I was really sad about The Gilded Ones because as you say, the cover was GORGEOUS, and the book also sounded interesting! I think it could have had promise with a really intensive editing experience, but unfortunately that doesn't appear to be a thing it got.

I do wonder how I would have felt about A Psalm For The Wildbuilt if I hadn't read your thoughts on it beforehand, priming me to notice those features of the book! I do think I still wouldn't have liked it, but I might not have realized why I wasn't enjoying it tbh.