The Dragon Cager

by Lilian Oake

Since her father’s sudden death, all Evie wants is comfort and security for her family. Especially from dragon cagers. The two-tongued serpents are said to take the shape of a man, woo their ill-fated victims, and then devour them whole. But no one ever told Evie she could be kindred to the creatures.

When Evie is framed and exiled, a cager called Lachlann discovers her roaming in the barren dragon country. Now, while being hunted by the same slayers seeking his magic-imbued heart, Evie must put her trust in Lachlann and seek out his clan for help. Only then will they discover what ancient blood flows through her veins.

Genres: Dragons, Fantasy

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2017

About the author

Whoa, WHOA now! You want my bio? Shouldn't you start with a hello, at least?

Ok, fine. I'll be gracious.

I'll even give you an updated version.
I'm best known for my book Nahtaia: A Jaydürian Adventure, which boasts a whopping 3.7 million online reads. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, I moved to the east coast where I run a life coaching business and am hard at work on my next book in The Chronicles of Jaydür. When I'm not writing, I'm educating my horde of goblins in the ways of Middle Earth and Narnia along with my better half, Joshua Robertson.

Check me out at my website, or on Facebook, or on Twitter. I promise I'm just as interesting and likely to make you feel uncomfortable there as I am here!

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dragon Cager by Lilian Oake and narrated by Diana Croft is a book I received free from the author and the review is voluntary. I didn't have a blurb to go by and went into this book blind. The cover and title lured me in! I am so glad it did! I was so hooked right away I stayed up late into the night to finish it! I just couldn't stop! I had to know more! Ms Oake, you must make book 2! There is a girl cast out of the village. It wouldn't be so bad but the forest has creatures of nightmares! The weather is freezing too! There are dragons and dragon cagers! Dragon cagers, according to village, eat people! One caged finds our girl because he has been stalking her. The story really starts there! Why has he been stalking her, what happens next, why did they lie and kick her out of the village, who is she, who is this cager and why is he nice to her, where is her family now, and more! Lots of action, surprise, and a touch of romance. Loved it! I am definitely reading more by this author. I looked and I have another book and plan to dive into it soon! Hope it is as good as this one!
This book is going in my favorite folder!
The narration was excellent! Just the perfect voice for the setting and she performed all voices perfectly!

[Rebekah Jonesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book with fun and interesting characters.

All Evie wanted was a simple, good life with the man of her dreams, her first love, the governor's son. Instead she was exiled and sent on a road of discovery, betrayal, and magic to find the truth behind the lies she had been told her entire life. Nothing was as it seemed. Not even the magical half man half dragon, the dragon cager, that went along with her. Not even Crag, the adorable dragon imp that could talk directly into her mind. But even worse, somehow her own family was mixed up in the plot that sent her down the dangerous road. And until she finds her mother she won't know why.

[Anais Chartschenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dragon Cager is an adventure story with an alternate England. There are men who turn to dragons, druids, half-druids, conspiracies, and a central love story. Well, on Lachlann's side it is a love-love story, and on Evie's a hate-love-hate-love story. The arguing between the main characters is fun and witty, though I would not have Lachlann's patience. Evie, despite being plenty lovable, is also insufferable and stubborn at times.
She is cast out for her imagined sins by her village, and then clings to the same values that condemned her. I wished she would give up on her notions of purity, but it fit the fantasy world Oake built.
There was a full on dragon fight that was thrilling to read, and Lachlann's sister in particular shone as a woman I'd like to know better. All in all, another great book by Oake.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dragon Cager is another great story from the excellent imagination of Lilian Oake. It's a great, fast-paced read in a wonderful fantasy version of England, around the 18th century. The story of Evie, wrongly exiled and left to die in the woods when she meets Lachlann, a Dragon Cager, or a man with a dragon "caged" within him. People in England are told that Cagers are cruel and merciless, but Evie soon learns that Lachlann is not what she expected, and with the constant, snarky promptings of Crag, Lachlann's imp, or dragon familiar, eventually learns to trust him. The two embark on a journey to find out what is really going on with a plot set in motion by Aurthur, the odious son of the governor of Evie's home, and it turns out to be a much more serious situation than they realized.

The book is full of great characters and wonderful dialogue, especially between Evie and Lachlann, and from Crag, the snarkiest little dragon around. heh. The story is complete enough in itself, but there's obviously room for a sequel, which is good news, because I'm looking forward to returning to this world and reading about these characters again.

If you've got younglings of YA reading range and would like to get them hooked on fantasy, then I recommend that you introduce them to the worlds of Lilian Oake. They'll thank you for it. When they manage to put the books down, that is. heh.

[bambi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book! Lachlann is a new book bf ☺️

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the get-go, the voice of the author shone through in a very lovely yet powerful way. I found myself excited for the next chapter, which is rare for me when reading.

The story follows Evie, a young woman who knows nothing of herself, in a very real sense, and is suddenly thrust into a world of unknowns. Everything she thought she knew is twisted, and she meets a cager - a race of dragon-men who are notorious in her mind for being the most evil creatures in the land. But the meeting is not chance or coincidence. This begins a new journey for Evie as she seeks to figure out what happened to her and her family, and how they are all somehow targets of an unseen foe.

Oake's writing is superb. I got the audiobook version and the narrator was equally amazing in the way she approached the story, including the accents and the way the words flowed. Through the eyes of the protagonist we fall in love with her relative innocence and her mind is so fixated on what she grew up with that to be faced with new and conflicting information was difficult for her. A large part of her journey in the book is her coming to terms with everything she must now unlearn, and all the new things she must learn and apply, and all while she is being faced with constant threats, even if not from where she perceives them to be from... The story held a real threat, if mysterious, to our main characters, and a large part of this story is based on figuring out what was going on, the other large part was the love story. While on a personal level I might have liked to see the story move just a bit quicker, the fact that I was excited for the next part and the next part speaks volumes about not just the story itself, but the deft hand of the author's choice in words.

This is a fascinating book filled with unforgettable characters and amazing settings. The author does a brilliant job of balancing dialogue, story, and detail. Told entirely through the perspective of the protagonist, we get an overall wonderful tale of woe and distrust and wonder, but ultimately of hope.

[Nia Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a brilliant story from start to finish, I only wish there’d been more of it!

I loved Evie as a main character, she was the perfect blend of naïve and cynical – she’s obviously and understandably distressed when her world is turned upside down but she adapts to her situation at a convincing pace.

Lachlann is one of my all time favourite heroes. He’s kind, persistent without being icky and doesn’t take himself too seriously. There were some scenes with him that made me genuinely laugh out loud.

Though this book has romantic elements, this book is 100% clean and suitable for children. Obviously, I was a little bit disappointed by this! The elements that were missing in order to make this book suitable for younger readers are the elements that would have been the icing on the cake for me.

I would have liked Evie to have spent some more time being angry about her situation and then more focus on her near the end.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title, as narrated by Diana Croft, who can honestly do no wrong. She’s the most versatile narrator in terms of accents that I’ve ever listened too. She brings the characters to life and nails the Scottish accent!

If you’re looking for a satisfying and romantic story, with dragons and magic, then this is the book for you.

*I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook*

[Xaneria Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want my own Crag. Give me a plushie of him and I’ll live vicariously through my imagination. Create some Crag Swag with his snarky little comments on there and I’ll buy them like hotcakes.

I loved this book. I read the entire book in the drive from St. Louis back home to Indiana without stopping to breath. A few times hubs had to remind me we needed to stop for potty breaks and I almost let my food get cold twice. The book was interesting catching and well worth the read. 

The story was solid. The overall pacing was good. I found a lull in time with Evie's insufferable stubbornness but it all works out well. The characters are that classic feeling of Young Adult tropes but they aren't too deep in those roles to be hated, and Crag is life. Crag is a sanity-saving grace with his wit and sarcastic gold. I was left wondering if I loved or hated the romance and the ending was a tad rushed.

Overall, the book is great for anyone 13+ who loves dragons and wants a twisted ending to the bad guy resolution.

The author is very dedicated and does a great job writing her stories. This is just another example of her strong efforts and talent for storytelling.

My full review at https://wp.me/p5MnJi-rY

[JodyL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audible and liked listening to this narrator. I believe that she does a good job.
Dragon Cagers are actually dragon shifters. Evie is cast out of her village under bizarre circumstances. She is found freezing and with a fever by Lachlann who just happens to be a cager.
She soon discovers that her heritage isn't what she believes. Dragon hunters and druids play a part in this story.
The story progressed slowly as Lachlann wastes time so that she can get to know him and drop her prejudices against cagers.
The ending was wrapped up too fast in my opinion compared to the rest of the book.

Spoiler...


There is a part where a suicide happens that seems out of the blue and added nothing to the story. I really dont understand why it is included.

I received a free audible copy and chose to leave a review.

[Malinda Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immersive fantasy that made me forget I was reading and not watching a show!
I went in to this book knowing only two things, it was fantasy, and there were Dragons. I was sold on trying it.
It totally exceeded my expectations! I was instantly drawn in and couldn't put the book down. I started reading it in the afternoon, and only stopped reading to take care of my son. Once he was down for the night, I HAD TO FINISH.
It was phenomenal story telling, including a plot twist I was not expecting! The story stays with you after you finish, and I hope that Ms Oake has plans for more Cager books, because I will be first in line!

[Lillian I. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. The idea was interesting and fun and Ms. Oake executed it quite well. Good characters and a satisfying villain that are developed well. In places, it moved a little slowly but overall, the pacing was good and kept me going into a strong conclusion. If you enjoy fantasy, you will really like this book.

[Craig Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast paced, well developed adventure. I loved the concept of a Dragon Cager, the blood of dragons running through your veins, allowing you to use magic. The main character goes through a trying beginning, and is outcast from her village. She runs in with a cager, a dragon, and she is scared for her life. However, Cagers aren't all they're cracked up to be. She develops a friendship, and together, they help fight against the corruption of the villages, all tied together in a political struggle of Cagers and Humans.

I'm eagerly awaiting book 2!

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I knocked it out in 3 days and I couldn't put it down. The author was wonderful at describing everything. I wanted some moments to last longer, but truly everything was perfect for me. It was more romantic than the book description originally entailed, but it wasn't too bad.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new and fascinating tale will rivet the reader's attention and light their imagination on fire, making them both gasp and laugh aloud.

Read full review in the 2018 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Dana Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this story. It was fast paced but the story line keeps you captivated until until the end. I love the characters and the journey you take with them.

I was able to listen to this on audiobook. The narrator did an amazing job bringing these characters to life.

[Jeffrey A. Dewey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read

Intrigue, deception and magic combined with Dragon shifters , droids and the push for power to become the ruler over all.

[The Scribblings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrayed by the man she thought she loved and driven from her home, Evie soon encounters the mysterious Lachlann out in the wilds. As she comes to learn more about him, she also uncovers details about herself and the reasons for her exile.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for this review.

The notion of dragons taking human form may not be new but it is given an interesting history here. Knowledge of dragons and druids seems to be common knowledge, even if only as rumour or scary stories. As she and Lachlann travel together and their relationship develops, Evie learns what parts hold some truth and how much is left unknown to outsiders.

Told from Evie's perspective, the book does draw you in quickly. In the opening chapters, it's impossible not to feel for her as she is dragged from the world she thought she knew and humiliated before her entire village. Once she is out in the wild and introduced to Lachlan, she gradually becomes more self-reliant and able to stand up for herself. Lachlann tends to be more guarded, keeping some secrets from Evie which does sometimes make him a little more difficult to get a handle on. But, for the most part, they are sympathetic and easily relatable.

The relationship between the main two characters is well done, moving from Evie’s initial mistrust of Lachlann and her disbelief when he claims to have dreamed of her to an effective partnership, culminating in the two of them leading a sneak attack against those that threaten them. By the end of the book it’s easy to see what each of them gets from the other and why things play out as they do.

Aside from the central conceit of shapeshifting dragons, the world of The Dragon Cager doesn’t seem that different from ours, albeit of a couple of hundred years ago. In fact, Evie’s village is described as being in England and Lachlann speaks with a Scottish accent so it could easily be considered as an alternate reality.

The Dragon Cager is a quick, imaginative read and, for the most part, very enjoyable. The main issue I had with this novel is that the ending felt very rushed to me. While the build-up is given plenty of space to develop, the finale seems crammed into the last 2-3 chapters. Which is a shame since there is enough here to warrant more.

3.5 out of 5 hidden heritages.