I read The Prison Healer earlier this year and I had really enjoyed it (minus one element I still haven't gotten over!). So I was really looking forward to reading The Gilded Cage and seeing where Kiva's story would go next. And I was not disappointed!

The Gilded Cage is a very strong second book in the trilogy and does a great job of carrying the story forward. Kiva and her friends managed to escape from Zalindov and we now get to follow her as she tries to navigate her new life outside of prison... living with the very people she has vowed to destroy.

I really enjoyed the introduction of Jaren's family as well as Kiva's siblings, as both added depth to these characters. Twists and turns and lies abound as Kiva struggles to decide whom she can trust - and I wondered it with her. There were a couple of things I could absolutely see coming from miles off (fantastic foreshadowing!) but as always the author managed to surprise and threw in a massive bomb right at the end. I don't know how I'll manage to wait until the last book in the trilogy!!

This book does not suffer from middle book syndrome at all, delivering a very strong and compelling plot, finally giving us some great worldbuilding and introducing some memorable secondary characters. Kiva remains a compelling character, especially as she is torn between her feelings for Jaren and her loyalty towards her family. Her struggle is very real and understandable, but at the same time it drags on for a long time and ends up being quite repetitive, as she goes around in circles, makes decisions she never acts on and starts right back at the beginning again. Not going to lie, I was incredibly annoyed with her for most of the book because of her indecisiveness, and what looked like a devolution on her part.

Still, The Gilded Cage had me racing through, utterly gripped to the pages and desperate to know where it all will lead to. Can't wait for the final book!

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way. ( )

Well, this book was aggravating on a number of levels. I'll just say the main character got exactly what she deserved at the end of this book. That's what you get for being a duplicitous, self absorbed idiot. ( )

the first book was good but this one is mediocre

The main character has caused me so much stress. She’s extremely trusting after being in like a death prison for 10 years and somehow can’t see that everyone is double crossing her. She’s super whiny and the romance is really cheesy (literally declaring love for each other and they’ve kissed like twice ever). But, the plot twists were good and I now must read the next book bc of the cliffhanger. ( )

Ooh Kiva, you have gotten yourself into some real trouble now! You should have told the truth when you had the chance. Can't wait to read book #3, already have a hold placed at the library. Looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens with Kiva and the royal family next. ( )

Wat is dit een heerlijk vervolg op [i]The Prison Healer[/i]. Ik heb van elke minuut dat ik het las genoten. Kiva verblijft in het koninklijk paleis en heeft haar ware identiteit nog steeds verborgen kunnen houden voor iedereen, maar haar familie weet wel beter. Als zij ze opzoekt is het een fijn weerzien, maar niet alles is wat het lijkt en Kiva moet vechten om haar geheim te bewaren voor Jaren en de rest van zijn familie. Dan verandert alles als de rebellen toeslaan. ik zal niet meer vertellen vanwege spoilers. Aanrader. ( )