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The Uncaged #1
The Aviary
"Gentlemen, we have a special treat for you today. Feast your eyes on this pure-blooded beauty!"
Sixteen-year-old Serenity has spent her entire life in hiding to protect her from this exact moment. In a world where beauty is bought and sold on the streets like a corporate commodity, Serenity's natural assets are more like liabilities. Despite her parents' best efforts, she's been taken—ripped from her home and the only life she's ever known—to find herself on sale to the highest bidder. And that bidder? Enigmatic and dangerous, Luc is the director of The Aviary—an elite museum where girls are displayed as living art by day…and cater to the lascivious whims of the highest bidder by night. In this elaborate and competitive world, girls go by names like Raven and Nightingale, and will stop at nothing to become top Bird.
Luc comes to idolize Serenity's purity and aims to turn her into his grandest exhibit of all time—The Swan. In no time, she becomes one of the most coveted exhibits in Aviary history. When she discovers Luc holds the key to finding her parents, she must learn to play The Swan to perfection…to win his heart and earn his trust. But she doesn't anticipate falling for him in the process. Now she faces an impossible escape The Aviary and lose her only chance at finding her parents—or become Luc's Swan for good and lose her identity forever.
The Jewel by Amy Ewing meets Tricks by Ellen Hopkins in this gritty Young Adult Dystopian that tells of a fear-inducing future where the world of sex trafficking has become a social norm and where woman aren't treated as humans and are no safer than they were than they were in The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.
Sixteen-year-old Serenity has spent her entire life in hiding to protect her from this exact moment. In a world where beauty is bought and sold on the streets like a corporate commodity, Serenity's natural assets are more like liabilities. Despite her parents' best efforts, she's been taken—ripped from her home and the only life she's ever known—to find herself on sale to the highest bidder. And that bidder? Enigmatic and dangerous, Luc is the director of The Aviary—an elite museum where girls are displayed as living art by day…and cater to the lascivious whims of the highest bidder by night. In this elaborate and competitive world, girls go by names like Raven and Nightingale, and will stop at nothing to become top Bird.
Luc comes to idolize Serenity's purity and aims to turn her into his grandest exhibit of all time—The Swan. In no time, she becomes one of the most coveted exhibits in Aviary history. When she discovers Luc holds the key to finding her parents, she must learn to play The Swan to perfection…to win his heart and earn his trust. But she doesn't anticipate falling for him in the process. Now she faces an impossible escape The Aviary and lose her only chance at finding her parents—or become Luc's Swan for good and lose her identity forever.
The Jewel by Amy Ewing meets Tricks by Ellen Hopkins in this gritty Young Adult Dystopian that tells of a fear-inducing future where the world of sex trafficking has become a social norm and where woman aren't treated as humans and are no safer than they were than they were in The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2019
566 people are currently reading
1166 people want to read
About the author
Emily Shore
32 books709 followersEmily used to be the good little church-going girl who snuck peeks of smutty romance at the bookstore. Now, she proudly writes smut and has forsaken the religious cult of her past. Emily includes a trauma-healing theme loosely based on her own experiences in all her work.
In 2020, Emily found her voice while writing dark fantasy romance. In 2021, she rebranded on Kindle Vella and has been a Vella bestseller for two years. Her writing always features enemies to lovers with heroines who don't need a sword to be strong, monsters and villains with "burn the world for her" vibes, and trauma healing.
Emily's bestselling books on Kindle Vella include: The Sacrifice, Bride of Lucifer, Bride of the Corpse King, Courting Death and Destruction, and Grymm Beauty. Learn more at “Emily’s Vella Verse” on FB or connect with her on social media to learn how you can become a super fan and get super fan treats!
An abuse survivor and trained advocate, Emily has worked as an awareness speaker all over Minnesota. Identifying as bisexual and feminist, she loves to showcase sex and kink positivity and normalized LGBTQIA+ inclusivity.
When not writing enemies to lovers, Emily is addicted to the Enneagram, rewatching Schitts Creek, cuddling with her kitty, and spending time with her online sisterhood where she can exercise her big empath heart. She lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two daughters—one is a budding author.
Please subscribe to Emily’s newsletter at - www.emilybethshore.com - to keep up with her series projects, author promos, and prize contests. Or follow her on Tiktok at @authoremilybshore.
FUN FACTS ABOUT EMILY:
This list gives you a little peek into the crazy brain of this author. If you find yourself relating to any of these, reach out to me on any of my pages and we shall go forth and bond!
1. I am an extrovert with unlimited psychological energy. (I also stockpile Pinterest memes!)
2. HUGE Enneagram fan, so if you want to connect more, prepare to be asked to take the test so I can better understand you and speak your love language . (My tritype is 847 - which makes me Deadpool's female twin!)
3. My favorite authors on the YA side are Laini Taylor and Susan Dennard. My favorite authors on the adult side include: Amelia Hutchins *Queen*, Pam Godwin *Goddess*, and Elayna Gallea.
4. Up until 2020, I used to write strictly YA. I had a major identity transformation, wrote three books in three months (back to back), found my true VOICE, processed my identity, healed from past trauma, and came out as bisexual. Now, I love writing spicy fantasy romance and bridging the gap between the heterosexual and queer audience by offering them badass heroines taking on the dark alphas and literally *everyone* in my books is queer and polyamorous because #whychoose? It's normalized, it's respected, and it's beautiful!
5. My favorite film is The Princess Bride.
6. I am Disney-obsessed, especially Marvel and the Princess movement.
7. I started writing The Aviary over twelve years ago after a visit to Germany and learning about the Red-Light District. These books were evidence of my sexuality screaming to be let out.
8. My favorite Broadway is The Phantom of the Opera followed closely by The Scarlet Pimpernel.
9. Songs to describe me: Unbreakable by Fireflight, Warrior by Demi Lovato, Ready or Not by Brit Nicole and Lecrae, Speechless by Naomi Scott (Aladdin), Show Yourself by Idina Mendel (Frozen 2), This Is Me from The Greatest Showman, and The Sound of Silence.
10. I’m a mom to two little girls. I fight for a better world for them and for myself.
In 2020, Emily found her voice while writing dark fantasy romance. In 2021, she rebranded on Kindle Vella and has been a Vella bestseller for two years. Her writing always features enemies to lovers with heroines who don't need a sword to be strong, monsters and villains with "burn the world for her" vibes, and trauma healing.
Emily's bestselling books on Kindle Vella include: The Sacrifice, Bride of Lucifer, Bride of the Corpse King, Courting Death and Destruction, and Grymm Beauty. Learn more at “Emily’s Vella Verse” on FB or connect with her on social media to learn how you can become a super fan and get super fan treats!
An abuse survivor and trained advocate, Emily has worked as an awareness speaker all over Minnesota. Identifying as bisexual and feminist, she loves to showcase sex and kink positivity and normalized LGBTQIA+ inclusivity.
When not writing enemies to lovers, Emily is addicted to the Enneagram, rewatching Schitts Creek, cuddling with her kitty, and spending time with her online sisterhood where she can exercise her big empath heart. She lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two daughters—one is a budding author.
Please subscribe to Emily’s newsletter at - www.emilybethshore.com - to keep up with her series projects, author promos, and prize contests. Or follow her on Tiktok at @authoremilybshore.
FUN FACTS ABOUT EMILY:
This list gives you a little peek into the crazy brain of this author. If you find yourself relating to any of these, reach out to me on any of my pages and we shall go forth and bond!
1. I am an extrovert with unlimited psychological energy. (I also stockpile Pinterest memes!)
2. HUGE Enneagram fan, so if you want to connect more, prepare to be asked to take the test so I can better understand you and speak your love language . (My tritype is 847 - which makes me Deadpool's female twin!)
3. My favorite authors on the YA side are Laini Taylor and Susan Dennard. My favorite authors on the adult side include: Amelia Hutchins *Queen*, Pam Godwin *Goddess*, and Elayna Gallea.
4. Up until 2020, I used to write strictly YA. I had a major identity transformation, wrote three books in three months (back to back), found my true VOICE, processed my identity, healed from past trauma, and came out as bisexual. Now, I love writing spicy fantasy romance and bridging the gap between the heterosexual and queer audience by offering them badass heroines taking on the dark alphas and literally *everyone* in my books is queer and polyamorous because #whychoose? It's normalized, it's respected, and it's beautiful!
5. My favorite film is The Princess Bride.
6. I am Disney-obsessed, especially Marvel and the Princess movement.
7. I started writing The Aviary over twelve years ago after a visit to Germany and learning about the Red-Light District. These books were evidence of my sexuality screaming to be let out.
8. My favorite Broadway is The Phantom of the Opera followed closely by The Scarlet Pimpernel.
9. Songs to describe me: Unbreakable by Fireflight, Warrior by Demi Lovato, Ready or Not by Brit Nicole and Lecrae, Speechless by Naomi Scott (Aladdin), Show Yourself by Idina Mendel (Frozen 2), This Is Me from The Greatest Showman, and The Sound of Silence.
10. I’m a mom to two little girls. I fight for a better world for them and for myself.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
June 5, 2020
Unfortunately, it’s a no for me.
I picked up this book knowing it was one of those dime-a-dozen series starters which would have all the usual tropes of its genre (in this case, dystopia), but given the premise and the foreword I was intrigued. Here was an author that knew her topic firsthand (ok, maybe secondhand since she’s not a sex worker herself) and whose story and themes were born in real life before transferring to paper: I thought I might have found a rare diamond in the rough. I was wrong.
The setup is actually intriguing and original. In a world were sex trafficking has become the norm and organized crime runs the Country, women have become a commodity and it seems like their only option in life is to be a sex worker or breeder (if they are lucky enough to be fertile). There’s different stages of sex working, though: the usual Red Light Districts (here Glass Districts), carousels, movies, or museums, where women are first exposed as works of art and then bid upon by clients for the night. Here is where it all stops making sense.
Despite the fact that Countries where prostitution is legal haven’t yet transformed into reigns of chauvinism, rampant trafficking and crime, I really fail to see the appeal of museums beyond the first visit or two. Displays are stationary, so you basically pay to go in and see girls painted and dressed as birds (or other stuff, in other museums) standing within elaborate and artistic frames... and that’s supposed to get you hard enough to want to bang one of them for money later on. A lot is made about the fact that Serenity, our protagonist, has a moving exhibit but, again, it’s less than three minutes of her showing up in costume, diving into an artificial pond and coming out of the water. End of the exhibit. As beautiful her swimming might be and despite how pure she looks in comparison with other girls, thanks to her secluded upbringing, it’s still a 3-minutes trick. And it sends the male world into a paroxysm. Ok.
As the novel makes it abundantly clear that Serenity’s family was a rarity, and that her father and her guardian Sky are so special because they treat women as their peers, this set up reeks of sexism from every side. Towards men. I am aware that society could very easily evolve into something abhorrent, but it’s still very hard to buy the fact that men could all of a sudden transform into leery animals willing to reduce their sex experience to rape and financial transactions. If anything, after a while they’d become desensitized to all the sexual content around them. Also, homosexuality has apparently disappeared.
The whole novel takes place in one of the top museums of the Country: the Aviary, where every girl is a specific Bird and Director Owl cares for them all much more than any regular madame and, besides the little fact that the girls have sex for money with the highest bidders and can’t leave, they seem content and treated well. So it’s a kind of haven for the girls in this world who don’t know any better, but this is explained in bits and pieces throughout the novel because Serenity doesn’t want to hear or believe any of it and despite everyone telling her she needs to behave and realize the Aviary is a good place no one really tells her why in any kind of detail. I get wanting to avoid info-dumping, but it makes zero sense that the guy who paid for owning her would simply be like “yeah, I’m a good guy really, trust me” if he were really interested in her believing him (which he is).
Then again, Nightingale takes great offense when Serenity implies that seven year old Finch might have her own exhibit, as the Aviary only sells girls at the ripe old age of 16. Not 10 pages later, we find out Mockingjay, who freely talks about her exhibit and clients, is 15. Ok.
A lot of other things in the novel are poorly thought out. For example, the whole plot hinges on the fact that since everyone’s DNA is recorded and stored, the Aviary knows right away who Serenity’s parents are... but no one knows that Mockingjay is Dove’s daughter. Ok. It might be argued that Dove’s DNA isn’t stored because she retired from prostitution before they started this practice, but then it makes zero sense that Force’s DNA would be stored, since he’s definitely not a prostitute: either everyone is catalogued or it should be explained why a Director is and a museum employee is not.
The writing is another sore spot. Descriptions are vague: Birds are described only in colors and exhibits not at all, Serenity’s outfits are a cacophony of “she puts some feathers here and some pearls there and I’m painted all over”. Similes often make no sense whatsoever and the bird analogies are pushed way overboard, especially considering we move in Serenity’s head who rejects the Aviary and still takes to the bird talk immediately and automatically thinks in terms of feathers and talons as soon as she enters the museum. The style is also often jarring, with the narration relying too much on “surprise twists” that change the meaning of a scene or action after it happened.
Characterization is as generic as they come: pure but fiery virgin protagonist, strong, warm, and reassuring brother-figure, icy and enticing newcomer. In a world where sex is basically the only commodity, everyone gets raped or sold every day except our main character and the sexual tension the two men should bring to the table is... lukewarm, to say the least. Yes, the imprint is “Clean Teen” but if that’s your angle maybe don’t set your novels in a prostitution ring. All other characters are molds, who act as mere props to the plot: you need Serenity to have a friendly interactions, Character A is friendly; you need a cat fight, Character B is there; you need a new interaction but it’s too late to introduce a new character, Character B has a left-field change of heart, and so on. The setting works the same way: super secure location with high tech and trained guardians all around... the rooms have secret tunnels behind the mirrors which can be accessed either way and no one controls. Ok.
The foreword and final research suggestions remain interesting, although a list of actual suggested reading might have been more helpful than a “research this, research that” hint. It’s also nice that a part of the sale proceedings from these novels go to anti-trafficking organizations, although unfortunately the book was free on Amazon when I bought it.
All things considered, I won’t bother with the sequels.
I picked up this book knowing it was one of those dime-a-dozen series starters which would have all the usual tropes of its genre (in this case, dystopia), but given the premise and the foreword I was intrigued. Here was an author that knew her topic firsthand (ok, maybe secondhand since she’s not a sex worker herself) and whose story and themes were born in real life before transferring to paper: I thought I might have found a rare diamond in the rough. I was wrong.
The setup is actually intriguing and original. In a world were sex trafficking has become the norm and organized crime runs the Country, women have become a commodity and it seems like their only option in life is to be a sex worker or breeder (if they are lucky enough to be fertile). There’s different stages of sex working, though: the usual Red Light Districts (here Glass Districts), carousels, movies, or museums, where women are first exposed as works of art and then bid upon by clients for the night. Here is where it all stops making sense.
Despite the fact that Countries where prostitution is legal haven’t yet transformed into reigns of chauvinism, rampant trafficking and crime, I really fail to see the appeal of museums beyond the first visit or two. Displays are stationary, so you basically pay to go in and see girls painted and dressed as birds (or other stuff, in other museums) standing within elaborate and artistic frames... and that’s supposed to get you hard enough to want to bang one of them for money later on. A lot is made about the fact that Serenity, our protagonist, has a moving exhibit but, again, it’s less than three minutes of her showing up in costume, diving into an artificial pond and coming out of the water. End of the exhibit. As beautiful her swimming might be and despite how pure she looks in comparison with other girls, thanks to her secluded upbringing, it’s still a 3-minutes trick. And it sends the male world into a paroxysm. Ok.
As the novel makes it abundantly clear that Serenity’s family was a rarity, and that her father and her guardian Sky are so special because they treat women as their peers, this set up reeks of sexism from every side. Towards men. I am aware that society could very easily evolve into something abhorrent, but it’s still very hard to buy the fact that men could all of a sudden transform into leery animals willing to reduce their sex experience to rape and financial transactions. If anything, after a while they’d become desensitized to all the sexual content around them. Also, homosexuality has apparently disappeared.
The whole novel takes place in one of the top museums of the Country: the Aviary, where every girl is a specific Bird and Director Owl cares for them all much more than any regular madame and, besides the little fact that the girls have sex for money with the highest bidders and can’t leave, they seem content and treated well. So it’s a kind of haven for the girls in this world who don’t know any better, but this is explained in bits and pieces throughout the novel because Serenity doesn’t want to hear or believe any of it and despite everyone telling her she needs to behave and realize the Aviary is a good place no one really tells her why in any kind of detail. I get wanting to avoid info-dumping, but it makes zero sense that the guy who paid for owning her would simply be like “yeah, I’m a good guy really, trust me” if he were really interested in her believing him (which he is).
Then again, Nightingale takes great offense when Serenity implies that seven year old Finch might have her own exhibit, as the Aviary only sells girls at the ripe old age of 16. Not 10 pages later, we find out Mockingjay, who freely talks about her exhibit and clients, is 15. Ok.
A lot of other things in the novel are poorly thought out. For example, the whole plot hinges on the fact that since everyone’s DNA is recorded and stored, the Aviary knows right away who Serenity’s parents are... but no one knows that Mockingjay is Dove’s daughter. Ok. It might be argued that Dove’s DNA isn’t stored because she retired from prostitution before they started this practice, but then it makes zero sense that Force’s DNA would be stored, since he’s definitely not a prostitute: either everyone is catalogued or it should be explained why a Director is and a museum employee is not.
The writing is another sore spot. Descriptions are vague: Birds are described only in colors and exhibits not at all, Serenity’s outfits are a cacophony of “she puts some feathers here and some pearls there and I’m painted all over”. Similes often make no sense whatsoever and the bird analogies are pushed way overboard, especially considering we move in Serenity’s head who rejects the Aviary and still takes to the bird talk immediately and automatically thinks in terms of feathers and talons as soon as she enters the museum. The style is also often jarring, with the narration relying too much on “surprise twists” that change the meaning of a scene or action after it happened.
Characterization is as generic as they come: pure but fiery virgin protagonist, strong, warm, and reassuring brother-figure, icy and enticing newcomer. In a world where sex is basically the only commodity, everyone gets raped or sold every day except our main character and the sexual tension the two men should bring to the table is... lukewarm, to say the least. Yes, the imprint is “Clean Teen” but if that’s your angle maybe don’t set your novels in a prostitution ring. All other characters are molds, who act as mere props to the plot: you need Serenity to have a friendly interactions, Character A is friendly; you need a cat fight, Character B is there; you need a new interaction but it’s too late to introduce a new character, Character B has a left-field change of heart, and so on. The setting works the same way: super secure location with high tech and trained guardians all around... the rooms have secret tunnels behind the mirrors which can be accessed either way and no one controls. Ok.
The foreword and final research suggestions remain interesting, although a list of actual suggested reading might have been more helpful than a “research this, research that” hint. It’s also nice that a part of the sale proceedings from these novels go to anti-trafficking organizations, although unfortunately the book was free on Amazon when I bought it.
All things considered, I won’t bother with the sequels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2020
Wow! Rarely do I ever read the blurbs on books, but I go by the cover and title as well as word of mouth. The cover pulled me in but little did I know that this book would be set in a world where sex trafficking is the norm. (Disgusting!) Of course, that doesn't mean that people like it nor that parents don't do all they can to protect their children from it. Such was the situation with Serenity (kind of an ironic name for this book). She is only sixteen years old and she is like most typical teenagers and doesn't always obey their rules. So one night she sneaks out and ends up getting kidnapped. That only begins her journey into a different world. She is being groomed to be the most special and desired bird in the museum she's been purchased by: a beautiful swan.
When I looked at the gorgeous cover, I definitely didn't expect what I got. That being said, while the story is a dark one and one in which most of us can't fathom, it was surprising to find that not all girls who were purchased for a museum wanted desperately to leave. I don't want to spoil this one, so you'll have to read it to discover the beauty in such a dark world of sex trafficking.
When I looked at the gorgeous cover, I definitely didn't expect what I got. That being said, while the story is a dark one and one in which most of us can't fathom, it was surprising to find that not all girls who were purchased for a museum wanted desperately to leave. I don't want to spoil this one, so you'll have to read it to discover the beauty in such a dark world of sex trafficking.
March 17, 2019
Beautiful and frightening
In a world where prostitution isn’t a crime women’s rights are basically the right to please a man, Serenity must overcome her biggest fears and relearn who she is and discover who she will become. Emily writes an attention grabbing story with lovable characters and a unique storyline.
The aviary is a cautionary tale of what could come. So many times prostitution or sexual situations are glamorized/hollywoodised we lose sight of the big picture. The Aviary is a stark and frightening reminder of what could be.
In a world where prostitution isn’t a crime women’s rights are basically the right to please a man, Serenity must overcome her biggest fears and relearn who she is and discover who she will become. Emily writes an attention grabbing story with lovable characters and a unique storyline.
The aviary is a cautionary tale of what could come. So many times prostitution or sexual situations are glamorized/hollywoodised we lose sight of the big picture. The Aviary is a stark and frightening reminder of what could be.
March 20, 2019
The writing is beautiful and strong, the prose poetic even, but I felt at times more focus was given to the words and not enough to how to weave the story. While the analogies were brilliant and often hauntingly beautiful, there were just too many and they were used too often, and as a result I didn’t feel like there was any real build up of the characters or story to really suck me in.
While I appreciate the purpose of the story and the attempt made, I had a really difficult time sympathizing with Serenity. I understand that a woman in a situation like this can eventually break down and almost embrace the role as a way of survival, but with Serenity, it happened too soon. She went from being a very innocent and protected girl to wanting to embrace the looks she got from men, and it didn’t make sense given how she had been raised to hide, and even dislike, her own beauty. If more time had passed it would have made sense, but to have her embrace this world so quickly felt wrong and rushed.
The world was also a little confusing. I get that prostitution was legalized, but why does that mean kidnapping is okay? And more than once “couples” are mentioned, so it seems that not all women were at risk. Why? What saved someone women more than others? Only beauty? I had a lot of questions about the world building that never really seemed to be answered.
My biggest issue was Luc as some kind of romanticized love interest. NO! This is just perpetuating the idea that women have, romanticizing the BAD guy, like Christian Grey, and making it seem like if he’s good looking or rich enough it doesn’t matter how evil or damaged he is, he will change for you. I was so disgusted by Serenity’s attraction to Luc that I almost stopped reading a dozen times. If she had been groomed, if she had been saved by him or grown up in the house, I could see it. I could understand how her feelings could be confused. But Serenity was there for a day and was already attracted to him. After a month, she was savoring his kisses. NO. This girl did not grow up there. It was too much too soon for no reason other than to add a romantic element to the story, and it is sick. We need to stop putting bad boys in a romantic light and instead let teenagers know it’s okay to want the good guy. It’s okay to date the guy that you are PROUD to bring home to your parents. For 99% of the book Luc is nothing more than a glorified sociopath. Someone who can’t feel real connections and emotions, so instead has imagined some deep love for “Swan” even though he knows nothing about her. The worst part: she buys into it. Even the twist at the end wouldn't make me change my mind about him. He was just a sick character all around.
While I appreciate the purpose of the story and the attempt made, I had a really difficult time sympathizing with Serenity. I understand that a woman in a situation like this can eventually break down and almost embrace the role as a way of survival, but with Serenity, it happened too soon. She went from being a very innocent and protected girl to wanting to embrace the looks she got from men, and it didn’t make sense given how she had been raised to hide, and even dislike, her own beauty. If more time had passed it would have made sense, but to have her embrace this world so quickly felt wrong and rushed.
The world was also a little confusing. I get that prostitution was legalized, but why does that mean kidnapping is okay? And more than once “couples” are mentioned, so it seems that not all women were at risk. Why? What saved someone women more than others? Only beauty? I had a lot of questions about the world building that never really seemed to be answered.
My biggest issue was Luc as some kind of romanticized love interest. NO! This is just perpetuating the idea that women have, romanticizing the BAD guy, like Christian Grey, and making it seem like if he’s good looking or rich enough it doesn’t matter how evil or damaged he is, he will change for you. I was so disgusted by Serenity’s attraction to Luc that I almost stopped reading a dozen times. If she had been groomed, if she had been saved by him or grown up in the house, I could see it. I could understand how her feelings could be confused. But Serenity was there for a day and was already attracted to him. After a month, she was savoring his kisses. NO. This girl did not grow up there. It was too much too soon for no reason other than to add a romantic element to the story, and it is sick. We need to stop putting bad boys in a romantic light and instead let teenagers know it’s okay to want the good guy. It’s okay to date the guy that you are PROUD to bring home to your parents. For 99% of the book Luc is nothing more than a glorified sociopath. Someone who can’t feel real connections and emotions, so instead has imagined some deep love for “Swan” even though he knows nothing about her. The worst part: she buys into it. Even the twist at the end wouldn't make me change my mind about him. He was just a sick character all around.
October 17, 2019
The Aviary, by Emily Shore, is such a good book. It started off as if it was a romance book, which I personally don't like, but then it got into more psychological and really dug into Serenity's brain. Serenity has been hidden for her entire life. Her family and best friend Sky were the only interactions she had until the day she gets caught and brought to the world of beauty. The world of beauty is completely different than what Serenity thought. "One thing Sky taught me well: never use my real name, but always keep it close. Alice Trinity. Serenity Lace." The world Serenity is from and the world she is shoved into having a huge gap in between them.
I thought this book was such an interesting choice because the summary of the book was as helpful to explain what the book is actually like. The author has this way of taking characters like Serenity and Sky and almost manipulating you into thinking one way, but then the plot turns and you suddenly see the characters in a completely new light. The characters that I found most interesting were Luc Aldaine the director of the museum, and all the different birds, from Blackbird to Nightingale. Luc changes from this director who is stern and mean, to this guy who actually cares about Serenity. "Luc explains, joining his hands behind his back. “We have over a hundred Birds here. Unlike most museum directors, I take a special interest in each and every one. It’s why I’ve achieved such success. First and foremost, I am their Owl because I am the ruler of the night. You will call me Owl or Director Aldaine." Luc starts out saying this to her, and it makes it seem like he wasn’t very friendly, but later in the book, he becomes friendlier and you almost believe he cares for his “birds”.
One thing I didn’t like about this book was that it was very sexist. The females in this book are put in this light that they were just possessions, they weren’t human beings and they weren’t really in control of what they could and couldn’t do. A lot of the females grew up this way, their parents grew up so they assumed it was a correct way, but Serenity wasn’t going to form to their guidelines. When she gets caught in the beginning she doesn’t trust anybody she tries to run away multiple times, but Luc would somehow find her or catch her, Luc says after catching Serenity the first time “You think this place is a cage. But where you came from is the real cage." The girls in this place that Serenity is in they are called birds. “Your virginity alone would qualify you for Temple standing." They are purely based upon their ability to seduce and have sex with their clients. I personally liked this book but was very uncomfortable with the way the author made the woman an object rather than humans in this book.
I thought this book was such an interesting choice because the summary of the book was as helpful to explain what the book is actually like. The author has this way of taking characters like Serenity and Sky and almost manipulating you into thinking one way, but then the plot turns and you suddenly see the characters in a completely new light. The characters that I found most interesting were Luc Aldaine the director of the museum, and all the different birds, from Blackbird to Nightingale. Luc changes from this director who is stern and mean, to this guy who actually cares about Serenity. "Luc explains, joining his hands behind his back. “We have over a hundred Birds here. Unlike most museum directors, I take a special interest in each and every one. It’s why I’ve achieved such success. First and foremost, I am their Owl because I am the ruler of the night. You will call me Owl or Director Aldaine." Luc starts out saying this to her, and it makes it seem like he wasn’t very friendly, but later in the book, he becomes friendlier and you almost believe he cares for his “birds”.
One thing I didn’t like about this book was that it was very sexist. The females in this book are put in this light that they were just possessions, they weren’t human beings and they weren’t really in control of what they could and couldn’t do. A lot of the females grew up this way, their parents grew up so they assumed it was a correct way, but Serenity wasn’t going to form to their guidelines. When she gets caught in the beginning she doesn’t trust anybody she tries to run away multiple times, but Luc would somehow find her or catch her, Luc says after catching Serenity the first time “You think this place is a cage. But where you came from is the real cage." The girls in this place that Serenity is in they are called birds. “Your virginity alone would qualify you for Temple standing." They are purely based upon their ability to seduce and have sex with their clients. I personally liked this book but was very uncomfortable with the way the author made the woman an object rather than humans in this book.
March 11, 2019
A breath of fresh air
Emily takes you on an amazing journey that's foreign but to close to reality. She makes you fall in love with a girl who trying to stay true to herself while discovering who she is, a protector who was never allowed to love and a demon who must chose between family and love.
Emily takes you on an amazing journey that's foreign but to close to reality. She makes you fall in love with a girl who trying to stay true to herself while discovering who she is, a protector who was never allowed to love and a demon who must chose between family and love.
February 7, 2022
I am nobody's Swan.
The start of this book hit the ground running—and then kept on running, twisting, surprising me at every turn, as I met new characters, the plot thickened, and I soon found myself lost in a maze of truths and lies.
This book. Oh man.
The last book that has made me feel so many conflicting emotions regarding characters and managed to turn me into a paranoid ball of fear and nerves must've been The 5th Wave (and sequels). Since then, I've never felt like this again.
Until The Aviary.
I loved this book far more than I thought I would. The concept is absolutely horrifying, and the characters are so complex—Luc, I think, most of all. I swear, I wanted to hate the guy. He stands for everything that is wrong and corrupted in The Aviary's world, no matter that he keeps trying to prove he's better than most. And yet... he pulled at my heartstrings several times, making me believe that maybe deep down he is a good guy. (My theory so far? I think he might be good, but has been born in the wrong family, the wrong kind of world, and had to twist and warp himself in order to adapt. Still, he clings to the purity left inside of him... and he sees that purity in Serenity, which is why he's so obsessed with her.)
However, Luc wasn't the only one who made me doubt him the entire book, because this book made me so paranoid that I began to doubt almost every single character. Including Sky. Yes. Really.
Next to that, I was impressed with Serenity's character development. How she stubbornly clung to her true self, but also began to lose herself to a new identity — that of the Swan. Like I said, it was all so complex... and I LOVE complex stories and characters.
The writing is gorgeous, the pacing excellent, and the twist at the end... I did NOT see that coming — despite me being paranoid all the time, some characters genuinely took me by surprise with their role in all of what was going on.
I'll definitely buy book 2, and cannot wait to continue this series! Five fat stars.
The start of this book hit the ground running—and then kept on running, twisting, surprising me at every turn, as I met new characters, the plot thickened, and I soon found myself lost in a maze of truths and lies.
This book. Oh man.
The last book that has made me feel so many conflicting emotions regarding characters and managed to turn me into a paranoid ball of fear and nerves must've been The 5th Wave (and sequels). Since then, I've never felt like this again.
Until The Aviary.
I loved this book far more than I thought I would. The concept is absolutely horrifying, and the characters are so complex—Luc, I think, most of all. I swear, I wanted to hate the guy. He stands for everything that is wrong and corrupted in The Aviary's world, no matter that he keeps trying to prove he's better than most. And yet... he pulled at my heartstrings several times, making me believe that maybe deep down he is a good guy. (My theory so far? I think he might be good, but has been born in the wrong family, the wrong kind of world, and had to twist and warp himself in order to adapt. Still, he clings to the purity left inside of him... and he sees that purity in Serenity, which is why he's so obsessed with her.)
However, Luc wasn't the only one who made me doubt him the entire book, because this book made me so paranoid that I began to doubt almost every single character. Including Sky. Yes. Really.
Next to that, I was impressed with Serenity's character development. How she stubbornly clung to her true self, but also began to lose herself to a new identity — that of the Swan. Like I said, it was all so complex... and I LOVE complex stories and characters.
The writing is gorgeous, the pacing excellent, and the twist at the end... I did NOT see that coming — despite me being paranoid all the time, some characters genuinely took me by surprise with their role in all of what was going on.
I'll definitely buy book 2, and cannot wait to continue this series! Five fat stars.
May 23, 2020
The Aviary is a young adult romance...but it is also so much more. Set in a dystopian future where women are a traded commodity and being beautiful is a curse that attracts the eyes and lust of men who inexplicably no longer have any respect or self-control (or maybe it's that this futuristic society normalises such behaviour such that it became acceptable), the story revolves around Serenity Lace, a girl who has spent her whole life in hiding until she is kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder. Purchased by the director of the Aviary, a high-tier museum that features women as living exhibits to be displayed by day and rented by night, Serenity's greatest fear is the idea of growing comfortable in her new life...and with the director himself.
The bird theme is strong with this book, each girl embodying the colour, traits, and mannerisms of the bird they are chosen to represent in the museum. It's heavy on the symbolism, from the frequent metaphors scattered through the pages, to the acts of the heroine, to the book itself, which was written to raise awareness of sex trafficking and concepts such as dissociative identity disorder, Stockholm Syndrome and grooming... albeit in a written form teenage girls would actually read, hence the ridiculous love story behind it that in my opinion, weakens the message by almost romanticising what the director does.
But as much as the MC dithers and gets caught up in her new world, she does bring it back to reality, by feeling conflicted about taking any happiness in preening before adoring crowds in beautiful dresses in such horrific circumstances, the tirade she unleashes towards the end that demands they stop pretending that these are anything but scared little girls enslaved by a patriarchal culture, and how when it comes down to it, she puts her convictions before any romance.
It's a complex story that polarises not just between readers, but within the reader itself. Hauntingly beautiful, stunningly poetic, and a fair few twists scattered throughout.
"The districts wear lust on their sleeves. Roll those sleeves up, and one will only discover bruises and brands on silken skin and needle marks confessing the arts of submission and coping."
The bird theme is strong with this book, each girl embodying the colour, traits, and mannerisms of the bird they are chosen to represent in the museum. It's heavy on the symbolism, from the frequent metaphors scattered through the pages, to the acts of the heroine, to the book itself, which was written to raise awareness of sex trafficking and concepts such as dissociative identity disorder, Stockholm Syndrome and grooming... albeit in a written form teenage girls would actually read, hence the ridiculous love story behind it that in my opinion, weakens the message by almost romanticising what the director does.
But as much as the MC dithers and gets caught up in her new world, she does bring it back to reality, by feeling conflicted about taking any happiness in preening before adoring crowds in beautiful dresses in such horrific circumstances, the tirade she unleashes towards the end that demands they stop pretending that these are anything but scared little girls enslaved by a patriarchal culture, and how when it comes down to it, she puts her convictions before any romance.
It's a complex story that polarises not just between readers, but within the reader itself. Hauntingly beautiful, stunningly poetic, and a fair few twists scattered throughout.
"The districts wear lust on their sleeves. Roll those sleeves up, and one will only discover bruises and brands on silken skin and needle marks confessing the arts of submission and coping."
August 10, 2022
That was rough. The story literally did not make sense and nothing even happened until the last 20 pages. Not sure when diving and swimming became such a draw, but the thought that it is drawing all these people is just ludicrous. Pretty sure there is more than one tiny big breasted girl out there. They probably could have gotten one a little less stupid too. I could have overlooked that ridiculous plot and maybe even still enjoyed the book, but the writing was atrocious. I don't mind descriptions of the exhibits and birds and such. The author was obviously very into them. My issue was with things such as this,
"Her curls remind me of my own as they wildly ravish her body to her hips..."
This was about a 7 year old girl.
"Her silver hair is straighter, shorter, and embraces her cheekbones rather than smacks at them like my voracious curls."
If only everyone had curls like this chick.
"He tastes like dark water, feels like frosted glass, smells like salt and iron, and he plunges his ice deep into my heart while his hands reach up to capture the back of my head, pulling me closer.
Is that legal?
"Snowflakes, hundreds of them, float through air, each one like a tuft of magic as they frolic on the branches of the trees, prance across my skin and in my hair, while the rest pirouette onto the feathers below me.
...you mean it's snowing!?
I really have so much more to say about this book, but I will stop now. Something the author should have done a thousand purple prose ago.
"Her curls remind me of my own as they wildly ravish her body to her hips..."
This was about a 7 year old girl.
"Her silver hair is straighter, shorter, and embraces her cheekbones rather than smacks at them like my voracious curls."
If only everyone had curls like this chick.
"He tastes like dark water, feels like frosted glass, smells like salt and iron, and he plunges his ice deep into my heart while his hands reach up to capture the back of my head, pulling me closer.
Is that legal?
"Snowflakes, hundreds of them, float through air, each one like a tuft of magic as they frolic on the branches of the trees, prance across my skin and in my hair, while the rest pirouette onto the feathers below me.
...you mean it's snowing!?
I really have so much more to say about this book, but I will stop now. Something the author should have done a thousand purple prose ago.
Want to read
April 10, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/10/2019)! 🎁
Blurb:
"Gentlemen, we have a special treat for you today. Feast your eyes on this pure-blooded beauty!"
Sixteen-year-old Serenity has spent her entire life in hiding to protect her from this exact moment. In a world where beauty is bought and sold on the streets like a corporate commodity, Serenity's natural assets are more like liabilities. Despite her parents' best efforts, she's been taken—ripped from her home and the only life she's ever known—to find herself on sale to the highest bidder. And that bidder? Enigmatic and dangerous, Luc is the director of The Aviary—an elite museum where girls are displayed as living art by day…and cater to the lascivious whims of the highest bidder by night. In this elaborate and competitive world, girls go by names like Raven and Nightingale, and will stop at nothing to become top Bird.
Luc comes to idolize Serenity's purity and aims to turn her into his grandest exhibit of all time—The Swan. In no time, she becomes one of the most coveted exhibits in Aviary history. When she discovers Luc holds the key to finding her parents, she must learn to play The Swan to perfection…to win his heart and earn his trust. But she doesn't anticipate falling for him in the process. Now she faces an impossible choice: escape The Aviary and lose her only chance at finding her parents—or become Luc's Swan for good and lose her identity forever.
Blurb:
"Gentlemen, we have a special treat for you today. Feast your eyes on this pure-blooded beauty!"
Sixteen-year-old Serenity has spent her entire life in hiding to protect her from this exact moment. In a world where beauty is bought and sold on the streets like a corporate commodity, Serenity's natural assets are more like liabilities. Despite her parents' best efforts, she's been taken—ripped from her home and the only life she's ever known—to find herself on sale to the highest bidder. And that bidder? Enigmatic and dangerous, Luc is the director of The Aviary—an elite museum where girls are displayed as living art by day…and cater to the lascivious whims of the highest bidder by night. In this elaborate and competitive world, girls go by names like Raven and Nightingale, and will stop at nothing to become top Bird.
Luc comes to idolize Serenity's purity and aims to turn her into his grandest exhibit of all time—The Swan. In no time, she becomes one of the most coveted exhibits in Aviary history. When she discovers Luc holds the key to finding her parents, she must learn to play The Swan to perfection…to win his heart and earn his trust. But she doesn't anticipate falling for him in the process. Now she faces an impossible choice: escape The Aviary and lose her only chance at finding her parents—or become Luc's Swan for good and lose her identity forever.
June 7, 2020
Different...
This was a fairly quick read. I liked the idea of the story but don’t feel like it was pulled off...some aspects were confusing and the whole world was disjointed to me...I also wasn’t a huge fan of the main character and found both love interests weak and “soft”
This was a fairly quick read. I liked the idea of the story but don’t feel like it was pulled off...some aspects were confusing and the whole world was disjointed to me...I also wasn’t a huge fan of the main character and found both love interests weak and “soft”
June 3, 2020
Totally missed the point about sex trafficking. Just ridiculous with the bird stuff.
February 16, 2021
DNF at 31%.
August 17, 2019
Trigger Warning: This is a difficult read. The author provides a content note that states "the goal of The Aviary Trilogy is to raise awareness about the devastating effects of sex-trafficking. The Aviary's major theme is a struggle with identity.
These books brush on themes of abuse and manipulation, dissociation, pornography, Stockholm Syndrome, drug use in the industry, and various other subjects. Stories were inspired by real-world truths from survivors and rescue workers. A portion of The Aviary's proceeds will always go to benefit Women at Risk, International."
3.5 - The h, Serenity, is strong and deals with numerous difficult and traumatic experiences at the same time as she finds her own identity. Women in this world have become commodities. It is appalling and a look at a horrible and painful truth of sex-trafficking, legalized prostitution that has become corporation run houses/museums, rape, drug abuse and breeding programs.
Aside from the heavy subjects, I found the illiterations and purple prose to be annoying at times. I may continue the series as I am interested in where the story is heading.
These books brush on themes of abuse and manipulation, dissociation, pornography, Stockholm Syndrome, drug use in the industry, and various other subjects. Stories were inspired by real-world truths from survivors and rescue workers. A portion of The Aviary's proceeds will always go to benefit Women at Risk, International."
3.5 - The h, Serenity, is strong and deals with numerous difficult and traumatic experiences at the same time as she finds her own identity. Women in this world have become commodities. It is appalling and a look at a horrible and painful truth of sex-trafficking, legalized prostitution that has become corporation run houses/museums, rape, drug abuse and breeding programs.
Aside from the heavy subjects, I found the illiterations and purple prose to be annoying at times. I may continue the series as I am interested in where the story is heading.
January 21, 2021
First off, let me start by saying I have not read the entire book. The first fifty or so pages were available as a free sample and I wanted to check it out before committing money to buying the book.
I am so glad I read the sample before buying it! Frankly, this book reads a lot like bizarre, confused propaganda. I understand the author has worked with sex trafficking victims and that a portion of the proceeds go to help women rescued from sex trafficking. However, my issue is that within the first few pages of the book, it sets itself up as really just being propaganda against sex work. There is a world of difference between sex trafficking, which is what the book is about, and legalized prostitution. The book takes place in a world where prostitution was legalized. Subsequently, women lost all their value, all their rights and kidnapping & rape became legal and commonly accepted. Yeah, that makes sense. Serenity goes on to talk about how her family, a “true” family unit of a loving mother and father, is so unusual in this new world. Because, again, legalizing prostitution led to the downfall of humanity’s instinctual basic family unit. Women can be ransomed back from kidnappers by wealthy family, but according to Serenity, most don’t bother, because again, legalizing prostitution means that women have no inherent value anymore and thus not even their own family typically cares about them anymore. Oh and babies are born to the sex slaves, which are then in turn used for sex trafficking as well. Again, pedophilia and child sex slaves are somehow the product of prostitution being legalized. As I said, it all reads like a lot of propaganda about how legalizing sex work would inevitably lead to the downfall of the family unit and the destruction of women’s rights and value in society.
Beyond that, I didn’t get to it yet obviously, but she STILL manages to fall in love with the man who bought her and forced her to be a slave? One review referred to Luc as “her boss”; he isn’t her boss, he owns her. He literally owns hundreds of sex slaves but Serenity still falls in love with him. Great message there, yeah.
Lastly, frankly, the writing is straight up BAD. I know its meant for teenagers but everything felt so....empty. The sample I read didn’t evoke any emotion towards or from the main character. She had just been kidnapped & sold into sex slavery but she just calmly narrates everything about their society to the reader like nothing upsetting has happened. Any action she takes (like half hearted attempts to fight back) happen very rapidly and are hard to follow because entire sequence of events take place in like, two sentences. Overall just very superficial writing style that doesn’t make you feel anything for the characters. As I said, I will not be buying for finishing this book at reading the disappointing sample.
I am so glad I read the sample before buying it! Frankly, this book reads a lot like bizarre, confused propaganda. I understand the author has worked with sex trafficking victims and that a portion of the proceeds go to help women rescued from sex trafficking. However, my issue is that within the first few pages of the book, it sets itself up as really just being propaganda against sex work. There is a world of difference between sex trafficking, which is what the book is about, and legalized prostitution. The book takes place in a world where prostitution was legalized. Subsequently, women lost all their value, all their rights and kidnapping & rape became legal and commonly accepted. Yeah, that makes sense. Serenity goes on to talk about how her family, a “true” family unit of a loving mother and father, is so unusual in this new world. Because, again, legalizing prostitution led to the downfall of humanity’s instinctual basic family unit. Women can be ransomed back from kidnappers by wealthy family, but according to Serenity, most don’t bother, because again, legalizing prostitution means that women have no inherent value anymore and thus not even their own family typically cares about them anymore. Oh and babies are born to the sex slaves, which are then in turn used for sex trafficking as well. Again, pedophilia and child sex slaves are somehow the product of prostitution being legalized. As I said, it all reads like a lot of propaganda about how legalizing sex work would inevitably lead to the downfall of the family unit and the destruction of women’s rights and value in society.
Beyond that, I didn’t get to it yet obviously, but she STILL manages to fall in love with the man who bought her and forced her to be a slave? One review referred to Luc as “her boss”; he isn’t her boss, he owns her. He literally owns hundreds of sex slaves but Serenity still falls in love with him. Great message there, yeah.
Lastly, frankly, the writing is straight up BAD. I know its meant for teenagers but everything felt so....empty. The sample I read didn’t evoke any emotion towards or from the main character. She had just been kidnapped & sold into sex slavery but she just calmly narrates everything about their society to the reader like nothing upsetting has happened. Any action she takes (like half hearted attempts to fight back) happen very rapidly and are hard to follow because entire sequence of events take place in like, two sentences. Overall just very superficial writing style that doesn’t make you feel anything for the characters. As I said, I will not be buying for finishing this book at reading the disappointing sample.
June 8, 2019
I had seen this book cover and fell in love with it quite a few months ago, whilst on a dystopian book group on Facebook. The beautiful ice blue hues of the cover with the silver white blonde-haired female dressed in an outfit made with white feathers, complete with wings made from feathers. As you read the book you realise the image on the cover is in fact the main female character of Serenity, when she is made into the Swan by Luc Aldaine, the director of the museum of birds. Once I read the blurb I knew I had to but it to read as soon as I could.
Serenity has spent all her life so far hiding in various homes or hotels as she travels with her family. IT is dangerous to be female as you risk being captured and sold. She never goes anywhere alone, if her parents aren’t with her Skylar is with her acting as her bodyguard, ensuring she doesn’t get into any trouble. So, it is quite irresponsible of her to sneak out after dark, after closing time to swim in the hotel pool. Serenity loves water and after waiting for Skylar to return she becomes impatient and reckless and decides to go for a swim alone, she really doesn’t see the danger and the water seems to call to her.
Serenity is captured and finds herself in a cage in the Glass District being sold to the highest bidder, which happens to be Luc Aldaine, director of the second largest museum. (The biggest being The Temple and is run by Director Force). The auctioneer wants to start the bidding at one hundred thousand dollars and is visibly shocked when a bid for fifty million is bid. Serenity finds herself sold. Not one to hold back or hide her feelings, when Serenity is removed from her cage and finds herself standing behind the auctioneer who just sold her she cannot risk the temptation of revenge. Serenity brings one leg up and kicks hard, landing a flawless bulls-eye into the auctioneer’s pudgy ass. She hadn’t intended what happened, which was the auctioneer to topple off the stage! Serenity has a sedative patch slapped onto her arm.
Serenity has been sold to Luc Aldaine, a museum director and amateur historian. His museum has girls representing different birds. Serenity is given the immortal implant, that removes any flaws in her skin and heals bodily injuries much quicker to heal. She is also branded with a silver feather on her shoulder.
It soon becomes apparent that Serenity is to be the jewel in the crown for the museum, she is to take up the role of a Swan. Luc has been searching for years for that one girl who would be his swan. Serenity is also valuable as she is a virgin. Her virginity will be something else someone will pay an expensive price for, and she will have no say at all who she will be sleeping with. It soon becomes apparent that Luc is somewhat obsessed with Serenity even though she refuses to give him her real name. As Serenity is such an expensive, envied commodity Luc hires a guard to watch over her. Luckily for Serenity, Skylar has managed to acquire this job, though as he is in the Bird’s Museum his name is Vulture. The girls at the museum call Luc, Director or Owl, which is probably why Serenity/Swan insists on calling him Luc. Serenity has to quickly learn how to put on the character of The Swan as well as what her rank is in the bird museum, there are a few birds only too happy to put her back in the position they think she should be in. All the girls are known by their bird, so Serenity becomes “Swan”.
When Skylar manages to be alone and not recorded in any way, he tells Serenity he needs to continue to act as if she is going along with everything, to give hm time to find out where her parents have disappeared to and rescue them. He also gives Serenity her mother’s journal saying she needs to read it as there are certain things, she now needs to know that her parents were keeping from her. Serenity already knows her father, Kerrick rescued her mother from the largest museum, The Temple which is run by Director Force who was a violent and cruel master to her mother who was his Unicorn. There are many revelations contained in the journal that Serenity hides in her wardrobe to read away from the camera’s and recording devices that are in the museum both openly and overtly.
I could honestly go on and on about this book, I truly loved reading every word of it. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the other girls/birds at Luc’s museum. It’s interesting to learn how the girls/birds ranking effects some of their personalities. So, the former top three positions belonged to Nightingale, Peacock and Blackbird. Serenity/Swan is warned quite quickly who she needs to stay away from if at all possible, by the caretaker she has been assigned, Dove, who also tells her that all the girls have a good life here at Luc’s, though Serenity thinks it is bad enough being stared at in the exhibitions and thinks it abhorrent that the girls/birds have to take private clients in rooms to make money for the museum. Despite promising Skylar that she will play along with being the Swan until he has freed her parents she is determined to escape before she has to go in a private room with clients.
Now onto my favourite characters, of course I instantly loved Serenity/Swan and Skylar/Vulture, I enjoyed their familiar relationship that at times allowed them to communicate without words. Hmmm, I so, onto Luc Aldaine/Owl the director of the bird museum, I certainly didn’t instantly like him, I was more wary and waiting for him to do something awful and unforgivable to Serenity/Swan. It’s bad enough he bought her, a man thinking its acceptable to own women! Then you learn about the other museums and the fates that the “free” girls in the Glass District face on a daily basis. I did instantly want to protect the character of Finch, a hatchling, a young girl in training who takes a liking to Serenity/Swan. Finch is quite happy to sit next to Serenity/Swan at meal times they all attend together happy to steal food from her plate. It amuses Serenity/Swan and she adores the hatchling, tirelessly answering all her questions. At one point in the book, Finch is about to get punished and Serenity/Swan flings herself down some stairs as a distraction, which works when the other girls/birds then push Finch behind them out of sight. This does go some way into the girls/birds accepting Swan as one of them.
I also liked Blackbird, Mockingbird, Dove and Flamingo. I grew to like Nightingale throughout the course of the book too.
I found this book really easy to read, it is written in a way that it just flows beautifully. I was very keen on the world building and how the author introduced the girls as different birds, their characters, and personalities. I enjoyed the “mean girls” aspect that was in the book, with Nightingale as former head girl being surpassed by Swan. The descriptions and depictions of Finch made you cherish her as much as the other characters in the book do.
I really enjoyed reading this book, the society created, the world the characters created are living in and the different girls as birds is brilliant! I enjoyed learning the girls, different temperaments, looks and backstories as well as how well they matched the birds assigned to each girl. Seriously I hated having to put this book down to do chores or go to sleep! I found the book to be an amazingly different dystopian. What would I compare it to? The Lone City by Amy Ewing, The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton and also a little of the Perfected Series by Kate Jarvik Birch. I have added the rest of The Uncaged series to my “Want To Read” list and am looking forward to reading more when I get the chance.
Serenity has spent all her life so far hiding in various homes or hotels as she travels with her family. IT is dangerous to be female as you risk being captured and sold. She never goes anywhere alone, if her parents aren’t with her Skylar is with her acting as her bodyguard, ensuring she doesn’t get into any trouble. So, it is quite irresponsible of her to sneak out after dark, after closing time to swim in the hotel pool. Serenity loves water and after waiting for Skylar to return she becomes impatient and reckless and decides to go for a swim alone, she really doesn’t see the danger and the water seems to call to her.
Serenity is captured and finds herself in a cage in the Glass District being sold to the highest bidder, which happens to be Luc Aldaine, director of the second largest museum. (The biggest being The Temple and is run by Director Force). The auctioneer wants to start the bidding at one hundred thousand dollars and is visibly shocked when a bid for fifty million is bid. Serenity finds herself sold. Not one to hold back or hide her feelings, when Serenity is removed from her cage and finds herself standing behind the auctioneer who just sold her she cannot risk the temptation of revenge. Serenity brings one leg up and kicks hard, landing a flawless bulls-eye into the auctioneer’s pudgy ass. She hadn’t intended what happened, which was the auctioneer to topple off the stage! Serenity has a sedative patch slapped onto her arm.
Serenity has been sold to Luc Aldaine, a museum director and amateur historian. His museum has girls representing different birds. Serenity is given the immortal implant, that removes any flaws in her skin and heals bodily injuries much quicker to heal. She is also branded with a silver feather on her shoulder.
It soon becomes apparent that Serenity is to be the jewel in the crown for the museum, she is to take up the role of a Swan. Luc has been searching for years for that one girl who would be his swan. Serenity is also valuable as she is a virgin. Her virginity will be something else someone will pay an expensive price for, and she will have no say at all who she will be sleeping with. It soon becomes apparent that Luc is somewhat obsessed with Serenity even though she refuses to give him her real name. As Serenity is such an expensive, envied commodity Luc hires a guard to watch over her. Luckily for Serenity, Skylar has managed to acquire this job, though as he is in the Bird’s Museum his name is Vulture. The girls at the museum call Luc, Director or Owl, which is probably why Serenity/Swan insists on calling him Luc. Serenity has to quickly learn how to put on the character of The Swan as well as what her rank is in the bird museum, there are a few birds only too happy to put her back in the position they think she should be in. All the girls are known by their bird, so Serenity becomes “Swan”.
When Skylar manages to be alone and not recorded in any way, he tells Serenity he needs to continue to act as if she is going along with everything, to give hm time to find out where her parents have disappeared to and rescue them. He also gives Serenity her mother’s journal saying she needs to read it as there are certain things, she now needs to know that her parents were keeping from her. Serenity already knows her father, Kerrick rescued her mother from the largest museum, The Temple which is run by Director Force who was a violent and cruel master to her mother who was his Unicorn. There are many revelations contained in the journal that Serenity hides in her wardrobe to read away from the camera’s and recording devices that are in the museum both openly and overtly.
I could honestly go on and on about this book, I truly loved reading every word of it. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the other girls/birds at Luc’s museum. It’s interesting to learn how the girls/birds ranking effects some of their personalities. So, the former top three positions belonged to Nightingale, Peacock and Blackbird. Serenity/Swan is warned quite quickly who she needs to stay away from if at all possible, by the caretaker she has been assigned, Dove, who also tells her that all the girls have a good life here at Luc’s, though Serenity thinks it is bad enough being stared at in the exhibitions and thinks it abhorrent that the girls/birds have to take private clients in rooms to make money for the museum. Despite promising Skylar that she will play along with being the Swan until he has freed her parents she is determined to escape before she has to go in a private room with clients.
Now onto my favourite characters, of course I instantly loved Serenity/Swan and Skylar/Vulture, I enjoyed their familiar relationship that at times allowed them to communicate without words. Hmmm, I so, onto Luc Aldaine/Owl the director of the bird museum, I certainly didn’t instantly like him, I was more wary and waiting for him to do something awful and unforgivable to Serenity/Swan. It’s bad enough he bought her, a man thinking its acceptable to own women! Then you learn about the other museums and the fates that the “free” girls in the Glass District face on a daily basis. I did instantly want to protect the character of Finch, a hatchling, a young girl in training who takes a liking to Serenity/Swan. Finch is quite happy to sit next to Serenity/Swan at meal times they all attend together happy to steal food from her plate. It amuses Serenity/Swan and she adores the hatchling, tirelessly answering all her questions. At one point in the book, Finch is about to get punished and Serenity/Swan flings herself down some stairs as a distraction, which works when the other girls/birds then push Finch behind them out of sight. This does go some way into the girls/birds accepting Swan as one of them.
I also liked Blackbird, Mockingbird, Dove and Flamingo. I grew to like Nightingale throughout the course of the book too.
I found this book really easy to read, it is written in a way that it just flows beautifully. I was very keen on the world building and how the author introduced the girls as different birds, their characters, and personalities. I enjoyed the “mean girls” aspect that was in the book, with Nightingale as former head girl being surpassed by Swan. The descriptions and depictions of Finch made you cherish her as much as the other characters in the book do.
I really enjoyed reading this book, the society created, the world the characters created are living in and the different girls as birds is brilliant! I enjoyed learning the girls, different temperaments, looks and backstories as well as how well they matched the birds assigned to each girl. Seriously I hated having to put this book down to do chores or go to sleep! I found the book to be an amazingly different dystopian. What would I compare it to? The Lone City by Amy Ewing, The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton and also a little of the Perfected Series by Kate Jarvik Birch. I have added the rest of The Uncaged series to my “Want To Read” list and am looking forward to reading more when I get the chance.
November 28, 2021
This book, for me, was undoubtedly one of the cut-and-bleed variety.
Both as beautiful as it was haunting, painting a tale with lush, magical prose, that covers—yet not masquerades—a cruel, wicked world that should not exist, but I inevitably does.
Every character somehow burrows under your skin, Serenity the most, as she tries to navigate the labyrinthine ways of the Aviary, as well as the heart and mind of its director, Luc. Both him, and her childhood friend, Sky, pulled at my heartstrings as I devoured the pages of this story, as well as Ser’s connections with the other Birds, finding and losing themselves in darkness and light.
I’ll be most certainly be purchasing its sequel, for I wish to learn how their stories continue, as well to support the efforts of this amazing author.
Five out of five stars from me.
Both as beautiful as it was haunting, painting a tale with lush, magical prose, that covers—yet not masquerades—a cruel, wicked world that should not exist, but I inevitably does.
Every character somehow burrows under your skin, Serenity the most, as she tries to navigate the labyrinthine ways of the Aviary, as well as the heart and mind of its director, Luc. Both him, and her childhood friend, Sky, pulled at my heartstrings as I devoured the pages of this story, as well as Ser’s connections with the other Birds, finding and losing themselves in darkness and light.
I’ll be most certainly be purchasing its sequel, for I wish to learn how their stories continue, as well to support the efforts of this amazing author.
Five out of five stars from me.
March 7, 2019
I just recently found this author and I'm blown away. The maturity of her writing is amazing. The worlds that she has created are so vivid and bright that you can't help but visualize yourself in her world. Serenity is forced into a world that no other would want. A world so bright and different than some of the others she could have been forced into. A world of Birds and beauty with a darkness hidden beneath. A world her parent's tried to protect her from until she was ripped away from them and sold to the highest bidder. This book is beautifully written with awesome characters and a wonderful message. I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author. You won't be disappointed.
April 15, 2019
Sucks you in
I love the way the author has of taking you for the ride of your life at first page. The story is so full of anticipation. It's hard to put down. You so want to root for Serenity and Sky. I am going to buy book 2 now.
I love the way the author has of taking you for the ride of your life at first page. The story is so full of anticipation. It's hard to put down. You so want to root for Serenity and Sky. I am going to buy book 2 now.
Read
March 31, 2022This was a very difficult book to rate.
On one hand, I appreciate the effort and the reason behind the story, and I understand it’s a very complicated story to tell. I can only imagine the things women have to do to survive this world, the sacrifices they have to make physically, mentally, and emotionally, but as much as I appreciate the effort, for me the story wasn’t developed enough. The characters weren’t developed, the world wasn’t developed. BUT because this has such a good message and such perfect moments of clarity sprinkled in, I’m giving it a lot of allowances I wouldn’t normally give. Plus, the writing was great, the cover beautiful, and the editing good.
On one hand, I appreciate the effort and the reason behind the story, and I understand it’s a very complicated story to tell. I can only imagine the things women have to do to survive this world, the sacrifices they have to make physically, mentally, and emotionally, but as much as I appreciate the effort, for me the story wasn’t developed enough. The characters weren’t developed, the world wasn’t developed. BUT because this has such a good message and such perfect moments of clarity sprinkled in, I’m giving it a lot of allowances I wouldn’t normally give. Plus, the writing was great, the cover beautiful, and the editing good.
October 2, 2020
Rating: 5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: frighteningly realistic glimpse into human trafficking....with a dystopian twist; this book HURT to read, and I can't wait to pick up the next one!; these characters will crawl under your skin and stay forever; gorgeous purple, poetic prose
I cannot, cannot, CANNOT believe that I own the second book in this series, and have yet to actually read it. Emily Shore, I AM SO SO SORRY about that! This book....this SERIES....promises to be the absolute death of my poor Penguin heart, and I am looooooooving it for that so hard!
These characters will crawl between the spaces of your ribs and live there for the rest of eternity. They are vibrant, they are haunting, they will cling and claw and keep themselves with you. I guarantee, if you pick this gorgeous book up, you will walk away a changed reader--it is THAT stunning. It is THAT powerful. It is THAT poignant. There are, absolutely, some difficult topics handled in these pages--so please, PLEASE, if you are easily triggered, take care while reading.
The prose is absolutely stunning. Emily Shore knows how to pen a lyrical, poetic story--and make it reverberate with her readers. There is a magic to these pages, that keep you enthralled, that keep you guessing, that keep you HURTING until the very end. If you don't believe me....reread those quotes, and tell me those don't strike a haunting note with something in your soul! This entire read is just breathtaking, and I am more than positive book two will be equally as beautiful.
I was thoroughly enthralled with Emily Shore's dystopian nightmare, and cannot wait to dive back into this world to see where our characters lead us. There is a magical, ethereal poignancy to the pages--I raced through this just to see how it ended, and was not disappointed. Flip the first page of The Aviary, Penguins...and stick around. You're bound to be just as stuck with the phantoms of this world and these characters as I am.
Quick Reasons: frighteningly realistic glimpse into human trafficking....with a dystopian twist; this book HURT to read, and I can't wait to pick up the next one!; these characters will crawl under your skin and stay forever; gorgeous purple, poetic prose
Melancholia etched in her gray eyes, with their fog of secrets. She doesn’t have the same fierceness as I do, but every once in a while, I catch warships passing through her irises. Like she’s still fighting some unknown demon.
I cannot, cannot, CANNOT believe that I own the second book in this series, and have yet to actually read it. Emily Shore, I AM SO SO SORRY about that! This book....this SERIES....promises to be the absolute death of my poor Penguin heart, and I am looooooooving it for that so hard!
These characters will crawl between the spaces of your ribs and live there for the rest of eternity. They are vibrant, they are haunting, they will cling and claw and keep themselves with you. I guarantee, if you pick this gorgeous book up, you will walk away a changed reader--it is THAT stunning. It is THAT powerful. It is THAT poignant. There are, absolutely, some difficult topics handled in these pages--so please, PLEASE, if you are easily triggered, take care while reading.
His hands crowd my cheeks, fingers leaving blood smears on my neck, and when his mouth bears down on mine, I kiss him back for the first time. Not to win his trust, not holding anything back, but because I truly want to. He tastes like dark water, feels like frosted glass, smells like salt and iron, and he plunges his ice deep into my heart while his hands reach up to capture the back of my head, pulling me closer.
The prose is absolutely stunning. Emily Shore knows how to pen a lyrical, poetic story--and make it reverberate with her readers. There is a magic to these pages, that keep you enthralled, that keep you guessing, that keep you HURTING until the very end. If you don't believe me....reread those quotes, and tell me those don't strike a haunting note with something in your soul! This entire read is just breathtaking, and I am more than positive book two will be equally as beautiful.
I was thoroughly enthralled with Emily Shore's dystopian nightmare, and cannot wait to dive back into this world to see where our characters lead us. There is a magical, ethereal poignancy to the pages--I raced through this just to see how it ended, and was not disappointed. Flip the first page of The Aviary, Penguins...and stick around. You're bound to be just as stuck with the phantoms of this world and these characters as I am.
April 30, 2019
As soon as I read the blurb on this one (and saw the gorgeous cover), I knew I had to read it. And I was not disappointed.
Serenity is sixteen and lives in a society where sex-trafficking is a part of daily life. So far, her parents have been able to keep her safe from kidnappers, but when she sneaks down to the pool one evening without her body guard, she's snatched. Luckily (if it's indeed lucky), she's purchased by one of the top 'museums' and soon is being prepared through high-tech adjustments to take the place as the most desired bird in the aviary—the swan. But she only wants to escape and rescue her parents, who she soon learns have also been captured, but for other reasons. Not only must she figure out how to pull this off, but as she gets to know the museum's owner, other secrets about her past are exposed...ones that change everything.
Not only does this novel take a dive into a very difficult topic, but it's a fast-paced and intriguing story packed with tension and a touch of science fiction too. The idea of displaying girls in themed museums grabbed and added an entirely new dimension to the regular situation, while allowed a type of beauty to mix in with the dark side of the trafficking. By doing this, the author allows the reader to be drawn into a memorizing world which has enough glamour to almost blur the lines of right and wrong. But not quite. It's easy to see why these girls don't want to leave, but still impossible to agree with what's going on. It makes for a powerful mix and plenty of food for thought.
Serenity is a character to love and with bite. She has moments to cheer for, and others to wonder about her decisions and thoughts. But this fits in perfectly with the rest of the tale and makes her that much more believable. She's at odds as she sinks into the world around her, especially when she begins to bond with the other characters. This problematic becomes even more tangible on the romance end as what should be black and white quickly turns gray.
While the main message of this book beams bright, the author allows for an exciting background to keep the tension high. There is mystery and intrigue, which adds layers and layers as the tale progresses. Many characters are not what they seem, and danger lurks around every corner. The museum not only harbors sex-trafficking, but the girls inside are dark and harbor their own goals which they'll do anything to achieve. In other words, this is a very gripping read from start to finish.
The end rounds off the tale with some closure but opens up to so many new levels. This promises to be an exciting series and I can't wait to see where it goes next.
Serenity is sixteen and lives in a society where sex-trafficking is a part of daily life. So far, her parents have been able to keep her safe from kidnappers, but when she sneaks down to the pool one evening without her body guard, she's snatched. Luckily (if it's indeed lucky), she's purchased by one of the top 'museums' and soon is being prepared through high-tech adjustments to take the place as the most desired bird in the aviary—the swan. But she only wants to escape and rescue her parents, who she soon learns have also been captured, but for other reasons. Not only must she figure out how to pull this off, but as she gets to know the museum's owner, other secrets about her past are exposed...ones that change everything.
Not only does this novel take a dive into a very difficult topic, but it's a fast-paced and intriguing story packed with tension and a touch of science fiction too. The idea of displaying girls in themed museums grabbed and added an entirely new dimension to the regular situation, while allowed a type of beauty to mix in with the dark side of the trafficking. By doing this, the author allows the reader to be drawn into a memorizing world which has enough glamour to almost blur the lines of right and wrong. But not quite. It's easy to see why these girls don't want to leave, but still impossible to agree with what's going on. It makes for a powerful mix and plenty of food for thought.
Serenity is a character to love and with bite. She has moments to cheer for, and others to wonder about her decisions and thoughts. But this fits in perfectly with the rest of the tale and makes her that much more believable. She's at odds as she sinks into the world around her, especially when she begins to bond with the other characters. This problematic becomes even more tangible on the romance end as what should be black and white quickly turns gray.
While the main message of this book beams bright, the author allows for an exciting background to keep the tension high. There is mystery and intrigue, which adds layers and layers as the tale progresses. Many characters are not what they seem, and danger lurks around every corner. The museum not only harbors sex-trafficking, but the girls inside are dark and harbor their own goals which they'll do anything to achieve. In other words, this is a very gripping read from start to finish.
The end rounds off the tale with some closure but opens up to so many new levels. This promises to be an exciting series and I can't wait to see where it goes next.
March 13, 2022
This story reminded me a lot of The Selection Series by Kiara Cass, which I absolutely loved. If you enjoyed The Selection I would highly recommend this book as it is the closest comparison I have found.
Serenity/The Swan is our heroine. I have mixed feelings about her. On one hand, I love her strength and gall, in fact she made me laugh quite a few times. On the other hand, I was getting really annoyed with her vacillating feelings about Luc and her inability to trust him; he did many things to show he cared about her but then when something didn't happen the way she wanted it to or as quickly as she liked, she would turn into an absolute bitch. This actually reminded me a lot of how America acted in The Selection, and is the whole reason I am giving this book four stars instead of three.
Luc is a very complex character, which is the best kind. On one hand, he perpetuates legalized sexual slavery but on the other hand he treats his Birds very well. It is difficult to paint him as the villain because he is the product of this time period and lifestyle (not just with regards to the sexual slavery but also the culture and connections of Family). I believe he truly loves Serenity and would do anything for her.
I am having a difficult time evaluating Sky's character because the author doesn't do much with him in terms of development or interaction with other characters. I found it believable that he loved Serenity - the author paints a very good picture through his actions and body language - but I didn't feel it. I hope to learn more about him in the following books. The one thing I can say about Sky is that he sucked as a guard.
All the Birds had unique characteristics and backstories. If you like character-driven stories, you will really enjoy those in this story.
The concept of displaying beautiful women in museums was so unique, very symbolic. The world development was thorough (the "world" being The Aviary) and unique as well. Highly recommend, especially if you liked The Selection Series.
Serenity/The Swan is our heroine. I have mixed feelings about her. On one hand, I love her strength and gall, in fact she made me laugh quite a few times. On the other hand, I was getting really annoyed with her vacillating feelings about Luc and her inability to trust him; he did many things to show he cared about her but then when something didn't happen the way she wanted it to or as quickly as she liked, she would turn into an absolute bitch. This actually reminded me a lot of how America acted in The Selection, and is the whole reason I am giving this book four stars instead of three.
Luc is a very complex character, which is the best kind. On one hand, he perpetuates legalized sexual slavery but on the other hand he treats his Birds very well. It is difficult to paint him as the villain because he is the product of this time period and lifestyle (not just with regards to the sexual slavery but also the culture and connections of Family). I believe he truly loves Serenity and would do anything for her.
I am having a difficult time evaluating Sky's character because the author doesn't do much with him in terms of development or interaction with other characters. I found it believable that he loved Serenity - the author paints a very good picture through his actions and body language - but I didn't feel it. I hope to learn more about him in the following books. The one thing I can say about Sky is that he sucked as a guard.
All the Birds had unique characteristics and backstories. If you like character-driven stories, you will really enjoy those in this story.
The concept of displaying beautiful women in museums was so unique, very symbolic. The world development was thorough (the "world" being The Aviary) and unique as well. Highly recommend, especially if you liked The Selection Series.
May 28, 2020
There is so much that should be addressed in this book like the pacing, the confusing dialogue, the author’s ability to pick all the bad bird names (Stork?! Ostrich??! Who wants a prostitute named Ostrich?), that thing that authors do where sexual violence happens all around a protagonist yet she remains unscathed because...I guess a victim of sexual assault can’t be our strong female lead? ...god there’s so much more.
But the main issue is the premise: legalizing sex work has historically led to women having more rights and more autonomy. There’s a reason western states in the US were the first to give women the right to vote, and it’s because before they became states, prostitution wasn’t illegal. It also means the industry can be regulated, and when it is, women don’t need to be smuggled/trafficked into it.
The world described in this book didn’t make a lot of logical sense, but I could’ve gotten past that if the writing itself made sense. But there were times a character reacted a certain way, and I would go back and reread the passage and still not understand why Serenity ran off.
And there’s Luc: former human trafficker, contract killer, current madam? of a brothel, inexplicably obsessed with the “Swan”, definitely buys and grooms young children - hatchlings - to become prostitutes when they grow up to the totally adult age of 16, also apparently a love interest. Needless to say I harbor no conflicted emotions about him.
Oh and he’s a 25 year old man pining after a 16 yr old. Stop.
If you love when books want to explore an issue without fully commuting to it, you may enjoy this book. Otherwise...🤷♀️
But the main issue is the premise: legalizing sex work has historically led to women having more rights and more autonomy. There’s a reason western states in the US were the first to give women the right to vote, and it’s because before they became states, prostitution wasn’t illegal. It also means the industry can be regulated, and when it is, women don’t need to be smuggled/trafficked into it.
The world described in this book didn’t make a lot of logical sense, but I could’ve gotten past that if the writing itself made sense. But there were times a character reacted a certain way, and I would go back and reread the passage and still not understand why Serenity ran off.
And there’s Luc: former human trafficker, contract killer, current madam? of a brothel, inexplicably obsessed with the “Swan”, definitely buys and grooms young children - hatchlings - to become prostitutes when they grow up to the totally adult age of 16, also apparently a love interest. Needless to say I harbor no conflicted emotions about him.
Oh and he’s a 25 year old man pining after a 16 yr old. Stop.
If you love when books want to explore an issue without fully commuting to it, you may enjoy this book. Otherwise...🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2021
Genre: dystopian, YA
What a unique take on the suppression and exploitation of women in a dystopian world. This says it is geared towards the YA crowd, and even though there is no explicit sex, but I would hesitate to suggest this to anyone under 18. Even with that critique, I really loved the story. It really is an exploration of identity and how society and class affect who gets exploited and who has power/control. I think the back story of Serenity's family is interesting in that they hide all the ugliness and their involvement in trying to topple this society from her.
Serenity is unlucky enough to be kidnapped and sold to The Aviary. However, the man who purchased her has his own difficult beginning. He is not what I thought a director who exploits women would be. I expected abuse and putting Serenity, Swan, up for auction to sell her virginity to the highest bidder.And Skylar, well I really want Ser and Sky to find their way to each other, but Luc and circumstances are throwing a wrench in that plan. We are left off at the end of the story not knowing what happens to Sky or Serenity's family. Serenity is let out of her cage at the end but what is waiting for her? This is not a world for women.
Which leads me to my final question/analysis. Where are the women who are wives or significant others? There have to be some loving relationships, somewhere other than Serenity's parents. Every woman cannot be a prostitutes, can they? We only get the world through the narrow view of the Aviary and Serenity's very sheltered up bringing so it is hard to determine what the rest of society looks like. I will be interested to learn more about this new world society.
What a unique take on the suppression and exploitation of women in a dystopian world. This says it is geared towards the YA crowd, and even though there is no explicit sex, but I would hesitate to suggest this to anyone under 18. Even with that critique, I really loved the story. It really is an exploration of identity and how society and class affect who gets exploited and who has power/control. I think the back story of Serenity's family is interesting in that they hide all the ugliness and their involvement in trying to topple this society from her.
Serenity is unlucky enough to be kidnapped and sold to The Aviary. However, the man who purchased her has his own difficult beginning. He is not what I thought a director who exploits women would be. I expected abuse and putting Serenity, Swan, up for auction to sell her virginity to the highest bidder.And Skylar, well I really want Ser and Sky to find their way to each other, but Luc and circumstances are throwing a wrench in that plan. We are left off at the end of the story not knowing what happens to Sky or Serenity's family. Serenity is let out of her cage at the end but what is waiting for her? This is not a world for women.
Which leads me to my final question/analysis. Where are the women who are wives or significant others? There have to be some loving relationships, somewhere other than Serenity's parents. Every woman cannot be a prostitutes, can they? We only get the world through the narrow view of the Aviary and Serenity's very sheltered up bringing so it is hard to determine what the rest of society looks like. I will be interested to learn more about this new world society.
February 25, 2021
This book was terrible. The introduction started with "I set out to write The Aviary with one question in mind - what would the world look like if prostitution were legalized?" It continues "... It is not my intention to glamorize the world of prostitution/sex-trafficking/sexual exploitation...." If that was the author's goal she failed horribly.
This book is nothing but the glamorization of sex trafficking. Pretty costumes. The girls who want to do it because life is better at The Aviary. A trafficker to fall in love with. Drivel.
I read this book to the end because I believed it was going to turn into the standard "teenage girl takes world-changing actions by joining the underground organization." That wasn't what I wanted to read either, but at least it would have slightly redeemed the book. Read the preview for the next book in the series. She stays with her trafficker and ends up in another "museum".
This book is classified as YA, but I don't believe these are appropriate values to teach any age range especially teen/young adult girls. There's a difference between glamorizing something consensual and something taken by force.
This book is nothing but the glamorization of sex trafficking. Pretty costumes. The girls who want to do it because life is better at The Aviary. A trafficker to fall in love with. Drivel.
I read this book to the end because I believed it was going to turn into the standard "teenage girl takes world-changing actions by joining the underground organization." That wasn't what I wanted to read either, but at least it would have slightly redeemed the book. Read the preview for the next book in the series. She stays with her trafficker and ends up in another "museum".
This book is classified as YA, but I don't believe these are appropriate values to teach any age range especially teen/young adult girls. There's a difference between glamorizing something consensual and something taken by force.
January 23, 2021
Ugh. The blurb was the best written thing in this book. The most repeated phrase? "He cupped my shoulder". Seriously, shoulders were getting "cupped" left and right in this book. If hands were involved, they were cupping things. (Usually shoulders) The
MC is also super hot and petite, but don't worry, she's got giant knockers to breast about boobily with. She's a prostitute but never bangs anyone, which is fine but stupid. All the other girls are super jealous of how hot she is. But she's made of lightening so she's super special.
Also, the bird theme just killed me. I work with birds for a living and yeah.... some research into birds would have helped. All the bird based pun descriptions were bad. Lots of pecking and feathering and whatnot.
And the end... my God. One of the bird girls just wants to make her secret "mummy" proud and regresses in her speech to sounding like she's four. Super cringey.
The idea of calling attention to sex trafficking is great, but the execution of this was just not good.
MC is also super hot and petite, but don't worry, she's got giant knockers to breast about boobily with. She's a prostitute but never bangs anyone, which is fine but stupid. All the other girls are super jealous of how hot she is. But she's made of lightening so she's super special.
Also, the bird theme just killed me. I work with birds for a living and yeah.... some research into birds would have helped. All the bird based pun descriptions were bad. Lots of pecking and feathering and whatnot.
And the end... my God. One of the bird girls just wants to make her secret "mummy" proud and regresses in her speech to sounding like she's four. Super cringey.
The idea of calling attention to sex trafficking is great, but the execution of this was just not good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2020
Very interesting and unique
This was a great read. Having read the intro from author I know she was trying to make an enjoyable read while also warning or the threats to young runaways and others in the sex trafficking world. This I believe was done in a way that will pull the reader into a fantasy world but being made aware of potentials and make young be aware of their surroundings all without, in my opinion, glorifying that crime world.
What this also reminded me of, was a pastor in NY in the 70s and 80s had a home for runways he rescued from the streets, they had become con artists, drug dealers, prostitutes, once they were in his rescue home he got their permission and wrote their life story. These were also done as warnings but in a way to bring readers and make them aware of bad things can happen to young teens if not careful. His name was John Bennett and all the books were simply a first name
I recommend this series from Emily now they are great
This was a great read. Having read the intro from author I know she was trying to make an enjoyable read while also warning or the threats to young runaways and others in the sex trafficking world. This I believe was done in a way that will pull the reader into a fantasy world but being made aware of potentials and make young be aware of their surroundings all without, in my opinion, glorifying that crime world.
What this also reminded me of, was a pastor in NY in the 70s and 80s had a home for runways he rescued from the streets, they had become con artists, drug dealers, prostitutes, once they were in his rescue home he got their permission and wrote their life story. These were also done as warnings but in a way to bring readers and make them aware of bad things can happen to young teens if not careful. His name was John Bennett and all the books were simply a first name
I recommend this series from Emily now they are great
December 1, 2020
It's hard to know how to rate this. The writing itself was weak. It feels like this author was trying too hard to write beautiful prose and it just became overburdened with too much fluff. The plotting was also a little meh. This would have been stronger without a love triangle.
At the same time, I think the author did a decent job of portraying what I understand to be some of the harsh realities of the sex trafficking industry: manipulation, drug use, pornography, mental illness. So there was some good here, and it was compelling enough that I kept coming back to read more, so...two stars.
At the same time, I think the author did a decent job of portraying what I understand to be some of the harsh realities of the sex trafficking industry: manipulation, drug use, pornography, mental illness. So there was some good here, and it was compelling enough that I kept coming back to read more, so...two stars.
June 16, 2020
This was so good! The author captured what a true brothel is all about without going into graphic detail. This is the world of the future, no girl has a chance. The thing I liked the best was the description of the girls exhibits and how creative they are. The characters are awesome! The mystery behind all the going on’s was great and you never see what is coming next. The storyline is a mix of the future and the old west with a lot of twists and turns and surprises throughout the whole book. The ending will leave your jaw wide open with the surprises unleashed and these are big surprises. Then of course there is the cliffhanger and just by that, you can see there is a lot to take from this first book and spread the series in many different was. It’s going to be interesting to see how the series goes. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
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