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I had a plan, then fate laughed in my face.

Three years ago, I was banished from my home for protecting my family. I’ve had to learn to survive on my own, while also heeding my mother’s warnings.

“Never let anyone know who you truly are.”

Which proves almost too easy for me to do until my fated mate stumbles out of a newly opened portal.

Drake Cage is a wolf shifter from the shadow world. Not only is he cursed, but he comes with problems I don’t need in my life.

I try to reject him, but he’s determined to show me he’s worthy. With each word he speaks and every action he takes, I’m finding him harder to resist.

Until one call threatens everything I’ve been fighting for.

My mate’s vengeance soon becomes my own and, if I’m not careful, neither me nor my heart will ever be the same again.

Cage Me is a spicy standalone read set in the Immortal Vices and Virtues Universe. Every book is a guaranteed happily ever after with a satisfying ending and no cliffhangers.

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2024

150 people are currently reading
395 people want to read

About the author

Heather Renee

71 books719 followers
Heather Renee is a USA Today Bestselling author who lives in Oregon. She writes Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy novels with a mixture of romance, humor, and sass. Her love of reading eventually led to her passion of writing and giving the gift of escapism.

When Heather's not writing, she's spending time with her loving husband and beautiful daughter, going on their own adventures. She loves to hear from her fans, so visit her website: www.HeatherReneeAuthor.com and check out the Contact Me page for ways to connect.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
Profile Image for Maizie.
127 reviews8 followers
June 13, 2024
Cage Me by Heather Renee is a standalone paranormal shifter romance, set in the world of Immortal Vices and Virtues. And what a whirlwind this book and this world is. Another truly addictive read from this author.

💚 Paranormal Romance
💚 Fated Mates
💚 Found Family
💚 Badass FMC
💚 Cinnamon Roll MMC
💚 Dual POV

The MMC Drake, had been cursed in the Shadow World, and upon exiting the portal from Tarturus, felt himself drawn to the FMC, Spencer. His task of seeking revenge on the witch who cursed him grows in momentum and urgency, as there is now more at stake. He needs to find his fated mate, but what he didn't envisage, was helping Spencer's family secure safe passage, whilst earning his fated mates trust, which is no mean feat. Once Spencer realises why Drake is out for revenge, her mates vengeance soon becomes that of her own.

The turmoil that ensues involves fae, witches and angels. If you enjoy fast paced paranormal shifter romance, failed rejection, fated mates, found family, cinnamon roll MMC, he falls 1st and hard, an FMC with trust issues, dramatic, tension filled and spicy content, then don't hesitate to pick up Cage Me. I highly recommend it 💚🐺❤️‍🔥🫶
Profile Image for Tyler | bookishwithty.
319 reviews35 followers
May 2, 2024
I'm thoroughly enjoying the Immortal Vices and Virtues Universe! Delving into the personal stories of the characters across each installment, understanding their struggles, witnessing their battles, and uncovering their paths to happiness is truly engaging.

"Cage Me" is yet another outstanding read for me within this universe. Exploring Spencer's journey and seeing her embrace her true self & connecting with her wolf as well as her Mate was a rewarding experience.
Both characters have endured hardships, adding depth to their story.

If you're a fan of Romantasy, I highly recommend exploring this universe for a thrilling experience!
Profile Image for Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog).
3,132 reviews92 followers
May 16, 2024
Cage Me

What a fun addition to the series! I loved the story and enjoyed the characters!

The story was fast-paced with a lot of push and pull from the characters. Drake was a sweet cinnamon roll MMC who was determined and loyal. He was totally swoon-worthy!

Spencer on the other hand was fierce and more closed off. I enjoyed her spunk and how dedicated she was to protecting those she cared for.

The two of them together were a fun read. It was nice to see their relationship evolve throughout the story and Spencer’s growth was most noticeable and welcomed.

More reasons to check out this book are because of these tropes: unique shifters, magic, curses, cinnamon roll MMC, fierce FMC, feminine rage, fated mates and so much more!!
Profile Image for Shirley.
990 reviews231 followers
May 12, 2024
Original review

This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Heather Renee!

Cage Me is the fifth standalone book in the third season of the Immortal Vices and Virtues: Shadow Shifter Bonds,  and tells the story of Spencer and Drake.

It feels like I've only just read Spurn Me, the fourth book in the Immortal Vices and Virtues: Shadow Shifter Bonds series, and I already have my hands on the next book, Cage Me. I LOVE IT! I'm such a big fan of the Immortal Vices and Virtues world, this Fantasy Romance universe is so amazing and addictive. Every time I get the latest book on my Kindle, I'm so happy! This Romantasy book series is so good because you get to read books by different authors or author duos, and you get to read about a unique world with interesting characters and lots of spice! What more do you want?!

Cage Me is already the fifth book in the second season. I'm kinda scared because we're already over halfway through the third season. Let's hope there will be a fourth season!! Cage Me is about Spencer and Drake. Spencer is a special wolf shifter and Drake is a shadow wolf shifter. Both characters have been through a lot. I really liked getting to know the characters and their issues, and I loved reading about them getting closer and finally being each other's mate.

Cage Me was another great addition to the Immortal Vices and Virtues universe, and I didn't expect anything else. I'm so in love with the Immortal Vices and Virtues world, and I truly enjoy reading every book in this world. I'm a big fan of Romantasy, and these books have the perfect mix of interesting characters/storylines, spice and action. All three seasons are so great, and I highly recommend every season. I'm really excited to read the next book in the third Immortal Vices and Virtues season, and I hope we get to read it soon!
Profile Image for Literary Dystopia.
114 reviews21 followers
May 19, 2024
This book was good! I love shifter romance books and I liked how different it was compared to other shifter romance. I love the feisty blonde FMC trope? I want to call it a trope now cause I read another shifter romance and she was also blonde and feisty and it gives me life every single time. And of course who doesn’t love a morally grey/shadow daddy MMC? Crazy people that’s who. This book follows Spencer and her family. I was living for it. Especially when she meets her soulmate from Tartarus?? Ugh. I was so excited. And this book had me GRIPPED from the get go. I absolutely loved it. It says book #5 and I believe they can be read as standalones.
Profile Image for Mona  Brown .
1,809 reviews19 followers
May 15, 2024
Cage Me

Drake has been trapped inside himself forever in Trartus, and no one really knows this fact. He had one thing on his mind when he became free....and then he saw Spencer.
Spencer was taught not to trust anyone, ever. Then she saw Drake. She really wants to trust him, but can she? Will she? I absolutely love this world and this book.
This is probably my favorite season yet, read them all.
Profile Image for Kendra Klapheke.
74 reviews
May 15, 2024
Drake and his “Little Dove” Spencer

After Drake was trapped in his own mind for 900 years all he wants is vengeance against the witch who trapped him. That is until he walks through the portal and finds his mate. No one will ever come before his mate. Spencer was terrified of the mate bond after she saw what a mate bond can do. After being banished from her pack, she was taught to trust no one, her only focus is on getting her mother and younger brother away from her abusive father. She rejects Drake but he won’t accept it. He is desperate for her; he will break through her walls to her heart.

Both battling their past but learnIng not to let it dictate their future. Drake gaining the family he never had and Spencer letting down her walls to let other in, not just with Drake. They build a family together and no one will hurt their family.

Cage Me is a story of love, family and growth. Action packed, with a great flow that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn’t put it down! Dive into Drake and Spencer, you won’t regret it!
Profile Image for Carol.
1,253 reviews
December 18, 2024
2 Stars - DNF @ 34%

Eh, this one sounded good in theory but the execution was disappointing. Although I might actually finish it later out of boredom but for now I'm tapping out because I'm just so damn bored by it.

My issues were that the plot pacing was absurdly fast. Like, novella type pacing with how quick the book begins and the MCs meet right away. And usually that wouldn't bother me. I'm a fan of quick pacing or jumping right in the thick of things but it has to be done a certain way which this book didn't quite do.

I found the FMC extremely cliche. Like, she was basically an exact copy of other FMCs from this series. Nothing original about her other than being an albino wolf shifter. That's it. She had daddy issues because she watched her mom take her father's abuse all her life and did her best to shield her baby brother from their fathers wrath. Was later banished for protecting her family from her father. And while I felt bad for her and her family it all felt shallow. A simple plot device to explain why the FMC was so distrustful and hardened. It didn't carry the kind of weight and emotion you'd expect from such trauma including when she saves her family after her little brother kills their dad to protect their mom.

It was just mehhh. And tbh she just felt unlikeable.

And the MMC was hardly developed. We got his backstory about his imprisonment in Taratus and how he was out to get revenge on the witch who did it to him. But it just wasn't enough. It was told in a way that didn't fully offer the emotions for such mistreatment. Yes, he showed up on earth angry but then immediately finds his mate and focuses on her instead.

And to that point, the pacing of their mating was weird. Mostly due to the insane pacing of how within a few pages of the book the FMC is running to save her family which she had been preparing to do for years. And the MMC just tags along even tho the FMC rejected him (although she didn't, not really. She said she didn't "choose him," not the whole "I reject _insert name_ as my mate" line that everyone else has in this series so...) and was rude to him. And the MMC is just so grateful to have found her that he's walking around super nice and oh so understanding and even helps bury her father's body. Like...make it make sense.

Anyways, my mind kept wandering and I got bored. So, maybe I'll try to finish it later but I'm just gonna move on.
Profile Image for Courtney Delgado.
95 reviews6 followers
May 17, 2024
Determined Heroine Meets Bland Hero Yielding a Mixed Review

Cage Me was a 3.5 Star read for me. Enjoyable, entertaining, even fun, but in the end missing something. I was equal parts enthralled and annoyed. This book is truly Spencer’s story, and if it were built to be her story then it would be magnificently done. However, it is written as a dual point-of-view romance. Drake, the “hero”, just came off as bland to me. He remains the same from start to end, never evolving and even sounding robotic in some parts of the book. Though readers experience his point-of-view, I still did not truly understand what he was feeling. Instead of a fully fleshed-out character, he felt more like a plot device in Spencer’s story, a way to develop and demonstrate her journey.

That said, I truly enjoyed Spencer’s tale. Her evolution and realizations, though occurring faster than believably real (it’s a standalone, so I expect faster emotional pacing), were genuine. She was someone I can relate to. I also appreciated how it was not just the romance that developed her character. The relationships were not limited to the love interest, there were friendships and family connections developed as well.

Because Spencer’s emotional evolution was the focus of this story, it is less action forward than some of the others in the series. Not a bad thing, but it did make the book itself feel anticlimactic in the final encounter with the villainess. Readers spend 85% of the book hearing about how powerfully bad this character is only for her defeat to take moments. I would also say, there is more spice than action in this book.

Here is the quick and dirty:

🐺Length: Novel

🪽Genre: Paranormal romance/dystopian fantasy – established magical world with various magic beings

🐺POV: First person – both the heroine and hero

🪽Age: Adult (mid-20s and older)

🐺Warnings: Language, violence, murder of a parent, and sexual content. Domestic abuse is mentioned.

🪽Spice: Numerous, detailed encounters on page

🐺Violence: Abusive family situation is referenced, off-page murder, some action-focused violence

🪽Editing: Not perfect but did not distract from the story.

🐺World: Post-supernatural-apocalypse Earth – No Man’s Land: The Crossroads

🪽Series: Immortal Vices and Virtues: Shadow Shifter Bonds (Season 3) - interconnected standalones – there are character cameos from other books, which are fun easter eggs for readers of this series. Reading those books is not necessary to enjoy this one. Keep in mind in a shared universe, the more books you read, the more you understand the world.

🐺Tropes: Fated mates – failed rejection; found family; curse needing broken; big, bad witch; loner

🪽Recommendation: It’s a one-time read for me – but definitely worth it for lovers of the IVV Universe
Profile Image for Sandi.
694 reviews46 followers
May 10, 2024
4.5 stars! I keep saying it, because it keeps being true. I have loved every book in the Immortal Vices and Virtues universe. Definitely some more than others, true, but I have truly enjoyed every one of them, and this one just continues the trend.

In this medium burn, fast paced, banter laden story, we have Spencer, who is a wolf shifter, but her wolf is something special - even she’s not entirely sure what her full true nature is, and Drake, a shadow wolf shifter from Tartarus with a nearly millennia old score to settle against a powerful and pêtty witch. Spencer has her own family trauma as well, an abusive father who continues to plague her mother and younger brother, and who she is determined to get them away from. Her journey and warnings from her mother have forced her to keep everyone at an arms length, not getting close to anyone, no friends, one goal in mind, and not worrying about her own needs and wants. Drake, who was actually born in Tartarus, was held hostage in the worst way by this evil and powerful witch, and as soon as he finds his way through the portal to earth, his only goal is set on destroying her to end his curse. That is, until he stumbles right into his fated mate, Spencer.

There is, of course, pushback by Spencer, as she’s not interested in having a mate, always keeping to herself, but Drake is persistent, and the golden retriever, cinnamon roll that he is, starts to find ways to chip away at her very high, very fortified walls. Overall, things move pretty quickly in this story, the pacing is steady, and works really well. This isn’t one of those romances where it takes them the entire book to finally figure things out and get together, but it’s also not instalove, it’s a quite enjoyable middle ground. Another aspect of this story is how their relationship and their connection helps each other to achieve their wants and goals. Spencer has the biggest growth arc, as she finally opens herself up not only to love, but to friendship and other connections, and gains so much more in return.

The characters have great chemistry, there are great action scenes (of *all* types) and the side characters shine - including cameos by characters you will recognize if you’ve read previous books (which you should!). All in all, another fantastic installment in a fantastic series of books.
1,260 reviews
August 24, 2025
I have been on a roll listening to this series of interconnected standalones and this one wasn't my favorite but it wasn't my least favorite either, still a solid 4 stars from me.

I was intrigued to know where Spencer was going to end up in this paranormal world of mates and this one was a cool twist with the what her creature and abilities were. Also her mate was stuck over in the other world and jumped at the chance to leave to go to her world and then it was fate or kismet how they met. I liked how he knew but he realized it wouldn't end well for him if he went in 100% from the get-go and let her come to him/let her see he wasn't a monster and would treat her right, even if he messed up a lot haha.

Drake was one of my favorite MCs I think in this spinoff series, I liked his innocence but his take charge and loyal mate tendencies with Spencer. I liked when they got to shift and run and let their wolves be wolves. I liked how he embrace her family right away, tried to do right by her little brother who had to deal with trauma no little kid should ever have to go through. He went tet-e-tet with Spencer, and she needed that pushback from her mate with her stubborn streak still going strong.

The steam in this one was slow burn but it made sense with Spender's mistrust. I liked how it progressed, thought the chemistry was great and the two did a good job (narrator-wise) making me believe their feelings and all the inner struggles they were going through. The plot was interesting too, I felt bad for their family but was glad to see the 1st baddie taken care of. I think the 2nd baddie and how that resolved wasn't as strong for me and lacked the punch it could have but overall it was good. I liked the line about knowing who to trust/letting people in who have been there and you didnt realize. I liked Spencer's friends and eventually once she let them in entirely, her found family. I liked their quirks, how they gave each other attitude right back when given from Spencer haha. I liked the humor in this one, was cute but one were really on point.

Narration was good, I wasn't as big of a fan of the female narrator. I also didnt like Spencer as much as I did the other FMC's in this series of interconnected standalone romances. I would give the story a 4.5 but the audio about a 4 so that is why I rounded down in the case. I thought the angst and back and forth banter was great, kept you rooting for these 2 and counting down the pages before they hooked up finally hahaha. I thought the anger from Drake was great and the fear and then confidence he had with his baddie from the past. I think the narrators who did Spender's mom and brother should get a round of applause. I felt the boys conflicting feelings but his worry about his sister was so apparent. And Spencer's mom nearly broke me with her super conflicting feelings and how she handled her loss but also the abuse she and others withstood.

Overall enjoyed this story from the 3rd series of the IVV world. I know season 4 is coming out later this year so that will be fun once they get on audio!
Profile Image for Sarah Kessler.
273 reviews2 followers
May 3, 2024
The latest addition to the Immortal Vices and Virtues universe, "Cage Me," is a riveting exploration of fate, identity, and the transformative power of love. From the moment I turned the last page, the story of Drake and Spencer has been etched in my mind, their journey a blend of passion and peril that captivates and enthralls.

Spencer's evolution is striking. Initially, she is a fortress of solitude—compact, reserved, and impenetrable. Yet, as her layers peel away under Drake's gentle persistence, she blossoms into a figure of strength and self-worth, seeing herself as someone deserving of love and loyalty. Her transformation is not just personal but relational, growing alongside her deepening connection with Drake.

Drake, on the other hand, is not your typical alpha hero. He might appear as the quintessential 'cinnamon roll' boyfriend—sweet, supportive, and patient—but beneath that gentle exterior lies a complex character cursed with a volatile legacy. His curse adds a delicious tension to the story, escalating as Spencer accepts him as her mate, turning their romance from sweet to fiery, fraught with dangers both internal and external.

The narrative weaves together elements of suspense and supernatural allure seamlessly. Each character interaction, each revelation, adds layers to an already rich tapestry of themes—identity, vengeance, and the quest for belonging. Heather's world-building is meticulous and immersive, pulling you into a shadowy world where the lines between right and wrong blur, and where love is both a salvation and a peril.

"Cage Me" is more than just a spicy standalone; it is a testament to Heather Renee's ability to blend heart-racing romance with heart-stopping action. This book promises—and delivers—a happily ever after that is both satisfying and heart-wrenchingly earned, making it a perfect pick for fans of series like Immortals After Dark and Black Dagger Brotherhood.

"Cage Me" is an absolutely addicting tale of love's power to both shield and shatter, a must-read for anyone who craves a story that is as thoughtful as it is thrilling. Heather Renee has truly outdone herself with this unforgettable narrative.
Profile Image for Anais (atrailofpages).
973 reviews27 followers
May 12, 2024
Spencer has been banished ever since she tried to protect her family from her abusive father. She’s been saving up money to help save her mother and brother and take them away from her father. A nearby portal opens from Tartarus and a male comes through who turns out to be her mate. However, that is not in the cards for Spencer and so she runs away from him.
Drake is bent on vengeance against witches who wronged him and imprisoned him. He comes to earth to get help, but instead finds his mate…who runs away from him.
Spencer gets a call from her little brother about their father and Spencer decides now’s the time to end her father, when her mate appears again and tells her he will come and help her.

There’s more to it, but I’ll leave it at that. This was a fun and sweet read, dark, but still sweet.

I really liked the romance and the family aspect in here. Spencer refuses to allow anyone close to her and so to see this found family develop that she technically had always had was sweet and when she finally lets Drake in, the romance got 🥵

Spencer is this super tough gal and is the touch him and ☠️ type, which I always love, and Drake is too, but despite his strong anger and hate towards the witch who wronged him, he’s actually like a big teddy bear. He’s very sweet and a big cinnamon roll as the story progresses and I loved seeing a male character who is strong and yet could be vulnerable, it was refreshing to read.

The plot seemed to focus mostly on the character development and relationships development, and the action happened at the end. That might be the one thing that bothered me is just that, I don’t want to say I was bored, but it seemed to kind of drag me along until the end when the last couple of chapters things really happened. I really did like the developments in the book, they were well done despite the plot not really changing till the end.

If you need a sweet dark shifter romance that is an easy read and still fun to read, check this one out!

I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Leslie || original book nerd.
925 reviews42 followers
May 16, 2024
𝓒𝓪𝓰𝓮 𝓜𝓮 - 𝓘𝓶𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓻𝓽𝓾𝓮𝓼: 𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓭𝓸𝔀 𝓢𝓱𝓲𝓯𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓑𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓼 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 5 - 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀

Author: Heather Renee

Couple: Spencer & Drake Cage

Tropes: magical society, dark curses, shifter romance, fated mates, enemy to lovers, fantasy romance

Review: Cage Me introduces new characters into the Immortal Vices and Virtues world and these two were the best addition to the third chapter of IVV. Spencer and Drake could not have been better suited for the other and I appreciated how Heather made this story one of redemption and growth rather than instant lust and feelings.

Spencer was a hard character to love but she was also just as hard to hate. I found that as we learned about her story, it was truly hard to dislike her since she had such a tragic backstory. The way Heather included her faults and failures as well as her growth gave her a layered depth in her POV that hooked me right away.

Drake is also different for the types of MMCs we normally see in fated mate romances. I loved how he felt the pull to Spencer but also spent time trying to prove himself and earn her trust rather than just being a possessive alpha. I also found that his past and the curse placed on him made his the perfect tragic hero in this series and I hope we see him again in further books. The way he kept in tune with Spencer but also showed how good of a male he was just showed how wrong Spencer was at first.

This book is medium burn and full of hate to love you vibes, Spencer and Drake are the best match and the story they share of healing and growth was enthralling as they set out to break the other free once and for all. This book set the stage for the next character to fall for a shadow shifter and I cannot wait to see who is next!

Rating: 4/5, a blisteringly intense fated mates fantasy romance that deals with dark curses and evil witches!


Thank you Heather Renee for the eARC copy!
Profile Image for Jacqueline.
550 reviews4 followers
May 6, 2024
Cage Me - Immortal Vices and Virtues - Shadow Shifter Bonds

I am thankful to be on the ARC team cause I get a sneaky peak before everyone else but it does mean I can rave about how good the series is and not a lie passes my lips because I have not read a bad one from this series and I’ve been on board since series 1, book one baybeeeee!

I say this in every review (cause I care for you and don’t want you to miss anything, with the IVV world) here we have a series of books that link in together but can be read as standalone books but better read in order so you get the in jokes, references and glimpses of past or future main characters!

I do not know why but I am procrastinating heavily when it comes to reading this book, I’ve already made dinner for the next two nights - I mean next thing you know I’ll be cleaning!??? Whaaaat is going on.


Spencer - do we know Spencer? I’m racking my brain and coming up blank?
So she rents a shed from Kasha, Kasha is friends with both Reagan and Sin.
I feel Kasha needs her own book, I should really look ahead on the series to see who’s getting their story!

Drake? Seriously I need to start mapping this stuff out! Okay feeling less crazy now we’ve seen a bit of Drakes back story so makes sense that I couldn’t place him!

It’s not the long drawn out mating that I’ve become accustomed to with this series but as always nothing is so simple as a mateship that’s all good straight off the bat….

Who’s this Kel, is it our beloved author getting a name check? Doesn’t seem flattering if it is … or is it? An ancient, all powerful witch from a coven who tangled with demons… would explain her enthralling reads. Just saying!

Spencer a girl after my own heart
“Right after I have a little nap”

Another great read I swear these authors can do no wrong in my eyes!

4⭐️
Profile Image for Seraphia Bunny.
2,116 reviews34 followers
May 15, 2024
Cage Me is the latest book in the Immortal Vices and Virtues collection, and this book is a whirlwind of drama. Prepare to meet a wolf in hiding. Spencer is truly something unique, but it has put a target on her back. Her only goal right now? To get her family free from her father, who torments them, and to find them all a safe place to live and be together. She has no plans on finding or taking a mate, but Fate enjoys the drama, so here comes her mate...a dark shifter by the name of Drake Cage.
Cage Me gives readers dual POV as the story goes back and forth between Spencer and Drake. Spencer is quick to reject Drake when they first cross paths, but his “cinnamon roll” nature towards her, wins her over. He takes the path of proving himself to her that he is worthy of her giving him a chance. Spencer is a tough cookie though. She’s been told all her life to not trust people, and it’s made her a very distrusting person. But through a shifting of recent events she begins to see the error of her ways. That doesn’t mean she stops being suuuuuper protective of those she cares about, but she starts to let others in.
This book moves pretty quickly. Spencer doesn’t drag things out and make Drake wait until the halfway point of the story to finally break and give him a chance. Thank goodness for that! I don’t think I could have taken it! LOL! I’m just never a fan of those types. I love a good slow-burn, don’t get me wrong, just minus the heavy attitude that Spencer carries around.
The “big fight” with Kel is disappointing. It is over rather quickly, with only a minimal amount of drama to be found. But for us, that is the only downside to this story.
Overall, this was an enjoyable novel with some well placed steamy scenes, nice character development, and reunites you with a few familiar faces along the way.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Rachel.
2,367 reviews134 followers
May 12, 2024
Heather Renee steps back into the Immortal Vices and Virtues universe with Cage Me. Wolf shifters, hybrids, and magic, are things that Heather Renee knows well.


At first MFC, Spencer, frustrated and irked me. My first impression of her was that she was rude, lashed out without thinking, and just plain stubborn. I didn't start to like her until she finally started letting those walls down and thinking through her responses.


No matter how much Spencer irritated me I couldn't say the same for the MMC. I liked Drake so much! The wolf shifter is the biggest cinnamon. His past makes my heart hurt but he's still managed to become a good man despite all that he's gone through. I will admit I didn't like the groveling because I feel that Spencer didn't deserve it. However, if anyone deserves a HEA I think Drake most definitely does so I'm glad he's just as stubborn as she is and didn't give up.


This world just keeps surprising me. We have regular shifters and now shadow shifters and just when I think that's it, enter Spencer. She's a unique shifter who introduces brand new shifter lore and now opens up even more possibilities for the IMVaV universe. As for the rest of the story, things were pretty fast-paced, both Drake and Spencer both had major problems to deal with, which means there was a good level of anticipation in this book. Add in all this new magic, more history about Taturus, and all the dark magic involved of course this story was going to be super interesting.


Cage Me was such a good read. Of course, I was going to enjoy it, Heather Renee is one of the authors I enjoy. Another great addition to the series and I already can't wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
206 reviews9 followers
May 19, 2024
4.5
𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑎 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒.

Drake has been chained inside himself for centuries in Tartarus, but no one really knows this fact. He had one thing on his mind when he became free.... and then he saw Spencer. Everything changes, but Spencer was told to never trust and she has other plans. Can she trust him? Will his problem impact those she wants to protect? She has to make a choice that could cost her heart.

Cage Me is a spicy standalone paranormal romance set in the Immortal Vices and Virtues universe, but fifth in IVV: Shadow Shifters Bonds. I loved every book, I read so far, in the Immortal Vices and Virtues universe. This book isn’t an exception. It was fun, cute, and spicy. I love the plot: secure her family and take revenge on a witch.

Drake is stubborn and a cinnamon roll throw and throw. I find it cute his way to show he is worthy of her. He is even ready to abandon his revenge for her. Spencer is as stubborn as him. I loved how protective she is of her family. I laugh so much when her mother intervenes with her decision including Drake. The definition of a couple is them! They protect and love each other no matter what. She could have left him fighting the witch, but she decided to have his back. The fighting scenes were well written.

You will find in this book:
🐺Paranormal Romance
👪Found Family
💋Badass FMC
🥇He falls first
💘Fated Mates
✌️Dual POV
🌹Cursed
💖HEA

Thank you @papermyths and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Christina Lerew.
204 reviews4 followers
May 16, 2024
Another amazing edition to this series! First off I'll start by saying if your not reading the immortal vices and virtues do yourself a favor and jump in! Yes they are all stand alones but each story is so well done and opens up authors that you might not have heard of otherwise.
Cage me follows Spencer a unique shifter who's had to hide her true nature and to keep her family safe. Shes build up walls to keep people away. Her life gets flipped upside down when this man charging through the portal fiercely. One look and the bond is felt of mates. Drake Cage left tarturus with one thing in mind revenge. Revenge on a witch who's taken so much from him. The relationship with Drake and Spencer is messy but real in how they come together. I love his determination yet support in letting her take her walls down. The character build for them both is a hard won journey and beautiful. My favorite line is this from the book
“Kel stole your life, Drake. She took your home, your freedom, your time"-
I love how Spencer is instant in her quest to help him find peace in defeating his monster. The ending is beautiful and Heather does an excellent job of giving Kel the punishment she deserves!
1,902 reviews13 followers
May 10, 2024
Don't trust anything or anyone, that was important for Spencer to never forget. Banned, keeping herself and hers hidden, now she only had to find a way to keep her secrets and protect them. After having suffered horribly, Drake only had his desire for revenge left, but a light in his path seemed to fill him and offer him more. I loved how Drake and Spencer complemented each other and helped each other deal with their flaws. Each one contributed an important part to the mission before them and I found it interesting to see how they adjusted to each other's needs despite struggling with their emotions and feelings. Interesting secondary characters that intrigued me and left me wanting their stories. I really like it when there are strong emotions involved and I'm struck by the way authors deal with that. It makes me feel part of the plot, suffering with the characters immersed in the drama and the dangers that surround them and with Spencer and her family, there was a lot of that. Action, suspense, strong emotions, magic, violence, a tough-to-kill villain, interesting and intriguing secondary characters, romance, and passion.
Profile Image for Naurarwen.
1,035 reviews9 followers
May 16, 2024
What another addition to the Immortal Vices and Virtues: Shadow Shifter Bonds series. This time we follow Spencer, or as her little brother calls her "Pence" and her mate from the other side of the portal, Drake. The FMC is a special wolf shifter who has been told by her mother to not trust anyone and that's exactly what Spencer has done, choosing to live in the shed in Kesha's backyard instead of the spare room she is offered. Drake is a shadow wolf shifter who has had his wolf bound and is out for revenge on the person who did it to him, that is until he crosses the portal and finds his mate.

Spencer is sassy and smart, and even when Drake lays at her feet she all but refuses him but he isn't going to give up that easily. The pacing, and spice are perfect in this story and it flows beautifully from page to page. I admit I was sad when the story ended even if things had come to a conclusion. I would love to see more of Spencer and her mate Drake at some point even if that probably isn't going to happen unless they have a brief appearance in remaining stories. This season is definitely becoming one of my favourites, though I do adore them all.
Profile Image for Gwendolyn W.
244 reviews6 followers
May 16, 2024
Cage me is a spicy, character driven, paranormal romance. I found this a nice relaxing read. While there are elements of fantasy in the lives of these characters, the struggles of the main character were very relatable. She basically comes from a tumultuous home life, and I think in one way or another many can relate to her. Her guarded heart is a huge part of her personality and how she approaches the world in the beginning of this book. I appreciated the strong female main character, and that she wasn’t looking for a person, or an easy button, to fix everything for her. Gosh how I loved the open relationship she has with her mother.

There are about 2 explicit bedroom scenes. This definitely gave everything I expected from a shifter romance. I appreciated the neat ending. I was surprised at my interest in the side characters and love that this is part of a series of stand alones written by a collection of authors. Now I can go read about my favorite side character in another book!

You can currently (at the time if this review) find this book on kindle unlimited.

This spicy read is perfect for you if you enjoy
💚Shifter romance
💚Fated Mates
💚Happily Ever After
Profile Image for Spinneretta.
2,872 reviews20 followers
August 27, 2024
Good

Spenser and Drake

When a cursed shifter comes through the Tartarus portal and claims Spenser is his mate, her immediate instinct is to reject him.
Drake is made of tougher stuff than that though, and is determined to claim Spenser.
First, however, there is that pesky curse to get removed…

Spenser is a wolf shifter with a difference, her abilities are unusual, but she tries to use them for good. Her family is her main worry, which is evident when in helping them Drake finds himself in her good books!
Drake has been through hell, literally! Cursed by an evil witch for no good reason, his priorities are his mate, and revenge (in that order).

This is an enjoyable story, with all sorts of conflicts that happily have rapid resolutions to them. You can see a few IV&V cameos (mostly shadow shifter series), as well as one or two reminders of previous events, but the book is entirely standalone, with only the mildest of spoilers for the others.
An entertaining read for those who love the Immortal Vices and Virtues world, as well as for those who love urban and contemporary fantasy/romantasy stories.
Profile Image for Tracy Books_Beers_Brews.
1,091 reviews54 followers
May 7, 2024
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Fantasy Romance, Fated Mates, Dystopian, Shifter, Magic, MF,
𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻����: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 💜💜💜 
𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁: 💧💧💧 
𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 🖊️🖊️🖊️ 
𝗣𝗢𝗩: Dual
𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: Ebook

This is the fifth book in the third season of the Immortal Vices and Virtues world and it definitely was a great addition to the world! This is a shared world where each book is written by a different author(s) and I love reading each take on their world.

This book follows Spencer and Drake, both who are searching for something completely different and yet they find each other in the journey.

Spencer is trying to find a safe place for her mother and brother when she gets them out of a horrible home life. Drake is searching for the witch who trapped him and his wolf hundreds of years ago. Both of these characters go through significant self discovery in order to be able to fully accept themselves, each other and their mate bond.

If you love shifters and romantasy then this is definitely a book for you!
Profile Image for Idalia Helaena.
1,626 reviews91 followers
May 20, 2024
Heather Renee’s “Cage Me” is a standalone paranormal romance novel set in the Immortal Vices and Virtues: Shared Shifter Bonds world, and it’s Drake and Spencer’s story.

Spencer has spent her whole life refusing to get close to anyone in an attempt to protect herself, her family, and her heart , so when she runs into Drake, her fated mate, for the first time, she immediately tries to reject him.

But Drake isn’t giving up, and he’s determined to get Spencer to give him a chance to prove himself worthy of her affection. I thought Drake and Spencer’s story was such a good read!

I really loved Heather Renee’s writing style, and I enjoyed both Drake and Spencer’s POVs. “Cage Me” had a lot of action packed scenes, and I thought they were well-written, as were the plot twists!

Drake was such a swoony hero. I loved how Spencer became his whole world as soon as he realized she was his fated mate. And Spencer! I really respected her because of how important her family was to her, and I also loved how smart and capable she was. I highly recommend!
Profile Image for Laura.
2,527 reviews83 followers
November 20, 2025
I loved how this one can be listened to as a stand alone spicy read.
Meet Spencer, who is a spunky and feisty woman and keeps everyone at arms length. There’s a good reason for that.
Drake is a cursed shifter on the hunt for the evil witch. But fate has other plans for these two. I was laughing out loud at their meet cute. *snort* I’m not sure if anyone would call it that but gosh, I love Spencer. This isn’t your ordinary shifter series, with fated mates. It’s so much more than that. It’s a fast-paced read that will keep you guessing if anyone can be trusted. The twists and turns are good, and there’s a HEA in the end.
The audiobook is a duet, narrated by Ash Kingsley, and Michael Gallagher. They both do a wonderful job portraying Drake and Spencer. Their tones and inflections were spot on. I really loved Ash’s portrayal of Spencer. She embodied her character very well.
If you’re looking for a feisty FMC, and a cursed shifter with spicy scenes, be sure to check this one out.

A very special thanks to the author for the gifted ALC.
171 reviews
May 15, 2024
Spencer and Drake - fated mates from two different realms. One is hell bent on getting away from the other - a mate is not in her plans right now. The other is looking for vengeance against the witch who trapped him for over 900 years.
     Spencer was taught to hide her true self from everyone - especially her abusive father.  Her only goal is life is to get her mother and younger brother away from her father.
     Drake is a shadow wolf from Tartarus. He is looking for Kel- a witch whom trapped in her body as a statue and chained is wolf within him. He has a score to settle when he comes through the portal. One slight little distraction - he sense's his mate - Spencer. How is he going to win her heart and seek his justice against Kel? By justice, I mean kill her.
     Read their adventure to see their story. It is a good one.
Profile Image for TheSugaredBookworm.
696 reviews15 followers
May 16, 2024
Sweet and Spicy!

I love Spencer!! She's tough as nails, protective and on a mission. She has her walls up and never let anyone get too close. And then there's Drake. Can an MMC be a total alpha AND a cinnamon roll at the same time?? Yes, because that's exactly what Drake is! He leaves Tartarus like Jon Wick ready to take his revenge. He's wholly unprepared for the first person he makes eye contact with to be his mate. He definitely falls first. While he still respects her choice, he's not easily giving up on his mate. Just one more challenge for him. Their mate status goes from 0-60 really quick, but I loved how he quickly makes Spencer feel for him and helps her to realize it's ok to be vulnerable, to love and be loved and to let the good people in. This was a story full of feels and oh so much spice!!
Profile Image for Susan.
1,406 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2024
I love how Heather writes; this story is a welcome addition to what has been a brilliant season three of the Immortal VIces and Virtues world. Spencer is an albino wolf with huge trust issues and not much else going for her, but when Drake exits the portal from Tartarus, both of their plans are shot to pieces as they discover they are fated mates.Spencer has family she needs to help and Drake is set on revenge but their plans are in turmoil as they fight to left the curse Drake had placed on him years ago. With witches and fae as well as angels offering to assist, the journey to happily ever after is filled with danger and self-discovery. Highly recommend this book as well as the complete series.
Profile Image for Kelly Stepp.
460 reviews10 followers
May 15, 2024
Who needs an alphahole when you have a sexy, gooey, cinnamon roll of shadows! Drake’s persistence and demonstrations of commitment won me over and I loved how he met Spencer where she was at and didn’t push knowing how important her family was to her. Having her light to his darkness was great and I loved the tender moments Drake shared with her brother too. Roquel was truly despicable and I’m still chuckling at how you terminated her evil. I can’t get enough of the author’s writing style and love how she manages to infuse so many emotions and vivid imagery into their story. I can’t forget Natalia and Kasha either, they were great additions and I hope we see more of them in the future in some way. Definitely a must-read!
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