Book: Glow by Raven Kennedy
Reviewed by plotdrunk
Rating: 5/5
Glow is easily my favorite book in the Plated Prisoner series so far.
Auren’s spent much of the first part of the book wrestling with grief and guilt, but what really worked for me was the balance between giving her space to heal and forcing her to keep moving. Slade gave her time to heal without letting her stagnate, and that pressure pushed Auren to finally choose herself and start moving forward.
I also loved the shift in Auren and Slade’s dynamic. Slade openly choosing to be the villain for her, and Auren deciding she’s willing to embrace that role alongside him, was such a fun and satisfying twist. It felt like a true turning point for both of them, and it reframed their relationship in a way that felt bold rather than sentimental.
The emotional arc landed hard, but the plot twists sealed it. Auren being sentenced to die, Slade tearing a hole in the world to save her, and the devastating reveal that she’s back in Anwynn where he can’t reach her was brutal in the best way.
The political threads were also compelling. The twists surrounding Queen Kaila were excellent, and I’m very curious about where Queen Malina’s storyline is heading now that another bridge to Anwynn may be open. There are so many loose ends, and they’ve got me immediately reaching for the next book.