Gild by Raven Kennedy Summary
Overview of Gild
In "Gild," a captive becomes King Midas's golden possession. This dark fantasy exploded from self-published gem to 4-million-copy phenomenon, igniting 50 million TikTok views and a TV adaptation. What makes readers obsessively devour a series that transforms fairy tales into something deliciously wicked?
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Key takeaways
A Kingdom Where Everything Glitters but Nothing Is Free
In a world where magic flows through royal bloodlines, King Midas rules the Sixth Kingdom with a touch that transforms everything to gold. But his most prized possession isn't the gleaming castle that crowns the snowy mountain of Highbell-it's Auren, a woman whose skin shimmers with metallic gold, kept in a luxurious cage atop the highest tower. For ten years, she has been his "favored" saddle-this world's term for a royal concubine-though unlike the others who serve his physical desires, Auren remains separate, protected, and perpetually confined. Her body is entirely gold except for her teeth, the whites of her eyes, and her tongue. Most striking are the two dozen golden ribbons growing from her spine-prehensile extensions she can control like additional limbs, a secret weapon few know she possesses. What does it mean to be treasured but never truly free? Auren wrestles with this question daily, testing the bars of her cage while simultaneously defending her captivity. "He keeps me separate because I'm precious," she tells herself, clinging to the narrative that has sustained her since Midas rescued her from child traffickers a decade ago. But beneath her gratitude lies a growing restlessness-a yearning for something beyond the golden walls that both protect and imprison her.
The Complex Nature of Protection and Power
Beyond the Golden Walls: A Kingdom of Contrasts
Freedom's First Taste: Discovering a World Beyond the Cage
Violence and Revelation: The Pirate Attack
Ancient Magic and New Beginnings
Breaking Free: The Journey Beyond the Gilded Cage
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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