Back of Book: 

Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer.

When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals.

Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun. 

Book Number: One 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A slow-burn romantasy set within the confines of prison with political turmoil boiling inside and out. 

Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years of her life inside the dangerous prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer. Her life is mundane, but she finds purpose in keeping her young friend, Tipp, safe from harm. She awaits the day that her family will return for her, but in the meantime, she is doing everything it takes just to survive. That is, until the Rebel Queen is captured and is about to be put to death by the Trial of Ordeals. Unwilling to bear the death of the woman who fights hardest for the common people, Kiva volunteers to take her place. Now, Kiva must figure out how to survive all four trials while also avoiding the everyday hazards of the world's most dangerous prison. 

How does one rate a book like this? On one hand, I almost fell asleep multiple times reading the middle section, but this book had me feeling so many emotions over the course of it. The ending was super intense, filled with crazy twists, and also made me tear up. I think this book still deserve five stars, despite the slow pacing. This book takes its sweet time and isn't overflowing with action, but I really enjoyed my time learning about Kiva and her life working as the prison healer. And I never disliked my experience while reading this book, so I think the high rating is still warranted. 

One of my favorite parts of this book is just the everyday interactions between the characters. Kiva, Tipp, Jaren, Naari, and Mot make up quite a disheveled found family, but I found them to have such a sweet vibe. It's also inspiring to see that even in a horrible prison, pieces of light always seem to shine through somehow. 

Kiva is a complex girl. It is clear that she has many secrets (though I definitely didn't see most of them coming), but she mostly keeps to herself and just wants to live to see the next day. Tipp is so precious and makes me want to protect him at all costs. The young and innocent characters always seem to die in dark fantasies and dystopian worlds, so I will be watching this kid like a hawk! Jaren is slightly aggravating, but also quite charming; things that I love to see in a love interest. He certainly has his fair of secrets (though his are a bit easier to disclose than Kiva's), but he puts everything on the line for Kiva, which is so darn cute. I can't wait to see how these two's relationship develops in the future installments of this series! 

Oddly enough, this book often felt like I was reading an account from the Holocaust. From the way that the prisoners are treated by the guards to the way that the prison functions, it reminded me of the prison camps that existed during World War II. Obviously, they are very different, but it was interesting to read a fantasy book that was this dark yet still allowed the light to stream in from time to time. 

I know that everyone says this, but the ending of this book truly does go crazy! I found that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and that my heart was practically pounding out of my chest for the last few chapters of this book. There was a few close calls (I was definitely crying), but Noni was nice enough not to leave us in too horrible of a situation by the end of the book. I surprisingly didn't see the bomb of a secret that was shared on the last page, but I am stoked to read the rest of this series as soon as possible. Between watching how Kiva and Jaren's relationship will develop despite their secrets, how the revolution plays out, and learning more about the world's magic system, I am so excited to dive into the rest of this series! 

Overall, I was pleasantly shocked by how tightly "The Prison Healer" had me grasped in its talons. When I first started this book, I gave kudos to how strong Noni's writing is and the interesting world that she has crafted. It did see a bit too "Hunger Games"-esque for me at the start, but it quickly morphs into its own story that I came to love dearly. I adore the characters, often didn't see the twists coming, and am so intrigued by the magic system. The fact that this book takes place in a prison is also unique, and I can't wait to see more of this world outside of Zalindov. I am desperate to see how the rest of this series will pan out after the crazy ending that this book has; I am truly looking forward to a thousand more pages with this cast of characters! 

Back of Book: 

Kiva trades one cage for another when she leaves behind a deadly prison for a deceptive palace.

Kiva Meridan is a survivor.

She survived not only Zalindov prison, but also the deadly Trial by Ordeal. Now Kiva’s purpose goes beyond survival to vengeance. For the past ten years, her only goal was to reunite with her family and destroy the people responsible for ruining their lives. But now that she has escaped Zalindov, her mission has become more complicated than ever.

As Kiva settles into her new life in the capital, she discovers she wasn’t the only one who suffered while she was in Zalindov—her siblings and their beliefs have changed too. Soon it’s not just her enemies she’s keeping secrets from, but her own family as well.

Outside the city walls, tensions are brewing from the rebels, along with whispers of a growing threat from the northern kingdoms. Kiva’s allegiances are more important than ever, but she’s beginning to question where they truly lie. To survive this time, she’ll have to navigate a complicated web of lies before both sides of the battle turn against her and she loses everything. 

Book Number: Two 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Loyalties are tested in the thrilling second installment of "The Prison Healer" trilogy! 

After escaping the elite prison of Zalindov, Kiva Meridan now finds herself living with the charming Prince Jaren inside the kingdom's capital. Kiva is trying to settle into normalcy, but things are complicated by the tense relationship she has with her newly reunited siblings. Desperate to keep a hold of her family, Kiva finds herself doing everything she can to please her siblings, even when it means hurting Jaren and the royal family. With her loyalties split, nobody knows the truth about who Kiva is and not even she knows where her allegiances lie. 

It's been several months since I read "The Prison Healer," but I was instantly drawn back into the world that Noni has created. The first book ended on a pretty nasty cliffhanger, so I was shocked that it took me this long to continue this series, but alas, other books on my TBR were calling. Kiva, Jaren, and Tipp are so near and dear to me, so I was happy to reunite with them again, even if the circumstances they are in have grown to be even more complicated than in the first book.

It's hard to talk about the plot of this one at all without spoiling a vast amount of the first book, so please read on with caution. At the end of the first book, Kiva escapes prison, but many secrets are revealed in the last couple of pages. Not only do we learn that Tilda, the Rebel Queen, is her mother, but we also learn that Kiva possesses a rare healing magic that is passed down from one of the founders of the kingdom. These were truly shocking things for me to discover, and they completely change Kiva's dynamic with Jaren Vallentis, the crown prince of the royal family. Essentially, this places Kiva and Jaren as heirs to opposing groups, which really complicates the romantic relationship that these two are gradually falling into. Knowing this fact, it isn't surprising to learn that this book mostly features Kiva trying to get the nerve to backstab the royal family who have been nothing but generous to her in order to not shatter the fragile bond she has with her siblings and their rebel group. 

Much like the first book, my favorite parts of this one are truly Kiva's everyday interactions with the rest of the cast. Her training sessions with Jaren's cousin, Caldon, were very comical to read (despite the fact that Kiva quite literal suffered through them). Seeing her befriend people that she didn't know from the prison was very nice; I love to see her find a sense of normalcy despite the chaos that is her life. Her matronly relation toward Tipp is still so precious, and I am so glad that these two are there for one another now that they are living life outside prison. 

The characters in this series certainly make it worth reading, and I love them all so much. (Well, I guess not all of them; Zuleeka is sorta a jerk and there are a few others who I just found to be sorta sus the entire time.) Torell, Kiva's older brother, is another one of those character that I also couldn't help but love from the first encounter. I could tell from the get-go that he would do anything to protect his family, but he truly didn't want to be hurting anyone through the acts he commits as one of the Rebel leaders. How can one say no to a charming rogue anyway? 

But who am I kidding, I am still the biggest sucker for Kiva and Jaren's relationship. Like oh my goodness, Jaren is just so sweet and attentive. I can't get enough of his character! He definitely has a bit of a jealous streak, but his loyalty towards Kiva is admirable. Watching these two fight their feelings made me feel so giddy, and I was so happy when their relationship progressed even more. I am so excited to see how they pan out in book three! 

The intense nature of this book is also a definite highlight. The back-and-forth nature of Kiva's actions had me viewing this novel as a ticking time bomb that was sure to blow up before the book was through. And that is exactly what happened! When one is keeping so many secrets from so many different people, one risks everything at every turn. Hopefully Kiva can redeem herself in the eyes of her loved ones by the time the last page of the third book is reached, but she needs some serious luck to pull that off. Kiva did a ton of dumb things throughout the course of this book, so she has a ton of relationships she needs to patch up. 

I think the overarching theme of blood relations versus found family is one that I can't get enough of. Humans always seem to be drawn to those whom they share familial relations with, even if they treat them less than adequately. Kiva has a ton of trauma from her time in prison, and much of that injury stems from her family abandoning her. The way that the Vallentis family adopts Kiva as one of their own is helping Kiva heal immensely, and it's hard not to love them for that. Kiva feels as though she can only have her family or Jaren's (which is understandable given her background), which leads to a very interesting moral dilemma that resonates deeply with me. 

The political turmoil in this one picks up immensely. Book one took place solely in Zalindov, which isolated the reader from the rest of the world. This book takes a deeper look into many of the realm's kingdoms and the unrest that exists between all of them. For those that love magical worldbuilding, this is a huge plus, but for those who don't love it, no biggie, Noni makes it easy to follow. I personally found it to be quite interesting despite my general distaste for politics in fantasy novels. 

I could honestly go on about this one forever. I truly love this world and all the characters that grace this series pages. However, I don't want to spoil too much of this book that is packed full of twists and turns, so I'll try to shut up now. 

Overall, "The Gilded Cage" is everything that the bridge book in a trilogy should be. It really takes a deep dive into the world introduced in "The Prison Healer" without becoming too lore heavy or putting a burden on the reader with all the things it needs them to remember. Rather, this book follows Kiva's journey into normalcy while slowly introducing important elements of this world all while constantly raising the stakes as the story progresses. This one does end on another cliffhanger, so I really look forward to diving into the third book as soon as I can! 

Back of Book: 

She’d failed them. All of them. And now she was paying the price.

Kiva thought she knew what she wanted—revenge. But feelings change, people change... everything has changed.

After what happened at the palace, Kiva is desperate to know if her friends and family are safe, and whether those she wronged can ever forgive her. But with the kingdoms closer to the brink of war than they’ve ever been, and Kiva far away from the conflict, more is at stake than her own broken heart.

A fresh start will mean a perilous quest, forcing mortal enemies and uneasy allies together in a race against the clock to save not just Evalon, but all of Wenderall. With her loyalties now set, Kiva can no longer just survive—she must fight for what she believes in. For who she believes in. But with danger coming from every side, and the lives of everyone she loves at risk, does she have what it takes to stand, or will she fall? 

Book Number: Three (Last Book) 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The stunning conclusion to "The Prison Healer" trilogy in which Kiva much breakout of Zalindov, earn the trust of back from her most faithful allies, and take down a tyrant that just so happens to be her sister. 

After Kiva's darkest secrets are revealed in a devastating fashion, she finds herself once again in Zalindov, the prison that she has called home for way too many years. Desperate to earn the trust back from her most trusted allies, Kiva needs to escape before the prison kills her once and for all. Too much is at stake for her to perish inside Zalindov's walls. Her tyrannical sister, Zuleeka, must be stopped before she ends up doing damage to the Kingdoms of Wenderall that not even the royal family can repair. Kiva's not sure if her friends will ever forgive her or if her magic will ever be strong enough to defeat her sister, but she is willing to give her all to fix what she has broken.

It's crazy that my journey with "The Prison Healer" trilogy is coming to an end. This was definitely a five star series for me, and it saddens me greatly that my time with this world and the characters that inhabit it are coming to a close. 

This book starts pretty bleak. I mean, Kiva is back in Zalindov, the prison that has tortured her for half her life and traumatized her in more ways than one can count. There, she finds an unlikely ally and struggles through some serious withdrawal symptoms. I was a bit scared that starting this book with Kiva back in jail would lengthen this book unnecessarily and cause it to drag, but we get out of the prison pretty quickly and move on to plenty of other scenarios that Kiva should never have to face in a billion years but sometimes finds herself in anyway. This poor girl. She goes through so much. 

Oh my goodness, I love the characters in this series so much! Every time a familiar face graced the page, I couldn't help but smile. Jaren, Caldon, and Tipp are some of my favs, but reuniting with characters such as Naari and Tor was such a pleasant experience, too. Also, Ashlyn and Cresta were great additions to the family that I fell in love with just as much as the rest of the characters, even they joined the group so late in the series. 

The quest aspect of this book wasn't super original, but it got Kiva and her royal companions exploring more of the Kingdoms of Wenderall, which was quite enjoyable. There was plenty of drama and romantic tension going on between cast members that kept the meandering nature of this book super interesting and borderline unputdownable. I just wanted to keep reading it, regardless of the size of this novel!

I must say, I was screaming at Kiva and Jaren to kiss and make up already. Yes, both of their feelings were completely valid, and I respect them for it, but oh my goodness, the tension between them made me want to smack my head on the wall from time to time. I ship these two so hard and seeing them fight with one another was so annoying for me as a reader. 

The ending of this book is insane (which is no surprise when one looks at the endings of the other two books in this series). The plot twists kept coming one after another and Noni was once more tugging on my heartstrings constantly. Some reveals were even quite obvious, yet they still had me groaning aloud because they inconvenienced Kiva and her goals so immensely. 

It makes me sad that this is the last book in the series, but the ending was also so satisfying. Justice is served, Kiva is truly a survivor in every sense of the word, and the main cast of characters are slowly making their way to their happily ever afters despite all the trauma they endured. I've spent so much time with all these characters though, so it's painful to know that I have to move on to reading something else tomorrow knowing that I won't have more Kiva and Jaren to return to in a couple of months. 

The messages about surviving, paving a path to your own happiness, and letting go of one's darkest memories are so poignant and powerful. Noni's prose is truly masterful and the way that she writes about heartbreak and learning to live with one's new normal is such a gift to the world. I look forward to exploring more of her work and seeing what other wisdom she has to share with the world. 

Overall, "The Blood Traitor" is a wonderful conclusion to an epic fantasy series that I hold near and dear to my heart. This series has some of the best characters I've encountered and a found family that can be beat by few. The world is intricate, the politics masterful, and the magic system sings. Kiva and Jaren are such a great couple, and their slowburn romance truly has me feeling giddy when they interact with one another. For a big fantasy saga, "The Prison Healer" series really checks all the boxes. I seriously recommend investigating this one out if you are a fan of long fantasy sagas that you can invest your entire being into for a time.