Calling all Sarah J. Maas lovers! Award-winning author Lynette Noni is known for captivating readers with her YA series and her newest one is sure to do the same! Published on April 13th, The Prison Healer is the book all fantasy fans need to read.

I loved Kiva and her strength throughout the novel. The way she continues to do her job and survive in the prison, despite certain feelings and loyalties, was admirable and inspiring. She is a character I found myself continually rooting for and was turning page after page just to see what would happen next. In addition to Kiva, all the rest of the characters were so well written and it helped enhance the plot of the novel even more.

Speaking of, the plot was absolutely fantastic! Even though this is technically a YA novel, it was so nuanced and refined that even adult fantasy lovers will fall in love with this book. I don’t want to give too much away so I'll just say this: I laughed, I cried (multiple times...), and the ending had me FLOORED! Just when I thought I had things figured out, Lynette Noni decided to hit me with some plot twists that had me shocked. Like I can’t even tell you how long I just sat there at 1am contemplating everything I had just read...

All I can say about this book is HOLY SH*T ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR IMMEDIATELY! As for me, I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to come out to see what the heck is going to happen next!

*I received an ARC from HMH Teen via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

It’s been a while since I’ve been so excited to read a book. And let me tell you, it was an adventure. This novel is set in a prison where Kiva is the prison's healer. We follow along her journey as she undertake elemental challenges and heals a mysterious disease that has been spreading through the prison.

Although it there were obviously some tropes/plot lines you typically see in YA - I very much liked the idea of how the romance still wasn’t a major plot and how well the author was able to hide in her writing through the character. It was done so well, that I didn't see some of the surprises that came at the end of the novel.

The first thing I noticed about this book was the dedication to Sarah J Maas, the next thing that caught my eye was the main character describing her own hair as ‘as black as night’. As someone who has a bit of a soft spot for kind of…cliché YA I was pretty sure that I was in for at the very least a fun and entertaining time.

I ended up coming out of this book with more thoughts and opinions than I perhaps thought I would have.

At it’s core this is a kind of tropey YA book, which I think is pretty evident from the description. I have to give the book credit for actually showing the elemental trials and not having them happen off page – which has happened on more than one occasion and always annoys me. Kiva was a strong character and I enjoyed her perspective on things, she didn’t feel too ‘heavenly’ or ‘heroic’ just the right balance of things.

The choice to set things in a prison was what really drove this book into a slightly different place – and a complex one at that. Obviously this is a fantasy prison but for the most part the concept of imprisonment is fairly similar in whatever setting you use it, you’re always going to have genuine criminals and people there because the system is corrupt with guards who exert power over said prisoners. For me, it’s hard to fully surrender to the ‘this is a fantasy’ angle because my brain is going ‘well it is pretty much this unethical in the real world’. That’s not necessarily a problem in and of itself and might even be a good starting point for discussions of those issues with young adults who might not otherwise be thinking about those things…

…but it is a wee bit jarring when juxtaposed with the tropey YA elemental trials and magic stuff happening…

I will also add that there is a nigh on constant threat of violence (including violence of a sexual nature) within this story. Readers who are sensitive to those themes may want to go in with care.

One thing that I did think worked well was the choice to have Kiva stand in for the rebel queen without it being ‘I must defend my sister’ which is something of an overplayed dynamic in YA fantasy. I thought it was fascinating to see an ‘ordinary’ person have to find their way through these trials and, while I won’t spoil it, I thought that Kiva’s reasoning for doing so felt believable. You don’t get that awkward ‘I feel like you’re doing too much good this feels unrealistic’ that you sometimes get in similar stories.

I definitely found this story compelling and I would read another book in the series. In the end I came out with a lot to think on but I’m not sure that was the books intention so I’m not sure how much credit to give! I’ll be interested to see whether this series falls into that familiar YA fantasy pitfall of having had a really clear setting and structure in the first book and not necessarily having those elements later on? I would say it would be a good read for anyone who wants to scratch the tropey YA itch, but don’t go in expecting just a silly fun time because there are some much darker story elements in there.

My rating: 3/5 stars

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley – all opinions are my own.

The Prison Healer is out now!

Here’s an embarrassing story: for a really long time, I thought the title of this book was The Poison Healer. Which, whoopsie, it is not. I was legit a few chapters in before I realized the difference, so that happened. Oh and by the by, this aforementioned prison is brutal.

“Zalindov showed no mercy, not even to the innocent. Especially not to the innocent.”

So, you see what our titular healer is dealing with. Kiva is amazing, regardless of (or perhaps because of) her circumstances. She still, somehow, holds out hope. Not just for her own life, but for all those she treats. Sure, she knows people don’t last very long in Zalindov, but she’ll be damned if people will die on her watch. It’s incredibly endearing, and I think it’s why it’s so easy to cheer for her from the start.

But one day, her bravery/selflessness/impulsivity leads her to take the rebel leader’s place in a punishment which is incredibly likely to mean her death. And not just her death, but the death of those she’s allowed herself to love (despite her best efforts to close herself off) inside the prison walls. So needless to say, the stakes are high. Speaking of the others inside the prison, wow did I enjoy the side characters! I worried about their fates nearly as much as Kiva’s. Because the big question remained: even if Kiva can miraculously survive, what about everyone else?

The book has a perfect mix of action and character development, and I basically could not put it down. It was so fascinating (and heartbreaking) to read about how Kiva got to this point in her life, and also really uplifting and inspiring that she was able to keep hope. There is also a rampant illness felling prisoners left and right that Kiva must try to keep under control, all while keeping both herself and her loved ones alive.

So, since I want to give nothing more away, I’ll leave you with this: I could not put this book down. There are so many incredible twists and turns. I fell completely in love with Kiva, as well as her fellow prisoners. I cheered for them, I cried for them, and I cannot wait to read the next installment.

Bottom Line: When I’m already pre-ordering book 2, you know it’s a winner.

The Prison Healer is the first in a new series by Lynette Noni. Kiva the MC is in a horrible prison since the age of 7, it is now 10 yrs later and she is now the prison healer after her father passes away and everyone hates her; the guards, the other prisoners, it just seems everyone except for Jaren who tries to get past all Kiva's walls. Kiva as the healer is then told to keep the rebel Queen alive until she can face the Trials by Ordeal. Noni does a good job of world building and making you hurt and disgusted by the prison environment and wanting the best for the characters, however, I just had some issues with Kiva's character.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an eARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to HMH Books, NetGalley and to Ms. Noni for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I had some real mixed feelings about this.

Let’s start with the GOOD.
Lynette Noni is clearly a talented writer. The story had a smooth flow and to be honest, my interest was caught and held from the beginning. The setting was unique. Ms. Noni’s prison did seem more dark and prison-like than most. There were no comforts here. MOST of the prisoners underwent terrible, backbreaking work and did in fact die in prison. (Note: There were some definite Holocaust overtones to the so-called “death prison” which could be triggering for some. In fact, there were quite a few things that could be triggering in this book. I was not triggered myself but I’m just putting it out there)
I would be interested in reading other books by Ms. Noni as I see that she has some very popular series under her belt.

And now for the less good.
This book definitely hit up most of the YA tropes I can think of.
Protagonist is completely unique from all those OTHER girls? Check. (She is literally isolated from the other prisoners, and hated by most of them. She's clearly set apart.)
Parents dead? Sort-of check; one of them is.
Most of the adults suck? Well, yes. The warden is horrible, 99% of the guards are criminals, and most of the prisoners (as I said) hate her.
Token diversity? hmm, n/a.
Dystopian world/Government sucks/ rebellion going on? Check check.
Protagonist is oblivious to her looks? Definitely. Not sure there is a mirror in prison.
Parents are gone? Definitely. She’s in there aloooooooooooone. One parent is dead (see above) and the other is outside of the prison, somewhere. (OR IS SHE?)
Romance? Well, if Jaren has his way, then yes.
Chosen one? You betcha.
Love Triangle? NO, thank the lord.

OK, so we’ve got 8 out of 10. 80%.

Even then I can overlook an overabundance of tropes when there’s good writing (there was) and a compelling plot (there was) and good characters (there were). Unfortunately the trials, which I had really looked forward to – how refreshing! a protagonist with NO MAGIC! Puzzling things out for herself! With her BRAIN! – turned into one magic-fueled miracle save after another. Even then I was still on board… until the end.

So it seems everyone else liked the end. The end was even the redeeming point of the book for some people. But the end is where I lost all positive feelings for Kiva. I really hate hypocritical characters and for her to absolutely rip another character a new one for dishonesty considering her… secrets… was hypocrisy at its height. Not to mention, the entire novel was from Kiva’s POV, so her attitudes and actions seemed especially weird (if not outright duplicitous) when the big twist was revealed. I don’t know. I really feel like I can see where the plot of this duology? Trilogy? …will end up, and tbh if Kiva dropped out of the story I’d be up to read it. But her character was just completely ruined for me in the ending of The Prison Healer and I’m hesitant to read on.

As I said, I seem to be in the minority in thinking this, so please read the book if you’re so inclined and make your mind up for yourself. It’s a good book with a lot going for it, and frankly, I liked the writing style enough that I’d definitely try more of Ms. Noni’s work. I just had some serious misgivings about a character who (unfortunately) is the *main* character.

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Count: 416
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Warnings: The prison is a dark place with cruel guards. Heavy warnings for abuse, sexual assault, drug use, torture, and death.

Quick Look (out of five):
Plot Rating: 5
Character Rating: 5
Romance Rating: 5
World-Building Rating: 5
Writing Style Rating: 5
Recommended?: Oh my goodness yes! I do not know how I have never read anything by Lynette Noni before, but that is most definitely going to change. Her writing is truly exquisite!

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book! I cannot stop talking about it and have already recommended it to my entire circle of book friends. Despite the entire story taking place inside a prison, the snippets we get about the outside world make it clear just how detailed and lush the world-building of this novel is. Every single character has carved out a place in my heart just for them, and the romance sub-plot is an absolute delight. The only ‘issue’ I have with the plot is obviously something that will be addressed in the sequel, so it is really more of a lingering question. I literally finished the book, took a moment to absorb that perfectly executed plot twist, and then looked up when the next one is coming out and added it to the top of my to-read list. I am absolutely obsessed with this story and with Lynette Noni as a writer, and I intend to fill the period until the sequel comes out reading my way through more of her books.

The Prison Healer follows 17-year-old Kiva Meridan, the healer at Zalindov Prison, who has been an inmate since she was seven years old. She became the prison healer after the death of her father, who held the job previously and taught Kiva everything she knows. Kiva is dealing with the constant distrust of the prison rebels, keeping 11-year-old Tipp out of trouble, and fending off a new prisoner named Jaren’s attempts to befriend her. Her difficulties skyrocket when Tilda Corentine, the rebellion’s leader, arrives at the prison in the dead of night. Kiva is told to get the incredibly ill woman healthy in time to face her Trials by Ordeal, an ancient series of four trials that determine a person’s innocence – if they survive. As the Trials approach, Kiva grows frantic trying to determine what is wrong with Tilda, while also dealing with a stomach illness that is sweeping the prison.

Kiva has been at Zalindov Prison for ten years, after being taken in with her father for unknown reasons. She is incredibly closed off, working hard to ensure she has no emotional ties to other prisoners. Kiva knows prisoners do not live long, especially those with heavy labor jobs, and she has decided it is safer to push everyone away. I found her to be an incredibly interesting character; she makes logical choices based around her survival rather than a belief in any noble cause. Kiva is more than willing to give the Warden information about other prisoners in exchange for protection from the guards, although she is careful to never tell the Warden anything that will get someone punished. It is quite clear that being in Zalindov for most of her life has left Kiva with deep mental scars and emotional walls. I love how real Kiva feels. She is rarely filled with bravado, carrying the kind of life experience that ages a person beyond their years and engrains fear into them.

Jaren is Kiva’s opposite in most ways. Having only just arrived at Zalindov, he is more than willing to form emotional attachments to other prisoners. He has yet to learn to fear the guards the way he should, making Kiva nervous. Jaren takes a shine to Kiva almost immediately, slowly working his way through her emotional barriers. Despite Jaren’s open personality, he is more than capable of keeping secrets and recognizing the seriousness of his situation. At the beginning, I liked Jaren, but did not feel too attached to him. However, the more I got to know him, the more I fell in love with his character.

There are very few individuals that Kiva engages with regularly. The most important is Tipp, an 11-year-old boy with a stutter Kiva essentially adopted when his mother died. His story is quite similar to Kiva’s; Tipp arrived at the prison when he was eight after refusing to let go of his mother as she was being arrested. Tipp is like sunshine personified, somehow managing to retain a childlike sense of hope and wonder. I can almost guarantee Tipp will be everyone’s favorite character.

The only other person Kiva interacts with regularly is Naari, a female guard who started working at the prison a few weeks before Jaren arrived. Naari is a black woman with a heart of gold. She goes out of her way to protect Kiva and other prisoners from the worst of the guards. Kiva begins to trust her after Naari rescues her from becoming the toy of a couple of guards for the night. Naari has an incredibly strong sense of honor and morality. Despite the power her position provides, Naari never uses this to punish anyone – even when Jaren mouths off in a way that would get him beaten by any other guard. We do not get to know Naari that well, as she is quite private. However, I know that if we get to know Naari better in the rest of the series, she will take a place in my heart right next to the rest of the characters.

The dynamic between Kiva and Jaren is exquisitely balanced. They so clearly care for one another, despite how hard Kiva tries to stay emotionally unattached. Jaren is incredibly patient with Kiva and seems to know exactly how much to push her. I loved watching their friendship grow as Kiva slowly learns to trust him after so many years of letting no one in. I appreciate that despite the clear romantic tension between them, the narrative recognizes that they are too focused on surviving to truly become a couple. I cannot wait to see how their relationship progresses and changes in the next book; they are on their way to becoming one of my favorite book couples.

The world-building in this novel is shockingly rich. Zalindov prison has an entire ecosystem of farms, underground tunnels, and various labor areas, most of which we never see in-depth. Kiva visits very little of the prison personally, yet the small descriptions and offhand comments reveal just how highly detailed the author made Zalindov. Considering that the novel takes place inside a prison, I expected the world outside to feel less substantial. That is definitely not the case. The little bit of information we get about the world outside the prison makes it very clear that the author has planned out the entire continent, with details for the kingdoms and their politics expertly woven in. I am excited to see more of this world in later books, as I can already tell it will be astonishingly realistic and fun to read about.

This book reminded me a bit of the Throne of Glass series, and I think readers who enjoy that series will like this one. The Prison Healer is a strong fantasy series with complex world-building and absolutely delightful characters. Often novels about prisons and rebellions feature main characters who are warriors. I appreciate the ways that Kiva being a healer alters the story setup. I can already tell that this is going to be an epic fantasy series that YA Fantasy readers will devour.

SPOILERS

Kiva has an incredibly traumatic past, and the narrative handles this in a respectful and nuanced way. Her history of self-harm breaks my heart and proves her strength. It makes sense that Kiva would fall apart in some way after being forced to begin carving the ‘Z’ mark onto new prisoners when she is only 12-years-old. That is an enormous weight for a child to carry. Kiva talks about when her cutting began to become an addiction, and she knew she had to stop. The novel does not go into much detail about it. Everything is discussed at a bit of a distance, fitting with Kiva’s level of comfort with sharing. However, the topic is handled well by both the narrative, and Jaren, who earned more of my heart with his gentle compassion and understanding. The many horrors Kiva has experienced as a prisoner are shown in a way that drives home how awful Zalindov is without ever feeling like they are added as a cheap shock-value moment.

I laughed out loud when I realized Jaren is actually the crown prince of the Vallentis family. And then I wrote in my notes, “Kiva is going to kill him”. It is such a great plot twist, since the reader knows that Kiva has some serious issues with the Vallentis family and has been falling in love with Jaren without knowing who he is. It makes the conversation Kiva had with Princess Mirryn so much funnier. I fully agree with Mirryn that her brother is a fool with a weakness for a pretty face. Jaren’s plan to get information about the rebellion from the prison rebels is insubstantial at best – definitely foolish. And he has been flirting with Kiva from the moment he arrived. I think Kiva shows a remarkable level of maturity in how she handles finding out Jaren’s true identity. She is so angry with him for being a Vallentis and for almost kissing her before telling her the truth. However, Kiva just watched Jaren be whipped nearly to death for helping her and knows she cares about him more than she has allowed herself to care for anyone in a long time. The conversation Kiva and Jaren have in the tunnels is refreshingly mature – too many YA novels draw out the dramatic fighting of these kinds of moments. The whole situation endears both Kiva and Jaren to me so much. Kiva is upfront about how hurt she is, and Jaren understands and is sincerely remorseful. I want the two of them to finally get together so badly now.

The ending reveal seriously impressed me. I read enough YA Fantasy that I can usually see the twist coming. Noni does an incredible job of lulling the reader into a false sense of security. I had wondered at the very beginning if Kiva had ended up in the prison due to having healing magic. However, it never pops up as a possibility, and I eventually discarded that theory. So while I guessed the twist about Kiva’s healing power at the beginning, the novel still managed to surprise me with that reveal. I did not see the true final reveal that Kiva is Tilda’s daughter coming at all. Kiva’s ties to the rebellion always seemed minimal at best. She took incredible care of Tilda, but Kiva is obviously careful to never reveal her connection to Tilda or even think about it internally. In hindsight, Kiva being Tilda’s daughter seems to work. I would have to reread this novel with that knowledge in order to confidently state there are no contradictions in the storyline. My only real issue with the ending of the novel is that Kiva sends a message to her family after escaping about it being time to reclaim their kingdom. Considering how removed Kiva feels from the rebellion and its goals, I am not fully on board with Kiva taking her mother’s place as Rebel Queen. I think Kiva’s level of involvement and agreement with the rebellion will get fleshed out in the next book, so it does not bother me too much that Kiva suddenly seems to fully support the rebels. It is definitely still one of the best and most surprising book endings I have read in a long time.

I received an e-galley of The Prison Healer from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

SO GOOD.

But first, a little quick synopsis. Kiva is the 17 year old prison healer, having been imprisoned at Zalindov for the past decade. Things get interesting when the Rebel Queen is captured and brought to the prison and Kiva is determined to save her if possible. But to do so, she would have to tie her own fate and life to the Rebel Queen’s.

And that’s all I want to say about the plot of the story without giving anything away. But I absolutely loved the characters and world in this story. Kiva, Tipp, Jaren, and Nari - as well as the cast of other characters in the story. I thought that the world building happened quickly (told through storytelling and Kiva’s perspective) and the plot quickly picks up, which is not always the case with the first book in a fantasy series. I felt so invested in Kiva’s story as she struggled to survive in the brutal world of Zalindov. There is so much that Lynette Noni has set up with this first book for the story to come, and this series is definitely going to be on the top of my most anticipated fantasy series to watch. I need to read book two.

The Prison Healer is a book that sticks with you. A week after finishing it, bits and pieces are still replaying in my mind. The twist at the end, in particular, really sticks with you.

Author Lynette Noni’s world building is different than most. The world begins small, like Kiva’s own story, limited to the infirmary. It’s very insular, and you know there’s more, but Noni only gives you a peak. As the story progresses, the world and magic system follow the same path. And by the end, you realize the story is only just beginning.

I found this approach refreshing, as fantasy authors often spend too much time setting the scene and forgetting about their characters. Noni strikes the right balance here, with a driving prose that kept me glued to the pages.

However, there are elements that some readers could find unsavory or triggering. The book takes place in a prison camp, which means there are some real sleazy characters. Rape and self-harm are mentioned, although not discussed in great detail. Physical and mental abuse at the hands of other prisoners and guards comes up as part of daily life. Noni does a good job balancing this and keeping things appropriate for older young adults. She uses only the occasional curse word, and there is no sexual dialog.

The Prison Healer is the first book in a planned trilogy with the second book, The Gilded Cage, set to release in October. It’s a great option for readers who don’t want to read “high fantasy” but enjoy getting their toes wet.

The Prison Healer is an enjoyably dark read that never quite reaches the true horror that living in a prison like Zalindov would entail. This is fine for those who want a thrilling story with a little bit of bite without becoming emotionally exhausted at the end. Kiva was a delightful protagonist whose strengths lay in the opposite of what is typically seen in YA heroines. Her journey as a character was fun to follow and the ending left me wanting to see how her story would play out in the next book of this series.

One of the main issues I had when reading this book is that I could never quite orient myself into the world these characters inhabited. While I assumed at one point it was high-ish fantasy, there came a line that mentioned electricity and I wondered if this was supposed to be a fantastical version of the 1920s or some other similar era. Then there were occasions where language would seem too modern for the vibe of the story, like when one character refers to their "girlfriend" and I was baffled at the term when everything else felt so historical. While it was to be expected that the prison setting would make it difficult to connect with the outside world, I feel that there should have been some way to incorporate a clearer picture of the setting.

Another issue--and I don't know if it's my place to point this out--is the issue of race within the story. I think at this point, people are more aware than ever that race and the prison system are heinously handled in the real world. In this book, while race is never cited as a reason for imprisonment or gives hint to any systematic issues based on race, there is a weird line about most of the guards being "dark-skinned." Keep in mind that nearly all of the guards are framed as corrupt. Factor in all of the main characters save for one are white (or, assumed white) and suddenly you're left with an uncomfortable dynamic. I don't think flipping the script would have helped (I don't think having a white author write BIPOC characters in a prison would have ended well), but I do think the question of WHY? did this narrative choice have to be made has to be asked. It came off as incredibly tone-deaf to me and could have easily been fixed by making the main characters and the guards more diverse to avoid framing one side vs. the other in terms of representation.

I give The Prison Healer 3/5-stars. It could have been great as I Ioved the protagonist, Kiva, and the political intrigue surrounding the rebellion. But, I found myself often torn out of the story by an unstable setting and strange real-world connotations that should have been fixed in earlier drafts. I can only hope that the next book in this series will fix these narrative bumps going forward.

Kiva is a prisoner at the worse prison in the lands, Zalindov. But a note comes after the so called queen rebel is brought in very sick, we are coming, keep her alive. So when this rebel is taken for sentencing Kiva knows what she must do, she must do the trials for her and now both of their lives hinge on Kiva making it through.

This is such a exciting book, Kiva the wrongly imprisoned girl, the dashing new guy inmate, the guard who doesn't act like any other guard at Zalindov, a plague that is sweeping through the inmates killing them faster than the work they are meant to do, and the rebel queen who lays unconscious. What more can you ask for? This book is packed with non stop action and suspense that will keep you up past your bedtime. I can't wait to see the next part of the series.

This review will appear on my blog on the 13th of April.

This was a really well done, solid beginning to a YA fantasy series. I really enjoyed the main character Kiva and thought she was a unique and interesting perspective, especially with how she interacts with other prisoners and guards. I don't think the world this book takes place in is particularly inventive, but I'm curious to see how the politics and conflicts will expand in the second book, which I am probably going to read.

The writing style wasn't anything to shout about but I think the emotions of the intense or action packed scenes were particularly well done.

Okay this was incredible.

The main reason I picked up this book was 1. The cover, holy smokes is it gorgeous and 2. That synopsis sounds like fun. And do you know what? This did not disappoint in the slightest.

Kiva is a prisoner in an inescapable prison, surrounded by enemies on all sides and with nothing to live for except the hope that she will escape, that her family will rescue her. Then the Queen of the rebels in the outside world is unceremoniously dumped in the prison and forced to take part in a magical trial to ensure her freedom. But she's terminally ill and nothing seems to make her any better, so how is she to compete?

Kiva. That's how. Kiva takes the Rebel Queens place and this is where the story really starts.

This book was an EXCELLENT read. Noni's writing is engaging and fast paced, every moment, every conversation is relevant. Nothing is pointlessly shoehorned in. The writing grabbed me from the first chapter but I was reading another book for a readalong so couldn't devote myself to it at first! But once I had finished the other book I was obsessed with finishing this. I just wanted to know what was going to happen!

The story is fantastic. You are truly with Kiva while she goes through her trials, though maybe not enough time was devoted to them considering that they were part of the draw to begin with... however, I  enjoyed the little stories here and there of Kiva's life outside of the prison, of the lands outside of the prison and the magic that governed said lands. All the info, when it came, felt organic and never like an info dump which I appreciated.

My favourite part was probably the twist at the end, everyone, and in particular Kiva, played their roles so well I did not see any of it coming (though now I think about it,  I should have! It's one of those books where the clues are there if you pay attention).

One of my favourite YA reads of 2021! I am SO excited to read the next book!

"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 they could keep their beginning."

------------------------

The Prison Healer is well in contention for my favorite read of the year so far. In the harsh environment of the world's fiercest prison lives the small healing light of Kiva. When she was a young girl who was brought to the prison when her father was captured. Zalindov is a place where no one lives long, the conditions are brutal and she does what she can to care for the prison's inhabitants as the healer. Her heart is pure and she works tirelessly to treat everyone within it's walls despite her feelings for them or how they treat her.

Her life is thrown into turmoil with the arrival of two new prisoners to the prison, one is the rebel queen who arrives ill but must face a series of challenges as punishment for her rebellion and another is a mysterious prisoner who she finds herself drawn to despite her vow to keep to herself. As she struggles to keep the queen alive, she must also unravel the mystery of a mysterious plague killing fellow prisoners.

This novel takes place in a brutal prison and there are many scenes of horror that unravel around Kiva, but her sense of purpose and drive to be the savior of those around her is really beautiful. Her relationship with Jaren has a great arc where we see her learning to love and trust again with some unimaginable consequences. I loved the healing aspects of the novel, the herbs and treatments Kiva employs and the scientific method she uses to try to find the origin of what is causing the illness. The world building was unique and the reveal on the last page shows just what a master the author was at hiding the greatest secret at all through the novel. I can't wait to read the next book now!!

A very intriguing read that was a nice revisit to YA for me, The Prison Healer brought a fresh take to the reading experience. I feel there were parts that were a little clunky due to some necessary suspension of disbelief required from the setting, but the author manages to overcome that with characters that read realistically in their circumstances.

Run, don’t walk, and buy this book when it publishes on April 13th!!!

From page one, this story is intriguing at the very least. The more we learn about Zalindov, the more nightmarish and terrifying it becomes. Kiva has done what she needed to do to survive the last 10 years until a new prisoner arrives and changes everything for her.

Kiva takes the place of the sick Rebel Queen in the Trial by Ordeal: four elemental challenges dealing with air, fire, water, and earth (Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes for sure). Kiva’s experiences in these trials made my heart race and I couldn’t stop reading.

There were multiple plots happening at once but they were woven together so well in the end. The side characters were excellent additions and I actually cared about them as much as I cared about Kiva. I’ve never read another book like this and it feels refreshing as a YA fantasy lover to read something new and unpredictable. The twist at the end was absolutely shocking, elicited a literal scream from me, and I CANNOT WAIT for the next book!

CW: Mention of self-harm, sexual harassment, torture, death of a parent, physical and emotional abuse, violence

I won an advanced copy of The Prison Healer from HMH Books so I could share my review with you!

Kiva Meridan has fought hard to survive in Zalindov, the death prison where she works as a healer. The days are far from easy, but Kiva's life becomes significantly more difficult when a high-profile prisoner is brought under her care. The terminally ill Rebel Queen is in incredibly rough shape, yet Kiva is tasked with keeping her alive until she can die in a manner more befitting of her crimes. The Rebel Queen is meant to undergo the Trial by Ordeal, a terrible punishment composed of challenges involving air, fire, water, and earth, intended to kill even the most dangerous of criminals. No one has ever survived the Trial by Ordeal, but if the Rebel Queen were to make it through, she would be granted her freedom. But, when a coded message arrives from Kiva's family bearing the order, "Don't let her die. We are coming," Kiva has no choice but to volunteer to take the Queen's place in the trial. Little does Kiva know that the Trial by Ordeal is only the beginning of the things she must overcome if she wishes to make it out of the prison alive.

You can get your copy of The Prison Healer on April 13th from HMH books!

Lynette Noni has started an exciting new series with The Prison Healer! My favorite part of the story was the premise of the Trial by Ordeal, which had a certain, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" meets "The Hunger Games" flair to it. It made the story extremely exciting, and so compelling that I could hardly convince myself to put it down. After the way this book ended, I don't know how I will be able to wait for the sequel, The Gilded Cage, to be released in October. I suppose I will have to while the hours away gazing at the second book's gorgeous cover to tide me over!

My Recommendation-
If you love high-stakes fantasy stories, you need to pick up a copy of The Prison Healer! This book would be an especially good pick for fans of the Three Dark Crowns series and the Gravemaidens duology!

Kiva Meridan is the kindhearted prison healer in Zalindov, and she has survived living there for the past 10 years. Together with new and old friends, she simultaneously heals prisoners’ injuries and protects the Rebel Queen.

Kiva volunteers to take the place of the Rebel Queen in the Trial by Ordeal, which involves four tasks based around the elements: fire, water, air and earth.

Not to mention the threat of a mysterious plague affecting prisoners, and the increasing risk of rebellion.

This book was really well-written with a highly enjoyable plot. The characters were all 4D and interesting.

If you enjoy YA Fantasy, like ‘Throne of Glass’ or ‘Six of Crows’ then you will love the Prison Healer. This novel was amazing!

Great storytelling by a gifted writer! The Prison Healer isn't necessarily a fast read because every sentence is necessary for telling the story...If it's been a while since you paced yourself through a YA novel, it might take you longer to finish this masterpiece than what you're used to from this genre. However, the plot keeps your attention and will make readers want to keep turning the pages. Fantasy fans will fall in love and the reward at the end is delightful-- I actually squealed! :)

The characters are distinct and memorable--and of course, flawed. Their individual stories and dialogue will capture readers' hearts. The story takes place in a prison camp, so, yes, there are some unsavory characters readers won't like--what they do is despicable and that's the point. There are mentions of rape but without details. There is abuse at the hands of the guards and some of the descriptions of the physical violence are gruesome. There is namecalling, (slut/whore), by one or two characters in reference to another character. There are also mentions of self-harm. Yet, with all this, the story stays "clean" with very few curse words nor sexual dialog. The world-building is the weakest link, but it doesn't keep the story from flowing; the layout of the prison camp is clear, but the outside world is a bit hazy.

Can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this trilogy!

The Prison Healer is gripping, it pulls you in from the first page, daring you to try to put the pages down.

Kiva is so strong. She never buckles, never breaks. She has lived through so much horror and loss that she has hardened her heart and her mind and she is better off for it. The only one she lets in is Tipp. And don't even get me started on Tipp, on his energy, his humour and his gentle, kind heart.

Noni has created the most terrifying prison. Zalindov at first seems to be your general, run of the mill prison. Until you realise it is actually more like a death camp from World War Two. It is cold, doesn't have enough food, and the prisoners are there to work and are completely replaceable. Death isn't a maybe, it's a certainty.

There are so many elements to this tale, all melded together in one epic story. Kiva is central to so much of it, watching her learn about the sickness, the ordeals, her family and deciding on who she wants to be is moving.

The Prison Healer is filled with twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat. And I can guarantee you won't be prepared for the final twist. Masterfully written and mildly paced, this is a book not to be missed.