The Gilded Cage is the second book in the Prison Healer series by Lynette Noni. This novel was first published in 2021.
In this article, you will find some frequently asked questions about this book. I have tried to answer them as best and honestly as possible.
I hope you enjoy reading these, and I hope this post answers some of the questions you may have about this book!
Since I will be answering questions about the book and it’s story, this article will contain spoilers.
Is Lynette Noni’s The Gilded Cage YA?
The Gilded Cage is a young adult fantasy novel. The main characters fall between the appropriate age range for a young adult novel. Also the subjects in the story and the choices that are made all fit into this genre perfectly.
Is it spicy?
No, there aren’t any spicy moments in the book. There are hints toward infatuation and desire. But that does not come near to spicy scenes like those we know from books by authors like Sarah J. Maas or Kerri Maniscalco.
Is there a love triangle in The Gilded Cage?
There is no love triangle in the Gilded Cage.
Is there romance in this book?
The romance in the Gilded Cage is minimal. There are hints towards feelings that Kiva may have for Jarren. And Jarren also makes his feelings for Kiva very clear. But they do not act toward these feelings.
So there is an undertone of romance, but it is not the most important element of the story.
Does The Gilded Cage contain LGBTQ content?
There are a few elements of LGBTQ content in the book.
Mirryn talks about her ex-girlfriend. Also, Caldon reveals that he likes both men and women. He has no preference. He even lets slip that he thinks Kiva’s brother is hot.
Is Lynette Noni’s The Gilded Cage a standalone, duology, or series?
The Gilded Cage is the second book in a trilogy. The order in which to read the books are:
- The Prison Healer
- The Gilded Cage
- The Blood Traitor
Who dies in this book?
None of the main characters die. There are a few who get injured, but no deaths. There are, however, a few side characters who die.
One of the side characters that dies is Kiva’s grandmother. She gets killed by Kiva’s sister in an attempt to brab ahold of a dagger. These actions have big consequences for the rest of the story. Therefore, this is one of the deaths that has the most impact on the storyline.
Is Lynette Noni’s The Gilded Cage enemies to lovers?
There is a small hint of enemies to lovers. In book 1 Kiva and Jarren aren’t really enemies, but not friends either.
In this book, they have become friends of a sort. But Kiva is the daughter of the Rebel Queen and Jarren is one of the Royals they want to overtake. So even though they don’t act like enemies, they are.
It is very clear that Jarren has feelings for Kiva. While Kiva is battling her own feelings for Jarren along with her loyalty to her family.
So I would say that there are some enemies to lovers elements, but that isn’t the basis of the story.
Is there a map in this fantasy novel?
At the beginning of the book, there is a map of the kingdoms of Wenderall. All the places mentioned in the books can be found on the map. Zalindov prison, where Kiva was held, can also be found on this map.
It gives you a good idea about all the borders. But also the distance the characters had to go through to get from Zalindov to Valenia.
Is Lynette Noni’s The Gilded Cage worth reading?
If you want to read the Gilded Cage, you need to read The Prison Healer first. This book really can’t be read as a standalone and you need the information from book 1.
But the books are both worth it. The world-building is amazing. The characters are full of mysteries. And the story is filled with intrigue, lies, and plot twists.
So, if you haven’t read any of these books yet you really should. Because once you start reading the book, it is hard to put it down.
How does this book end?
At the birthday party for Mirryn, Zuleeka shows her true colors.
Zuleeka holds Jarren prisoner and tells him everything about Kiva. Kiva soon discovers that her sister is the one who killed her grandmother all so she can get to the dagger.
Zuleeka stabs Jarren with the dagger. And all his powers are taken away from him. To save his life, Kiva uses her magic to heal him. Even though she isn’t sure he would even want to live without his magic. She still needs to save him.
Her sister emprisons Kiva in the dungeons and then reveals that she had help from someone. That someone turns out to be Mirryn.
Kiva is drugged and when she wakes up, she is back in Zalindov.
When and where does Lynette Noni’s The Gilded Cage take place?
The Gilded Cage takes place in a fantasy world. It has some similarities with our world, but it absolutely is a world other than our own.
The when is a difficult question to answer. Because it isn’t exactly in our world, you can’t really put a timeframe on it. There are no cellphones or things like that. So it wouldn’t be in modern times.
With the way the people live, I would say it feels more like a 15th or 16th century time period.
When does this story get good?
The first few chapters are written to make the transformation from book 1 to book 2 a little easier. You get to know the characters again. And you learn what they have been up to in the weeks after the escape from Zalindov.
But the tempo increases pretty soon in the story. In chapter three, we meet Kiva’s brother and sister for the first time. And from this point on the story only gets better and better.
What are the best chapters in Lynette Noni’s The Gilded Cage?
For me, the best part of the book is the ending. The entire story is very good and the writing style is amazing. But that cliffhanger at the end is what really got to me.
Around chapter twenty-six, you get a feeling of where the story is heading. The tension is built-up perfectly. And each chapter from then on only gets better.
Books like the Gilded Cage
If you enjoyed The Gilded Cage and want to read something similar, these books might be for you:
- Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer – This is book one in a new fantasy series where nothing and nobody are as they seem.
- These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan – In this, young adult fantasy novel, the human world meets the world of the Fae with love triangles, betrayal, and amazing characters.
- Little Thieves by Margaret Owen -This is a fun and whitty young adult fantasy novel that is a retelling of The Goose Girl, but in a whole new way.
- Blood Heir by Am̩lie Wen Zhao РThis is the first book in a dark fantasy trilogy with an original magic system and characters that make you want to read the next book as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The Gilded Cage is an amazing sequel to the Prison Healer. Lynette Noni pulls you back into the story and you don’t want to get out. And with that cliffhanger, I just have to read the next book as soon as possible! So if you are looking for well-written young adult fantasy, then this series is for you.
I hope I have answered some of the questions you may have had about this book! And if you have more questions that I didn’t answer, feel free to let me know in the comments below!
