Gilded Cage
2017 • 368 pages
Ratings7
Average rating3.3
15
Ratings7
Average rating3.3
"For readers of Victoria Aveyard and Kiera Cass comes a darkly fantastical debut set in a modern England where magically gifted aristocrats rule--and commoners are doomed to serve. NOT ALL ARE FREE. NOT ALL ARE EQUAL. NOT ALL WILL BE SAVED. Our world belongs to the Equals--aristocrats with magical gifts--and all commoners must serve them for ten years. But behind the gates of England's grandest estate lies a power that could break the world. A girl thirsts for love and knowledge. Abi is a servant to England's most powerful family, but her spirit is free. So when she falls for one of their noble-born sons, Abi faces a terrible choice. Uncovering the family's secrets might win her liberty--but will her heart pay the price? A boy dreams of revolution. Abi's brother, Luke, is enslaved in a brutal factory town. Far from his family and cruelly oppressed, he makes friends whose ideals could cost him everything. Now Luke has discovered there may be a power even greater than magic: revolution. And an aristocrat will remake the world with his dark gifts. He is a shadow in the glittering world of the Equals, with mysterious powers no one else understands. But will he liberate--or destroy?"--
Series
3 primary booksDark Gifts is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2016 with contributions by Vic James.
Reviews with the most likes.
Gilded Cage is set in an alternate version of Great Britain in which the monarchy was overthrown by people with “magic” calling themselves Equals. This revolution led to the creation of the Slavedays Compact, which requires that each citizen spend 10 years of their life as a slave, leaving the Equals free to govern.
This novel follows a teenage boy working in a slavetown and several other characters in/around a prominent Equal family, include the boy's sister Abi (who is a slave working for this family). Given its relatively short length, Gilded Cage follows a LOT of characters–even the character in a coma gets a viewpoint! None of the characters had a lot of depth, but some of them were interesting, especially one whose motivations are mysterious.
This was just interesting enough (and short enough) that I finished it, but it did have slow pacing, lots of exposition, (mostly) unremarkable prose, and bland dialogue. However, it also had a strong beginning and ending and a few characters who are at least somewhat interesting (even if their narratives seemed rather dull at times).
Rating: 5/10 (It's ok)
Full Review on My Site
Imagine having to serve 10 years of your life as a slave to the wealthy and elite. If you were born without magic, you have to. Abi thought if she could get her whole family to serve their time together at the estate of one of the most powerful families in history, everything would be great. It has to be better than the factories right? Needless to say, things don't go according to Abi's plans. This is a great story, the world created is completely screwed up and utterly fascinating. I received a copy of this book from Net Galley
