Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 528
King’s Cage is the third book in the Red Queen series (click here for my review of Red Queen and here for my review of Glass Sword). Admittedly, I pushed this one back on my priority list for quite a while, mostly due to me not having liked Glass Sword at all. It was confusing and lacked intrigue and direction. Maybe Glass Sword just suffered the typical second book syndrome, but even after several of my fellow bloggers assured me that King’s Cage did not have the same problems, I wasn’t too eager to pick it up. Well, I guess it is time for me to join the ranks and say that King’s Cage is in fact better than Glass Sword, but I am still not fully back on board with the series.
The first time I opened the book, I immediately noticed a vast improvement. The book has a map! I remember being completely lost in terms of the country’s scope and the different towns and the travel time between destinations in the previous book. I was bored with the amount of moving back and forth and my lack of understanding where anyone was going, so this was a big plus already.
Then we are right there with Mare, still prisoner to Maven. The torment and weight of the situation was palpable throughout the entire time. It gave us a vulnerable Mare, which was direly needed in my opinion, because no one person can do everything, but it also gave us real insight into Maven and why he is the way he is. I enjoyed those chapters a lot, despite the slightly repetitive nature of the scenarios that played out. I know that Maven isn’t a good person and I am not making excuses for his behaviour, despite understanding that it might not be entirely his fault, but he is still the person I like to read about most in this series. (Yes, once again, the villain is my fave – what a surprise!) I think it really helped to see his side of things and Mare’s reactions to his confessions.
King’s Cage brought about another change though and it’s one I am still not sure how to feel about. There are multiple POVs this time around and just for the sake of keeping some surprises, I won’t tell you who they were from. I am not going to lie though, it took me quite some time to even remember who this person was and to this day, I still only have a hazy memory of them. This seems to be a reoccurring theme with the series. Aside from the people that appeared in the first book, I have troubles remembering anyone, just because there are too many people that are very insignificant for long-term plot developments. The names and abilities start to blend together, so I actually needed these constant reminders of who did what for what house and which color belonged to whom etc.
Overall, I liked the direction the book went into. Stakes were upped again, I started to like Mare better again as well, even though she is still not one of my faves. Cal is just cancelled, there’s something about him that just rubs me the wrong way. Maven is still my wicked darling. And I really had a change of heart when it came to people I previously disliked whole-heartedly *cough*Evangeline*cough*. I still don’t believe this series has a strong priority in my mind, but I am curious to see how it all ends. I think there is the real possibility to not go the classical route and insert some great twists instead.
Fazit: 4/5 stars! Improvement from Glass Sword for sure!
Have you read King’s Cage? Or the Red Queen series as a whole? What are your thoughts?
Life and Other Disasters 
Uhh, I haven’t read the series but I do plan to! I haven’t really read this review, oops? I fear spoilers 😦 I skimmed it, and I’m really glad you loved it more than the second book! I’m excited to read this 😀
Sorry for not reading it in full, I hope you understand ❤
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GIRL, WHY DID YOU EVEN SKIM THIS!?!?! Don’t do that???? I fear you might still have read something you are not supposed to read. Anyway, the second book is REALLY bad.
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I somehow (these skills, I’m telling you) managed to dodge spoilers!! Achievement unlocked! 😀
Sorry to hear that 😦 I’ll just have to power through it then haha :’)
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I wish you all the fun while reading! You’ll see after the first book if you like it and then you can always decide if you want to do the whole series.
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Yep! I did hear a lot of good things about the series though, so I’ll probably end up reading the whole thing!
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I’m glad you enjoyed this one Kat, and that you think it was better than Glass Sword as well. I’m not a fan of this series at all, I think Red Queen was OK but Glass Sword was terrible for me so I’ve never been that motivated to pick up King’s Cage (maybe one day, the fact that you and other people have said the series gets better does make me curious I’ll admit) but it’s not a priority.
I definitely agree with you about Cal and Maven (granted this is just from what I’ve read of the series so far). Really not a fan of Cal but really love Maven’s character. 🙂
Great review, and here’s hoping the next book is decent as well. Is the fourth book the last in the series do you know?
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I actually really loved Red Queen. I think I gave it 5 stars, but in all fairness, I read it in 2015. I don’t know how I’d feel about it today. Glass Sword got 3.5 stars, but really it might as well could have been 2.5 as well. I was being gracious. This was definitely an improvement.
Cal is soooo annoying. Hahaha Maven is my darling.
I just rechecked just to make sure, but yes, War Storm should be the finale. I was already really bummed that they made the series longer than a trilogy. I don’t like it when publishers/authors do that mid-series haha
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I think the first time I read Red Queen I loved it too, but then I re-read it and wasn’t as much of a fan, and after that I read Glass Sword and pretty much hated it. For me the series just went seriously downhill you know?
Yeah I get that feeling, but it’s worse when a series was supposed to be longer than a trilogy and gets cut down, because that just makes for a rushed and bad conclusion in my opinion. 🙂
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Yeah, and that is part of why I never reread faves hahahaha
And totally! But that has .. never knowingly happened to me? haha
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Something I should probably think about too because there are probably a few books that are ‘favourites’ that I doubt I’d enjoy as much now. 🙂
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I have yet to read this one myself. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it more than Glass Sword. I have been having a hard time getting back into reading fantasy lately and this one is at the bottom of my stack. Maybe this summer! Lovely review. 🙂
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Glass Sword was seriously ugh! I totally get that this isn’t a priority of yours. Just be prepared to have forgotten half the people hahaha that’s what happened with me at least.
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That is always the case! lol
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But usually I at least have some semblance of what happened, but this time I am sure they never existed in my brain hahaha
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I was admittedly never too keen on trying the series, especially the first two books. But recent reviews have made me want to pick it up and get to the last one as soon as possible as it just feels so much more interesting and intriguing than its precedents. I’m especially interested in Mare’s development. She definitely sounds like a character I’d love to read about.
Amazing review, Kat! 🙂
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I really, really liked Red Queen back when I read it in 2015 or something, but Glass Sword was torture. I don’t know anyone who really liked that book. Mare is also a tough character to fall in love with. I totally appreciate strong women, but she was so closed off and obnoxious, I had moments where I was seriously reconsidering ever reading King’s Cage, but that book redeemed a lot of things and people.
I hope you have fun if you ever do want to pick it up ❤
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Thanks, me too! ^^
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Oh my….they’re entering a map 3 books deep? Oh how it would have been so much more helpful if it was made canon earlier on. Not to mention the fact that Mare is supposed to be a WOC/POC and yet it wasn’t described in the story in 1/2 at all I believe. Rah rah rage. Anyways, Cal sounds like he’s continued his annoyance to no ones surprise (and dear god if he’s end game) and Maven continues to do Maven things. I’m not sure I’ll read this one anytime soon but I also kind of want to finish this series and get it over with eventually…
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I knooooow! I so wish they had added that map earlier on. Glass Sword would have been miles better for it.
And when I read King’s Cage and there were hints of Mare being a WOC, I was legit like “Waaaaaait a minute, was this always a thing??”
At least you know that War Storm will be the last one. You could subject yourself to a binge once it’s out and be done for it in one big swoop?
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I definitely agree with you that King’s Cage was better than Glass sword, but I also agree that it didn’t make me on board with the series as well (I’ve actually given up on it now tbh, it just doesn’t capture my interest anymore) hehe maven was my favourite too 😉 But I also found it a tad repetitive. And yeah I lost track of a lot of the new characters too. I did like the direction too though (even if I’ve decided not to read it anymore 😉 ) Great review!
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I am glad we are sort of on the same page about this series. I completely understand that you have lost interest. I figure since it’s only War Storm now, I might as well finish it too. I will admit that it’s not high up on my list of priorities. Still, you can count on me to post a review whenever I will actually get to it hahaha
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Yeah I totally get that. I weirdly think it’s cos even the better book didn’t capture my imagination as much as it should have, so I can’t motivate myself anymore. hahaha look forward to it!
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Again, I totally get it! It really wasn’t as amazing as it could be, even though it got a lot better again.
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Yeah definitely!
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THERE IS A MAP I CAN’T BELIEVE IT. Where was that map when we needed it back in Glass Sword? That makes me a little mad, to be honest, hahaha. I’m glad to hear you thought that this one was an improvement from the previous book, to me the previous book felt messy and… I had a hard time remembering and figuring out who the characters were, too… I’m sorry that this happened to you as well in that one
And I just read in some of your comments above that Mare is supposed to be a WOC? When did that ever happened?? There was never a mention of that in the previous books, or maybe I missed it? That’s strange… if it had always been the case, why hadn’t it been awknowledged sooner in the series? Now I find that REALLY weird haha.
Anyway, that was a lovely review Kat! I will be waiting to hear what you think of the series as a whole before, maybe, getting on with it haha 🙂 x
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Right??? The map should have been there for Glass Sword. I checked it once while reading King’s Cage only, but I am pretty sure I would have done that way more often during Glass Sword if given the possibility.
And I have NO idea when Mare became a WOC. I read it in this book, but not like really obvious, just hints and I was wondering if my mind was betraying me. I am pretty sure that wasn’t a thing before though. I want to believe that I would have remembered that.
Thanks for checking out the review! I will keep you posted when I read War Storm (which I read the blurb of and already am not happy about).
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Oh same here – I think it would have helped a whole lot in Glass Sword, I was so confused about the whole geography of that place haha.
Yes I get it – I think I would have remembered it as well, but… it’s strange. It would be even weirder if they just changed her skin color right in the middle of the series… I just don’t get why she wasn’t mentioned as a WOC right from the start. something is off here haha.
Oohhhh okay, well I’ll be waiting for your thoughts on that one haha, hoping it does not get too bad haha. 🙂 x
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I’ve never continued this series because I thought Red Queen was a bit of a hot mess? I’m sorry!! But as you did, I adored Maven (he was the character I liked the most) and I usually don’t like villains all that much, but he shined in the book. Also, after reading your review, I might consider finishing the series? Though the second book is bad as well, ah, I’m not sure!! I feel like I’m not invested enough in the characters, nor the story to do it. I think I’ll just follow your reviews and see what’s happening with my Maven. ❤
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Oooooh no! Don’t do it! There is no use in going on with that series if you didn’t enjoy Red Queen (which is totally fair. I don’t think I’d like it if I reread it now). It seriously only gets worse from there on out. Glass Sword was unbearable. Anyway, I can spoiler DM you all the deets on Maven if you like.
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Ok because I love you, i’m letting your cal is cancelled sentence slide even though I love him but that means you can have maven to yourself… I am so excited for War Storm but also I feel like I need to re-read this series before then because i’ve forgotten a bunch of things!
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Hahaha I am sorry, but I just don’t like him? And Mare not a whole lot either … but that’s better for you. Cal is ALL yours ❤ haha
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Oh I loved Red Queen! But I haven’t gotten to read the rest of the series yet. XD I’m planning on reading the second book later this year though, so I’m excited. 🙂
And I tagged you for The Netflix Book Tag on my blog if you want to do it, I thought you would like it. 🙂
https://frozenbooksblog.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-netflix-book-tag.html#more
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Be prepared for Glass Sword to be nowhere near as good as Red Queen hahaha but I hope you will find a way to somehow enjoy it still.
And thank you so much for tagging me! Netflix is my constant companion, so it already sounds like a tag I will love!!
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#TeamMaven over here!!! I get that he’s done some pretty horrible things, but I still feel like he’s redeemable and I will go down with that ship! I swear I will – I can’t even get aboard Cal as a ship 😅😅 I’m so looking forward to War Storm, though! 😀😀
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I love Maven, but I am not Team Maven hahaha I don’t want him with Mare and I don’t think she will ever forgive him for the things he has done.
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Fair enough! I can definitely understand that point of view – but I personally want them to be together. Even from the first book, I liked that spark between them, which I feel is missing in the whole Cal/Mare ship
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[…] and how much she posts, she’s a force of nature) : I loved her review of King’s Cage (x) – even though I’m not highly interested in the series anymore, she made me a bit […]
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