The Gilded Cage by Lucinda Gray

This was just ok for me, but I can see that a slightly creepy, atmospheric, Gothic-esque novel like this would be appealing to teens. Katherine's lack of ability to actually do anything was frustrating, but true to the time period in which the book takes place so I can't really complain. She's a very curious, determined girl, though, and I liked that about her. The mystery of the beast in the woods and the shadows was intriguing, and while I figured out who killed George early on, I enjoyed reading it all play out. The ending, while rushed and a little disjointed, did tie up all loose ends (although, I still don't really know what was going on in the woods, which is disappointing). There wasn't a lot of character development for anyone but Katherine. Readers get to know her pretty well, but everyone else kind of faded away. I didn't really like the love triangle (although, calling it a love triangle doesn't feel quite right). Katherine develops a bit of insta-love for two boys, and I didn't care about either relationship enough to pull for one over the other. I can't say it'll be the first book I recommend.

Sadly this book was archived before I could download to read it. It has been added to my TBR and I’ll keep an eye out for it again in the future or at my local library.

The Gilded Cage follows teenage American Katherine Randolph, who’s been summoned with her brother back to England to inherit Walthingham Hall from a long-distant family member. It’s 1820 and Katherine has grown up on a scrappy homestead, so the proscribed manners and rules about what is ladylike make her feel like an outsider even before her brother’s tragic death. But after, Katherine can’t ignore the rumors about a family curse, a beast that stalks the great estate, and the fact that as the current owner of the estate, she’s in grave danger.

You can tell there are a lot of cool ideas at work here: the conflict between being a “lady” and actually surviving in the world, differences in American and English ideas, a fish-out-of-water girl-turned-duchess story, mysterious forces that might be supernatural or all-too-human. There’s a lot of potential. Alas, it mostly goes unrealized. The book isn’t bad, but it falls flat — and at times, it’s so ridiculous that I couldn’t suspend my disbelief (and you guys, this is coming from someone who is willing to believe that vampire Spike can hang out in the shade of Buffy’s backyard sometimes) — if you read it, see if you don’t agree with me when you get to the asylum part. (That’s kind of a spoiler, but come on, what else are you going to do with a girl who doesn’t follow the rules in the 19th century?) I don’t know — I kept reading it because I thought the potential would pay off at some point and I actually found Katherine kind of likable, but for me, it was a miss. Which is a shame because I really think it could have been a lot of fun.

Treachery, intrigue and the threat of wild animals in 1820's England.
Sixteen-year-old Katherine Randolph and her brother George, orphans living in Virginia are sent the news that George has inherited land and titles in England from a never spoken of grandfather.
They go to claim his inheritance at Walthingham Hall but death stalks them. Katherine finds George dead in the lake, apparently drowned, although there is a wound in his head. Katherine is dragged off to an asylum as others fight for her wealth.
Despite this she is an able young woman who follows the trail of treachery to a harrowing conclusion.

A NetGalley ARC.

I was expecting Crimson Peak and instead, I got watered down Wuthering Heights. I dnf'd this. Sorry :(

I had half a mind to not finish this because it was so boring in the first half. The second half was better, but the fact that it took so long for things to start happening made this book a bit bleak.

This was a fairly good story but it didn't have a whole lot of meat to it. The characters were simple and fairly 2D. I liked the basic storyline but it felt like the middle was cut out and that I missed something. Relationships were established with nothing and very little happened to fill out the plot. It would be a great short story if some of the nonessentials were cut out and it went down to the basics. But I did enjoy the end and was gratified by the conclusion to the mystery (not the relationship).

I had high hopes. I loved the cover and the premise but the story just didn't deliver and I can't put my finger on why. Maybe it was the wrong story at the wrong time, but I found myself bored.

Katherine Randolph is living a simple life as an orphan in America, when she and her brother recieve amazing news, they are heirs to a fortune in England. At first, Katherine finds it hard to adjust to her new “ladyship” and the responsibility of Walthingham Hall, but her cousins help her adjust.

Then a tragedy strikes, and Katherine finds herself alone, and wondering just who it is she should really trust.

Great book! Mysterious, feminist, etc.

Release Date August 2nd.

I liked this book. It kept me turning the pages . I read it in two sittings. I love gothic stories and this pretty much fits the bill. Katherine , living in America inherits Walthingham Hall in England. as she adjusts to her new lavish life a tragedy occurs . There are rumors of a beast roaming the estate. . Although I guessed who the villain was the story the characters were likeable and story engaging.