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A review by geoblockreads
Gleam by Raven Kennedy
lighthearted
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
3.5
This wasn't the incredible read that booktok made it out to be.
I didn't hate it. I like the development of the world, the characters (bar the main character) are interesting. I really like the love interest too, the author did a good job of establishing him as a menacing, powerful dude with a weakness for the main character.
But the prose is a real weakness, and has been across all the books so far. The author is trying really hard to add descriptive language, and use a lot of metaphors, but they're so forced and weird that they miss the mark most of the time. So many of them made me cringe, and really took me out of the book. Like 'his words stick to the soles of my feet' and 'white sheets over the furniture like cumbersome ghosts'. (?) what are cumbersome ghosts? Are the ghosts that get in the way?
The dialogue is also a real weakness, with many conversations lacking chemistry or flow, because they feel very clichéd. Or because it is necessary for exposition, so it feels inorganic.
I do think that the main characters development is interesting, which is something people emphasised in their reviews of it. But she's still kind of dumb? We're told that she understands Midas' mind, and his motivations. But she still plays into his hand over and over again. And the book ends that way too.
Idk the plot is good, and the pacing is good, but the naive main character and clichéd prose bring the book down significantly.
I also think constant sexual assault of the main character is gratuitous and over done, and I'm tired of it. It's not plot necessary at all.
I didn't hate it. I like the development of the world, the characters (bar the main character) are interesting. I really like the love interest too, the author did a good job of establishing him as a menacing, powerful dude with a weakness for the main character.
But the prose is a real weakness, and has been across all the books so far. The author is trying really hard to add descriptive language, and use a lot of metaphors, but they're so forced and weird that they miss the mark most of the time. So many of them made me cringe, and really took me out of the book. Like 'his words stick to the soles of my feet' and 'white sheets over the furniture like cumbersome ghosts'. (?) what are cumbersome ghosts? Are the ghosts that get in the way?
The dialogue is also a real weakness, with many conversations lacking chemistry or flow, because they feel very clichéd. Or because it is necessary for exposition, so it feels inorganic.
I do think that the main characters development is interesting, which is something people emphasised in their reviews of it. But she's still kind of dumb? We're told that she understands Midas' mind, and his motivations. But she still plays into his hand over and over again. And the book ends that way too.
Idk the plot is good, and the pacing is good, but the naive main character and clichéd prose bring the book down significantly.
I also think constant sexual assault of the main character is gratuitous and over done, and I'm tired of it. It's not plot necessary at all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Sexual harassment