This was better than I thought it was going to be! Overall, I enjoyed the world and wanted to know more about it. The writing was fine, I really didn't have any big gripes about it. I'm planning to read the rest in the series for sure!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

In "Gild," Raven Kennedy masterfully weaves a tale that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, inviting readers into a vividly imagined world where opulence and tyranny coexist. Set against the backdrop of Highbell, a castle nestled within frozen mountains, the narrative opens with a striking visual of gold — gold floors, gold walls, and gold-clad inhabitants. The protagonist, known as the "Gold-Touched," embodies the paradox of beauty and entrapment, having been lifted from the depths of the slums by the enigmatic King Midas. While the gilded palace offers her a semblance of safety and privilege, it soon becomes clear that these shimmering surroundings serve as a gilded cage rather than a sanctuary. Kennedy’s prose is rich and evocative, painting a portrait of a world where wealth is both a blessing and a curse. The reader is immediately drawn into the complexities of the protagonist's relationship with King Midas. He represents power and protection, yet his love is entwined with control and obligation. Through the eyes of the Gold-Touched, we witness the unraveling of trust and the impending chaos brought upon by war, forcing her to confront the illusions that have clouded her perception of love and loyalty. As the plot unfolds, Kennedy delves into themes of autonomy, identity, and the harsh realities hidden behind a façade of luxury. The once luminous palace, filled with promise and safety, transforms into a prison as the protagonist grapples with the notion of freedom. The arrival of war serves as a catalyst for her awakening, propelling her on a journey of self-discovery that challenges her understanding of her worth and place within the kingdom. The delicate balance between love and power is expertly explored, revealing that even the most precious relationships can be tainted by manipulation and fear. The characters in "Gild" are richly developed, each representing varying shades of morality. King Midas, while initially portrayed as a savior, becomes an intricate figure whose actions force the protagonist to reconsider her ideals of love and security. The introduction of external threats from the kingdom adds tension and urgency to the narrative, compelling readers to question who the true monsters are — those lurking outside the walls or the ones within. Overall, "Gild" is a captivating exploration of the struggle for agency in a world where appearances can be deceiving. Raven Kennedy’s engaging storytelling, combined with her ability to craft a lush, immersive setting, draws readers into a tale that is both enchanting and thought-provoking. As the protagonist confronts her reality and the choices that lay ahead, readers are left with lingering questions about the true cost of safety, love, and the intricate dance between power and vulnerability. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich fantasy with layers of emotional depth, and it paves the way for what promises to be an enthralling series.

Customers find the characters fully developed and the romance packed with emotion. They also appreciate the fantastic world-building and readability. However, some find the content vivid, graphic, and agonizing to read. Opinions are mixed on the plot, with some finding it interesting and outrageous, while others say it's confusing and not captivating. Readers disagree on the writing style, with others finding it brilliantly executed and well written, while other find it inept and flat. They have mixed feelings about the pacing, with those finding it great and fast-paced, while still others say the book is slow at the start.

Second time reading this series and I think I love it more than the first time. Fast paced, great characters, I couldn't read it fast enough. I will be starting the rest of the series now.

The prose is solidly fine, it moves at a decent pace, and the voice feels solid. I stopped after chapter 1 (5%), but I’d guess 3 to 4 stars from the target audience, 5 for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC.

You know what, I get it. I get the hype.

That’s what I wrote in 2021, this series quickly became a fave of mine. I’m so excited to put this book into the hands of customers.

Raven Kennedy does a great job with the opener of the Plated Prisoner series. Please, if you do not read dark fantasy, read the trigger warnings, this book is dark and deals with heavy material. It’s very clear to me the path Auren will likely take in future books based off the ending of Gild, but I can’t wait to see what happens in the story. Spoilers: King Midas is told in this story as a man who has everything and definitely uses that to his advantage. He is cast in a very unflattering light, and it’s hard to watch Auren be faithful to him throughout the book. The book definitely has a lot of dark themes and deals with heavy content that Auren must face. Overall, I enjoyed it, I hope to see her grow into someone who fights back against the men of this world who only want to use her,

This book was a fast read. It’s a different take on the King Midas story and there’s some mystery to it that I can’t wait to read the next book. I didn’t think there was any romance- there’s sex scenes. But it didn’t really seem like there was a love interest for Auren ( king Midas gold touched concubine). I can’t wait to see what direction the next book takes!

DNF because I was not expecting this kind of smut, especially from the first chapter. I had the wrong impression of this book (thank you TikTok) so a neutral 3 stars because I didn’t/couldn't read past the second page

A Twist on the story of Midas, This fell short for me because it was basically 300 pages of our main characters life being in danger and her having no skills to attempt to help herself. It just wasn't the story for me and I am happy that there was a warning in the beginning of the novel.

Gild is the first in a massively popular self-published series, so I was expecting compulsively readable (and it was). However, this doesn't quite hit the mark as dark romance for me given that there's page after page of straight trauma porn with no romance in sight. I'm sure the romance is coming later in the series as we met who I assume will be the romantic lead, but it's not there in book one. And the fantasy world is both underdeveloped and a touch nonsensical, so I don't love putting this in fantasy. That being said, there are rabid fans of this series and it's presence in brick and mortar stores will only increase its popularity. Just be sure to note the trigger warnings.

Oh boy was this not for me. There was so much content and it was all pretty messed up. Trigger warnings abound. I had thought this was a new book but it's that Kindle Unlimited book that was popular a while back. It could use some editing.

This is inspired by the King Midas story but told through a female protagonist. The first half of the book is a bit slow since there's so much world-building and character introductions to get through. Auren is essentially imprisoned and in love with her captor. She's clearly very lonely and misunderstood. The second half of the book has a quicker pace and was more interesting. I didn't love this as a series opener, but it does set the stage nicely for what is likely a more complex and exciting continuation of the series in the next book.

While this does have some interesting world-building, a lot of it didn't make sense and I couldn't get over just how toxic the king is, and yet our FMC is still so enamored by him. I don't think it was romanticizing this relationship and is probably a pretty accurate portrayal of how people get sucked into abusive relationships, I just couldn't stomach it. So, unfortunately I'm putting this down after getting to the halfway point.

Not at all what I expected from a King Midas retelling, but this story absolutely captured my attention and heart. Check your trigger warnings, because this book does not pull its punches. But if you can handle the dark and twisty turns this book will take you down then you absolutely need to read this book.

In this retelling of King Midas, Auren is a pampered pet. She sits in a gilded cage and is at the beck and call of the King. He rescued her from a terrible life, and she trusts him and owes him everything, so she gladly does as he asks...until he breaks her trust and the kingdom is on the brink of war.

A lot of TikTok books aren't worth the hype; however, this book is so compelling. I read it in a day and I'm already halfway through the third book. I'm excited to see where this goes, and I'm happy that a major publishing company has picked up these books.

A fun spicy fantasy novel based loosely on the story of Midas. An interesting retelling focused on a female protagonist. Has the feeling of both a fantasy and historic fiction novel. Can’t wait to continue the series!

This book was the book that got me back hooked on reading. It’s the book that kicked off my love for Romantasy. The perfect new adult introduction into the fantasy genre.

Idk how to review this one and not give spoilers so I’ll just reiterate my love for this book and how I will 100% be making sure we have a copy at our library.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and Raven Kennedy for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Raven Kennedy is the queen of fantasy romance. This is a set up for the rest of the series, so it is a little shorter and less romance focused than the rest of the series will be, BUT I SEE THE VISION! I can already kinda tell who I think will be the main love interest for our FMC (🤭) and I am so excited to see that love story unravel. Although this was a harder book to get through due to some of the trigger warnings (please check) and our FMC has a lot of personal growth to go through, I can tell this is a start of an EPIC story🩷