Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Glint

Auren has gotten herself into trouble and she must find and trust her self, her true nature, in order to return home. As she travels with Fourth Kingdom’s army, she must decide whom to trust. Herself? The enemy? Or the man/king she loves?

Tropes: fairytale retelling, damsel in distress, fae, past trauma, multiple POV
🌶️

Triggers: trauma flashbacks, captive, gaslighting

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beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you, Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing, for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is still based on Auren. She was locked away in a castle on the snowy mountains on the Sixth Kingdom of Orea, and she had never known freedom. She still doesn’t know freedom. This book picks up right where the last one ended, Auren is prisoner of Fourth Kingdom’s army and she is not sure how she is going to get out of this one alive. They're marching into battle, and she is the bargaining chip that will either douse the fire or spark a war. At the heart of Auren’s fear there is Commander Rip, who is known for his brutality on the battlefield, his viciousness is unkempt. But Auren knows the truth about him – he is Fae, like her. The ones who nearly destroyed Orea, wiping out Seventh Kingdom in the process. Rip has power sizzling beneath this his skin and spikes down his spine. Auren might be out of her cage, but she isn’t free. In the game of kings and armies, she is the gilded pawn.

Before I say what I like, please check trigger warnings for this book – as this is brutal.

This book gives ACOTAR vibes, but what ACOTAR did that this book didn’t do was world building. It did it better in this book than the last book I will say that. The book is an easy read and you do get sucked into the storyline and the drama and the tension. I think this book was much better because of Rip. He gives me Rhysand vibes whilst Midas is like the whiny Tamlin. I can see the compassions quite easily, expect Rip is 1000% more scary than Rhysand. I love the fact that Auren stood up for herself in this book and was like do one, I'm not getting back into this cage. I would have loved to learn more about the Queen’s plans but I'm assuming we will learn more in the next book. The cliff hanger at the end as well made me want to throw the book against a wall.

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forgottencupoftea's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Glint is the perfect example of how, sometimes, sequels are better than the first installment!

It picks up where Gild left off and delivers what I thought was lacking so far: a stronger political intrigue, a developing/potential enemies-to-lovers romance, morally grey characters, more detailed world-building, some plot twists/revelations and the beginning of what appears to be a powerful growth/healing journey for the main character.

The writing is really good, it pulls you in the story and, if you're like me, you struggle to put the book down. Plus, there are some really good quotes/beautiful words to take away.

Auren as a character might just be a favourite of mine. Her journey, self-discovery, emancipation and overall development is something I was very much looking forward because she bloody deserves it! Seeing her slowly come to the realisation that she has been treated unfairly and that the love she thought she was receiving isn't love after at all was incredibly powerful! I couldn't help but feel for her as the action unfolds and she starts comprehending just how badly she has been lied to, manipulated and abused.

I loved the addition of Commander Rip! (obviously?) I really thoroughly enjoyed his interactions with Auren! The way he keeps pushing her, teasing her, goading her into showing her true personality - the one she's had to hide for years. Bonus point for all the characters part of his army, his Wrath.

I'd say this is pretty slow paced, apart from the end. But we learn so much about the world of Orea and the characters that it doesn't feel that slow when reading? The "cliffhanger" at the end was a bit predictable but! it was still very enjoyable.

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xlaurareads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

this book was truly exceptional! i loved every page, i loved the characters, the story, the incredible plot twists! i still can't find the words to express how much i love this book. and rip..this man, i can't, i love him so much! and fuck midas, he is the most horrible person i have ever read about. auren's character development was great and her inner conflict is so relatable that one cannot really be mad at her for having it. i also found the storyline revolving around queen malina quite interesting and am looking forward to further happenings.

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bryelle's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny tense fast-paced

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

4.5

This is book 2 of the Gild series. Auren, the saddles, and the guards have been taken by the 4th kingdoms army. They are making their way to the 5th kingdom still to meet with Midas and King Rot.

Auren learns to look more at her self as a powerful person. She has trusted Midas for a decade to keep her safe because he did when she was down on her luck. She is seeing “cracks” in their relationship and she is analyzing that internally.

Auren is amazing and watching her get more control of her powers is amazing. (Her being the real “Midas.) Rip is King Ravinger!!!!!!!!!!!!</spoiler

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nursemeghanreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

3.0

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noellelovesbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

Content Warnings: Human trafficking, sexual scenes, slavery, captivity, violence, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, gaslighting, and blood/gore. Mention of: sexual assault, rape, child abuse, child neglect, internalized racism, and conditions of living in poverty.

In Gild, the first book, we mostly saw Auren’s POV with the final chapter being that of Midas. In Glint we get three different POVs throughout the book, though the majority still is Auren, we also see what Queen Malina and Midas are up to. Honestly, I already disliked both of these characters from the first interactions they had with Auren but alas writers always have a reason for showing the POV of people we don’t like. *sigh*

In the company of Commander Rip and the soldiers of the Fourth Kingdom, Auren is forced to think about her past and current situation. We get a lot of flashbacks to the time before Midas entered her life as well as some during the early days of Midas becoming King.

Auren had a lot of time to self-reflect and evaluate her relationship with Midas, though at times I was still left wanting to reach through my Kindle and shake her. At other times I wanted to reach through and hug her and tell her everything was going to be okay and could get better.

After finishing Glint I’m 100x more invested in seeing where Auren’s journey takes her. The way Glint ends I already know I’ll be picking up book 3, Gleam, soon as I have so many more questions and I’m desperate for answers. The urge to text friends who’re already caught up is strong but I must resist.

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