Glow

4 Stars – A Gritty, Twisted Fairytale of Power, Pain, and Finding Your VoiceThe Plated Prisoner series is one of those reads that creeps up on you—the kind that feels familiar at first, but slowly morphs into something much deeper, darker, and more empowering. Inspired loosely by the King Midas myth, this series offers a brutal and beautifully written look at trauma, captivity, and what it means to break free—not just from others, but from the lies we tell ourselves.Auren is a fascinating protagonist. At the start, she’s Midas’s prized possession—literally gilded in gold, kept in a cage, and convinced that her life is one of love and protection. But as the series progresses, she begins to question everything she’s been told, and watching her unravel those beliefs, piece by piece, is incredibly satisfying. Her growth is the heart of this story—slow, painful, but powerful.Midas is as manipulative and toxic as they come, and Raven Kennedy does an excellent job showing just how insidious emotional abuse can be. Then enters Slade (or Commander Rip

Considering I loved the first 3 books so much, this was a major disappointment. 😔 The pacing completely fell off, the additional POVs barely held my attention and I felt like we were doing the same thing for 600 pages. I was hopeful the ending setpiece would redeem it but that turned out as wasted potential.Not what I was expecting at all. Such a shame because until now this was a 5 star series. 😞2.75🌟