King's Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Goodreads Summary: In this breathless third installment to Victoria Aveyard’s bestselling Red Queen series, allegiances are tested on every side. And when the Lightning Girl's spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother's web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review: Mare is Maven's prisoner. A puppet and figurehead, she endures the worst at Maven's mercy. Meanwhile, Cameron Cole and the other newbloods are busy planning out their next move against Maven, and possibly a rescue attempt for Mare. But their allies are nothing more than their enemy's enemies, with hidden agendas that threaten to divide them forever.

The first part of King's Cage is Mare's POV. Then, Cameron's POV is smartly chosen and used well to show the rebel (or should I say terrorist) side of things. Later, we have a few chapters from a surprise POV which answers many of your questions from earlier books. We also get some insight into this mystery character's personality and why it is that way. I really loved reading this book, and I devoured page after page but it did drag along quite a bit especially during the earlier stages. This didn't make me lose interest, but I did pay less attention to those pages.

Mare is portrayed well in this book, with things such as trauma and other issues carefully thought out and weaved into the novel. Cameron is but a little girl wondering if she should join the war, but her tough exterior is something I admire. Evangeline is such a troublemaker in this book, her motives unknown. I have a feeling she'll be key in book four. Farley, Farley, still the same brave woman, yet haunted by loss. My baby Cal... I really hope he realises what King's Cage has done to him and wakes up.

We move well outside Norta in terms of territory, and well into neighbouring areas. The climate/landscape is described frequently and consistently in detail. Can we all just stop and take a moment to appreciate Marecal (miracle!!)? Stuff happens in King's Cage. I repeat, this relationship is not dead, and neither is Marven (unfortunately for me). Finally, the hating and "different worlds" thing is shoved aside, albeit temporarily. As for the ending... I'm telling you, it's another Glass Sword, but in my eyes it's worse than that.  King's Cage has a stellar plot, character development and storyline that can't be missed.

Purchase Location: ~I received a copy from Hachette NZ and willingly reviewed it~
Edition: Paperback
Buy the book: Book Depository
Quotes:

"I stare at him, trying to see the man beneath the crown." – Mare Barrow, King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard

"Those who know what it's like in the dark will do anything to stay in the light." – Maven Calore, King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard

"I pushed away the people closest to me thinking I could bleed alone." – Mare Barrow, King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard
Recommended for: Fans of fantasy, betrayal and romance.