Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Gild by Raven Kennedy

9 reviews

morganhortonn's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness and Kidnapping

Minor: Physical abuse and Sexual content

thelibraryofjen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Gild - Raven Kennedy 

BOOK ONE of The Plated Prisoner Series 

Synopsis ~~

I picked this book right when I bought it because I was just so excited. This story is a King Midas retelling, with a much darker twist. We follow our main character Auren who has been caged up in the castle for over 10+ years. She is King Midas favored and we know why he is her favorite because she is completely gold. 

Now for the things I didn’t like about this story is how late we meet the love interest. I was told this was a spicy romantasy and I just didn’t get that vibe at all. So if you go in expecting spicy scenes you will be disappointed. This story read more as a prequel book than has the first in a series. Be warned that there is a lot of grape scenes and the FMC has Stockholm syndrome so the choices and things she says can be a little weird for us, but for her that is all she knows. 

The things i enjoyed is the pacing of this book it was really good to follow along too. This book I would say is more character driven than plot, but the plot that is in their is good there’s just way more character development. I really enjoyed the ending and how it left us on a cliff hanger. I also really enjoyed how Auren’s character transformed, she isn’t a scared girl anymore. She has so much potential and I really hope the author does her character justice in the later books. I also enjoyed her relationship with her royal guard that was a cute daughter/father relationship. It was so sad when Sail died, I rarely cry to books but that made me tear up a bit. The author’s writing was really captivating and made me keep reading. People have complained that this story doesn’t feel like an adult fantasy but for me it really did. 

If you love:

⚜️ Fae

⚜️ Mythical Creatures 

⚜️ King Midas Retelling 

⚜️ Abused FMC 

⚜️ Fantasy 

⚜️ Magical Powers 

⚜️ Character development for FMC

⚜️ War

⚜️ Character/Plot driven story 

Genre/Type: Adult Fantasy, Romance (very little) 

Format: Physical Book (462 pages)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️ (4.5)

Spice: NONE (THERE IS GRAPE 🍇) 

Series or Standalone: First in a Series 

CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️⚠️‼️‼️‼️ 

TikTok: @j3nslibrary_
Amazon: Jenesis 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

#AbusedFMC #MagicalCreatures #Characterdevelopment #MagicalPowers #Retelling

missgarceau's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Please check TW’s BEFORE reading!!

Spice: 🔥🔥🔥

I couldn’t put this down from start to finish. 

Although it felt somewhat predictable, I found myself not anticipating major plot twists. 

This is not a “happy” retelling, and deals with dark & difficult topics. Please be advised. 

However, I found the world, characters, and plot absolutely riveting. 

This ends on a cliffhanger, is an unfinished series, but the final book is scheduled to be released this year. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation

wanningtwilight's review against another edition

I didn't read any trigger warning before starting and didn't realize how heavy the books themes would be.  MC displays some form of Stockholm Syndrome and there is severe gaslighting and mental and physical abuse.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcoholism and Trafficking

watsontheslytherin's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

dani_reis's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

3rd read: is it worth continuing to read this series from this book? Probably not. Digby and Sail are the silver lining.

2nd read. This is better after you understand how the series twists and grows.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death and Infertility

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Classism

rlobel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, and Alcohol

michellemaas's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

First read: 3 - ⭐⭐⭐
Second read: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gild suffers from first book syndrome. By that, I mean that there's not a lot of stuff actually happening, more so just exposition. I consider the first book in a fantasy series the sacrificial lamb. You have to speed through it to get to the good stuff that usually starts during book 2. 

I heard the rest of the series is amazing, and the author is clearly very creative so I am willing to hold off my harsh judgments until I've read books 2 and 3. Like I said there seems to be a lot of potential since it is an interesting concept and the author is good. But just reviewing this book individually, it's very meh. Not bad but not good. I am hopeful for the rest of the series though.

*Edit
I have since read Glint and Gleam and I fully stand by my earlier assessment. The first book just had to set up the world-building and as soon as you get to book 2 the plot starts to kick in. I would definitely say that this series is worth the read, so don't judge it based on the first book alone. At least read until book 2 until you make any decisions.

Also, the series gave me strong From Blood and Ash vibes so if you enjoyed that series I think you will like the Plated Prisoner series and vice versa.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming and Mental illness

itsclair's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Slavery, and Gaslighting