efrank94's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Gore
micaelamariem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, War, Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Alcohol, Classism, Murder, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Infertility, Colonisation, and Death of parent
katvou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcohol and Slavery
Minor: Bullying, Grief, Animal death, Vomit, Excrement, War, Blood, and Gore
fozlandgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, War, Adult/minor relationship, and Gore
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
scarlett_f'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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, and Slavery
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.25
I’ve heard so many great things about this series from friends and strangers alike. As the fourth book was just released, a bookish friend threatened to end our friendship upon learning I hadn’t read it, and I’d just finished a book that didn’t meet my expectations—I decided there wasn’t a more perfect time to start diving into this series and world.
As the way of many adult fantasies, this book has some heavy, very adult, topics within its pages. Though many talk about this series as romantic, this first book is definitely not that. I’m told at some point there will be an element of romance but currently, it’s an adult fantasy with some mystery, court politics, and political manipulation at play.
The narrative of this book is primarily through the eyes of Auren, a gold-touched trophy of King Midas. Their relationship seems to be a mix of transference/nightingale syndrome, grooming, and some Stockholm syndrome.
Rescued, at the tender age of 15, by Midas [who’s 7 years older than her, which wouldn’t be bad if she was idk at least 20 but 15 and 22…just no], Auren has always seen him as her knight in shining armor. She has been with him for 10 years, with no friendships or attachments other than him, and she loves him unconditionally. Kept within a cage—does it expand throughout the entire castle? Yes, but that’s not the point—Auren fails to see that she’s only a prop for Midas, a special tool he uses when he wishes.
I’m thrilled that, although a bit of a spoiler, many have already assured me that Midas will not be the actual love interest in this series. The way he treats her like a special pet, or trophy, taken out at his whim to impress others made me just really want to punch him right in his smug face.
Though naive, when it comes to Midas and court politics, I’m excited to see Auren’s journey of finding her own strength and starting to change the direction of her life. Auren has had a difficult life and just wants to have friendship and love…and I hope that as the series continues we’re able to see both of those things for her.
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Trafficking, Blood, Gore, Violence, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Infertility and War
rlobel's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Gore, and Mental illness
eevacasey's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Animal death, Confinement, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Grief, Domestic abuse, Classism, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, and Murder
tinybrito's review against another edition
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Gore, Rape, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, War, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Murder, Infidelity, Sexual content, Slavery, Sexism, Misogyny, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
naaytaashreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have faith in this. I have faith in this that it will get better.
I see the potential and there are still so many unsaid things that are unknown that the story has got to give us.
Everybody said it. This book was like a prequel. It feels like a novella to me to set the context and setting of the world we have yet to be fully introduced.
Nothing much was really happening in Gild.
It was a lot of feels of who the character is, the world, a little sneak peek of magic, creatures and the war that is brewing.
Not forgetting a lot of sex.
Since this was genre as an adult fantasy romance, so lot of sex, no filter and kinks.
However, I feel like Auren's character feels young even though she's not. She's 25.
I wonder if they set her character that way because of how hidden she was from the world, how she was manipulated and train by Midas, hence why she acts the way she was.
At first glance and first read, it's natural to hate King Midas. He is a sick, manipulative evil King that treats people like shit. There's definitely more to his evilness, plans and we need a background history of who he is. I definitely don't trust him.
For a while, I forget that the world includes fae. At the end, when we met Rip then I was like OMG A FAE!
Which makes me excited for the next read.
This was definitely a long warm up of engine to the world.
“Are you a princess?” an older girl asks, but I smile and shake my head. “No. Are you?” The children all scoff together, trading looks. “You think princesses live in the shanties like street urchins?” I lower my hood and give her a conspiratorial smile. “Maybe hidden princesses do.”
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Slavery