Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Gilded Cages #2

Tarnished Cages

Rate this book
“He could have everything here, and the price is so small. Why would he want to go back out into that cold, unforgiving world?”It’s simple, really. Zay has a roof over his head, food in his stomach, no bills or jobs to worry about, and he gets to lie around all day. It should be the perfect life for him, and it would be… if it wasn’t for the fact that he has to play the role of a two-legged “puppy” for his captor and his captor’s little.Zay’s unwillingness to accept his new life breeds doubt and discontent in Cammy, who’s longed for an end to his loneliness. Even though they should be bonding, the distance between them seems larger than ever. Cammy wants Zay to see how fortunate he is, but will it be Cammy who has his own revelations instead?

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2020

70 people are currently reading
189 people want to read

About the author

R. Phoenix

81 books565 followers
R. Phoenix has an unhealthy fascination with contrasts: light and dark, heroes and villains, order and chaos. She believes that love can corrupt and power can redeem. Her muse is a sadomasochistic slave driver who thinks it's terribly amusing to give her the best ideas when she just got comfortable and warm in bed, and she passes on that torture to her readers. She also tries entirely too hard to be funny, and she mercilessly inflicts her terrible sense of humor upon anyone who speaks to her. She'd love it if you'd say hello!

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
200 (33%)
4 stars
193 (32%)
3 stars
143 (23%)
2 stars
41 (6%)
1 star
20 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Profile Image for Nazanin.
1,286 reviews840 followers
April 5, 2020
4 Stars

Zay is still my fave character here and still couldn’t warm up to Cammy. Cammy is really naïve but he’s getting better and can see the things with another eye! And apparently he’s a bit selfish but I enjoyed his selfishness. What about the Master? Well, definitely I liked him a bit more than before! I’m happy for Zay; things get easier for him (I think). Hopefully, there will be the third book because I’m still thirsty for Master’s story (I’d like to know more about him and I’m getting impatient here!). Told in dual POV, 1st person, it’s the second installment in the "Gilded Cages" and has to be read in order. Overall, it was a good read and hope you enjoy it as well!
Profile Image for Jan.
1,259 reviews994 followers
February 27, 2020
**** 3.75 Stars ****

Wrong and wicked the way I like it.
I am really hoping/dreaming for a sequel.
I would love to get inside Daddy's head. Dear Lawd the man is totally insane



and his mind games have an inexplicable fascination in me.
What he accomplished with Cammy was so real, scary and disturbing.



What makes him tick? What made him so fucked up?

Profile Image for Moony Eliver.
433 reviews232 followers
February 25, 2020
3.5 stars. This one didn't feel quite as strong as the first, largely because of some repetitiveness and telling-via-internal-narrative, but I was still every bit as invested in the characters and their outcome. And I bought the evolution of the story, hook-line-and-sinker. Sunk.

Sunk.

AAAHHHH!
Profile Image for Dia.
534 reviews150 followers
March 7, 2020
3,5 stars rounded down

I really enjoyed the first book, but this one didn't shock me as much. Maybe I had too high expectations. I was here for the dark part, but this one kind of felt unfinished. I have no idea if we get another book in this series, but I surely hope we'll get Daddy's POV too.

This series isn't for everyone. "ABDL - Adult Baby/ diaper lover play" and "puppy play" were new to me, but it didn't make me run for the hills, on the contrary. I enjoyed the writing and I am looking forward to reading more dark stories from this author 😉
Profile Image for Trio.
3,617 reviews209 followers
March 5, 2020
What an amazing talent! The scope of this story, the planning it must have taken to craft this plot, I'm incredibly impressed.

Honestly, all of R. Phoenix's stories are excellent, but the Gilded Cages series is blowing me away. I can hardly wait to see what this deliciously deviant author brings us next.


an arc of Tarnished Cages was provided to me for the purpose of my honest, unbiased, and thoroughly dazzled review
Profile Image for ♡ cal ♡.
763 reviews347 followers
June 1, 2022
"I love you."
I'll always open for him, no matter which way he wants it. He can have my mind, my heart, my body... all of it is for him, and the guilt slides away as I focus on the man who is my entire world.


this duology is not for that faint of heart. this is a story of two college-aged boys facing this certain evil. do they stand against this evil even if it is hopeless? or do they give in because it is indeed hopeless? at the end of the day, i think my only issue here, and that is a reach i promise, is that it shouldn't just be a duology. i need to read more from daddy, cammy, and zay. at least one more to book to fully lay it all out for us; to finally tie some loose ends. to me at least, this book feels like a middle book for a supposed-to-be-trilogy. also, daddy is still mystery to me. the fact that i reached this point without knowing his actual name and the fact that i also don't know where they live is highly alarming.
Profile Image for Denise.
827 reviews161 followers
August 17, 2020
3 Stars

I was happy to find out this was a series after being so confused by the sudden ending of the first book.

This is still NOT a romance. Instead, it is an exploration of a twisted relationship, both consensually and non-consensually. It's sort of fascinating to see how Daddy continually breaks Zay down and molds him into what he wants Zay to be. Cammy is gradually realizing Daddy isn't what he seems. You truly feel for Zay, who has been put into an impossible situation with seemingly no way out.

I really feel there should be another book in the series but, per the author, these three won't be getting another book. Knowing that, the ending here doesn't have enough closure IMO. I still have so many questions and feel that .

Series:
Book 1: Gilded Cages →3.5 Stars
Book 2: Tarnished Cages → 3 Stars
Profile Image for Lollie Plantagenet.
Author 1 book19 followers
February 20, 2020
Raissa, you've wrecked me...

I devoured this book in one sitting. It was an emotional roller-coaster of a sequel, and I was hanging onto every word for dear life.

We see our trio continue to grapple with the dynamic we're introduced to in Gilded Cages. Zay struggles to maintain his sense of self in the role "Master" has forced him into. He basically lives for three things--food (sometimes the kind that's intended for humans, sometimes not), the caress of the flogger, and most of all, Cammy--the beautiful, innocent man-boy who's argubly as much a victim as he is.

Cammy begins to question (slowly and softly) what sort of man Daddy really is if he's willing to subject Zay to such abuse.

We see the depth of Daddy's cruelty as he manuevers the two men who have come to depend on him. He simultaneously drives a wedge between his boys while forcing them together.

The love that Cammy and Zay have for each other is mixed with jealously and resentment. They don't become "bosom buddies" per se. There's a lot of heavy silence that passes between them, which makes complete sense considering the situation they're in. Somewhere along the way, they break through to each other. Is it enough?

R. Phoenix depicts their bond in such a heart-wrenching, realistic way. She gives us a raw, honest depiction of two broken men (well, three actually), who find no quick fixes, no easy solutions.

Daddy's not your standard villan by any means. He loves Cammy fiercely, but it's a twisted love. He even has a certain fondness for Zay. Daddy's a man with a plan, and he's adept at adapting his tactics to control whatever happens under his roof.



This isn't a love story, but there's love there. And that just makes it darker. And...it's surprisingly sweet, if a story like this could ever be sweet.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go sleep off this book hangover...
Profile Image for Elin.
938 reviews8 followers
February 21, 2020
Be careful what you wish for, because it will end up with awkward conversations, and a pup that don't want to be your pup. Cammy is still as lovely as ever, except when he isn't, and I had a difficult time reconciling with that.

This book continues right after the first one ended, the next morning to be exact. And it continues to mind fuck the reader. I felt the need to thread very carefully around Daddy along with Zay and Cammy.

There is never a question who have control, who coaxes them to where he wants them to be, and who benefits from it. Which brings up a reality Cammy isn't ready for, and reveals questions he'd rather not face. Life is sometimes easier when you can just be a baby.
Poor Zay who haven't been there long enough to figure out how things work, who isn't broken beyond repair. Not yet.
As Daddy says, why struggle in the real world when you can have someone to look after you and deal with everything difficult.

This isn't sweet, it's dark, twisted and will have you questioning everything you thought you had figured out.
Profile Image for Lila.
908 reviews196 followers
June 26, 2024
Truly don't know what to write

R. Phoenix definitely writes unique characters. The 'Master' always seems to be impulsive and unpredictable with an explosive temper.

The captive falls slowly deeper into the web, without even realising, uncertain where they stand.

Cammy is in an interesting position. Part of him knows that it's wrong, but he also realizes that, at this point, he wouldn't be able to survive on his own.

It is brilliantly written, if a little unfinished. Will there be a third book to tie their story?
5 reviews
September 19, 2021
Okay after reading the first book in this series , I'm really looking forward for this one especially because of zay . I seriously wanted him to escape from that twisted, dark hell hole, and go live his life in the real and 'normal' world . Yeah i know the real world could be complex and even hard to live in but it's life , if it doesn't have struggles and problems then what's the point of it . It's the beauty of living . Sure you want to escape from it for awhile just like what i do when i read books , do something productive and make and listen to music . It relaxes me from my day to day stressful life but what this book',s definition of escaping is just something else and I'm not sure if i feel even slightest ounce of comfortability knowing some people might actually look up as the solution . Zay will always have a special spot in my heart , you would truly feel the pain ,the frustration,the helplessness for him. Honestly, i would have wished him to not care for Cammy at all and just leave that damn place .It's not worth the struggle for a broken stranger . Ok don't get me wrong I don't hate Cammy but i don't love him either , idk i just couldn't bring myself to feel myself anything besides pity for him . And don't get me started with M/ D ( Master/ daddy) that motherfucker needs to be in jail for raping , and for all the shit he have done. Sure, I'm curious about why he is the way he is . But that doesn't justify the fact that he's a rapist and bought a damn human , proving the fact that he do have sone insights about human trafficking and dark web . He's Twisted and seriously I'm dreaded by the fact those kind of people might exist in this world . That's honesty scary af. And if anyone tries to justify his behaviour then you should also be behind the bars with him . This is not 'normal ' even though nobody is normal when it's come to human beings but this is beyond anything . I hope nobody actually think this is okay to do or you know it's morally acceptable to do so as what he does .


This book is okay for me honestly , not much happened besides Cammy having doubts and all . Maybe i would have liked and rated it more if If Zay could get the the chance to be with his family . If you are looking for sweet romance with a dark twist this is not for you . This is not a romance this is a fucked up story , and if it had happened in reality you would be begging for it stop. It's dark , it's twisted and not for me . Honestly, i thought i would enjoy it and sure i was intrigued even glued to the whole story because the plot was interesting however as you know what people say it's not my cup of tea . I think I'm gonna have a hard time to wrapping my head around to why some people actually enjoy Ddbl/ddgl or puppy play like why ?! But i guess good 4 them whatever gets you on go with it unless you keep it to your bedrooms . Looking forward for the next book hopefully I will get the ending i desire that IS for Zay escape. I honestly don't give a fuck about the other characters as long he manages to live his life again .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ana.
1,043 reviews
February 29, 2020
I loved it. I love Cammy so much. He is such a beautiful character. I liked Zay too but Cammy is just amazing. I love him so much more and the other characters....well... I tolerate him as he was needed. It was such a great book. I liked the interaction between all of them. I also like how imposible was to guess what would come next for them. I did felt I liked the frist book better, and I think that was because of how new everything was. Now I kind of knew what to expect in terms of knowing the characters a little bit but they all had nice surprises to bring into the book. I had a wonderful time reading it. I couldn't read it fast enough.
Profile Image for Szidi ☼.
946 reviews61 followers
December 17, 2020
WOW! So good! Ahh the best Stockholm Syndrome with all the mind fucks! Loved it!
368 reviews13 followers
September 7, 2020
4.5 stars

I had no idea I would like this the way I did. It's kinky and dirty and a lot fucked up but honestly so perfect. I've read a lot of erotica but this one is...yeah.
Profile Image for Sue bowdley.
1,449 reviews
March 7, 2020
Wow..I really love this authors books and this one is near my favourite......The dynamic between the three of them changes as the book goes along but does it make things better?......I'd love to know how Daddy got to be how he is..As hard as these books are I still love reading them....A great second book to the set x
3 reviews
November 8, 2020
I've finished both books. And honestly I dont recommend to anyone looking a romance or even just a dark book with a little light at the end. The Master is abusive physically and mentally and he uses BDSM as a guises to do. There is no relationship to root for. Sure you will want Zay to be free but it seems unlikely. Books like these almost glorify human trafficking and r*pe in a way that makes my skin crawl. I hoped there would be a white knight or Cammy and Zay would plan to escape but thats unlikely at the moment. Now Im going to go read some K.C. Wells and cleanse my mind.
498 reviews10 followers
March 4, 2020
IT CAN'T BE OVER YET!

I need to know more about Daddy. He needs a prequel. I need to know how he got to be the man he is. I want to know all his secrets. I can't continue the story in my head without knowing more about Daddy. The mind fuck alone just gave me the shivers. I get book hangover every time I read your books. Please let there be one more book from Daddy's POV. It is necessary .
Profile Image for Amos24601.
1,287 reviews44 followers
March 5, 2020
Oh my. There HAS to be another book. I feel like we are starting all over with a new dynamic and I love it! I’m all about a prequel book for Daddy/ Master, but I really need a book to see how Zay settles in his new role. Please!

This was just a wonderfully horrific as the first book. More, please!
Profile Image for Charity B..
Author 10 books1,166 followers
August 3, 2021
I read through this thing in less than 24 hours which is pretty much unheard of for me. This picks up right where Gilded left off, however I did read the bonus chapter “Pony” before starting because Zay does mention it at the start of this story.

The psychological factor of these books was incredibly intriguing to me and the way Daddy/Master had the capability to manipulate their minds was actually kind of sad, however knowing that Cammy and Zay had each other was incredibly sweet. This was a ride for sure.

I do wish we could have seen Master/Daddy’s story. I am so curious what made him the way he was if there was a reason. It was almost hinted at during the last chapter that I’m still holding out hope for a third book. It did on end odd note, not very definitive. I would have almost classified it as an HFN if were a romance (which it’s not).

I had an absolutely amazing time reading these. In the past few years, my ability to become consumed by a story has nearly vanished, but every once and a while a story will do me in and this was one of those.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,011 reviews89 followers
Read
September 14, 2022
******Major Spoilers **********************

As I wrote in my review for book 1 I like reading some dark books but I do like them to end happily. Without that I find them depressing. I don’t mind how twisted and messed up the scenes in the book are as long its for a reason and that it’s worth it in the end. This book finished too abruptly and it really feels like a middle book in a trilogy rather than the end. It feels unfinished. I needed more of the Master or for him to die. For them to escape and find freedom and some semblance of a normal life away from imprisonment. It feels like the author gave us the idea with the outside hairdresser coming in to do their hair there is a possibility for detection and escape? But then there is no further book to explore that. This duology just feels unfinished and it frustrates me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ive.
591 reviews27 followers
April 10, 2023
Somehow this was perfect ending and somehow I wished it would not end like this. But overall I am satisfies. I am sad that there was no POV from Master/ Daddy. He can be so gentle and caring and brutal and cold. I wish I get to know more of his past and what’s going on in his mind. Overall it’s a really fucked up story of a kidnapper and his two boys/ men suffering from the Stockholm Syndrome. I could only read it at daytimes and being in a good mood, because the writing/ feelings were very realistic and we all know this is something that’s happening out there. And this makes it really a mind fuck.
Profile Image for Sue Milkovich.
1,732 reviews16 followers
February 23, 2020
EXTRAORDINARY

WOW!! What an EXTRAORDINARY book. Daddy/Master is still at it. Controlling Cammy's thoughts and heart. Cam is just not as accepting this time. Zay is almost at the end of his sanity. He's trying to come to terms though. This is a book you can't put down. The next page might just have a new revelation. This will definitely keep you on your toes. I don't know how Author R. Phoenix does this time after time but I'm hooked. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!
Profile Image for Carole M.
195 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2021
Good ending to the story

I was happy there was a second book for this series. I needed more when I finished the first. This one was very good and moved the story along to where it needed to go to end. I’m still very curious about Master’s life outside of his house and the boys. He alluded to somethings at the end but it only piqued my curiosity more.
Profile Image for Alastair .
294 reviews26 followers
Read
April 30, 2022
I don't know how to rate this and I don't know what I just read and what the hell this feels unfinished and I'm having emotions about *gestures*
Profile Image for Patricia Nelson.
1,739 reviews20 followers
February 19, 2020
Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, along comes super talented author R. Phoenix to prove me wrong yet again. This fantastic, grab-you-by-the-feels, amazing, bittersweet, poignant, unconventional, kinky, completely unexpected, delightfully dark, deliciously twisted, and totally awesome sequel had me hooked from the very first page. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Sarah Rhodes.
3 reviews
March 27, 2023
I NEED a prequel that focuses on Cammy after he decided to start living with his Daddy. I had a hard time putting this book down and I find myself still thinking about it days later. Any other dark age play romance I read will be compared to this
Profile Image for mlady_rebecca.
2,443 reviews115 followers
October 6, 2020
Book 2 picks up where book 1 left off. After indulging Zay & Cammy after Zay called home, Daddy decides to reinforce their roles big time. Cammy, who has two levels of little is regressed from coloring books, cartoons, and pullups toddler to diaper wearing, stare at the mobile infant.

As time goes on, the restrictions are lifted somewhat. While Daddy is at work, Zay and Cammy are now allowed to talk, but first Daddy warns Zay that they are on camera, making him less than candid with Cammy. Cammy’s rant about his frustrations has Zay being punished.

Then, in a surprise twist, Daddy lets them be adults for a day. They eat normal food at the table and watch a movie that isn’t a cartoon. Zay flourishes under the lack of restrictions, but Cammy isn’t comfortable being an adult after years of being Daddy’s little.

After the movie, Daddy initiates sex between the three of them. At first Zay balks, so used to seeing Cammy as too young to sexualize, but in normal clothes, he appreciates the young man’s beauty. Zay fucks Cammy while Daddy fucks Zay.

The next morning, Cammy demands to spend some time as a baby, and having experienced freedom from the role, Zay is more willing to lean into the puppy play, begging for treats at breakfast and chilling when Daddy uses him as a footstool while he watches a movie.

While alone together while Daddy is at work, Cammy finally realizes Zay’s reluctance to talk may be because Daddy is listening to them. In a bold move, Cammy removes Zay’s ankle cuff and mitts and draws him outside, telling him he can leave if he’s unhappy. Zay confuses himself in his reluctance to bolt. He wants to leave, but he also wants to protect Cammy and Cammy won’t be able to cope with the real world. Before he can decide, Daddy returns. Busted.

When Daddy goes to confront Zay, he drops to his knees, calling Daddy Master without prompting. After kissing Zay’s scarred wrist Daddy threatens to up the intensity with the flogger, making Zay bleed and scar, making him crave it. He also teases knife play with Zay. While Zay is terrified, part of him yearns for the depravity.

Surprisingly, Daddy’s decision in the aftermath is to change Zay’s status from puppy to simply Daddy’s slave. He even gets Zay to sign a mockery of a total power exchange contract. Zay takes well to the new status. Having more freedom of movement and the ability to act like an adult. He in turn takes over cleaning chores and takes a more caretaker role with Cammy.

They have another threesome. Zay being gentle with Cammy while Daddy ravishes Zay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.