Gleam

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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!