Review: The Cage by Megan Shepherd

The Cage

Author: Megan Shepherd

Series: The Cage

Pages: 400

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Release date: 28^th May 2015

Amazon

Synopsis: (Goodreads)

The Maze Runner meets Scott Westerfeld in this gripping new series about teens held captive in a human zoo by an otherworldly race. From Megan Shepherd, the acclaimed author of The Madman's Daughter trilogy. 

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?

Review: 2 ½ out of 5 stars

I honestly still have no idea how I feel about The Cage, the concept is unique if a little disturbing but I’m not sure whether the execution is as perfect as what it could have been for me and that is mainly because of my detached feelings from all of the characters – I felt no emotion towards any of them unfortunately and the lack of answers.

Most chapters are told from Cora Mason’s POV, a senator’s daughter and recently out of juvenile detention. I didn’t mind Cora, I admired her for her determination and her strength, she did act at times a little hastily but I can imagine it was for the fear she felt and her urge to return home.

Other characters we meet are Leon who was a little rough around the edges, Rolf a teenage prodigy, Nok a model and Lucky who is connected to Cora in a way, each character had been paired with another and were required to follow three rules, the first is to solve the enrichment puzzles to strengthen their physical and mental conditioning, the second is to maintain their health and the third is to ensure the continuation of the species by engaging in procreative activities. The concept sounds interesting but a lot of the time I was baffled! This was probably the point since the characters were confused about what was going on as well.

The Aliens now holding the teens are known as the kindred, they are the most advanced among the intelligent species and are responsible for overseeing the lesser races; they are the overseers of threatened species such as the humans. I would have liked more information about where they were, how they were able to collect the humans by travelling to earth etc. I have a number of unanswered questions and the ending and the huge twist wasn’t expected at all.

I’m not sure what we have in The Cage is what I would classify as romance, it was strange and I never felt a connection between any of the characters. A love-triangle of sorts but it was unusual for me.

The writing was brilliant and the concept is truly unique and creative but this one didn’t wow me unfortunately. I will continue with the series in the hopes of getting some much need answers after that ending.

Thank you to Balzer & Bray via Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review The Cage by Megan Shepherd.

About the author: 

Megan Shepherd was "born" into the book world, growing up in her parents' independent bookstore in Western North Carolina. She is the author of THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER trilogy (Balzer+Bray/2013), and THE CAGE trilogy (Balzer+Bray/2015). When Megan is not writing, she can usually be found horseback riding, day dreaming at coffee shops, or hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. She is represented by Josh Adams at Adams Literary.