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with Sharon Wang Yr 7

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

Lynette Noni’s book The Prison Healer is a suspenseful, heartwarming and highly entertaining fantasy novel. It focuses on a -seventeen-year old girl called Kiva who works as a Healer at the notorious death prison, Zalindov. She treats sick patients and gives them all of the medical attention they need, and she is also responsible for carving a large ‘Z’ on new prisoners’ hands with a knife. Because of this, many prisoners do not like her and call her names such as ‘The Heartless Carver’ .

One day, the guards drag in Tilda Corentine, also known as ‘The Rebel Queen’ . She is extremely ill and an inch away from death, but Kiva is ordered to keep her alive until she can serve her sentence: the Trial by Ordeal, a series of elemental challenges. Only assigned to the most dangerous of criminals, these trials have never been survived before.

However, a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives. "Don’t let her die. We are coming. " Kiva is aware that the Trials will kill the sick queen, so she risks her own life to volunteer in Tilda’s place. If Kiva survives all four Trials, they will both be granted their freedom.

If Kiva fails any of the Trials, they will both die. On top of all this, a mysterious and deadly plague is sweeping through Zalindov, killing everyone who gets it, and Kiva is determined to find a cure before it kills her or anyone she cares about.

The message was clear: Don ’t let her die. We are coming. Kiva ’ s breath caught as those final three words repeated in her mind. We are coming. We are coming. We are coming. No longer a vague promise of one day, but imminent. Her family was coming. Finally, after waiting so long, they were coming. For Kiva—but also for Tilda. They were coming for the Rebel Queen.

This book is told from the perspective of Kiva. It takes you through all of the struggles she had to face, both mentally and physically. As the book progresses, we learn more about Kiva’s past and how she ended up in such a horrible place. There are many plot twists throughout the book, and the sections about each of the Trials are suspenseful and addictive. The author keeps you wondering what is going to happen next, and this adds to the mystery.

I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars as it is one of the best books I have ever read. I immensely enjoyed reading it and did not put it down until I reached the end. There are two books planned in the series, with the second book, The Gilded Cage, set to come out this September. The Prison Healer is suitable for anyone above the age of 12, but keep in mind that the claustrophobic settings evoke the horrors of concentration camps and may not be a good read for everyone.