A review by natbookreviews
Gild by Raven Kennedy

2.0

 Review of “Gild”
How I read: 🎧
⭐⭐☆☆☆ - 🌶🌶🌶🌶 (Rating System Below)

”Gild” started off as a real struggle for me. It opens with an orgy, and while I did kind of expect that, I thought maybe it would settle into something more engaging. Instead, it felt like a lot of world-building, but not much was actually happening for a good chunk of the book. A lot of time is spent on the main character’s flashbacks, or talking about her ribbons (which was confusing and repetitive), and just a lot of descriptions about her being “precious” (try saying that without doing it like Gollum) to King Midas. Honestly, it felt more focused on the world-building and explicit content than on moving the plot forward.

I really didn’t connect with the characters or the plot, especially when the relationship between the main character and Midas felt off. It’s like he’s obsessed with her being “precious” but doesn’t really show care for her beyond the physical, which made it difficult to buy into the whole dynamic. The ribbons were another weird element that seemed to come out of nowhere, and for some reason, I just couldn’t get past the fact that these ribbons were a big part of the story but didn’t seem to make any sense. And let’s not forget the frequent references to sex and violence—definitely darker content, which can be a tough read if you’re not prepared for it.

By the time I hit the halfway point, things finally started to happen, but at that point, I was pretty exhausted. The pacing was too slow for me, and I felt like the book was dragging. While there are a lot of people who might enjoy the dark fantasy and intrigue, for me, it didn’t live up to the hype. Though I wasn’t initially impressed by the characters or the book’s substance, the series does get better—a point I’ll reveal.

Get it at…


📗 - Hard Copy -📗
📱 - Digital - 📱
Kobo - (Not Available at Time of Review)
🎧 - Audio - 🎧
Libro.FM - (Not Available at Time of Review)
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*Star Rating Guide*
⭐ - The writing style didn’t appeal to me. The characters didn’t resonate with me. I pushed myself to the limit to avoid DNF’ing. I wouldn’t suggest this book to anyone I’m acquainted with.
⭐⭐ - The book was passable, but it won’t stick in my mind. Although I didn’t abandon the book, my mind wasn’t fully immersed in the story. I discovered that it was easy for me to stop reading it and not feel compelled to continue promptly. When everything was said and done, I was unsure of my immediate opinion on this book.
⭐⭐⭐ - If someone is actively seeking a book in this general premise, I would suggest this. While it was good, I don’t think I’ll ever pick up this book for a second read. If it were part of a series, I’d probably venture into the next book. Reading it was time well-spent.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This book was brilliant. I had the urge to keep reading and turn to the next page. The book stayed on my mind for days after I finished it. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I was actively engaged in wanting to finish reading this book. My thoughts are consumed by this book after completing it. I want to have a physical copy as a trophy that I can display on my shelf. I felt a strong connection and investment while reading this book, would definitely recommend.
🌶 - kissing, but anything else is behind closed doors
🌶🌶 - sexual tension, talks of spice but nothing in great description
🌶🌶🌶 - sexual scenes with detail but they are not the main story focus, mild language 
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - explicit sex scenes, naughty language, definitely full adult
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - smut