I promised her I'd be the villain on her behalf.
So that's what I'll fucking be.
So that's what I'll fucking be.
Gold
Raven Kennedy
Plated Prisoner, book five
Paperback, 754 pages
ISBN 9781464224454
Kindle edition, 646 pages
ASIN B0B4F9G5JD
Published December 7, 2023
Every end is also a beginning.
I thought I was going to die, and would have if it weren’t for Slade. The only way he could save me was to open a rip between worlds. The only way for me to save myself was to go through it.
Sometimes, fleeing one dangerous place just brings you to another.
Annwyn.
The realm of the fae.
There is magic and beauty here, though around every corner, threats lurk.
But I’m a threat too.
I’m not a girl in a gilded cage anymore, and no one is going to stop me from finding my way back to Slade.
But returning home means facing danger and secrets. So I have to burn bright enough to light my own way…
Or else I might be swallowed by the dark.
Please note: This adult fantasy book includes dark elements that may be triggering, including violence, cruelty, death, adult language, and explicit romance. It is intended for ages 18 years and older. Read at your own discretion.
This post will contain spoilers. A lot of spoilers.
The last book ended as Rip tore a hole in the world, allowing Auren to escape into the void where he could not follow. Although he expected to. Eventually. It was an emotionally devastating scene that ripped my heart out. Why must we relive this?!
Auren falls... flies... and lands in Annwyn. Home of the Fae. Her home. And I am screaming, my eyes welling with tears right along side her, as she finds her ribbons *finally* restored. Even if only in part.
And Slade, desperate to find her, desperate to find his mother, desperate to find his people... is left spiralling and the only path he can cling to is one that focuses his attention on those responsible for every wrong Auren ever suffered in a strategically orchestrated rampage that spans the entire series.
Manu for abducting her.
Queen Isolte for torturing her.
King Merewen for the Conflux forced upon her.
Rotting. Torturing. Executing.
He even took revenge on the pirates for taking Auren's damn horse! The traffickers in Derfort. The dew dealers that provided the drug that subdued her back when Midas hacked away at her ribbons.
And lastly, Queen Kaila.
Some have said this book is the filler of the series. While I would say I understand, I also disagree. This isn't filler. This is natural progression.
Malina is falling for the assassin sent to kill her. I swear, this woman needs to spend more time in self reflection. What do you mean you're 'still married in the eyes of the gods'? You've been riding your own exclusive saddle for years. If your gods are okay with that then I highly doubt they're going to smite you for kissing a man.
All the while, the Fae have invaded from over the bridge that Malina herself helped restore and are waging their own death march on the people of Orea.
Unfortunately, Kaila has already won the hearts of the people of Sixth Kingdom. They don't heed Malina's warnings and curse her instead.
Osrik is in his own agony over his Yellow Bell. Rissa hasn't woken up since Manu and his accomplice left her for dead with a knife in her gut. The way they left the knife. Ffs. And now the wound is infected.
Os just wants to buy some yellowbell flowers from a flowershop. Why does that have to be so hard?!
Jude is operating as an envoy to First Kingdom, the only kingdom seemingly not on the receiving end of Slade's fuck it all to hell parade. Until the fool king calls for Slade's attention. It is so not the time, man.
Ryatt? MIA for the most part. He basically shows up long enough to keep Digby from raining fists upon Slade then grounding his brother before he rots himself to death. Ryatt has taken command of the army after Slade promoted him in order for Rip to step down. To be let loose.
Lu? She's more MIA than Ryatt but finally arrives, at the worst forsaken moment, to inform Slade of the Fae's invasion.
Auren is searching the sky every hour for the rip to return. For Slade to find her. Even as the Loyalists begin to gather to welcome their lost princess and protect her from the currently reigning king. Auren is the seemingly last of the Turley line and heir to Annwyn's throne.
Of course, once they start going in on about their plans of revolution, Auren responds with a firm "No" that sounds more like "Nope. No, thank you" and "Negative".
She is so over being a pawn.
But once the threat closes in, Auren's beast lashes out. Our lady is just as feral as her man.
There's so much happening. It's a lot to take in.
And the piece of Slade's power, that part of himself that held firm within Auren is now too far away and the rot is leaking into his body, rotting him from the inside out. He's dying.
The man is truly dying from a broken heart.
While Auren watches the skies, she journeys with Wick, the rebel leader, as he builds his Vulmin army. With Emonie and Ludogar and so many more new characters.
And the return of Stanton Cull.
Auren claims she has no interest in a crown. Even if it were in Fourth Kingdom? The way I'm waiting for Slade to broach that subject. Although... not sure if there will be a place for Slade and Auren in any of the Orean kingdoms after this. Fae that they are. Fae vs Oreans. Fae vs Fae.
Finally. Finally! We come full circle back to Gild and Glint and Gleam and it's confirmed in black and paperwhite that the aura that Slade followed, the beacon that brought the "last two fae" in Orea together has a deeper meaning. Fated mates.
Bonded fated mates.
Päyur, you and I.
It's true. Not for a single second are Auren and Slade together in this book.
5 out of 5 stars. I'm so not prepared for this series to end.
Available in ebook | hardcover | paperback | audiobook
Previously in the series:
