Gild by Raven Kennedy – a Review

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Description:
The fae abandoned this world to us. And the ones with power rule.

Gold.

Gold floors, gold walls, gold furniture, gold clothes. In Highbell, in the castle built into the frozen mountains, everything is made of gold.

Even me.

King Midas rescued me. Dug me out of the slums and placed me on a pedestal. I’m called his precious. His favored. I’m the woman he Gold-Touched to show everyone that I belong to him. To show how powerful he is. He gave me protection, and I gave him my heart. And even though I don’t leave the confines of the palace, I’m safe.

Until war comes to the kingdom and a deal is struck.

Suddenly, my trust is broken. My love is challenged. And I realize that everything I thought I knew about Midas might be wrong.

Because these bars I’m kept in, no matter how gilded, are still just a cage. But the monsters on the other side might make me wish I’d never left.

The myth of King Midas reimagined. This compelling adult fantasy series is as addictive as it is unexpected. With romance, intrigue, and danger, the gilded world of Orea will grip you from the very first page.

Review:

Gild by Raven Kennedy is the 1^st book in her The Plated Prisoner series. This is a dark fantasy inspired by the myth of King Midas; a retelling of the man who turned everything he touched to gold.

Auren, our heroine, had a rough childhood, losing her parents at a young age; having to fend for herself; but soon she is rescued by Midas, who will give her protection and kindness. 10 years later, after he became King, Auren is his favorite, with her body and hair totally gold, except for her eyes and teeth. She lives in a gilded cage, with Midas not sharing her with anyone, and pampering her; also, being a friend and lover to him.  Midas has a number of concubines whom he uses for sexual pleasures, and allowing those concubines (saddles) to enjoy the other men, but only Auren belonged solely to Midas.

Though we did not see sex scenes between Auren and Midas, even though he was her lover. I have to say this book had so many graphic non-consensual sex/rape scenes, that were really degrading for women.  Even using the “saddles” reference was terrible.  When Auren learns that Midas is offering her a one-night stand with another King, she is desperate to stop it, but Midas will eventually eliminate the other King, protecting Auren. 

When Midas takes control over the other kingdom, a war breaks out, and all the concubines & Auren are captured by pirates, with many of the soldiers killed. The pirate captain plans to make a deal to sell the concubines (after they have fun with them), to King Ravinger.  Commander Rip is the feared leader who forces the pirate captain to agree for them to take all the concubines, even though the captain wanted to keep Auren.   It was amazing though that Auren was able to use her unknown powers to save Rissa and herself.

Gild was an interesting fantasy, which from what I have discovered, will be three more books for this series.  However, I thought there was too much graphic sexual violence done to some of these women, which was extremely degrading, and most certainly for an adult audience.   The end of the book, Auren and the ladies will find themselves going to King Ravinger’s kingdom, and a new possible romance with Commander Rip, as well as Midas planning to go to war.  Gild was an intriguing story and disturbing; with the overall intriguing concept written by Raven Kennedy.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher