The Plated Prisoner series seems to have turned a corner in Gleam. I still have a lot of the same complaints from the first two books (very predictable, Auren never has a thought she wouldn’t prefer to think ten times, and most of the characters are only allowed to be good or bad without any complicated shades of otherness), but the story this time was much more engaging and enjoyable.

I will admit that it’s nice to read fantasy romance involving fae and not have the word mate come out to play (yet). There’s a slow-burn element to Auren and Slade’s relationship that is very unique to this genre and makes it much nicer to read, especially now that there’s more information out in the open and Auren is no longer oblivious to Midas’ manipulation.

Auren continues to be a very frustrating character. It probably makes her more realistic, but even having admitted that Midas is not the man she thought he was, she still is much too vulnerable to his manipulation. She points out how his words and actions force her in a specific direction and then still moves in that direction. With all the magic and everything else going on in this series, the most unbelievable part is how Auren has lived so long under Midas’s thumb without anger, rebellion, or even the slightest attempt to train or control her powers. I know it works well for the narrative, but it just doesn’t seem possible.

I wish we got perspective chapters from Slade’s Wrath. Well, from Lu and Os – they seem the most interesting. I’d give anything for more time away from Auren’s perspective. The queen’s chapters were not much relief – they just created a different kind of frustration.

It may have taken some time, but I’m finally feeling invested in this series. I doubt it will be one I look forward to rereading, but I’m starting to look forward to what comes next.