The Garden

The Uncaged #2

by Emily Shore

Serenity is willing to do anything to find her sister, the twin Force has raised in the Temple since birth. But when Sky refuses to help, Serenity has no choice but to go to Luc—whose plan is to use Serenity as bait. Together, they embark to Force’s island vacation spot—the Garden, an exotic Museum that displays girls as Flowers. When their plan takes a turn for the worse, Jade, the Garden Director, captures Luc and Serenity. With both their lives in the balance, Serenity has no choice but to bow to Jade, who may be even more ruthless and determined than Luc. Serenity will become the Skeleton Flower. 

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.

Genres: Dystopia

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2019

About the author

Emily 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.

Reviews

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like she made her choice kinda fast considering how it seemed like Luc was a viable option for her to choose. but also idk why she let Luc get so close as to be an option in the first place other than maybe he was hott

[Erin Darnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serenity escaped the Aviary with Luc and Sky but her father (Force) is not giving up that easy. Luc gives up everything to save her and now he is on the run with her. Sky wants her to go to the Sanctuary, but after Serenity realizes she has a twin sister that has endured living with her father all her life, she cannot abandon her. She and Luc come up with a plan to take down Force, but it backfires on them. They are now "guests" of Jade in the Garden. Serenity (now the Skeleton Flower) has to perform and figure out how to save herself as well as Luc and Sky. Jade has plans for her that involve Serenity never leaving the island.

There are new characters introduced (a half brother to Serenity) and old birds from the aviary that come to the island. I really did not like Jade in that she had ulterior motives to helping Serenity. The one aspect I did like about her was her training to empower Serenity. The methods were messed up, but she recognized something in Serenity and wanted to give her tools to control the men around her. Jade is a woman with power in a man's world where women are less than property.

In this book Serenity is starting to sort through her feelings for Sky and Luc. She has a strong attraction to Luc, but sees red when Jade takes an interest in Sky. I am hoping she ends up with Sky, but we will see. As with the first book, she is still a virgin and other than a few kisses and a make out session with Luc there is no s€x in this book.

This book really is more of a YA dystopian world, but the author really sucks you in with how unjust this world is for women (even young girls). There were times I needed to out the book down but didn't want to stop reading.

There are 2 more books following Serenity, and one more that moves onto a new heroine.

[Stephanie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent sequel

*This review doesn’t mention any explicit details, but it should be noted that when reading this book, a trigger warning is needing for anyone who has experienced abuse, torture, and rape. I don’t feel that it was any worse in this book than in the first one, but still caution to readers who may be sensitive to even the mention of something like this happening to the characters. *

This sequel picks up right where The Aviary (book 1) left off. Here you are exposed to more trafficking at another museum but the director’s methods are different. Like the first book, we see more of the struggle in identity, but we also see a bit more focus put on themes relating to the value of virginity, trauma associated with pregnancy/abortion, rape, abuse, and torture to control/manipulate/dominate.

The plot carried steadily throughout the story and I feel like there were no real slow parts. Sometimes sequels drag things out to make a longer book but I didn’t get that from this book. I quickly finished it and I’m off to read the next book in the series.

[Lori Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The MC is slowly learning. Not as good as the first book and there are still some issues where I got lost. I thought that the MC went into the Temple a day in advance and then suddenly she was with the other girls and then accepted and meeting her father. Like um? Where did the time go. Not like it's fully needed but why mention the time at all then?

Also, where did Serenity sleeping with a knife come from? Suddenly she's attacked while sleeping so she has a knife to stab someone. I don't remember her ever having slept with a knife before. There should be a prelude to her tucking it under the mattress or pillow something to give us the idea that she's going to need it later or familiar with it. Super confused.

[Patience Cruise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story continues right where it left off.
Serenity cannot rest until she finds her sister and rescues her parents. Sky is dead set on going to the sanctuary so Serenity goes to the only person she can, Luc.
But her impatience causes their actions to be dangerous and not well thought out. The only Ace up her sleeve is that Sky always finds her. But what happens when Sky is captured and forced to play a part in a mad woman’s world?
It’s more than just Serenity on the line. Can they all escape whole? Body and soul?

[Liannis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot like the Aviary, but with flowers instead of birds and a woman in charge. But wait, that's not like the Aviary at all you say. Lies. Serenity is still the most special girl in the whole wide world. The escape was a little too easy, though I understand the logic and the ending.....well, should have seen that coming.

All that being said, I have bought the 3rd book and intend to keep going.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding yourself

I love how Emily has evolved the story from love to self discovery. She conquers the hard question of what if I don't like who I am, maybe the mask is better. She continues to keep us in love with Serinity, Luc and Sky while forcing you to take a look at how close our own society is to the one she created.

[Zlatka · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was... Totally weird. What might have worked in the first part became just too creepy. Also this oh-so-weird fixation with virginity (second brothel, the heroine is still untouched despite other girls being sold from much earlier age...). On the other hand, not sure what I expected.

[Tricia Toney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serenity goes to The Garden, an island museum where each girl is portrayed as a flower. She tries to find Force but is captured along with Luc. The Director, Jade, is very cruel. Serenity has no choice but to become her Skeleton Flower. Will she ever escape?

[Brigitte Frantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I am so amazed. Each book gets better than the one before. I love Serenity. I'm hoping she ends up with Sky. So many twists and turns.

[Betsy Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured Book2

I'm very glad I found this series after the third book was released - now I don't have to wait! Excellent, vivid imagery on every page!

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit too similar to the first one but this time with a woman in charge.

[Cathie Cataldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed

This is a good series and I have enjoyed the read. Sometimes it drags a little. Still leaves me wanting to know the ending

[Mommysmoose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful cover and beautifully written. This is the second book in the series and it is as good as the first. Serenity loves her sister and has to find a way to get her out of the Temple and away from her Father. But, the garden is the only way she can think of to get closer to Bliss. Her she encounters many flowers and the strong and ruthless Jade. Can she find a way to get into the Temple to reunite with the sister she lost. This series is amazing. I haven't been disappointed yet. The color and beauty of Emily's writing is awesome. I always feel like I'm in the book. I can see and feel her writing and even though its a scary place to be it's one awe inspiring book of strength and courage.