It has been long since I read fantasy novel with multiple POVs. Gilded Cage made me realized that, and also it reminded me how I used to read that all the time few years ago.

Just like it is the case with me and many POVs, at first (and some time later) I had difficult time to follow who's who, and who is who to whom.
However, I enjoyed reading the story the whole time, and I think this book wad so well done.

It was full of action from the begging to end. Because of that, I feel like I flew trough the pages in no time.
Seriously, I finish the book in two days, and I am a slow reader with a newborn.

The world is so interesting. It is cruel and cold, and very complex, and I know this will sound silly, but it kind of reminded me of my own country.

I will definitely continue with the series asap, and I recommend it to everyone who likes action packed stories.

Will no longer be reading or reviewing this book due to lack of interest in the title, and the fact that the title has been archived.

This is an alternative historical fantasy that I completely adored. The story, the feel and the characters felt original in the best sense and I didn't want it to end! Thankfully I've got both the sequels waiting for me on my bookshelf and I'm very curious about what Dr. Vic James has in store for us readers in the future. It will be an instant buy whatever it is!

This is a YA novel set in the UK, and honestly, I was initially drawn to the novel because of this setting. I never seem to come across that many YA fantasy novels that are set in the UK, as opposed to the US, and so I was really excited to pick this one up!
James has created a wonderful fantasy world in this novel. She spends a good amount of time describing the ins and outs of how the world works, and how the magic is used and distributed throughout the population. The reader also gets quite a few pieces of info about how the government and the ruling of the country is carried out, and how the world came to be that way. I am always really aware of these elements of a fantasy or dystopian novel, and James does an excellent job of building the world and sharing the world with the reader. The reader also gets quite a lot of information about how other countries are run in this fantasy world, and this was a pleasant surprise to me. I often find that YA novels can forget to describe other countries, and the reader is left wondering how the rest of the world figures into the novel, but not in Gilded Cage.
Despite there being a good amount of describing the world and the governing etc., this is still a fast paced and action-packed novel. From the first page this novel seems to fly along at 100 miles per hour until the very last page.
One of the reasons the narrative seems to fly past is the narrative structure is split into a number of POVs. We read Luke’s POV in Millmoor slave camp, Abi’s in Kynessmore as a sort of secretary, and all of the Brothers. James utilises this split narrative to both keep the plot moving swiftly along, and to learn more about the world and the characters without ever feeling like the info is being dumped onto the reader. This is very clever by James, and I doubt the novel would work as well without this style of narrative.
There are quite a few twists and turns in this novel, and there are definitely a few I didn’t see coming! The ending of this novel is another great twist, it ends on a cliff-hanger, and now I definitely need to pick up the next novel to find out what happens!!

I'm just not in the right mind space for this book, and I'm not sure I ever will be. There's a lot going on, and 20% in, I know I can't do it

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me this book to review.

Gilded cage is a very good dark dystopian alternative UK. It is an unique concept with lots of twists and turns. It had excellent world building, interesting political intrigue and lots of different characters, each with their own voice.

Luke is brave, courageous and honourable as he dislikes injustice but he can be reckless and daring. Abi is a nice character as she is intelligent, resourceful and organised, while being headstrong and loyal to her family. Silyen is an enigma in this story as we don’t know much about him apart from he is magically strong and manipulative.

This is a very fascinating read and I am looking forward to Tarnished City, the next book in the series. I would recommend Gilded Cage to fans of The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon.

One of the better YA dystopian fantasy novels I've read recently. It held my interest, didn't dwell too much on angst and romance and had a bit more depth and world building as well as the usual tension. I also liked the range of viewpoint characters. Perfect for fans of Hunger Games, Divergent and Red Queen.

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

At its heart, Gilded Cage is a fast-paced, dynamic read. It blends elements of fantasy and dystopia seamlessly and the plot never wavers, with some brilliantly unexpected twists. The characters were rather disparate; some were instantly likable if one-dimensional, others were mystifying but intriguing and some were just downright abhorrent. The narrative is split between several POVs, which works well to keep the plot moving, but when one POV is more interesting than others you can't help but want to skip ahead to that character's chapters. The elements of magic and class system divisions created something of a commentary on the current state of politics and wealth in the UK, and I'm eager to see where this series goes.

I received a copy from Netgalley.

Another one for the DNF pile. I couldn't get into this one. The society baffled me. I can't get my head around the concept. It was weird and annoying. In this British novel society is still split by huge class divisions. The elite aristocrats at the top run everything and all have some sort of magic ability. The working class have to complete ten years of slavery, where they don't get paid. They an either work in something called slavetowns in factories or domestic work. There's lots of different characters, lots of plots and different agendas, and it's all really really boring. Didn't care about any of it. I made it to 40% but I just don't have any interest in figuring out the plot or the characters. I just can't get my head around ten years of forced slavey in a modern world. Don't get it. At all. And really just don't want to read any more, so DNFing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for approving my request to view the title.

I absolutely loved this well constructed story about an alternate Britain run by the magically gifted elite. Very original.

The Gilded Cage may get lost among the countless books concerning a magician ruling class in England (from Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, to Sorcerer to the Crown, to the excellent Bartimaeus trilogy). However, the unique worldbuilding, and intriguing concept of a set slavery to the "elite" (wizards) made this a good and fun read. The first of a series, ends in such a clever cliffhanger that will have me looking for the sequel when it comes out. 4/5

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I don't give out 5* ratings easily. A book has to hit me on all the right levels for me to do so. Gilded Cage was such a book. It's rare that I take a long time to read something out of choice, because I am making myself savour it but that was the case here. Gilded Cage is beautifully written with characters you can really engage with, a plot that intrigues and entraps, and an exquisitely built world. This what inexplicable bestsellers like Aveyard's 'Red Queen' want to be when they grow up.

In an alternate historical setting, the Equals - those possessed of magical gifts - are a ruling elite amongst the normals and in this case the Equals are equal in the Orwellian sense; considered superior in every sense and exempt from the daily grind. The greatest families of Equals live like the British aristocracy and there is a distinctly Edwardian feel despite evidence that it is set in an alternative now. The normals are required by law to endure Slave Days - that is ten years of service to the Equals - at a time of their or their parents choosing - where they abdicate all their rights as people and become effectively chattel. Some placements are worse than others.

Abbi, Daisy and Luke's parents decide that as Daisy is now ten (the minimum age for slavery) they will all do their slave days together as a family. Obviously the system - already corrupt - is subject to horrific abuses, as Luke discovers when something goes wrong and he is separated from his family and sent to a slave town instead of the supposedly cushy placement at the great house in Kyneston. And then there is the family of Kyneston because the Equals do not think likethe rest of us...

Dark, compelling and beautiful, this is a dark fantasy not to be missed. Loved it and am waiting for the next one with baited breath.

The Hadley family live in a version of Britain which is divided into Equals - those with special abilities (Skills) who are aristocrats and rule the country - and those without - normal humans who serve them.
Throughout their lives each human has to complete their slavedays - a decade of servitude - and the Hadley family have decided that it's time for them to do theirs.
Abi Hadley has arranged for her family to spend their slavedays on the Jardine estate but the Hadleys are separated when Luke is sent to a factory town.
Events lead to the Hadleys becoming involved in the struggle for power as the seed of revolution is planted in the population.
Can the Hadleys serve their slavedays without getting into any trouble?

Gilded Cage had a very interesting concept and I thought that this book set up the series well.
I liked the Hadleys and I felt sorry for them - they were pawns to the Equals, some of who treated humans like dirt. I also liked some of the Jardines - more than I probably should have!
The plot was quite slow in places but this book was setting up the rest of the series so that was understandable.
I liked the writing style - it held my attention but I wasn't gripped.
I'm interested to find out more about the world that Vic James has created.

Overall this was an enjoyable read and a solid start to the series.

Gilded Cage has a premise that I love on books: a world divided into two groups, Equals - rich and powerful aristocrats with magical gifts - and commoners - normal people that have to give 10 years of their lives to serve the Equals - and (the best part) a popular wish to abolish the law that forces commoners to slavery.

This book had all the ingredient to be perfect, and I can say it was. The plot is complex and well-developed, and the characters are so rich and someone who we can relate to, due to the multiple POVs. I must say, however, that I loved reading the points of view of the characters who were in close contact or were Equals, so Luke's POV wasn't that interesting fo me, at least most of the time.

The intrigue was so captivating and I was dying to know if the slavery law would be abolished, so the ending took me by surprise and I can't wait to know what will happen to Luke and Abi in the next book. The Equals are also really interesting, because they all have this acceptance of the slavery even when they care about the people who are their slaves, so I'm excited to see what they will do next.

The writing was also a big surprise. I had no expectations regarding the writing of Gilded Cage, since it's a debut by Vic James, but I loved it and it had me hooked from the start until the end.

Another thing I loved about this book was that it takes place in England and not in the USA. I don't see this often enough in books, so it added a special atmosphere to Gilded Cage.

So, let’s talk about my favorite characters – the Jardine boys. The Jardine boys were... something special. Even Gavar. I don't know why but I just loved every scene they were in, especially Silyen, who's such a charismatic, mysterious and powerful character. Gavar was also really surprising, because he could be so mean but also sweet, and the truly cares for his daughter. Regarding Gavar, I believe he will have a bigger role in the next book, and I’m excited to see him without the influence of his father.

I’m also really excited to see what will happen to the relationships that started during this first book, especially regarding the revolution and everything that happened at the very end of Gilded Cage. And what happened at the end of the book broke my heart and left me speechless, I just couldn’t believe it, so I desperately need the next book in this series.

To conclude, Gilded Cage was an amazing debut from this author and a glorious experience, and I just want to read more of Vic James’ books, especially the next book in this series. I completely recommend it!

This reading year started particularly well. And one of the reasons had been «Gilded Cage» by Vic James! I love a good Dystopian novel. Last year around the same time was when I binge read all three books of the Divergent series and it was AMAZING. And this year the pattern repeated itself! It was replaced by Vic James’ new series and it was so SO MUCH BETTER than I expected or even hoped for it to be!

I have a tendency to start “fan girling” over the books I adore and I am not going to apologize for it! Because if I don’t scream from the top of the buildings how AWESOME this book was, how do I get ALL OF YOU TO READ IT IMMEDIATELY?! Exactly! You need to hear me nagging about it over and over again!

Check out my full review at
https://whimsypages.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/gilded-cage-by-vic-james-can-it-compete-with-divergent-series/

[book:Gilded Cage|26168646] rekindled my interest in YA Fantasy.

[author:Vic James|14235866] created a complex and exciting world, as well as an intricate plot. A lot happens in this first installment and still, I finished it thinking about how much I needed the two other books in this series. A <b>fantastic</b> read.

(Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!)

Set in an alternate modern world, some people possess powers, Skill, and some don't. Whereas in most parts of the world that doesn't matter, in the United Kingdom those who have power rule, those who don't have to give ten years of their lives to slavery. Common folk are given the option of either applying to work those ten years in slavetowns or at Equal's, those with Skill, estates.

Abi tried to get her whole family to work at an estate instead of a slavetown, as the rumours said those in such towns lead ten brutal years void of joy. Although Abi managed to get most of the family accepted at the Jardine's, the founding family of the system in UK, estate, her brother was placed in Millmoor, a slavetown near Manchester, where the family was from. But a revolution was brewing long before Luke's arrival at Millmoor. With his family way, Luke feels lonely and his hope to rejoin his family ebbs away with time, so when he gets a proposition to join a rebellious group in Millmoor, Luke accepts. At the Jardine's estate, Abi finds herself falling in love for one of the sons of the most powerful Equal in UK while she slowly uncovers some of the family's secrets, which changes her perception of the Equals.

Although set in modern England, it didn't feel like it until very far into the book. There was never any mention of phones, computers, internet, or any other technology which define our generation and time. The only mentions that could tell you it is set in modern England is the existence of cars, television and technology to read chips and ID electronic cards.

However, the two things that bothered me the most were the ridiculous amount of characters that the reader had to remember right in the first book and the ridiculous names of the Equals. Instead of overwhelming the readers with so many characters it would have made more sense to make us care more about the two main characters, which I don't think it was well achieved. And if the idea to give the Equals names which sounded posh or rare, stick to the ones given to royalty nowadays, like Charles and Henry, they already carry a certain connotation which would get your idea across without resorting to names like Silyen and Meilyr. Most names sounded out of a high fantasy book set in a whole different world, which is not a good thing in my opinion.

The idea is definitely great and it does have a lot of potential to have a great sequel. The first book had a lot of political intrigue and, although most of the plot twists were quite predictable (I had figured them all out long before they had happened), there are some very complex handful of characters which I thought was refreshing. I particularly liked Silyen, Meilyr and Luke. I liked Bouda but only because she struck me as a very strong female character who knows what she wants.

Although it can be improved, I think Gilded Cage is a great start for an intriguing story with a lot of political conflict and revolutions. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.

I really enjoy dystopian type books but for some reason I didn't click with this one, there were a lot of characters as you would expect at the start of a series but a lot of them didn't stand out for me.I do applaud the writer for her imagination and the world she has created and I wish I liked it more .it may well appeal to others could be some people who don't normally like this genre will give this book a go and enjoy it, I don't want to put people off, I just found it hard to get into.Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review

https://lynns-books.com/2017/01/19/gilded-cage-dark-gifts-1-by-vic-james/
The Gilded Cage is an unusual and interesting story. Set in an alternative UK the story revolves around one particular family as they embark on a period of enforced slavery. I must admit that I have mixed feelings with this book. It was certainly fast paced and actually made for quite addictive reading but I felt like the world building needed something more.

The story starts with our main family, the Hadleys, as their life is about to completely change. The Hadleys are about to start their ‘slavedays’. Every commoner in the UK, or, more to the point, every person not born with ‘skill’, must serve a compulsory ten year period of slavery. The world here is split into those without magical ability and those with. Let’s call them the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’. The former being the aristocracy, landed gentry living lives of privilege on huge country estates whilst the latter are the commoners who undertake all the hard work within society. In this particular instance the Hadleys have undertaken to go to into this period of their lives as a whole family. Unfortunately, their plan to be located as a whole unit working on the Jardine’s country estate doesn’t go quite according to plan and although the mother, father, and two daughters are placed as planned the son, Luke, is torn from the family and placed in one of the factory towns up North.

We then predominantly follow Luke as he becomes familiar with his new and brutal surroundings and then switch to his sister Abi as she tries to plan for a way to get Luke back with the family whilst finding herself in the strange predicament of finding herself becoming attracted to one member of the family she now serves.

So, to the characters. My favourite storyline was Luke’s. Located in a town called Millmoor this is a grim place. The people work long and miserable hours and are barely fed enough to sustain them – obviously just one of many ways to keep them downtrodden and too tired to fight back. This doesn’t stop underlying rumblings and an underground movement with rebellion at it’s core and Luke fairly quickly becomes embroiled with this group. Meanwhile, Luke’s sister Abi is helping to run the Jardine’s office. She’s an intelligent young woman and fairly quickly finds her feet. Unfortunately she finds herself attracted to the middle son of the family, Jenner. Jenner is an anomaly in the world of Equals, born without skill he’s something of an embarrassment to the family. His older brother and heir is a particularly vindictive piece of work with a short fuse – Gavar. Rumours circulate the estate about how he murdered a former maid and the mother of his child. The younger brother, Silyen, is the one to watch. He’s incredibly powerful in terms of his own skill and seems to have his own agenda which hasn’t yet been made clear. The Equals have their own problems of infighting and back stabbing. There’s plenty of jostling for position and families seeking beneficial matches to increase their own status.

The plot, well there are two threads running through the story. Obviously the underground rebellion movement being spearheaded at Millmoor and then the political struggles taking place in the world of the Equals. Alongside this are a couple of twists, one concerning the younger Jardine and the other focusing on Luke’s own role. I won’t go into either as they will contain spoilers.

The world building. Set in a modern day world this is an alternative UK where history split from the one we currently live in many years ago. It’s a bit of a strange world to come to grips with and this is an area that I struggled with a little. The period just has a jumbled feel somehow. The factory towns feel like they’re straight out of the Industrial Revolution era. They have a Dickensian type feel. Poor housing, poor food, long hours, harsh wardens. The Jardine’s family home is like Downton Abbey, except that whilst one of the sons rides around the estate on horseback his brother chooses motorbikes as his favourite mode of transport. It feels like the book is conflicted a little with its own time period somehow – it’s not as far advanced in technological terms as our own, and yet it does benefit from some modern day advances.

The story does takes a good look at class division and exploitation and I thought that was a very thought provoking element that has kept me thinking for days after I put the book down. However, this brings me to the real issue I had which revolved around the slavery aspect and the whys and wherefores of how it all works. The idea puts me loosely in mind of conscription but much more severe – everyone serving a 10 year period of enforced slavery but there was very little detail in relation to this aspect and I guess you’re just expected to go with the flow and not focus on the finer detail. The thing is I just can’t help myself from wanting that little bit of extra detail. Such as, why were people allowed to volunteer at whatever age they liked. How is it feasible for a whole family to go together – what happens to their home, how do they resume life when their slavedays are over. How is the whole thing even monitored – what happens if you don’t volunteer, why wouldn’t you simply leave your volunteering days until your twilight years?? Look, I’m not suggesting that we have a full essay on the economics of dystopian society, nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition after all, but just a few lines here and there. As it is I didn’t really get the idea that people had any real qualms about going into their slavedays, and whilst some of this is explained away I do find it difficult to believe that everyone in the country is unaware of the horror that takes place during this period of their life.

On the whole this was an intriguing story that kept me entertained. I did have niggles, which primarily revolved around me wanting more information, but I can understand that this would have made the book a lot slower in pace and therefore not to everyone’s liking.

I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

​In a world where ordinary people must sacrifice a decade of their lives in service to the Skilled, we meet a host of addictive and compelling characters that bring this magical world to life in front of our eyes. The Hadley family make a choice to serve their ten years of service together and are happy to have gained a place serving one of the most powerful Equal families, the Jardines. But immediately things start to go awry when Luke is not allowed to accompany them and is shipped off to Millmoor, one of the many harsh slave towns that exist around Britain. And not everyone is as they appear to be. As Abi, Daisy, and their mum and dad try to settle in at Kyneston, their service may not be as harsh as that in Millmoor, but it is certainly just as complicated. With plenty of danger, rebellion, love, bitterness, and thirst for power, GILDED CAGE by Vic James is the stunning first instalment of The Dark Gifts series, which is sure to be an addictive fantasy trilogy. With excellent characters, some of which you will love to hate. plot twists, and otherworldly power, GILDED CAGE kept me easily enthralled throughout. I really hope that book two will be released soon as I cannot wait to get my hands on it!