This is a character-driven introduction. The world-building and Auren’s internal monologue take center stage before the explosive action of the sequels.
Gild is an adult fantasy (New Adult) featuring dark themes, explicit language, and depictions of emotional abuse. Gild by Raven Kennedy
A gritty, atmospheric world where "magic" comes at a high physical and emotional cost. What to Expect This is a character-driven introduction
The world is divided into six kingdoms, but Auren lives in a golden cage. Literally. Everything around her—and Auren herself—has been turned to gold by King Midas. To the world, she is his most prized possession; to Auren, Midas is the man who saved her from a life of poverty and fear. A gritty, atmospheric world where "magic" comes at
A Court of Thorns and Roses meets The Handmaid’s Tale . Series Status: Complete.
by Raven Kennedy is the dark, gripping first installment of the Plated Prisoner series. A reimagining of the King Midas myth, it subverts the classic legend into a tale of survival, power, and psychological complexity. The Story
But when a political shift forces Auren out of the safety of the Highbell castle and into the freezing wilderness of Orea, her devotion is tested. She is forced to confront the reality of her "gilded" life and the realization that her cage, no matter how shiny, is still a prison.