Rating 2.75⭐
Spice 0.5🌶️

Soooo I don't even know how to feel about this book. I was intrigued at first, then bored, then picked up again.....only to leave me disappointed.

Like sure, we get a "secret" Russian mafia industry. That's pretty cool, and interesting, but gosh WHY DID IT TAKE SO DAMN LONG?! LIKE I DONT UNDERSTAND.

Also why was this book was about 15 hours long?! And, and and......Why was each chapter for the POVs about an hour each?! OMG, it was driving me nuts and I felt I was ready to move onto Mina's or Oliver's side.

I still the think the romance was rushed, because they were a part for majority of the book, which granted thats fine, but I hated the push and pull.

I have forgotten yet again, they were still considered minors....Let's just let that sink into our heads.

I received the ARC through Netgallery. And thought my reviews is honest and true, I wish the author the best of luck

Def makes for an interesting listen. The narrators were great, but the story itself needed some work.
Well, the pacing. Things were either happening too fast or not fast enough at all. There was a lot of filler that wasn't necessary at all, it just made the story drag on and I lost interest in some parts. The audio book is about 15 hours long... I feel it could have been shorter with "tighter" writting...
I also suggest you read part 1 to better follow along.

I couldn’t get this audio to open properly so I don’t k know how to give an accurate review. I’ll check this title out again on my own and will likely read it this year still bc it sounded interesting

This book takes readers on a heart-pounding ride full of twists, secrets, and suspense. The novel follows the gripping journey of a young girl, whose life is turned upside down when her father’s shady dealings. The plot is fast-paced and well-crafted, building a sense of urgency from the start. The tension between the girl’s new, forced life and her desire to return home is palpable. The book is a perfect blend of heart-pounding suspense and emotional depth, making it a must-read for fans of thrillers and young adult fiction alike.

I am thankful to have gotten the audioARC from NetGalley. I enjoyed the audiobook more and more as I listened to it. It took me awhile to get into the story, but when I did, I was hooked into the characters. I think that the narrators blended in perfectly with the characters. I would look forward to the different chapters and having the characters change. There were some very dark chapters in the beginning that were hard to get through, but it was part of the story. The only thing I wish was different was the ending as I think things came together too quickly, but perhaps that is because it was a set up for another book and that makes sense. I would say that I very much enjoyed the book and the characters. I think the characters ouside of the parents were all very young and I am not, but I could relate and still enjoyed the book. I would be willing to read a book two for sure! I hope the story continues.

While I very much enjoyed this story. I got to the 40% mark and decided to dnf. I love the romance aspect and Mina is a badass female main character. I just personally could not read the torture aspect of this book. The audio narration is top tier in my opinion! This is a beautiful story and I’m glad I was able to read it through NetGalley.

This book begins with action and excitement in the first chapter. Mina Arkova is only moments away from a secret rendezvous with her boyfriend, Ollie, when she has to turn around and fight off men who have broken into her house! She makes life-saving decisions and convinces herself that everything she does is to protect her family. Meanwhile, Ollie is doing everything he can to find the person who makes him complete.

I gave this a 3.75 based on the abrupt ending.
I know the series needs to continue, but the ending left me with more questions unrelated
to the story.

First off, thank you to Netgalley, Sera Press, and the author for providing a copy of the audiobook!

I will start off by saying when I started this book, I did not realize it was a part of a series. I checked and saw there were comments that it can be read as a Standalone. I don't necessarily recommend that, as the beginning was a little confusing to catch up to speed, but the author does do a good job of providing the additional background to fill in gaps. So, yes it is doable, but I think I would have understood the character motivations a little deeper if I did go back and read the first book.

Overall, the audio was done well and the story was OK. I don't think I am the correct audience for this, as anything mafia/torture related I want the characters to be older. I can understand the reasoning of having her be a high school, because that unfortunately is the reality of the world we live in, but I just have a hard time accepting it.

I do think the story would've benefitted if we edited out a few internal spirals with Oliver in his panic, and Mina with her torture. Certain scenes felt too repetitive where I did not see the change in the character enough to warrant the repeat. And with them being younger, it always leads me to find annoyance with some of their thought processes. Again, I think I am just not the right audience for this. It was still OK and I can see those younger than me to enjoy this as a thriller option for them, but I would recommend that they are at minimum 16+.

Overall, this one didn't hit right for me. I found myself stressed out at every corner. On onset this series is giving teen angst, relatable content. Though it's my opinion that this sequel departed from that feeling. That being said, if you're an action, thriller, spy energy, reader this might be a better match for you!

Love and other cages by Emilia Ares - NetGalley Audiobook.

3.5 stars

This YA thriller audiobook will definitely keep you on your toes and have you on edge a few times.

I did enjoy this audiobook and the narrators did an awesome job. There were a few times I felt like I was loosing interest as I felt like the story was just dragging on and wasn't really my thing but that's just my opinion 😊

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the audiobook!

I had no idea this was a sequel so take my opinion with that going in. I enjoyed about half of this book, sorry as I am to say.

I wasn't totally lost going in, though I never did get context for the mc's relationship the way I hoped? Maybe that was my bad for zoning out during our boy's chapters.

Something about switching between your female MC who got abducted into a Russian, Black-Widowesque program and your male MC who is *checks notes* partying with creepy older criminals and having some of the most irritating dialogue ever.

I think this one was just, meh. Wasn't insulted by anything but neither was I impressed.

(I listened to the audiobook version)
Thanks to NetGalley and the editors for providing this copy of Love and Other Cages in exchange for an honest review.
I love dual pov and even more with dual narrators.
I loved the soft voice of the female narrator, however the male narrators voice was a bit weak for my taste.
I read other reviews and most people said this could be read as a stand alone, I did not read the first one yet and I didn't have any issues following the story.
I found the female pov more interesting and with more action than the male one.
I appreciate small chapters however I found it way too long, I got lost a few times in unnecessary explanations and interactions, that could have been removed to move the story faster.
(I will post this same review on good reads)

*Love and Other Cages* by Emilia Ares had the makings of a compelling YA romance, but unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations. I went in hoping for a heartfelt, engaging teen story, but I found myself struggling to connect with the characters and overall execution.

While the writing is undoubtedly beautiful, the pacing felt slow, and the emotional depth didn’t quite land for me the way I expected. I was looking for that classic YA charm—relatable teenage experiences, heartfelt moments, and a story that pulls you in—but instead, I found myself losing interest before finishing.

That being said, just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it won’t be for someone else. If you enjoy poetic, introspective storytelling with a more mature tone, this might be worth picking up. Every reader connects with books differently, so if the premise intrigues you, give it a shot!

I came across this one on Netgalley in the "Listen Now“ menu and after reading the blurb (and of course seeing the cover) I thought I‘d give this one a chance. And I‘m SO glad that I did.

Though the story is apparently a sequel (I say apparently because I didn‘t notice until after hunting down the author on Goodreads), it definitely can be read as a stand-alone, as I did. Though to be fair, you‘ll probably get a better feeling sooner for all that‘s happened if you read the other one before.

I listened to this one as an audiobook while at work (and cleaning the flat and staring at nothing, spellbound by the action), and first and foremost I was SO in awe with the narrators, especially the female voice. She really brought Mina to life for me and made me understand her. It turns out that the female narrator is the author! Kudos to her, her performance definitely felt like she didn‘t do this for the first time and I‘d actually go and listen to more of her, if she‘d narrate more because her voice is just that nice to listen to.

Mina is a high school senior who after being kidnapped by an underground criminal organization only to be thrown into a world of torture, blood, and death, all while being threatened with her mother's life. But all is not as it seems, and although she couldn‘t tell her fresh boyfriend, Oliver, just why she needs to end things, he isn‘t opposed to turning the world upside down in search of her.
The whole plot is not what I expected it to be while also being exactly what I hoped for. The farther we went into the story, the more I wanted to know, to understand. I didn‘t think it would go the way it did, and definitely thought it would take an even darker turn after Mina‘s kidnapping but was glad to find out otherwise.

The book did end in suspense, definitely leaving room for a sequel, so I‘m hoping I‘ll get to read more of Mina and Oliver. All in all, both the writing and the characters themselves really spoke to me and made it easy to connect with the story.

I can wholeheartedly recommend this one to all my action lovers out there who love to read about star-crossed lovers and aren‘t afraid of a little bit of gore.

This book had a lot going as soon as you started! When the beginning starts with relationship drama and then turns to drama with a house invasion, you know a LOT is about to happen. This book does have moments that make you question how much time has passes, as well as moments that make you wonder how we got here, but over all very interesting book that definitely has me looking for the next book.

3.5 stars!
Love and Other Cages was a pleasant surprise! I definitely did not realize that this was a second book in a series. I would recommend reading the first book first- I felt like I definitely missed some context with Oliver and Mina and some pieces of the story at the very beginning based on how the book began.

This book is intense. Throughout the shifting perspectives of Oliver and Mina, we are given glimpses of their lives when intense tragedy strikes Mina and her mom right off the bat. Mina's forced involvement with an underground criminal group was the most interesting part of the book. We see her go through emotional and physical situations through this book that no 18-year-old should ever have to experience. The book was fast-paced and easy to keep up with. Oliver's perspective was definitely not my favorite of the two, but the last 25% of the book his chapters got quite good. I listened to this as an audiobook and I liked that we had two narrators for the two perspectives. Overall, the ending left me on the edge of my seat, and I am excitedly waiting for the next book!!

Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy of Love and Other Cages and for the opportunity to review this book!

this is the second book in a series. it can be read as a standalone but i do think reading the first book will help you to fully understand this book. Mina and Oliver have such a strong bond. I also really enjoyed towards the end of the book. For being a young adult mystery thriller, this has some really dark themes, i think this would be more for other teenagers that can comprehend what’s going on. thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The narrators were perfect for this book! I can’t wait to go back and read book 1. I’m so excited for book 3.

Wow, what just happened? This story was full of unexpected twists and turns that completely caught me off guard! Some moments felt a bit ominous or confusing, but overall, it was a gripping tale that kept me hooked. And that ending—what a cliffhanger! I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the next installment because it cannot end like this!

I absolutely loved the author’s writing style and how she brought the storyline to life through a dual POV between Mina and Oliver. Seeing both perspectives not only deepened my connection to the characters but also gave me insight into their struggles and emotions. Emilia Ares does a fantastic job with her descriptive and engaging writing, pulling me into their world. I flew through the pages, eager to find out what would happen next!

<b>Wanted to Love It… But It Was a Slog</b>

I had heard so many good things about this book, so when it popped up as an ALC option on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to listen. But honestly? It was a slog to get through.

I kept feeling like we were almost at the exciting part—only for the author to drag us down into yet another long-winded internal monologue. It happened so many times that it became frustrating. Honestly, the whole book would have been so much better if it had been cut down by half.

That being said, the narrators were incredible! They did such an amazing job bringing the characters to life, and honestly, I’m not sure I would have been able to finish this book if I wasn’t listening to it. If I had been reading a physical copy, I definitely would have skimmed a lot more.

Also, since this is a YA book, I think it’s worth noting that it covers some more mature themes. While I wouldn’t personally call this spicy, it leans more toward the 15-18 side of YA rather than the 12-15 side.

4.5 stars.
I didn’t realize that this was book 2 of a series but it does say that it can be read as a standalone and true enough, I understood everything without reading book 1.

That being said I do want to read book 1 now because I’m interested in Mina and Oliver’s story and how they came to be together.

I got this audio on NetGalley and it was a great listen, the author and male narrator did a great job. The story had me invested from start to finish and intrigued for the next book, hopefully we get an audio version of book 3 cause I would gladly listen to the same narrator again.

I’m not saying too much cause I don’t want to give anything away but the way Oliver did everything possible to get Mina back while also dealing with stuff of his own and Mina’s strength throughout this whole ordeal was so admirable truly can’t wait to see how this story concludes.