literary gluttony

If you’ve made it this far into The Plated Prisoner series, Gold continues raising the stakes with bigger revelations, mounting political tension, and characters who are finally beginning to feel like they’ve grown into the story they’ve always promised. As alliances shift and long-buried truths come to light, Auren is forced to confront not only the world around her but the future she’s willing to fight for. It’s another installment filled with magic, danger, romance, and enough twists to keep longtime readers turning the pages.

I think I’ve finally reached the point where this series has clicked for me.

It’s been a long road getting here. If you’ve read my reviews of the earlier books, you know I’ve struggled to connect with both the characters and the overall story. While I appreciated the premise, I often found myself reading more out of curiosity than genuine investment. Gold, however, feels like a turning point.

For the first time, I found myself genuinely caring about what happened next—not just because I wanted answers, but because I was becoming emotionally invested in the people at the center of the story. Auren continues to grow in ways that feel earned, and the supporting cast has become much more compelling than they were in the earlier installments. Their relationships are beginning to carry the emotional weight I felt was missing before.

One of the biggest highlights for me was a revelation that I genuinely didn’t see coming. It’s not often that a series this deep into its run still manages to surprise me, but this moment completely caught me off guard. It added another layer to the story and reminded me that Raven Kennedy still has a few tricks up her sleeve.

That said, I still don’t think this series has completely won me over.

There was one particular steamy scene that pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me deeper into it. Without venturing into spoiler territory, the timing simply felt off. Given everything happening around the characters, it struck me as an odd moment to pause for intimacy. Instead of heightening the emotional impact, it interrupted the momentum the story had been building. Romance can absolutely shine during high-stakes moments, but this one didn’t feel like it belonged where it was placed.

Even so, I’m finding myself far less critical of the series than I was in the beginning. The pacing feels stronger, the world has expanded in interesting ways, and the emotional arcs are finally landing for me. While I’m still not completely in love with these books, I’m no longer reading them with hesitation. I’m reading because I genuinely want to know where everyone’s journey leads.

At six books into a series, that’s a pretty significant shift.

Devour or Nibble?

Nibble. Gold continues the upward trend I’ve been hoping for throughout The Plated Prisoner series. I’m still not entirely captivated, and a few moments didn’t work for me, but I’m finally invested in these characters and eager to see how everything comes together. If you’ve stuck with the series this far, I think this installment offers enough growth, surprises, and momentum to make continuing feel worthwhile.