“I’m the gold-plated prisoner. But what a pretty prison it is.”

I don’t know why it took me so long to start this series… but I hate myself for waiting! I consumed this book. One day. That’s all it took for this series to take over my life. I struggled to put this book down. Now I know some people have issues with the language of the book and some of the characters but like you can quickly see how it’s all intentional.

This book started off unexpectedly but it definitely started off with a bang. wink wink I cannot think of anything I disliked about this book. I mean other than Midas… Auren is beautifully written. I absolutely adore her. She’s funny. And honestly I can forgive her for her serious Stockholm because she’s convinced herself that he saved her from the world.

I will admit that at one point I forgot this was a fantasy because it was this perfect level of world building that I didn’t feel overwhelmed with the fantasy dynamic. I loved the women in this book Auren and Malina are such amazing characters. I think they have very different strengths but are hindered because it’s a males world. I gotta say this book put me through the emotional wringer… it was so fascinating. ( )

Quick read. First the book seems to be about the life of royals and the drama it brings. But towards the end it goes randomly in a strong fantasy direction and at the end I didn't know what the book wants to be. Some elements remind me of "A song of ice and fire", but it the end its an endless violation and objectification of women. For me personally not the kind of vibe I like, but at least it has a nice cliffhanger at the end.

I think I won't read the next part. ( )

This is just terrible. Quite a few people wrote that the first one is bad and that it gets better later on and the average rating also seems to suggest this.
And I can see where they are coming from. The first book doesn't even introduce the male lead yet so it makes sense that many people might be unsatisfied after just the first book.
But beyond the actual romantic interest being introduced the second book is not in any way better.
There is just so much wrong with this book and at the same time, it is so popular as well that I don't think this deserves the effort required by me to peel apart all the layers of terribleness here.
There are almost certainly a lot of far more eloquent and better-structured reviews that explain what is wrong with this series already. ( )

4 stars

“It’s the arrogance of men, to think so little of women. And it’ll be their downfall too.”

Auren is the King’s gilded saddle, and she resides in a gilded cage. Auren came into Mida's care as a teen when he saved her from the streets. Since then, he has made her the King’s coveted and infamous gold saddle across the land. He has vowed to kill anyone who touches Auren.

“But I do know this: All men, whether they’re a king or a peasant, covet what they do not have.”

Auren loves King Midas because he keeps her safe from everyone and everything… That is until he uses her as a chess piece to make headway with a neighboring King. Auren is blown away when her King promises her to King Fulke in exchange for military support. Auren is a faithful subject and lives to serve King Midas, but she questions if he loves her as much as he leads her to believe.

“But memory and time aren't friends. They reject each other, they hurry in opposite directions, pulling the binding taut between them, threatening to snap. They fight, and we inexplicably lose. Memory and time. Always losing one as you go on with the other.”

The opening chapter of this book might be a little alarming because it gets explicit and graphic quickly, but don’t let it put you off. Auren is giving the reader a glimpse of her world for the reader to gauge what normal is for her as the King’s saddle. Additionally, there is violence and references to rape in this book. It is in no way promoting rape or women as the inferior sex. It is simply a world built in which the odds are stacked against the protagonist, and she must overcome her circumstances. Excuse me while I tip-toe around areas of the plot I don’t want to give away- they are worth the wait!

“You can have all the gold in the world and yet lack everything of real worth.”

The story initiates with the promise of a hero and a romance. King Midas, the hero, swoops Auren off the streets and protects and provides for her in a way she always dreamed of. Believe it or not-the cage was her idea, and King Midas gladly provided it for her. King Midas has a queen, but they don’t let her get in the way of their true love… if you can call it that. The image of King Midas and Auren's love for each other crumbles as it is built. Deceit, lies, and manipulation alters Auren’s rose-tinted glasses- especially when he puts her life in danger. There is a consistent and annoying back and forth waiting to see if Auren is given to King Fulke for a night. It keeps tension in the story but also drives you a little crazy.

In addition to questioning the intentions of the King, Auren ends up in a situation where she is no longer protected from the evils of the world outside the castle walls. Auren must navigate dangerous situations with a group of royal saddles that hate her guts. All Auren wants to do is return to King Midas and the safety of her gilded cage. There is both internal and external conflict throughout the book. There is minor character growth, but the main focus is survival and returning to King Midas. ( )

This is not my favorite introduction book, and when I originally picked it up, I put it down without any inclination of finishing it. But I heard so much praise for the sequel that I gave it another shot. It's hard to recommend a book series when you have to say "The first book isn't that good, but the second is so good!" but hey, we do that with TV shows too. ( )