The Cage, Vol. 1

by M.J. Smith

Enter the dark and captivating world of "The Cage," where every choice is a matter of life and death, and the lines between savior and tormentor blur beyond recognition. In this first volume of the gripping psychological thriller series, we follow Tom, a man haunted by his past and ensnared in a perilous relationship with David—a figure whose motives are as enigmatic as they are dangerous.

As Tom navigates a landscape of physical and emotional torment, he must confront his deepest fears and the traumas that have shaped him. David, both protector and predator, exerts a manipulative control over Tom, leading to a series of high-stakes encounters that test the limits of their relationship and Tom's will to survive.

Amidst the chaos, Tom discovers the strength to resist, to fight back against the overwhelming power wielded over him. His journey is one of resilience and the quest for redemption, set against a backdrop of betrayal, manipulation, and the search for identity. Each twist and turn pulls readers deeper into a world where trust is a luxury and every decision can mean the difference between life and death.

"The Cage - Volume One" will keep you on the edge of your seat, questioning the very nature of morality and the depths of human resilience.

The Cage was serialized, and a free ebook is also available on Inkitt.

Content Warning: This story includes themes that may be triggering to some readers.

Genres: Dark Romance

320 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2023

About the author

M.J. Smith is a novice author passionate about delving into the complexities of human nature and psychology. Through their stories, M.J. explores dark themes and thought-provoking scenarios, experimenting with ideas to reveal the depths of emotion and thought. Dedicated to pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling, M.J. aims to engage readers on a profound level, encouraging them to reflect on the intricacies of the human condition.


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Reviews

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Better the devil you knew rather than the devil you didn’t.” If Tom only knew or made a different choice. A disturbing, complex yet, fulfilling read. Not a read for the faint of heart. 4 stars

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sleeper hit in my opinion!

This debut by the talented MJ left me speechless!
***This is dark, please check TWs before diving in***

Tom is a young man that is forced into the world of human trafficking after catching the eye of an individual and ended up in the hands of someone seemed worse. He has a heart, is compassionate and just lost as he tried to survive this new way of life.

MJ completely embraced this character, bringing his heartwrenching world to life. She seamlessly combined past events with the present showing how his decisions lead to the road he’s stuck traveling and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. It’s heartbreaking, gritty, full of suspense and (possibly) a little romance with a cliffhanger that has left me dying for the outcome. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Lizet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book on the giveaway. I was not sure if I would like it but once I started reading I could not stop. It does have trigger warning so if you are squeamish stay away. It ends in a cliff hanger which sucks for me because I want to know what comes next and it might be awhile until the next one.

[Destiney Blackston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insanity 😭

[Holly Goddard · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Won as a Goodreads Giveaway

Um. What the actual was that. Like, it was good, but what? 😳 I’m traumatized?

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters in this book are so complex it will leave you questioning who you believe, who you like and who you want to know more about. A great read for anyone looking for a love story with a twist.

[Brianne Silva · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an ARC that I received from the publisher. This is the first time I've received a book that came packaged so beautifully! It came in a black box with a bookmark, a candy (in the shape of a Canadian maple leaf), and a textured cover. Very unique and atypical for an advanced reader's copy. I was impressed.

I'm not quite sure what category to put this book in. Definitely in the erotic and dark category. This would not be everybody's cup of tea.

This follows the story of a young man who comes from a troubled background, making his way through life via criminal activity - primarily prostitution. He is targeted by a sex trafficker and wakes up one day to find himself in a cage. Auctioned off to a man who appears to take on both villain and the Savior characteristics (the main character is not quite sure what to make of his captor) the story follows his journey of survival and the quest to find an escape.

Overall, the character development is not very strong, it is a simplistic read, lacking depth. As noted before, this would not be everybody's cup of tea. I found the storyline in and of itself to be somewhat interesting, and the topic piqued my interest. It is definitely meant for morbid entertainment.

I suppose going into this book, I expect it to be a story that brought exposure to sex trafficking. This book did not quite work for me, but maybe that's because my expectations were a little off.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars - This is not a book I'd normally read but I won a copy via Goodreads, and I am volunteering to write a review. This book is a dark read that handles abduction, slavery, etc. The characters: Tom and David are hard to like since both characters are flawed by their life's experiences but in the end, you do root for them. This is a MM dark romance another thing I hardly read but I found the story intriguing and it kept me invested till the end as they navigate their budding romance. M.J. Smith was a new writer for me, and I found the story engaging and well written. ARC

[Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense, well written and not everyone. As a person who enjoys darker romances this one was harder to get through. Not because it wasn’t good, it was very thought provoking and the characters felt very real. The author has certainly did their research into human trafficking, showing the horrors within. The main character Tom is taken from the UK, sold to a man running a HT ring. I won’t go into the details but it ends on a TBC(To be continued). All in all a great book, but definitely not for anyone looking for the lighter side of dark.

[Allan Aspfjäll · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dont buy

Disgusting. Why on earth was this book written?
This book does not give a feelgood after reading.
Do not buy!!

[Kyro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following this story since its early drafts on Inkitt, and finally, I got to read the final version. "The Cage" is a truly engaging and thought-provoking read. It delves deep into the human psyche and explores the complexities of choice and destiny. The characters are multi-dimensional and incredibly complex, making it hard to distinguish the good from the bad. Yet, strangely, you still find yourself falling for them and understanding their motivations. It's quite an intense emotional rollercoaster.
Looking forward to a 2nd volume.