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To Cage a Wild Bird DEALS

Brooke Fast’s debut novel, To Cage a Wild Bird, is the perfect escape to the dystopian, Hunger Games-style story that almost feels nostalgic, all while integrating the more recently popular spicy romance genre.

Though a debut, Fast writes with the confidence of a seasoned author and leaves the reader in anticipation of the best yet to come. This could be the first in a very exciting series.

Big thank you to HarperCollins for sending us an ARC for review.

To Cage a Wild Bird Summary

To Cage a Wild Bird

by Brooke Fast

To Cage a Wild Bird

Fantasy Books

by Brooke Fast

Published 09/09/2025

Pages 368

Publisher HarperCollins

ISBN: 9780063462670

Details & Buy Options

Set in the fictional city of Dividium, To Cage a Wild Bird follows Raven Thorne, a bounty hunter from the Lower Sector hunting Upper Sector fugitives to send them to Endlock, Dividium’s cruel prison, where every crime warrants a death sentence. Only when her brother, Jed, is arrested for his involvement with the Rebels to the Council, Raven has no choice but to get herself arrested.

Her only goal is to get in, get Jed, and get out. The only issue? Raven filled most of the cells of Endlock with her bounties, and as a result, her life is constantly in danger. The high-stakes story unfolds in the harsh conditions of the prison, where up to 30 prisoners can be hunted for sport every day by rich citizens of the Upper Sector, and explores the theme of finding friendship and love in the most unexpected place.

Strengths

One of the most enjoyable elements of the novel is the immersive world-building and enamoring characters.

Brooke Fast illustrates a fictional, dystopian world where cruelty is entertainment, and nothing is too evil for the reach of corporate greed. The citizens of Dividium have been hardened by the years of cruelty inflicted upon them by the Council. Unlike other dystopian societies, the cruelty and difficulties in Dividium are not a direct result of war or an apocalyptic phenomenon; the hardships in Dividium are created by something much more sinister.

Fast expertly weaves in the cruelties of our own societies and amplifies them to illustrate what really happens when corporate greed goes unchecked. The developing “will they/won’t they” relationship between Raven and Vale keeps the reader hooked to find out if the heroes of the novel succeed in their mission; with so many elements in the plan at play that can easily go wrong, To Cage a Wild Bird is full of twists that make it a page turner.

Weaknesses

While the novel is a standout for its characters and themes, there are some moments where the story could have been more fleshed out, or the author moves the plot forward quickly and doesn’t pause to allow for more conflict/developments throughout the novel.

Some examples of this include the characters’ ability to plan an elaborate escape without being overheard by anyone (in a very crowded prison) and the somewhat anti-climactic prisoner hunts, where only the first one and another had any noteworthy moments.

Key Themes and Takeaways

At its core, To Cage a Wild Bird explores themes of friendship, love, and sacrifice against the backdrop of a very cruel, dystopian society. It challenges readers to consider the world around them, and what can happen to each of us on an individual level when all pomp and circumstance is stripped away; what lengths would each of us go to save someone we love?

The novel throws back to the popular dystopian novels of the 2010’s that made us want to challenge the status quo and push for a better world of tomorrow.

Verdict

To Cage a Wild Bird was an enjoyable reminder of the action-packed thrills a dystopian novel can deliver when well written. The developing love story is well written, and the friendships built throughout the novel make it a truly enjoyable read.

If you are looking for an adventure and a story of hope in the most hopeless of places, this one’s for you.

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