Reviews with content warning for Torture - Gild

This book was well written with an intriguing plot and great worldbuilding that had me flirting through chapters. However, there was too much on page sexual violence that we were only sometimes supposed to abhor as readers. The main character definitely has Stockholm syndrome and I don’t think that’s going to be addressed. I’m just so afraid we’ll see more toxic relationships develop as the series goes on but perhaps something will surprise me!

Content Warnings

lizzie_early's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

1.25

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januaryt123's review against another edition

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

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

5.0

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lovesickreadings's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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? It's complicated

3.5

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slashattack7's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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naaytaashreads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

“Does it really matter if your cage is solid gold when you aren't allowed to leave it? A cage is a cage, no matter how gilded.”

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.”

Content Warnings

reading_fixations's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.25

Content Warnings

parvathy92's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Gild is a first in the Plated Prisoner Series and I have to say this King Midas retelling is a truly compelling read.

I have to emphasize that right from the first page I didn't like Midas and as the story progressed he just became increasingly intolerant. Every time his scenes came, it made me feel slimy. I genuinely with everything in me, hope that this dude is not the hero and there is no redeeming arc.

Auren is entrenched deep in the clutches of a person who definitely doesn't love her, but she cannot see it. I felt sympathetic towards her because she is a victim of her circumstances. But having said that I did see her inherent strength and fierceness shine through and that was exhilarating to read. She grew as a person in this book and that was a treat to read. I don't know how she can have so much compassion inspite of facing whatever she had faced.

The world building is amazing and the supporting characters too are. There is a rich world and its various layers are explored slowly as the story progressed. There is a lot not known about the main characters and I liked the way everything is not revealed at once.

I loved the point where the story ended and I can't wait to read the next book. There are lots of content that can trigger so going into this after reading the trigger warnings would be better. Recommended for fantasy fans.

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