The Kingdom is a Golden Cage

A new adaptation of the folktale Puss in Boots, in which it is revealed how the princess was tricked into getting married and why she consented to wed a man she hardly knew, let alone loved. Because this princess has a strong magical cast and a mind of her own.

Hugo, Celine's lover, has a sophisticated scheme to save her that is intertwined with his desire to restore the lands and titles that are his destiny. They will be able to release the kingdom from the control of a wicked witch and live happily ever after if they can just remove the enchantment that has him trapped in a cat's body.

Celine must tie herself in matrimony with Philippe until Hugo can be reinstalled in order for the scheme to be successful. It takes courage to believe him, but it soon becomes apparent that this is the least of their issues given that this is a country of illusion, magic, and shapeshifters where nothing is as it seems, not even the truth.

The Kingdom is a Golden Cage is not only a love story, but it is also multi-layered and with many twists and turns, and it reads like a spy thriller. The author, Lilly Inkwood, is a huge Game of Thrones enthusiast, and her work reflects this.

Legends are created around specific individuals, and there are a lot of rumors, magic, plotting, and backstabbing.

Fantasy novels have long been praised for their ability to transport readers to imaginary worlds where anything is possible. These novels often explore themes of good versus evil, heroism, and the power of imagination. They allow readers to escape reality and delve into worlds far different from their own, providing an opportunity for reflection and contemplation.

Magnificent read for all who want to be transported to a captivating imaginary world.

Celine is a princess who is in love with Hugo. Hugo has his own secrets and he is also binds to the body of a cat because of a wicked witch. Celine must bind herself to Hugo's cousin in marriage to undo the spell.

Lots of twists and turns. A fun twist on Puss in Boots. Love fairy tales retelling so I really enjoy this one. A great retelling.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I really enjoyed this magical adventure, I had never come across a story like this one, as Puss in Boots isn't a common retelling. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

The Kingdom is a Golden Cage was a fair debut with twists that honestly kept me on my toes. I've seen other reviews describe this as a spy thriller and I wholeheartedly agree with that assessment, with a good dose of magic and backstabbing in the mix. The world-building was done well and I am eager for more of Inkwood's works!

Puss in boots needs some help from a girl and that's the least of the problems this pair has to face! I definitely agree that this reads as a spy thriller in a fantasy setting which is such a rare set up in fantasy books. LOVED this.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Kingdom Is A Golden Cage. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down. This book is released August 17, 2023. Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, Lilly Inkwood and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

This worked great as a fairy tale retelling, I enjoyed that it was different enough to be it’s own thing and still use the fairy tale elements. I enjoyed getting to know Celine, and enjoyed that she had a spark. Lilly Inkwood has a great writing style and I’m so glad I got to read this. I loved the cover, it worked well overall.

Thought this was a great start to a fantasy series, loved the characters and thought the plot was good kept me hooked!