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tigerbeam's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The plot is exciting enough but jfc did Kiva’s character regress like 20 years in maturity and general common sense. She should NOT be this naive for someone who spent 10 years in a maximum security penitentiary with absolutely 0 character judgement abilities. I literally felt like she was 14 years old in this book. Like, I don’t even remember how old she is supposed to be, because she behaved like a sheltered 14 year old princess the whole time.
It was shocking to see Kiva not process any of what she was learning, like zero introspection. She only “realized” the meaning of things as events unfolded before her very eyes. She refused to sit down and just put two and f’ing two together. Throughout her “spying” Kiva did not even consider the implications of her entire relationship with her Vallentis family being founded on lies and deceit. Like, she literally thought she’d just go tell her viper sister that she wasn’t gonna help out, and then she’d go back to freeloading at the palace, eating cakes and eye-f’king Jaren? Like no bruh, family ties will sink you like I thought y’learned this in prison?
ANYWAY, all that’s to say, I think this was just haphazard and mediocre writing on Noni’s part to get to the third book. We didn’t have a growth arc for anyone just because third book, so this book gets two stars from me for being a well plotted book but completely throwing characters under the bus in order to get the plot to move.
It was shocking to see Kiva not process any of what she was learning, like zero introspection. She only “realized” the meaning of things as events unfolded before her very eyes. She refused to sit down and just put two and f’ing two together. Throughout her “spying” Kiva did not even consider the implications of her entire relationship with her Vallentis family being founded on lies and deceit. Like, she literally thought she’d just go tell her viper sister that she wasn’t gonna help out, and then she’d go back to freeloading at the palace, eating cakes and eye-f’king Jaren? Like no bruh, family ties will sink you like I thought y’learned this in prison?
ANYWAY, all that’s to say, I think this was just haphazard and mediocre writing on Noni’s part to get to the third book. We didn’t have a growth arc for anyone just because third book, so this book gets two stars from me for being a well plotted book but completely throwing characters under the bus in order to get the plot to move.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Domestic abuse
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved how thr story showcases the struggles that people have choosing between families and friends. It doesn't back away from showing that sometimes there isn't a right answer and you can only go with what you know.
I very much enjoyed how the two families interact and the seeing both the similarities and differences between them. It is a great way to build up the drama for the final book.
I very much enjoyed how the two families interact and the seeing both the similarities and differences between them. It is a great way to build up the drama for the final book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Kidnapping, and Death
Minor: Terminal illness
bluebreex's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
How am I supposed to get anything done after reading that?! Lynette Noni knows what she's doing with her book endings, that's for sure. My husband put dinner in front of me and I didn't even look up for fifteen minutes as I finished the story. I couldn't function for another five after I set the book down. My dinner nearly went cold just because of this dang book!
I had so many questions at the end of The Prison Healer and a lot of them were answered brilliantly in this sequel. I don't want to write too much about the plot because I know there's still a lot that needs to happen in the next book--and I truly can't wait to dive in! I can absolutely see this becoming a favorite series. I was worried The Gilded Cage would have a strong case of "middle book syndrome" but it didn't suffer from that in the slightest. It was mesmerizing from page one and I was hooked on every line until the very end.
Okay, I need to go gear myself up to jump into The Blood Traitor next!
I had so many questions at the end of The Prison Healer and a lot of them were answered brilliantly in this sequel. I don't want to write too much about the plot because I know there's still a lot that needs to happen in the next book--and I truly can't wait to dive in! I can absolutely see this becoming a favorite series. I was worried The Gilded Cage would have a strong case of "middle book syndrome" but it didn't suffer from that in the slightest. It was mesmerizing from page one and I was hooked on every line until the very end.
Okay, I need to go gear myself up to jump into The Blood Traitor next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Drug abuse
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: War
siglerbooknook's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent
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