Parents' Guide to

King's Cage: Red Queen, Book 3

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Author returns to form with nail-biting third installment.

Book Victoria Aveyard Fantasy 2017
King's Cage: Red Queen, Book 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Issmanoa
Issmanoa Adult
May 14, 2021
age 10+

STUNNING!

King's Cage, the third installment of the critically acclaimed Red Queen series, does not disappoint! The plot and characters are never predictable, and we can see Mare's development throughout the story, physically and mentally. She began as a shattered girl, acting like a "kicked dog" around Samson, who had conducted a mental interrogation on her, and morphed into a powerful girl, not a little lightning girl. She proved herself through her courage, and did not show any weak points other than the ones necessary to make the novel good. The alternate points of views were very eye-opening as well, specifically Cameron Cole, who was the potentially deadliest newblood in the world. Seeing the way she though -so different from Mare!- truly proved Victoria Aveyard's writing expertise. The one warning: This installment shows more violence than the previous two books, and depicts mental and physical abuse. However, these scenes are fleeting and will not impact your child's life in any way. This book is perfect in every aspect!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
parent90056
parent90056 Adult
October 3, 2019
age 12+

Okay, I guess

This book wasn't as good as the first two, but still okay.

This title has:

Great role models
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

KING'S CAGE is Victoria Aveyard's third book in the best-selling Red Queen series following Red-born Mare Barrow, who has even greater powers than those born with Silver blood, and the king's cage is the symbol of a revolution to overthrow the oppressive Silver rulers. Starting shortly after Glass Sword ends, Mare is in King Maven's custody, having exchanged her freedom for the safety of Silver-blooded Prince Cal, the Scarlet Guard, and the Newbloods she had rounded up to fight Maven. Back at the palace, Maven has Mare interrogated by his Silver cousin who can manipulate and search her mind -- but he also dolls her up to show off like a pretty puppet. Maven forces her to make statements renouncing the Scarlet Guard and asking Newbloods to come out of hiding and serve the new King. Meanwhile, Cal, Farley, Kilorn, and Cameron try to simultaneously plan the resistance without Mare and find a way to save her from Maven.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (46):

After Aveyard's disappointing second book, this installment is just what Red Queen fans need: genuine growth and character development, more romance, and more end game in sight for Mare Barrow. Even skeptics who put the series down after the lackluster Glass Sword should consider resuming it now that the author has once again found her groove, and her main character is no longer as excruciating to follow. Although the bulk of the book has Mare imprisoned in the Silver Palace, it's not just all about her. Aveyard manages to couple Mare's self-reflection with glimpses of villains who are far more complex than they originally seemed. Maven was twisted and molded by his now-dead mother, whose powers allowed her to take away and insert thoughts and feelings at her will. Evangeline is revealed to be far more ambitious (and far less interested in being any man's Queen) and even slightly in awe of Mare. And then there's Cal, who still struggles with Hamlet levels of indecision with the one exception of his overpowering feelings for Mare.

At more than 500 pages, it's unsurprising that the pacing is uneven: Some parts fly by, and others feel overlong. The introduction of Newblood Cameron as a narrator has potential, but so far it hasn't been seamless; her chapters are noticeably less compelling than the other points of view. She is, however, an interesting counterpoint to Mare, and she injects some diversity (beyond the blood colors) to the story. The women in this installment (Mare, Cameron, Farley, Evangeline, and even a brief cameo by Cal's grandmother, who's reminiscent of the clever but elderly matriarch Olenna Tyrell from Game of Thrones) outshine the men. Given that the book starts with a quote from Hillary Rodham Clinton, that's clearly on purpose, and discerning readers can see how girls will eventually rule in this world.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of fantasy-dystopian novels that take place in totalitarian or caste-based societies. Why are these stories so compelling to readers? How does King's Cage compare with similar titles?

  • Who, if anyone, is a role model in this installment? What makes that person an example of courage, teamwork, and other such qualities?

  • What do you think of the romance? Are you a believer in the central "ship," or do you think they still face formidable odds they must overcome?

  • Do you think there should be only one more book in the series, or would you be up for even more than that?

Book Details

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