Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - The Prison Healer

The first half of the book is very much meant to set up the events of the second, but it does so with a rather slow and meandering pace. So while I was invested and entertained, I was not so engrossed that I couldn’t put it down. I think that has a bit to do with the world-building itself.

Now don't get me wrong, the world-building as a whole was not poor, but I wanted more out of it, especially since we were supposed to be in a prison setting. I never truly got a proper feel of Wenderall, let alone Zalindov, and I'm not sure if that's because I really wanted to feel fear in it's imposing presence or because the map and it's gorgeous design wasn't enough in comparison to what the writing actually depicted of the setting.

(AN ASIDE: Regarding the map(s), Francesca Baerald you wily ass cartographer you - I'm no artist but damn, that is how you map people. The compass at the bottom of the world map is simply parfait.)

But world-building aside, the slow plot progression of the first half gives way to the much more invigorating and suspenseful second half, with all the truth bombs and heavy twists that I was waiting for.

Yes, I say waiting for because in terms of plot predictability, I'm giving this an arbitrary rating of 90%. Which is not actually to the books detriment, because I thought the decisions made in terms of plot were executed really well, even though I knew they were bound to occur. Some context might be helpful here in terms of my exact thoughts when certain reveals were made:

About Jaren: “I knew it” - Not completely in terms of accuracy but I was essentially close enough that it doesn't even matter.
About Kiva: “I fuckin’ knew it” - This one I saw coming a mile away. The moment the jealousy induced tragedy of a history between Evalon's royalty was told just cemented Kiva's role in everything.
About Tilda: “Okay, cool. Cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool.” - This one got me. I thought it was an interesting twist, but also was kinda meh about it at the same time because it also put the entirety of Kiva's character into question at the end and I have a love-hate relationship with unreliable narration.

Speaking of relationships, the relationship between Jaren and Kiva is definitely hinting at a slow burn. But Kiva’s got some mountains to traverse that will not be like climbing molehills when it comes to cultivating that relationship because one side has revealed quite a bit about themselves and the other, not so much. Can we talk about the slow burn though? Because I need it. I need it like air and water and the sequel.

The characterization within the novel was done well for the most part. I'm not in love with Jaren or Kiva, but I'm 100% behind Naari and Tipp even though I feel like there's still more we can get out of their characters. The Warden Rooke and Cresta acted as fairly tolerable antagonists but in terms of actual threats? I wasn't convinced.

I'm interested to see how all the political machinations are going to come into play in The Gilded Cage, especially because Kiva seems extremely naive considering she's got no idea how the outside world actually works since she's been in prison for the better part of a decade and also because the role she seems destined to play is not one in which you can just slip into that easily. Also, Kiva’s family better have some damn good reasons of atonement because I’m not impressed with their lack of efforts with respect to prison break. Unless of course there's a more sinister reason behind it

(like maybe they're meant to be the true endgame villains?)

in which case, yes please.

All of this is just to say, that yes, this book was great.

Yes, I will be picking up the sequel.

And yes, you should too.

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