Wohoo! Day 3 of this amazing week where we are going to feature a super awesometastic book! The Cage was so super fantastic and I’m truly excited to have Megan Shepherd here who shares some insights into the setting of The Cage!
The very special Setting in The Cage
by Megan Shepard
One of the things I loved most about writing THE CAGE was creating the setting itself. The Cage is a “human zoo” where all of earth’s habitats, time periods, and cultures are crammed together in a mind-bending mismatch. So the captives find deserts right next to forests, Japanese arcades right next to French salons. And each of the different areas contains a puzzle that will reward them with treats. Here were some of my favorite settings to write about in the book:
The Victorian Bookstore
There is a bookstore in the cage that contains an alphabetizing puzzle that constantly resets itself. But I really loved writing this setting because it was a nod to the Victorian time period of my first series, THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER, with its musty old ornate furniture and tea trays.
The 50s Diner
The captives are fed each day in a recreated 1950s style diner with checkered tablecloths and a jukebox that plays the same song endlessly on repeat. The diner was a great way to show that their alien captors didn’t really understand human culture: the name of the diner was wrong (Greasy Fork instead of Greasy Spoon), and the food all tasted off.
The Temperate Forest
I included a forest as one of the habitats because it’s the area I grew up in. In the cage, the forest contains a tree-top high-ropes course that the characters have to complete to win tokens. This was inspired by my own childhood at summer camps in the area, and my own fear of heights.
The Grasslands
I’ve always wanted to visit East Africa, but since I haven’t, I had my main character, Cora, visit it instead. Since she’s been to the real Serengeti, she is able to notice all the ways that the artificial one in the cage is wrong. I also loved the idea of having a musical puzzle, and put that here because of the beautiful sound of the wind through tall grass.
The Candy Shop
One of the first stores the captives discover in the town in a candy shop that could be straight out of WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. It has every kind of candy imaginable, all available as a reward for solving an anagram puzzle in the shop’s artificial cash register. I wanted to include this to show how little their alien captors understand about humanity: they think candy alone can keep humans happy.
Published by HarperCollins on 2015-05-26
Genres: Death & Dying, Science Fiction, Social Issues, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
The Maze Runner meets Scott Westerfeld in this gripping new series about teens held captive in a human zoo by an otherworldly race. From Megan Shepherd, the acclaimed author of The Madman's Daughter trilogy.
When Cora Mason wakes in a desert, she doesn't know where she is or who put her there. As she explores, she finds an impossible mix of environments—tundra next to desert, farm next to jungle, and a strangely empty town cobbled together from different cultures—all watched over by eerie black windows. And she isn't alone.
Four other teenagers have also been taken: a beautiful model, a tattooed smuggler, a secretive genius, and an army brat who seems to know too much about Cora's past. None of them have a clue as to what happened, and all of them have secrets. As the unlikely group struggles for leadership, they slowly start to trust each other. But when their mysterious jailer—a handsome young guard called Cassian—appears, they realize that their captivity is more terrifying than they could ever imagine: Their captors aren't from Earth. And they have taken the five teenagers for an otherworldly zoo—where the exhibits are humans.
As a forbidden attraction develops between Cora and Cassian, she realizes that her best chance of escape might be in the arms of her own jailer—though that would mean leaving the others behind. Can Cora manage to save herself and her companions? And if so . . . what world lies beyond the walls of their cage?
Tour Schedule
visit the other tour stops!
- 5/18/2015- No BS Book Reviews– Interview
- 5/19/2015- Me, My Shelf and I– Review
- 5/20/2015- Bewitched bookworms– Guest Post
- 5/21/2015- Seeing Double In Neverland– Review
- 5/22/2015- Novel Novice– Interview
- 5/25/2015- Fiktshun- Guest Post
- 5/26/2015- Bookish– Review
- 5/27/2015- The Eater of Books!– Interview
- 5/28/2015- Such a Novel Idea– Review
- 5/29/2015- Two Chicks on Books– Guest Post
Review
Excerpt from my 5* Review
The Cage by Megan Shepherd introduces a erie and creepy Setting that is quite terrifying. It comes with some intriguing, interesting characters that together with a sweet wonderful, slow burning romance made up for some great twists and turns!
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a signed ARC of THE CAGE with a CAGE bookmark and sticker sheet. US Only.
And… what do you say? Excited about this book?? I truly truly loved it and I truly hope you you are going to love it as much as I did!
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I absolutely LOVED The Madman’s Daughter trilogy (still sad that it’s over QQ) and can’t WAIT for this one. Loved this post and thanks for the great giveaway 😀
Rabiah recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday – Week 141
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The various settings were pretty cool but I didn’t enjoy the story itself, sadly. Not quite a DNF but really, really close. *sigh*
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Cover Reveal: The Dead To Rights Series by Cheryl Ann Smith (plus, a giveaway!)
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I loved the Madman’s Daughter Trilogy so much, and I cannot wait to see what Megan Shepherd has written this time! So excited for The Cage!
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I very much enjoyed the Madman’s Daughter Trilogy. Super excited for the Cage! Great giveaway Thanks so much!!!!
Mandy recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday
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I love the bright-colored candy store! The photos are stunning. I would love to visit that library too. I have this book on my summer reading list!
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Loved The Madman’s Daughter trilogy, this sounds so awesome! Love this kind of story.
Rhianna recently posted..Review: The Cemetery Boys by Heather Brewer
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Oh I didn’t realize The Cage was coming out so soon! I can’t wait to read it!
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Like most everyone’s comments, I also loved The Madman’s Daughter trilogy. I devoured the books. Thanks for the giveaway and I can’t wait to read The Cage!
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Thanks for this great feature and giveaway.
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It sounds like an amazing book, and I love that it has secrets and some mystery. Thanks for having the giveaway.
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I have been dying to read this. It looks unlike anything I have read in a long time!
Also I love the blog look update
Michelle @ Book Briefs
MIchelle @ Book Briefs recently posted..{Review} Cold Burn of Magic by @Jennifer_Estep @KensingtonBooks
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I loved the Madman series and I’m SUPER DUPER excited for this! Megan is an awesome writer!
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Squee! I ADORED The Cage! It was one of those books that I kind of hesitated to pick up but I’m so glad I did. It ended up totally hooking me!
Ashley recently posted..Review: The Cage by Megan Shepherd
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I LOVE the TMD trilogy and will read anything Megan writes. <3 her stories and characters
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I haven’t read anything by this author. This book sounds almost like the Hunger Games, in a small way.
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