By keeping the setting all within the prison walls, you get a clear picture of the desolation, despair, and ugliness that Kiva has been living the past 10 years. The characterization is vivid. It is easy to envision the different people that interact within Kiva’s life. For me, the middle lagged a bit, but the ending to this book wakes you up! You know that you will pick up the next one to see what will Kiva do now?

What a fun and thrilling ride! When I first started The Prison Healer, I figured it would be an enjoyable– but altogether forgettable– novel like a lot of the books I’ve read marketed towards Young Adults. This isn’t a knock on the YA genre, it’s just that sometimes people seem to not put effort into making YA books unique because a general formula sells well for that genre. Don’t get me wrong, The Prison Healer has those aspects that makes YA fantasy books so popular: a budding romance, magic, and beautiful characters. It has a whole lot of heart too, though. The characters jump off the page and demand your attention. The prison setting is unique and anxiety inducing, really playing into the feel that the author was going for.

I will note that The Prison Healer is a lot darker than much of the YA that I’ve read. The romance so far is very PG and palatable for young audiences, but the violence is more on the level of NA or Adult. There’s also many triggers; we are in a jail setting where the population is at the whims of oppressive, domineering guards. This is also a setting where the outside world is virtually unreachable and the authorities within the prison can do whatever they’d like without repercussions. Rape happens, though it isn’t graphic or on page. One of the characters talks about a past of self-mutilation as punishment. These are things that might be too much for the younger age group that reads YA; not a read that I would recommend for readers transitioning from middle grade to YA reads, definitely keep this towards the more mature age range of the genre.

On the other hand, I could see people that aren’t fans of the YA genre enjoying this greatly. The action, the rise up against an oppressive government, the jail setting. All of this makes for a wonderful read. Kiva, our main character, keeps a lot hidden and slowly reveals how she ended up in the jail and what happened to her family along the way. She finds a family of sort within the jail after being separated from her true family for ten years.

I will say that there are two major twists in the novel that I could KIND of guess. I didn’t get every detail completely correct, but I had an idea of where it was going. That being said, having guessed where these plot lines were going didn’t hamper my enjoyment at all. The author also pulled them off in such a way that I was still surprised at the full scope. The last few paragraphs made me immediately research when book two was coming out and I am SUPER thankful it isn’t going to be a long wait. That cover bears mentioning too! So unique compared to the typical covers you see of an attractive woman gracing the cover of every YA fantasy book these days. If you’re looking for a fun, dark, atmospheric read then check out The Prison Healer.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for a free ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The setting of this story was very simple yet had a lot of moving parts. Kiva the prison healer has grown used to her life and her job in the prison. But that all changes with a new arrival. Kiva also is waiting for her family on the outside, in hopes that they and the rebels will come to her rescue.

The characters in this book were developed very well throughout the book. Something that I really liked about this book was the plot twists. When it didn't seem like there could be a plot twist there was. As the book goes on Kiva refuses to grow close to any of the prisoners however that begins to change and Kiva starts realizing she has more of a reason than ever now to leave the prison.

At the end of the book I did feel like there were some unanswered questions however I am hoping the sequel will answer those questions. Overall I loved this book and could not stop reading it! I'm looking forward to the second book in this series.

THE PRISON HEALER is a stunning and captivating YA fantasy read. This book takes place in a prison, Zalindov, which operates as its own entity between kingdoms, for the worst of prisoners, generally murderers and rebels. No one gets out once they are in, and most do not live long. Kiva has been in the prison for 10 years, since she was 7 years old. After her father died in the prison, she eventually took on the role of the prison healer, working the infirmary for other inmates whose work assignments or prison guards have injured.

Kiva has kept her head down and done with what she has needed to do to survive, including not making attachments to the other inmates (with the exception of Tipp another child who ended up there due to circumstances) and informing on them to the warden who rules the prison like a king. Things are changing for Kiva, beginning with a new inmate that she cannot seem to shake, a guard who seems to have morals, and then with the rebel queen arriving in need of care.

When Kiva gets a missive telling her to keep the queen alive and threats from the rebels in the prison reinforce this need, Kiva has an impossible task - the queen is on death's door and about to face a trial by ordeal, a set of tests that no one survives. When Kiva volunteers in her place, she knows that her days may be numbered - unless, she can somehow survive these impossible trials and claim freedom on the other side.

What I loved: The writing in this book completely enchanted me. I was captivated by Kiva's story and the trials she undergoes, as an inmate at the mercy of the prison system, as part of the ordeals, and as she tries to stop a plague ravaging the prison system. She is a highly compelling character who keeps her cards close to her chest, even to the reader who is experiencing it all from her perspective. As the key characters convalesce in the story, they all become near and dear to the reader's heart, as they have to Kiva. This definitely leads to some feelings and tears during the story. I also super-loved the way that everything slowly develops. The ending held so many shocking reveals that I was left reeling, and I loved the unexpected twists.

The book also includes some intriguing themes about prisons, the way they are run, the power dynamics within them, and the problems with systems around them. I found it very thought-provoking and would definitely love to discuss in a book club or group format. Other themes around royalty, rebellion, power, addiction, and morality around healing/survival were also really interesting. There is a lot happening in the kingdoms, and Kiva cannot help but see it in the prisons and become involved as she treats the rebel queen. The right to rule and determination of a ruler is a minor but intriguing theme through these royal figures (also through the prince and princess that come to see the first trial) that I am curious to see developed in future books.

Rebellion here has serious consequences, and as a theme throughout history when power becomes oppressive, it's also interesting to discuss. In this book, morality is gray, as Kiva does what she must to survive and this does not always agree with others' moral codes. She also feels a duty as a healer, even when the odds are stacked against her and patients may not seem worth saving to some. How she copes with these thoughts and her job were also intriguing subplots that would merit discussion. This would really be a fascinating choice for a book club.

Final verdict: Atmospheric, shocking, and immersive, THE PRISON HEALER is a must-read YA fantasy that combines compelling characters, intriguing themes, and surprising plot twists into a stunning read. Highly recommend for fans of THE RED QUEEN, LEGEND, and THRONE OF GLASS.

I think this first instalment to a series would be really suitable for mid as well as older YA readers, also for fans of series such as The Winner's Curse, The Kiss of Deception, or Furyborn.

It is a little slower paced for the first half of the book in my opinion, so that may be something to keep in mind going into it. But I think it gives you a good grounding into the way of life and characters at this prison setting.
We do get some wonderful maps in this book so I was hoping the world building would be a little more expanded upon, however, I'm still hoping that may come in future books. This first in the series seems to have mainly focused on characters and prison based setting.

I did enjoy the characters. For me Naari seemed the most intriguing to learn more about. I think she would have a really interesting backstory or even to see moments from her POV would be really interesting. And Tipp, of course.
Kiva was a little typical YA protagonist for me with being a little naive but I think she definitely has room to grow.

Prison settings and trials/tournaments are some really enjoyable plot points for me, even while not being wholly original I think they can still be hugely interesting to read when done well.

I do have to say some of the plot twists within The Prison Healer were quite predictable if you have already been a fantasy reader. Again, this can differ between readers whether or not that's something that can impact their reading experience.
For the most part, I didn't mind it. Although I thought the mystery behind the sickness in the prison was a little drawn out for the significance it had at the end of the book. Perhaps, though, it'll play a part down the road.

The end reveal did, unfortunately, bring my rating down a little. I think the hidden identity plot that was revealed in the 3rd trial was better written and the reader could actually trace back breadcrumbs after finding out the twist to see how it could make sense. Whereas, the latter identity twist just felt, to me, it was added in as shock value for future conflict. Conflict that would be based on omission and miscommunication, which is really not my cup of tea as it ends up just being frustrating rather than engaging for me as a reader.
As well as just being added for cliff hanger ending, it didn't read as realistic to me. There didn't feel like there was enough groundwork laid - even with the flashback prologue. There were too many instances where, in keeping in line with the character's personality, there would have been at least some inner monologue conflict happening. Without spoilers I don't feel I can be any more blunt than that.

Along with that pacing and shock value issue, I think adding basically the same plot twist not even 100 pages apart runs into the danger of making it too unrealistic and "tropey" for lack of a better term.

While the conclusory direction wasn't to my taste, my reading experience was still enjoyable and is still a book I would recommend.

"The Prison Healer" by Lynette Noni tells the story of Kiva who's been fighting for life inside a notorious death prison as a prison healer. When the rebel queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping her alive during a set of trials. However, things change when Kiva takes her place and has to fight to save them both. This novel was darker than I expected, but had such a great storyline. Kiva and Jaren were fabulous characters that left me thinking about the story, even when the book was put down. There was an interesting theme of hope within the book, even in the darker moments. The idea that the world is hard, but that should be understood and embraced. The supporting cast of characters were extremely well written as well. Overall, this book was a win for me and I'd recommend it for fantasy readers!

If you read just a couple of YA books this year, make sure this is one of them. The setting was different a multi kingdom death prison which includes children. I loved the story and the characters. The writing was fabulous but what sold me was the last five pages. Those five pages made the book go from great to mind blowing. So go read this book now.

I READ THIS IN ONE DAY, and almost one sitting (I had to go to class or it would have been one sitting). This book is full of amazing characters, romance, magic, and twists and turns! I love a good surprise, and though maybe some of these twists should have been more apparent, I was honestly shocked (even when all the hints were right there?!)

I can't wait for the second book to see more of the world-building (as this takes place in ... you guessed it! a prison!), and I just want to follow Kiva into even more adventures! If you're looking for a book that will grab your attention, is filled with magic, action, and romance, this is the book for you!

*Also trigger warning!! This book contains some mentioning of self-harm!*

Kiva, the 17 year protagonists, became the prison's healer when her father died a few years back. Now, two mysterious inmates have arrived. A handsome young man named Jaren and a sickly old lady, Tilda, who is rumored to be the Rebel Queen. Shortly after their arrival, Kiva receives a note that says, "Keep her alive". Since the Rebel Queen is in poor health, Kiva volunteers to take her place in the Trials. The Trails are a series of tests an inmate can complete in order to prove their innocence. The only problem is...no one knows anyone who has ever survived the aforementioned trials.

Although, I wished the author would have handled the ability diverse characters differently, and avoided the colorism altogether; the story was interesting and engaging. Furthermore, the plot twist at the end has me excited about the next book in the series.

This book was so fun and beautifully written. I loved every minute of this fantasy filled wonder! It kept me guessing until the last minute. Lynette is a master story teller and has created such a cool world through the prison and also through her coding that is used throughout the book. I couldn’t put it down!

A young woman who has been without her family for ten years, is a prisoner in a camp that sounds similar to the concentration camps of World War II. She’s responsible for carving a z into the prisoners’ hands. The z represents the prison’s name and it reminds me of The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, except this is a fantasy story. She’s also the prison healer in charge of treating prisoners. A well-known rebel arrives at the prison and she’s known as the Rebel Queen. She’s supposed to be put through the Trials as punishment. Kiva receives a message from her family that states they’re coming to rescue her and implores her to keep the Rebel Queen alive. She’s also threatened by another prisoner to keep the Rebel Queen alive or her younger assistant, Tipp, will be killed. Kiva sacrifices herself to the Trials hoping that she’s going to be rescued before they’re over, since no one ever survives them without magic. A new prisoner arrives, Jaren, and he befriends Tipp and Kiva because she healed his wounds. The Trials consist of four Ordeals that are insanely dangerous and fatal. Kiva doesn’t know what any of the Ordeals are before she’s thrown into each one. During the time of the Trials, a stomach sickness is ravaging the prison and Kiva and Tipp work endlessly to find a cure. This is a unique story and that ending was awesome, 4 stars!

Kiva is a 17 year old girl who has been in Zalindov prison for 10 years and has the role of prison healer. Every day Kiva's main goal is survival. When the Rebel Queen is captured and brought to Zalindov prison, Kiva's life becomes much more difficult as she knows that she must keep the Queen alive. At the same time, a deadly plague begins taking prisoners at an alarming rate and Kiva has to find the source of the illness before it's too late.

This book grabbed me from the beginning and kept me engaged until the final page. I can't wait for the next two books in the trilogy to see what happens! Lynette Noni does an amazing job of building a world for the reader to visualize and develops characters that are easy to fall in love with. It's been a long time since a fantasy series hooked me in so quickly!

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC of #ThePrisonHealer by #LynetteNoni. I enjoyed every minute of reading!

Gripping stuff here, totally fresh and new world perfect for fans of dark woman-forward fantasies with strong female leads who are not afraid to do whatever it takes to get what they want.

I was intrigued by the plot of this book from just the first sentence. Leaning the ins and outs of the prison from the inside was a new perspective in a magical world. The Prison Healer really makes you think about the story and where the storyline was going the entire time. There were times when I was thinking about what the end would be and was only on the edge of the actual outcome. Hearing the stories about the royal family and I was skeptical. There were twists and turns I definitely didn't see coming. I very much enjoyed this book and finished it one sitting, The ending left me wanting more and I am so ready to read the second one!

Unless you are ready to commit to a series do not read this book lol. The cliffhanger ending is INSANE and there is no way you will not be like me, impatiently waiting for book 2. Kiva is the prison healer but when she steps in to save a dying queen she is taking on way more than anyone has ever survived. The characters and the setting pull you into the world of Zalindov immediately and you will find yourself flipping pages faster than you thought possible!

I have just finished this book so excuse the snot and tear stains. What a wild ride! I wasn’t planning on finishing today but five hours up and disappeared and now I’ve got a finished book. This was incredible. I loved every minute of it. It was twisty because it definitely makes you feel like you are going to get some tropey, predictable horribleness that will rip your heart out and then it surprises you and gets twistier and darker but more hopeful and exciting. It was in essence, all over the place emotionally and in a good way.

The book follows the Prison healer, Kiva, who has been in this multinational prison for 10 years since she was just 7 years old. Now I will warn you that from the beginning it appears that there is some kind of epidemic occurring with a stomach related illness spreading through the prison so if you are still feeling raw from COVID you might sit this one out—it is a smaller part of the story though. The main plot begins with the arrival of a new guard, a new inmate, and the Rebel Queen, who has been captured and set to undergo the Trials by Ordeal, a four part trial 8 weeks long that involves surviving tests of endurance against air, fire, water, and earth—the four elements of the magic the runs through the current ruling family’s veins. Kiva receives a note telling her her family is coming and to save the Rebel Queen and keep her alive, so she does what she has to do. She takes her place in the Trials. In doing so, she starts down a dangerous path of survival with all the odds against her but seemingly having found herself new allies just in time—including the very royals that imprisoned her with her father all those years ago.

Now you may be asking, is there romance? And I would have to say YES BUT! Yes, but the romance is slow burn, very realistic, and kind of twisty too. At this point I have no idea how to feel about the romance or what will happen next. I honestly have no idea what emotions are real anymore. It was just that good! As far as heat, this book is pretty much chaste (darn it 😝 barely even a kiss) but I must emphasize how sweet and realistic it is. It reminds me a bit of The Hunger Games because Kiva is very pragmatic about her situation and what attachments can cost someone in a position of merely surviving. So obviously it left me wanting more. I really want it to work out but I also am totally ready to see how this complicates the plot of book 2. How will I ever survive the wait???

I've been marinating for a couple days, but this book is proving difficult to review. While I enjoyed it and found myself invested in the story, there were many things I had issues with throughout the read. This was a highly anticipated debut for me yet I'm struggling to reconcile what I expected and wanted from this read versus what I actually got.

Some strengths of this book include the pacing, the setting, and the characters. The plot moves along steadily, never feeling like there is excessive downtime at any point. Between the trials and the mystery to be solved, there is always a distinct focus, which I appreciate as a reader. The trials provide structure to the timeline, which helps the pacing as well.

The setting is unique and feels very fully realized. I read an ARC so I'm unsure if the published version will have a map, but I sure hope it does. As much as I liked reading about the region surrounding the prison, the prison itself is a pretty fascinating setting, too, especially considering Noni's descriptions of the mining caves, sprawling farmlands, the apothecary garden, etc. I applaud Noni's choice to write a fantasy novel using such a microcosm setting knowing that her readers are likely used to the massive multi-kingdom territories of most fantasies.

The characters are another positive, especially when looking at secondary characters. While I liked Kiva and Jaren well enough, moments with Naari, Tipp, and Mot really stood out to me. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the characters felt real, but they didn't feel like cookie cutters or walking talking tropes either. I enjoyed what they brought to the page and that's good enough for me in this case. There are also several interesting twists and reveals involving various characters that keep things fresh throughout the read. There were a couple instances where I thought I had someone figured out and then something unexpected happened. It always felt well executed and refreshed my interest in what would happen next for said character.

Now for the things I struggled with...

- I didn't enjoy the constant passive references to sexual violence. I get that the book takes place in a sadistic prison environment and that Noni was trying to illustrate the brutal abuse of power taking place, but I think she could have accomplished this in a more creative way than by constantly referencing how the guards abuse the prisoners. It genuinely felt like the author was constantly saying "Well, it's pretty rapey in here, but that's just big nasty prison for ya, what are ya gonna do lol shrug". I mean... oof. No, Noni. This applies doubly when talking about prisoners of all ages (yes, including children and teens) being used and abused by guards who are presumably all grown adults. The entire thing really creeped me out and not in an effective writing kinda way, but like in a make better choices as an author kinda way. It's just too much.

- One major plot hole that bothered me was the presence of children and teens in this prison, especially considering how many of them are there through no fault of their own... they were just somehow arrested alongside their parents?? Then never released?? They are just somehow prisoners by association now and are thrown into a mass prison system to work and live alongside adults who are actual criminals? I feel like this was never explained fully and that setup feels outrageous enough that the reader needs a reason to accept it as truth. As for me, it wasn't a small detail I was able to just accept and overlook. It felt kind of absurd and I wish Noni had acknowledged or explained it better rather than just being like "well they are here now so idk this is just their life I guess"... I wasn't buying it.

- I can't say too much without spoiling, but I had issues with the romance aspect. At times it felt too instalove and at others it just felt muddled. It put the read in a weird place for me at times where I couldn't quite figure out what was going on (and not in a fun or intriguing way). That is all I will say about that.

-Even though I'm a huge sucker for quests and trials in a book, I found the structure of these trials frustrating. It's all well and good to have really difficult challenges and to set up the lore that no one has ever survived, but the sheer impossibility of every single task felt like too much of a stretch, even for a fantasy novel. And the general outcomes began to feel predictable and repetitive after the first couple. I won't say more for fear of spoiling, but I desperately wanted to like this aspect of the book more and wish it had been handled with more creativity.

All in all, this was a fine read. I had some issues with it, but I kept turning the pages anyway. I wanted more and I rolled my eyes and groaned quite a bit, but I finished the book knowing I would go on to read the sequel. I'm invested enough that I want to know what happens next. I'm hoping this one just suffered as a debut and the sequel will be better tailored.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss+, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was given an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book. Oh man, this book was AMAZING. I am completely obsessed and dying for the next one! The plot was perfectly written and executed. It was exciting and nerve wrecking in the best ways, and the end still has me reeling. I loved the characters, and the romance was paced and built up naturally rather than the usual ya "instalove" so extra points for a well done romance. The setting of the prison was a unique idea and I loved it!
Do yourself a favor and read this book right now!

Likely to be adored by avid fantasy readers, “The Prison Healer” is a compelling story that will speak to fans of the genre. Although author Lynette Noni does a great job creating memorable characters and well-detailed world, there was something somewhat lacklustre about the pacing of the novel that left me feeling as though I needed to push through most of the plot. Don’t get me wrong, there is much to like here and fantasy fans are sure to enjoy this series opener set in a death prison. But for myself, I won’t be picking up the next in the series.

This Prison Healer is an incredible book. It is absolutely nothing like Lynette Noni's previous books, it is dark and twisted, and the ending was very unexpected.

Kiva has such a strong drive and desire to survive, her character is truly something special.

I cannot wait to read the second book, and the third after that! A great start to a new trilogy, by my favourite author.