*ARC* Cage of Deceit - Review

Cage of Deceit (Reign of Secrets #1)

By: Jennifer Anne Davis

Published: August 25, 2015 by Clean Teen Publishing

294 pages

Source: Netgalley ARC from publisher

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:

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. 

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. 

MY REVIEW:
For a little background information, I came across this title on Netgalley and saw that it was the beginning of a follow-up series to True Reign. After reading the description for the first book in the True Reign series I knew I had to read those first so that I didn't miss any vital information. I'm SOOOO glad I did!!! I LOVED them! And it paved the perfect road to my beginning Cage of Deceit. If you are intrigued by this story's description I would encourage you to read the three books in the True Reign series first. Otherwise, you're missing out on too many details.

Book one: The Key
Book two: RED
Book three: War

Now, on to Cage of Deceit. This story follows Alyssa, the daughter of Empress Rema and Emperor Darmik. At 16/17 years old she is facing having to enter an arranged marriage for the sake of the safety of her kingdom. Though she desperately wants to marry for love as her parents did, she knows that the turmoil building outside of their own country will ultimately mean she has to sacrifice love for loyalty to her people.

There are so many twists and turns weaved into this story that the deceit (all for the greater good it would seem) mounts higher as you read more. There are aspects that I haven't figured out yet - which I'm thankful for. Who wants book one in a series to answer all of the questions you have?

Part of the plot I had suspected for quite some time before my suspicions were (mostly) confirmed. But it was still an enjoyable guessing game. I'm just as eager to see what happens next as I was at the end of each of the True Reign books. I also enjoyed the bits we get of Rema and Darmik. They are somewhere around their mid 30's in this story but their love story is one I enjoy glimpses of, even now, all these years later. Just like Rema captured my heart with her goodness and strength, so does her daughter, Alyssa!

Seriously guys, if you enjoy Young Adult Fantasy and Romance with clean content, you MUST check these books out!!

Favorite Quotes:
"I wish to marry a man who possesses all my heart's desires and who is the prince of a great kingdom that can complement and strengthen Emperion."

Dressed in the finest gown she'd ever worn and all she could think about was punching. How very unprincess-like.

"I always imagined marrying someone who loves this kingdom as much as I do, someone who is willing to fight alongside me to protect our people. I want a husband who knows his mind, is passionate, and who makes me a better ruler."

"I'm afraid you're locked in this cage of deceit with me. When you break free, you're going to hate me."

It was considered improper for her to dance with the same man twice in a row unless he was courting her. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to say anything because she was right where she wanted to be.

Language Rating: 1 (light)
Mature Content Rating: 1 (light)
Final Rating: 4.5 stars