, I loved Slade's moment of righteous fury when he called out their hypocrisy, pointing out that no one questioned Midas when two rulers conveniently died under his watch.
My Thoughts:
One of the highlights of Glow was Auren's personal journey. Her struggle to reclaim her identity after losing her ribbons felt incredibly real. Without them, she's forced to redefine who she is, and watching her slowly regain her confidence and control over her power was one of the most satisfying parts of the book. Auren is no longer reacting to the world around her—she's making decisions, standing her ground, and finally beginning to embrace her strength.
The time spent in Drollard gave both Auren and Slade space to grow individually and as a couple. Their relationship isn't weighed down by unnecessary drama or forced breakups for character growth. Instead, Slade supports Auren as she rediscovers herself, allowing her the freedom to heal without smothering her. The respect they have for one another makes their bond feel solid and honest, which was refreshing to see.
That being said, their relationship's physical side felt a bit overdone. Don't get me wrong, I love some spice in a fantasy romance, but the sex scenes here became repetitive. We cycled through similar, intense encounters, and I wished for more emotional intimacy between them. Slade and Auren clearly have a deep connection, but I wanted to see more tender moments and vulnerability instead of just the physical ones.
While infuriating, the Conflux trial felt like a necessary plot point to highlight the corruption of power. Seeing how easily the rulers believed Kaila's lies was maddening, but Slade's calling out the double standards was incredibly satisfying. The fact that no one even questioned Midas' motives added to the larger theme of manipulation that's been building throughout the series.
I also loved the gradual mending of Slade's relationship with his brother, Ryatt. Their tension felt real, but I suspect there's more to Ryatt's side that we haven't uncovered yet. He serves as the voice of reason in Glow, but the emotional weight of the other characters often overshadows his logical concerns. I'm excited to see how his character will evolve in the future and what role he might play in the upcoming plot twists.
Conclusion:
Glow is a slower burn compared to the earlier books in the Plated Prisoner series, but it's a vital part of Auren's journey. Her character development and the reclaiming of her power are the heart of this book, and watching her grow was incredibly satisfying. Slade's backstory added layers to his character, though I would've liked to see more emotional depth between him and Auren beyond the physical aspects of their relationship.
While the pacing dragged in some parts, the action-packed final quarter more than made up for it, leaving me on the edge of my seat and desperate for the next installment. The political intrigue, character growth, and world-building make Glow a must-read for fans of the series, even if it feels like a transition book leading up to what promises to be an explosive finale in Gold.
CHARACTERS
Auren's character development in Glow is phenomenal. She's no longer the fragile, gilded girl we met in Gild—she's a woman reclaiming her power and identity. Watching her struggle through the loss of her ribbons and slowly regain her confidence was one of the most rewarding parts of the book. Her journey is messy and raw, but it's a pivotal moment in the series as she's becoming a force to be reckoned with, and I loved every second of it.
Slade Ravinger (King Rot) continues to be one of the most complex characters in the series. His ruthless exterior hides a deep vulnerability, especially regarding Auren. The flashbacks to his childhood and the guilt he carries add layers to his character. While I appreciated his protectiveness of Auren, I wished their relationship had more emotional depth beyond the physical. That said, Slade's moment of righteous anger during the Conflux was one of my favorite scenes in the book.
Judd and Lu are too freaking cute. I can't tell if they're just besties or low-key flirting with each other, but honestly, I love their dynamic either way. Part of me hopes they keep it platonic because seeing a solid male-female friendship in a book that doesn't have to turn romantic is so refreshing. We need more of that!
Ryatt is one of the most underrated characters in the series. He was barely introduced in book 3, but once we discovered Rip was Slade, we should’ve addressed how Slade could be in two places simultaneously. In Glow, we still don’t know much about Ryatt or why he’s willing to play the twin act with Slade. He’s logical, grounded, and often the only one seeing the bigger picture, but we never get inside his head to understand what he truly wants or what drives him. He deserves his own POV, and I’m curious how his relationship with Slade will develop in future books.
Osrik and Rissa. I want to love them—I really do—but their romance felt rushed to me. Their personalities clicked, sure, but it didn't feel like we got enough buildup for their relationship to make sense. They're just hanging out one moment, and the next, they're suddenly thinking about each other romantically. I needed more development between them throughout the book. As it stands, it felt like their storyline was just there to keep them relevant.
Digby. I was so excited for his return, but he barely had a role in Glow. He's supposed to be this fatherly figure for Auren, but he didn't do much this time.
Same with the Drollard Villagers—they were there, but they might as well have been wallpaper for how little they contributed to the story.
Monarchs at the Conflux: It added a lot of layers to the world-building and set the stage for future conflicts. But seriously, how did no one question Queen Kaila's nonsense? It was too convenient like no one even bothered to think for themselves. I get that it's setting up bigger Fae conflicts and trust issues down the line, but come on—at least someone outside of Rip's circle should've questioned her. It was so frustrating, and I was grinding my teeth.
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