The Cage by Megan Shepherd

The Cage (Cage, #1)

by Megan Shepherd

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?

Reviewed by Angie on

4 of 5 stars

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YES!
+I'm not saying it's aliens, but...
+Cora went to juvie under screwed up circumstances!
+I am conflicted about my feelings on Cora and the Caretaker. I love it, but am also disturbed by the random insta-lust or whatever in the world is going on there. I was immediately intrigued though...
+WTF is going on here?!
+Where is here?!

NO!
-Assuming the POC don't speak or understand English?
-For such an "intelligent" species, the Kindred sure do not understand what the humans need in their enclosure to thrive. Chocolate covered tuna?! A jukebox with ONE song? Candy, toys, and games for teenagers?!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 29 March, 2020: Finished reading
  • 29 March, 2020: Reviewed