My book review of The Gilded Cage by Lynette Noni.
Title: The Gilded Cage
By: Lynette Noni
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 465
Release Date: October 12th, 2021
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads:
Kiva trades one cage for another when she leaves behind a deadly prison for a deceptive palace.
Kiva Meridan is a survivor.
She survived not only Zalindov prison, but also the deadly Trial by Ordeal. Now Kiva’s purpose goes beyond survival to vengeance. For the past ten years, her only goal was to reunite with her family and destroy the people responsible for ruining their lives. But now that she has escaped Zalindov, her mission has become more complicated than ever.
As Kiva settles into her new life in the capital, she discovers she wasn’t the only one who suffered while she was in Zalindov—her siblings and their beliefs have changed too. Soon it’s not just her enemies she’s keeping secrets from, but her own family as well.
Outside the city walls, tensions are brewing from the rebels, along with whispers of a growing threat from the northern kingdoms. Kiva’s allegiances are more important than ever, but she’s beginning to question where they truly lie. To survive this time, she’ll have to navigate a complicated web of lies before both sides of the battle turn against her and she loses everything.
Review:
Lynette Noni’s The Gilded Cage, the sequel to The Prison Healer, delivers an exciting follow-up full of intrigue, twists, and emotional stakes. As the second book in the series, it successfully builds on the foundations of its predecessor, diving deeper into the characters' pasts and the dangers they face, while raising the bar for the final installment.
Kiva Meridan, the protagonist, shines even more brightly in this installment. Her inner turmoil and conflicting loyalties create a fascinating character study, and readers get to see her grappling with the decisions that could change the fate of those around her. Noni delves into Kiva's vulnerability, her relationships, and her desire to protect her family, making her a well-rounded and relatable protagonist.
The story is packed with tension and political intrigue, keeping readers on their toes. Secrets are revealed, and the web of deception becomes more tangled, with Kiva caught in the middle of competing allegiances. The twists and surprises are well-paced, and Noni manages to raise the stakes without overwhelming the reader. The balance between action, political strategy, and character dynamics is expertly handled.
Noni's world continues to expand in this sequel, with more insight into the kingdom’s politics and magical elements. The descriptions are vivid, and the setting feels lived-in, creating a rich backdrop for the drama to unfold. From the gritty streets to the lavish courts, the world of Evalon is immersive and intriguing.
While the book starts and ends with gripping tension, the middle portion does slow down. The focus on Kiva’s emotional journey, while important, can at times feel repetitive, and there are moments when the story stalls before picking up again toward the climax. Readers expecting non-stop action may find the midsection slower than anticipated.
While Kiva is well-developed, some of the secondary characters don't receive the same level of depth. Figures like Jaren and Naari, while compelling, could have benefited from more complexity, especially as they play pivotal roles in Kiva’s decisions and struggles.
The Gilded Cage is a captivating and satisfying sequel that elevates the stakes introduced in The Prison Healer. Lynette Noni continues to deliver a well-crafted mix of magic, politics, and emotion that will leave fans eager for the next book. Though there are moments where the pacing slows, the story remains engaging and packed with enough twists to keep readers hooked. For fans of YA fantasy, this is a must-read series that combines strong character arcs with a richly detailed world.
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