Gleam

Ugh, I cannot believe that ending! Those last 150 pages had me on the edge of my seat. I'm excited to jump into book four to see how Auren continues to grow.

This was just so so good

You know the writing is effective when you feel all sorts of emotions towards the characters in a book. And you can't imagine how livid I was with Midas throughout this book. My hate for him is higher than Burj Khalifa.

Now that I got that out of the way, this book is astounding. At first it was quite annoying that the writing style focused so much on emotions and streams of consciousness from different characters, but in the end I appreciated that because it did the trick. It made me emotionally invested towards the characters. It also helped that we now have POVs from Slade and Midas and not just Malina and Auren.

Overall, I loved this book. Gave it 4 stars cause I'm not really a fan of Auren's power but that's just my personal opinion. Still going to read the next books cause I am here already. I need to know what happens next and who the villain will be!

So close to 5

Gleam is by far the best book in the series so far. Everything in the first and second books feels like a build-up for what finally unfolds in the third installment. The pacing is spot on, with all the tension and mystery from the previous books coming to a head. The world expands in fascinating ways, and the characters experience real growth, especially Auren, who finally starts stepping into her own power.

And let’s talk about the smut—it’s absolutely amazing. Kennedy really knows how to write steamy scenes that feel earned and add depth to the characters’ relationships, while still fitting into the plot seamlessly. The chemistry is off the charts, and those moments don’t just serve to spice up the story, they also play a role in the emotional and personal development of the characters.

Gleam strikes the perfect balance between action, world-building, and romance. It’s gripping, sexy, and satisfying in all the ways you’d want from a romantasy series. It leaves you eager to see what comes next in the journey.

Good continuing, although again not much happening.
This book only takes places basically in fifth kingdom castle.

Summary of book #3:
Auren realizes more and more that she needs to get out from Midas and tries to flee. But she also gets closer to Ravinger and finally they cannot hold back anymore. So she decides to go with him. Midas in the end can pressure her but she explodes and kills him while also exposing her magic to everyone. Ravinger saves her to this secret area he negotiated from Midas.

now why couldn't the first two books have been like this one.....

Raven Kennedy just keeps making the Plated Prisoner series better and better as the books go on. Gleam is incredible, and I love it so much. I’m glad we picked up the pace in book 2, because this new plot pace is perfect for the story.

Our characters are now all together and interacting and I AM HERE FOR IT! King Ravinger vs Midas in a battle of who can out wit the other? Yes, 1000x yes.

I really wanted to focus on the growth of Auren in this review, because she made a lot of progress in book 2, but it is blown out of the water in proportion by the progress in Gleam. She is not going to take Midas’ shit any longer – she will NOT be in the cage, she will NOT be controlled, she will be allowed to LIVE or she will live on her own accord.

It simply was beautiful watching Auren deal with everything Midas threw at her, and he threw a lot to say the least. She stood up and took it and played the game just enough to have freedom to do what she needed, but she still stood up and went toe to toe with Midas on the big issues… and for the most part, won. She is amazing! For a woman who has been through this much abuse and trauma, it is incredible to see her stand up for herself against her abuser.

Now Midas is the ultimate perfect villain, and I say this because I was cringing with disgust several times throughout the book at what he did. the emotional abuse, attempted manipulation, drugging, physical abuse, needless murdering, torture, mind games, the fake golden happy facade… and I am sure I am missing stuff!! He was written so well, and I hated him so much.

Then we have King Ravinger – can he take me away to his rotted kingdom? I am ready. His persistence with Auren and his willingness to push her to her own conclusions was so heartwarming.

You’re not the villain in my story.”

“I am,” he says without remorse, his sharp jaw tight with tension. “But I’ll be the villain for you. Not to you.”

MY HEART <3 Now that is just the most dark romantic thing I have ever heard!! He is sexy, smart, caring, strong, kinda broody, and cares for Auren so much it is adorable.

I am SO GLAD we got to have the Ravinger + Auren pairing finally!! It took way too long for me, I wanted it so much sooner. I feel like it was written perfectly, but I am impatient and the angst and build up drove me wild! Their scenes were so spicy and sexy and I loved it so much.

The ending? Fabulous. Wonderful. Perfect. Amazing. OMG.

Let’s just say Auren is a badass and while I am crying I am also shouting ‘Fuck yeah go Auren’! This girl let’s nothing stop her and I am here for it. I can’t wait for what happens in book 4!

Overall, Gleam by Raven Kennedy as part of the Plated Prisoner series was an inspiring, amazing, intriguing, heart wrenching novel and I recommend it to everyone!

1000/1000

Absolutely love the shit out of this book. So many things happened and it was amazing

The hatred I felt for Midas was enormous and honestly that bitch Mist can respectfully burn in hell, I would've been done with her attitude waayyyy before everything happened.
The only minor change I would make is letting Midas suffer a more painful and slow death for all he put her through. I really wanted to see his downfall like Malina's, I wanted to see him lose everything and really feel his life being shredded to pieces and then he could die.

I want the Wrath to be my family and Slade is obviously now one of my favorite MMCs. Who would've thought he had that much to say when they got down to business like where did that come from sir. I have the biggest soft spot for funny characters so Judd was one of my favorites too. My heart absolutely broke when she found Digby and I hope he is a bigger part of the next book cause I really want to see their relationship evolve and I want him to have a bond with the Wrath too

The books in the series just got better and it might be one of my favorites now. I feel like it got a lot of reactions from me and there were a lot of unexpected twists which is always fun

Fiiiiinally.

Officially a Raven Kennedy girlie and happy to be here!! This series lives in my head rent free...and this is easily the best book in the series thus far

For more of my reviews, check out my blog.

For a series I really thought was going to be mostly steamy sex scenes, and mediocre-to-crappy writing, The Plated Prisoner series is really impressing me. Like, I'm gobbling these down at a book-a-day rate, and the writing is only getting better. Raven Kennedy clearly learned a lot while writing this series, and it really shows through the story. Everything I liked about the first two books is still present, but we're also getting gobs of character growth!

Auren is really starting to break through her cage, so to speak, and be her own person. She learns a lot about herself in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. There were a few times in this book where I wanted to grab her and shake her out of her misery, but she does end up doing it mostly on her own. She reaches her breaking point in this book, and once she hits it, ooooo what a fantastic show. We learn a little bit more about Rip in this book, but I'm still waiting on more backstory from him. He's endlessly fascinating, and I hope we get more about him in the next book because I am desperate for more knowledge! I also want more from the Wrath, but I have a feeling that's coming.

And yes, before any of you ask, there are a few steamy scenes in this one. Finally, we're hitting the fantasy romance part of the series. For all that this is advertised as fantasy romance, we don't really get anything more than a couple of kisses from the main couple in the books prior to this. I will hope for more romantic involvement in the next entry, too.

But I'm docking a star yet again because I thought the whole Midas reveal was slightly contrived (it just felt too implausible to me), and I'm still missing out on more world-building. Everything is very vague, and I'm DESPERATELY wishing for a map. We've got six/seven kingdoms messing around with one another here, and I don't know where any of them are in relation to one another! Give me a map!

Anyway, still loving this series. Onto the next!

In this book you see the rose colored glasses that Auden wears come off and she becomes her own person. Auden chooses herself. Similar in ways to the ACOTAR series.

Loved all the spice and the ending.

This book shook me to my core, split me into pieces, and built me up again. The plot twists, the angst, is unlike anything I've EVER read. It broke me, and made me feel absolutely every feeling. At once. The ending was perfect, unlike a loot of books I've read that made me angry, this book's ending makes me speechless - in a good way. I'm just left utterly satisfied. I've never experienced this feeling. Of complete peacefulness and joy after a book/book series.
It was tough, the whole book series was tough to read. They've been through so much. But it was the best series I've read.
I can't wait until the fourth book in May.

It was so close to 5* but in my mind it's 4.5*🙈

I'd review the book as best as I could but it would be way to spoilerish, so let me just say... Pushing through the first book was definitely worth it just to get to this beast.

I wouldn't know whether Glint or Gleam are my favorite out of the threw books but I just loved how the story kept on going.

I hope the forth book is as stounding because right now I have zero idea where the story will lead.

this the best book of the series so far, I love how everything comes together and there were so many explosive secrets. I absolutely loved Auren in this book, i was anxious all the time for her and wanted her to finally find herself and be happy. the romance in this book was satisfying and i would love to see more of the side characters in the future and i'm curious where the series is heading as this first arc is finally over.

Possibly Spoilery Review:

What a freaking roller coaster! This book is the third installment in Raven Kennedy's Plated Prisoner Series. This reread has been so fun, and I didn't realize how much of this series that I forgot about. More eye-opening and alarming behavior from Midas that made me so incredibly angry. This book is full of secrets and betrayal which made it impossible for me to stop listening. Yes, I endured the audio again. It's not great narration, but I was able to speed it up a bit which made it more bearable. We finally get some pay off from all of the sexual tension that has been building between Rip and Auren. Auren's eyes are opened further to what her life could be like in a world where she was free, a life that she craves. The story comes to an extreme head at the end of this book, and I am ✨starving✨ for Glow, which comes out next month. This story is a story of overcoming extreme odds after enduring years of abuse and intense betrayal. I cannot wait to see Auren's story continue and where her journey takes her. Also, what the heck is the queen up to? There's two queens that I'd like to know what part they're planning in all of this. This book, like the others, is an adult fantasy, 18+ for language, sexual content, and themes. Continue utilizing trigger warnings.