Love and Other Cages

By: Emilia Ares

Narrated by: Will Collyer, Emilia Ares

In the intricate dance of fate, Mina, a diligent high school senior, is abruptly torn from her ordinary life by an underground criminal organization, thrusting her into an unfamiliar and challenging world. Oliver, a man who has recently emerged from the shadows of abandonment, grapples with the harsh reality of Mina's abduction. The unexpected loss of their intense love jeopardizes Oliver's newfound hope for a better life, even as their extraordinary connection ignites amid peril and enigma.

Can Oliver and Mina rewrite destiny's script? Is the radiant beacon of their blossoming connection bright enough to guide them through a world steeped in uncertainty? Or will they forever wander as seekers of the elusive symphony of joy?

©2024 SERA Press (P)2024 SERA Press

Critic reviews

“Ares' prose is both lyrical and evocative, immersing readers in the emotional depths of the story.” -Readers’ Favorite

“A heart-wrenching thriller with multiple twists that will keep readers hooked until the final page.” -Kirkus Reviews

Worth the wait!!!

Love it!!! Even more thrilling storyline than before from the favorite characters. So excited to visit this world once again 🫰

Great narrators!

The narrators really brought this story to life. I really love that the author was involved. I always feel that brings an huge level of authenticity to the audiobook. The emotional intensity of this book, to me, is much better portrayed in the audiobook. It is also really cool to be able to hear the accents and language that my purely American brain would not have filled in.

My heart is still pounding from the massive cliffhanger, and I keep trying to reach for the book because of the absolute feeling of unresolved tension! That's some good writing, and I sure hope there is a next book because I will be waiting ever so (un)patiently to find out what happens next!

This book is not for the faint of heart. There is a content warning of violence and dark themes, but I think that is a warning intended to avoid spoilers. I've included a more extensive warning, as spoiler-free as possible, below.

It's been a few years (heh) since I was 16. I feel like this book might be a little mature, even for a 16-year-old, but I might be misremembering. It is very violent, includes very mature themes, and is just so intense. The romance scenes get spicier than I'd prefer my teen to read - of course, my kid is six right now, so it's speculative. If it weren't marketed as a YA Thriller, I would be raving. So, I'll start that now.

The storyline was fast-paced and carried me along from start to finish. It was captivating, and I needed to know what was going to happen right up to the end. We get the answers to some questions, but so many are left open. There are twisting roads and paths that lead to so many confusing avenues. This is one of those thrillers that really prove that we don't need supernatural monsters to scare us. Humans are plenty scary enough.

I didn't get to read the first book, but I'll go back to read it. People said this could be read alone, but I felt like I missed a lot.

Who's It For?

This book is classified as a YA Thriller for ages 16 and up. I’m not a parent of a teenager, so I’m not entirely sure how appropriate that age assessment is. I can say it is a very intense book and includes many triggers. I’ve listed as many of them as I can remember, and I feel like I probably missed some. It is not for the faint of heart, and it is by no means a light-hearted, easy read. It has extremely dark themes and topics, and the storyline is not hopeful for the majority of the time so that it could be harmful to some people’s mental health.

Content Warnings: Attempted Sexual Assault, Graphic Violence, Torture (Physical and Psychological), Kidnapping, Brainwashing, Human Trafficking, False Imprisonment, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Child Abuse, Child Abandonment