Item: Gilded Cage
Rating: 3.00
Author: ayla_abbott

by Vic James

From the bestselling author of Sanctuary comes a thrilling Orwellian vision of Britain, with a rebellious Hunger Games heart. Gilded Cage is the astonishing debut novel by Vic James, and the first title in her electrifying The Dark Gifts Trilogy.

A modern Britain.
An age-old cruelty.

Britain's magically skilled aristocracy compels all commoners to serve them for ten years – and now it's the Hadleys' turn. Abi Hadley is assigned to England's most ruthless noble family. The secrets she uncovers could win her freedom – or break her heart. Her brother Luke is enslaved in a brutal factory town, where new friends' ideals might cost him everything.

Then while the elite vie for power, a young aristocrat plots to remake the world with his dark gifts. As Britain moves from anger to defiance, all three must take sides. And the consequences of their choices will change everything, forever.

'A dark and intriguing vision of an alternate, magic-drenched Britain, Gilded Cage kept me up way into the night'– Aliette de Bodard, author of The House of Shattered Wings

Continue the fantasy series with Tarnished City and Bright Ruin.

I'm pretty done with versions of the whole "elites with power or privilege enslaving the pleebs till some teenagers decide to do something about it" plot, but even though I was ready to walk away a few times I continued to the end and have to admit that it's a pretty good example of the premise. I'm not sure I'll read the next, but I'm glad there were surprises in there. I REALLY like that the characters, especially in the central Equal family are complex with opaque motives; I don't feel like I know how any of them are going to turn out, and so maybe I will keep reading after all.

Gilded Cage (The Dark Gifts Trilogy, #1)

by Vic James

Reviewed by ayla_abbott on Feb 20, 2017

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