zozo_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Medical content, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Body horror, Blood, Gaslighting, Addiction, Grief, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic friendship
Minor: War
taryn_g's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
Moderate: Blood
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had so many questions at the end of The Prison Healer and a lot of them were answered brilliantly in this sequel. I don't want to write too much about the plot because I know there's still a lot that needs to happen in the next book--and I truly can't wait to dive in! I can absolutely see this becoming a favorite series. I was worried The Gilded Cage would have a strong case of "middle book syndrome" but it didn't suffer from that in the slightest. It was mesmerizing from page one and I was hooked on every line until the very end.
Okay, I need to go gear myself up to jump into The Blood Traitor next!
Graphic: Blood and Drug abuse
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: War
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Noni is great at writing plot twists (even I could predict most of them. I chalk that up to reading a lot of YA fantasy). The characters are also easy to love, Caldon was probably my favorite addition in this one. I loved him and I hope we get more of him in the final book. Which yes, I will be reading because I need to know how this all comes together. Especially for Tipp's sake. That boy deserves all the good in the world.
All in all, if you're looking for a YA fantasy with a strongly built world and a easy to love cast of central characters, you'll definitely enjoy this series.
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
kiaratiara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Blood
maregred's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Death, Emotional abuse, and Addiction
Minor: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/injury detail, Terminal illness, Blood, Drug abuse, Rape, and War
scarlettskyes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Violence, and Addiction
Moderate: Terminal illness
maple_dove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Death and Vomit
Minor: Terminal illness
nitya_a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Kidnapping
sarahmreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Kiva has just escaped Zalindov and is now living out her days in the kingdom palace with Jaren and the rest of his family. What is now a peaceful life is now interrupted when Kiva's family comes knocking on her door, asking for her aide in the rebellion set to take down Jaren's family. Will Kiva stick to the vengeance she once sought out, or will her heart pull her elsewhere?
The characters in this sequel are still so complex yet so beautifully crafted. Caldon is the charismatic brother to Jaren but still holds a fierce, tainted heart close to his chest. Torell is lovable and caring but also defensive. Jaren is absolutely swoonworthy in all the best ways and you can't get enough of him on the page. And Kiva was smart and wise and may have made some (really) bad decisions, but you still root for her at the end of the day.
The worldbuilding, especially with the magic, is done so well. We learn more about Kiva's family history and what else composes the world outside of Zalindov and the rest of the kingdoms. Political intrigue, betrayal, engagements, so much that really pulls you into the story. I also loved the information that we find out about Kiva's true bloodline and what else it may entail.
One thing I love about Noni's writing style is how beautifully she writes scenes and dialogue. There's so much suspense, so much love. She knows how to tug at your heartstrings so that you're laughing one moment and wanting to throw your book across the room the next.
Which leads me to my next big point: THE PLOT TWISTS WERE SO WELL EXECUTED! I couldn't stop gasping the entire last 10% of the story. My dad literally had to ask me if I was okay because of this book. I wanted to punch people. I wanted to cry. It was a rollercoaster of emotions that I can't tell you the last time I experienced a cliffhanger like this. My friend and I had bets going on to guess the end of this book. And surprisingly we were both kind of right, even though our theories were completely different.
The Gilded Cage is so much better than its predecessor. With a slowburn romance, betrayal, and destruction, Lynette Noni has stolen her way into my heart with probably my favorite sequel this year, if not of all time.
I received a copy of this story as an e-arc on NetGalley. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Vomit, Murder, Medical content, Kidnapping, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, and Blood