Glint: 2 (The Plated Prisoner Series)

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Let me just start off by saying how much I loved the found family in thus just *chef's kiss* it was so precious. I adored the new characters introduced and their interactions with Auren. Judd, Lu, Osrik, Keg, Rip—I need more of them please and thank you. The dirty talk during sex scenes. I've come to realize the way Raven Kennedy writes these is not for me. While the actual sex scenes are creative and unique (like the carriage scene 🥵), it's ruined for me by the dirty talk. For example: If there's something you crave, if there's some freedom you want to try the taste of, then you will do it, and I will be right there with you, watching you devour your wants. And then I will devour you." I won’t allow another storm to touch Auren. She has been flooded and wrung out, left to take the barrage without shelter. But so long as I’m here, I will be her shelter. There were so many unnecessary POVs, so many random characters who suddenly got a storyline after being one-dimensional for 3 books, and yet nothing happened in this whole book. Absolutely nothing. None of the books were big on plot, but at least they were short. The first 60% of this is completely unnecessary and could have been cut, it’s an endless repetition of Slade and Auren having drama, the rest of the Wrath making jokes for comic relief, and Auren having inner monologues about the same exact thing 20 times in a row. It was such a drag and if I hadn’t gotten this far into the series already, I would have dnfed right there.

So there could be 100 more lines in which is claimed that there is power or calm in submission - if the other part of that encounter doesn't understand consent, it's nothing but garbage recounted over and over again to make it seem okay. It's not. It's harmful and disgusting. And it's an offence to all those other authors managing to actually pull powerful submission off. End of story. So I will fight for him and he will kill for me, and if we need to become the villains, then so be it. This is the captivating second book of The Plated Prisoner series. It’s an adult epic fantasy story blending romance, intrigue, and beautiful imagery. Return to the seductive story of magic inspired by the myth of King Midas, and get caught up in the world of Orea.Kennedy takes great pride in being a California girl. She was born and brought up there and developed a love for books at an early age. This reading habit pushed her to create interesting worlds through her imagination or her creative mind. Kennedy loves dark chocolate and tea. She is often seen consuming these while binge-watching her favorite shows on TV. Slade is a villain through and through. He is unapologetic about it and he fully embraces his Fae nature and it's ruthless urges. I'm glad this is something Raven did not erase or attempt at a redemption arc and while he does have good intentions but he is ready to unleash the villain if anyone as so much harms a hair on Auren. If you're interested in more in-depth commentary with quotations and examples, read on. If you still plan to read this book and don't want to be spoilered do not read on. Raven continues to craft such an exceptional story that skillfully navigates through healing, trauma, depression and empowerment while gifting us with such a beautiful romance and an intriguing political overarching plot. Glint focused on Auren’s character development. Or tried to. She is surprisingly naïve despite her traumatic childhood making her a very difficult character to root for. Though, in her defense she isn’t faced with many life shattering truths to make her question her life with Midas. Kennedy spends the entire novel trying to make Auren realize that her life is worth more than sitting in a cage only for Auren to continue turning a blind eye until the last possible second.

For so long, I’ve swallowed my own tongue. I’ve tamped down every emotion, careful to ride every tide in the hopes that I don’t become submerged. Glint has the mysterious, dark, hot fae commander, who has a group of friends who are the best warriors in the whole realm. And their chosen family makes you feel things and smile like a fool. And Auren’s character development is so similar to the other female protagonists in those other books (points and Feyre and Poppy.) He rescued me when I was at my lowest, and because of that, I thought staying with him would keep me at my highest. But really, he’s trapped me in place and forced me to accept it all.The slow burn was absolutely enough. There was barely any romance in this honestly like it wasn't a huge focus, which I'm totally fine with since all this sets it up for the next book anyways. I need more Aurip content for sure.

Gold floors, gold walls, gold furniture, gold clothes. In Highbell, in the castle built into the frozen mountains, everything is made of gold. This beautiful scene. Honestly, out of the entire book, this is the most memorable scene for me. It's such a subtly important moment for Auren but also for Slade. It definitely made me tear up.Second, I wasn't feeling Slade's character, here. Something was off as his character started to develop into a gaslighting love interest and I really did not like that. Several times in this book Auren voices her confusion at her life in general and how she desires to not be lead by or be dependent on a man - Slade's response was to tell her that she was his, he was hers and not to worry her pretty head and then he seduced her. Multiple times. Where is the line between romance and not listening to Auren's needs that she was clearly voicing? I'm really confused as to why his character developed in this way and it ruined the second half of the book for me, a bit. Honestly, it’s hard to review this books without spoilers. I can’t say much of anything without tipping you off about….all the stuff. I don’t like how we have these healing girls getting out of abusive situations falling into love mere weeks later. It doesn’t make sense for that to happen twice in this story. After how the first book was, I so wasn't expecting to love this so much?? And unlike Gild, this didn't leave me feeling super uncomfortable and disturbed. I definitely enjoyed this a lot more. For ten years, I've lived in a gilded cage inside King Midas's golden castle. But one night changed everything.

I also really like the fact that while Slade is the love interest and we all adore him, he remains a ruthless character, that could even be considered a "villain" at times. He embraces his Fae side when it comes to his violent urges and fierce desire to protect, and he is not ashamed to let the world see how violent and destructive he can be when it comes to protecting the people he cares about and his kingdom. He was not "tamed" because he fell in love, and he keeps this wild edge, without trying to romanticize it, and I really enjoyed this part of him too. You’re mine, Auren. As wholly as I am yours. If there’s something you crave, if there’s some freedom you want to try the taste of, then you will do it, and I will be right there with you. Watching you devour your wants. And then I will devour you.” Sigh...this wasn't my favorite book, ever. This is just my opinion so take this with a grain of salt, but I thought this book could have been better. Now I'm here, a prisoner of Fourth Kingdom's army, and I'm not sure if I'm going to make it out of this in one piece. They're marching to battle, and I'm the bargaining chip that will either douse the fire or spark a war.Please Note: This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, violence, and rape. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. This is book one in a series. I mean you’re mine to please. To pleasure. You’re mine to protect. To adore. To hear. To see. To experience. To love.”