3 / 3.5 STARS

I’m still not sure how I feel about this one. For most of it I felt bored but I also really liked the last quarter of the book as the pacing picked up.

The ending did leave me intrigued to see where the story goes in the sequel. I loved one of the twists/reveals later in the book and all the trials throughout.

The main character to me didn’t feel as though she had much a personality which made it difficult for me to become invested in the story.

Overall for most of it the pacing was slow which effected my enjoyment but I liked the how it ended and the world was interesting to read about!

The Prison Healer swept me away and didn’t let me go until I had read the very final word.

In The Prison Healer we meet Kiva, who has spent the last 10 years being a prisoner at Zalindov, a prison where the average life expectancy is a few months at most. As she works as a healer, a new prisoner is brought in - the Rebel Queen, who fights to reclaim the throne of Evalon. Unable to undergo the Trial by Ordeal - a way to decide a prisoner’s guilt - Kiva offers to undergo the Trials instead. Helped by a new prisoner, Jaren, one of the guards, Naari, and her faithful assistent, 11 year old Tipp, she fights to survive the Trials - and the prison itself.

The Prison Healer was an amazing read, I almost couldn’t stop reading. I loved the characters, especially sweet and stuttering Tipp. They had their own personalities, stories, quirks, I loved them all.

Usually I don’t really care for stories that take place in one setting, but Zalindov almost felt like a character on its own. I didn’t mind it one bit. The banter and conversations between the characters kept the story going without a single boring moment.

The story was great, especially the ending. It left me wanting more - more of the characters, their dynamics, the world. I can’t wait to read The Gilded Cage.

THE PRISON HEALER is one of those books that was easy to read, but lacked a certain something and had a few elements that frustrated me. The pacing was good and the prison itself was interestingly set up. The two crises Kiva face (the plague and taking the Rebel Queen's place in the trials) meant that there was always something happening.

I did guess the plague mystery pretty much as soon as it was brought up, so was just waiting for her to find it out, but it was similar to something I've been working on, so I guess I was primed for it. The trials did feel a bit too easy for her to get involved in, and felt a little too easy to survive given they were designed to kill her and others kept intervening.

There is one trope in this book that I am not a big fan of if it's used a certain way, but is used twice in this book. I was actually not too bothered by the first usage of the trope, as it set up an interesting scenario for the next book and the potential for real character growth.

However, the second one, revealed on the final page, is the usage that really frustrates me. I was really hoping it wouldn't happen (it's a pretty cliche YA trope at this point) and to dump it on the final page just reads as a lazy cliff-hanger to get the reader to pick up the next book. It wasn't set up in the book, just dropped in there.

I just... why the MC of every book need to be someone very special? It was reading like Kiva was just an ordinary girl who had ended up in prison because of a suspicious, incorrect report about her father - and that injustice had driven her remaining family into the rebellion. I would have loved to see an ordinary girl find herself tangled up in rebellion, particularly as it would set up some interesting conflict for the second book.

At Zalindov, the only person you can trust is yourself.

Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan is a survivor. For ten years, she has worked as the healer in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, making herself indispensable. Kept afloat by messages of hope from her family, Kiva has one goal and one goal only: stay alive.

Then one day the infamous Rebel Queen arrives at the prison on death's door and Kiva receives a new message: Don't let her die. We are coming.

The queen is sentenced to 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. Aware the sickly queen has little chance of making it through the Trials alive, Kiva volunteers to take her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

And 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.

The title of this book intrigued me and from the first page I wasn’t disappointed. The prison healer has a little bit of everything, romance, magic, intrigue all mixed but in a prison setting. The characters pull you straight in and with a few twists and turns on the way, a couple that you’ll never see coming.
For fans of Throne of glass and An ember in the ashes, don’t miss it!!

This story sounded so interesting and had a really intriguing storyline yet I just didn’t love it like I thought I would. I liked the story somewhat but I just didn’t love any character which made it difficult for me to really root for them despite the fact that they endure some terrible things.

The story is about a young woman who has been in prison since she was seven and mostly entirely alone and it didn’t make sense that she had no one who looked after as a child and she had so many skills including being a healer after watching her dad for a year when she was seven. Her motivations for choosing to risk her own life and suffer through the trials which are known to be horrific also didn’t make sense and it was just confusing as to why she would have such a strong motivation to do something like that. Like yes she was told to keep her alive but why is she so personally invested in it? Especially for people who kept promising to help her but never actually came.

I also had issues with the big plot twist at the end because there was zero hints throughout the book and this is something we should have had an inkling about because we literally spend the book in Kiva’s head. She knew that twist but the readers didn’t and not once is it even remotely alluded to.

The romance was also very insta love and didn’t have much depth to it especially s Kiva kept saying she didn’t like him while also thinking about him all the time. He also conveniently doesn’t get marked with the Z like every single person who is taken to the prison and especially once we find out more about him it makes sense but also convenient. He risks so much for Kiva including getting tortured despite them barely knowing each other. I just couldn’t feel invested in their relationship.

I did like Tipp and how Kiva would take care of him and that despite the awful circumstances he somehow managed to be optimistic and find joy and love. He was sweet and he needs to be protected at all costs.

The end of the story had several revelations which made the motivations of Kiva make more sense and it has intrigued me to know what will happen in the next book. Especially as it seems we will get to see more of the world as this book is set solely in the prison with some flashbacks and references. And it seems as though we will get more political intrigue which I love seeing. So I am a little intrigued to know what will happen in the next book.

4.5 Stars

I was so excited about this book and it definitely didn't let me down! If you enjoy YA fantasy then I can't imagine you not enjoying this book. I haven't read anything like it as it is SO unique.

The story is about Kiva who has been in a notorious prison for over 10 years. She has survived when many around her have perished due to the awful conditions and brutal prison guards. Being the prison healer has been her saving grace. The story follows Kiva as she makes new friends and struggles on in the prison. One day the queen of the rebel faction against the ruling moanrchy is brought in unconscious and incredibly unwell. The rebel queen is sentenced to do 4 impossible trials for her freedom. Kiva takes on her sentencing as the older woman is in no state to do it herself and Kiva could earn both of their freedom. The story is gripping and filled with so many twists and turns, most of which I didn't see coming.
The story is fantastic but the characters are even better! Kiva is such an interesting character and I loved learning her story and seeing how she survives. She is so loyal and caring even though she tries to close herself off. The other characters, Jaren, Tipp and Naari added so much to the story and their unique characters and personalities were great to get to know. They all served different purposes and I loved them all.
The writing is gripping! So well written and tapped into all of my emotions! There are alot of tough moments and I will post the trigger warnings below but they all served a purpose and none of them were gratuitous.

Basically...read this book!! I cannot recommend it enough and I am desperate for the next book!!

TW: Talk of sexual abuse, scenes of physical and emotional abuse, bullying, traumatic scenes, violence.

Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.

I should have realized this wouldn't be for me, given it was blurbed by Sarah J. Maas, whose books I unilaterally do not enjoy. It's a personal taste thing, but I could have stood for way less torture imagery and for a romance that didn't make my eyes roll to the back of my skull.

The Prison Healer held promise from the beginning and while the ending felt fairly satisfying, the bulk of the novel largely let it down. The characters evoke little connection or emotion and the plot tends to drag on at times.

For a large part of the book, everything just felt very generic, with very few standout scenes or moments. While the ending did redeem it it's a 2.5 stars.

“Their story didn’t end as it should have. But I know for a fact that they’d live it all over again, even the ending, as long as it meant they could keep their beginning.”
•
Let me tell you that I’m usually quite good at predicting plot twists and cliffhangers but this book, THIS BOOK completely got me off guard. I’ve been so so blind and I loved how the author surprised me. Kiva is the healer in one of the most impregnable prisons of the country. She is such a wonderful person, she cares for the prisoners even if she knows they have likely done terrible things and she cures anyone, no matter what. The story is absolutely thrilling: the Rebel Queen comes to the prison but she is terribly sick so she manages to keep her alive and she takes the woman’s place in the trials.. they are four impossible tasks against elements and, if she manages to survive, they’ll both be free and she’ll be able to reunite with her family that is secretly linked to the rebels. Honestly I’ve been so confused for half of the book, I really couldn’t understand the behavior of many characters and that unsettled me but also made me want to know more. When Jaren arrives at the prison Kiva is very attracted to him, he is not like the others, just like her he cares for other people (he cares for her in particular) and he shows her a kindness she had forgotten since her father died. The flashbacks about her life before the prison are so heartbreaking and the story of how her parents met made me cry badly. In the prison she was treated so badly but I was amazed to see how strong she was to endure all that and how, even in hell, she has been able to find a sort of new family. As I said the end is shocking and I’m glad the second book is out this year because I couldn’t endure a long wait! Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy.

𝑨𝒕 𝒁𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒗, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇.

🌟B O O K R E V I E W🌟

The Prison Healer - Lynette Noni

Kiva Meriden has been in Zalindov prison for a decade, trusted by the warden. She is a healer, skilled at caring for the inmates who live in brutal conditions, most don’t make it through 6 months. But she has survived. She is waiting for her family to come, still waiting, still surviving.

‘𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 - 𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒅.’

This story is really inventive, atmospheric and otherworldly. Lynette Noni has an amazing talent for storytelling, creating characters that tug at the heartstrings, you are drawn in at once and you cannot stop reading.
I was immediately drawn to Kiva, she has sensitivity about her but a keen survival instinct. There is a motley band of characters; Kiva, Jaren, Tipp and Naari. You feel like you are absorbed into the prison with them, urging them on as the underdogs of the system.

‘𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚.’

It is exciting, fast moving and I loved the magical element to the story. It is brilliantly written, with nods to other great sagas, totally addictive, at times I felt like my eyes were on stalks waiting for the next shock.
There is hatred, love, warring families, greed, violence, betrayal….I mean, it’s all here!

‘𝒁𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒗 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒌𝒆𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒅𝒆.’

This is a fantastically dark, gripping fantasy with added romance, it picks you up and carries you right to the end. And in literally the last lines of the book....yes!! This is the start of a saga I’m telling you, it’s going to run and run!!
I cannot wait to see what happens next!

✩✩✩✩✩

[AD-GIFTED]

First of all, I do want to preface this by saying that this book contains a lot of dark themes including self harm, rape, physical and sexual abuse and suicide.

It is about Kiva, a seventeen year old prison healer, tasked with trying to manage the repercussions of the brutality in Zalindov 'death' prison, whilst trying to stay alive herself. The arrival of a seriously ill woman, the Rebel Queen, throws Kiva's life into even more danger, and the stakes becomes even higher and more deadly.

This is not a book that is going to make you smile much, which is hardly a surprise, considering its setting, but I did at times find that it was going a little bit too far to make the main character miserable. There were some moments of levity, but it was predominantly very dark and potentially triggering.

That being said, it was very engaging, and this was mostly due to the characters involved. Kiva was clearly very damaged by her life in the prison, but she tirelessly worked to ease suffering, even in those people who did not seem to deserve it. Her 'assistant', eleven year old Tipp is an absolute joy; she describes him as the ray of light in the darkness, and that is exactly what he is. Naari, a new guard, provides a new outlook for Kiva, and Jaren's appearance as a badly beaten new prisoner, is one that changes Kiva's life, whether she wants it to or not.

I did need several breaks whilst reading this, just to take a breath and try and deal with some of the themes, but I was also very keen to pick it back up again, and the ending honestly left me speechless and desperate to pick up the sequel.

This is a fast paced and absorbing fantasy novel, but please go into it with awareness of the potentially triggering themes involved.

The Prison Healer follows much the same format as other young adult fantasies, we have a magic system, perilous trials and a rebellion, but what sets it slightly apart from the rest is the atmospheric prison setting in which the entire story is situated. The author has a lovely imaginative writing style and describes in detail the prison setting and its surroundings and I became totally immersed reading about the harsh brutalities of daily prison life and the characters within. This is a grim story, the living conditions are horrendous and the prisoners are treated abominably but it’s wonderfully dark and gritty and I loved it. The pacing is good, there are one or two slow moments but otherwise it flowed and the unpredictable storyline is interesting and engaging.

There is a strong character focus all of whom are beautifully crafted and diverse and I liked the close bond forged between some of the main characters, supporting and watching out for each other. The story centres primarily around Kiva, the prison healer. A strong heroine Kiva’s characterisation is wonderful and she comes across as intelligent, resourceful, extremely brave and incredibly knowledgeable about healing. She was captured as a child and has survived the last 10 years in prison by keeping her head down and doing what she’s told without complaint. She receives intermittent secret coded messages from her family in the hope that one day she will be rescued. I really enjoyed following Kiva’s story and the challenges she faced. There are some really intense moments when she participates in the Ordeals, or the risky elemental tasks, involving air, fire, water and earth.

Naavi is one of my favourite characters, she lingers in the background for the most part, forever watchful and you’re not sure at first if she’s friend or foe. She has a wonderful quiet and calm disposition and a protective and compassionate side subsequently emerges. Tipp is adorable and a little ray of sunshine, he added a lovely little sparkle to the tale. Jaren is the love interest and shrouded in mystery, we get the feeling he is not what he seems. Romance in a storyline is always a welcome element for me, however this one was a little underwhelming and still needed the opportunity to grow to flourish. It’s slow burn and kept very innocent but there was some lovely flirty banter. I wasn’t quite feeling the chemistry here, but hopefully we’ll see more in the next book.

The Prison Healer is a compelling and gripping fantasy adventure with amazing characters and world building and an interesting and captivating plot. The plot twists are unpredictable and I really enjoyed that delicious one right at the end of the book. Dark and tense this novel will have you on the edge of your seat. I eagerly await the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy via Netgalley. The review will be published across my social media platforms nearer to publication.

You know how people will type “I’m screaming” but not actually be doing so? WELL LET ME TELL YOU this book was a journey and I did scream. So much. So much so I developed a headache and had to lay down to process the words I had just devoured.

This book is FANTASTIC! Every so often you come across a book that just pummels you into the ground with twists and turns that make you giddy, and that book is The Prison Healer.

“She wasn’t jumpy; she was in the middle of a death prison. That was more than enough of an excuse to be on edge.”

Kiva is the prison healer of Zalindov. She spends her days tending to the sick whilst trying to survive the dangers around every corner, spurred on by the coded messages she receives from family, that they will come and save her.

The words flow beautifully and make this such an easy read. Everything about it is perfect, the characters are likeable and the banter between them feels true and lighthearted amidst all the troubles they face. For once I love the romance, Jaren I’m your biggest fan!, and everyone serves their purpose in the storyline.

This YA is dark. Oh it is so DARK! At times I genuinely felt so afraid for Kiva (and Tipp, best boy) due to the rich extent of the descriptions. And the trials! The first two are harrowing enough in their own right, but I can safely say the third is one of my own fears and I felt truly enveloped by the terror.

The last of my notes read - @Lynette, how dare you.
My bones are vibrating with excitement for the next in the series. Wow.

When I saw this book on Netgalley I didn’t expect to be accepted for the ARC, so when the email come through accepting my request, I was beyond excited. To add to that, it turned up just at the right time, so I could use this book for the Galleyathon’s ‘Newest ARC’ prompt.

Going into this I had a good idea that I would like this book, it’s set in a prison, it’s gritty, dark and there’s a series of trials our main character needs to face based on the elements. And when I realised that this book was dedicated to Sarah J Maas, one of my favourite authors, and I knew that this book would be something that I was going to like. I wasn’t wrong. But there was so much more to this book too.

It’s thrilling, a roller-coaster of a journey that had me whooping with joy and sobbing into my pillow. It’s got a focus on friendship, which is something I really loved. There’s a little bit of romance, but the romance takes a back seat compared to the friendship that the characters share before they realise that it might be something more. And then there’s the friendships that our lead character, Kiva, shares with some of the more prominent side characters too. Every side character in this book is well rounded, and they all have their own backstories too. I thought all of the characters in this book were so well written and wonderful, and some of them I absolutely fell in love with. Especially Tipp, an 11-year-old boy who works with Kiva in the prison’s infirmary.

Kiva herself was a fantastic lead, she was a strong, independent character with a dedication to healing. She has a vow to treat everyone, despite their background, and it’s part of that which makes her so intently likeable.

The healing scenes in the book are really interesting, and well written. They are detailed, but not graphic, so the book fits well in the YA age bracket without slipping into New Adult. The same could be said for the actions within the prison, this book is dark, but it doesn’t stray outside of YA territory, alluding to some things without giving us graphic details.

One of my favourite things about The Prison Healer is how well written it is. There’s are so many secrets to be unravelled. I figured out one of the twists, but the rest of them caught me by surprise, and had me shook! This book is a really emotional read too. I felt everything alongside the characters, and by the end of the book I felt like my heart had been ripped out my chest and stuffed back in so many times. The world building is also done so well. It’s drizzled through the pages instead of given to us on in a big spoonful of info-dumping. And all of this combined has left me so eager for the next book so I can learn more.

I have already pre-ordered the next book The Gilded Cage and can’t wait for October (2021!) to come around so I can find out what happens next (especially as this book ends on a pretty big cliff-hanger…)

I also want to mention that this book contains a secret code, of which we get to see pages of throughout the story. I am not sure if we are meant to crack the code’s ourselves (I am not smart enough for that haha) or if we will get a codebreaker in the later books to help us. But either way I can’t wait to find out what those pages said.

The Prison Healer is one of those books that would be so much fun to re-read later down the road, when you know more about the secrets hidden in this book and can look back to read the book in a completely different context. There are some scenes I really want to read over again now, and I’ve only just put it down this morning!

- SUMMARY -

The Prison Healer is a thrilling page-turner and full of so many surprises. It’s one of the best books I have read this year! If this book isn’t already on your wishlist, then you might want to add it as I can see this becoming a huge hit when it’s released in March/April (depending on the country).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my arc. I wish I had read it soon! The Prison Healer was a great surprise. From page one I was completely hooked . We follow Kiva who is a healer in a notorious prison, in a land where royalty have elemental magic. We follow Kivas journey through four awful trials which she volunteered for to save another’s life. Kiva is a pretty great main character and her relationship with Tipp was everything! But my favourite by far was Naari . One badass female! Anyway if you loved The Hunger Games or Red Queen or Throne of Glass this series is for you!

Finding a YA Fantasy with a unique setting is rare these days, but the complex prison that Noni has created really drew me in. This book should come with every possible trigger warning, but I found myself unable to put this book down!

You know you’ve enjoyed a book when the first thing you do once you’ve finished reading it (after picking your jaw up off the floor, of course) is check to see that there’s going to be a book two!

17 year old Kiva has been stuck in Zalindov Prison for the last 10 years, ever since her father was imprisoned for treason. She has survived by making herself indispensable as the prison healer and by reluctantly spying for the Warden. Desperate to escape the prison, her only hope is that her family will one day come for her.

Then one day a new prisoner who is gravely ill arrives with a message “Don’t let her die. We are coming”. Suddenly Kiva’s mission to survive is extended to incorporate The Rebel Queen. However she’s been sentenced to the Trial by Ordeal. A series of tests against the four elements of air, fire, water and earth. Without elemental magic no one can survive the Trial by Ordeal. Added to the fact that the Rebel Queen is ill, Kiva knows it’s a death sentence and suddenly finds herself volunteering to be the Queen’s champion. Now Kiva must survive the ordeals to secure freedom for herself and the Queen. But Kiva doesn’t have elemental magic...

I loved this book! Now don’t get me wrong there were parts that were a little slow but the dread and anticipation about what each ordeal would entail, kept me on edge and desperate to see what would happen next. Added to that we have fantastic characters in Kiva, Tipp, Jaren and Naari. They were all so relatable and likeable.

The story telling and world building were fantastic. I loved the way the author created a safe haven in the infirmary for our characters, a place that offered them a small amount of protection from the dangers of the prison.

I cannot wait for book two to see how the crazy cliffhanger plays out. I definitely didn’t expect that ending!!

The Prison Healer is a fantastic YA fantasy. If you love magic, adversity and a slow burn romance, I’d definitely recommend giving this a go.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

I feel like I’ve been a bit out of step with the fantasy genre lately, even though it is one of my favourite genres to read. It was therefore really nice to feel like I’m ahead of the curve by reading the ARC of The Prison Healer and knowing that it will be an outstanding hit when it is released in April.

The Prison Healer has it all; there’s a feisty and strong female lead, a harsh prison setting, a series of trials to overcome and many secrets to be unveiled. I enjoyed every minute of reading it and finished it in a day – that’s how engaging the writing is. Noni is an assured and confident writer, drip feeding enough backstory and world building throughout the entire story in a way that kept us informed but still holding things back, although not enough to be frustrating. I enjoyed the cast of characters, especially our main character Prison Healer Kiva who will always try to treat someone no matter what they have done in their previous life. There is also a great supporting cast including the sweet Tipp – a young boy with a stutter, prison guard Naari and the noble new prisoner Jaren. I felt they were all well rounded and liked getting to know them further throughout the book.

I also really enjoyed the setting - the prison of Zalindov felt realistic and gritty, with a hint of internal politics at play as well as a dirtier underside. There are some twists and turns as the trials progress and a few reveals that I did not see coming close to the end. This is the start of a series so there is a cliff-hanger ending and I cannot wait to read the next one (I believe it is out in October so there isn’t too long to wait!)

I only have a few very small criticisms; one is that I didn’t understand the need to show the coded messages that Kiva receives from her family. It also seemed to take up one page of my kindle whether it was a one-word message or a few sentences which didn’t make much sense. Looking back on this I do wonder if it’s a code meant for readers to crack (a bit like in the Artemis Fowl books) – if this is the case, it’s a nice easter egg! I also felt that at times the writing was a little repetitive, with author Noni holding the readers hand to walk us through the plot at various points and remind us of what had just happened which could have been edited down.

Overall, The Prison Healer is one of my standout fantasy books for 2021 and I cannot wait to read the next instalment. Thank you to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was rather conflicted about The Prison Healer. In fact, I finished this almost a week ago and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it!

The Prison Healer gripped me right from the very beginning. I thought the prison setting was quite original in a YA fantasy, where the daily reality of living in a place like Zalindov is represented and the main characters aren't constantly planning an escape. In some ways, Kiva almost seems resigned to her fate (even though she continues to hope her family will free her) and tries to make the most of her circumstances.

The world-building was also rather well executed and the elemental magic system was clear and easy to follow. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, but I guess I felt more forgiving of it because the characters were stuck inside the prison and, well... couldn't show much. The Trials themselves were, for me, probably the weakest part of the book but I still felt the pressure and anxiety Kiva was under. Despite that, they felt a bit repetitive and, by the time the final one rolled around, I had no more doubts as to what would happen next. The search for a cure to the plague sweeping the prison was by far more interesting for me, even though that too became slightly monotonous by the end, but again I could feel Kiva's frustration and concern.

Kiva was definitely the best part of the book. She's a highly compelling and complex character, struggling to survive in a place meant to crush and destroy everyone who sets foot inside. Her guarded behaviour felt very realistic in an environment where no one can be trusted, and I enjoyed seeing her grow and change throughout the story. I loved having a main character in a fantasy book whose main skills lie outside fighting, quite literally carving her place in this world while trying to make a difference in spite of everyone's suspicions and hatred. The rest of the cast was also very well-developed, and I enjoyed the group dynamic immensely.

So, all good right? Well, not quite. The Prison Healer was shaping up to be one of my favourites so far this year... until the ending. Now, I'm definitely in the minority here and most people seem to have greatly enjoyed the ending, but for me it really fell flat and kind of ruined the whole book. It just felt really inconsistent with everything we had seen and heard so far, and meant Kiva had somehow been lying the whole time... in her own thoughts? I could have accepted it far more easily if we hadn't been following her POV, inside her head, thoughts and feelings, for the whole book. As it was, it just seemed slightly too convenient and built for the sake of a big shocking moment. It was a real shame, because I had been loving it up until then!

Overall, The Prison Healer was an engaging read and (minus the ending) a solid start to a new series. I'll probably continue this as I did love the characters and I'm curious to see what will happen next!

CW: contains mentions of rape, graphic violence, torture, drugs, self-harm, child abuse, and death.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: mentions of rape, graphic injuries, drugs, torture, mentions of self-harm, and violence.

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.

Kiva is a strong female lead in a story that has you feeling sorrow, anger and a lot of panic! Despite knowing it could lead to her death, she puts the life of a deathly-ill stranger above her own. I love her selflessness, and her bravery at facing the unknown. Despite other prisoners - namely the rebels - mistreating her, she remains kind and welcoming, helping others to the best of her ability. I enjoyed the cautious edge she kept and found the doubts about people’s motives interesting. Definitely an engaging character.
Jaren and Naari are two characters present a lot of the time and yet remain rather mysterious. I loved how they both interacted with Kiva. But I think my favourite has to be the reserved and unendingly chipper Tipp. I would love to have a Tipp in my life - purely for the joy he presents in even the gloomiest of times.

It was interesting to have a story set from within a prison. Most involve breaking in or out of such a place, not show life day after day inside one. I really enjoyed the dynamics of guards who allow power to get to their heads against prisoners fighting for their lives and their beliefs every day. The ending had me SHOOK. I won’t lie, I am slightly confused about the very end - normally there are more hints dropped throughout the book for something like that. It may be that there were instances like this and I’m dumb and didn’t see them, but I think it would have been good to have elements of this pop up over me going “What the f**k-doodle just happened?” But that cliffhanger was INSANE. You best believe I’ll be snatching up the sequel!!!

Overall, The Prison Healer is a story that has you holding your breath and leaves you oh so desperate for more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.