From Goodreads: The fae left us this world, and those with power now rule.
In Highbell, a castle nestled in frozen mountains, everything glitters with gold — floors, walls, furniture, and even me.
King Midas elevated me from the slums, designating me his precious, his favored. I am the woman he Gold-Touched to display his dominance. Though confined within the palace, I felt safe, protected by the powerful king who held my heart.
Yet, when war arrives and deals are made, trust is shattered, and love is tested. The gilded cage I inhabit becomes suffocating as I question everything about King Midas.
This reimagining of the King Midas myth unfolds in a compelling adult fantasy series filled with romance, intrigue, and danger. The golden world of Orea will ensnare you from the very first page.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56483061-gild?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=QUyYxm7TiR&rank=1Bottom of Form
Regrettably, this will be the lowest rating I've ever assigned. Overall, I've rated this book one star. My journey with it halted at page 40, and the prospect of continuing became a struggle. Even after taking a break to read another work, One Dark Window, and returning, the experience failed to improve. The main character, Auren, proved profoundly irksome, portraying the voice of a privileged valley girl content with her captor. The initial pages unfold with an overwhelming orgy, where King Midas's women are referred to as saddles, and Auren, completely gold, is presented as his most prized possession, a portrayal that strongly echoes Stockholm syndrome.
Compounding the issues, the writing style poses challenges, relying excessively on telling rather than showing. This approach extended for several pages, leading me to question when the actual story would commence, despite being three chapters in. Regrettably, I've decided not to proceed with the series. I find myself disappointed with the hype generated by BookTok around this book.
