Gild: The Plated Prisoner Series, Book 1

BookishXennialMom

Sneaks up on You in the Best Possible Way

"Gild by Raven Kennedy is one of those books that sneaks up on you—quiet, glittering, and uncomfortable in the best possible way. At first glance, Auren’s world looks like a dark fantasy dream: gold floors, gold walls, gold everything. She’s King Midas’s favored, his precious, literally turned to gold as a symbol of his power and protection. And for a while, Auren believes the story she’s been told—that safety is worth confinement, that love can look like possession, that a gilded cage is still a blessing. Kennedy does an excellent job pulling the reader into that mindset. The early pacing mirrors Auren’s limited world, and while it may feel slow to some, it’s intentional and effective. You’re meant to feel the walls closing in. You’re meant to question things before Auren does. When the cracks finally appear—when war, betrayal, and political deals enter the picture—the emotional payoff hits hard. One of the most devastating turning points comes when Auren makes her first real friend in Sail. That fragile sense of connection is brutally ripped away when he’s murdered right in front of her, his body grotesquely nailed to a mast and used as a human sail. It’s shocking, cruel, and unforgettable—and it marks the first time we, as readers, truly see what Auren is capable of. In her grief and fury, her ribbons finally become more than ornamental, revealing a power that has been there all along, waiting to be claimed. What really makes Gild shine is its exploration of power, control, and trauma. This isn’t a romanticized retelling of the Midas myth; it’s a sharp, unsettling examination of what happens when love is tangled up with ownership. Auren’s growth is subtle but powerful, and watching her begin to recognize the truth about her situation is both heartbreaking and empowering. The worldbuilding is rich, the tone is dark and atmospheric, and the ending leaves you desperate to keep going. Gild is very much a setup book—but it’s a compelling, thoughtful one that lays the groundwork for a much larger, darker story. If you enjoy slow-burn fantasy, morally gray characters, and dark romance that doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths, Gild is absolutely worth the read. Just remember: not everything that glitters is freedom. ["

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February 13, 2026 Verified Purchase

Mamatyalia

This Book is EVERYTHING

"BLUF: Read the book. This is King Midas like you've never imagined before. Spice, but not like you're expecting in this one. Trust me, it's coming. This book introduces our characters and sets our story into motion deliciously. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Fantasy Setting: First person, multiple POV writing in a realm with very little magic. The fae abandoned the realm long ago, and only those with fae ancestry retain magic and power. Our story mainly takes place in the frozen mountain castle of Highbell. Everything is gold because this is Midas' domain. Meet the FMC: Auren is the king's favored saddle. She is in love with him and he with her. She is special and valuable beyond compare. So special that he turned her into gold. She lives in a gilded cage in his castle. Meet the MMC: In this book, it would be King Midas so I'll introduce him here. Midas has gold touch. He can will the gold in his veins to gild anything he pleases. He is handsome and charming. He visits his favored from time to time and protects her from the world. He saved her long ago and proclaims his love for her, to her, to this day. Short overview, no spoilers: This story unfolds slowly. We meet the royalty of Highbell and those in their orbit. We dig into the dynamics between our main characters. We learn a bit of the lore behind this world. The King is hard at work, forming alliances and building his legacy. He is at his peak, and his long-time friend, King Faulke, is poised to launch Midas to his greatest height yet. But Auren is caught up in the political machinations, and the betrayal has tipped the scales away from her beloved King. Will their relationship survive what is to come? Will King Midas get his heart's desires? Will our cage bird learn to fly? I have a feral obsession with this series and this author. I've never felt so much so quickly. The writing is beautifully done. The descriptions, the imagery, the emotions woven into every chapter. The pace was perfect, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I related to Auren immediately and yet sensed some secrets and needs that left me intrigued. I normally read very spicy books, but I didn't once feel that the story lacked passion. I would give this 🌶🌶 and the vibe of the scenes is lust and power, not exactly passion or love. You'll see. You'll be running to the next book as fast as your little feet can carry you! 10/10! ["

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July 23, 2024 Verified Purchase

Emily

Interesting to say the least

"Gild (The Plated Prisoner Series) By Raven Kennedy ✨✨✨ 3/5 📖 “I’m the gold-plated prisoner. But what a pretty prison it is.” Gild by Raven Kennedy is the first installment of the Plated Prisoner Series, out of four. I was actually very hesitant to start any series, let alone this one. It seems all I’ve been reading lately is a series. I did try to venture out of my comfort of Dystopian/Post Apocalyptic books and ventured more into the fantasy genre. First off, let me start by saying this book is REALLY well written. It’s not drawn out, and there are no spelling or grammatical errors which I loved. The concept of having a golden favored of King Midas was super interesting to me. This was also my first book dealing with what one would call “smut.” While the smut was very little, it was tastefully done. When I first started reading it, I was actually kind of confused when the Author depicted her ribbons. I actually could not think of what she meant; I had to look up fan art to wrap my brain around it - so to that I say well done! This book is super interesting, and makes you think. I’m not one who really reads fantasy, but this book makes me think I will not hesitate when it comes to another. This is not a book that will capture you and have you finishing it in a day, at least not for me. The plot is amazing, the writing is amazing, it’s just lacking something - I just don’t know what! This book is a solid 3 out of 5 for me. Really well written, it’s interesting enough not to DNF, and the concepts and plot is intriguing. I’m excited for the next book! ["

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February 11, 2023 Verified Purchase

Fanni

Well, well, well... what have we got here?

"Honestly, after all the hype, I had no idea what to expect from this book. So I kinda went in blind. But I enjoyed it! The praise saying to read this book if you love Sarah J. Maas's books is accurate because Gild brought very much similar feelings. The premise of the story and the world seems really interesting so far. With all kinds of magical powers, like turning anything into gold or having weird ribbons growing out of your back. I look forward to seeing even more of it in the next books. The story itself is a King Midas myth re-imagining with some much needed added drama. Auren is golden herself and kept as the praised possession of King Midas to show off his endless wealth. But Auren can't leave her golden cage, and her love for Midas doesn't seem to be enough anymore. After some war drama, betrayal, tricks, and conspiring, the story takes a turn, and when Auren can finally leave the palace, everything goes sideways really fast. There's a wicked kingdom with rotting lands, prostitutes with hatred in their eyes, a land always plagued by winter and cold, and Auren feeling very much alone. I was hooked by the world and the storytelling. While it is a fantasy, it is really easy to read. At first, I thought it weird to have such a modern tone to i, but I didn't mind by the end because I flew through the book in a day. The happenings are fast-paced, but still very detailed, and you can see the world around you while reading. The characters only just started to open their wings. We only get fascinating pieces of them to peak our interest. Auren is our main character. The story is told from her point of view, and we can see everyone through her eyes. She is a bit timid and desperate at the beginning, but slowly, her personality starts to shine when she can finally leave her gilded cage. She is caring, funny, and strong. At least she starts to be that way. Midas obviously is one of the major characters, and his relationship with Auren is in the focus. He is an ambitious and confident king. Always keeping Auren in his back pocket. Honestly, I hated him from the beginning, but I don't yet know how he'll turn out. His actions are iffy, and I just don't like how he takes Auren's affection for granted. Digby and Sail, Auren's guards are also great side characters. I loved them because they showed loyalty to her first and not just to the king. And the last third of the book? It was epic. We get the first glimpses of Commander Rip with little to know about his nature apart from his terrifying and larger-than-life demeanour. I'm quite interested in his role, for obvious reasons. So overall, I think this book was a great start to the series. I enjoyed reading it. The story was interesting and kept me on my toes. And we got twists and turns every other chapter. I can't wait to continue the story and see how this mess enfolds. ["

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January 11, 2023 Verified Purchase