literary gluttony

Gild by Raven Kennedy is a dark fantasy retelling inspired by the myth of King Midas. The story follows Auren, a woman who lives in a gilded cage as the favored possession of King Midas. Surrounded by luxury yet stripped of true freedom, Auren has spent years convincing herself that her life is better than the alternatives. But as political tensions rise and dangerous truths begin to surface, she starts questioning everything she thought she knew about herself, her king, and the world beyond her golden prison.

Filled with court intrigue, dark themes, and a slow-burning journey of self-discovery, Gild serves as the first installment in Kennedy’s popular Plated Prisoner series.

I went into Gild with incredibly high expectations. The Plated Prisoner series has become a staple recommendation within the fantasy romance community, and I was eager to see what all the hype was about. Unfortunately, this ended up being one of those books that simply didn’t work for me as much as I had hoped.

My biggest struggle was the characters. Throughout the entire novel, I never found myself emotionally connecting with anyone. Auren’s circumstances certainly evoked sympathy, but I never felt truly invested in her as a character. Likewise, the supporting cast failed to leave much of an impression beyond the roles they played within the story.

Another issue for me was the repeated use of sex as a weapon or means of manipulation throughout the narrative. While I understand its purpose within the world Kennedy created, it felt heavily relied upon. By the latter half of the book, these moments had lost much of their impact because the theme was revisited so frequently. What may have initially served as a powerful commentary on power dynamics eventually became repetitive.

That said, there were still aspects of Gild that kept me reading. Kennedy’s world-building lays a solid foundation for the larger series, and there are glimpses of intriguing mysteries hidden beneath the surface. The final portion of the novel introduces developments that significantly shifted my interest level and left me curious about where the story is heading next.

I also appreciate that this first book feels very much like a setup novel. Looking back, it’s clear that Kennedy is carefully positioning pieces for future installments. While that means the pacing occasionally drags, it also suggests that the strongest moments of this series may lie ahead rather than within this opening volume.

Ultimately, Gild wasn’t a bad read—it simply wasn’t a great fit for me. The lack of character connection and the overuse of certain themes prevented me from becoming fully immersed. However, the ending provided enough intrigue that I can understand why so many readers continue with the series.

Devour or Nibble?

Nibble. If you’re a fan of dark fantasy romance, morally gray worlds, and stories that play the long game with character development, Gild may be worth trying. Just be prepared for a slower start, difficult subject matter, and a first installment that spends more time laying groundwork than delivering payoff.