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adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m coming back to this review having read the next few books in the series, and this is what I feel compelled to say about Gild:
This is truly just the first chapter in an epic saga of a woman coming into herself and her power. The story, character progression, and worldbuilding is worth it. However, getting through this first book is just the beginning— and not usually a pleasant one to deal with.
At times it feels stagnant. Some moments seem to drag out and not end. All of it paints a rather horrific picture of a misogynistic, cruel world that has held our main character, Auren, at bay. She is a victim. But she doesn’t recognize it yet. I’m a fast reader, but I lost momentum 100 or so pages in, because it was painful to experience what Auren and others were subjected to, and where Auren was mentally.
But I promise the story really starts gaining momentum in the second half of the book, and then the next book is where the growth truly starts to happen. As Auren starts to recognize just how bad things have been for her, we also get a widening world that is far larger and more interesting than Auren’s led to believe based on what we see in this book. That’s very intentional, and it’s very well done.
So, the only reason I don’t give this book five stars is because you don’t have the hope or momentum yet. This one is really rough, especially for anyone triggered by rampant misogyny or SA. The trauma is well-steeped in the FMC’s life. But the journey that comes out of this initial chapter is beautiful, and the payoff is visceral when you get it.
I really hope you give this book a chance the way my sister helped me give it a second chance, even when the subject matter is very, very dark.
No real spice in this one, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of sexual situations that arise. So be careful. But Raven Kennedy has a sweeping epic to tell, and this is a potentially painful but crucial first step to experiencing it.
This is truly just the first chapter in an epic saga of a woman coming into herself and her power. The story, character progression, and worldbuilding is worth it. However, getting through this first book is just the beginning— and not usually a pleasant one to deal with.
At times it feels stagnant. Some moments seem to drag out and not end. All of it paints a rather horrific picture of a misogynistic, cruel world that has held our main character, Auren, at bay. She is a victim. But she doesn’t recognize it yet. I’m a fast reader, but I lost momentum 100 or so pages in, because it was painful to experience what Auren and others were subjected to, and where Auren was mentally.
But I promise the story really starts gaining momentum in the second half of the book, and then the next book is where the growth truly starts to happen. As Auren starts to recognize just how bad things have been for her, we also get a widening world that is far larger and more interesting than Auren’s led to believe based on what we see in this book. That’s very intentional, and it’s very well done.
So, the only reason I don’t give this book five stars is because you don’t have the hope or momentum yet. This one is really rough, especially for anyone triggered by rampant misogyny or SA. The trauma is well-steeped in the FMC’s life. But the journey that comes out of this initial chapter is beautiful, and the payoff is visceral when you get it.
I really hope you give this book a chance the way my sister helped me give it a second chance, even when the subject matter is very, very dark.
No real spice in this one, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of sexual situations that arise. So be careful. But Raven Kennedy has a sweeping epic to tell, and this is a potentially painful but crucial first step to experiencing it.