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A review by nikitanavalkar
Glow by Raven Kennedy
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? No
5.0
Spoiler free for this book but Beware spoilers for books 1-3 and your timely reminder to not be here if you haven’t read those first.
In the words of Michael Scott, it feels like somebody took my heart and dropped it into a bucket of boiling tears. This should tell you how I’m feeling after finishing this book. But in the best way because who doesn’t like pain? I sure do. In my fiction 😭 My soul is battered and mangled and weeping in anguish. I shall need about 8-10 business months to recover, or until the next book, whichever comes first. I knew, just knew when things were going way too smoothly and everyone was way too happy that the other mountain was about to drop. AND WAS I WRONG? NO I WAS NOT.
As we start straight after the harrowing events of Gleam, there’s a lot of consequences and post feral Auren effects that we the reader get to see Auren and Slade go through. And if you’ve been on the journey so far, you know the gold is about to hit the fan. Apart from men with questionable to downright non existent morals, the author has a way with morally grey writing females with so much complexity that you can’t decide if you hate them and want to shake sense into them, or if you low key admire them for doing what they must to survive and grab their power in the patriarchy they’re forced to endure. Seem familiar right? But don’t worry, she still gives you enough people to loathe in the post Midas world which is also a talent because few authors have written villains who I have so much hatred for. I hope they all suffer bigly.
Auren’s journey continues to be an inspiration, because she’s no naturally gifted chosen one born to kick butt, but a hunted, haunted woman with too much trauma in her past who has to struggle at every step to work through it and own her power in a world that continues to be cruel to her. Speaking of morally grey, Auren is of course the fulcrum this series tilts on, but this is Slade’s book without question. As heart wrenching it is to learn about his past and his scars, it is also eye opening. It is rare to love a man more after you’re in his head, but that’s what romance novels were made for. Because if I liked him before, I am now hopelessly in love with Slade Ravinger aka King Rot aka Commander Rip. Slade, just Slade. No thoughts only him. I shall henceforth be insufferable about my adoration for him. You can’t stop me. Do not try. Bird lover, inveterate caretaker, fierce protector, dirty talker. Villainous on demand and not squirmy about it. Few come close in terms of acts of service, or championing his lover’s agency and growth, or filthy shenanigans. He contains multitudes. Okay, fans self and continues with review.
The writing in this series has been beautiful throughout, but this time? It’s ascended to a whole new level. Exceptionally beautiful, sharp and poignant in equal measure, it ~GLOWS~, like words spun into precious gold (sorry could not resist this one). The series only gets better with each book, which is a tough bar to sustain, and Ms Kennedy isn’t just raising it, she’s obliterating it every single time and I now have a serious contender for my top book of the year. I am equal parts excited and nervous to see where she takes us next.
In the words of Michael Scott, it feels like somebody took my heart and dropped it into a bucket of boiling tears. This should tell you how I’m feeling after finishing this book. But in the best way because who doesn’t like pain? I sure do. In my fiction 😭 My soul is battered and mangled and weeping in anguish. I shall need about 8-10 business months to recover, or until the next book, whichever comes first. I knew, just knew when things were going way too smoothly and everyone was way too happy that the other mountain was about to drop. AND WAS I WRONG? NO I WAS NOT.
As we start straight after the harrowing events of Gleam, there’s a lot of consequences and post feral Auren effects that we the reader get to see Auren and Slade go through. And if you’ve been on the journey so far, you know the gold is about to hit the fan. Apart from men with questionable to downright non existent morals, the author has a way with morally grey writing females with so much complexity that you can’t decide if you hate them and want to shake sense into them, or if you low key admire them for doing what they must to survive and grab their power in the patriarchy they’re forced to endure. Seem familiar right? But don’t worry, she still gives you enough people to loathe in the post Midas world which is also a talent because few authors have written villains who I have so much hatred for. I hope they all suffer bigly.
Auren’s journey continues to be an inspiration, because she’s no naturally gifted chosen one born to kick butt, but a hunted, haunted woman with too much trauma in her past who has to struggle at every step to work through it and own her power in a world that continues to be cruel to her. Speaking of morally grey, Auren is of course the fulcrum this series tilts on, but this is Slade’s book without question. As heart wrenching it is to learn about his past and his scars, it is also eye opening. It is rare to love a man more after you’re in his head, but that’s what romance novels were made for. Because if I liked him before, I am now hopelessly in love with Slade Ravinger aka King Rot aka Commander Rip. Slade, just Slade. No thoughts only him. I shall henceforth be insufferable about my adoration for him. You can’t stop me. Do not try. Bird lover, inveterate caretaker, fierce protector, dirty talker. Villainous on demand and not squirmy about it. Few come close in terms of acts of service, or championing his lover’s agency and growth, or filthy shenanigans. He contains multitudes. Okay, fans self and continues with review.
The writing in this series has been beautiful throughout, but this time? It’s ascended to a whole new level. Exceptionally beautiful, sharp and poignant in equal measure, it ~GLOWS~, like words spun into precious gold (sorry could not resist this one). The series only gets better with each book, which is a tough bar to sustain, and Ms Kennedy isn’t just raising it, she’s obliterating it every single time and I now have a serious contender for my top book of the year. I am equal parts excited and nervous to see where she takes us next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse