The Cage by Megan Shepherd is a gripping YA book series that provides a thought-provoking look at humanity. Depicting a group of humans that are help captive in an alien zoo, this one contains many twists and turns as well as a strong cast of characters. I especially enjoyed the world building and the imaginative environments in the cage. While I do not typically pick up books about aliens, this one piqued my interest, and I would recommend it to those looking for a shocking and suspenseful series.
Series: The Cage
Author: Megan Shepherd
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction, Sci-Fi
Publication Date: May 26, 2015- May 23, 2017
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Series Rating:
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 appears—a handsome young guard called Cassian—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.
Review: The Cage by Megan Shepherd
When Cora awakens in the desert, she has no memory of how she got there. As she starts to explore her environment, she discovers five others, and together, they realize that they are being held captive in an impossible space that is definitely not Earth. As it turns out, they have been taken by a group of aliens called the Kindred to be observed in a zoo-like enclosure, and if they do not comply with the rules, they will be removed. Together, it is up to the group of humans to uncover the reason why they have been taken and find a way home, but as time goes by, the hope of returning to Earth again seems farther and farther away.
❀ Many Different Perspectives
There are many different perspectives throughout the fantasy series, and I found that each character is well developed. I often find it difficult to keep track of so many narrators, but since each of them is distinct and has secrets of their own, I had no trouble keeping up. Getting each of their perspectives brings a lot of depth to the story, as it provides insight into the ways each of them reacts to their bizarre new environment, and the way captivity affects them differently. The group is definitely an unlikely mix, but I enjoyed watching them slowly start to trust—and turn against—each other.
❀ Strong World-Building
There is a lot to admire about this series, but I found the world building especially strong. The cage itself is so interesting to read about, with its odd mix of environments and climates, and I found the rules and incentives that the Kindred have put in place well thought-out. The first book in the series is particularly mysterious, as the group must find out why they have been taken, and the author builds suspense with the terrifying feeling that life in the cage may be easier than what lies outside of it. I don’t typically gravitate to books about aliens, but since the world was well-executed, I didn’t mind it in this case.
❀ A Unique Series
The Cage by Megan Shepherd is a unique series about humans who have been trapped in an alien zoo. I enjoyed the mix of characters, and I found the world building especially imaginative. This is a great read for fans of sci-fi.
About Megan Shepherd
New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of several young adult and middle grade novels. She now lives and writes on a 125-year-old farm outside Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, two cats, and an especially scruffy dog.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.