Reviews with content warning for Murder - Gleam

Gleam is the second book in the Plated Prisoner series. Gild is the first book in a fantasy romance series following a girl named Auren who is gold touched. She has lived in a cage in a palace with King Midas for what feels like her whole life but she doesn't mind. She's in love with Midas and would do anything for him. But when different plots start to come to light and Auren is let out of her cage for the first time, she finds that everything is not as it seems.
FINALLY SHE DID IT! The ending of this book had me cheering so hard for Auren. I was so proud of her at the end of this book and what she did. I was so happy to read this book as these books just get better as time goes on.
This book series is a very slow burn both in the love aspect and in the political aspect. I love how slow it is because it means that we can really try to figure out what the schemes are in this. The way this built up to the some of the reveals had me freaking out because it was so well done! I did guess one of the very minor twists but the rest of this had me on the edge of my seat.
I have loved seeing Auren grow in this book series as much as she has. She's really come into her own and I love seeing her starting to fight back. There was one part of this book that had me cringing so bad because I felt so awful for Auren. I also loved getting more of Rip and learning more about him in this book.
I am excited to continue with this series and see where things are going to go!

Content Warnings

scarlett_f's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

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crystal689's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

midnacine's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

This is absolutely my favorite book in the series, it wrenches my heart out every fucking time. Not a big fan of the narrators' performances in this one- I don't think Blake Lockhart reads women's voices well, so that took me out of the smut, and Zara Eden's inflection and pronunciation choices were strange at best. Narration I'd probably give a 3.75/5

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bekahzabel's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Spoiler

Wow. I’m so happy I stuck with it. I regret giving the first book below 4 stars because I UNDERSTAND NOW, I SEE, I SEE 😭😭

This series has some of the strongest lead character development I’ve ever read. Bold claim, I know. I love Auren, I love her journey, I can’t wait to see how this continues to unfold. **Squeals in delight**

and SLADE!!!?? Have I found yet another fictional husband???? holy hannah RIP my morals when he purrs (sorry mom)

And cue Ryatt??? Mans’ has a brother?????? 💀☠️😳🫠

There is so much action in this book, I couldn’t put it down. This series is leaving its mark on me forever. I usually never write spoilers but I just need to speak on it and word vomit about this book for a sec. cuz wowowowowow everything is coming together so exquisitely. Sayonara Midas. I hated you, gosh you were the worst. Rushing to go devour the next one.

If you love fantasy romance and Raven Kennedy isn’t on your radar she should be. This series should be.
Beautifully written, the plated prisoner series has become one of my absolute favorites to date.

Content Warnings

mspilesofpaper's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

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

1.0

I’m in so much pain because of this fucking book/series and I will never get the hype about it. But then … it’s fucking booktok, so I should know by now that every hyped up booktok book is bullshit.

1) A lot happens but a minimum is actual plot. Most is Auren's rambling/musing and sex. Bad sex. The kind of sex where I wonder if the author ever had sex. Also dick girth. The kind where it’s so massive that I would worry about the vagina (either because it’s so big and thick that it’s unbelievable or where the woman has the body of a child). Also the dirty talk is so cringy.

2) Why does everyone think that Rip/Slate is the villain?

3) By now, Rip/Slate should know that Auren has zero control over her power/any understanding of fae things and yet he acts as if she does.

4) The last fucking chapters. I wish indie authors would have best friends who would read those books pre-publishing and tell them that they shouldn’t write this shit because major yikes that can’t even be brushed off with "it’s a 18+ book!".

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