Beautifully characterised and compellingly plotted, Gilded Cage is an impressive debut * Guardian *
A dazzling addition to the growing genre of alternative historical fiction, James's first novel has the added bonus of compelling page-turnability * Daily Mail *
I really enjoyed this. It was a fast-paced, entertaining story, in a world that left me wanting to find out more. I will definitely be getting the next book when it comes out -- Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library
A dark and intriguing vision of an alternate, magic-drenched Britain, Gilded Cage kept me up way into the night -- Aliette de Bodard, author of The House of Shattered Wings
Devious and deliciously dark with lashings of magic, mystery and mayhem, this juggernaut of a book will keep you hanging on by your fingernails until the very last page -- Taran Matharu, bestselling author of the Summoner series
James's dystopian debut, the first part in her Dark Gifts trilogy, addresses issues of inequality that seem all to pertinent * SFX *
It's smart, engrossing and incredibly snappily written, with so many compelling characters and pulse-quickening situations that the whole book just flies by. We apologise for the cliche, but it is that good * SciFiNow *
The historical parallels are too delicious to ignore . . . one can't help but anticipate the next novel in the series * Washington Post *
Brisk plotting, sympathetic characters, and plenty of intrigue will keep readers on the edges of their seats, eager for the next book in a very promising series * Publishers Weekly *
An absorbing first installment that presages an intriguing new fantasy series. * Kirkus *
Gilded Cage offers a fresh take on a popular genre. James' world is as compelling as her prose and as cleverly constructed. Told by a diverse cast of characters from various echelons of society, Gilded Cage is an unputdownable story . . . it's truly a gem * Fantasy Faction *
Ms. James writes with the skill of someone who has been an author for decades. I was blown away by how beautiful the prose was . . . In the end I was left emotionally spent and wanting another book to read immediately * Fantasy Book Review *
Twists and turns make this hard to set down * Booklist *
The most intriguing political fantasy premise since The Hunger Games . . . While the premise is unique, James' addictive storytelling echoes the strongest qualities of a few of the political YA series of recent years * Barnes & Noble *
