Demonic Cage Review

I don’t usually (and by usually I mean never) read books this dark, but the whole having to choose between angels and demons piqued my interest so I figured, why not?

Main thing you need to know before picking up this book: it’s translated from its original Hungarian. This is important because I feel that not so much is the plot lost in translation, but the experience is. It took me about ten chapters before I remembered this fact, and the writing all made sense after that. A lot of descriptions and emotions are repeated. All clothing terms are basically interchangeable, and characters have upwards of five hands. They actually only have two, the scenes are just written such that they’re clutching a neck and a thigh and a knife while reaching for a chalice and you have to go back and reread and yep, they’re holding too many things at once and now they’re rising to stand, but they were already standing and if that was rough to read then you’re prepared for the experience of reading Demonic Cage. I spent a lot of time pulled from the story, having to go back and reread to make sure I had the events straight in my mind, or tripping over clunky sentences that were ordered poorly. It wasn’t annoying so much in the ugh, grammar 🙄 sort of way as it was a bummer because full immersion into the story was impossible. The reading experience was like being in a theatre with a crying baby: you can never lose yourself in the story because there’s a constant reminder that you’re outside of it.

That being said, plot-wise it’s entirely satisfactory. It’s a dark romantasy so ye be warned there is a lot of blood and torture, both physical and mental, and the sex almost isn’t consensual. It’s both modern and ancient and deals heavily with the torment of survivor’s guilt. Dan blends Greek mythology with Christian narrative seamlessly to the point where you don’t ever question the two existing side by side.

Despite spanning four months, the story really only unfolds over the course of a single week. It’s very typical in your *weak 20-something human girl learns she’s special and is thrust into this magical world she’s wholly unprepared for and is mercilessly put through the paces of training to try and make her stronger so she can play the part of the pawn for the sexy dark male for his personal gain* kind of way. Instead of discovering a magical world she’s kidnapped and spirited there unconscious. Instead of brooding and morally grey, the sexy male superior is basically the devil and ancient to boot. The power imbalance is insane, and yet we’re supposed to find the pairing sexy and alluring. The interpersonal relationships are all well written, but it’s exactly this believability that has them all eliciting a grimace.

Giving this book an overall rating is difficult. The plot is all there, if not slightly derailed by the halting grammar and confusing word choice. The spice is, according to the author, only two chilis-worth, though I’m not sure I agree. None of the relationships are healthy, and that’s sort of the point, but the opening was also just chef’s kiss.

All in all, I think I’m going to have to go with a 3.5/5. This is the first book in a trilogy, and after reading it I don’t think I’ll be buying the next two, though if someone offered them to me for free I wouldn’t say no and would indeed read them. That equates to a 3.5 in my mind.

Aiding the 3.5 is the fact that the layout is highly predictable. The first book our FMC spent primarily with the demons. The second book she’ll spend primarily with the angels. The third book she’ll finally have to choose a side and her final form. At the end of the first book, you’re left rooting for one side, knowing that you secretly want the other side to win in the long run. Our FMC’s choice seems like it’s been made for her, despite her choice being played like her one single power. It’s all more than a bit predictable. Maybe there are plot twists in later books, or in the original version, but they’re noticeably lacking from this translated first book. Still, it’s not a bad read. Thus 3.5.

You can purchase your own copy here and decide for yourself how many ⭐️ and 🌶 it deserves.