And the main way they do this is through the slavedays, a period of ten years during which every commoner must spend as slaves, either working in one of Britain’s many slavetowns or serving on one of the Equal families’ estates.Įighteen year old Abi Hadley finds out that the Jardine family, the most powerful Equals in the country are looking for house slaves. In Britain, the Equals run things, controlling the nation from Parliament. Gilded Cage describes a society split between Equals, the nobility who possess magical Skills, and the skill-less commoners. They will all discover whether any magic is more powerful than the human spirit. But their destinies entwine when one family enters the service of the other. The families have only one thing in common: Each has three children. In its glittering milieu move the all-powerful Jardines and the everyday Hadleys. This is the darkly decadent world of Gilded Cage. Do them young, and you’ll never get over them. Do those years when you’re old, and you’ll never get through them.

If you’re not one of the ultimate one-percenters-the magical elite-you owe them ten years of service. But it is not a book that keeps me thinking for days nor is it a book that I would keep coming back to.Synopsis: In modern-day Britain, magic users control everything: wealth, politics, power-and you.

I did like the book and am eager to read the next book because I am curious as to what happens. There certainly are a few dark themes and views mostly related to oppression, which is why I would suggest the book to high-schoolers and above. The presence of magic makes the political aspect more interesting. Naturally, with aristocracy involved there is A LOT of politics. It includes lots of interesting opinions and twists. The plot is fast-paced and jumps between past, present, future and also two different settings. It satisfies my curiosity as to what different characters feel about the same event. Gilded Cage is written in viewpoints of multiple characters, which is one of my favorite aspects about the book. The community is divided into two main groups based on “Skill.” Those who have the 'Skill' (ability to perform magic) are treated as royalty and are called “Equals.” The rest are “Commoners,” who serve the 'Equals' for ten years in a period called “Slave Days.” Gilded Cage by Vic James is a fantasy book set in an alternate version of modern England.

The gilded cage vic james