Repeat after me: I swear my soul to Sigma; the spilling of Sigma’s secrets is punishable by death; a death which I will gladly accept should I prove disloyal.
How much would you sacrifice in the name of family? What sins would you commit for the promise of wealth and power?
Kieren Hunt made a deal. Resurrect his fraternity’s secret traditions, and the most powerful Sigma alumnus will save his family from ruin. As the incoming chapter president, it was an easy deal to make because Kieren Hunt knows he is ruthless. He was always meant to play God, and once he wins back his prized obsession, Monroe Campbell, they’ll be none the wiser.
But the thing about secrets is, just like blood, they tend to get spilled.
Kieren’s deal has a problem, and her name is Monroe. He never thought Sigma would come for her, nor did he ever think his perfect pet would try to run. Sigma can have his soul, but Monroe? She was never part of the deal, and if he must cage his trophy to keep her, so be it.
Monroe would be his until the bitter end, if only she didn’t escape.
She’s coming for you Kieren, because this puppy bites back.
Caged is a dark secret society revenge romance. Please check the content warnings before diving into the nefarious and sinful world of the Sigma. Other than the prequel novella, the Sins of the Sigma series is meant to be read in order.
Summer Robert is a recovering corporate girlie turned weaver of angsty, dark romance stories that are as suspenseful as they are salacious. She’s known for writing twisted and often emotionally devastating love stories with unhinged spice and gut-wrenching cliffhangers. Summer loves a good Easter egg written between the pages as much as she loves surviving off of caffeine and vibes. A fun fact about Summer is that she is a hoarder and self-proclaimed connoisseur of perfume and spends more time than she should debating what perfume her unapologetically strong FMCs wear (because your girl loves an innuendo). Most importantly, she's a mom of two small humans and one small, vicious, and spiteful yorkipoo. Summer currently resides in Los Angeles, and although she is originally a native Ohioan from a shockingly small farm town, she will forever call LA her home.
For my visual people, here are the movie vibes I had while reading "Caged" - "The Skull," "Cruel Intentions," & "I Know What You Did Last Summer."
The story has a mysterious set up. Gabi is back at Dornell College the semester after her friend Monroe went missing. Gabi suspects the suave, brash leader of the Sigma fraternity, Kieren. Whom of which Monroe dated the year before Gabi took a year abroad. The point of view switches mainly between the three and jumps time back and forth as it slowly reveals its secrets.
The first half of the book was forbidden and hot. Taboo even. All while dread builds. Monroe and Kieren burn bright as Gabi is left in the dark. Before it takes a turn... a turn that hurt my heart and then had me screaming for vengeance and screaming "Oh yeah! You go!" Proper revenge that was salivating.
There were so many ways the ending could have gone, my mind was reeling. When it went the way it did, I was celebrating. Didn't even mind it was left open to connect to the bigger secrets within the Sigma society. I am hoping future installments give those boys their just deserts too. A book I was happy to read, and a series I look forward to continuing.
Dark story with abuse and trauma, blood and gore. As well as open language and spice level of 4. Left open with a cliffhanger questioning characters' survival.
I will echo many other reviewers of this book. I normally breeze past trigger warnings, but do not do that with this book. Read them and think about whether you are ready to read about a truly narcissistic MMC. I have personal experience being the target of a narcissist and there were a couple scenes that hit close to home, and I had to take a break from reading and come back to it when I could.
It is clear that this author has personal experience dealing with a narcissist as well (which is reinforced when you read the author’s note). Kieren, the MMC, is a master manipulator and his narcissism really knows no bounds. Reading as he gaslights and torments Monroe, the FMC, is brutal in the best way.
Watching Monroe ignore every one of Kieren’s red flags, or really red billboards, until it is too late is extremely hard, but the way she grows as a character and embraces her revenge is impressive.
The only trouble I had with the book was that for me Kieren is an irredeemable character at this point. While Summer Robert is clearly talented at weaving a story, I find it hard to believe that she will be able to make me care about Kieren in anyway (other than making sure he gets what he deserves), but I look forward to seeing if she can manage it in the next book.
Make sure you read the trigger warnings before you start this book!
With that being said… what a ride this book was I could not put it down! You better buckle up real tight!!
The MMC Kieren is a power hungry narcissist. Who is head of the sigma fraternity, he makes a deal with the alumni to save his family from losing it all. The problem is he’s obsessed with the FMC Monroe. The things Kieren does to keep Monroe his are unreal (again check the triggers) until she escapes! He underestimated the wrong woman! This book is twisted and suspenseful I fkn loved it and can’t wait to continue the series and see what’s next!
Thank you Summer Robert and Hawthorn & Aster for letting me read this ARC
I am obsessed with this book. Wow! This is for all the boys and girls who want to read a super dark romance with a morally pitch black MMC. No you're not going to love a single thing about him, but what a story. The book starts with different POV's in different timelines. So it takes a moment to have all the fact straight and understand the story, but the story is fast paced and the author has a great writing style that keep your eyeballs glued to your book.
The twist and turns gave me a whiplash and I couldn't predict what was coming next. And that ending. OMG! It's the first book in a series so be prepared to not have full closure.
The hero of this story is Monroe. What a return! Once you know her background you also find some understanding in her actions. Just a traumatized girl looking for unconditional love.
I highly highly recommend this book to everyone who loves dark romance. But please check your trigger warnings because it's a wild ride!
Wow!!!! I received this book early and sooo glad I did!!! I love College Secret Society Dark Romances and this hit the spot!!! I love the different POVs and how you go between the past and present to get the full story. I have a love/hate relationship with some of the male characters, Kieren and Jace 🥵🌶️, but it’s all still up in the air. I love Monroe and Gabi 🖤. If you have triggers, definitely check them. I have none 🙃. This book ends on a huge cliffhanger. I can’t wait for book 2! Definitely a must read!
Do not skip the trigger warnings. This book is dark and it left me speechless. As someone who was in a controlling, manipulative relationship for four years, this book definitely brought up some unpleasant memories, but as with life...I pushed through it.
There are multiple narrators and flashbacks that really make Caged a well-rounded story. When I had initially signed up to be a part of the ARC team, I knew this book was going to be dark and I had received a direct message from the author saying that this book is more of a thriller than romance.
Caged is indeed a dark secret society romance book, but there is so much more to it than just the romance. There is some real suspense in Caged and the secret society gatherings will leave you wondering what heck did Kieren get himself and his friends into. There's also a murder mystery that would appeal to non-romance readers.
There were times where I thought Kieren could pull through the psychosis. Monroe's story is one that left me with more questions than answers. Gabi and Jace seemed to be the only normal characters in the book even if they were complicit in what happened to Kieren and Monroe and the greater story.
Quotes that stuck out to me were:
"Please. I need you. You're the only one who has accepted my faults. You're the only one I trust with my demons. Tell me what I have to do to make this right. I'll do whatever it takes if it means I can call you mine."
"You're mine now, from your flesh to your soul. I own every fucking inch of you. Sigma owns every fucking inch of you, from now until forever."
While there are narcissistic traits shown in Kieren, I feel that this book does a great job in exacting revenge for the treatment Monroe underwent while with Kieren.
When it comes to who I would recommend this book to, I would recommend it to those who enjoy thrillers, suspense, and darker romance novels. Because of the trigger warnings, I would not recommend this book to those who are highly sensitive readers.
Overall, I rate this book 4/5. There are some detailed spice scenes, but I would rate the total spice content a 1.5/5. Again, read the trigger/content warnings before reading. Also be sure to read the author note at the end of the book when finished as it gives more context behind the story.
Thank you Summer and Hawthorn & Aster for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team. I appreciate it and am excited to read the rest of the series!
Wow! A dark and phenomenal read. This story had me hooked from the beginning and it did not let up even at the very end. The ending…I am reeling! The characters possess a depth and complexity that is beautiful, even in their darkness. A thrilling plot laced with mystery, betrayal, darkness, and intrigue. This is the first book in the Sins of Sigma Series, and I cannot wait to read what comes next. Caged is definitely one of my top reads this year!
Kiernan is unhinged, with a black heart, and shades of grey do not exist in his world. His love for Monroe is not gentle and at times not kind. She is the one thing he craves more than just about anything but even she will not stop him from what he must do. Monroe looks like she fits right in at her sorority but growing up with a narcissist has created a different path for her. She craves acceptance and love, but the typical college romance is not what she craves deep down. She needs a love that is not soft but all consuming and at times it can be blinding and dangerous.
When Kiernen is pushed to save his family, he makes a deal to reinvigorate his fraternity by embracing old traditions. Nothing will stop him from doing what he needs to do, not even her. He may love Monroe and want her by his side, but he will not let her tear down everything he has worked to build. Sigma was never supposed to set their sights on her, and he will go to every extent to keep her safe, to keep her his. She was never supposed to leave, but she will not stay content to be a pet. He will never give up bringing her back and if she returns, she will give Kiernen exactly what he deserves.
The path Kieren and Monroe take is full of pain, trauma and at moments hopelessness. They need each other but they will also destroy each other. If you enjoy a dark, intriguing story that unfolds before your eyes and are not one who always wants a “pretty” ending this might just be the book for you.
This is unquestionably dark please read the content warnings before enjoying this book.
Now I don't know if it was too much for me. No, it wasn't. Maybe, I don't know, after reading it, I have this tight feeling in my stomach. In several parts of the book, I had trouble "breathing," and I can say with certainty that I can handle quite a lot.
Kieren is really broken. I repeat, really broken. I doubt there's any chance of fixing him. And yet, at times I really love him, and at times I want to slap him to wake him up. But then he broke Monroe too. Unlike Kieren, she has a chance. A chance to choose, to fix herself, to live, to be free.
In any case, I would never, ever forgive him. Maybe. Probably.
Very flammable, very twisted, very dark, and very cruel, but still... beautiful in its own way.
My swollen eyes from reading and lack of sleep testify to the quality of the book. I've never read anything like it, which is why I desperately need the next installment. I want to know how it all turns out.
Note (more for me 5/5): Story: 🫀5 Spice: 🔥 10 Action: 🥷5 FMC: 👰 10 MMC: 🫅10 Other characters: 💃🦸🦹🧌🧟 5
----------- Teď nevím, jestli to na mě nebylo až moc. Ne, nebylo. Možná, nevim, po dočtení mám z toho takový svíravý pocit v žaludku. V několika částech knihy se mi špatně "dýchalo" a to můžu s jistotou tvrdit, že vydržím celkem dost.
Kieren je opravdu hodně rozbitej. Opakuji, hodně rozbitej. Pochybuji, že je nějaká šance na jeho opravení. A přitom, ho chvílemi opravdu žeru a chvílemi bych ho fackovala aby se probral. Ale pak rozbil i Monroe. Ale na rozdíl od Kierena, ona šanci má. Šanci na to vybrat si, opravit se, žít, být svobodná.
Každopádně nikdy, nikdy bych mu neodpustila. Možná. Asi.
Velmi hořlavé, velmi zvrácené, velmi temné a velmi kruté ale přesto .... svým způsobem krásné.
Opuchlé oči ze čtení a nevyspání svědčí o kvalitě knihy. Nic podobného jsem nikdy nečetla a proto nutně potřebuji další díl. Chci vědět, jak tohle všechno dopadne.
He’s a 10, but his red flags are not the fun kind.
Before we go any further, I need to make one thing completely clear. YOU. MUST. READ. THE. TRIGGER. WARNINGS. I cannot be any clearer than this - there are some extremely heavy themes that will be unsafe for a lot of readers.
This book deals with multiple timelines and POVs, so giving a plot hook is a little trickier. The story is centered around a college fraternity that has been instructed to bring the *old ways* under the watchful eyes of Kieran, the Sigma president. Soon after, girls start to disappear.
One of those is Monroe, Kieran’s girlfriend. Present day events follow Monroe’s best friend Gabi’s efforts to locate her. The past timeline takes us through what actually happened.
This story is dark academia, but it is categorically *not* a romance. Monroe’s relationship with Kieran is abusive and deteriorates rapidly across the book. He is a narcissist and it is quite disturbing to read his POV at times. There is a lot of passion and lust, and plenty of open door scenes with BDSM elements.
As far as the triggers go - did I mention you should read the warnings? Because you really should. Okay. The primary couple has a seriously deteriorating relationship where boundaries are erased and consent is not a thing. There’s love bombing and gas lighting. There’s a cult-like secret society with rituals that include sacrifice of the human variety. That’s a highlight reel of the warnings - they’re genuine warnings, not a fun shopping list of red flags. Take it seriously, please.
All of that aside - this story is compelling. I loved the feminine rage and the determination of the leading ladies to save themselves and each other. The book does not romanticise the toxic relationship at all. It’s the first book of a new series and it ends on a cliffhanger. I would highly recommend it to fans of dark academia and thrillers.
I’d like to start by saying read the trigger warnings. Like actually read them. This book is dark in every sense of the word.
Kieran, as sick and psychologically insane as he is, I love him. He’s completely different than most MMCs I read, even in dark romance. So if you’re tired of the dark twisted men who are golden retrievers for only their women, you’ll love Kieran. He stays dark and twisted. He’s a breath of fresh air, even if I want to pummel him. I admire that he stays true to himself and what he needs to do, despite his feelings for Monroe.
But Monroe??? Omg. I love her!! She goes from the innocent and submissive to the embodiment of feminine rage and revenge. We love that. Her best friend Gabi is an absolutely ride or die girl’s girl. And I can’t wait to see more of her. I loved her POVs in this one and she willingness to do anything and everything for Monroe.
I also love the way this book flowed. Going between different POVs, different timelines. I feel you get a much better picture of what’s going on when you get to experience the past as opposed to being told what happened.
I do wish we got to see more of Jace (Kieran’s friend and right hand man) and how he feels about everything Sigma and Kieran do. We got a bit from his few POVs about his conflicted feelings so I hope we can dive more into that in book two.
The book also ends on a brutal cliffhanger, but you will want to add this to your TBR. You won’t be disappointed.
When I first started Caged, I was surprised to see multiple narrators and thought it might complicate the storytelling—but it turned out to be no issue at all. Each perspective added depth and helped bring the story to life.
This book gutted me in more ways than one.
For me, this was a deeply personal read, and I’m so glad I got the chance to experience it. Monroe’s journey broke my heart. I found myself cheering for her, hurting with her, and feeling trapped right alongside her in that toxic relationship with Kieran. He was such a sad, twisted individual, and the way he manipulated Monroe by preying on her insecurities was both infuriating and heartbreaking to watch unfold.
Kudos to Gabriella for being that true ride-or-die best friend, she came through when it mattered most, and I loved every moment between her and Monroe. Jace still frustrates me (maybe he’ll grow on me in the next book), but I was absolutely cheering when those other characters finally got what they deserved.
This book is dark. And I would advise that you take heed to the warnings, as I mentioned this pulls no punches. but I’m glad it was. It doesn’t shy away from showing the realities of emotionally abusive relationships, and that honesty is so important.
I am happy that I was able to read that arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, Summer Robert, for this novel. The tears I cried while reading your author’s note gave me strength to keep moving forward. I can’t wait to see what you create next.
💀 Secret Society 🔪 Revenge 💀 Multiple POVs 🔪 Multiple timelines 💀 A ride or die bff 🔪 Masked Men 💀 College setting 🔪 Lovers to enemies
“Goddamn. Come get me, you psychopath queen”
I don’t think I can explain how obsessed I just became with this book, meaning I need the whole series, ASAP!
This book has mostly three POVs, Monroe’s, Kieran and Gabi’s. Monroe and Kieran’s are mostly about 7-5 months earlier and Gabi’s is in the present. Gabi is looking for her best friend that has gone missing (Monroe) and everyone seems to think she just left but Gabi knows there is more to it since everyone knows Monroe’s ex Kieran is a bit insane. The fraternity Kieran is in, has a secret society, while he keeps Monroe locked up and caged, she begins to learn the secrets.
This book Is a rollercoaster!! The book had me first so frustrated with some of Monroe’s decisions to me screaming (literally) as I cheered her on. The revenge in this book had me smiling so big, which may actually have been a weird response. Although, Summer, I’m going to need you to explain why you ended the book the way you did without having the second one ready for me to devour. Oh! And every girl needs a friend like Gabi in their life. Talk about a “ride or die”
If you love the Hollow Boys and Devil’s Night series, I’m almost 100% sure you will love this one.
Summer Roberts’ first book of her new series, Sins of Sigma. Please read the trigger warnings before starting this book. This book is very dark; it left me speechless in some of its scenes, but nonetheless, I devoured it. The storylines are twisted and suspenseful through the very end, leaving us off with a lovely cliffhanger. More murder mystery than romance, but still a very dark romance. The book flowed so well from the different points of view and the flashbacks to the present day. The setting of a secret society within a Greek life organization was very interesting. As someone who was in Greek life through college, I enjoyed it. Kieran, the MMC is unredeemable. He is a power-hungry narcissist through and through. That is every bit obsessed with the FMC Monroe. I absolutely loved Monroe! She goes from the innocent and submissive to the embodiment of feminine rage and revenge. Her character development through the first book was insane. I would love to see more of the storyline where she was with her “family” hiding, though, maybe we will get those flashbacks in book two. The other FMC, Gabi, is a total girl's girl. She will do anything and everything for Monroe. Their relationship is what best friends should be. Not the other two side characters that left her constantly. Overall, this book was a roller coaster, and I can not wait to read the second book! Thank you, Summer Robert, and Hawthorn & Aster for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team.
DUDE. OH. MY. GOSH. This story was utterly insane in the best possible way!!! I could not put it down for a single second like, who needs sleep when Kieren and Monroe exist??
I swear, our deranged, psychotic characters have my whole heart. Kieren? That man needs to be locked in a white padded room and I’d still visit him every day 😭. And the lovers-to-enemies arc? Chef’s kiss. Absolute perfection.
AND THAT ENDING??? I was screaming. Crying. Throwing my imaginary Kindle across the room. Monroe going full vengeful queen mode had me clapping like a proud parent. And don’t even get me started on GABI. My girl. My ride-or-die. We all need a friend like her someone who says “I don’t care what anyone says, I’m finding you.” Ugh. She’s that girl.
And then the author had the audacity to end it like THAT?! No. I need book two immediately.
This story had everything: Secret society Vengeance Morally gray chaos BDSM (oh yes, it’s there 👀) Mystery and madness galore I’m fully obsessed and not even sorry about it. Bring on book two because I am ready to lose my mind all over again.
A perfect beginning to an exciting series. I couldn’t put it down once I started!!
Before I start, please remember to check your triggers and read the warnings before beginning this book. While it may not bother all, there are some heavy topics in this book.
The last thing any author deserves is bad press due to lack of accountability from us as the readers.
WITH THAT, i absolutely loved the fierce nature of the FMC and her bestie. They are best friend goals forever. I love that the FMC is more prominent than being “saved by a man”. It just gives POWER and I love that.
I love that the MMC is consistent throughout the book and doesn’t change. In his case, it’s not realistic. And I love that summer really put a spotlight on that aspect of things. We absolutely love and hate him. I was conflicted through the whole book.
The spice is SPICY and i absolutely loved the set up of the different POVs.
Incredible writing from start to finish!!
THIS BOOK ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER SO BE PREPARED TO RAGE AT THE END!🤣 Makes the next book to come that much more exciting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
THIS IS A MUST READ‼️‼️ I was granted early access to Sins of the Sigma- CAGED and LOVED every minute I spent reading it 📖🖤 I was completely blown away by Summer Robert's new novel‼️ It's book 1 in an upcoming series and I cannot wait for the other books to be released ! It starts off with a mystery feel as there are multiple timelines and multiple POV's all leading up to the climax of the story. Annnd that's where it took a turn! I was flipping pages so fast just to find out what happened! The FMC's character growth throughout the book was phenomenal and I love her revenge arc that she goes through!! *Her tactics still live rent free in my head and I think they forever will 🤭* That cliffhanger tho..👀😲🤯 I NEED BOOK 2 like NOW‼️🙌 *respectfully* 😅 Tropes include -Secret society -Villainous MMC -FMC out for revenge 😈💋 -Ride or die BFF 👑 -obsession that turns dark
Caged is book one in the Sins of the Sigma series and I quite literally ate this up!!! Gabi is looking for her best friend Monroe. Monroe just vanished without a trace. Every one keeps suggesting that maybe Monroe just up and left, but Gabi knows that Monroe wouldn't do that. Not without giving her a heads up. Gabi has her eyes on Kieran though, the guy that Monroe was seeing when she went missing. Kieran's behavior has changed dramatically since he's joined this secret society fraternity and Gabi just knows it's all connected. The story is multi-pod, so we get Gabi's perspective of what's happening now, Monroe's leading up to what's happening, and Kieran's, which allows us to know why he's doing the things he's doing. The revenge in this story is so sweet. I cannot wait for the next one. Like.. I can't! If you like your books dark, with secret societies, this is the one!!!
If you usually skip over the trigger warnings like I do….you definitely do not want to do that for this book! Read them and decide if you can handle them. There were a lot of WTF am I reading moments in this book but it sucked me in. I NEEDED to keep reading to find out what happened next.
Monroe’s revenge plan was perfect. Everyone also needs a Gabi in their life. She is the true definition of ride or die and I am so happy she didn’t give up looking for Monroe when everyone else did.
This book was a rollercoaster of a ride! Dark, twisted and insane and it ends on a cliffhanger! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Thank you Summer Robert and Hawthorn & Aster for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I’m honestly not sure how to feel about this one. Don’t get me wrong I love a good dark romance, and I can usually forgive a villain MMC, but there was barely a sliver of anything redeemable about Kieran. Weirdly enough, I still wanted the main couple to end up together… but at what cost? Some of the things that happened felt almost too drastic to come back from.
That said, I couldn’t look away. The story had me completely hooked, and I never saw the twists coming. Even when I didn’t like what was happening, I was still fully invested—and that says something.
I have no idea how to rate this one emotionally, but since it kept me on edge the entire time, I’m calling it a solid 4⭐️. I’ll definitely be (impatiently) waiting for the rest of the series.
This book grabs you by the throat from page one and never lets go. With heavy trigger warnings—including intense narcissistic manipulation—this story dives deep into the sinister world of Sigma’s secret society.
The dual timeline is done so well: In the past, we watch Monroe’s dangerous, chaotic relationship with Kieren spiral into obsession and control. In the present, her best friend Gabby will stop at nothing to infiltrate Sigma and uncover what really happened to Monroe—and whether her disappearance connects to the other girls who’ve gone missing on campus. Every chapter left me breathless and desperate for answers.
The spice? Chef’s kiss. But honestly, the plot is what owns this book. The deception, the mystery, the psychological tension.
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a wild ride and I could NOT put it down. I spent the whole day today with my nose in my Kindle and just now finished! This story has numerous POVs.
It follows Monroe, a college senior who escapes her abusive ex boyfriend, Kieren, then went into hiding. He was so obsessed with her, he tried to keep her in a cage so she couldn’t get away from him. Meanwhile her best friends are trying to uncover nefarious acts happening behind closed doors in a secret society at Kieren’s fraternity, hoping to get answers about their friend, Monroe and her whereabouts. If you’re into revenge and strong FMCs out for it then this is for you. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings. I’ll be looking forward to book two!
OBSESSED! Dark Romance with a True Psychopath This book is a deep, dark plunge into a world of obsession, revenge, and a secret college society. It is utterly intense and belongs on your TBR. The MMC, Kieran, is a glorious psychopath who is genuinely insane and never turns into a "golden retriever"—he stays dark and twisted. He's a refreshing change for dark romance readers. The FMC, Monroe, is his perfect match, transforming from innocent to the ultimate engine of feminine rage and vengeance. Her best friend, Gabi, is the ride-or-die hero we all need.
What a crazy story this is! I'm still processing everything that happened. A twisted, suspenseful tale. I've never hated a villian character so much until Kieren. The MMC is a total psychopath narcissist. There's no way this guy could be redeemable. He is obsessed with Monroe (FMC) to the point he puts her in a cage so she won't leave him. ⚠️ Definitely read the trigger warnings on this book! I don't normally like multiple POVs, but in this story it works.
Thank you again @summerrobertwrites and @hawthorn.and.aster.services for gifting me this ARC! I love your writing Summer! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There’s this wild, slightly unhinged energy to the whole story that hooked me way faster than I expected. It’s got that “oh wow, these people are NOT okay… but I’m absolutely invested” kind of vibe. Every time I thought I had a grip on where it was going, it threw something darker or messier at me, and I was like… yep, I’m staying up for this.
The tension is sharp, the drama is chaotic in a totally addictive way, and the characters all orbit each other with this intense, dangerous pull that just keeps you locked in. It honestly felt like watching a storm roll in while you’re weirdly rooting for the lightning.
Caged is a dark romance with a heavy theme of narcissism. Summer Robert has incredibly captured the heartbreaking power dynamic between Kieren and Monroe. Diving into each of their minds and revealing the reasons behind their actions. The longing to be loved and seen. The patterns trauma holds in your mind.
It's dark gritty haunting.
If you're into secret society, ruin, and redemption. A horribly villianous MMC that you secretly want to root for, hoping he will change before he goes to deep into obsession. A FMC that becomes the monster she needs to be to seek her vengeance, then this is the book for you.
What a fantastic dark romance! If you want something that is going to keep you guessing from page to page this is your book. This book follows Monroe and Kieren who have a hot spicy relationship and not in all of the ways that you would expect. While you’re reading you read in present day and six months past in the book, building tension, questions and explosions. This book does have a good trigger warning list so please read it but it’s absolutely worth every single one of those trigger warnings. You are going to be giggling psychotically in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Okay wow. Thank you Hawthorn and Aster for the opportunity to read this book prior to release.
After reading the Good Hurt series, I knew that I wanted to read this series as well.
MOST IMPORTANTLY ‼️— read all the triggers because if you don’t - YOU WILL BE KNOCKED IF YOUR FEET. This is not your normal dark romance. The MMC is not redeemed by the end of the book🤷🏾♀️.
The book is focused on a secret society fraternity held at a prestigious Ivy League university. This fraternity, SIGMA, is dark- degradation, gaslighting and sacrifice. Hence, why I said check the triggers. I literally had to remind myself several times so I wouldn’t get angry.
The FMC- Monroe- starts out as a somewhat sex addicted love drunk clingy girl for the MMC Kieren. But as the book goes on, you start to understand how she ended up in this predicament. The book definitely touches on mental health because Kieren is a complete psychopath. And Monroe had a bit of Stockholm syndrome going on.
Now fast forward to the ending, because I absolutely don’t want to give too much away. I left holding my breath- because there is no way the book just ended like that. I have so many unanswered questions. Which will bring me back to book 2. Definitely interested to see the direction that Gabi and Jace take.
This book had me on the edge of my seat from the first chapter. The characters and their stories are so complex and beautifully written. It elicits all the feelings between desire, rage, shock, empathy, everything. It shows how easy it is to get sucked into traditions when there are expectations and threats and how quickly morally grey can turn to black.
How long do we have to wait for book two?! UGH!! Read this!!
Yikes! This MMC is intense! Check your trigger warnings, friends because this book will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. Some of the situations made me cringe, but they were true to the character. Just the right amount of spice, too. I cannot wait for the next installment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Omg! This book was a rollercoaster. Definitely check your content warnings on this one. It is very dark. I absolutely love the main female characters and the way their story unfolds. The author intertwines past and present story lines to tie the story together and I feel like it's really well done. I'm already eager for book 2!