King's Cage: A Riveting YA Fantasy Romance of Power, Rebellion, and Impossible Choices (Red Queen, 3)

King's Cage is a tumultuous journey for our heroine Mare, due to the fact that it begins with her imprisonment. King Maven proves himself to be a very sadistic ruler, a man who Mare once deeply loved. For the first third of the book, Mare has to endure torment after torment. The amount of pages her captivity takes up became daunting and tiresome. While this could be looked as a major flaw, I valued it. In a way, that same fatigue Mare felt became reflected in the amount of pages which caused us as the reader to feel the same. Art imitating life and vice versa. What I loved most was Maven's huge role within King's Cage. Many fans like myself grew to favor his Dark and sadistic ways, and we didn't get to see him like that in the previous book. However, when Mare and Maven share a kiss, I felt awoken from a trance. No longer did I look upon Maven with kind eyes and a worthy suitor for Mare. She deserved better than that. She deserves Cal, his brother. Their kiss is described to be a "violation" of sorts. It made me cringe to see a character who I once rooted for, be described so villainously. In my eyes what they have is tarnished. The only sliver of hope he has with a fan like myself is knowing the brutal upbringing he had under his mother. She took his humanity away with her ability to ascertain extent. She molded him into the monster he has become. His morals are so blurred to the point he doesn't know where he himself begins, and where his mother's mind control ends. He just might be lost forever. As broken as Mare is too, two broken pieces do not in fact, make a whole. I could discuss key details and such, but I believe an overall impression needs to be fleshed out. This book is about mourning. We need to mourn the Mare that is forever changed because of her imprisonement. She has seen and done things that will forever leave her tainted. We need to mourn Maven for the same reason, as well as Maven's and Mare's possible relationship. It will never happen. It just wouldn't be healthy for them to wind up together. As bleak as this book felt for most of it's content, I can happily say we now have a Mare similar to the one from Red Queen. She's once again fierce, cunning, and motivated by her goals. It will be such a delight to see this Mare in action in book 4 to which I eagerly await. King's Cage was a dark foreboding journey that brings it's characters to the brink. Darkness looms in many characters in the book, and each must force themselves to face it. Some handle it better than others, but ultimately it's their convictions that guide them through that darkness.

I'll just say that after book 2 (Glass Sword), I very much enjoyed this book. Now maybe that's not the most glowing review I could give considering how terrible Glass Sword was but I finished Kings Cage feeling satisfied with what I had just read. To start, I FINALLY felt like author took some time to show some fantastic character development when it comes to the main character, Mare. I basically hated her in book 2... maybe that was the author's point but she went about it the wrong way (I don't think I could have read one more sentence of her inner dialogue, "poor me, I'm the lightening girl, I'm the only savior, blah, blah, blah!"). It was torture and cringe-worthy. Well in this book, you can finally like Mare again! Hell, she's been through a lot so it was to be expected to see some major development in her character. It even shines through in her developed relationships with other characters. Very well done. Aveyard also did an excellent job with the character Maven AND detailing his relationship with Mare. This was probably one of the best parts about this book. You finally learn how/why Maven became the monster that he is but I also found myself sympathizing with him. And as for his relationship with Mare... I found myself actually, at times, hoping she would give in and reciprocate some sort of love towards him. I know it's crazy but that's what makes the writing so well done on this story line! (The bathroom scene... I don't know why but I was hoping for some moment of passion between the characters! I know that's nuts but you could feel the tension and the underlying conflict of emotions that Mare has for Maven!) However, I was disappointed by the lack of character development with Cal. While it's easy to believe that he truly loves Mare, it's hard to believe the choice he makes at the end. Yet, I will say that his response to her regarding her decision (about choosing him) was kind of interesting and I couldn't help but agree with him on some level. I also find it kind of intriguing that he still wants to find a way to save Maven. Regardless, I hope book 4 shows more development from this character. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. Unlike some reviewers, I didn't think it seemed to drawn out or over detailed at parts. It didn't bother me this time because the storyline was interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about Cameron's POV chapters. I still find her character extremely annoying and childish. But I very much enjoyed Evangeline's POV! That was well done and just enough (too much of her might have been bad). Well done. I would have given this book a full 5 stars but there were definitely some weak points. Lots of new characters were introduced and I'm just not sure where this war is going to take us. Now I just hate waiting so long for the next book!

This book was probably my favorite book in the whole series. I loved the way it tied in characters emotions with the environment/ their abilities. In this book you really get a deeper view into one of the main characters, Maven's, mind. By the author letting you into the main villains mind you really get a better look at the whole plot and get a better understanding of how everything came to be in the whole series. Victoria does a really good job at describing the changing feelings and almost making you feel as conflicted as the character. She also knows how to set up the scene so you can picture it perfectly. Through all the dramatic parts she makes it possible for you to follow along with the main fight while also picturing how hectic it would be on the outside. While reading this book I almost feel like I'm watching a movie. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes good a good description so you have a good image in your head. I would also recommend this book to anyone who likes to be kept on their toes and never knowing what's going to happen next. Overall this book encompasses great descriptions that keep you enterested in every part.

Nice

I fell in love with this saga from the very start, and this book made me fall in love even more! Maybe a little slow at the beginning, but definitely recomend it!

Aún no he leído el último pero de los 3 que llevo, este es definitivamente mi favorito. A pesar de que no empieza con tanta acción como los demás, comienzas a conocer más a profundidad mucho de los personajes. Te causa tantas emociones encontradas que no vas a saber si odias o amas al libro. En cuanto a las condiciones en que llegó también estoy súper satisfecha, llegó mucho antes del tiempo esperado y de los 3 que he encargado este es el que llegó en mejores condiciones, impecable desde la portada.

What an amazing story!! Definitely a good book and I can’t wait to read the next !

I fell in love with this series by halfway the first book. I'm half way through the last book atm (War Storm), and Kings Cage has been my favourite of the series so far. The storylines within the book are just phenomenal. I don't want the series to end!