Glint is the second book in the reimaging of the King Midas myth series called the Plated Prisoner. It takes place immediately following the events of Gild, so spoiler warning for that book. Auren has been taken by the Fourth’s Army, where she is being held captive by Commander Rip and being taken back to Midas so the two kings can come to some sort of agreement. Going into the book I was curious how this one would go especially since it doesn’t have the same warnings as the first book. Which I hoped was a good thing, because I really didn’t like some of those elements in the first book. But was still drawn in enough by the story, I wanted to see where it would continue with the rest of the series.
Synopsis
“You want to make your life easier? Then be the caged bird that you are and sing.”
For ten years, I’ve lived in a gilded cage inside King Midas’s golden castle. But one night changed everything.
Now I’m here, a prisoner of Fourth Kingdom’s army, and I’m not sure if I’m going to make it out of this in one piece. They’re marching to battle, and I’m the bargaining chip that will either douse the fire or spark a war.
At the heart of my fear, my worry, there’s him—Commander Rip.
Known for his brutality on the battlefield, his viciousness is unsurpassed. But I know the truth about what he is.
Fae.
The betrayers. The murderers. The ones who nearly destroyed Orea, wiping out Seventh Kingdom in the process. Rip has power sizzling beneath this skin and glinting spikes down his spine. But his eyes—his eyes are the most compelling of all.
When he turns those black eyes on me, I feel captive for an entirely different reason. I may be out of my cage, but I’m not free, not even close.
In the game of kings and armies, I’m the gilded pawn. The question is, can I out maneuver them?
Book Details
- Published: January 11, 2021
- Page Count: 441 pages
- Genre: Fantasy
Thoughts on Glint (Spoilers)
The book alternates between Auren’s POV (the majority of the book) and Queen Malina’s (Midas’s wife).
Auren’s POV focuses on her weeks with the Fourth Kingdom’s Army where she has to share a tent with Commander Rip, as he does not trust her. She vows never to betray Midas. Even though she largely comes to distrust many of the things he does including his treatment of her. But she refuses to leave Midas at least until she can talk to him, and sort things out for herself. During her time in the army, she meets Rip’s closest friends: Osrik, Lu, and Judd. They eventually help train her to fight even after learning that she’s Fae like Rip. We also get flashbacks to her childhood where she was used for her golden skin and all the reasons why she doesn’t trust anyone. She’s been beaten, raped, had her hair cut off, her ribbons plucked, and countless other things.
Auren refuses to let anyone touch her, even when she is hurt or skin. Something she freaks out about. This is understandable considering all the things she’s had to deal with since being taken away from the realm of the Fae since she was five years old. Something that wasn’t really a shock or twist considering I figured that out at the end of the previous book when Rip stated he knew what she was too.
Malina’s POV focuses on her trying to turn the sixth kingdom against Midas. Or rather getting back to how things used to be before the castle was turned to gold. She starts wearing white gowns and an opal crown. She manages to get the support of the ladies and advisors, but the citizens call her out for doing nothing for the last ten years. She ignored them just as much as Midas did, so they aren’t just going to look past that detail when she tries to give out coins and gifts in the middle of town. She also has a saddle of her own. Her story leaves off on her receiving a map with a message that the seventh kingdom might not be gone as everyone believes. The same goes for the rest of the Fae. Whatever she believes this detail or not remains to be seen. We also learn from her perspective that she’s the one who tipped off the pirates about the saddles and Auren heading to the Fifth Kingdom, when she learned that Auren hadn’t left with Midas.
Through the Fourth’s Army medic we learn that one of the saddles named Mist is pregnant with Midas’s child. Something that Auren hates the thought of mainly as Midas never finished inside her for that very reason. But it appears the herb that prevents pregnancy didn’t work. We don’t get Midas’s reaction to this news quite yet. But it’s definitely a turning point for Auren.
The book ends with the shocking reveal that it’s Auren, not Midas, who can turn anything into gold. We’ve been hinted at it this entire time, but it’s not made exclusively clear until Auren is returned to Midas. She turns yet another individual gold and everything she touches in the daytime turns to gold. She doesn’t want anyone to touch her not out of PSTD from past abuse, but because they would literally turn to solid gold if she touched them. Midas has been using her the entire time as his claim to power when he really had none. This happens when he tries to lock her back up in a cage, she lashes out by ripping the door off and turning her body double to gold. Midas leaves her locked in the dressing room where the cage is located, but she refuses to still idly by. Auren tries to break out and turns the door to solid gold in her attempt at breaking it down. Not only this happens but King Ravinger discovers this detail since he heard her shouting and reveals that he’s Rip. The two individuals are one and the same. That’s where the book leaves off with the two staring at each other with the discovery of who/what the other person is.
Overall, I would give Glint a 3.5 out of 5-star rating.
I enjoyed this book way more than I enjoyed the first one. Mostly because the Fourth Army treats women a hell of a lot better than anyone else ever did. They train Auren to protect herself. And Rip makes her confront what she really is. All of this so she will stop hiding behind Midas’s protection as a caged pet. Granted, she still goes back to him. Though she does refuse to go in a cage. It’s the one condition she won’t budge on. Even though Midas has the complete opposite idea. So, I’m glad the book ended with Auren leaving the passive role in her own life. It was something that bothered me in the first book, but slowly over the course of Glint, she takes more control of the things going on around her. Even if those things may not be the best choice.
I can’t wait to find out how Auren is going to take charge in the next book. Not only that but if the secret that she has the gold touch, not Midas is going to come into play. Especially as one of the saddles wants her freedom bought out by Auren to keep her secret. Not to mention what exactly Midas turned over to King Ravinger to avoid war. He doesn’t exactly know what he signed away in order to keep the peace. Not to mention, how he’s going to take Auren refusing to be locked up any longer. Since he needs her to secure his reign. And she’s not happy with him by any means.
Love ya,
Mae Polzine
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