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A review by midnacine
Gild by Raven Kennedy
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Okay at first this book seems really slow and boring, but keep in mind Gild is mostly setting the tone and the scene of Glint and Gleam.
When I first started reading this I thought Auren, the main character, was annoying and a little stupid. I felt like stuff just happened around her and it didn't make sense for the book to be written from her perspective. I had to continuously remind myself she had been through traumatic events and was clinging to any source of safety she could find- as someone who's been in abusive situations, this part really hit home.
Then in the final third, she starts becoming proactive instead of reactive, and all of the world and character building from the first two thirds build up to have you root for Auren to grow.
If this was a hard read for you, know that the second and third books are so much better, but it is important for you to read this before those so you have a more comprehensive understanding of Auren's inner turmoil. Trust me, just keep reading and you'll fall in love like I did.
When I first started reading this I thought Auren, the main character, was annoying and a little stupid. I felt like stuff just happened around her and it didn't make sense for the book to be written from her perspective. I had to continuously remind myself she had been through traumatic events and was clinging to any source of safety she could find- as someone who's been in abusive situations, this part really hit home.
Then in the final third, she starts becoming proactive instead of reactive, and all of the world and character building from the first two thirds build up to have you root for Auren to grow.
If this was a hard read for you, know that the second and third books are so much better, but it is important for you to read this before those so you have a more comprehensive understanding of Auren's inner turmoil. Trust me, just keep reading and you'll fall in love like I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child abuse, Trafficking, and Death of parent