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Gleam

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Brought to you by Penguin.

THE TIKTOK FANTASY SENSATION THAT'S SOLD OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES, PERFECT FOR FANS OF SARAH J. MAAS AND JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

'I don't choose him. Not anymore. I'm choosing me.'

I was told that being confined was to keep the bad out . . . Until i realized it was about keeping me in'

Midas made me forbidden and weak. Little did he know that I would find my wings and voice - which sings now.

After living amongst the terrifying army of Fourth Kingdom, I find myself, once again, in strange lands and a kingdom surrounded by liars.

But something has ignited within me. Something dark. Something angry.

Then comes King Ravinger.

And the last thing I wanted was my heart to be torn.

Can I really fall in love when the cities around me threaten to crumble and my fate hangs in the balance?

One thing is for sure, I won't be caught in a cage again.

No, this time, it'll be me setting the trap.

© Raven Kennedy 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Dark Fantasy Epic Fantasy Historical Romance Fiction Royalty Heartfelt

Critic reviews

Praise for The Plated Prisoner Series
This series has stolen my heart, my breath, my regard for anything else. I've never been so immersed in a story before-never read characters that have felt so real. I've cried, laughed, screamed, thrown my kindle across the room, picked it up again, swooned . . . These characters, this WORLD . . . it's everything. Raven has written a story for the ages, destined to go down as one of the epics
Raven writes with a magic that comes to life on the page. Every single word gleams like gold
This is one of those series that started off phenomenal, and only gets better with every subsequent book.
Get ready to be enthralled from the first word, and begging for more by the last. Raven Kennedy crafts an astonishing world that's filled with captivating characters and a story you won't be able to put down
This series is amazing and I can't recommend it enough. It is one of the best New Adult Fantasy books out there.
TEN GILDED STARS! Remarkably original . . .and the prose, people . . . gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous
An emotional rollercoaster
What I've enjoyed so far about this series is how it's a metaphor about real, emotional issues
I devoured [the] first book and it ended on such a nice cliff-hanger that I am thirsting for the next one
All stars
Most relevant
Such a shame that they changed the female narrator for the third book. The narrators voice just doesn’t match the characters. Wish they had kept with the original narrator. I’ve really struggled to enjoy this one because of it. Story is excellent but Gleam on audiobook is marred due to the narrator ☹️

Change of Narrator

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In this book we saw the golden girl really come into herself and get free of her past. We find out a lot of secrets and get some really steamy scenes 🌶🥵. The ending was something else, it was so good and unexpected that I even forgive some of the annoying m, sentimental rumbling in the middle of the book.
I’ve to say, queen Malina is a total entitled and selfish, shortsighted b!tch and I disliked her even more than before. I truly hope she gets to redeem herself in the next few books as she was a victim of Midas too.
Despite the outstanding narration from Bella Sandy (she really put so much emotional attention to her performance, it was amazing), I think having a different narration is a total bad move and the person that decided this should be sacked. We already have a voice for Auren and, it could have been Bella, if it was from the beginning, but to just change now is like a slap in the face of every fan that bought the previous books. Terrible move Penguin, very disappointing .

Wow 😮 I was NOT expecting that ending 🤯😱

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Áurea is growing on me as a character, loving both sides of slade. As for listening to it on Audible, I’m in two minds to carry on or to start reading the books. I’ve enjoyed Bella Sanbys narration, except for her interpretation of Ravinger. It is absolutely awful!! I spend so much of the time cringing whenever she narrated his words, I’m not sure I can continue with it. I’d rather she just said his stuff in her normal voice then listening to a women with a really bad case of laryngitis. Come on producers, you can do better than this!

Enjoying the series, but…

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Gleam absolutely won me over. I’ll be honest—at first the pacing felt a little slower, but once the story hit its stride, wow did it take off. Raven Kennedy has this incredible talent for making you feel everything right alongside Auren. The emotional weight, the lingering trauma, and then that shocking revelation… it all hits like a punch to the gut in the best, most heart-wrenching way. And when Auren finally channels her anger? It’s powerful, cathartic, and so well earned.

Kennedy's writing is, as always, beautifully descriptive with that signature sass woven through every chapter. Her characters shine, especially the sassy ones, and they grow in ways that feel organic and satisfying. Some fade into the background or fall from grace, but honestly, it's usually because they deserve to. The world-building continues to impress: lush and dangerous, glittering yet terrifying, and completely immersive from start to finish. It's a setting you can sink into and instantly feel transported.

The ending? A classic Raven Kennedy cliffhanger; sharp, dramatic, and absolutely irresistible. This book wasn’t just another box ticked for my reading list; it felt like a journey through despair, fury, and finally, a spark of hope. The Plated Prisoner series stands tall among fantasy favourites for me, right next to ACOTAR, but with its own unique edge, one that cuts deep and keeps you craving more. I adored Gleam, and I can't wait to keep bleeding, healing, and falling deeper into this world.

Gleam bleeds tears of gold and despair

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Amazing story, couldn’t imagine the way it’s gone in this third book. Great series. The female narrator is excellent but the male missed the mark. Completely didn’t make his voice the way it’s described at all. Excellent listen, however.

Great twists and turns with such a love story

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