The Dragori Series Review

Ratings

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Content Warning: Blood, Violence, Bullying, Caged/Captive, Trauma, Manipulation, Abuse, Death, War

Introduction

The Dragori series by Ben Alderson consists of: Cloaked in Shadow, Found in Night, and Poisoned in Light. The books follow Zacriah Trovirn as his life is up-ended and thrown into chaos he didn’t choose. However, during this adventure, he learns more about himself, what he is, and the devastating past that has reunited the Dragori again. 

This whirlwind of a series is one of romance, heartache, and action; one that could leave you on the edge of your seat. But don’t hold your breath quite yet. There are a handful of factors that prevent this series from reaching its full potential. 

Pros

  • Diverse characters
  • Strong plot ideas
  • Sequels pick up right after the previous book

Cons

  • No map
  • Told not shown/info dumping
  • Lots of proofreading/editing issues
  • Flat characters
  • Rather dull/boring at times
  • Not a lot of romantic elements (less than I expected)

Plot

The entire premise behind the Dragori series is creative and set up wonderfully, however it was not executed well. What do I mean by this? Well, the history, the conflict, and the build-up were all there, but the sense of urgency and danger in present-day events was missing. 

I knew what the character’s next steps were and why they needed to do them, but it didn’t seem important or urgent in writing. 

An example is with Hadrian when his heart magic set in. The group was searching for a way to save him, but the story didn’t portray the urgency of the mission; that if the group failed then Hadrian would be lost to the Druid and used for destruction.

With this in mind, I had questions throughout the series that were never answered.

  1. Who is ruling over Olderium?
  2. Was anyone coming to recover Hadrian?
  3. Why did Hadrian pledge to protect the people of Ednol instead of his own people?

These seem like rather large plot holes, especially since Olderium’s prince is absent or kidnapped, whatever the Druid came up with. I understand the need to gain Ednol as an ally and utilize their resources to further study the Druid, but everyone could have left and picked up the fight from home. There wasn’t really anything keeping them in Lilloria. 

Outside of the plot holes and the lack of urgency, I’d like to bring up the much anticipated sex scene. This event has been building up for 2 books and within a few pages, it happens. It was nothing special, no build-up, just out of the blue!

This scene also happened at one of the weirdest and inopportune times in the story: on a boat with sea sickness and a large crew waiting for them. It was just odd and I was disappointed in how everything transpired. 

Besides these flaws, I enjoyed the creativity of the series. The magic, the history, and general world-building were fun and unique. We received plenty of twists and turns, surprises and action throughout. Which kept me entertained for the most part (the third book is where it lost me, though). 

Characters

I’d like to start by saying that I loved almost every pairing in this series. I thought they were each a great fit and complemented each party well. 

Zacriah Trovirn

At first, Zacriah was tough to pin down. I couldn’t figure out his personality as he would contradict himself in the beginning of the series. For example, he was scared/nervous to interfere with Hadrian and the commander at the time, but turns around and has an angry outburst.

However, after the first book, Zacriah evolved into someone who was more mentally sound, braver, and comfortable in his own skin/abilities.  He started taking charge– though sometimes he failed, but that’s okay! He tried. 

Regardless, I still enjoyed Zacriah as a character because he was tender, yet fierce. He built himself up and pushed for what he believed in. Sometimes his antics would get annoying, but who isn’t annoying sometimes?

Hadrian

Hadrian was a great character. I enjoyed him when he was actually awake and interacting. He was confident and casual, just strolling around and taking charge as needed like the prince he is. However, he simply didn’t see him enough.

Out of the entire series, he was playing an active role for maybe 35-40% of it. The rest, he was either somewhere else or unconscious. 

I wish I could say more about him, but there isn’t much to go on.

Nyah

I enjoyed Nyah. She was strong, doting, had the brains and bronze of the group and was overall a badass bitch. However, she was definitely a Mary Sue. 

Nyah didn’t really have any flaws, everyone liked her (besides Hadrian at first), and she handled any tough situation without issue. She knew how to take care of everyone and navigate every difficult situation, and her only “flaw” was that she was a moth. But that came in handy quite a bit later on. 

So, while I liked Nyah, I wish she was more realistic. 

Gordex

Gordex was surprisingly a great villain. I didn’t know what to make of him at first, as we didn’t have a lot of information. However, as we dove into the third book more, his gray characteristics started to shine.

I would honestly forget at times that Gordex was the villain, because he seemed so cordial and helpful, especially toward Zac and Marthil. He talked calmly at times and seemed so put together, even when he was committing atrosities. 

Then, within a blink of an eye, he would manipulate and kill someone. There was no remorse for anything he did. It was moments like these that really showcased how complex of a character Gordex is. 

I actually ended up liking him because of these complexities, but nonetheless, he finally got what he deserved. 

Side Characters

Emaline

I liked Emaline. She was a great contrast to Zac and Hadrian. She was independent, closed off, and hard-headed at times. Her and Zac’s relationship was great in the second book, but I wish we saw more of it later on.

Emaline was a great character, but we just didn’t see enough of her to make a big impact on me.

Illera

I hated Illera at the beginning. She was such a bitch that when I found out Gordex was using the shifters, I was kind of glad. She got what she deserved.

But then, she came back in the second book as a completely different character. She was more mindful, respectful, and nicer to those around her. Illera’s soul-searching journey to this place was awesome to learn about.

To have a character switch from a bully to a softer and open-minded person was beautiful. And I really applaud Alderson for writing Illera’s development this way. 

Petrer

Contrary to Illera, Petrer was an intriguing character at the beginning. We were kept in the dark about what he did that made Zacriah not want anything to do with him. But once we found out, he was instantly on my shit list.

This led to a great build-up for him being an antagonist. He switched from love interest to villain well in the first and second books, but it fizzled out quickly in the third.

He had so much potential to cause harm and conflict, but it wasn’t utilized. I love a good switch from good to bad, and I’m a bit disappointed in how his character panned out in the end. 

Writing

Writing a book, let alone a series, is intense, but the characters, world, and development shouldn’t shroud the need for proofreading and general editing. 

Throughout the series, there were many instances where words were spelled wrong, the grammar was off, or there was an awkward transition– almost as if a piece was cut out and the two halves not blended together. To top it off, a character’s name was spelled in different ways on the same page until later it was ironed out to be Simain instead of Samain.

This forced me to re-read whole sections and lines to figure out what was going on, which pulled me from the story. Proofreading is important and I cannot stress enough how aggravating it was for me to stop and try to figure out what Alderson was trying to say. 

On top of this, we were told about events or people instead of shown. For example, Zac’s relationship with Gallion was said to be like father and son. However, we were only told that at various points, but we never really got to see it. Thus making me confused and doubt what I read.

Because what was shown to the reader was a stand-offish old man who seemed a bit senile. I didn’t see any bonding moments that would lead me to believe the two were close and Zacriah looked up to Gallion; only that they had the same goal and were co-workers in a sense. 

Another example is when we were told about Hadrian’s personality in the first book. It was said he was witty and flirty, but we didn’t see any of that until the second book really. We were only told he was that way without dialog or actions supporting it. 

This all led to info-dumping on the world, history, and characters. There were points when we received a bunch of information with little exposition or support, especially in book 3 on Morgatis. 

We were finding out a lot of information about the Morthi people and the Druid himself to the point that it was bogging down the story. I easily forgot information that was shared with us before or would forget what I just read because it was too much to take in. 

I would have loved to see more character interactions instead of it all being skipped, similar to how we saw Zac and Nyah interact. I wanted more of that, but with other characters. 

Outside of those issues, the writing was quite simple. The character dialog started out rough in the first book, but by the second there was a huge improvement, making reading more enjoyable. 

The diverse group of characters was also nice. There was a variety of sexual orientations, skin colors, and hair textures. Stereotypes were also broken, i.e. women in power and more built, and men leaner and in more sensitive scenes. I loved it!

Final Thoughts

This series’s twists and turns kept me engaged, but not enough to fully read the third book as I skimmed the last 50% and read the final 4 chapters. I expected more out of the series, like world-building and less info-dumping, but I wasn’t mad that I read the series either. 

In the end, the Dragori series was a solid read; not my favorite nor least favorite. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes YA high fantasy with little romance, though it is the driving factor.

Individual Reviews

Recommended Book Series

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Check out the links below to see my “to-read” list, my spicy rating scale, the author’s website, and a chance to recommend a book for me.

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Poisoned in Light by Ben Alderson Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Violence, War, Death, Manipulation

Introduction

Poisoned in Light is the third, and final, installment to Ben Alderson’s Dragori series. We join Zacriah again as he and his friends try to navigate the chaos the Druid has created. Their ultimate goal: destroying the Druid and returning peace back to the world. However, this comes  at a steep price. Can Zacriah and friends do what it takes to bring down the Druid once and for all?

I would also like to preface this review by stating that I skimmed/skipped the last 50% of the book– only reading the final 3 chapters and epilogue. The concept was enticing, but the story telling was so bland and flat that I couldn’t get into the book at all, unlike the previous two.

Pros

  • Starts right after the previous book
  • Interesting concepts and ideas

Cons

  • No map
  • Info dumping
  • Repetitive narrative
  • Slow story progression

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

While the plot was solid and full of promise, it was not executed well. It was rather dull and I had to force myself to read the book. In the end, I ended up skimming aggressively from chapter 30 on. I still got the gist of what happened, too.

Although I skimmed, the pacing was consistent. Throughout the entire book, there was always something happening to progress the plot, which is great! However, it was lackluster in the delivery and the characters were rather flat, making for a difficult read. 

Also, there were so many tiny plot points with so much detail that they became convoluted. There was just so much time spent on minor events which lead to the lackluster delivery we discussed in the previous paragraph. 

Some of these examples are: 

  • The beginning half of Zac being in Lilloria
  • The sea sickness scenes were chapters long
  • Zac’s repetitive self-pity parties
  • The New Council meetings/conflicts

Then, the highly anticipated sex scene between Zariah and Hadrian was so disappointing and anti-climatic. It was sudden and rushed and really could have been removed altogether because of how it was set up. 

I mean, the entire thing was like 2 pages, but yet other minute events are chapters long. I was looking forward to that moment with them and was sorely let down.

Can we also talk about the build-up of Petrer playing a bigger role in this book at the beginning, but it ultimately leads to nothing? I was looking forward to him contributing to the conflict, but he was quickly thrown aside in like 5 pages. Truly disappointed in the lost potential. 

I quite liked the plot, but it wasn’t worth the 400+ pages to get to the end. There were so many places where things dragged on or were over-explained that it negated the urgency of the story. 

Characters

The characters showed growth in this book and their personalities are shown. HOWEVER, they somehow felt flat to me. I couldn’t connect with any of them, wasn’t even sad when Gallion died or when Nyah almost died. I just couldn’t care less. Which I hate!

The character development and natural dialog were all there, but it was as if the characters were overworked or things over-explained that diluted these characters. And I’m sad about that. I really wanted to connect with them and root for them, but couldn’t.

I’d also like to point out that I didn’t get the connection between Zacriah and Gallion. Their relationship was described as that of a father and son, but I didn’t even pick up on that. When we first met Gallion, he was rash and standoffish, and we didn’t get much else from him after that. 

However, I Gordex was an intriguing character as he had a calm, fatherly side that quickly turned to malice and manipulation. I thoroughly enjoyed him as a villain because I sometimes forgot that he was the bad guy. He was a complex character and I wish other characters were like him. 

In addition, I liked the relationship Alderson was creating between Zac and Marthill, and Zac and Tiv. Those relationships were complex and showcased a different side to Zacriah that was refreshing to see. I honestly thought that Marthill would become an ally soon rather than later, but that was part of the fun of their relationship. 

So, in the end, the characters were a bit all over the place and I wasn’t able to connect or enjoy them like I should have been able to.

Writing

Just like the previous books, Poisoned in Light did not escape the lack of proofreading. I mean, on one page a character’s name was spelled 2 different ways: Samian and Simian. This goes back and forth for a few pages before we finally get Simian as the final name. Like what the hell? That should not have been glossed over.

On top of the poor proofreading, we had some awkward and clunky transitions between scenes. For example, the entire chapter of Zac on the boat drinking and then Hadrian coming to rescue him. It was choppy and didn’t flow well, leaving me confused and rereading sections to make sure what I read was correct. 

Again, just like in the previous books, we were told about characters instead of being shown how the character and corresponding relationships were. I think this led to my disconnect as we didn’t actually get to experience characters naturally. 

While the writing itself was solid, the lack of proofreading, grammatical issues, and transitions really bogged down the story for me. I found it hard to focus on certain sections or keep up with transitions between scenes, and I really hate that for this book. 

Final Thoughts

I had high hopes for Poisoned in Light, but it ultimately let me down by dragging out the plot and diluting the story with trivial plot points. 

I wanted this book to be so much more than it was and I was excited to get into it. But I struggled to even get through the first half of the book without falling asleep or forcing myself to keep reading. 

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Top 5 Favorite Books of 2022

I’ve read various books this year, from dark fantasy to urban fantasy and even contemporary fantasy. Regardless, the romance genre has remained consistent throughout. Without a romance plot of any kind, I’m not interested. I enjoy the different tropes, conflicts, and atmosphere romance books create. 

So, with that being said, here are my top 5 favorite books of 2022 (in no specific order). 

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Sorcery of Thorns was spectacular and such a refreshing book to read. Margaret Rogerson’s mind and creativity are captivating, and I can’t wait for her new release in 2023: Mysteries of Thorn Manor.

The refreshing creativity along with lovable characters and living grimoires is what got Sorcery of Thorns onto this list. Even if the book was YA and had relativity younger characters, the storytelling is beautiful and so enticing. 

If you wish books were alive and like a sweet, supportive romance, then this book is for you.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

When I originally picked up Daughter of Smoke and Bone I had no idea what it was about. I only knew that it took place in Prague, my favorite city, and I had to read it. And I am so happy I made that decision. 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a beautifully written book with a grunge style. The alternative characters, their style, and their personalities all made this book so pleasant to read. After a while, most of the main characters of fantasy books kind of blend together. However, Laini introduced exquisite characters and settings that set it apart from other books. 

So if you’re tired of the same old same old in the fantasy romance world give this book a chance. I promise you won’t be disappointed. 

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout

From Blood and Ash was first introduced to me on Tik Tok. So many people were ranting and raving about this series that I decided to give it a shot. And I was not disappointed. 

I was so immersed in this book that I couldn’t put it down. I was giddy every time I got to read it! The pace and the way Raven Kennedy set up the entire story was masterful. Some people may not enjoy the slow intro and build into the story, but I loved it. 

We were set up on a strong foundation that once established threw us over a cliff with the twists and turns presented later on. I was obsessed.

If you like a slower book that takes its time but is still eventful and sinfully sexual, then read this book!

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

Oh Elise Kova, the way you’re able to write a standalone book with suspense, sexual tension, and tender moments was beautiful. 

When I read this book, I was in dire need of a standalone. I was so tired of reading multiple books to get a full story. I was ready for something simple and romance-focused. And Elise Kova delivered! 

A Deal with the Elf King is a tender and simple book, but the storytelling and characters are lovable. The words swept me away and on an adventure so pure and enjoyable that I craved more. 

The bonus scene Kova sends once you sign up for her newsletter is also worth it and puts a nice bow on a sweet story. 

A Deal with the Elf King is for those who want a standalone romance with a strong-willed woman and a whimsical world. 

Gild by Raven Kennedy

Before reading Gild I never knew of Midas and his golden touch. I actually had to look up the original story! But this retelling through the eyes of the golden “prize” is enthralling. 

Gild takes a slower and more methodical approach to storytelling. One where revenge and secrets drive the plot. 

If you are looking for a story where the main character overcomes an abusive relationship and self-discovery with a dark and sexual twist, then Gild is for you.

Runner Up: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

The Ex Hex is the runner-up for the top favorite books because it portrays a secret witchy world and a comically faulty hex. The blend of witches living a normal, modern life is one I didn’t expect to enjoy. 

The comical characters and strong plot made this book unforgettable. It even opened me up to the possibility of reading other contemporary romances, as long as it has witchy/magical things!

So, if you want a comical romance with witches, curses, and ghosts, then read The Ex Hex. 

All of these authors listed above are ones I have never read before, but best believe I am a new fan of each one! I’m excited to see what new books they write and for the new books, I’ll read in 2023!

Happy Holidays!

Love, 

Red

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Found in Night By Ben Alderson Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Blood, Violence

Introduction

Found in Night is the second, action-packed book in the Dragori Series by Ben Alderson. It is full of twists and turns that lull you through the chapters. That is if you can get off the proofreading errors.

In this book, we travel again with Zacriah and his group as they search for a cure for Hadrian. However, it is this search that brings about destruction and danger to everyone. 

Will Zacriah be able to fix what he had done? Or will he lose everything?

Pros

  • Improved dialog between characters
  • Get to see more of the character’s personalities
  • More fleshed-out scenes
  • Strong plot
  • Picks up not long after Cloaked in Shadow

Cons

  • No map
  • Lots of proofreading issues
  • Dragori importance is not really explained

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

Similarly to Cloaked in Shadow, the plot of Found in Night is strong and cohesive. The story still kept my attention and I found myself thinking about what was to happen next when I wasn’t reading (which I love).

However, the book wasn’t as exciting as the first. There was a lot of back and forth between wanting to get the Staff of Light and staying in Eldnol. It honestly got old after awhile. 

There was also the issue, at least for me, of who was ruling over Olderim in Hadrian and the King’s place.

  1. Are the council members ruling in their absence? 
  2. Why isn’t anyone coming to look for them? 

Then this leads into my next concern: Why is Hadrian pledging to protect the people of Eldnol instead of his own people? 

  1. What about them? 
  2. Why are the Alorian elves more important?
  3. Nothing was forcing the Zacriah and crew to stay in Eldnol, so why couldn’t they leave to go back home?

I can understand Queen Kathine providing support and resources to find the Staff of Light for Hadrian, but once that is ripped away, why is she forcing them to stay?

The other issue I had was the lack of clarity in the Dragori’s role in everything. 

  1. Why do the Alorian elves hold them at such high esteem compared to the other elves? 
  2. Why are they considered protectors?
  3. Is it because they’re the only ones who can defeat the druids?

I need more background on the role the Dragori played in the times of the druids. 

Plot Thoughts

I also had some other plot-related thoughts that didn’t call for a whole paragraph to explain. 

  • I wish we could have seen Zacriah learn to fly. It’s always fun to see the struggle and then to see the character triumph over the issue.
  • Why did Illera not shift in the fight after they found her? She didn’t need a sword, she’s a fucking lion. 
  • Abandoning the griffins? Really? They could have directed the griffins back to home base or something instead of abandoning newly training griffins in the wild. 

Characters

Zacriah

There was little growth from Zacriah in this book. The most we saw was him gaining more control over his powers and emotions. But that was it. 

However, we did get to see more of his personality that we missed in the first book, which was nice.

Hadrian

We didn’t see much of Hadrian. Instead, he was talked about more than anything. However, when we did see him, he was secretive and stand-offish or showcasing his royal title with speeches and elegant talks. 

I honestly hope he recovers soon because I’m ready for more page time between Hadrian and Zacriah. 

Side Characters

Nyah

Nyah is such a mother hen. She watches out for everyone, knows what’s going on, and is a step ahead when it comes to planning. She is a real anchor for this group.

We saw so much growth in this book. Nyah is really mastering her magic and skills as a leader. I hope to see more of this in the next book as well.

I adore Nyah and hope she can preserver through the loss of Jasrov and Bell. 

Jasrov

Honestly, not sure why he was part of the group besides for comic relief/conversation and to be a love interest for Nyah. They served their purpose after directing the crew to the temple.

Regardless, he and Bell were fun and I enjoyed reading about them.

Emaline

We also saw some growth in Emaline, along with her personality since we only got a snippet in the first book. Emaline opened up to Zacriah and others in the group, laughed with them, and slowly saw herself as part of the group.

I really like Emaline. She is complex and has so much potential in terms of growth and pushing the plot. I’m excited to see more of her.

Cristillia

Cristillia had me fooled, but I also had a gut feeling she was going to be more involved in this story than what was led on. I just hate that it ended the way it did with her.

Illera

I like Illera’s redemption arc. She’s really trying to prove herself and she did some soul-searching during the time we didn’t see her. I’m here for it, too. I love a good enemy-to-friend arc.

 However, I’m not a fan of her being a rebound for Emaline. Even if that is not the direction her relationship with Emaline is headed, it currently feels like it and both characters deserve better.

Queen Kathine

Queen Kathine was being extremely selfish by keeping the Dragori in her kingdom and assuming they will protect only her people. 

I’m not a fan of Kathine as she seems to force things to go her way or manipulate the other party into doing what she wants, like with keeping Zacriah in the kingdom.

Writing

Much of the same issues we saw in the previous book are present in this one, with the exception of the character dialog. The dialog has improved tremendously.

Interactions between characters seem more natural and flow with the story, instead of stiff and choppy. I love seeing that kind of writing improvement. It made the experience so much better.

However, there was still many proofreading issues:

  • Misspelled words
  • Issues using “of” and “off” (example- page 188)
  • Obvious portions cut out without the gap being smoothed over (example- example 192 and 222)

There were also a lot of awkward and fragmented sentences that just didn’t make sense nor flow properly. It was jarring and pulled me out of the experience abruptly. 

Again, I mainly blame the publishing company for this because that is what they are there for: to proofread and provide developmental feedback to an author’s book to ensure it’s ready for publishing. 

Hopefully, in the next book it’ll be better, but I don’t have my hopes set too high. 

Final Thoughts

In every series I’ve read, the second book is the worst. It’s either boring or filler leading into the third, and that’s what Found in Night was ultimately. 

But it wasn’t bad. I still enjoyed the book. The characters and the world and captivating and it pulls me in. I’m thoroughly enjoying the Dragori series and am looking forward to read the next book. 

Previous:

Book #1: Cloaked in Shadow

Next:

Book #3: Poisoned in Light- TBR

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Kingdom of the Wicked Series Review

Ratings

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Content Warning: Gore, Violence, Self-harm, Grief, Death, Smut

Introduction

Kingdom of the Wicked is a fantastical urban fantasy that follows Emilia di Carlo, a witch living in Sicily with her twin sister and family. Life is normal, as far as being a witch goes, until one day Emilia finds Vittoria dead, with her heart torn out. 

A similar pattern emerges with other witches across the town. Emilia sets out to solve her sister’s murder, but instead falls into an entanglement of webs and lies. 

Emilia is not who she thought she was, nor is anyone else around her. 

I adored this series when I first started it. The plot was enticing, the characters were fun, and the consequences felt real, but that all too soon fell away as we progressed. 

So, without further aideu, let’s get into it. 

Pros

  • A map!
  • World-building
  • Strong mystery elements
  • Entertaining plot

Cons

  • Strong start, shitty ending
  • Main characters turned flat by the end
  • Ending felt more focused on introducing a spin-off series than a solid conclusion
The Seven Circles of Hell map (Kingdom of the Wicked)

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

The plot, much like this series, started out strong. There was mystery, action, and romance all entwined together. And I was obsessed. I couldn’t get enough of the work Maniscalco created. 

The Warning

At the very beginning Nonna gives the twins this warning: 

“There are seven demon princes, but only four di Carlos should fear: Wrath, Greed, Envy, and Pride. One will crave your blood. One will capture your heart. One will steal your soul. And one will take your life.”

Enticing, right? This sets the premise for the entire series.

And it is with this saying that things begin not adding up. 

  1. Wrath technically stole Emilia’s heart and soul.
  2. Greed craves Vittoria’s blood in retribution for the “murder” of his commander.
  3. Pride “steals” Emilia’s soul for the contract, or was that Wrath’s contract?
  4. But Envy didn’t take anyone’s life, none of the Princes of Hell took Vittoria’s nor Emilia’s life. If anything, Vittoria took Emilia’s heart and life. 

And what is the point of this warning from Nonna? Envy and Greed aren’t roped into the curses directly, unlike Pride and Wrath. So how would Nonna know that Greed and Envy would be more involved in the plot than Sloth and Gluttony?

The Curses

Speaking of curses, let’s discuss those. There are 2:

  1. Vittoria and Emilia are stripped of their powers and memories and cast into human form.
  2. Wrath has his wings taken and the person he loves is ripped away again.

But then there is a third part where the princes of hell cannot leave. This one is mainly aimed towards Pride so he can’t search for his wife, but this whole part is tied to Wrath’s curse. Even though Wrath can leave Hell.

So now let’s discuss why these curses were placed. The First Witch’s daughter was in love with Pride. Well, she didn’t want her daughter involved with Pride and tried to get Wrath to take her daughter as his bride instead. 

But this didn’t work. So, the First Witch enlisted the help of Vittoria and Emilia. They each pretended to be the same woman and catch the attention of both Pride and Wrath, further proving the First Witch’s point that Pride cannot be trusted. Thus making her daughter leave him. 

Weird way to go about forcing your daughter to leave her husband, but okay.

Ultimately, this all fails, but works? 

Emilia reveals to Wrath that she has fallen for him, while Vittoria entices Pride to bed (whether anything happens, we don’t know). Claudia sees this and leaves Pride without notice and chooses to forget everything that has happened, which her mother obliges. 

At some point, the First Witch curses Pride and Wrath. Then, after everything is done Emilia and Vittoria are cursed by witches.

Quite frankly, I’m not really following the curses. Everything seems to resolve on its own, so why punish others?

The Resolution

The ending was very cheesy and too happy for everything that had happened. Yes, Emilia and Wrath should be together and Emilia should be queen, princess, or whatever it is. 

But it was all just too chummy with the brothers there and Vittoria. It just wasn’t the ending I had wanted. I’m not satisfied with it.

Instead, the ending (and the whole last book) was focused on Vittoria, Claudia, and Pride and their drama instead. 

And even with everything that happened, there weren’t any real consequences. Yeah Wrath wouldn’t be able to fully love Emilia and Emilia couldn’t handle that, but that was it. There was no real threat or harm, everyone healed. It was all just too easy and it felt like it all happened for nothing.

Plot Thoughts

  • Why did Envy admit to killing the women if it was Vittoria all along?
  • Why is everyone after the necklaces if they are Wrath’s? Are they looking to give them back to him to unlock the gates?
  • What was the point of Pride in prisoning Emilia after she ventured into Pride’s territory only to let her go and not question her later?

Characters

Emilia di Carlo

Emilia started off as an intelligent, independent woman who had her own likes and passions. She was relatable and lovable. 

However, as the story progressed, she became more violent, less human, and flat. By the end of the series, her entire personality revolved around sex with Wrath. 

Her character started to show this downhill turn halfway through the second book. Emilia devolved into a character I no longer recognized or connected with. 

Now that the series is over and we have answers, some of her new characteristics make sense: violent and less human. 

Emilia di Carlo by morgana0anagrom (instagram)

She’s the goddess of Vengeance. 

But as she became this new character, we didn’t get any character development and a merge between her current and former self. Emilia seemed to have mainly reverted back to her former self, and it’s this that drove a wedge between my connection with Emilia’s character.

I think it would have helped if we saw who she was beforehand, but we were just told and even that didn’t provide enough context to see her transformation. We see a little in the way she controlled her power and how she thought things through instead of acting on impulse, but that still didn’t provide the bridge linking the two selves that I need to stay invested in her. 

By the end of the series, I was fed up with Emilia, her flat character, and her one-track mind with Wrath. I was happy that she got her desired ending because I could dust my hands off and move on. 

This reaction of mine hurts because I really liked Emilia in the beginning. I adored her confidence, her stubbornness, and her ability to question and investigate without jumping to conclusions first. She was a strong female protagonist that I had been searching for.

But it was all ripped away.

Wrath

Overall, I liked Wrath, besides his devolution into a side piece for Emilia in the last book. 

Wrath created tension stirred curiosity and shone the truth on what Emilia was going through. He was a hard-ass but had a soft spot for Emilia that I adored. 

But just like Emilia, he devolved into less of a character than at the beginning of the series. He wasn’t the same Wrath that we witnessed all through the first and second books. He simply didn’t live up to his namesake, and that was disappointing. 

Wrath by morgana0anagrom (instagram)

Side Characters

Vittoria di Carlo

Vittoria did not disappoint once she made her appearance in the Kingdom of the Feared. She was confident, powerful, cunning, and held the entire fucking plot on her back.

She played into the villain role well, but a lot of the issues we saw in the final book could have been solved if she just talked to Emilia. That was probably the most annoying thing about Vittoria.

But besides that, she was enticing and a wild card. I do wish we saw Vittoria more before she was “killed” so we could conduct the same analysis we did with Emilia, though. 

Princes of Hell

The Princes of Hell were these dangerous and intimidating forces to be reconned with at the beginning. They were cunning, slick, and didn’t care about what happened to others. 

It truly felt like there were actual consequences with them.

Until it didn’t. 

After a while, they felt like frat brothers. Lots of big talks, petty arguments and feuds, and threats, but no retaliation. 

They were dull after a while and I didn’t care for them. 

Fauna

I liked Fauna. She was spunky and confident, but she always felt out of place in the books.

I didn’t really understand Fauna and Emilia’s friendship. It didn’t feel like one, at least not from Emilia’s standpoint. 

Fauna was more of a filler character that lead into a sub-romance plot, that we didn’t get anything out of. 

Nonna

Despite the turn the book took, I think Nonna as a villain was quite good. She was infuriating at the beginning with not telling the twins about their necklaces or powers, but it made sense the further we dove into the series. 

She played her part well and I do think she cared for the twins while she was watching over them, but her duty to her coven outweighed what she felt.

Nonna is a great gray character and she ended up being one of my favorites in the series.

Writing

The writing in the series was fine, nothing too spectacular to write home about. There were a few rough spots, like vague surrounding details of the first book and the uneven pacing of the second and third books. But for the most part, these were corrected.

No, the biggest issue I have with the series and the writing is how, after the first book, it is written for adults 18+, pushing it into the New Adult category. However, the series is continuously marketed as a Young Adult book.

Let me be very clear: this is not a series for anyone under 18. The first book is fine, but the second and third delve into way more explicit content.

I do not recommend this book for readers wanting to stick with YA, nor do I recommend it for minors. 

I recommend this book if you are looking for something in the NA genre and are over 18.

I also want to address the confusion I had with Wrath’s damned titles. He’s the Prince of Wrath but King of Hell. How does that make sense? Why are all the princes and not kings of their own houses? I just don’t understand the weird title assignment this book has. 

Final Thoughts

As much as loved the series originally, I cannot get over the devastating conclusion we received. I expected so much more: character development, plot climax, and a satisfying conclusion. But I was sorely misled and let down. And it’s hard to remove that black tint while I review the series as a whole.

I had extremely high hopes because the first book was fantastic. However, as we continued, the books kept getting worse. 

I understand that writing a series is a daunting task, but it felt as if the focus wasn’t on Emilia, Wrath, and Vittoria anymore to come to the end. Instead, the conclusion seemed to be more of a setup for a spin-off series.

Am I glad I read these books? Yes.

Will I recommend this series? Yes, but with some hesitancy. 

Will I read a potential spin-off series? No, absolutely not. 

Individual Reviews

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Cloaked in Shadow by Ben Alderson Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Rating: 1 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Gore, Violence, Bullying, Caged/Captive

Introduction

Cloaked in Shadow is book 1 in the fantasy LGBTQ+ romance series: Dragori. A series I didn’t know I needed in my life. Ben Alderson has created a world with fantastical lore, history, and characters that suck you in within the first few chapters. 

Pros

  • Intriguing characters
  • Compelling world-building and plot

Cons

  • No map
  • Awkward dialog and scenes
  • Issues with grammar/editing

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

The plot for Cloaked in Shadow is strong. The plot devices used to move the story forward, such as foreshadowing, were clear yet subtle. 

We get breadcrumbs about Zacriah’s powers and relationship with Petrer, and even the attacks from the Morthi being off. While, none of these reveals surprised me, especially with King Dalior manipulating the kingdom’s view on the attacks, there were a few instances that did surprise me.

I wasn’t expecting Hadrian to be a Dragori as well, nor was I expecting King Dalior to be a druid. But both of these reveals create a nice setup for another book, as they were executed well.

However, with all of this being said, I’m still confused about certain aspects of the plot that I feel were explained, but not clearly enough:

  • What is the ritual for Zacriah?
  • How was the current Dragori reborn/created again? 
  • What was the duel for if Zac no longer had kitchen duty? Was it an excuse to kill him for knowing too much information?

Characters

Zacriah

Zacriah was an interesting character in the sense that I couldn’t quite pin down his personality. Later on, his angry outbursts were explained and it made sense why he seemed so emotionally volatile, but I’m talking about who he is as a character.

Is he shy? Is he soft? Is he a sarcastic prick? 

I can’t really tell because we see his internal monolog as being anxious and shy, but the next moment contradicts this by being surprisingly outspoken with his sarcasm and anger. 

Maybe that’s the point and this leaves room for character development (I truly hope this is the case!). 

Zacriah by Gwen: Upon A Day Dreamer

I just wanted a clearer image of who Zacriah was.

Aside from this, I enjoyed his character and related to how he felt in a lot of situations. Because, I too, deal with anxiety and it can be debilitating. 

Zacriah is a sheltered guy, as he hasn’t seen much of the outside world and his magick hasn’t been explained to him. He’s experienced trauma and still working through it all emotionally. This would explain his anxious behavior and emotional outbursts. 

Hadrian

Hadrian by Gwen: Upon A Day Dreamer

Hadrian, at first, was the very essence of entitlement and royalty. He acted out in front of Commander Alina about Zacriah’s kitchen duties, got upset when his plans with Zacriah were interrupted or negated, and his tone screamed arrogant royal.

But Hadrian is more than that. 

Yes, he is still entitled, but he’s a prince. Kind of comes with the territory. But Hadrian is intelligent and caring, especially with Zacriah and Browlin. He’s definitely a guy who has experienced trauma, too, and not fully addressed it, like with his father. 

And not to mention the trauma at the end of the book. Dear goddess, that’s going to take some work to trudge through. 

Not going to lie, I didn’t like Hadrian at first and I thought he was toxic, but he grew on me as the story progressed. I’m excited to see how Hadrian grows and develops through the rest of the series. 

Side Characters

Nyah

I liked Nyah, but I felt as if she was just used throughout the story instead of being inserted as a friend. Zacriah had her doing things for him without doing anything in return for her. It felt one-sided.

Nyah also felt like the backbone that Zacriah doesn’t really have. She’s honest and doesn’t sugarcoat anything. I love it. 

I wanted to learn more about her training with Gallion, though, and more about her backstory. Maybe we’ll get that in future books. 

Commander Alina

Commander Alina is ballsy to have beef with the prince and tell him off in front of an audience. I guess now it makes sense if she were to kill him, but still. That’s not a good look for a commander, let alone anyone to stand up to royalty in the presence of others. 

Regardless, she was a flat character who seemed to have it out for Hadrian and Zacriah. We didn’t get to see much of her before her untimely demise, and I’m okay with that. 

Petrer

Definitely a meathead with his head up his own ass. Not a fan of him, especially with his reaction when Zacriah confronted him about sleeping with another. Talk about toxic. I’m glad Zacriah isn’t with him anymore. 

However, I liked the twist of him becoming Zacriah’s enemy at the end. That is a great use of character and character development, and I’m interested to see where this will lead. 

Writing

While the plot was strong, it was muddied by vague and awkward writing. After looking into this a bit, it seems like there wasn’t much time between the first draft and publication. Meaning, there might not have been a lot of time to edit and revise the book. 

And this leads to the problems we’ll get into below. 

Awkward Dialog/Scenes

I think Alderson has a clear vision of his characters and world, but it wasn’t portrayed well in the book. 

There are a couple reasons why I say this:

  1. Hardian joking– during his and Zacriah’s dinner scene, we get an instance of Hadrian joking, and apparently it is a common trait of his, but we don’t see anything like this until now. As the story progresses, we get a bit more of it, but it was told to us through Zacriah as if it’s always been that way. We weren’t shown Hadrian joking before then, making this entire situation off-putting.
  2. Friendships– We see Zacriah spending time with Hadrian and Nyah, but not to the extent of them being great friends or lovers. I wanted to see more situations where they grow to trust or fall for each other, but we weren’t given that. We were told, instead. 

Along with this, there were plenty of awkward scenes and dialog between the characters, and stand-offish behavior, like random outbursts. 

For example, we see Hadrian’s bizarre reaction to finding the injured villager in Nasamel. He’s impulsive and storms off upset. He’s not the military leader we’re led to believe he is and maybe that’s the point. 

There were also sections where it seemed like information was taken out during editing, but not smoothed over. 

Example: the gold chain Hadrian gave Zacriah to hold to test his theory on Zacriah being Dragori. There was absolutely no indication that the chain was Hadrian’s mother’s, but all of a sudden, Zacriah mentions it. There is a clear distinction between where there should have been dialog and where it was taken out. 

This happened on more than one occasion, like with the ritual. 

Vague/Confusing Details

Speaking of the ritual, the entire ending section on the island was confusing. There were instances where information/secrets were alluded to, but not explained, and then suddenly the characters know what it means, but the reader doesn’t.

I think the writing could have been more clear and Alderson could have used at least 50 more pages to really flesh out his ideas and the events going on. Especially with the timeline. I think this takes place in about a week and a half (the beginning said 2 weeks of training), but felt more like a month. Still unclear.

At the same time, I don’t fully fault Alderson because the publishing company couldn’t even get their name spelled right in the three different places it was listed in the book.

The Good

Outside of these issues, I will say I love the diversity and how inclusive this book is. We have muscular women, both straight and gay relationships (both seeming to be normal), women in positions of authority, men being softer and expressing more emotions, and various skin and hair colors.  

This book really turned my reading experience on its head and I loved it. I will say I did have to adjust to these new roles and displays from characters, but it wasn’t off-putting. It was enjoyable. And to that, I commend Alderson. 

The pacing was also great and consistent. Things were constantly occurring and they made sense. I wasn’t bored at all and found that I thought about the book when I wasn’t reading it (which I base a lot of my review on). 

Final Thoughts

Regardless of the weird scenes, dialog, and editing, Cloaked in Shadow was wonderful. I think with the rest of the series, we’ll see an improvement with each installment. 

It’s funny, actually, when I first started the book I was thinking about how much I loved this world and wanted to see more of it, not knowing this was part of a series! 

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalo Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Gore, Sexual Content

Introduction

Kingdom of the Feared is the third book in the Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy. This was a much anticipated release of 2022, but it didn’t hold true.

I’d like to preface this entire review by saying I loved the first book and enjoyed the second book. I was so excited to get the conclusion to this mystery, fantasy, romance I was reading. But I was sorely disappointed.

Firstly, this book (along with it’s predecessors) is marketed as YA (young adult), but let me tell you, it is not for teens or anyone under 18. This should be a NA series instead.

Secondly, don’t expect much. You’ll have your questions answered, but that’s really all the substance you get.

Pros

  • A map!
  • Picked up right from the second book
  • Answers to all our questions

Cons

  • Confusing plot
  • Anti-climatic
  • Vibes are off

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

I am confused beyond all belief as to what happened in this book. What was even the point of it all? I didn’t care about Vesta’s “murder” or any of the stuff outside of Vittoria. But none of it made sense.

Pride and Envy’s plan to test Emilia? For what? Why?

Why was a murder even introduced in this book? It provided zero substance.

The love triangle mess with Claudia, Pride, and Vittoria? Definitely a set up for a spin-off series (that I won’t read).

Yes, we got answers to all out questions and things made more sense from the first 2 books, but this book didn’t do anything for me. It was bland and boring, and I literally had to force myself to read it.

I’d also like to point out that at the very beginning of the book, we don’t get a recap of what’s happened or anything. We’re literally thrown into the series again and right into an almost-sex scene. I had to look up the plot of the previous books just to get the mindset and remember what happened. (It didn’t help.)

I’m just so unsatisfied and disappointed with the plot of this book. Yeah, there were twists and turns–and I loved it!– but it was stated so matter-of-factly instead of building up the revelations. Like the Crone is their mother. That was stated and we moved on, like it was nothing new.

I wanted a high-stakes book with major payoff and a fiery romance that didn’t involve so much smut. Is that too hard to ask for at the end of the series?

Characters

Emilia

I loved Emilia in the first book and tolerated her in the second, but this one? Dear goddess, it was horrific.

She didn’t have a single thought behind those eyes besides sex with Wrath. That’s it.

She became a different person when we switched to scenes with her an Vittoria (which I enjoyed), but as soon as she was back with Wrath, only sex mattered, and I hated it.

She became even more unrelatable after her transformation into a goddess. There was such a big disconnect that it didn’t feel as if I was reading the same character anymore. Emilia had this arrogant air about her and had all control over her powers (which good for her!), but she wasn’t our Emilia that we watched grow.

Emilia

Wrath

Wrath

Useless. That’s all I have to say about Wrath.

He did nothing in this story. He was bland and did not live up to his sin’s namesake like the previous 2 books. I was sorely disappointed.

Vittoria

Vittoria carried this book on her own damn back. She was complex, manipulative, but kind and loyal. She drove the plot and everything that happened.

I wish we could have seen her before all this happened so we had something to compare to, but she was still badass. I loved all the scenes she was in.

But she didn’t get enough screen time. For the second book leaving us on a cliff hanger that Vittoria was still alive, this book sure doesn’t portray that its a major concern or urgency.

Side Characters

Princes of Hell

In the previous books, these princes came off as threatening and deadly, but in this book the princes just seemed like normal guys with attitudes and entitlement issues.

Writing

The writing for this book was all off– the vibes, the characters, the plot, all of it. The entire book left me very confused as to what I just read.

The pace was very inconsistent. We skipped over scenes of importance– like who the Crone really was, and focused on scenes that didn’t add to the story– smut, I’m looking at you.

On top of that, the writing was confusing and unclear, with choppy transitions. Nothing was smooth about this book. It all felt thrown together as if Maniscalco was ready to start on another project (spin-off series).

There was also a lot of info dumping on the scenes we rushed past. There wasn’t any build up to the answers of our questions, but instead it was just dumped at our feel nonchalantly as if that was good enough.

Then, a lot of time (we’re talking about pages) were spent on sex scenes. Like we get it, your characters were reduced to horny bastards with no real sense of urgency. But good grief, I had to skim over half of those sections. Once you read a few in a book, they all feel the same.

With this, I’d like to point out that sex does not equal romance. Yes, it is an element to a romance, but it isn’t the only thing. I wanted the soft romance that these two shared earlier in the series. But it was as if Maniscalco decided to ramp up the smut, for who knows why, and then still label it as YA. 🙄

To finish off the writing section, can we also talk about the message this book has? Give up your own power for a man, or someone else. Like, really? What’s what you want teen girls (because again its marketed as YA) to take away from this book?

Give me a break. Its so cliche and demeaning for Emilia’s character. Yes, she technically got “her” magic back at the end, but it was given to her by Wrath, so it’s not truly hers.

Its just infuriating to read such independent female characters be reduced down to a wife without her own strength/magic.

Final Thoughts

Although we finally got our answers, I feel as if this book should not exist. It was a rough ride and a rudimentary way of ending such a complex and gory series.

I expected more. I expected a huge climax and reveal to all our answers, but we weren’t even permitted that. Its so disappointing to see a favorite series of mine be downgraded like this.

If Maniscalco has a spin-off series with Claudia/Lucia, Vittoria, and Pride, I probably won’t read it, even if it sounds really good. My spirits were broken after this book.

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Book #2: Kingdom of the Cursed

Series Review

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Glow by Raven Kennedy Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Explicit Sexual Content, Healing from Trauma, Kidnapping, Drugging

Introduction

Glow is the 4th installment to the Gild series. We pick right up after the events of Gleam and follow Auren as she learns to control her magic and heal from her trauma. While this book was highly anticipated, especially after the cliffhanger of an ending in Gleam, it did not live up to my expectations. 

There was plenty of uneven pacing, weird sex scenes, red flags from Slade, and zero plot. While most of this story is character-driven, we didn’t even get that. Many of my favorite side characters fell to the way-side, only acting as comic relief, and the only person who made any sense was Ryatt. 

All around it was a disappointment, to say the least. But, before I give up on this series, let’s get into it. 

Pros

  • Picks up right after Gleam
  • Slade’s backstory
  • Auren facing her trauma
  • Ryatt

Cons

  • No map
  • Cliffhanger ending
  • No plot development
  • Unnecessary POVs
  • Weird sex scenes
  • Slade
  • Info dumping

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

To say the very least, this plot dragged on. I got so bored halfway through that I didn’t think I’d actually finish the book. And I felt guilty because of it! I love the series! Until we came to Glow. 

I was gun-ho for Auren’s healing, visiting Fourth Kingdom, and facing the political disaster that Queen Kaila created, but we hardly even got Auren healing properly the way she needed to! 

Zero Plot

For the first 500 pages, nothing happens. There isn’t any plot development, no character relations created, just Auren trying to heal and Slade forcing her to face her trauma too soon. Which, don’t even get me started on Slade (but I will because we’re talking about him in the next section). 

The action comes in the last 200 pages of the book once the crew leaves Drollard Village. That’s when things pick up. We even get insight into Auren wanting to try new things and her trying to figure out what she wants for herself. But it’s disgustingly domineered by Slade. 

This whole thing was just a mess, and, not to mention, the entire book could have been cut to half of its size. There was no need to go in circles about Auren and Slade’s untrusting drama for the first 500 pages.

But let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the plot because, boy, is there a lot to go through!

Forced Healing

Like I said earlier, I was on board with Auren healing and taking her time to figure her shit out after getting out of Ranhold, and we got it. Just not the way I wished. 

Trauma is a personal thing that everyone handles differently, so Auren wanting to take her time and distance herself from what happened not even a week ago is a totally appropriate response. 

She withdraws, and I can’t say that I don’t blame her. She’s coping with the fact that she killed people (but we don’t mourn Midas), that she lost control of her magic, how her ribbons were cut from her, and that she almost died. But she’s forced to face these truths in an even more traumatizing way, particularly by Slade. 

Before jumping into Slade’s misguided way of helping Auren heal, I want to talk about how Judd handled it.

Judd, once he found out Auren’s balance was off because of her loss of ribbons, focused on helping her regain her balance. Yes, he pushed her, but he was gentle about it. 

He didn’t force Auren to keep going but gave her a nudge of encouragement to get her motivated. Everything bit of training she did with Judd was her choice and fueled by her own ambition.

See? All of that was an appropriate response to someone trudging through trauma. 

What is not an appropriate response is forcing someone to face their trauma when they’ve barely had time to process it. 

Slade, I’m looking at you.

Now, Slade did experience trauma of his own— mainly guilt for rotting Auren, so he gets some lead way. And I understand him wanting to talk about it because it affected him, too. 

However, I don’t condemn the way he forced Auren to talk about her experience or touch anything during the day when she wasn’t ready. She repeatedly voiced that she scared or not ready to face any of that, yet. But Slade ignored her and continued to push. 

Yeah it got her to open up and start processing her trauma, but it was so forced. 

He’s not respecting her boundaries and not listening to her concerns. Slade just plows through to get Auren back to the way she was before, but disguising it as “helping” and “supporting” her. 

I was disgusted at his behavior and it shot up red flags all over the place for me. 

You have to let a person heal and face their own demons on their own terms. Nudges of encouragement and support are welcomed, but not forced confrontation of the issue. 

Auren Or the Kingdom

Let’s face it, the people of Fourth Kingdom were not a priority at all in this book

Slade was willing to let his people starve just to prevent Auren from going to trial. And the worst part is, his Wrath followed! They listened and did as he said as if they were brainwashed or that was the right decision. Which it is not.

I’m sorry, but that isn’t leadership. That is being short-sighted and too hard-headed to listen to anyone else. Ryatt was right about the whole situation from the beginning. He was the only voice of reason during the Auren vs the Kingdom argument, and he even changed his opinion in the end, saying he was wrong. 

Slade putting Auren before his kingdom is selfish. The lives of those innocent people do not need to suffer because Slade refuses to allow Auren to go to trial. Auren even realizes that this would harm the people and tries to talk to Slade!

But what does he do? He seduces her and tells Manu that she declines behind her back and without talking to her. Again, Auren’s voice is ripped away by Slade (maybe this should be the origin of his nickname— ripping women’s voices away). 

Instead, what should have happened was this:

  • Slade becomes the cunning king/commander we’ve previously seen; 
  • They devise a plan for when they go to the Conflux— what to say, what to expect, and how to escape if things go badly. 
  • Agree to attend the Conflux at Queen Kaila’s request. All the while allowing the soldiers to rest and workers to stock up on supplies.
  • See what happens during the Conflux and step in when needed. 

Forcing your people to starve because you refuse to allow your “lover” to go to trial is blasphemy and Slade shouldn’t be king after that. He is creating conflict and war when it can be negated and negotiated. 

I also want to briefly touch on the abandonment of his army after Auren’s attack in Ranhold. He left only one captain (Osrik) to look after them. The army didn’t even have the support of its other commanders because they decided to stay with Auren. 

To sum it all up, I’m highly disappointed in Slade’s ability to prioritize and rule his kingdom. 

Retiring Rip

While I’m thrilled Ryatt won’t have to walk in Slade’s shadow anymore by pretending to Rip, I don’t understand how Ryatt is supposed to just take over the commander role and let Rip retire. 

If Ryatt technically doesn’t exist, how is Slade going to introduce a random commander that the people haven’t seen before? How are they expected to follow Ryatt when, in their eyes, he’s a stranger?

How did Slade really expect that to go?

The Ending

What. The. Fuck. Was that? That ending was rushed and shitty at best. 

Why did Auren need to go through a cleansing for a trial?

Why did the monarchs rush her ruling? They all knew Slade was going to be pissed by killing her. Were they really dumb enough to make him an enemy? 

Why didn’t they let Auren tell her side of the story? And why didn’tAuren voice her story? Yeah, the people might not have believed her, but it would have created some doubt. 

Did Ryatt find Slade in the desert? Did he fly in on Argo? Ryatt just comes out of nowhere at the end just to save Slade’s ass. 

Why was the other rip in Drollard Village closed? Was it because of the new one he created or the one the twins opened in Seventh Kingdom? 

I just wanted a more justified and cohesive ending than the shit we were just dealt. Maybe one that was more than 200 pages because there could have been a brilliant build-up to this, done properly with proper explanations if Slade didn’t ignore everything going on outside of Auren. 

Plot Thoughts

  • I don’t want Malina to have a redemption arc. She’s a cold-hearted bitch that doesn’t deserve to rule any kingdom. I’m kind of glad she got duped into recreating the bridge, though. That felt justified.  
  • I didn’t like how Auren responded to Slade telling her about his Rip story. Auren turned it on herself instead of comforting and supporting him. Maybe it’s because she lacks the emotional intelligence to respond that way, but damn did it come across as self-centered and insincere.
  • I feel bad for Slade’s mom— she deserves better and has been through so much. 

All-in-all, based on the back of the book, this wasn’t really the plot I expected. I expected more fighting with kingdoms and head-butting, but instead we have Auren healing for 3/4 of the book (which is fine, she needed it) and the last half was rushed info dumping and making a cohesive plot.

Characters

Auren

Throughout the series, I have continuously supported Auren and her venture to have her own life. She’s finally facing her trauma of Midas and what she did in Ranhold (even though it could have been portrayed better), and she’s figuring out what she might like to do. 

But, Auren is still just kind of there and allowing things to happen to her instead of driving the plot. I understand that she’s not used to taking control of her life and making decisions, but damn she could have tried! She is the main character after all. 

Also, Auren needs a break from men. She is supposed to be this battered woman finding her own two feet, escaping from one abusive relationship, but falling into another when she’s not ready. 

Auren by @madschofield

I would be completely happy if she left Slade and ventured off on her own. I want to see that journey, that development of Auren. 

Because Slade is not all that and a box of chocolates. She can find a healthier relationship and thrive. 

Slade

Slade (Rip & Ravinger) by @art_hola & @toriana_p

Dear goddess, I couldn’t stand Slade. His character completely deteriorated. He was reduced to a lust-filled, possessive, walking red flag with daddy issues if I’ve ever seen one (and I’ve dated a few!).

This man does not respect Auren or her boundaries. He says that he does, but his actions say otherwise. 

How the hell are you going to support this woman, help her regain her freedom, only to take away her voice and make decisions for her? He had no right to give Manu an answer disguising it as Auren’s own, especially behind her back

When it came to sex, he was very forceful when seducing Auren. Every time she tried to voice her concern, he basically seduced her and left before hearing what she had to say. 

Then, how are you going to have sex with a woman who has been abused in more ways than one and treat her just like all the other men have treated her? But with you, it’s somehow okay? 

But the thing that pisses me off the most is the fact that he declares himself as her endgame. Regardless of the experiences, Auren wants to have, and the people she wants to kiss, Slade is to be the one she returns to. 

What if Auren doesn’t want that? What if she falls in love with someone else? The audacity he has in claiming her life like that is shocking. The fucking balls on this man. 

He’s like a wet jacket that you can’t shake off. Every time you try to, he clings to another part of you. 

And I’m just ready for Auren to rip it off and be done with his mess. 

Side Characters

The Wrath

What happened to this badass bunch of captains? They were reduced to comic relief and cheap side kicks. I miss my take-no-shit Lu and Matthew McConaughey Judd. And we didn’t even get to see Osrik much, but even then he was reduced to a lust-driven loaf. 

Half of them were with Auren the whole time, we could have seen more interactions between them or them driving the plot in some way. But they just disappear into the background. 

Ryatt

The voice of reason! Ryatt was the only one voicing legitimate concerns about Auren, her abilities, and the state of the kingdom. He should be king in my opinion. 

But what is his deal with Slade? Why does he resent the man so much? (I know the backstory was supposed to explain it, but I didn’t buy it). 

Ryatt felt like an angsty teen (which I guess is valid since he’s never had his own identity). Honestly, Ryatt has been wronged in so many ways and I don’t understand how no one bats an eye at how he is treated.

Queen Kaila

I thought Malina was a bitch, but damn Queen Kaila outshines her. This woman is ruthless and suffers from a superiority complex. But I must say, I like her style. 

Writing

Glow did not have the same vibes as the previous installments. The characters were all off (especially Slade), the pacing was weird, and we still didn’t get any action or fighting. It was all bland monologs dragged out.

The first 500 pages were so repetitive. Slade and Auren rehashed the same issues and thoughts over and over again (reminded me heavily of Poppy in Kingdom of Flesh and Fire). The entire time the group was in Drollard Village could have been reduced to 200 pages. 300 if I’m being generous. 

If I wasn’t already so invested in this series, I probably would have stopped reading halfway through. 

POVs

We have 6 different points of view in this book— Slade, Queen Kaila, Malina, Auren, Rissa, and Osrik. Way too many if you ask me. 

Although I enjoyed the brief romance of Osrik and Rissa (though it was a Rip and Auren 2.0), it could have been removed. I would have much preferred learning about their interest in each other towards the end when Rissa and the army returned. That would have made things more intriguing. 

Now, Queen Kaila’s POV added nothing to the story besides setting the rumors in place at the beginning. Besides that, her one or two chapters were not needed and just wasted my time.

I hated Malina’s chapters. Once she escaped the castle in Gleam, I was done with her. I couldn’t care less what happened to her. However, her role seemed to be pretty vital to the overarching plot for her to only get like 3-4 chapters. 

The one positive about the different POVs is that I could easily keep up with the various tones between characters. They each had their language quirks (Osrik comparing everything to sex or the self-pity of Malina). So, that I thought was done well. Some author’s can’t pull that off, but Kennedy did. 

Weird Sex Scenes

Onto the weird and off put sex scenes between Auren and Slade. 

Before writing this, I had to validate my own feelings with their intimate interactions, so I took to Goodreads. And to my delight, I wasn’t the only one feeling the weird vibes from these scenes. 

Every sex scene between Auren and Slade is just weird. The tone is off, the interactions don’t seem to fit the characters, and it feels like someone else entirely wrote those scenes. Not to mention, the scenes aren’t clear sometimes and I’m lost on what is actually happening. 

Slade’s crass language also doesn’t help. It just doesn’t fit his character or the time period either. Especially with words like “baby” and “sexy” (which Auren used, too). They just don’t fit the narrative and pulled me out of the book completely. 

I had to skim these scenes because it was too cringy to read, and when I did read them I rolled my eyes a lot. Maybe they weren’t as bad as The Never King or The River of Shadows, but they were up there. 

Late Introductions

I think we are way too far in the game to be introducing multiple brand-new characters, Slade’s backstory, and the start of a fae-human war. 

Here are all the new characters we were exposed to:

  • Slade’s mom
  • Slade’s Premier/advisors
  • King and Queen of Second Kingdom + their son
  • The rest of the monarchs, like King Thold
  • The twins

That’s a lot, right? I mean we got backstories on Slade’s mom, but he never mentions his Premier. It’s as if halfway through the book, Kennedy realized she had to explain who was taking care of the kingdom while Slade was away. 

I can kind of understand the other monarchs and the twins because they weren’t needed until now, but when we did see them, there was a lot of info dumping. 

Speaking of info dumping, at the very beginning of the book, we finally get Slade’s backstory. He’s been a main character for 3 books and we are just now learning about his origin story. We should have gotten this much sooner than now!

There are just too many elements that Kennedy introduced in this book that could have just been left out or mentioned in the other books. 

But, honestly, I would have been okay with the series ending in Gleam, as long as it was shortened as well and included the important parts from Glow (Auren healing and the Conflux).

I would have been fine with the Conflux being a spectacle only and Auren being okay. Or if she was killed because it makes sense too. 

Regardless, I’m anxious about what’s to come in the 5th book. 

Writing Thoughts

  • I kind of liked the way Slade’s flashback chapters were introduced. Typically, after reading them, the lesson of what younger Slade learned would be applied in the next chapter. And when we finally got to the part about Rip, we didn’t have to read all those chapters back to back, we already did. I thought it was done well. 
  • I love the whole tone of women reclaiming their lives, voices, and freedom. It’s a real kick to the patriarchy’s ass.

Final Thoughts

While I had a lot of issues with Glow, I still enjoyed the book, hence the 3-star rating. 

I loved seeing Auren heal, learning of Slade’s backstory, and the new landscape of Fourth Kingdom. Hell, I even liked the idea of the Conflux and the potential it had.

But I’m just disappointed. 

Maybe since I read all 4 books back-to-back I’m a bit tired of the world, and that could be why I’m feeling so let down or aggravated with the series. But it is what it is. I’m all caught up now. 

Even with my disappointment and poor execution of Glow, I still plan to read the 5th book. Maybe it will deliver and will really kick ass, at least I’m hoping because I don’t know if I can continue reading this long-dragged-out series. 

Previous:

Book #3: Gleam

Next:

Book #5: Gold- TBR

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Golden Gold Vine Poem- The Plated Prisoner

There was a miser who prized her,

this golden gold vine.

This sapling so gilded,

her leaflings did shine.

The moment he saw her,

he let out a whisper of, “mine.”

He’d found her in rubble,

along a plain road.

Unburied, he took her,

in pocket he stowed.

Back to his house,

where he stared at her gleam.

Hands curled to covet,

want stitched to seam.

What a chance this was,

the chance for much more.

So he planted her there,

right outside his front door.

Kept under secrets and hidden she lay.

This old miser did find her,

did steal her away.

Brought to the yard,

he planted her there.

Fenced her all in

to shelter her glare.

Soon she grew tiny buds,

glinting with gold.

He plucked them by one,

went to town to be sold.

He paid off his debts,

bought whatever he sought.

But it wasn’t enough,

whatever he got.

For greed had been planted

beside her thin roots.

Want had leafed out,

along with her shoots.

Yet although he watered,

soon she did wilt.

Her golden did dull

and worry he split.

For his most prized possession

looked right to be culled.

She wasted away,

while he fretted and mulled.

It wasn’t til so angry,

he pulled out his hair.

Brown clumps all fallen

on the vine bare,

that her color suddenly glistened,

her vine did then surge.

She grew ever much

from his body he’d purged.

Ecstatic, he knew, what he must do.

So this miser clip-clipped,

and gold flowers then bloomed.

His hair he snip=snipped,

gladly shedding his plume.

For she would not grow

without sacrifice.

Only pieces of him

would ever suffice.

For her to keep growing,

that was her price.

This golden gold vine

was the miser’s own vice.

This miser did prize her,

this golden gold vine.

His smile would gleam

at all of her shine.

He gave her his all,

so she’d answer his call.

Rejoiced every inch

that her length grew up tall.

But soon she outgrew

his garden, until,

she then made her way

into his house on the hill.

She twisted and curled

in every inch.

No room to move,

he was prodded and pinched.

He shoved out his furniture

to be left in the rain,

abandoned front door,

knocked out window panes.

Every offering he made,

she grew larger still.

Her metallic glint covered

each floorboard and sill.

This miser hoarded

every petal and thorn.

Skin marred with scratches

where sharp barbs had torn.

When his hair was all gone,

but he still wanted more,

he gave up his nails,

taking them, peel from core.

He presented them all,

onto stems he did pour.

Not once did he ask,

what’s it all for?

Her flowers, so pretty,

grew heavy with gold.

Though his fingers too sore

to take them to hold.

So he split them away

by the work of his teeth.

Bit them from vine

and hid them in sheaths.

All gathered, so heavy,

hundreds of blooms.

All golden, these flowers,

but he ran out of room.

The old miser didn’t dare

every take some to town.

If they knew of his treasure,

they’d surely come ’round.

So spend them he never,

and stayed home forever.

Loved ones he severed,

(he thought himself clever).

He murmured and pet,

each golden rosette.

Her vine he let twine,

all while whispering, “mine.”

But without reparation,

she’d quickly go dim,

so frantic, he’s cut,

blade into limb.

When his nails were all gone,

from ten fingers and toes,

he had to give up

his ears and his nose.

The blood that he split,

he staunched with petals of guilt.

But the drips of his red

made the vine rightly fed.

This miser bled freely

so his wealth may yet grow.

He let veins collapse,

let his heartbeat go slow.

Her vine slurped his life

like nectar to birds,

and he lay in the room,

his body submerged.

While she grew out of the house

and over the hill,

a contagion that caught

every space up to fill.

But he wanted still,

he had to have more,

so out plucked his eyes,

sockets empty and sore.

He had no room to sleep,

and no eyes to weep,

but from his golden gold vine,

ever more would he seek.

Oh, this miser did prize her,

this golden gold vine.

He couldn’t stop now,

so he sat at her shrine.

He had to cut, to cull, and to bleed.

For her to keep growing that was the creed.

Whenever he plucked

her vine until bare,

he’d sit by her stems,

into skin he would tear.

Losing himself, as he said and he flayed.

Yielding himself, as he laid in her shade.

He soon gave up his toes, his fingers, mere stumps.

His teeth, he yanked out, in white and red clumps.

Dropped into soil,

like rain for her roots.

Up grew her blossoms,

inedible fruits.

The gold was his blanket,

his prize, and his gloat.

The thorns for his teeth,

the leaves as his coat.

He took what she made,

and reaped what she sowed.

Addicted entitled, thinking–

wealth he was owed.

But bitter her roots

become as she bloomed.

This golden gold vine,

resented and fumed.

So blinded by gleam,

he just couldn’t see

what he became

by demands he decreed.

When he first found her

along that plain road,

he didn’t yet know

what he picked when he trode.

For it wasn’t just her

that he took on that day.

Greed was the weed

he invited to stay.

In his house the gold took up all the room.

He thought it a triumph. (But it was a tomb.)

Tangled and knitted,

every corner, leaves spewed.

Still, he wanted more

–Oh! Just a few!

No hair or nails, no eyes or nose.

No fingers or ears, nor any toes.

Yet he’d satisfy himself with his own greedy prose.

He was the richest alive! Anything he could buy!

(Yes, it was true, that wasn’t a lie.)

Though he did not realize, no he could not conceive,

that his obsession for gold was what made him unweave.

The old miser lived on,

a sorry state of affairs.

Sacrificing his tongue,

his legs, arms– both in pairs.

He couldn’t touch or talk, nor could he see.

But what did that matter, when what mattered was he

was alone with his vine, his treasure sublime.

No need for his senses or to walk or to sign,

when all that he wanted was her opulent shine.

And all the while, this old miser clung to the vine.

His muted mouth empty, but still miming, “mine.”

The vine did outgrow his little house on the hill.

Winding down to the forest, all twine and twill.

She’d grown so large, while he’d withered down to a pulp.

Until finally, she took the last of him, in one final gulp.

He stumped and stubbed pieces,

now taken inside her.

This golden gold greed,

like a web from a spider.

And upon his death,

the vine did slowly die back.

It shrunk from forest to yard,

its gold gone to lack.

The only but that remained,

on that house on the hill

was a flicker of gleam

against a cracked windowsill.

And there right beneath,

under a pile of rubble,

was one golden vine,

its short thorns like stubble.

It glistened and shone,

so small with one leaf.

It sat there, undiscovered,

a prize for a thief.

This vine as golden as a small piece of sun,

it waited right there for someone to come.

And when someone did, (for there would always be one)

she perked up and straightened,

she showed off her shine.

And he stole and he smiled,

and whispered greedily, “mine.”

This poem is by Raven Kennedy, author of The Plated Prisoner series.

This one poem spans across the end of 3 books and I couldn’t find the whole thing anywhere else. So, I decided to type it out here for myself and others to read.

The Plated Prisoner Book Reviews So Far:

Raven Kennedy’s Website | Recommend a Book for Me to Review

Gleam by Raven Kennedy Book Review

Ratings

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Content Warnings: Drugged, Abuse, Sexual Content, Killing

Introduction

Gleam is the third installment to the Midas-inspired, Plate Prisoner series. This book will have you rooting for Auren, pulling your hair in anticipation, and gasping at all the truths that are revealed. It’s a beautiful continuation showcasing Auren’s growth and reclaiming herself while trying to wrestle away from her abuser, Midas.

Pros

  • Picks up right after Glint ends
  • The well-written and planned plot
  • Poem at the end
  • The ending!!
  • The plot twists
  • Super slow burn

Cons

  • No map
  • Auren’s story dragged a bit
  • Malina surviving
  • Ends in a cliffhanger 

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Plot

Recap

Auren’s Plot Line

  • Auren’s goal is to fight back against Midas, yet please him enough he won’t hurt Digby, as she plans her escape with Rissa.
  • During her initial time at Ranhold, Auren is getting the lay of the land and slowly turning items gold before delivering them to Rissa. Once Auren settles in, Midas begins over working Auren by gold-touching everything for 4 days straight.
  • On the final day, when she finally gets to go back to her room, Auren can’t walk and Rip comes to carry her back. It is during this time that Rip tells Auren he has chosen her, he just wishes she would choose him. To which Auren tells him that she chose herself. 
  • Rip and Auren then spend time out on the balcony together. Auren voices her anger about Slade lying and the betrayal she feels with him. But Slade informs her it shouldn’t matter because he’s still the same person and she should trust him.
  • The next night Auren, is asked to attend a dinner with Midas to welcome Queen Kaila from Third Kingdom. During the dinner, Auren talks back to Midas and initially denies him his show of gold-touching a goblet. Midas also uses his knowledge of Commander Rip carrying Auren back to her rooms to embarrass her in front of the guests.
  • When Midas and Auren return to her rooms after dinner, they argue about Auren’s behavior and Midas slaps Auren— the first time he has hit her.  After this Midas leaves and doesn’t return to Auren until her cheek is healed of its bruise. 
  • In the meantime, Auren is scouting the library for blueprints and runs into Slade. He notices the bruise and gets pissed, but Auren is able to calm him down.
  • He tells her that he would kill Midas for her if she asked him to, but hasn’t because of the consequences. He then turns on Auren and asks why she hasn’t yet, thinking she still loves him. Auren informs Slade she is trying to escape instead— to leave Midas behind and disappear.
  • The next night, Auren visits Slade and tells him that she chooses him, too. They have sex and he tells her Lu will help her escape to the camp the next night. 
  • The following night, Lu helps Auren escape and Auren spends time with Slade and his Wraths. Auren then confesses the whole plan to Slade and the Wraths about her escape plan with Rissa, and the issue with Digby. It is during this time that Slade tells Lu to look for Digby and get him out. 
  • Upon returning to the castle, Queen Kaila is waiting for Auren below her balcony and asks Auren to join her on a walk. Queen Kaila asks if she’ll be a problem and then tells her to run away with the commander so she doesn’t have to kill Auren. Which, Auren agrees.
  • The next day, Midas forces Auren to gold-touch some remaining rooms and items for the ball, in exchange that she can then see Digby. After finishing gold-touching and eating dinner, Midas leads Auren to see Digby in the dungeons. 
  • It is here that Auren realizes Midas has drugged her with Dew, telling her that this will correct her behavior. He then proceeds to cut off her ribbons and leave her in the dungeon with Digby for a while.
  • Later, guards return and force more Dew into Auren, knocking her out before dragging her away. When she wakes, Midas is gold touching things against her skin, telling Auren to get dressed, and giving her instructions on when to gold touch the mezzanine during his speech at the ball.
  • Finally, Auren’s head clears and she denies Midas of his gold-touch show during his speech. Afterward, Auren goes off on him, telling him that she’ll leave him and he won’t find her, and how much she hates him.
  • Midas, in turn, tells Auren that he is actually Barden East from Derfort Harbor. He followed her to drag her back and make an example out of her. But when he learns of her powers and Midas changes tactics to become her savior and lover instead.
  • Once done with his confession, Midas ties Auren up with her own ribbon and goes off the make a toast. Auren then sees Slade in the crowd, but before he can make it over to her, Midas calls him to the dias.  After the toast, Prince Niven falls dead, poisoned. Everyone thinks Ravinger did it because of the marks on Niven’s neck.
  • Auren makes her way down to protect Ravinger from using his power and starting a war and confronts Midas saying he killed Niven. Out of anger, Midas orders everyone out of the ballroom and then tries to convince Auren to come back to him as she stands beside Slade. When she doesn’t, he uses a cheap trick to grab her and put a knife to her throat.
  • Upon hearing the word “helpless” Auren’s magic beast unlocks and attacks, turning all her gold-touched items into liquid gold. She kills the guards and Midas, but she can’t regain control of her magic which is killing her.
  • Slade then rots Auren to get her to stop and runs out of the room with her, not knowing if she will be okay or not. 

Midas’s Plot Line

  • Midas is throwing a party with Fourth and Third in attendance for a new, peaceful alliance.
  • When Midas finds out about Mist’s pregnancy, he sends word to Malina and tries to force her to pretend she is pregnant until Mist gives birth.
  • When Milana refuses, Midas sends Hood, a fae assassin, to kill her.
  • In the meantime, Midas focuses on keeping Auren in check, gold-touching the palace, and setting his sights on Queen Kaila.

Malina’s Plot Line

  • Malina is slowly turning Highbell back to the way it was before Midas. The way her family had it.
  • Midas wants Malina to pretend she is pregnant and lock herself away for 6 months, so when she reappears, she’ll have the bastard child of Midas. However, Malina refuses to pretend this baby is hers and sends Midas’s messenger back with her notice.
  • The citizens start rioting in the streets soon after, trying to get to Malina. Sir Pruinn informs Malina that Midas’s messenger is behind the uprising by spreading discontent between the people.
  • Malina orders her guards to kill anyone who breaks in the castle once the riots get too bad. 
  • In the middle of the night, Jeo wakes Malina to get her to the royal safe house— the citizens have broken into the castle and most of the guards abandoned their posts. 
  • Malina, 2 guards, Jeo, and Sir Pruinn escape to the safe house.
  • They are there for 4 days and relationships are deteriorating, especially between Maline and Jeo.
  • The 2 guards tell Malina that Midas’s forces have taken over the kingdom and calmed the rioting. Word has also spread that Malina was killed in the riots. This is Midas’s way of re-establishing control.
  • Soon after the guards return, an assassin finally comes to kill Malina, but ends up killing everyone except for Malina and Sir Pruinn, as they escape in a carriage.

Analysis

The plot was well-created and strong. I didn’t pick up on any plot holes or inconsistencies. Even when I questioned Midas’s absence from Auren for a while, it was because he hit her and he was spending time with Queen Kaila. It made sense.

The plots also melded well together. For example, when Auren found out Mist was pregnant and then we get Midas’s thoughts on claiming it as its heir and sending word to Malina.

The ending was spectacular, too. I was wondering where Auren’s powers would take her and how they would evolve. And boy was I not disappointed! I honestly wasn’t expecting Midas to die here, but the way he went out was perfect. Killed by his own greed.

Auren’s Plot

Auren’s plot was slow, but it was okay. I thought I’d really like where this book was headed when I first started reading it, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I was expecting Auren to leave with Slade sooner and at some point. But that didn’t even happen.

I enjoyed her journey of reclaiming herself, establishing her interest in Slade, planning with Rissa, and standing up to Midas. It was necessary to establish Auren and the plot, but I wish there was less round-and-round going on. 

Plot Twists

Barden East/Midas Reveal

I never picked up that Midas was Barden East. I know East was mentioned a lot, but his and Zakir’s influence on Auren was a large part of her trauma. I love how that story came back full circle and Auren was finally able to let go of Midas. 

I like the idea that he wanted to drag her back since he wanted the painted girl so bad, that he followed her. Then when he learned of her new powers to changed plans and took advantage of her. I find it fitting for his conniving character.

Also, if Barden East was a fake name, is Tyndall Midas a fake name, too? If so, what’s his real name?

Fake Rip

We finally find out who Fake Rip is and it’s Slade’s brother! I love the twist! It makes so much sense that he would trust his brother with such a big secret. I know I’d trust my sister to play me in this situation. 

Malina Plot

I’m interested in how Malina will come back later because I know she wasn’t killed. She escaped and will eventually land in Seventh kingdom, but what will that do? How will her story be tied back into Auren’s? 

Also, if Midas is dead and Malina on the run, who will lead Fifth and Sixth Kingdom now? What will happen?

Characters

Thoroughly enjoying Rip and Auren’s forbidden love. Auren is a bit reckless and hard-headed, while Rip is protective and hell-bent on letting Auren be herself. 

However, their relationship is a bit confusing in the sense that Auren doesn’t see Slade as a lover, but Slade sees Auren as one. Will he respect her boundaries or will he turn out like Midas?

Slade and Auren in a Room Full of Liquid Gold

Auren

Auren

Auren’s growth journey really is a mess, but an understandable mess. She’s finally learning herself, how to figure things out on her own, and what she wants/likes. So, of course, Auren will make mistakes and make dumb decisions. But I love her all the more for it. 

Regardless of her past and everything that she’s been through, Auren is still selfless and willing to put others before herself— Digby, Rissa, and Mist. While it can be a flaw to an extent, it is a strength for Auren because she hasn’t let her horrible past deter her from loving and caring for others. 

Throughout the series, I’ve been wondering how powerful Auren actually is and what else she can do with her powers. And boy, was I not disappointed! I wasn’t expecting her to turn everything she has touched to liquid gold, but I’ll take it because it ended up being a great weapon. 

My only question is, was the original material still underneath all the gold? Were the items plated?

Slade

So, I like Slade. He’s mysterious, smart, caring, and supportive, but I feel like he has an ulterior motive with Auren. Does he want to use her, too? 

I just feel like we’re missing a vital piece for Slade’s character and his obsession with Auren. Are fated lovers a thing in this series and he isn’t telling Auren their fated? Or is that how he is as a lover?

I ask all this because even the Wraths seem to know the extent of Slade’s feelings, but not Auren. He was also so domineering towards her during sex that it put me off and make me question his motives. 

Slade/Rip

Besides his romance with Auren, Slade is wonderful. He balances his shifting between king and commander so well and plays each character marvelously. It’s honestly such a useful tool to have as a ruler. 

I want to learn more about Slade, his history, and his kingdom, so I’m excited that the fourth book (possibly) will take place in his kingdom. I think things will start making sense for me in the next book, and if these inquiries are answered.

Midas

Midas

Midas. That manipulative, conniving prick. I can’t stand his self-centered greedy ass. He 100% deserved his death and everything he got at the end. Every time he came around in this book I wanted to scream and throw a knife at him.

If he wasn’t such an abusive ass, his ability to plan and scheme was marvelous. In that aspect, he made a great ruler and interesting character. He was brilliant, but an absolutely horrible person. 

I will say, though, I didn’t expect him to die in this book, but I’m glad he did. 

Malina

When we first were introduced to Malina and her plot in the second book, I was all on board of her taking Midas down. However, as her story has progressed, I find that I hate her more and more. 

She doesn’t deserve to rule. She’s so entitled, selfish, and self-centered. Sixth Kingdom’s people had every right to overthrow her. Although, I do feel she might have been a better ruler than Midas. 

Even though I wish Malina was assassinated, I understand that she couldn’t be. So, I wonder if she’ll be humbled on where ever her journey takes her. Will she be an enemy to Auren or will they become allies?

Side Characters

Rissa

 I like Rissa. She’s just a woman looking out for herself and wanting a better life. She’s hard-headed and takes everything in stride. She doesn’t let life drag her down and knows what she wants.


Rissa is the epitome of a strong woman in this series.

Rissa

Digby

He’s alive! I truly thought Midas was lying about Digby being alive to get Auren into a cell.

I feel so bad for thinking Digby was the traitor in the first book. He truly tried to keep Auren safe. He didn’t deserve what Midas had done to him. He did everything he could. The caravan was just caught off guard thanks to Malina. 

Jeo

Jeo didn’t deserve his death. He did everything he could for Malina— was her saddle, saved her from the riots, provided for her. But Malina disregarded him when it mattered and it broke my heart. He deserved so much more in his life than to please and protect Malina. 

Sir Pruinn

Who is he and what does Pruinn want?

Writing

Tropes/Themes

I would like to start this section off by saying I like how Midas is blond with tanned skin and Slade is dark-haired with pale skin. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual tall, dark, and handsome main love interest trope.

I absolutely love the independent and women supporting women themes of the book. I honestly don’t think I’ve read another series where this was focused on so much, but I’m here for it!

These women have been used and abused by men for so long that they deserve to escape and reclaim their lives. I love it. Absolutely adore this theme. 

Realistic Characters

All the character’s actions, dialog, and responses made sense and felt like things actual people would do instead of imagined scenes by an author.

Most the characters were 3-D, with the exception of some of the minor characters, like Scofield, Lowe, and Mist. 

Different POV’s

Throughout the book, Kennedy utilizes different points of views (POVs) to tell the full story of what is happening in Orea. We get Auren’s, Slade’s, Midas’s, and Malina’s; all of which have different voices and tones, making it easy to get into the mindset of that character.

I love this because sometimes with different POVs the various characters can sound the same, but here Kennedy was meticulous to select the right tone, words, dialog, etc., for her characters.

  • Auren- she had her usual sarcastic tone, except this time we got to dive into more of her problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Slade- he used more cuss words than Auren and had a more informal tone than how you think he would talk based on appearances.
  • Midas- his tone was condecending and covered with greed and entitlement.
  • Malina- her’s was similar to Midas’s, except minus the greed. We also got to see her confidence break at one point and her panic show through her chapter’s voice.

Slade’s Use of “Baby”

I didn’t like Slade’s crass sex talk or his use of “baby” when referring to Auren. It felt too modern, even though the book kind of has a modern feel dialog-wise. 

I cringed every time I had to read a sentence with “baby” in it. He could have used “love” or “dear” or “darling,” something more fitting of his kingly and caring character. 

Cringy and Out of Touch Sex Scene

The first sex scene between Slade and Auren felt wrong and disconnected, especially after Auren shared her story about the abuse she’s faced, particularly about her body. 

Slade doesn’t acknowledge her as a person or comfort her or anything, he just says that he wants her. He talks dirty to her in a controlling way, similar to what she’s already had to endure. 

So, for him to start commanding her to stripe and take her hair down made him feel no better than the other men that have used Auren. I think they could have been intimate in a different way besides sex. 

I might have enjoyed their relationship a bit more and understood it a bit more if this were the case. It was built in such a loving and supportive way but ended up being rough and demanding, which feels out of place for a woman who has been objectified and sexually abused her whole life. 

Final Poem

I’ve mentioned this in the other reviews, but I love the poem at the end of the book. I think it sums up everything beautifully and really captures the mystical elements of the whole plot. And it also has me thinking in rhymes for the next few minutes.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed Gleam. It didn’t go in the direction I thought it would— Auren and Slade escaping at least mid-way through the book, but I still like the direction it took and how it ended. Especially the ending! 

Even though Slade and Auren’s relationship is a bit confusing for me, I still adore those two and the found family has with Slade and the Wraths. I can’t wait to learn more about Slade and Fourth Kingdom. I think dots will start connecting for me then. 

I’m also, interested in seeing how things plan out politically, and for Malina and Auren. What do their futures hold? How will their paths cross?

The Plated Prisoner books, so far, are enjoyable and I can’t wait to continue with the series. 

Previous:

Book #2: Glint

Next:

Book #4: Glow

What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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