Vic James
publication date: February 14, 2017
5/5 stars
In this dystopia, Great Britian is ruled by the Equals, an elite class born with magical powers referred to as Skill. The commoners must spend 10 years as slaves, either in a manufacturing town or as servants to a family of Equals. The Hadley family begins their 10 years as servants to the Jardines, the most important of the Equal families. They are split up, however, and teenaged Luke is sent to the brutal factory town of Millmoor, where he becomes involved with revolutionaries. Meanwhile, the Jardines and their allies work behind the scenes for a political coup.A book like this, with a complicated plot-line, is nearly impossible to describe, but suffice it to say that James weaves multiple, compelling plots with incredible skill. The chapters alternate between several viewpoints, and James masterfully creates the multiple personalities.
This is a phenomenal book--something I don't say often. James has created a believable dystopia with a living world and convincing characters resulting in a engrossing and magnificent story. The Gilded Cage is the first part of a duology, and I eagerly anticipate the finale.
