Gild by Raven Kennedy--A Dark Fantasy Retelling of King Midas

This review comes with a big disclaimer: Gild simply wasn’t for me—but I fully acknowledge that it could be exactly what someone else is looking for.

At the beginning of the month, I asked for some book recommendations with three criteria: spicy, enemies-to-lovers, and he's not a jerk. 

At a Glance

After seeing a flurry of recommendations on Threads, I dove into Gild expecting spicy enemies-to-lovers vibes with a swoon-worthy love interest. What I got instead was a slow-burn dark fantasy centered on trauma, captivity, and manipulation, where the true love interest doesn’t even appear until the end—and, according to fans, doesn’t really shine until books 2 or 3. That’s not a journey I’m willing to continue, but I respect that many readers love it.

What to Expect

The first book in the Plated Prisoner series leans heavily into world-building, setting the stage for what’s clearly a much bigger story. The prose is lyrical and atmospheric, and Kennedy does an excellent job writing from the perspective of a deeply broken woman who’s been manipulated into believing her cage is safety and her captor is love.

If you’re a patient reader who enjoys dark fantasy with complex trauma narratives, then Gild may absolutely be worth your time.

Who Might Enjoy Gild

- Readers who enjoy slow-burn series with big payoffs in later books

- Fans of dark, gritty fantasy with heavy psychological themes

- Readers looking for a unique retelling of King Midas

- Those who don’t mind Stockholm Syndrome dynamics as a vehicle for character development

- Fans of books like Den of Vipers or The Shadows Between Us

What Gild Isn’t

It’s not spicy in the romance sense—though there’s sexual content, it’s largely disturbing and tied to power dynamics. There’s no actual romance in this installment, only a distorted view of it. Midas is not the endgame, and the heroine, Auren, is far from healed. This is the beginning of her awakening.

Trigger Warnings

Slavery, sexual assault, misogyny, captivity, psychological abuse, and emotional manipulation. Please proceed with caution.

Favorite Quote

“Does it really matter if your cage is solid gold when you aren’t allowed to leave it? A cage is a cage, no matter how gilded.”

Final Thoughts

I won’t be continuing the series, but I can see the appeal. Gild is for those who crave complex, flawed heroines and stories that are more about survival than swooning. The writing is strong, the world is rich, and the themes—though dark—are thoughtfully handled. It’s just not the fantasy I was looking for.