Review: Glow (Plated Prisoner Series), By Raven Kennedy

Rating: ☆☆☆/5
Pages: 736
Date of Publication: 2022
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Series: Yes, Completed as of 2024
Tropes: Forbidden romance, morally grey love interest, fae elements, found family, ‘who hurt you?’, dark protector, magic awakening

SPOILERS AHEAD

Synopsis: After the death of Midas, Auren is whisked away by Slade to the hidden village of Fourth Kingdom, Drollard. There, Auren must reconcile with what she went through during her time spent with Midas, the loss of her ribbons, the rage of her power and the new addition of Slade’s rot within her. Here is where she finds out more about Slade, his past and his family. As well as finding out more about him, she must become reacquainted with her own power, both magical and physical. Meanwhile, Queen Malina’s storyline develops as we read her story of venturing to the Seventh Kingdom and the sacrifices she makes. Along with this, more love interests and character storylines are introduced, whether fitting or not.

Review:

First of all, I need to start with the negatives, just to get them out of the way… what the Fuck is up with Osrik and Rissa? I don’t know what it is, but I hate them together. The whole storyline feels rushed and sudden. The way Osrik feels towards her when she is attacked is absolutely ridiculous in the timeframe. In a matter of days, maybe weeks, he is willing to die for her. Not to mention the cringey nickname he gives her - Yellowbell. What is that??? I’m sorry I’m just so mad about it - it totally misaligned with the great pacing that Kennedy had kept consistently throughout the entire series. It is the only aspect of the novels where she, for some reason, abandons all sense of time and pace. So, in short, hate everything to do with the two of them and it’s dumb as fuck. Apologies, but it pissed me off.

NEXT, Malina is a bitch but oh my god I love her. Her storyline is so interesting and watching her become such an essential character is wonderful. Now, obviously she is betraying her kingdom, but she doesn’t fully know that, and it is necessary in her character’s redemption arc, which will talked about more in upcoming reviews of the next books. Overall, I love the way Malina is worked into the plot.

Back to Auren and Slade. Honestly, I feel like not much happens between the two of them in this book - it’s more about discovering their past. We find out everything to do with Slade’s past; his childhood, his mother, his father and his brother. The name Rip is explained, finally, and we get to know Ryatt a bit more as well as his mother. It is also interesting to learn more about Auren and her relationship with her power. It explains a lot when she mentions her past with her power, and makes it all the more rewarding to watch her flourish with it in this book. It is also incredibly wholesome the way Judd helps her hone her fae abilities too. I love watching characters learn how to hold their own in a found family setting - one of my favourite tropes.

The final moments of the book are incredibly intense and I love it. The drama of Auren being taken and going through the Cleansing and ultimately the Conflux is devastating. Not to mention leaving the readers on such a cliffhanger.

As much as there was a mix of moments that I loved and loathed, this novel definitely felt like more of a filler book. Saying that, it is essential in reading due to the explanations of the past that tie a lot of loose ends together. Kennedy used this book to do so well, however I also feel like she added in the likes of Osrik and Rissa to try and keep the new romance trope alive, which didn't need to be done, in my opinion. Honestly, Malina could’ve done without it too, but more of that in the next review.

BookSeeker <3