The Gilded Cage

The Prison Healer Series, Book 2

By: Lynette Noni

Narrated by: Jeanette Illidge

Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

Kiva trades one cage for another when she leaves behind a deadly prison for a deceptive palace in this dark and dangerous sequel to The Prison Healer, which Sarah J. Maas called "a must-read."

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.

©2021 Lynette Noni (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Engaging and Intriguing

The second book in the Prison Healer trilogy, The Gilded Cage, was engaging and kept me on my toes a bit while listening. I enjoyed it but found it slightly more predictable than the first book. While I did not know exactly what the twists would be, the back and forth within the story made this book a little easier to predict or make assumptions about, whereas with The Prison Healer, I didn’t anticipate the final twist at the end at all! I really enjoy this world and this story so far and look forward to seeing what the next installment brings!

Great sequel

I really enjoyed the twists and turns. The writing and narration made it easy to get lost in the story. The author has a fluid writing style that is neither florid nor simple. Leoni has created a beautifully complex world with a subtle touch, rather than the lazy slapping the reader in the face with pages of exposition of the characters explaining every detail style that so many authors do.
The only complaints I have are the communication, or rather, the lack thereof. I just wish Kiva wasn't so naive when obviously being lied to, and that she would have at least tried confiding in the two people who she knew without a doubt she could trust. Sometimes she just stood there, not speaking or telling them anything because of "plot reasons" to make things harder.

Honestly surprised!

At the ending of the Prison Healer, the last few lines blindsided me a bit. I had suspensions that something was going on behind the scenes but the narrator did a great job delivering that ending! Even with my messed up mixed emotions I had to read the sequel and I am so glad I did! The emotion was there, new characters introduced, the twists and the end, and I loved being able to read more into these characters to learn why certain things were happening! This is a really fun series and I am ready for the next book!

to say I was hooked is an understatement

the narrative is engaging. love the characters so much and was anxiously awaiting the reveal at the end.

Annoying protagonist. Predictable storyline.

Kiva was pathetic, naive, and unconvincing as someone with a pure "golden" heart given how self-centered and manipulative she was throughout the story. Every time she opened her mouth, you knew exactly what was going to happen next in the storyline because she was completely incapable of critical thinking. I don't normally write reviews but this book just made me crabby with how lame it / she was. I will definitely be skipping the last book - I don't care what happens to any of them at this point.

Not the same Kiva

I loved the first book in the series because the heroine was so smart and quick on her feet. This was not the case this time around. Kiva just seemed to have too much allegiance to a mother who willfully left her to die, a sister who only sees her as a pawn, and brother who means well but has no means to actually help her.

Kiva’s actions at first make sense but then dwindle down to acts that seem to only happen move the plot along. She knows her family left her die in a death prison on purpose, but still acts to help them gain a throne they don’t actually rightfully deserve. It’s not even a cause she believes in or will benefit from but she goes through with it anyway. And for what? Loyalty to those who have never been loyal to her? It was just odd to say the least.

Also, Kiva is aware that her family is leading a rebellion but she’s somehow shocked and upset that they harm and kill the very people that they are rebelling against? Towards the end, Kiva becomes a peripheral character in her story, ping ponging between loyalties, and being used a pawn by all. The cliffhanger ending did nothing to make me want to continue the series. The only reason I will be continuing the trilogy is because I was so highly invested in the first title. Admittedly, this book was interesting until Kiva begins behaving in an un-Kiva-like fashion.

The narration was on point, but if the simpering and gullible Kiva we have now had been the one introduced in the first book, I would have never checked in for the second.

Even better than the first book!

Absolutely mind blowing. I thought the first book was good, but this one? 10/10 will be telling everyone to pick up these books.

Terrible Narration!

The story was excellent, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series, but my goodness that narration was just dreadful! I’ll stick to reading the book in print next time.

your really gonna make me read another book?

this book was really really hard to get through. I know it's a fantasy but this plot requires alot of suspension of disbelief. like what a dumb protagonist. she's smart enough to out live a death prison and heal people with herbs but she can't see this very clear plot? I mean she's just dumb. and all the swooning for the prince is so basic and put of character. really not a good book.

Great book and series

I really enjoyed the story and the characters. I was so stressed at the end of this book and I’m looking forward to the third one. 4.5 rating on the actual story and plot! Loved it.

The performance on the audiobook was average. It felt like she randomly used British accents because her range was limited. Like why would Jaren’s family have British accents but not him? Anyways, it wasn’t awful but certainly not the best performance I’ve heard.