The Prison Healer

The Prison Healer

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 4.5 out of 5 stars

After ten years spent in Zalindov prison, Kiva Meridan was used to doing whatever was necessary to survive. Her position as the prison healer allowed her some respite but turned most inmates against her as a traitor. When the infamous Rebel Queen was captured, she arrived in Zalindov in bad condition. The woman was condemned to the Trial of Ordeal, which consisted of a series of deadly elemental challenges, and Kira was charged with ensuring that Tilda lived long enough to undergo the first challenge. Aware that the rebel was in no condition to survive the test, Kiva volunteered to take her place in the Trials. No one suspected that her motivation was not entirely altruistic…

The Prison Healer is a fantastic first novel in a trilogy written by Lynette Noni. It introduces the reader to the world created by the author, its complicated history and politics. The story is set in an unusual location of a prison, where death, violence, abuse and diseases are common. The fact that Kiva is a healer makes her valuable to the guards but does not protect her entirely from the brutality surrounding her. As readers, we are plunged into Zalindov’s life together with her. 

What I liked about this novel was the balanced pace. There are a lot of action and plot twists intertwined with slower, descriptive or emotional scenes. Also, I enjoyed reading about Kiva and the characters she met in Zalindov. They are well-rounded and fascinating. Most of them seem to hide something from the rest, making the book even more exciting. You never know who to trust in Zalindov.

In conclusion, I loved this novel and cannot wait to read the next part of the trilogy. I would recommend it to all readers of fantasy and YA fiction.