First read: 4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Second read: 5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m the darling of King Midas, ruler of Highbell and the Sixth Kingdom of Orea. People flock to see me just as much as they come to look upon his gleaming castle worth more than all the riches in the entire realm.
I’m the gold-plated prisoner.
But what a pretty prison it is.

Gild is the first installment in The Plated Prisoner series and is a reimagining of the myth of King Midas whose mere touch turns anything into solid gold.

On my first read I rated this book 4-stars, but diving into it on my second read and knowing this book sets the foundation for the rest of the series I was able to enjoy the little clues and foreshadowing planted in it.

I appreciate the intricate world-building and lore Raven sprinkles evenly throughout the book. She does a splendid job in introducing a cast of very interesting characters whether their actions are questionable or not.

When I say this is a foundational book, it's only the tip of the iceberg to an incredible story.

To give you a taste of the story, I'll try my best to summarize it in a way that is not very spoiler-y.

Hundreds of years ago, when there existed a bridge and a Seventh Kingdom, Orea was connected with Annywyn, the realm of the Fae and the Fae brought to Orea magic and many Oreans born to a Fae parent or with Fae ancestry are gifted with magical powers. But years later, magic slowly died out and the Fae do no longer cross Orea nor do Oreans cross into Annwyn. No more Fae set a foot in Orea because the Fae betrayed the Oreans 300 years ago and their new King saw Oreans as lesser beings and destroyed the bridge between the two realms resulting in the Seventh Kingdom's doom.

Now, there are only six kingdoms ruled by six kings. The story primarily takes place in the sixth kingdom ruled by King Midas, the golden ruler of Highbell.

The the story mainly follows Auren.
The King's favorite.
His precious one.
His gold-touched.
His gilded pet.

Unlike any other heroine, Auren lives within her golden flesh. Everything about her is coated in gold except for her white teeth and pink tongue. At the age of 15, Auren was a homeless girl and a victim of child trafficking until Midas saved her. For ten years she shows her gratitude to her savior even if he keeps her in a gilded prison. Even when he promised her love but marries another woman. And even if he uses her as a tempting bait for greedy Kings and Allies.

She is the one he gold-touched, she is his forever.

She loved him as Tyndall.
She loves him still as King Midas.

Midas and his ally indulge in their own schemes and plotting to defeat their enemy, the Fourth Kingdom's King—Ravinger. His name fills any enemy with dread as the vile and cruel King who earned the title "King Rot" has a cursed power that enables him to rot everything standing in his way.

Auren is not but a victim in these political games played by greedy men, she only yearns to be left alone forever and locked away in her gilded cage where it is safe.

But... little does Auren know that stepping out of her cage means she will see the world for what it truly is. Can Auren face the dreadful world out there that awaits her? Is she ready to face her own ugly truths and tragic fate?

So if I make it through this, if I live, I vow to myself that I won’t let it happen again. I won’t sit idly by and keep letting men crush me in their fists.

I want to praise Raven as she seamlessly blends political intrigue, court drama, and fantasy into the story which gives it a distinctive streak.

The flow of the story was perfect! I did not even check how many pages I have left and I was surprised when I found that I am more than halfway through the story, I was THAT engrossed.

On my reread, I appreciate Auren's character more and I thought I couldn't love her more. Despite the riches she lives in, she still feels a sense of sympathy and sadness towards the devastating reality of the world outside of Highbell. Raven does a fantastic job at depicting Auren as a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, she is obviously a captive in a gilded cage and Midas weaponizes his love and affection to sway her whichever direction he pleases.

You're probably wondering what the romance is about.. I don't think I can spill much about the romance in this book because well.. "spoilers". Let me just say it's worth it. Readers won't be disappointed on its future development.

It was kind of hard to predict how the events would unfold and that is not necessarily a bad thing because it kept me on edge and I really enjoyed that.

Please keep in mind the triggers below as this is a dark fantasy romance.

Trigger warning: explicit language, graphic sexual scenes, attempted rape and rape, violence, abuse, physical assault, slut-shaming, mention of child trafficking, gaslighting, death, Stockholm syndrome.