Title: Gild

Author: Raven Kennedy

Pub. Date: October 16, 2020

Pages: 375

Pub: Not Listed

Genre: NA Fantasy Romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads

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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.

Please Note: This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, violence, and non-consensual sex. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. This is book one in a series.

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This will be a spoiler free review. This has been on my radar for a while now, and with its growing popularity on BookTok, I decided to finally dive in.

This really didn’t live up to the hype BookTok gives it, but it was still an enjoyable read, nonetheless. I pretty much inhaled it in one sitting on the beach. It’s a pretty quick read. With the way people talked about this book, I was expecting more. It’s not really spicy, tbh. Yeah, there’s graphic sex on the page, but it didn’t really elicit any kind of reaction. I think my opinion is going to change come book 2, but book one really didn’t meet my expectations. People really hyped this book up – and I think on some level – that’s a detriment.

That being said, I was completely transported into this world. I was so easily sucked in and captivated. I had no problems envisioning what was happening, what the world looked like, all of it.

I can also honestly say that I had no idea what was going to happen. I have a very – and I mean very minute knowledge about the story of King Midas. I loved that this was an adaptation of something new – in the sense that I’ve only ever read one other King Midas retelling. It was fresh and new, and I really enjoyed that aspect. As much as I love my BATB, and Hades&Persephone, everything can start blurring together. So, the fact that the author chose something more obscure and unique – it’s a bonus.

I did spend a large part of this book expecting a dark hair love interest? I pose that as a question because I saw fan art, and the guy had dark hair, and Midas obviously doesn’t. So, I was anxiously anticipating this dude to show up. Also, I’d heard that it was darker, enemies to lovers, and I just wanted this due to appear.

The events leading up to everything that goes down towards the end…could not have predicted it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so fast paced and full of action and just so much going on. It definitely brought out the feels and had me (figuratively) on the edge of my seat. I was definitely sprawled on a towel in the sand reading the end of this book.

I immediately bought books 2 and 3 and I fully intend to inhale them the same way I did Gild. And then I’ll be impatiently waiting for book 4.

If this has been on your radar – like it was on mine – pick it up. It’s a solid enjoyable read and I really think that it’s only going to get better. Auren is a really interesting character, and her story is pretty wild. So much happens and so much more is bound to happen. And I cannot wait to see what’s in store.