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The Golden Prisoner:
Not yet published
Expected 11 Feb 26I’m a slave to destiny, starving for a drop of happiness, of hope, of love.
My heart is torn between keeping the people I love safe from the monsters that don’t deserve to be called ‘family’, and indulging in a fantasy of my own doing.
My dream has come true. They allowed me to pretend I’m a normal girl, sent to study at the Royal Academy where I can be with the man whom I believe is my fated.
But I’m still tied to the my life is still being drained out of me to keep my sister alive, my time is spent serving my brother who enrolled alongside me.
I’m getting tangled in my web of lies, unable to truly open my heart to anyone.
I am tied to duty.
My heart is torn between my role as a Prince, and indulging in a fantasy where my fated mate plays a central role in.
I was sent to the Royal Academy to mingle with nobles who don’t even know who I am, my identity as a Prince hidden to the public. Hidden from her, too–the woman of my dreams.
I’m trying not to become the villain in her story.
My heart is torn between ensuring that my fated mate is safe and happy, and my own selfish desire to be by her side.
I wished to escape my country, ruled by the monster that doesn’t deserve to be called ‘mother’.
My dream has come true, I’m enrolled in the Northern Kingdom Academy.
But now I wish I never escaped; now I wish I met her first, before my brother did.
At least I can be her guardian angel.
I just hope I won’t fall from grace.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 11, 2026
5 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 5, 2026
ARC review!
I read The Golden Prisoner during the Holidays. I think it's a good debut book and I want to know what happens next.
Summary:
Medusa (Medy) is treated very poorly by her family who doesn't even publicly acknowledge her existence. She is used as a blood and marrow bank for her sister. She ends up getting accepted at university. One night, while working at the diner with Dorothy, she meets Perseus and they both feel instant attraction towards each other. He too will attend the same school. Hidden in another kingdom, his brother Apollo keeps an eye on him. When he sees Medy, he feels and instant pull towards her. He decides to protect her and he becomes her guardian angel, always in the shadows.
Thoughts:
I struggled to get into the story at first. The poor treatment of the FMC just seemed like an overkill. Thankfully, it tones down when she goes to university and the focus shifts to her relationships with Perseus and Apollo.
Percy is rich and handsome. He only has eyes for her and I love him for it. He is kind and caring...until he gets jealous and loses his shit.
Apollo becomes obsessed with Medy. He is Percy's brother, but their mom has been mean to him and he has left the kingdom. He is present mostly online. He inserts himself into their lives and try to make Medy's life as easy as possible.
I thought the stalker romance was well done and, while I liked Perseus for the better part of the book, I was rooting for Apollo.
The book was very easy to read once she got to unversity.
The only two other things that I liked less was that the vocabulary seemed a bit repetitive and the ending was not so clear.
I was hoping the shifter part would take more place.
Overall, I enjoyed it and will read more!
I read The Golden Prisoner during the Holidays. I think it's a good debut book and I want to know what happens next.
Summary:
Medusa (Medy) is treated very poorly by her family who doesn't even publicly acknowledge her existence. She is used as a blood and marrow bank for her sister. She ends up getting accepted at university. One night, while working at the diner with Dorothy, she meets Perseus and they both feel instant attraction towards each other. He too will attend the same school. Hidden in another kingdom, his brother Apollo keeps an eye on him. When he sees Medy, he feels and instant pull towards her. He decides to protect her and he becomes her guardian angel, always in the shadows.
Thoughts:
I struggled to get into the story at first. The poor treatment of the FMC just seemed like an overkill. Thankfully, it tones down when she goes to university and the focus shifts to her relationships with Perseus and Apollo.
Percy is rich and handsome. He only has eyes for her and I love him for it. He is kind and caring...until he gets jealous and loses his shit.
Apollo becomes obsessed with Medy. He is Percy's brother, but their mom has been mean to him and he has left the kingdom. He is present mostly online. He inserts himself into their lives and try to make Medy's life as easy as possible.
I thought the stalker romance was well done and, while I liked Perseus for the better part of the book, I was rooting for Apollo.
The book was very easy to read once she got to unversity.
The only two other things that I liked less was that the vocabulary seemed a bit repetitive and the ending was not so clear.
I was hoping the shifter part would take more place.
Overall, I enjoyed it and will read more!
October 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
The Golden Prisoner was a pretty quick and easy read, and I loved the yearning in it. There is a man in this book that yearrrrnnnnns. My goodness. I cried at a few points in the book and was pissed off at a certain character for a few chapters. And the ending!!! Oh my gosh that ending was crazy!! Just make sure you check the trigger warnings for the book before you read it because it does deal with some heavier topics.
This book is a fast-paced, character driven stalker/shifter romance. The characters are at an academy but that isn’t a focal point in the story, it’s more of a passing note. It also talks of tragedy and family ~issues~. There’s a golden retriever MMC.. until he’s not, and a slightly unhinged MMC who has his nose in everyone’s business. I think that this book did a really good job of portraying characters that have relatable thoughts and feelings (except for a character’s thoughts about chocolate and steak haha). So if you like yearning, slightly awkward characters, beautiful imagery, and cats then you’ll like this book!
The Golden Prisoner was a pretty quick and easy read, and I loved the yearning in it. There is a man in this book that yearrrrnnnnns. My goodness. I cried at a few points in the book and was pissed off at a certain character for a few chapters. And the ending!!! Oh my gosh that ending was crazy!! Just make sure you check the trigger warnings for the book before you read it because it does deal with some heavier topics.
This book is a fast-paced, character driven stalker/shifter romance. The characters are at an academy but that isn’t a focal point in the story, it’s more of a passing note. It also talks of tragedy and family ~issues~. There’s a golden retriever MMC.. until he’s not, and a slightly unhinged MMC who has his nose in everyone’s business. I think that this book did a really good job of portraying characters that have relatable thoughts and feelings (except for a character’s thoughts about chocolate and steak haha). So if you like yearning, slightly awkward characters, beautiful imagery, and cats then you’ll like this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book. Woah. I could not put it down, and it had me hooked immediately.
I love an unreliable narrator, and as the story progressed something I really loved was how chaotic the story became. This story is told from very realistic POVs. we are not going to have 18 year olds speaking eloquently, there will be slang, and there will be a LOT of confusing emotions.
The characters were experiencing real turmoil in their minds and daily actions, and as a result, their POVs became chaotic, chunks of time missing, frantic. The style of the writing in this story was unique and directly mirrored what the characters were going through (this is important to remember).
My heart absolutely breaks for Medusa, our FMC, and Apollo (jury is out on Perseus), both MMCs. We are earned going into this story that we will not feel it resolved until the end, and A. Lya delivers on that promise!
On top of the actual story, A. Lya has come up with a very intricate reading order for this story, advertising it can be read in almost any order. I am intrigued!
overall: recommend
spice: open door
I love an unreliable narrator, and as the story progressed something I really loved was how chaotic the story became. This story is told from very realistic POVs. we are not going to have 18 year olds speaking eloquently, there will be slang, and there will be a LOT of confusing emotions.
The characters were experiencing real turmoil in their minds and daily actions, and as a result, their POVs became chaotic, chunks of time missing, frantic. The style of the writing in this story was unique and directly mirrored what the characters were going through (this is important to remember).
My heart absolutely breaks for Medusa, our FMC, and Apollo (jury is out on Perseus), both MMCs. We are earned going into this story that we will not feel it resolved until the end, and A. Lya delivers on that promise!
On top of the actual story, A. Lya has come up with a very intricate reading order for this story, advertising it can be read in almost any order. I am intrigued!
overall: recommend
spice: open door
November 7, 2025
Oh Lordy!
This is the first book of a series and I’m so glad it wasn’t a standalone with everything that goes down in this one book.
I’ll be honest I was slightly confused at the start feeling like these were already established characters that I was playing catch up with but by the third chapter I felt more at ease and was able to settle into the style of story telling.
Chapter 26 has my whole heart. It was my most favourite chapter and I absolutely love this tormented guardian angel!
The last 8 or so chapters had my heart in my throat, I read through them so fast I think I forgot to breathe at one point!!
I am so sooo soooooooo glad book two carries on from this one because IT CAN NOT END LIKE THAT!!
A really good read and I am on tender hooks waiting for book 2
This is the first book of a series and I’m so glad it wasn’t a standalone with everything that goes down in this one book.
I’ll be honest I was slightly confused at the start feeling like these were already established characters that I was playing catch up with but by the third chapter I felt more at ease and was able to settle into the style of story telling.
Chapter 26 has my whole heart. It was my most favourite chapter and I absolutely love this tormented guardian angel!
The last 8 or so chapters had my heart in my throat, I read through them so fast I think I forgot to breathe at one point!!
I am so sooo soooooooo glad book two carries on from this one because IT CAN NOT END LIKE THAT!!
A really good read and I am on tender hooks waiting for book 2
November 4, 2025
The golden prisoner, When i finished it it took me time to believe that it's finished but more than making me sad it made me excited because there's more to come. All the three main characters were amazing and interesting, their pov chapters made me judge all of them. It was hard for me to decide which side I am actually on :'). I love perseus, I like the contrast in the nicknames like medy-medusa, percy- perseus.
If you like dark romance with spice and complex themes( also with unhinged characters) definitely go for it!, every character has their own individuality which makes them stand out. Overall, It's a enjoyable read! Have your tissues ready though.
🫣
If you like dark romance with spice and complex themes( also with unhinged characters) definitely go for it!, every character has their own individuality which makes them stand out. Overall, It's a enjoyable read! Have your tissues ready though.
🫣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨Arc Review✨
IM FLABBERGASTED, this story captivated me with the writing and the plot. It is a different style of writing so it might now be for everyone but definitely think everyone should read it.
My brain is so jumbled with all my feelings and theories that I don’t know how to articulate how much I want to read the next book.
Goldie you magnificent but tortured man…I love you
Princy you are not the one!
IM FLABBERGASTED, this story captivated me with the writing and the plot. It is a different style of writing so it might now be for everyone but definitely think everyone should read it.
My brain is so jumbled with all my feelings and theories that I don’t know how to articulate how much I want to read the next book.
Goldie you magnificent but tortured man…I love you
Princy you are not the one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
I loved this book so much I somehow convinced myself it was a why choose. Spoiler, it’s not. The ending caught me off guard so much I had to stand up and walk around my room while I read. Book two better not leave me in tears please. I did like the interactions between the mc and her love interest. Be warned when this book is labeled dark fantasy romance the author means it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews