The Prison Healer (The Prison Healer, #1) by Lynette Noni

Jul 30, 2020 ❀ Alex ❀ (The Scribe Owl) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, kindle, young-adult, fantasy, high-fantasy, magic

4.25/5 stars!

A million thanks to Edelweiss for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is based off an advance copy, so some things might be changed on publishing.

I was so excited to read this, seeing as it was the first ARC I’ve earned and the fact that it was one of the ones I wanted to most! I’m a sucker for a book in a prison environment, and healers are always a welcome change from the normal femme-fatale kind of protagonist, so this was everything I love in one perfect bundl 4.25/5 stars!

A million thanks to Edelweiss for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is based off an advance copy, so some things might be changed on publishing.

I was so excited to read this, seeing as it was the first ARC I’ve earned and the fact that it was one of the ones I wanted to most! I’m a sucker for a book in a prison environment, and healers are always a welcome change from the normal femme-fatale kind of protagonist, so this was everything I love in one perfect bundle!

Kiva is the prison healer at Zalindov, the notorious prison for the worst kinds of criminals. Then one day, the infamous Rebel Queen is dropped off in her infirmary deathly ill. Kiva is ordered to keep her alive long enough for her to participate in the Trial by Ordeal, a series of elemental challenges reserved for the worst of criminals. If they succeed, they prove their innocence and walk free of the prison. If they fail, they’re already dead. When a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives telling her to keep the queen alive, Kiva risks her own life to take the Rebel Queen’s place and complete the Ordeals for a chance for both of them to walk free.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, from Naari’s quiet calm to Jaren’s charm to Tipp’s unfailing chipper attitude to Kiva’s grim outlook. Each character had different skills and strengths, so it was nice having a diverse cast both in appearance and personality wise.

The worldbuilding was amazingly crafted and executed and the writing only acted to its advantage! The prison was perfectly devised, and the tones of injustice and grimness amplified an already masterful job. A+ in my book!

If I had to pick out a few things I dislike, I would only have two. Keep in mind that these might have been changed in post. (view spoiler)

All in all, this was such a fun read! I would definitely recommend it, and with that insane cliffhanger of an ending, you better believe I’m going to read the sequel!

Content and trigger warnings: Abuse, blood, graphic injuries, death, drugs, loss of a loved one, mentioned rape, self harm, torture, and violence. ...more

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Jan 20, 2020 Caz (littlebookowl) added it · review of another edition

Rating: 4.5? 4.75?

I've read an early manuscript so will re-read after publication and confirm my rating! But this was SO FREAKING FUN to read, I couldn't put it down. My favourite book from Lynette Noni to date. ...more

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Nov 18, 2020 Rebecca | Velvet Opus added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, lgbt

The Prison Healer is perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas' Throne of Glass series. To be released in Spring 2021, it has elemental trials, magic, prison rebels, found friendship and a sweeping romance. TW: off-screen rape. ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 h o l l i s rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: abuse, arc, baa-baa-black-sheep, dark, ebook, fantasy, family-focused, finished-in-january-2021, grief-or-loss, meh

When you have to take a shower mid-read to wake up because the book is putting you to sleep : my experience with THE PRISON HEALER.

Look, that snarky intro notwithstanding, there were things in this story that felt pretty compelling and or interesting but so much just.. didn't make sense.

What saves this for me was the ending. Because.. okay, sure, yeah, that happened. I am both very excited by it and also now very frustrated by everything up until this point, but, sure, yes. I'm hooked and I wil ...more

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Dec 15, 2020 Harishma rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-star, arc2020, netgalley

Kiva Meridan has been imprisioned since the age of 7 along with her father. The story starts of incredibly and you'd find yourself deeply immersed in the event leading to their incarceration. After 10 years, Kiva is the prison's healer but her life is about to change when the rebel queen gets captured. Lynette Noni spins her stories in a great way and I loved her writing style. The world building was beautiful and I really loved the way the architecture of the prison was described. To be honest, ...more

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Dec 05, 2020 leela rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. annnnd my most anticipated release of 2021 has become my most disappointing read of 2020.

the prison healer did not feel like lynette noni at all. and the romance 100% felt like sjm.

- protagonist goes on about how much she hates the love interest and will never date him all the while simping for him
- no time to develop plot or characters before protagonist goes straight into “ugh he’s so HOT but i HATE him”
- protagonist assuming everyone wants to date her
- love interest saying “it sucks that so annnnd my most anticipated release of 2021 has become my most disappointing read of 2020.

the prison healer did not feel like lynette noni at all. and the romance 100% felt like sjm.

- protagonist goes on about how much she hates the love interest and will never date him all the while simping for him
- no time to develop plot or characters before protagonist goes straight into “ugh he’s so HOT but i HATE him”
- protagonist assuming everyone wants to date her
- love interest saying “it sucks that someone touched you without your consent so i’ll cheer you up by touching you without your consent” .... seriously .... why would you think that’s a good idea?? and why are readers supposed to think this presumptuous and disgusting behavior is hot??
- seriously. don’t climb into someone’s bed after they just got assaulted. WHY ARE WE ROMANTICIZING THIS.
- getting assaulted doesn’t matter if a cute guy assaults you afterwards!
- having ptsd is a choice apparently
- “i don’t expect anything from you” he says while expecting her to date him. why are they such hypocrites
- if someone abuses you while they’re not sober it doesn’t count
- also a plot twist that undoes pretty much everything the protagonist has said, so once again, why would i trust her?? it literally means she was lying in her OWN thoughts for the entire book like?? it does not add up.

this is the opposite of what i love about lynette’s writing and i’m so sad she went in the typical romanticizing creepy guys and a complete lack of consent direction instead of the amazing and expansive series where characters were more than their dating lives. and they weren’t all liars and hypocrites and i could actually care about them.

i think i’m just going to forget about this series and not let it taint the medoran chronicles for me. that series gave me so much hope that i finally found an author that wrote wholesome and non-problematic books but ... it looks like a certain author ruined that for her. her characters went from sweet and funny to gross and boring and i just ,,, why 🥺. do we really need to rely on nonconsensual relationships and justifying abuse to get readers now?

a note that desperately needs to be made about this shitshow: ptsd is not a choice. you’re allowed to hate your abuser. and you shouldn’t touch people just because you think they like you.

cw: mentions of rape (ongoing theme), mass cremation, graphic depictions of cremation, self harm, torture, torture/abuse being justified by MC, and MC saying that mental illness is a choice ...more

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Jan 07, 2021 Jessica McKenna rated it did not like it · review of another edition

If you're a literal sadist, this one's for you.

I don't mean if you're into hurt/comfort, or deadly action. I've read the Hunger Games. I've been on AO3.

I mean if you honestly are into just reading a single character get battered and bruised physically and psychologically for pretty much literally no purpose, except you just like to fantasize about people being hurt.

That is what this book is. Period. Full stop.

I received this as an ARC from work, and oof. It's essentially the novel equivalent of ...more

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Nov 16, 2020 Grace rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya, i-am-underwhelmed

Three days later and I FINALLY finish this book.

I was just not impressed, and I wasn't interested either. Kiva is the prison healer, threatened by the inmates and guards alike, and just trying to keep her head down and do her job. She's barricaded behind walls of standoffish stoicism that growing up in the trauma of prison has built. Until... one day... a new prisoner (handsome, kind, optimistic, persistent) arrives.

It's more complicated than that. There is, in theory, political drama, a mysteri ...more

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Dec 06, 2020 Stephanie - Books Less Travelled rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, 2020

**I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley. This does not affect my review.**

~~RTC~~ once I've caught my breath after this exciting rollercoaster of feels!!

⤴ See that? It's been a few days, and that still sums up my feelings on this book! 😍 Like Whisper, much of this book relies on secrets and 'going in blind' so I'll keep this short. I loved the writing and characters in this one, and with that ending and how the story progressed....this one isn't even out yet, and I'm already eager ...more

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Jan 07, 2021 Maya W rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars, absolute-favourites, arc-review-copy, read-agains

holy guacamole i need the second book right now

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Jul 18, 2020 Alex rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 12-and-13

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of The Prison Healer in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the exact reason I refuse to give up on authors who's previous works I didn't enjoy. I struggled with Akarnae but oh my god, I can't even comprehend that this is the same author. Noni has grown masterfully into herself and her writing here.

After being arrested alongside her now-deceased father, Kiva has spent 10 years of her life growing up in her world's cruelest prisoner where she n ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Madison rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, australian

If you love Sarah J Maas or Maria V Snyder’s books you will fall in absolute love with Lynette Noni’s The Prison Healer. This book utterly entranced me and yet I wanted to savour it and enjoy every agonising, horrible, tortuous moment. This book is set in a horrible prison, features illness and death, and the character face lots of abuse, torture and trials designed to kill - and I loved every single moment!!! Crazy! But so, so good.

Kiva has survived ten long years in Zalindov prison. When her f If you love Sarah J Maas or Maria V Snyder’s books you will fall in absolute love with Lynette Noni’s The Prison Healer. This book utterly entranced me and yet I wanted to savour it and enjoy every agonising, horrible, tortuous moment. This book is set in a horrible prison, features illness and death, and the character face lots of abuse, torture and trials designed to kill - and I loved every single moment!!! Crazy! But so, so good.

Kiva has survived ten long years in Zalindov prison. When her father was accused of meeting with a traitor and sentenced to life in prison, Kiva was also taken. After the death of her father, Kiva assumed the role of prison healer. It’s a role that provides her some sense of purpose within the treacherous walls, but it costs her dearly in other ways. In the depths of winter, the prison accepts two unexpected arrivals - a wounded man who, after she saves his life, seems to want to get close to Kiva and the Rebel Queen. The Rebel Queen is sentenced to face the Trials of Earth, Wind, Air and Water, but Kiva knows she is not well enough to survive. In a bold move and prompted by a secret message from her family waiting for her outside of the prison walls, Kiva takes the Rebel Queen’s place in the trials and seals her fate to the woman.

Lynette Noni is a favourite author and much loved by my young library regulars. This is a very different book and far darker than her previous titles. I can definitely see Maas’s influence and those who enjoyed Poison Study will love this book. The Prison Healer is dark, tense and moves along at a fast pace. There is action, politics, rebellion, secrets, alliances, bargaining, and under everything a desperate need to survive. But, alongside all that darkness is also light. Tipp, the young boy who also resides in the prison and is Kiva’s helper, is so sweet and charming. There is also Jaren, the new inmate who persistently tries to get to know Kiva, who keeps showing up. And Naari, the guard who is regularly assigned to Kiva’s work area and who is decent, unlike all the other guards. Kiva herself, for all her hardship, never complains, which makes her such a wonderful character to support. She is introspective and keeps her secrets close.

The ending isn’t a cliffhanger but it does throw some pretty massive twists into the plot and the sequel is going to be epic. I was wondering throughout the story if some of the things that end up happening could happen but then thought, no, that would be too much to ask for, too cool, and then they all happened!! So awesome. Fortunately for us readers, book two is being released just a few months after the release of The Prison Healer, so we won’t have to wait too long for the continuation of this amazing story.

The romance. Gosh golly, the romance. So good. Can I just leave it at that? It is literally just so good.

But despite the action, romance, tension, clever twists and way you are drawn into the story and come to care for the characters, despite all this good stuff, it was Kiva herself that was my favourite part of the book. She is so incredibly compassionate, yet self preserving too - she has to be to survive in such a harsh and dangerous environment. Strong is an understatement. What she might lack in physical strength she more than makes up for in her wisdom, knowledge about healing, resilience and ability to just keep going when others would have given up years ago. She protects her heart and her secrets with a fierceness that makes Jaren and Tipp and Naari breaking through those walls she has set up around her heart all the more precious.

This book is highly recommended and while it will better suit a more mature audience (there are lots of massive trigger warnings, see my content guide below) than Noni’s previous books, her older fans and new readers alike will be entranced by this amazing, atmospheric novel.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library ...more

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Oct 23, 2020 Maria F. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Elemental magic, a mysterious prince, a smug prisoner, a friendly guard, a brewing rebellion, and our prison healer 🖤
This book follows Kiva- the prison healer of Zalindov aka the most notorious prison. Most people do not survive the first couple of weeks in Zalindov. Kiva, however, has been a prisoner for 10 years after being arrested with her now deceased father.
Kiva is tasked with marking the new prisoners and making sure they stay alive but she also secretly send messages to the rebel cause w Elemental magic, a mysterious prince, a smug prisoner, a friendly guard, a brewing rebellion, and our prison healer 🖤
This book follows Kiva- the prison healer of Zalindov aka the most notorious prison. Most people do not survive the first couple of weeks in Zalindov. Kiva, however, has been a prisoner for 10 years after being arrested with her now deceased father.
Kiva is tasked with marking the new prisoners and making sure they stay alive but she also secretly send messages to the rebel cause where the rest of her family resides.
One day, Kiva’s world is flipped when the Rebel Queen gets admitted in the prison with a simple note from the rebels: don’t let her die. We are coming.
Although the Rebel Queen is on the brink of death, she gets sentenced to the Ordeals- 4 elemental tasks that no one has survived but if she does she will be free.
Empathizing with this deathly ill woman, Kiva steps up as her champion and courageously makes the decision to face these trials in stead of the Rebel Queen, and thus this adventure begins.
Although I enjoyed the book, I will say I came into it with different expectations, but this book was a very different take on a typical elemental magic fantasy read. This book mostly focuses on Kiva- her empathy, her endurance, her selflessness and the hope she has of leaving the prison and keeping the Rebel Queen alive. There is also a subplot surrounding a strange virus that is killing the prisoners and Kiva is determined to find the source of the virus and saving the prisoners.
I will say, it was a very slow read at times And it was hard to stay engaged in the virus subplot. I wish the elemental trials were the center of the story but since they’re all spaced weeks apart it was clear that this isn’t the center of the story.
There are also some trigger warnings that I wish I knew beforehand (self harm, sexual harassment) and I feel I would’ve enjoyed it more if I hadn’t based it on the premise and came to my own conclusions.
HOWEVER, at around 80% the book got GOOD. Like, super good. Like, I CANT STOP READING, GOOD. The twist was immaculate and I loved the dialogues between Jaren and Kiva. And y’all the ENDING!!!! I WAS NOT FREAKING READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A GREAT TWIST AND WHAT A WAY TO END THIS BOOK!!!!! HOLY COW!!!! *standing ovation*
All in all, the pacing was a little off and some details could’ve been handled better but I still ended up enjoying the book!
4/5 stars from me

*thank you netgalley for sending me an earc in exchange for an honest review* ...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Natasha | readwithnatasha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What a great beginner fantasy book!

Kiva is the healer in a prison where people are basically sent to die. It's nearly impossible to communicate with the outside world, but Kiva's family has figured out how to send encrypted messages to her, the latest being that the Rebel Queen is being sent to the prison and she has to keep her alive. Little does Kiva know that the Rebel Queen has been sentenced to complete the 4 Ordeals - Ordeal by Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. When the Rebel Queen isn't getti What a great beginner fantasy book!

Kiva is the healer in a prison where people are basically sent to die. It's nearly impossible to communicate with the outside world, but Kiva's family has figured out how to send encrypted messages to her, the latest being that the Rebel Queen is being sent to the prison and she has to keep her alive. Little does Kiva know that the Rebel Queen has been sentenced to complete the 4 Ordeals - Ordeal by Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. When the Rebel Queen isn't getting any better, Kiva steps up and takes her place in the Ordeals.

I loved this book! Since this is the first book in a series, there was a strong focus on character building, especially Kiva. Honestly, the Ordeals didn't take as much time as I was expecting, and there were two weeks between each Ordeal, so there was a lot of time to build Kiva, along with Tipp, Jaren, and the unlikely friendship with Naari.

The world building was great as well, and that's usually where I grow bored with first books in a series, but this one was perfect. The world is basically just the prison, but you really learn how terrible the living conditions are. The entire time I was thinking that this prison must be the same prison from Throne of Glass - where you're basically sent there to be overworked, not fed enough, and then die.

I honestly though the plot and overall flow of the book was good. There were a few slower parts, but I think that was mostly me and a little of the character building, where it's important stuff, but drags a little. There are two weeks between each Ordeal and the Ordeals really didn't take as long as I would expect, so there was a lot of character building in those two week periods.

I wish I would've been marking some of my favorite passages because there was a lot of flirty and snarky comments between Kiva and Jaren that I loved.

To wrap it all up, I loved this book. I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series goes because there is a big twist at the end that, of course, got me SO excited for book two.

If you liked: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series or Throne of Glass Series, you'll like this one too!

4.5/5 stars. ...more

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Dec 02, 2020 Bertie (LuminosityLibrary) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2000s, releases-2021, 3, continuing-series, fantasy, magic, ya, 2021

The Prison Healer has one of the most exciting premises in young adult fantasy. I'm a sucker for books set in inescapable prisons, and that's what we're dealing with here. Mix a set of magical trials, a rebel queen, and a darkness not often found in the genre and how could it go wrong!

Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in a notorious prison, Zalindov. When the Rebel Queen is captured she’s charged with keeping her alive long enough to go through the Trial by Ordeal. The Prison Healer has one of the most exciting premises in young adult fantasy. I'm a sucker for books set in inescapable prisons, and that's what we're dealing with here. Mix a set of magical trials, a rebel queen, and a darkness not often found in the genre and how could it go wrong!

Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in a notorious prison, Zalindov. When the Rebel Queen is captured she’s charged with keeping her alive long enough to go through the Trial by Ordeal. When a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, telling her to keep the Queen alive, Kiva has to volunteer for her place. If she wins the trial they’ll get their freedom, but no one has ever survived…

The feature the drew me to this book in the first place was the prison setting. I'm always after grittier young adult fantasy, and this doesn't disappoint. At some points, I was surprised by how much it tested the boundaries of how dark the genre could go. The book doesn't stray away from the realities of prisoner abuse and the horrors of continuous manual labour in dangerous situations. I'm not a fan of darkness just for the sake of it, but prisons truly are horrible places. I was a little disappointed to find out the magical trials were less at the forefront than it appears in the blurb. I was excited to watch our main character use her wits to best complicated challenges, but that wasn't the case. She didn't really do anything to save herself, and the challenges were mostly 'throw her into a situation she won't survive'. Although the book is quite slow, and the format can become a bit repetitive, the ending was full of amazing twists and turns. I think people who enjoy popular young adult fantasy would have a good time with this, so definitely pick it up and let me know what you thought of the end!

CW: violence, death, rape, overdose, drug use, addiction, child abuse, self-harm, illness, confinement, drowning, burning alive

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

If you enjoy fantasy you should check out my Blog! You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram. ...more

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Dec 09, 2020 Andee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, clearurshit-2020, dec-2020

BLOG|INSTAGRAM|TWITTER|YOUTUBE

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Full review closer to publication date.

I had my initial hesitations with this book. When the love interest was introduced well before the plot had been developed, a few red flags were raised. However, Kiva did not lose too much of her true self in the love interest, which I was grateful for. While the book is dark and morbid, parts of it were handled in a way ...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Paige Belfield rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Posting full review closer to release but here's the basis of what I have to say:

I was so fortunate to read this book at 2 stages of development, and I am constantly blown away by Lynette's talent and the way her compassion seeps into every character. I'm really excited for more people to read this series. ...more

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Nov 13, 2020 Ava rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2ndstar-reads, fantasy, need-the-sequel-asap, strong-female-protag

This was such a fun book! Kiva is a healer working in a death-prison, but when a rebel queen is deposited in her care, she must take the queen's place in a series of dangerous, magical tests to fight for her freedom. If that sounds intense - it IS. Amidst a budding romance, dangerous trials, and the harrowing daily lives of the prisoners, Noni also grants us a rebel plot, secret magic, and a mysterious, supposedly incurable disease that rips through the prisoners (I somehow seem to be drawn to b ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 Mattie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

THIS WAS SO GOOOOOOOD!!! no one even talk to me until the sequel is out

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Aug 19, 2020 Online Eccentric Librarian rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, fantasy, ya

More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This was a new one for me: I greatly enjoyed the book until the last four sentences. They revealed the plot of book two and I likely will not get the rest of the books in the series as a result (it is a planned trilogy). That said, I have to respect how the author tread a fine line between the horrors and grimness of prison while balancing it with some humanity and compassion. It could have been overwhelmingly depress More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This was a new one for me: I greatly enjoyed the book until the last four sentences. They revealed the plot of book two and I likely will not get the rest of the books in the series as a result (it is a planned trilogy). That said, I have to respect how the author tread a fine line between the horrors and grimness of prison while balancing it with some humanity and compassion. It could have been overwhelmingly depressing but you will definitely have something to hope for an root for by the end. There are some great twists and the plot is interesting and well developed.

Story: Kiva has been in the infamous multinational prison Zalindov for a decade. She is one of the few to survive that long, most inmates dying within a few months from the harsh conditions, terrible treatment, and backbreaking labor. She has survived by becoming the prison healer and using her meager supplies to bring comfort to injured or dying inmates (as well as scarring them when they first arrive and the prison mark is carved by her into their hands). She has enemies there but has hope that her family will find a way to get her out evenutally. Then the rebel queen arrives, barely conscious and delirious. Will Kiva give up everything in order to save the queen (and perhaps the hope of her family and country?).

There are several plots woven through this story, bringing some intricacy and nuance. Kiva and her father (who died soon after the imprisonment) were falsely accused of being in league with the rebels and sent there after being captured. Kiva's young brother was killed at that moment so she has survived with both their deaths in her memory - and a hatred of the current regime. There is also a strange disease going around in the prison and she is desperate to find a core before it gets worse. A new prisoner - young and handsome - is trying to be friendly with her but she is desperate to refuse his attention, knowing he will be dead shortly anyway from the labor. And there is the issue of the arrival of the rebel queen ; the queen will have to go through a trial of the elements - something no one has survived. But Kiva's family has sent her a secret note that she must save the queen at all costs. Which means Kiva's only avenue is to do the trials as the queen's champion.

The writing is smooth and the characters interesting and nuanced. Kiva is neither good nor bad and there are an assortment of characters showing the good and bad in humanity. The prison does hold political prisoners like Kiva but also arsonists, murderers, and more. She is also not on good terms with most of the prisoners since they feel she is a snitch for the warden. So it is a difficult life she treads and things are about to get very interesting for her. I think the only character that felt a bit too underwritten is the young man brought in who clearly develops an affection for Kiva. He was a bit too selfless and cocky - too overidealized a hero/love interest.

As noted earlier, I really enjoyed the novel until the end. There are some excellent twists at the end that you may or may not see coming. The book completes the prison arc and sets the stage for the next book. I did not really like the direction it will take but that is my own personal preference and I can see the series continues to be well done. There is violence and the evils you would expect from a prison-set book: violations, beatings, abuse so keep that in mind. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher. ...more

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Nov 26, 2020 Karolina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-e-arc

This book was actually AMAZING. I cannot recommend it enough!
Kiva is in a deadly prison where she's the prison healer, when suddenly the Rebel Queen arrives and Kiva volunteers to take her place in the Trials which will try to kill you in four different ways by air, fire, water, and earth. Not only does she receive unusual help in the trials, nothing is as it seems. This book has a magic, political dealings, royalty, and amazing characters.
Not only is this book absolutely unpredictable, where I ...more

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Jan 12, 2021 Penguin Books Australia added it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-2021

The following reviews have been shared by Penguin Random House Australia - publisher of The Prison Healer.

Lynette Noni is a masterful storyteller. A must-read for any fantasy lover! – SARAH J. MAAS, #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THRONE OF GLASS SERIES AND A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES SERIES

I look forward to a new book by Lynette Noni every time. Her talent and her heart shine in The Prison Healer, and she continues to impress with her storytelling. – TERRY BROOKS, #1 NEW YORK TIMES ...more

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Jan 01, 2021 Emily rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021, fantasy, netgalley, young-adult

Advance copy from NetGalley

This has been parked on my kindle for a while, and I started it today and just read until I was done. It didn’t really break new ground in YA fantasy, but it was well-written, and I liked the characters. I figured out one of the twists, but not the last one. It’s always nice to be surprised, but I’m kicking myself for not seeing it coming. It’s probably going to fuel some heavy duty angst in the next book, but I hope I’m wrong about that.
Fans of Throne of Glass and it ...more

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Nov 19, 2020 Ludo marked it as to-read

Shelves: arc, ebook

19/11/2020: Thanks Netgalley for providing an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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Jul 23, 2020 Amber (The Book Bratz) marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Thank you so much HMH for the eGalley! RTC soon!

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Oct 26, 2020 Kay rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Provided ARC to review. Highly intense read with surprise twist ending that will have you scanning back into the meat of the book to figure out the clues you missed. Beautifully written and engrossing. Cannot wait for this book to be published plus read the next book in the series! Insane read!

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Jan 07, 2021 Kyla Gergely rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I received an ARC from the publisher, and this book is a wild ride. My emotions were tested, as were all my thoughts. What I knew at the beginning is not what I knew at the end and I am desperately in need of the sequel. This book was more than I could have hoped for and everyone needs to find time to spend with The Prisoner Healer!

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Jan 03, 2021 Melodie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads, 5-star-reads, arcs-i-own, want-to-buy

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen Australia for sending me an arc for this book! AHHH AHHH AHHH I loved it so much!

After reading and loving all of Lynette Noni’s other books, I expected nothing less but amazingness for this one, and it did not disappoint! Noni’s simple and sweet writing style was once again evident in this book, which I loved so much as well- I often struggle to get into fantasies because of its complexity, but I had no troubles with this one! Nor did this book lack world-build ...more

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Jan 01, 2021 Rachel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Holy smokes! That ending!!! I need book two ASAP. This book had magic, royalty, and challenges. I loved it. The characters were well written and again, the ending!!!

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Aug 14, 2020 ChillwithJill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a 5 star read. There is literally nothing I can say that will take away from the fact that this book blew my mind and any expectations I had had out of the water. It was that good. So good in fact, that I would have nothing remotely “meh” to say if it hadn’t been for the last page of the novel. And that frustrates me. But I’ll get into that in a second; first I’m going to sing the books praises.

Scratch that-- first I’m going to summarize this bad boy, then I’m going to sing it praises.

Th This is a 5 star read. There is literally nothing I can say that will take away from the fact that this book blew my mind and any expectations I had had out of the water. It was that good. So good in fact, that I would have nothing remotely “meh” to say if it hadn’t been for the last page of the novel. And that frustrates me. But I’ll get into that in a second; first I’m going to sing the books praises.

Scratch that-- first I’m going to summarize this bad boy, then I’m going to sing it praises.

The Prison Healer takes place after our heroine Kiva’s family was ambushed by soldiers. She and her father were then taken to the most feared Hard Labor Camp/Prison in the kingdom: Zalindov. From there, Kiva has become a quiet force of nature in the form of a healer, but even her skills are tested when The Rebel Queen-- an opposition to the current kingdom’s regime-- comes to the prison dying. In no position to stand trial, and yet forced to undergo a series of deadly tasks to attempt to prove her innocence, Kiva steps in for her as champion. So now, juggling her duties, a new mysterious prisoner, and an even more mysterious sickness sweeping through the prison, the course of Kiva’s life is changed.

This book doesn’t shy away from anything. And I mean that in the best way. Oftentimes, YA books tend to be hesitant over how much.. brutality and grittiness they allow themselves to show, even when the occasion warrants it. This book does no such thing and that, more than anything else, adds to the atmosphere of the novel. It transports you into the hell that is Zalindov. The guards, the sickness, the inmates, there is nothing sanitized about this novel and that is to it’s credit.

The characters-- and I mean every. single. one.-- had depth and purpose to the novel. Shoutout to Jaren (god bless him he was genuinely kind and not annoying at all) and Naari (a badass with actual personality) to being the perfect side love interest and quiet guardian. And Tipp. Tipp rocked my world. A lot of child characters are just kind of there or are annoying-- my boy Tipp is none of that. He has character and purpose and I adored him.

Kiva is also the perfect mix of quiet wittiness, veiled in caution and maturity. Apart from the last page of the novel, I thought her every word and action was consistent and likable. Her drive to do the right thing in even the harshest conditions was admirable.

The pacing was efficient; enough to always know something is going on, but slow enough that you get to learn the day to day motions through the prisons. The Trials were thought out and made sense for the plot of the story.

The plot twists, one which I expected and the other that I had an inkling, but still took me by surprise, are carefully layered. They’re peppered in with phrases and actions that seem like one-offs, but definitely paint a clear picture as you go on through the story.

However. The reveal of the final major plot twist-- the one which I had that vague inkling-- was frustrating. The pesky last page. For a book whose strategy was so meticulous in planting clues and trusting its audience to pick up on what’s not being said, that strategy was thrown out the window in a bit of a heavy-handed (and maybe slightly out of character) fashion. I knew that that specific reveal had to come into play in order to further the series, but I did not love it being just spit out at us in the most cheesy of ways. It could have been a little more smooth, but I do understand that it was meant to have a punch-gut feeling.

Don’t get me wrong though, I positively adored this book and I can’t wait to see where it goes as we get deeper into the world and politics of Vallenia and Evalon. Not even that *clenches fist* last page can change the fact that this is a novel where every detail is placed for a reason and still the journey is worth every second.

5/5
...more

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