Gleam

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

So close to 5

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

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.

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