Review: The Gauntlet

The Cage: The Gauntlet | Megan Shepherd

Published by: HarperCollins, May 23rd 2017

Genre: Science Fiction, Space, Aliens

Pages: 352

Format: Ebook

Source: HarperCollins, via Edelweiss

The Maze Runner meets Scott Westerfeld in the final novel in the gripping and romantic Cage series, about teens abducted from Earth by an otherworldly race.

Cora and her friends have escaped the Kindred station and landed at Armstrong—a supposed safe haven on a small moon—where they plan to regroup and figure out how to win the Gauntlet, the challenging competition to prove humanity’s intelligence and set them free. But Armstrong is no paradise; ruled by a power-hungry sheriff, it’s a violent world where the teens are enslaved and put to work in mines. As Nok’s due date grows closer, and Mali and Leon journey across space to rescue Cassian, the former inhabitants of the cage are up against impossible odds.

With the whole universe at stake, Cora will do whatever it takes, including pushing her body and mind to the breaking point, to escape Armstrong and run the Gauntlet. But it isn’t just a deranged sheriff she has to overcome: the other intelligent species—the Axion, Kindred, Gatherers, and Mosca—all have their own reasons to stop her. Not knowing who to trust, Cora must rely on her own instincts to win the competition, which could change the world—though it might destroy her in the process.

That ending was SAD!!!! :(

One of the best damn YA sci-fi series I've ever read - strong from the first page of The Cage to the last of The Gauntlet. I don't know what I can say about this book other than it surpassed my every hope and expectation, and the shocks never let up from the beginning. It's hopeful and miserable and full of guts and determination. I love Cora, I love Cassian, I love the world, the story, the cleverness of the Gauntlet. We even got a sneaky A.I. which I adored. Thank you for this gift of a series. I'm really sad to see it go.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

The Cage (ARC Review)

The Cage: The Cage | Megan Shepherd

Published by: Balzer+Bray, May 28th 2015

Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Aliens

Pages: 400

Format: Ebook

Source: Balzer+Bray, via Edelweiss

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 Daughtertrilogy.

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?

I left it WAY too long to write my review of this, and it wasn't in any way because this book is bad. It's because I loved it, for some reason I can't explain, and those are the hardest reviews to write.

So here's what I didn't love, first:

- Every other character but Cora and Cassian. UGH stop whining. I don't care about your teenage romance and your drama. You are all stupid, and how can you not see you're being manipulated??? It was SO obvious that the aliens were manipulating everyone into hating Cora, and yet they were like nah, it's not the aliens, IT'S CORA. Sure, buddy.

- Those two lovebirds, whose names I've forgotten because they pissed me off so much. You're kidnapped, put in an alien zoo, with a zookeeper who tells you to have sex and mate and ... you do it? Wow, okay, sure, seems legit.

- Diverse supporting characters, diverse side characters, but a blonde white MC. Okay, you tried, I see that, but it's not enough.

Here's what I DID love:

- Cassian, who was SO much more complex than I ever expected. So, he's a shiny gold alien, so what,  he's kind and mysterious and he shows Cora that she's strong (and he's evil for a good cause, which is 100% my thing)(and he's vulnerable underneath everything, which is 1000% my thing.)

- Cora, who was strong in a natural, human, weak way. I liked that she was hurt and cried and acted like a typical 'girl' but still stayed strong, got back on her feet, and got them the hell out of there. I really REALLY liked her, and I expected to hate her from the first chapter because she came off as whiny. Which she was - she whined, she despaired, and then she got the thing done anyway.

- ALIEN. FRICKING. ZOO.

- The menageries, the hint at what's to come in future books, the world, the bustling marketplace selling human kids. JUST EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS WORLD MEGAN SHEPHERD CREATED.

Just a side note to say there are plenty flaws in this book, and plenty I hated and skimmed pages of, but it wormed its way into my heart anyway, and I LOVE this book.

Characters ★★★☆☆ (take out the other characters and I'd probably rate this a high 4)

Setting/world-building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

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Reading round up (81)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week. 

22nd June

I'm reading The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent, which I'm really enjoying. I read 28% today and I reaaaally like Finn (though the body swap thing is making me feel ICKY. Like, you're kissing strangers and not really him...)

23rd June

Today I read 32% of The Stars Never Rise and finished it. It wasn't exactly what I expected but it was so, so good. I also started The Cage by Megan Shepherd (23%) and I like it so far.

24th June

I read 37% of The Cage and I am REALLY into the shiny gold alien. How could this happen? How could the attractive human be a complete jerk and make this metallic alien seem like a much nicer dude??? Megan Shepherd, why???

25th June

I read 23% of The Cage and I am 100% in love with Cassian, send help.

26th June

I finished The Cage (17%), and despite its imperfections it was perfect to me. I love it. 

I also started Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (13% read) because I am way overdue reading this and it felt like the right time to start it.

27th June

I read 12% of Red Queen, and I think I like it but I'm not sure yet.

28th June

Wasn't in the mood for Red Queen, so I started Invasion of The Tearling by Erika Johansen (7%). I totally forgot the heavy atmosphere of these books and how much I love it.

Books finished this week: 2
Books DNF'd this week: 0

For review:

Zeroes | Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, & Deborah Biancotti

Free on Amazon:

The Key | Jennifer Anne Davis

The Stars Never Rise (4 STARS)

Reading round up (49)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week. Slow review week this week. Next week, it should pick up. I hope.

20th October

Currently Reading: The Madman's Daughter | Megan Shepherd
Current page/percent: page 135
Read today: 32 pages
Thoughts: This is taking SO LONG to read and I thought I'd fly through it. My reading rate has been cut in half by this.

21st October

Currently Reading: The Madman's Daughter | Megan Shepherd
Current page/percent: page 206
Read today: 143 pages
Thoughts: Eh, the Madman's Daughter isn't fit for my mood. I'll finish it some other time.

22nd October

 I read a sample of Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows (around 100 pages) and really like it. I just wish I had the full book but I understand why Jodi wanted it rationed. I also started Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (36 pages read.) I'm in the mood for something light and discovered the box set I own yesterday hidden at the back of my bookshelf. I've been meaning to continue this series for over a year now.

23rd October

Currently Reading: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters | Rick Riordan
Current page/percent: page 144
Read today: 108 pages
Thoughts: These books are hilarious

24th October

Currently Reading: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters | Rick Riordan
Current page/percent: page 265
Read today: 121 pages
Thoughts: Great ending.

25th October

Currently Reading: Anna Dressed In Blood | Kendare Blake
Current page/percent: page 80
Read today: 80 pages
Thoughts: Suitably atmospheric.

26th October

Currently Reading: Anna Dressed In Blood | Kendare Blake
Current page/percent: page 225
Read today: 145 pages
Thoughts: Shipping Cas and Anna, and sensing that is a heartbreaking move.

Books finished this week: 2

The Body Electric | Beth Revis

Thank you to Beth Revis & Netgalley!!!

I'M HAVING A BREAKDOWN/RELIGIOUS MOMENT BECAUSE OF EVERY SONG ON 1989. IS IT RELEASE DAY YET???? My favourite is Out Of The Woods but every song is a gift.

Reviewed this week: The Orphan Queen (sample review) // Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters

Other posts: Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

Reading round up (48)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week. Where the hell is October going? Actually where the hell is this year going?

13th October

Currently Reading: The Eternity Cure | Julie Kagawa
Current page/percent: page 206
Read today: 143 pages
Thoughts: *swoons because Jackal*

14th October

Currently Reading: The Eternity Cure | Julie Kagawa
Current page/percent: page 299
Read today: 93 pages
Thoughts: Finally my bb Kanin is safe.

15th October

Currently Reading: The Eternity Cure | Julie Kagawa
Current page/percent: page 434
Read today: 135 pages
Thoughts: Thank God my faves survived but ... Zeke? Is he finally getting a good story arc? Is ... vampire now? Pls? Wow, this is gonna hurt and I don't even love the guy.

16th October

Started and DNF Hollow Pike by James Dawson (read 18%), which was completely disappointing. Hoped for eerie gothic and got high school drama. Nah.

17th October

Ughhhhhh I had a crappy day and now I don't know what to read. Eventually decided to read more of Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman (20%). I'm still not into it yet, but the world is promising and I enjoy the talking grotesque. (Not a fan of Cathy, though.)

18th October

I am FINALLY in possession of a copy of The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd, and so I will be breaking up Between Two Thorns with this lovely book. Read 25 pages and I already love the tone and main character.

19th October

Currently Reading: The Madman's Daughter | Megan Shepherd
Current page/percent: page 103
Read today: 78 pages
Thoughts: It's taking me ages to get through this book but I really like it.

Books finished this week: 1

The Testing Trilogy | Joelle Charbonneau

Kindle sales are my faves. Really hoping I like this series since the last two kindle books I've read have been SHIT and I DNF them.

Too many to list.

There's this awesome books and kitting wool shop in Skipton that I went to and ended up walking away with these ten babies for £10.

I have finished all my writing obligations for the year. Hell yessss. Now to write some paranormal shorts for Christmas!

This beautiful cover happened:

I NEEEEEEEED ITTTTTTT. 

2015 THOUGH??? NAH. AGAINST THAT RELEASE DATE 100%.

Reviewed this week: Level 2 (DNF) // The Eternity Cure // Beware The Wild
Other posts: Invisible Wings book trailer