A review by the_jesus_fandom
The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni

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

3.0

 All in all, a pretty fun book, except for the fact that it took AGES of character and relationship building for the exciting stuff to happen. 


 Kiva was honestly a bit dumber in this book than the first. There was one scene where
she was trying to find a hiding place to listen in on a meeting. This was a time-sensitive thing, cause the people meeting were coming super soon. So what does she do? She spends a lot of valuable time sightseeing the room and only hides at the last possible moment, when she could just as easily have done that snooping after the meeting. It was super annoying.
 
 There seemed to be some discontinuity where Jaren knew less than it was implied he did in book one. 


 Some random stuff: 
 I’m sorry, I found the meta book club to be cringe. 
 Caldon is my bestie and I love him. 
 Kiva says she never harmed anyone, even those she hated, which is untrue, since in the last book there was a guard who was too touchy and instead of fixing his itchy groin problem she gave him medicine that would make it worse. 


 Ahum, and now for the biggest thing that I already mentioned in my review for book one: did I get my predictions right? 
 
Well, yes and no. Someone did die, but it was her grandmother, but she did leave her with a new-found realisation. Also, this all could still just be fixed by her marrying Jaren, and both siblings (only one of whom is really into revenge) are fine with that! So really all angst would be unnecessary if Kiva was honest and just communicated. We don’t even need to frame it as two families coming together, because apparantly none of the rebel supporters really… support the rebels. They just want to be healed.
 
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