A review by ohmydemigod
Gleam by Raven Kennedy

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

5.0

“... another tear falls with its rhythm as he strokes my hair, because it’s not love I’m listening to. It’s just possessive control. It’s so loud, I can’t believe I didn’t hear it before.”

I thought Auren had reached her peak in book 2, but oh how I was wrong! It's amazing to me how it takes hindsight to fully understand each book's purpose, moreso than most books. As I read on, I feel I gain a greater appreciation for the former ones. Given this, I'm going to go ahead and change my rating for book 1 to 3 stars (rather than the 2 I originally gave it).

Watching Auren break free of the binds (both physical and mental) that held her is the absolute highlight of this series, even more than the romance, which I also adored. Auren is someone I've pitied, admired, and eventually taken a massive amount of pride in. She found her new identity and home in this book, and I know book 4 is only going to further accentuate this.

Now, what I know most people are curious about with these books: THE ROMANCE. Yes, of course there's romance. However, be aware that this is a slow-burn. While Auren meets her love interest in book 2, it takes time for her to be in a good place to explore her feelings. In my opinion, everything happened perfectly in time; actions/words did not feel rushed nor needlessly drawn out. It was perfect, given Auren's journey. And first and foremost, this series is about her.

The love interest is someone to swoon over, and I knew he would be from the moment he was introduced! The romance aspect will not disappoint if you are a fan of slow-burn, of small actions of care culminating to something greater, of stolen looks with a thousand unspoken words exchanged between them.

This series was fantastic to binge, but it's one that best read carefully, because truthfully, the writing is stunning. I have dozens of highlighted favorite quotes, and I know they'll be reeling in my head for days to come!

This book will give you the retribution we all were screaming for in book 1, and so much more. This series has quickly stolen my heart because at it's bare bones, it's about breaking the bonds of abuse and choosing yourself. I absolutely cannot wait for the final book, and I will not shut up about this series for a long while!