DNFed at 40%

I should have seen it coming when it started with SJM’s praise. *sigh*

I’d like to start off by noting something positive about it, but the only reason I even got that far was because it was written in a very simple style. There’s nothing that caught my interest. It’s the most Generic YA Fantasy I’ve read in years, or possibly ever.

But here’s the biggest problem of this book – it just doesn’t make sense. Like at all.

I can let things slide in YA – some elements might be oversimplified or a bit naive, but this? Imagine a tween writing their first Wattpad story, having done no research and putting things in it as they go, not even stopping for a moment to consider whether they make sense – this is how this book reads.

We have this supposedly deadly prison our MC was thrown into at a young age, and she’s a healer there. What we’re told about the place does not at all correspond with what we are shown, and to a ridiculous degree, but still she makes sure to highlight just how “deadly” and “awful” the place is on every other page. Then a hot guy arrives, and apparently, it’s the first time she sees a handsome prisoner, because she immediately loses her brain at his BLUE EYES WITH GOLD SPECKS (sigh) – and then he starts hitting on her, for no reason at all, and he goes out of his way to meet her often and starts caring for her. For Reasons. And since it’s a deadly prison, it’s obviously so easy for him to come and chat with her whenever he feels like it. (their conversations are also dry and there’s no chemistry at all, though I guess he was supposed to be sassy and charming.)

Here’s another fact about the prison - ALL EIGHT KINGDOMS send their people there, and although they all have some sort of influence on the prison ward, the place is pretty autonomous. And not all the kingdoms are at peace, obviously. Ahh yes, makes perfect sense to send, for example, your political prisoners, to a place you can’t entirely control and that can be accessed by your enemies. Total sense.

But now comes the best part – when a Rebel Queen, aka the person who leads a rebellion against one of the kingdom’s royals (I can’t even recall the names, any mentions of the outside world were info-dumpy and insubstantial), arrives at the prison, the stupidity intensifies. She is to undergo a set of Trials, which will either kill her, or, in case she survives, grant her freedom – but no one has ever survived them, and it’s said one would have to possess magic to do that, and magic is almost gone. Either way, that’s an order from the king of the country she’s fighting against. You know, he could have her killed, or leave her to die in the prison – she was on the verge of death when she arrived anyway – but instead he orders to heal her enough so she can go through the Trials. Which will either lead to her death (again, could have been done in an easier way), or set her free. I assume he wouldn’t want the latter to happen, although... who knows. It’s not like anything makes any sense.

Now, now, you might be thinking, public Trials seem like a good punishment to a leader of the rebels – sends a powerful message, right, and since the possibility of her surviving is low...

Except the only audience are the prisoners. And the royal siblings. For some reason. Also the Trials are supposed to be entertaining (why?) - and one of them is the MC jumping from one building to another. That’s it. Entertaining as hell. Perfect reason to have all the prisoners of the deadliest prison in the world gathered together to watch. Jumping.

Obviously though, our MC volunteers to take the Rebel Queen’s place in the Trials, because she is too weak to do it herself and the MC feels that it’s her duty to try and save her patient (not sure she ever heard of not becoming the one to rescue, but whatever).

She jumps. She falls. She’s not dead. Why? Apparently, the crown prince saved her (the royal family possess magic). Why? You may ask.

Because she’s pretty. The royal prince of the country that faces rebellion saved some peasant girl whose fate determines the fate of the rebellion’s leader, because she was pretty.

And then his sister gives the girl a fancy ass magical amulet that would help her survive the second trial, because she admired her spirit. If she survives the Trials, their kingdom enemy will be SET FREE, and still those two just... help her.

If I had a shot every time this book made no sense, I’d be drunk at this point.

(Also, the princess has a “girlfriend”. Not a “lover”, “suitor”, or whatever. A girlfriend.)

Aside from all that, I am almost impressed with how little there is to Kiva as a character. She’s a prison healer, which we were reminded about every two pages, she lost her father and brother, she is supposedly trying not to start caring for anyone at the prison (and fails miserably), and all the people around seem to admire her survival skills – not sure why, since it’s entirely good luck and plot-armor that’s responsible for that. She’s a classic Mary Sue designed to be a self-insert. Other characters have no personality whatsover, we have a "charming" love interest, a guard with good heart, and a little boy/brother figure that's naive and has a stutter - I suppose he's endearing and a device to keep MC in place.
Just like the prison's describtion vs. reality, what we were told here constantly clashed with what was shown.

What’s genuinely puzzling to me is that SJM would recommend it, when on top of everything else, this felt like a Throne of Glass rip-off. It’s like ToG but done considerably worse, and I didn’t think that possible.

“Never apologize for loving someone. Even when it hurts. Especially when it hurts.”

Kiva Meridan has been incarcerated in Zalindov prison for more than ten years, and as the resident prison healer, she examines and brands every new prisoner. Enter the renowned Rebel Queen who’s to face elemental trials to determine her guilt or innocence. However, the Queen is barely clinging to life, rarely wakes and is in no fit state to compete. After being threatened by a fellow prisoner and considering her sworn oath as a healer to help their patients, Kiva volunteers to take the Queen’s place. Kiva must face the life threatening trials to win the Queen’s freedom, as well as her own. With action, drama and a loveable cast of characters, The Prison Healer is the first novel in a new YA series that’s sure to take the book world by storm.

My heart is singing! I LOVED THIS BOOK! This is everything you want when you pick up a YA fantasy. The writing was engaging, the pace was quick, the story was eventful and jam packed with action. It was absolutely incredible. And unforgettable. I find it rare for a first in series to capture an equal balance of plot, characters, world building etc., but I feel Lynette Noni achieved that.

I really enjoyed the setting of the story; the hexagonal Zalindov prison. Noni illustrates there’s constant monitoring by guards, overcrowded halls and tensions stirring between inmates, hard labour and lack of privacy in the quarters and bathrooms. The effectiveness Noni’s imagery made me feel restrictive as though I was one of the prisoners. Equally so it also made me feel lively when Kiva was facing her elemental trials.

These characters! It felt like the found family trope. There’s Kiva the prison healer, her best friend Tipp, newer prisoner Jaren, kindhearted prison guard Naari and older rogue Mot. Together they make a team of misfits and I loved their interactions and dialogue. One minute I was laughing so hard and the next wanted them to group hug! They were a joy to read and although the story unfolds through Kiva’s narration, it felt like the story was all of theirs too.

But here’s the really interesting bit... I felt like I knew the characters yet knew nothing by the end. Noni has essentially pulled a “You Know Nothing Guiless Bookworm aka Jon Snow” style. There’s clearly so much more to learn with the characters and the story’s progression. Though with that said, every reasoning and motivation for all of the characters is clear by the end of the book and all of their histories and subplots were woven in extremely well.

I also want to take a moment to appreciate the thankless nature of Kiva’s prison healer job. In many ways, I think this should give people insight into how medical professionals feel; helpless, exhausted, run off their feet. I don’t know if that message was intended or not, but it is one that comes through loud and clear for this reader, and I applaud it tenfold.

I am SO excited for the romance!! It’s safe to say the fundamentals of the romance have been beautifully set and I really think we’re in for quite an experience. Noni has me right where she wants me and I beg her not to crush my heart and my precious ship.

The climax was savage! It was savagely entertaining, heart wrenching, utterly twisty. I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. There’s so many questions and my mind is running wild about what the sequel will deliver. I don’t just want to know more - I need to know more! It’s already crystal clear these questions will thread the first instalment and sequel really well. In fact, I’d say the potential this series now has is limitless at the end of this book.

Although I felt some bits were predictable, it hasn’t lessened in the slightest how hyped, excited and pumped I am for this series. I’d go so far as to say Lynette Noni has started a story that really makes this series a contender for the best new series in YA for the next few years. There’s an energy and vibrancy to it that blew me away and I simply want more. The stage is set and I want nothing less than a front row seat to the sequel. I would reread this and will recommend it until I run out of breath. I officially have my new YA obsession!

Thank you beyond words to the publishers for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for this honest review.

As a huge fan of Sarah J Maas, The Prison Healer appealed to me immediately.

The cover is stunning, the blurb makes the story sound dark and exciting with promises of plenty of magic, action and violence!

I read this very quickly and can say that I was not disappointed! This book really delivered for me and in this review I am going to try to explain why.

So to begin with the story does start off a little bit slow but when it finds its pacing (which I would describe as medium-fast) it keeps it's momentum going right through to the end.

Our main character, Kiva is a prisoner. She has it pretty good as far as prisoners go though. She has been at Zalindov for 10 years (since she was 7 years old and her father was imprisoned for association with rebels and Kiva was thrown in right alongside him).

She has trained as a healer with her father her entire life and naturally fell into the role as The Prison Healer where she spends the vast majority of her time (you guessed it) healing the prisoners of their various ailments.

Although Kiva is a prisoner she is relatively safe from all the bad stuff that is happening to everyone else. Zalindov is a brutal place where prisoners are not typically expected to live very long. They are given extreme workloads as well as being under constant threat of violence from the guards.

She acts as an informant for the prison warden and in exchange for her information he extends her protection from the guards. Kiva hates it but does what she has to do in order to survive until her family come to rescue her.

Even though it has been 10 years she never gives up hope that they are coming to save her.

Kiva keeps a strict distance from other prisoners and refuses to form relationships with them. Zalindov is not described as a place that is easy to survive in and Kiva has lost too many people to allow herself to care about anyone only to lose them too.

The exception to this is a young boy called Tipp who is ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE. I mean I really think he might just be the character in this story that made me smile the most because he was just so sweet and lovable and all Kiva wants is to keep him safe.

Tipp was the only exception to the rule until a new guard is posted to the infirmary (Naari) and a new prisoner is brought in, severely injured during the winter (Jaren). Kiva is immediately drawn to Jaren although she can't explain why. She constantly reminds herself to keep her distance from him but Jaren is equally drawn to her and I have to admit that I really did enjoy the relationship between these two.

Naari is a really great character too and she is full of surprises! In all honesty if I am talking about surprises I have to say that this book was absolutely full of them. I loved all the twists and turns that were thrown at me and there were so many moments that made me gasp in surprise!

The plot was really interesting and exciting and pretty much starts with the arrival of Tilda to the prison and Kiva deciding that she must do everything that she can to protect this woman from the fate she has been sentenced to by taking her place. The reason's for this are not fully explained until the very last pages of the book!

Kiva must endure three impossible trials to earn Tilda's freedom and by intertwining their fates Kiva would earn her own freedom as well. It's all quite exciting and the ending is what absolutely blew me away and made me decide to round up and give this book five stars.

It's not often that a book can give me a surprise the way that this one did. It has left me desperate to read the next book and ill be reading it the moment I can get my hands on it so I can see how it all works out!

I would definitely recommend!

First, just to get it out of the way. The ending of this book had me on the edge of my seat and it was just fantastic. I loved this story from so early on though and I just need more now. I’m going to continue without mentioning any of the end but just know that you absolutely should read this for the ending because it’s just... chef’s kiss.

In The Prison Healer, we follow Kiva who has been put into Zalindov, the death prison, for no reason other than her father was thought to be talking with rebels one day. Naturally, that leaves her with a pretty big hate for the royals, as without their orders she’d be happily away from the prison with her family, safe and sound. Instead she’s had 10 years stuck in the prison, for the majority acting as the designated prison healer.

In Zalindov, conditions are quite frankly dire. Prisoners are made to do things such as work in tunnels doing heavy manual labour and they die often for it. Kiva’s family have been sending coded messages to her for 10 years saying that they’ll come for her and that’s basically what keeps her going. She stays apart from the majority of the other prisoners, not wanting to be attached to anyone likely to die, aside from a couple of adorable characters that she can’t help but love.

One of these characters is Tipp, a very young boy who entered the prison in a similar way to Kiva - innocent but clinging to his parent. He’s essentially like a little brother to Kiva and her care for him is blindingly obvious throughout, she’ll do anything for him.

Really Tipp is the only other prisoner she truly cares for up until... Jaren. Now, cue a super cute swooning romance, if you’re into that kind of thing. There’s a lot of yearning and even more denying on Kiva’s part, but I loved it from the beginning because Jaren is just an absolute cutie.

Soon after Jaren arrives we also have the arrival of the rebel queen, Tilda. Basically she’s a rebel because she has a right to the throne just as the current royal family does (allegedly) and with places such as Zalindov there are a few who will happily back the idea of someone else in charge.

Of course the royal family, the Vallentis family, are pretty eager to get Tilda out of the way so they can stop rebellion altogether. As a result, they make it so she that has to go through the ‘Trial by Ordeal’, which is four elemental based trials. Tilda is actually very ill though and when Kiva is told she has to keep her alive it ends up being that she takes her place in the trials instead.

So a lot of the story revolves around these trials, but then we have a side story too where prisoners are dying from a mysterious illness daily.

And that’s not the only thing prisoners have to worry about, either. The prison guards are notoriously horrific to the prisoners, taking sadistic pleasure in their pain. But, we have a new guard join, Naari, who is clearly nothing like the others. From the beginning she looks out for Kiva and their blossoming friendship, with Kiva learning to trust a guard for the first time in 10 years, is very endearing to see!

The Prison Healer isn’t all sunshine and rainbows though, there’s a lot of darkness to it but I’d say it’s more so a similar kind of darkness to Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series. A lot of the bad is balanced out by good which makes it a lot easier to read.

So yeah I just adored this book to be honest, I’m seriously excited for the second book and SO happy it’s out this year! I just can’t wait to see more from the world and more of the four biggest characters.

Special mention goes out to the sassy Vallentis princess who I wish we saw more of, I’m definitely hoping that she plays a larger part in The Gilded Cage!

Thank you to Hodderscape for sending me a lovely ARC of The Prison Healer!

Let’s just get it out of the way - I LOVED this book. I could not stop reading, it was an easy and intriguing read from start to finish, full of surprises!

Lynette Noni has created a fantastic story set in a death prison in a world of elemental magic; I was quickly sucked into the narrative and all the way through I thought I knew what was going to happen - but it didn’t! Well, it kind of did, but the reveal was spot on!

The Prison Healer- Kiva, is such a good character, sassy and pragmatic from start to finish. She is strategic and strong, using her history and wit to make sturdy relationships. I found Kiva to be endearing in her quest to heal the other prisoners, always putting them first and her no-nonsense view of life was, in a way, brutal. My favourite character was Tipp, Kiva’s young sidekick in the infirmary. I became more and more invested in Tipp’s welfare as the book progressed.

There are so many interweaving elements to The Prison Healer, I’m so glad it’s a trilogy so we will get to explore everything involved! Considering this book is only around 400 pages - so much happens! The trials, the plague, the prisoners. On the surface, this is an easy going fantasy story but under the surface Noni has created a world of magic, history and political strife. We have only brushed the world outside of the prison - the rebel queen and the rebel cause, the royal family with their elemental magic and Kiva’s family, who are waiting for her.

Lynette Noni is such a fabulous storyteller. She creates such an intriguing and atmospheric story, that it's very hard to get back to 'real life' and get on with menial tasks!

Be prepared for a book full of mystery, emotions and an absolutely brilliant cast of powerful characters who will keep you turning those pages throughout the wee hours of the morning.

As a big fan of the fantasy genre, I rely heavily on world-building and this book, oh it has it in bucketfuls! The scenes are so descriptive, you can get lost in it and not want it to ever end.

Smashed it out of the park and I for one, cannot WAIT for the next installment in this outstanding series!

This book starts off a little slowly, and builds into a wonderful full musical of notes. We are given insight into the way this fictional prison, Zalindov, works, and the way that Kiva is carving out her place in it, with various threats coming at her from several directions. Aged only seventeen, Kiva is responsible for the infirmary, with help from a young boy called Tipp whom she has taken under her wing since the death of his mother.

The medical side of things is interesting as a lot of care has evidently gone in to creating this fictional apothecary, with the odd item or two that cross over into scraping the surface of reality, with things like ‘poppymilk’ for example. I’m always interested to see how fictional / fantasy settings handle healthcare, and it was really interesting to see that happen in a way that wasn’t just swept under the carpet with magic being the answer. Kiva and her father have created and cared for an extensive ingredient garden next to the medical wing, and the memories she has associated with it, along with everything he has taught her, means that despite her age, she is the best qualified person for the job.

The other characters that come onto the scene, Jaren and Naari, both give a lot to the story that is being created, especially when it comes to being divided when the rebel queen, Tilda, arrives. The state she arrives in however, is one too poorly to pose a threat to anyone at all, let alone the rival royals who currently sit on the throne. With Kiva, Tipp, Jaren and Naari creating a little focus of characters, we also have input from various others, ranging from the head of the prison rebels to the prison custodian. It makes for an interesting book, page after page, and I loved how there was a steady rythum but a constant change also.

The prison itself was set in disgraceful conditions that remind me of the books such as One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, where inmates are faced with brutal conditions and horrendous workloads. The constant threat of violence from the guards and other inmates, with nowhere safe to turn, makes for a dark backdrop. But it is this dark back drop that allow the vivid colours and wonderful moments between our four key characters to shine.

There were twists and turns that were unpredictable and I really didn’t see coming, which always makes me happy; I love being taken by surprise, and this book certainly succeeded in doing that. I can’t wait to read the next book, as this was just a work of sheer brilliance, and I can only see book two being better.

✨“I have a lot of dreams. A lot of nightmares, too. Only time will tell which path my life will take.”✨
— Lynette Noni, The Prison Healer

🌸I. Need. The. Next. Book. (*Stares at hands as if it will magically appear in them).

When I tell people I love YA books, it is THIS KIND OF YA that I am talking about! An amazing plot that is so well written that I actually wanted to cry over these gorgeous, emotive sentences! And there are princes (makes me swoon every time), princesses, a nasty warden, and oh did I forget to mention? MAGIC! This is what every YA book aspires to be.

🌷It’s the new Throne of Glass, Lynette Noni even has a similar writing style to Sarah J. Mass. And, just like we have in TOG, The Prison Healer has a series of trials that our main character Kiva has to complete. Only the trials are based on the four elements: Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

When the Rebel Queen is captured, she is sentenced to complete these trials… only she is so ill that she is not even lucid, so our incredible heroine, the healer, Kiva, can’t in good conscious send this woman to her death… not when she has the power to help. So, just like Katniss in the Hunger Games volunteered to enter for Prim, Kiva volunteers for this Rebel Queen.

A rebellion is imminent. Everyone has secrets. Caring has consequences.

AND THE ENDING LEAVES YOU WANTING, CRYING, NEEDING MORE! I can’t believe Lynette can just leave me like this! I. 👏🏻 WAS. 👏🏻 SHOOK!👏🏻

I think I’ve found a new favourite author. Please excuse me while I google her and see all of the other books that she has written.

Read. Be happy. Stay safe.

I finished The Prison Healer yesterday and that ending has still absolutely rocked me! I loved this book so much, the characters, the story, the way it made me feel and that cover is fantastic too! Lets dial it back though, and start with the characters. Kiva was a great protagonist, a survivor bound by her oath to help those in need no matter what. I loved her focus and determination and that despite the looming trials she had to solve a mystery shrouding the prison at the same time, this girl is the queen of multitasking. She is supported by a great case of side characters, some more on the morally grey side than not, it is a prison after all and not everyone is falsely imprisoned! I have to address the half star docking in the room though as the romance was enemies to lovers style, which is not my bag at all and whilst I admired Kiva's stoicism with keeping her head down and focusing on the work I did have to eye roll when she started inner monologuing about Jaren's dreamy eyes and cheekbones - I get that there is a market for romance but I feel that it wasn't really necessary to drive this story forward.

And drive forward it does, for me there were no lulls at all, Kiva moves from task to task methodically, I read the second half of this book in one go as I just didn't want to put it down.  The prison was an epic backdrop to all that was happening and was a character in itself with so many areas both displayed and hidden, the sinister Abyss and the dank aquifier each one with its own sense of foreboding every time Kiva left the sanctuary of the infirmary. Whilst the story does follow quite a few of the traditional YA tropes it does them well and the diversity of the setting breathes new life into them. That is what makes The Prison Healer such a great read though, it takes a story that you think you know and simply just does it better.

It does get dark though, Kiva is met by a relentless tirade of verbal and physical abuse and there is a TW for self harm here although its discussed in retrospect rather than the act being carried out. There are parts that I didn't think I could bring myself to flip the page to read what I thought was coming but the brutality is thankfully always brief but it is impactful when it happens really showing the power of fade to black.

I think I'm going to leave it there because whilst there is so much I want to say, it is such a unique story that I don't want to spoil anything and also I'm struggling to articulate all the ways this story made me feel. Its a mid paced read which somehow manages to feel like an electrifying faced paced page turner. Also Tipp is adorable and I want to wrap him up in a giant blanket and feed him milk and cookies. So yes, please read The Prison Healer, you won't regret it!

Usually prison is the beginning or the end of a story, but setting this story behind walls does not erect any barriers to a wide-ranging plot.

The heroine, Kiva, is someone who is surviving as best she can, using the talents for healing inherited from her family, and learnt in her early years. She meets each new arrival and most of them will just disappear into the anonymity of the imprisoned masses, but two make a particular impression on her. The first is a young man, Jaren, who makes a connection with her, even as she realises he is unlikely to survive long in the quarries where he is sent. And the other is the Rebel Queen, sentenced to endure four Trials by Ordeal although she is critically ill and barely conscious. Kiva has a certain kindness, but she guards it fiercely under an irascible exterior towards those she cares for, and an impassive mask for the rest of the inhabitants. And she feels a strong responsibility towards her patients, which along with other factors, drives her to volunteer for the Trials as the Rebel Queen′s Champion.

I don′t think it′s a spoiler to say that she she is able to survive most of the Trials or this would be a very short book. How she gets through is unexpected for each Trial; she does receive outside help, but at each step it is her own courage and knowledge that takes her over the edge to survival. Within the prison are supporters of the rebels, and defenders of the status quo – including the guards, as well as those who just want to get through the next day by whichever means are possible. It makes for a dangerous blend.

I found this a really engrossing book to read, there were enough strands of story to counterbalance the restricted location. Kiva is the main character, and I certainly rooted for her and wanted her to win free, but other characters had their arcs as well, so I was invested in whether they would survive. The book ends on an interesting revelation, which may be a bit of a cliff-hanger, however I felt that the story of Kiva in the prison had come to a satisfying resolution.

I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley

Wow this book was really good. Perfectly placed with amazing world building. I loved the unusual prison setting and the fact that it made the world grittier.

The characterisation really shone through in this book. The book covered some really heavy topics but the characters always made situations light and fun.

Though some of the plot was a little predictable, I was shocked by the reveal at the end and can't wait for the next one!

Review in ten-ish words: Interesting concept, killer ending and a promising set up for book two. ++ CN

Synopsis:
"Don't let her die, we are coming."

Kiva has been a prisoner of Zalindov for ten years. Now at seventeen, she is both loathed and valued as the prison's healer. The only contact with her family comes in the form of coded messages.

When the rebel queen arrives Kiva must do everything she can to ensure she survives, including participation in the Trial of Ordeals (which no one is yet to survive, by the way).

On top of a deathly trial, Kiva must also deal with a roguish new prisoner, villainous guards, and a plague sweeping through the prison.

My thoughts:
The book was inventive and I appreciated that it was set inside of a prison (though some critique has been seen relating to the high level of violence and potential holocaust overtones).

I find that most fantasy stories have the MC as having had a prison sentence in their past, and it is often referred to. I LOVE that we got to join Kiva inside Zalindov.

Now I will agree this book is YA- BUT with a huge caveat. There are some SUPER heavy themes people should definitely be aware of before reading. (CN for self harm, violence, torture, drug use, claustrophobia, references to sexual assault, mass cremation). In addition I did pick on some ableist undertones that didn't sit too comfortably and may bother some readers (e.g. a prosthetic that works better than a person's hand, brief reference to stigma around STI's).

I did feel a little bit of a lull in the middle where the plot slowed down and it felt repetitive but I still enjoyed the interactions between the characters.

Whether some of the plot points were realistic or not was another concern (even with this being a fantasy novel)- whether actions by some of the characters were believable was another. As demonstrated from the numerous content notes/warnings character hurt is a very large facet of the story and sometimes I didn't think this was relevant to the story and the character development could have been achieved through other means.

The ending changed the book for me entirely. The pacing for the last quarter was perfect and I am DYING to read the next one with what has been established with some of the characters. I will say if you dislike an unreliable narrator this book may annoy you.

In general I am chuffed I found an Australian fantasy author. Apparently, Lynette's Medoran Chronicles is a great series and I am keen to read this one as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Go and read this right now, it’s hard to put into words the connection I have formed with this book. The prison healer follows Kiva, a prisoner in the ruthless prison Zalindov and the challenges she faces once the notorious Rebel Queen is captured - she must fight to keep the Rebel Queen alive, and do so at whatever cost, including facing the lethal Trial by Ordeal. Can Kiva survive the four elemental tasks, that no other inmate has ever succeeded in doing?

I adored all of the characters in this book, and that isn’t even an exaggeration. Kiva is far from your typical YA female lead, she is so strong and fierce, whilst also being sensitive and caring. Tipp, a young boy with a stutter, was so lovable. It truly makes you reflect on how cruel and unjust a world can be to imprison such a vulnerable child, who is barely capable of hurting a fly. Naari, my baby, is a fantastic character, I hope we get to see a lot more of her personality in the next book. As a whole, all of the characters complimented each other perfectly; where one character lacked, another character excelled. Finally, the love interest is fantastic - I felt myself slowly falling, the more and more interactions we had with him. The slow burn, the angst, the yearning, I adored it all.

“So you’re right, you don’t need me fighting your battles. But if you’ll let me, I’d like to be standing beside you as you fight them.”

Also a BIG YES to the setting - a prison?! I’ve never read a book quite like it and it only makes me want to read more. It was atmospherical, well-developed and such a unique setting - it creates an isolation from the outside world, which I think is going to be a nice contrast if/when we get to experience it.

Undoubtedly, the best thing about this book was the ending. I flew through the last 15% of the book as it was so incredibly fast paced - it was simply riddled with plot twist after plot twist. They felt never-ending and I was constantly left doubting whether what I knew was indeed reality, or whether it would be revealed it had been a lie all along. I cannot wait to see how the next book pans out.

TW: Self-harm, sexual assault

I would recommend this to all YA fantasy fans. 4.5 stars from me.

Be warned I will be ranting here.

Before the rant I should describe the book a bit. I'll try to keep it spoiler free. But no promises. Sorry.

Kiva Meridan was imprisoned in the most cruel prison, Zalindov, with her father when she was just 7 years old. 10 years later she is still surviving Zalindov. Now she is The Prison Healer. For 10 years she's been waiting for her family to come and free her from the prison. Talking to her family through coded messages.

The Rebel Queen is captured and brought to her. Kiva sees that she is extremely sick and might be dying. She gets a coded message to not let her die and that they were coming to free them. With hope renewed Kiva tries everything she can to keep her alive. When the Rebel Queen is sentenced to the Trial by Ordeal she volunteers to be her champion and face the Trials on behalf of her.

Furthermore, a deadly stomach virus was going around, rapidly killing prisoners. Kiva starts to investigate the source of the virus to help stop the virus and save the prisoners.

Kiva is such a strong character. She survived Zalindov for 10 years, where most prisoners survived it for a few months. The only thing that kept her going was her hope to be with her family again.
Throughout the book her character is shown to be simple. She is the prison healer, who sometimes is targeted by the other inmates because of her connections with the warden. But near to the end of the book we see a completely different side of her which was unexpected.

Tipp is the youngest prisoner in Zalindov, he's eleven years old. His character brings a bit of sunshine in the gloomy, deathly prison. His character has innocence with the strength to survive a prison like Zalindov.

Kiva and Tipps' relationship is so beautiful. Tipp reminds Kiva of her younger brother and she loves and cares for him like one.

Then there is Jaren. The sudden new prisoner. He is handsome. He has blue eyes with gold rimming his pupils and I was already swooning. I have a thing for blue eyes with something gold in them flecks or rims. His character is also simple and not so simple as well. There is definitely more to his character, which is revealed near the end of the book, just like Kivas'. He is kind, caring, he is book crush material. That's all I'm going to say because if I write more, then I'll spoil the book. I'm really restraining myself right now.

Naari is the new prison guard. She is different from the other prison guards. She is stern and skilled but unlike the other guards she is good hearted. It took Kiva some time to trust her because of the way the other guards behaved which was very cruel. They killed inmates for unnecessary reasons. She did end up liking her. Like Kiva and Jaren, Naari's character also has something extra.

Now I will rant.

This book was so smooth. Everything slowly builds up towards the explosive ending. This book has from friends to liking each other to being enemies and not telling the other person that they are enemies trope. Then there also is from being king and queen to taking over the kingdom for oneself and the other fleeing and influencing the make of a rebel group trope.
The book was so well written. The description of the prison and their way of life there was vivid. The plot twist after plot twist after plot twist placed so nicely throughout the book, that it had me reeling. I wanted to binge read this book but I slowed myself down because I knew I needed to brace myself for the ending.

Let me tell you something. I finished this book last night at exactly 4:22am, there was a bird chirping outside my window and my mouth was hanging open as if it were unhinged from my jaw. I remember all of this because I was, no I am so shocked by the book that I still can't stop thinking what's going to happen next? The book is over, The Gilded Cage isn't out for another 6 months! I'm dying here because of the cliffhanger!! Oh My God! That was so amazing!

I immensely thank Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I’m not gonna lie, I was drawn to this book because my favourite author recommended it on the cover. Thing is, as much as I love Sarah J. Maas’s writing, I do not always like what she recommends (her last recommendation -I'm not naming names- I read after having requested this arc I didn't like, so I was a bit worried). This time I did!
I can see why Sarah liked it, but I will tell you why I liked it. First of all, I’m weak for royalties and trials, so the plot kept me intrigued.

I know Americans like trigger warnings, so I guess I should put one of those? The protagonist is a healer, so there is illness in this book and maybe not everyone would be comfortable to read certain things in this time.

However, if that's not a problem for you, read this novel. The book is well-written (I believe I found a couple of repetitions, but this is the arc, so they might have been fixed already). I liked the pacing and the protagonist (and the secondary characters too). Also, it is written in third person, so bonus points for that (this is personal, obviously, and I read both povs, but I like this kind better than the first person, so I wanted to publicly appreciate that).

This was my first “meeting” with this author, but surely won’t be the last one. At least, because after *that* shocking ending I need to know what happens next. (I'm usually good a predicting certain twists, but I did not see it coming. In hindsight, I should have. I did not. Brava, author!)

I absolutely LOVED this book.
I started it at 10pm and was done by 5am (I was on a nightshift too so had to keep stopping to actually work... so that should show how good it was! I also only got up to make 1 coffee throughout the night compared to my usual 4! )
The prison healer was an amazingly addictive YA fantasy and I highly recommend it.

**

Kiva is the 17 year old prison healer, having been imprisoned at nortorious Zalindov for the past 10 years. Her only crime - being with her dad when he was arrested.
When the Rebel Queen is captured and brought to the prison Kiva is set with the task to treat her so that she will be fit enough to face the trials of ordeal. It seems a hopeless task but when a coded message arrives from her family telling her that she must not let the Queen die and that they are on their way, Kiva becomes determined to do everything she can to ensure that the Queen will survive ... even if that means tying her own fate and her life to the Rebel Queen’s.

... Honestly if that hasn't hooked you what will!!

The setting was spot on - a dark gritty prison where most don't survive had me hooked immediately.
A Brilliant cast of characters - Kiva is a great protagonist. She is determined and strong but also full of compassion and empathy.
The supporting cast were also equally as amazing! Jaren ... swoon! Naari .... I loved her and Tipp ... My favourite of them all!! he was just the sweetest cutest little cinnamon roll of a boy. Honestly I just loved him with all my heart.
There was romance but it was subtle and sweet and done perfectly. It didn't overshadow the plot at all.
...... and O.M.G that ending!! There were little twists and turns throughout the book but that ending was just ... OMG!! HONESTLY WHAT!!!!
I need the second book like right now!! I did not see that coming at all. Im not sure there was even a hint that was coming which made it that more impactful!!

Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an e-copy of this book, I'm now off to request the sequel!! Please accept it *fingers tightly crossed*

Fuck me sideways – THIS IS A BOOK YOU NEED TO READ. My emotions, my heart, my MIND all left scrambled whilst I lie in the dark trying to contemplate what just happened. I am a mess.

When you grab this (noticed I said when and not IF), this is what you’re in for:

✨ Hunger Games vibes but in a death prison
✨ Rebel Queen messing everyone’s shit up
✨ One bad-ass 17-year-old trying not to die in said death prison that has to heal people with no training
✨ A set of ordeals that would grant her her freedom
✨ A disease that is killing off inmates in droves

I mean c’mon. How could you even resist that in the first place? First up, you’ve got our main gal, Kiva. The aforementioned bad-ass is the one standing between life and death of most of the prisoners. Dragged along to Zalindov prison because of her father’s actions, she’s 10 years deep in a never-ending sentence and doing what she must to survive. Then you have little Tipp. Another kid thrown in this hell-hole because of his parents, Tipp is like a little ray of sunshine that bounds from one place to another like he’s in fucking Disney World. If we could bottle up his essence, we could be millionaires.

If that pair isn’t enough, enter Jaren (lad supreme) and Naari (a prison guard who is nice…? Weird) to really throw a few spanners into the works. This band of merry misfits join forces to try to figure out what’s behind the sickness that’s plaguing the prison, but when the Rebel Queen, Tilda, is flung into her world everything grinds to a halt. Tilda is sentenced to Trial by Ordeal, but as she’s, uh, unconscious, she ain’t in any fit state to do them, so Kiva volunteers as tribute. If she survives, they both walk out of this place. One problem though – very few people do.

And I’m going to stop there. Because this is a book you should read for yourself.

Yes, it’s a story about Kings and Queens. Yes, there’s a smidge of romance but nothing wild. Yes, some of this sounds clichéd as fuck but I do not care. I needed a book like this at the moment and it’s filled a void that I didn’t even know was there. It’s a deliciously easy read leaving you wanting to devour more and I promise you that might not see that ending coming. I was sitting there all smug thinking I’d mastered it, but hell no. Smacked right in the face – left gobsmacked.

Gimmie the next one. Now.
(p.s. thankfully I only need to wait until October)

The Prison Healer is the first instalment in an eponymous young adult fantasy trilogy by award-winning author Lynette Noni. Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years of her life sentence fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov. It is the place the rulers of Wenderall’s eight kingdoms send the worst offenders. Both she and her father, Faran, were incarcerated when Kiva was only a child for suspected treason against the crown. Having succeeded her late father as the eponymous prison healer, she uses fragrant, healing herbs on her patients and boasts extensive, in-depth medical knowledge particularly of viruses, bacteria and the immune system and has also taken up the role of informer to the merciless Rooke, the warden in charge of oversight at the facility. Kiva understands that many of those she shares prison life with cannot be trusted and their loyalty could turn on a dime so she befriends few fellow inmates, her closest ally being MacGuffin Tipp, and the guards can be trusted even less than the criminals; they frequently abuse their power by committing acts of violence or sexual assaults that go unpunished. However, new female guard, Naari, is different as is attractive new prisoner, Jaren, making Kiva interested in getting to know them and helping her perceived iciness to somewhat thaw. When the Rebel Queen, Tilda Corentine, is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive in the prison’s infirmary long enough for her to undergo her sentence - Trial by Ordeal: a series of 4 impossible elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous and problematic of criminals.

Rooke gives Kiva a mere 7 days to ready political prisoner Tilda for her ”trial”, but she is seriously ill, blind and unconscious. If she survives she will be deemed innocent and free to go but those who have been subjected to Trial by Ordeal in the past have each suffered the same unfortunate fate; let's just say, none of them are alive to tell the tale. Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Despite Kiva providing the best medical care she can, The Rebel Queen remains in a coma and shows little sign of improvement, so in order to buy time to give their rescuers time to mount an assault, Kiva volunteers, risking her own life, to take her place as Tilda’s champion. Will they ever manage to escape these prison walls or are they destined to die in Zalindov? This is a captivating and compulsive grimdark political fantasy and makes use of quite a few prevalent genre tropes such as the royal kingdom and its tension with rebels and revolutionaries, a magic system that is lightly touched upon and an ensuing romance but admittedly they are well woven into the narrative and propel it along nicely. The horrors of the prison could be likened to a concentration camp or Russian gulag and the Trial by Ordeal very much reminded me of the Witch Trials which were also inescapable and a death sentence whether you were innocent or guilty as charged. There are several subplots in this atmospheric, almost claustrophobic, story and it is filled with adventure, action, mystery, romance and emotionally resonant characters who it's impossible not to become invested in. A dark, brutal and thrilling read with a cornucopia of twists studded throughout.

The Prison Healer is a great first book for a new series, as Lynette Noni has created a world and character that I am now invested in.

The leading lady is the prison healer Kiva Meridan a 17-year-old girl who has spent the last 10 years in a death prison; Kiva is a character that I liked straight away. She is caught between a rock and a hard place. Doing something she doesn't want to do, to keep herself as safe as possible. Kiva is a strong character that hasn't lost her compassion. The story is told through her POV, so the trials, her feeling and revelation, we live it at the same time as Kiva.

The trials were different from what I originally expected but I liked each one and how Kiva has to survive them. 

Another aspect that was interesting is the Prison itself. It is full of corruption and politics. This means the good people stand out. 

The writing style of Lynette is easy and enjoyable to read. I read The Prison Healer in one sitting as I was hooked. The ending made me google when the next book comes out. (FYI The Gilded Cage is out on 12th Oct 21.) 

The Prison Healer is perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Victoria Aveyard.

My Rating for The Prison Healer is 4.8 out of 5.

The Prison Healer has surprised me in the best way and is one of my favourite reads of 2021. I was hooked from the very first page and Noni's writing is so enthralling it made this story a joy to read. A fantasy with trials, elemental magic, a mysterious disease sweeping the prison, and really awesome characters. It also had so many plot twists that I never saw coming.

Set mainly in the walls of the prison Zalindov, Kiva is the prison healer treating the sick throughout her ten years stuck there. During this time, her family sneaks her notes telling her to hold on and that they will help her. Outside the prison, there is unrest involving rebels against the crown, so when the next prisoner brought in is the rebel queen alongside a note to keep her alive Kiva must do everything she can to protect her. This includes putting herself forward for the trial by Ordeal instead of the rebel queen. If she survives she walks free, if she fails she dies and so does the rebel queen. While this is happening there is also a mysterious disease hitting the inmates and Kiva must figure out what it is before it gets to those close to her.

This story is predominantly focused on the prison but I hope that in the sequel we get to learn even more about the world and magic system. The elemental magic is touched on briefly and plays an interesting role in the story but there is definitely more that can be expanded with it. I enjoyed that this installment allows the set up of key characters, explores unrest within the prison, and builds on core relationships. The character relationships were one of the aspects I loved most. There is a light romance plot that runs through the story which I really enjoyed. I hope that this is also explored further in the sequel. The relationship between Kiva and Tipp was also so heartwarming. Tipp is a young child that Kiva took under her wing and their relationship is so pure.

The author's writing style is so easy to fall into that I was engrossed from the first chapter. Noni weaves her fantasy world flawlessly. I am itching to explore it further. If you are in a reading slump and find high fantasy too much to get your head around, pick this up! It is such an enjoyable read and the different storylines within the prison are pulled together so well and you won't even see the (many) plot twists coming. I haven't been shocked like this with a book for a long time. I would pitch this to anyone who enjoyed Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas but imagine if the story focuses on Celaena while she was in the Salt Mines in Endovier, and instead of being an assassin, she's a kindhearted and fierce healer.

The Prison Healer is an unmissable fantasy. If you enjoy elemental magic systems, healing magic, slow-burn romance, and elements of found family you will love this book. It surprised me in the best way and I am so excited to read the sequel The Gilded Cage (release date: October 12th 2021).