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pineapplebookshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.5
waves's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
pkmnmasterlauren's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
culturekath's review
adventurous
dark
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
laelyn's review against another edition
5.0
Well, if this isn't the most perfect sequel to an already great first book! I loved "The Prison Healer" when I read it not too long ago and was pumped for the sequel. It turned out even better than I expected.
"The Gilded Cage" takes everything its predecessor did well and does it even better. The writing is superb, with the exception of some minor parts of dialogue that seemed a little too 'modern' to fit the setting. They don't really matter though and definitely don't dampen the flow of the story. The story is an exciting spin on tropes we already know from ya fantasy, and this time around I didn't see all the twists coming (which was my main criticism of the first book). Some plot developments are still predictable, but some twists really surprised me.
The characters are mostly wonderfully written and complex, too. Kiva is an amazing, loveable protagonist that I love to follow on her journey. I was a little disappointed because she didn't have as much agency as in the first book, she was quite a bit more passive this time around. Though I'm sure this will change drastically in the third book. Jaren is a little toooooo perfect and could use some more edges but I still very much liked him. Naari doesn't have as much to do as I hoped she would, but she still remains Queen of my heart. Tipp is as adorable as ever. And Caldon is now pretty firmly my new favourite character. Kiva's siblings are complex and interesting too, and I do hope that Tor becomes a more prominent figure in the next book because I adore him. Suffice to say, I think the characters in this series are absolutely great. There is a lot more character development, too, at least when it comes to Kiva. A lot of the other characters, Jaren especially, lack much development, which was an issue in the first book, too. This is, I think, definitely something Noni could work on in her next works.
The romance is deliciously slow-burn and I love that there is a connection between Kiva and Jaren that goes beyond romance, too. They've been through hell together, they're both traumatized, and while I wish this part of both their characters would have gotten even more focus, it was well done. I rarely really get emotionally involved in ya romance anymore, to be honest, but these two are just so adorable! Also, I sure do hope that Caldon and Tor get to know each other real well come the next book, because damn the potential is there and I am i n t r i g u e d.
I'm not the biggest fan of ending every book in a series, or trilogy, with a cliffhanger. Noni, so far, does exactly that and I admit I saw it coming when I neared the end of the book and sighed. At the same time, I absolutely need book 3 n o w, so I guess the cliffhanger still worked for me. It's also a super fast-paced, quick read that I couldn't put down and thus devoured in a single sitting.
This series is way too unknown and should be way more popular. I gave the first book 4 stars, this sequel deserves 4,5 rounded up to 5 stars. Now, if Lynette Noni could give me that third book please...
Thank you so much for the arc, Hodder & Stoughton!
"The Gilded Cage" takes everything its predecessor did well and does it even better. The writing is superb, with the exception of some minor parts of dialogue that seemed a little too 'modern' to fit the setting. They don't really matter though and definitely don't dampen the flow of the story. The story is an exciting spin on tropes we already know from ya fantasy, and this time around I didn't see all the twists coming (which was my main criticism of the first book). Some plot developments are still predictable, but some twists really surprised me.
The characters are mostly wonderfully written and complex, too. Kiva is an amazing, loveable protagonist that I love to follow on her journey. I was a little disappointed because she didn't have as much agency as in the first book, she was quite a bit more passive this time around. Though I'm sure this will change drastically in the third book. Jaren is a little toooooo perfect and could use some more edges but I still very much liked him. Naari doesn't have as much to do as I hoped she would, but she still remains Queen of my heart. Tipp is as adorable as ever. And Caldon is now pretty firmly my new favourite character. Kiva's siblings are complex and interesting too, and I do hope that Tor becomes a more prominent figure in the next book because I adore him. Suffice to say, I think the characters in this series are absolutely great. There is a lot more character development, too, at least when it comes to Kiva. A lot of the other characters, Jaren especially, lack much development, which was an issue in the first book, too. This is, I think, definitely something Noni could work on in her next works.
The romance is deliciously slow-burn and I love that there is a connection between Kiva and Jaren that goes beyond romance, too. They've been through hell together, they're both traumatized, and while I wish this part of both their characters would have gotten even more focus, it was well done. I rarely really get emotionally involved in ya romance anymore, to be honest, but these two are just so adorable! Also, I sure do hope that Caldon and Tor get to know each other real well come the next book, because damn the potential is there and I am i n t r i g u e d.
I'm not the biggest fan of ending every book in a series, or trilogy, with a cliffhanger. Noni, so far, does exactly that and I admit I saw it coming when I neared the end of the book and sighed. At the same time, I absolutely need book 3 n o w, so I guess the cliffhanger still worked for me. It's also a super fast-paced, quick read that I couldn't put down and thus devoured in a single sitting.
This series is way too unknown and should be way more popular. I gave the first book 4 stars, this sequel deserves 4,5 rounded up to 5 stars. Now, if Lynette Noni could give me that third book please...
Thank you so much for the arc, Hodder & Stoughton!
cayleyreads's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
eld's review against another edition
5.0
oh my god my theories along a book have never been disproven this bad
iasssceeel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0