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A review by thebiglittlelibrary
Gleam by Raven Kennedy
5.0
4.5 ⭐️ Holy shit that ending was INSANE!!!!!!!
(Rounding up for Goodreads stars because it is the best book in The Plated Prisoner series, and I can't stop thinking about it!)
#1 Gild — 4 Stars
#2 Glint — 4 Stars
#3 Gleam — 4.5 Stars
#4 Glow — 4 Stars
Trigger Warning (18+): This series contains explicit content and darker elements/themes, including human trafficking, Stockholm Syndrome, gaslighting, non-consensual sex, violence, and mature language.
This was definitely the best book in the series! We picked up right after that huge plot twist in Glint. And from the moment on, the story was a wild ride, with action, romance, betrayal, murder, and so much more!
But before I get into all of that, I first just have to say . . .
FUCK Midas! I was revolted by him in Gild. I hated him in Glint. But I absolutely loathed him in Gleam. He makes my skin crawl and my stomach turn. I've compared him to Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter, but honestly, he is so much worse! He's pure evil. The things he did to Auren are absolutely disgusting and unforgivable. There's definitely a special place in bookish hell for characters like him. I'm so damn glad he got what he deserved, but I wish he suffered more.
*takes a deep breath*
Okay, moving on.
The continued world-building and Auren's storyline line developments are so interesting. Raven Kennedy has been slowly sharing Auren's history and it's driving me crazy in the best possible way! I'm so eager to learn more about Annwyn (the fae realm), Auren's ancestry, and the fae in general. I have a feeling there will be a lot more uncovered about all three in the next book and I can't wait!
The freaking plot twists and that ending had me screaming! The entire story is amazing, but that last 20% was phenomenal! The truth Midas reveals was absolutely horrifying and made my heart break into a million pieces for Auren. And while Auren's revenge was sweet, the cost was too high. I was on the edge of my seat for that entire scene! I know what Rip did was to save Auren, but I am unsure how Auren is going to react to Rip taking away her choice. Ahhhhh I wish the next book was out already!
The romance (and sexual tension) between Auren and Captain Rip is brilliant! Auren has been manipulated, lied to, and gaslit for the last 10 years, so to have her finally fall in love (even though she denies it) with someone who is the complete opposite of Midas was beautiful to watch. Captain Rip is everything. He's honest, genuine, encouraging, and protective. I love how he is one of the most powerful beings in the realm, and while he loves Auren, he continues to give her the freedom of choice. I love the sexual tension leading up to the moment they finally get together! There's a whole lot of spice, and it's well worth the wait.
My only 'complaint' was some of the dialogue used during sex scenes. Here are a few things that made me cringe:
"You’re so thick that my fingers almost can’t close all the way around you.”
“I want to hear you scream my name while this perfect pussy squeezes my cock and milks me dry.”
“Look at me with those gorgeous golden eyes of yours. I want them on me when your perfect pussy wrings out every drop of my cum.”
“Come again, just like this,” he growls. “I want your pussy to choke my cock, Auren.”
Unfortunately, this wording took away from these sexy scenes. I still enjoyed the general spice, but I just couldn't really get into it.
Overall, Gleam was incredible and I couldn't put it down! I'm so sad we have to wait six more months for Glow - the conclusion of The Plated Prisoner series.
Favorite Quotes:
"The goddesses made me a female. War made me an orphan. Midas made me a saddle. Up until now, those things have roped me. I’ve let myself be bridled, jerked around this way and that. But I’m sick and tired of gnawing on that bit at the back of my jaw with every tug of the reins."
——————————————
“Trying and failing is better than giving up . . . Shove down weakness, and strength will rise. You can’t be strong without conquering those weaknesses first. ”
——————————————
"We tell ourselves twisted lies to tangle around our wicked truths, all so that we can get caught up in the bind and not have to face bare regrets."
——————————————
"Power doesn’t just come from magic. It comes from your own grit. And I have both."
——————————————
“I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you, Goldfinch. I was just waiting for you to catch up.”
——————————————
"I want all of you,” he tells me, a newfound hunger in the depths of his green eyes that stirs heat beneath my skin. “Every piece, every memory, every minute, every inch. This isn’t going to be some casual dalliance. This isn’t going to be temporary. I want you soul, mind, and body. I want your trust and your thoughts. I want your past, your present, your future. So make very certain that you want me for the right reasons. Be certain that you’re choosing this, because once you do, there’s no turning back.”
——————————————
“Love happens in all kinds of ways. Fast. Slow. In bits and pieces, or immediate. Filled with lust, one-sided longing, a snap realization never noticed before. Deeply. Thoroughly. Love is a whisper we didn’t hear or a sound that drums in our ears and drowns out everything else.”
——————————————
"There comes a point in your life when you have to choose between having regrets and the possibility of making mistakes."
——————————————
"She is everything I don’t deserve. But I’m going to keep her anyway."
——————————————
“If I could stop being the gold girl even just for a night, I’d jump at the chance to not be me.”
Slade’s finger and thumb suddenly come up to grip my chin, and he pulls my face to look at him, his intense eyes boring into me.
“Never say that,” he rumbles, the timbre of his voice pitched in firm demand. “The world would be a dreary place without your light.”
——————————————
"I became too blinded by my bright sides to see the truth. Sometimes, you look at the silver lining so much that you drift into denial about the clouds."
——————————————
“Guilt doesn’t assuage the guilty.”
——————————————
“I won’t let him make you into the villain.”
A gaze as sharp as thorns hooks into me, holds me hostage.
“I told you, I’ll be the villain for you.”
Resolve bolsters my spine.
“Yes. But so will I.”
——————————————
(Rounding up for Goodreads stars because it is the best book in The Plated Prisoner series, and I can't stop thinking about it!)
#1 Gild — 4 Stars
#2 Glint — 4 Stars
#3 Gleam — 4.5 Stars
#4 Glow — 4 Stars
Trigger Warning (18+): This series contains explicit content and darker elements/themes, including human trafficking, Stockholm Syndrome, gaslighting, non-consensual sex, violence, and mature language.
This was definitely the best book in the series! We picked up right after that huge plot twist in Glint. And from the moment on, the story was a wild ride, with action, romance, betrayal, murder, and so much more!
But before I get into all of that, I first just have to say . . .
FUCK Midas! I was revolted by him in Gild. I hated him in Glint. But I absolutely loathed him in Gleam. He makes my skin crawl and my stomach turn. I've compared him to Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter, but honestly, he is so much worse! He's pure evil. The things he did to Auren are absolutely disgusting and unforgivable. There's definitely a special place in bookish hell for characters like him. I'm so damn glad he got what he deserved, but I wish he suffered more.
*takes a deep breath*
Okay, moving on.
The continued world-building and Auren's storyline line developments are so interesting. Raven Kennedy has been slowly sharing Auren's history and it's driving me crazy in the best possible way! I'm so eager to learn more about Annwyn (the fae realm), Auren's ancestry, and the fae in general. I have a feeling there will be a lot more uncovered about all three in the next book and I can't wait!
The freaking plot twists and that ending had me screaming! The entire story is amazing, but that last 20% was phenomenal! The truth Midas reveals was absolutely horrifying and made my heart break into a million pieces for Auren. And while Auren's revenge was sweet, the cost was too high. I was on the edge of my seat for that entire scene! I know what Rip did was to save Auren, but I am unsure how Auren is going to react to Rip taking away her choice. Ahhhhh I wish the next book was out already!
The romance (and sexual tension) between Auren and Captain Rip is brilliant! Auren has been manipulated, lied to, and gaslit for the last 10 years, so to have her finally fall in love (even though she denies it) with someone who is the complete opposite of Midas was beautiful to watch. Captain Rip is everything. He's honest, genuine, encouraging, and protective. I love how he is one of the most powerful beings in the realm, and while he loves Auren, he continues to give her the freedom of choice. I love the sexual tension leading up to the moment they finally get together! There's a whole lot of spice, and it's well worth the wait.
My only 'complaint' was some of the dialogue used during sex scenes. Here are a few things that made me cringe:
"You’re so thick that my fingers almost can’t close all the way around you.”
“I want to hear you scream my name while this perfect pussy squeezes my cock and milks me dry.”
“Look at me with those gorgeous golden eyes of yours. I want them on me when your perfect pussy wrings out every drop of my cum.”
“Come again, just like this,” he growls. “I want your pussy to choke my cock, Auren.”
Unfortunately, this wording took away from these sexy scenes. I still enjoyed the general spice, but I just couldn't really get into it.
Overall, Gleam was incredible and I couldn't put it down! I'm so sad we have to wait six more months for Glow - the conclusion of The Plated Prisoner series.
Favorite Quotes:
"The goddesses made me a female. War made me an orphan. Midas made me a saddle. Up until now, those things have roped me. I’ve let myself be bridled, jerked around this way and that. But I’m sick and tired of gnawing on that bit at the back of my jaw with every tug of the reins."
——————————————
“Trying and failing is better than giving up . . . Shove down weakness, and strength will rise. You can’t be strong without conquering those weaknesses first. ”
——————————————
"We tell ourselves twisted lies to tangle around our wicked truths, all so that we can get caught up in the bind and not have to face bare regrets."
——————————————
"Power doesn’t just come from magic. It comes from your own grit. And I have both."
——————————————
“I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you, Goldfinch. I was just waiting for you to catch up.”
——————————————
"I want all of you,” he tells me, a newfound hunger in the depths of his green eyes that stirs heat beneath my skin. “Every piece, every memory, every minute, every inch. This isn’t going to be some casual dalliance. This isn’t going to be temporary. I want you soul, mind, and body. I want your trust and your thoughts. I want your past, your present, your future. So make very certain that you want me for the right reasons. Be certain that you’re choosing this, because once you do, there’s no turning back.”
——————————————
“Love happens in all kinds of ways. Fast. Slow. In bits and pieces, or immediate. Filled with lust, one-sided longing, a snap realization never noticed before. Deeply. Thoroughly. Love is a whisper we didn’t hear or a sound that drums in our ears and drowns out everything else.”
——————————————
"There comes a point in your life when you have to choose between having regrets and the possibility of making mistakes."
——————————————
"She is everything I don’t deserve. But I’m going to keep her anyway."
——————————————
“If I could stop being the gold girl even just for a night, I’d jump at the chance to not be me.”
Slade’s finger and thumb suddenly come up to grip my chin, and he pulls my face to look at him, his intense eyes boring into me.
“Never say that,” he rumbles, the timbre of his voice pitched in firm demand. “The world would be a dreary place without your light.”
——————————————
"I became too blinded by my bright sides to see the truth. Sometimes, you look at the silver lining so much that you drift into denial about the clouds."
——————————————
“Guilt doesn’t assuage the guilty.”
——————————————
“I won’t let him make you into the villain.”
A gaze as sharp as thorns hooks into me, holds me hostage.
“I told you, I’ll be the villain for you.”
Resolve bolsters my spine.
“Yes. But so will I.”
——————————————