King's Cage (Red Queen)

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Houses Samos, Iral, Haven, Laris, and Lerolan gather at the Samos estate to formally create the Kingdom of the Rift. Cal's grandmother, Anabel Lerolan, appears and declares that she cannot support them while Cal lives, and that the support of the other Houses relies on Cal being placed on the throne of Norta. Volo Samos agrees to her terms. For the moment, the Rift and the rebelling Houses will ally with the Scarlet Guard and Montfort agains Maven and the Lakelands. Anabel and Volo agree that Cal and Evangeline will marry. Evangeline is heartbroken and livid. No one can possibly understand how much love and adoration I have for this series. Book one and two were literal obsessions for me. I loved them so deeply that I literally took the time to annoy each and every one of my closest friends who chose to give a shit…even though 4/5 of them didn’t care for this series. I can’t even count all the times throughout a year that I say the name ‘Cal’. I know for a fact that I induced many an eyeroll from everyone around me. All year long it was Cal this, Cal that, epic ending this, epic ending that….it was unforgettable, if only to me. This was my world, and I longed for it every moment I couldn’t have it. And then…this. EpicReads (who I like) overhyped the hell out of this series. It's not the best series ever, but it isn't bad. The Red Queen series is just a mixture of every YA dystopia/fantasy ever. The series isn't something new. Not to mention how several people are saying Victoria ripped off Red Rising by Pierce Brown. (Darrow. Mare Barrow. Caste system by color. Royalty, etc.) So the series isn't something to write home about. But it's entertaining. But boy this series is pretty... meh. There were just too many uncomfortably close moments where I was thinking to myself, That reminds me of something. And it wasn't just this novel but in Glass Sword there was the very glaring Peeta and Katniss bread reference with the coin where my jaw literally hit the floor—was she honestly stealing that scene from the Hunger Games. I mean…really! Really! What is YA these days, fan-fiction? [Scene: I remember the burdened boy who gave me a silver coin when I was nothing. With that one gesture he changed my future, and destroyed his own.] I think I just can’t forgive any more YA authors that steal work from the Hunger Games because I’m just fed up. Can people at least steal passages from a franchise I don’t read every Christmas? It's "not plagiarism" exactly, but it's not "originality" either, which makes it just awkward for me because I can't help think on some sort of spectrum that it's not entirely "the right thing" either. This is a boy who was crippled from birth by an evil woman so terrible he doesn't know what thoughts are his. I just want him to have a happily ever after. But there is none. This boy is darkness incarnate and I have a feeling he's going to end up doing something noble to save Cal or Mare or his people in the next (final) book (to redeem himself the only way a villain can) and I just can't cope.

Without the clear distinctions brought on by the audiobook, telling apart the characters became really difficult. Therefore, I've written a cheat-sheet for those who only have the text: How to tell your Mare from your Mare -- 101 Most of the cages are made from wrought iron with a powder coated paint. However, there is also cages made from aluminium, acrylic and stainless steel. The first two-thirds of the book deal with Mare’s captivity and the torture her life has become, the last third is about her return to the Guard and the fight against the now combined forces of Norta and the Lakelands. Well so much about the storyline and general plot, now we’re heading straight for the fun stuff! XDMare is forced by Maven to sit next to him while newbloods are presented to the court. He asks them to display their abilities. Halley, a newblood serving House Eagrie, whose ability is being able to detect other's abilities, reveals Nanny. Nanny is one of Mare's recruits who is a shifter, and is disguised as a Silver noble in the hopes of rescuing Mare. Nanny commits suicide before she can be interrogated by Samson. I don't still hate Maven! I was angry because of what he did! I just feel sorry for him. Elara took his love for his brother an King Orrec of the Lakelands: King Orrec is a Nymph, with the ability to manipulate water. He and Maven sign a treaty to end the war that has been going on for generations, under the condition that Maven and Princess Iris marry. Even now, when I am painfully his, he won’t let go. I would prefer death to this cage, to the twisted obsession of a mad boy king. So guys this was one of my favourite series but this book just made me so upset. I hate it!!!! I feel to laugh in Mare's face at the end. Bitch. I am so happy that that happened! I think that's one of the only positives. Oh and these are just my taught and opinions ;)

Considering the fact Mare is in captivity for almost the entire book you’d really think that it would be boring to read about her experiences. But NO! There definitely was nothing boring about her situation and even though there is no fast-paced action like in the second instalment you still have to remind yourself to breathe. I’m sure now you’re asking yourself why anyone would stop to breathe while they are reading a book and the answer is simple: The intensity of King’s Cage literally chokes you! It takes away your breath and leaves you gasping for air and it gives you all the pleasant shivers you’ve been craving for but never realised you wanted to feel! XD The atmosphere of this book is just breath-taking and sometimes I was forced to stop reading because I found myself unable to deal with another chapter. (Yes, the book was that good!!!) The conversations between Maven and Mare were nothing but awesome (the breakfast and the bathroom scene before the wedding! OMG the bathroom scene killed me!!!) and I definitely want more of them! So please Victoria let them meet again, let them be at each other’s throat and speak the bitter truth! They are equals in every possible way and I want them to finish what they’ve begun! XD God, I so can’t wait to read the fourth book! There are many secrets revealed in the book, and I didn’t really care like I hoped I would. I did like that there was a sense of loyalty among some people, which is interesting since the first two books were more on the betrayal theme. I’m not saying there’s not any kind of betrayal in this book, but I’m also not spilling any spoilers. When Mare and company reach the Piedmont branch of the Scarlet guard, Mare’s family is there, and she spends time reuniting with them as well as her friend Kilorn. Soon she is debriefing everything she knows. The Mighty Nein go into the King’s Cage in search of Obann, with Locate Object they find crest placed inside an palm side alcove, and read the inscription. It had already opened the door into the cliff side, they enter the tunnel and find the obelisk marking a side tunnel. Down that tunnel thee two doors are already opened and the statues are appearing to be weep blood. Nott goes Invisible and enters through the doors, finding a room filled with fourteen Aasimar statues, kneeling, all weeping blood, surrounded by what seems to be Aasimar skeletons and the remnants of a battle. They face a huge adamantine portcullis door. Thrumming through the statues, the party can hear faint oboe-like music. Caleb sends Frumpkin under the, already opened door into the dark room beyond, but he can see little without light. Fjord and Caduceus transform to look like Yasha. The still-invisible Nott creeps beneath the adamantine door and into the chamber within. I also adored her demeanor towards Maven, taking advantage of his weakness for her, but always trying to bring him on the right path. Their dialogue is beautiful, mirroring two broken souls, trying to outsmart each other. They find refuge in one another, no matter how twisted and toxic. And Mare, at least, finally gets a clearer picture about this plague of a boy.I kid you not, 70% of the story is filler and the 30% is actual plot/action. There has to be an even balance between the two. The Winner's trilogy did that well. Not King's Cage. That night at a dinner in honor of the Piedmont guests, Houses Iral, Haven, and Laris attempt to assassinate Maven. They wish to place Cal on the throne. Jon saves Mare from a bullet, and then escapes without her. Maven is shot, but a skin healer is able to save him. After the assassination attempt, Maven clears away more of the High Houses from court, but forces them to leave their children behind as "promises of good behavior." He begins spending more time with Mare. She tries to manipulate him by using his feelings for her against him. She is hands down, the best character ever! She was the only character I was rooting for. She had one goal and one goal in mind: rescue his brother. When she did, I thought she would be leaving the Scarlet Guard. Even though she didn't, I'll still root for her.