The Cage

The Cage: Megan Shepherd

When Cora Mason wakes in a desert, she doesn't know where she is or who put her there. As she explores, she finds an impossible mix of environments—tundra next to desert, farm next to jungle, and a strangely empty town cobbled together from different cultures—all watched over by eerie black windows. And she isn't alone.

Four other teenagers have also been taken: a beautiful model, a tattooed smuggler, a secretive genius, and an army brat who seems to know too much about Cora's past. None of them have a clue as to what happened, and all of them have secrets. As the unlikely group struggles for leadership, they slowly start to trust each other. But when their mysterious jailer—a handsome young guard called Cassian—appears, they realize that their captivity is more terrifying than they could ever imagine: Their captors aren't from Earth. And they have taken the five teenagers for an otherworldly zoo—where the exhibits are humans.

As a forbidden attraction develops between Cora and Cassian, she realizes that her best chance of escape might be in the arms of her own jailer—though that would mean leaving the others behind. Can Cora manage to save herself and her companions? And if so . . . what world lies beyond the walls of their cage? 

What can I say about this book? First I loved the idea of The Cage. I think it was great and I don't think I've ever read a book about imprisonment in this fashion. I feel like I am still indifferent about it, though. I liked it but there were some parts I didn't like. I guess I'll just explain what I liked and didn't like about The Cage! So overall the book had themes of The Maze Runner, but it wasn't saturated in them like some books are now. It held it's on the uniqueness and it really wasn't just a copy of another YA book retold in a different fashion. 

The characters were so-so. Cora was kind of annoying at times, but I didn't hate her. I definitely don't think there should have been so many different point of views in the case of this book. There are definitely some books where the multiple points of view are brilliant - just an example is Kiss of Deception. However, in the case of this particular book I don't think it did anything for the plot of the story. The secondary characters were a little dull. While we heard enough from them in the multiple points of views, there was just something missing with them. Then there was Cassian, who on the description of the book was Cora's love interest. Cassian was a great character, I loved him and his emotional withdrawal. Like with other characters, I don't think he reached his full potential as a character. Maybe the next book will make the characters grow. I don't think any had really an emotional journey from the beginning of the book to the end. Even though the plot changed, the characters sort of just stayed the same. 

I think the book was drawn out longer than it needed to be. I think it could have been reduced by about 100 pages and the message would have been just as effective. I'll definitely be continuing with the series, and I have a kind of idea where it's going to go from here but I can't say for sure because I didn't expect what happened at the end! I guess it really wasn't the end - I think it was around page 360. If you read it, then you know what I'm talking about!

Overall, I thought the book was "meh". The setting was great as was the idea of the plot but it got a little slow in the middle leading up till the end. I felt that nothing new was really happening and the book didn't reach it's full potential. However, I do think that the mehnish of this book can be repaired by an amazing 2nd book. I'll be looking out for it. I wouldn't really recommend this to a fantasy lover, but maybe SciFi or even dystopian :) Are you planning on reading The Cage? 

- Jocelyn