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A review by outsidestar
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well, those last chapters were definitely a ride.
This book was like a combination of the first two Throne of Glass books: our MC is in a prison, she has to undergo a series of trials to get out of it, there’s some magic here and there, and a jaw-dropping ending. It was a great foundation for what I can already see becoming an epic fantasy story. All I can do is hope the coming books will put it to good use.
Now let me tell you what The Prison Healer is actually about:
Welcome to Wenderall (think of a world like Erilea or Westeros, with different kingdoms ruled by different royal families). This world has a prison (think WWII concentration camps) were criminals from all kingdoms are sent. There is where our story takes place.
The prison of Zalindov is all 17 year-old Kiva has known ever since she and her father were thrown into it 10 years ago. Now the prison healer, Kiva stays afloat with the scarce messages she manages to smuggle to and from her family. And 12 year-old Tipp, who is Kiva’s helper in the infirmary (as well as a sunshine-covered cinnamon roll who can light anybody’s day) and who she sees as a little brother who she must protect. Other than Tipp, Kiva tries to keep her distance from everyone else, because at the end of the day all Zalindov can bring is death to those who you care about.
That is, of course, until a new prisoner is bought to Zalindov and just so happens to be equal parts handsome, sweet and kind, so we all know how that's gonna go. Oh, and he’s got Ashryver eyes (not that it matters in any way).
Fast forward a couple days or weeks and the next new prisoner brought to Kiva is no other than the Rebel Queen. A very-sick-almost-dying Rebel Queen. And she comes with a note from Kiva’s family: Don’t let her die. We are coming. The queen is sentenced to Trial by Ordeal but, since she can’t even stand on her own feet, Kiva volunteers to be her Champion. If she succeeds they will both be free, but if she fails they will both die. The trick? No one has ever survived a Trial by Ordeal.
That, alongside some royals coming to watch the Trial, tiny little glimpses of magic and great characters, pretty much sums up this story. Kiva is a perfectly crafted character and I loved Tipp, Naari, Jaren and even Mot, and can’t wait to see what the gang will be up to in the coming books.
Also, I think the plot twists are worth mentioning. I did see them coming, but then again, I usually see all plot twists coming (except for the Kaz Brekker kind). Anyways, they were very well thought out, hints were left throughout the story if you knew what to look for, which was a perfect build up to the actual revelations. The crafting was just exquisite.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.
This book was like a combination of the first two Throne of Glass books: our MC is in a prison, she has to undergo a series of trials to get out of it, there’s some magic here and there, and a jaw-dropping ending. It was a great foundation for what I can already see becoming an epic fantasy story. All I can do is hope the coming books will put it to good use.
Now let me tell you what The Prison Healer is actually about:
Welcome to Wenderall (think of a world like Erilea or Westeros, with different kingdoms ruled by different royal families). This world has a prison (think WWII concentration camps) were criminals from all kingdoms are sent. There is where our story takes place.
The prison of Zalindov is all 17 year-old Kiva has known ever since she and her father were thrown into it 10 years ago. Now the prison healer, Kiva stays afloat with the scarce messages she manages to smuggle to and from her family. And 12 year-old Tipp, who is Kiva’s helper in the infirmary (as well as a sunshine-covered cinnamon roll who can light anybody’s day) and who she sees as a little brother who she must protect. Other than Tipp, Kiva tries to keep her distance from everyone else, because at the end of the day all Zalindov can bring is death to those who you care about.
That is, of course, until a new prisoner is bought to Zalindov and just so happens to be equal parts handsome, sweet and kind, so we all know how that's gonna go. Oh, and he’s got Ashryver eyes (not that it matters in any way).
Fast forward a couple days or weeks and the next new prisoner brought to Kiva is no other than the Rebel Queen. A very-sick-almost-dying Rebel Queen. And she comes with a note from Kiva’s family: Don’t let her die. We are coming. The queen is sentenced to Trial by Ordeal but, since she can’t even stand on her own feet, Kiva volunteers to be her Champion. If she succeeds they will both be free, but if she fails they will both die. The trick? No one has ever survived a Trial by Ordeal.
That, alongside some royals coming to watch the Trial, tiny little glimpses of magic and great characters, pretty much sums up this story. Kiva is a perfectly crafted character and I loved Tipp, Naari, Jaren and even Mot, and can’t wait to see what the gang will be up to in the coming books.
Also, I think the plot twists are worth mentioning. I did see them coming, but then again, I usually see all plot twists coming (except for the Kaz Brekker kind). Anyways, they were very well thought out, hints were left throughout the story if you knew what to look for, which was a perfect build up to the actual revelations. The crafting was just exquisite.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Slavery, and Self harm