"Jennifer Anne Davis's best-selling True Reign series captivated readers from the very first page. Now, get ready to become entangled in the follow-up series, Reign of Secrets. In this new series, follow Allyssa, the daughter of the beloved Emperor Darmik and Empress Rema— and find out what happens after happily ever after.NetGalley. Thanks for the copy.
Seventeen-year-old Allyssa appears to be the ideal princess of Emperion—she’s beautiful, elegant, and refined. She spends her days locked in a suffocating cage, otherwise known as royal court. But at night, Allyssa uses her secret persona—that of a vigilante—to hunt down criminals and help her people firsthand.
Unfortunately, her nightly escapades will have to wait because the citizens of Emperion may need saving from something much bigger than common criminals. War is encroaching on their country and in order to protect her people, Allyssa may have to sacrifice her heart. Forced to entertain an alliance through marriage with a handsome prince from a neighboring kingdom, she finds herself feeling even more stifled than before. To make matters worse, the prince has stuck his nosy squire, Jarvik, to watch her every move.
Jarvik is infuriating, bossy and unfortunately, the only person she can turn to when she unveils a heinous plot. Together, the unlikely pair will have to work together to stop an enemy that everyone thought was long gone, one with the power to destroy her family and the people of Emperion. Now the cage Allyssa so longed to break free from might just be the one thing she has to fight to keep intact. In order to save her kingdom, she will have to sacrifice her freedom, her heart, and maybe even her life."
Love princesses, kings, queens, fantasy, kingdoms, and a threat of war? Then Cage of Deceit is for you. Fans of The False Prince will definitely love this. Also, True Reign (the preceding sequel to this series/trilogy) is not a required read. (At least, I hope not, because I haven't read that series.)
Allyssa is the princess of her kingdom (or is it called empire?), which is called Emperion. Her parents are strong rulers, who know exactly how to keep the empire's peace. Allyssa wears many masks and has many personas, and at night, she goes out to her lands to arrest any thieves. All in secret, and none knows about her secret life. As a vigliante. (So she is like Batman. A rich girl during the day. A killing lady at night.) But when she meets the squire, Jarvik, suddenly, a whole bunch of her secrets come clean and out into the open. She has a dazzling chemistry with him (not with Prince Odar, the one she is going to marry). She is a strong character, loyal to the core and dedicated to her kingdom. It is hard not to admire her.
The story is alluring. From the very start, the book has captured my attention and played on my emotions. I love the way Allyssa's path runs. She meets Jarvik and the prince she is supposed to marry (arranged marriage strikes again). Her best friend goes missing. Her kingdom (empire?) is facing the threat of war. It is all dramatic, and though it should be complicated (and confusing), it isn't. All these plots and subplots fit together almost perfectly.
The ending (as warned by the author in the beginning) ends in a cliffhanger. I honestly can't wait to read the sequel, and I'll keep my eyes out for it. I just have to know what happens next!
The world building is not original. I can see hundreds of books that contain a similar format to the kingdoms and empires involved in Cage of Deceit. However, the book focuses a bit more on the politics than most would (thankfully). No magic or wizards, just knights and swords and princesses and princes.
Overall, Cage of Deceit is an amazing and thrilling story. I'm looking forward to its sequel. It has an amazing, strong main character, a deceptive prince and squire, and a heap of conflict. Best recommended for those who love The False Prince.
Rating: Four out of Five
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