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The Gilded Cage

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After growing up on a farm in Virginia, Walthingham Hall in England seems like another world to sixteen-year-old Katherine Randolph. Her new life, filled with the splendor of upper class England in the 1820s, is shattered when she discovers the corpse of her brother George in a lake on the estate-the tragic accidental drowning of a young man, the coroner reports, despite the wound to George's head. Katherine is expected to observe the mourning customs and get on with her life, but she can't accept that her brother's death was an accident. A bitter poacher prowls the estate, and strange visitors threaten the occupants of the house. There's a rumor, too, that a wild animal stalks the woods of Walthingham. Can Katherine retain her sanity long enough to find out the truth? Or will her brother's killer claim her life, too?

Hardcover: 256 pages

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (August 2, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1627791817

ISBN-13: 978-1627791816

Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches

Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #327,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #177 in Books > Teens > Mysteries & Thrillers > Historical #271 in Books > Teens > Historical Fiction > Europe #285 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Europe

Age Range: 12 - 18 years

Grade Level: 7 and up

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***The Gilded Cage by Lucinda GrayPublisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)Publication Date: August 2, 2016Rating: 2 starsSource: ARC sent by the publisherSummary (from Goodreads):After growing up on a farm in Virginia, Walthingham Hall in England seems like another world to sixteen-year-old Katherine Randolph. Her new life, filled with the splendor of upper-class England in the 1820s, is shattered when her brother mysteriously drowns. Katherine is expected to observe the mourning customs and get on with her life, but she can't accept that her brother's death was an accident.A bitter poacher prowls the estate, and strange visitors threaten the occupants of the house. There's a rumor, too, that a wild animal stalks the woods of Walthingham. Can Katherine retain her sanity long enough to find out the truth? Or will her brother's killer claim her life, too?What I Liked:Yet another "okay but not great", "I liked it but didn't love it" type. Actually, I don't even know if I liked this book? I think it was okay and worth the read (for me, since I had a review copy), but not really that good. I'm still between three stars and two stars, honestly. You're not missing out - I'd recommend skipping it if you don't have a review copy.This book starts with the prologue, in which Katherine Randolph and her older brother George are living on the farm in Virginia with their foster parents. One day, a man arrives, and asks for George, who isn't there. The man tells Katherine that he'll wait for George to come back, and that her and George's futures are about to change.

Synopsis: After growing up on a farm in Virginia, Walthingham Hall in England seems like another world to sixteen-year-old Katherine Randolph. Her new life, filled with the splendor of upper class England in the 1820s, is shattered when she discovers the corpse of her brother George in a lake on the estate-the tragic accidental drowning of a young man, the coroner reports, despite the wound to George's head.Katherine is expected to observe the mourning customs and get on with her life, but she can't accept that her brother's death was an accident. A bitter poacher prowls the estate, and strange visitors threaten the occupants of the house. There's a rumor, too, that a wild animal stalks the woods of Walthingham.Can Katherine retain her sanity long enough to find out the truth? Or will her brother's killer claim her life, too?3.5 StarsThis story didn't grab me and suck me in, but I was intrigued enough to continue and finish the book.Katherine was well developed and girl had some GRIT. "...this fellow couldn't best a city girl in a fight, much less a farm girl with a rifle."Katherine’s transition from life in Virginia to life at Walthingham was understandably rocky. She felt out of place, and lonely, and lost at times. All of which were exacerbated by the sudden loss of her brother. When Katherine discovers some details surrounding the death of her brother that just don’t add up, she is determined to peel back the layers of Walthingham to discover the truth. She was not going to be undeterred by the pressure to be proper, or the fact that she was a woman, or by weak explanations surrounding George’s death."I wonder darkly, whether this prejudice has guided her treatment of me in the wake of George's death.

I had high hopes for this book. Before reading it I had read a few reviews on Goodreads that were less than spectacular, but I went ahead hoping that it would be different for me. In the end, the synopsis was more exciting (and promising) than the story actually ended up being. Basically, it ended up being a mixed bag. I didn’t love it but I didn’t dislike it either. I guess I’m on the fence? I don’t know!What I Liked:- At around 256 pages, the book was quite short. Mixed with short chapters and cliffhanger-like endings, the book ended up being a quick read. Once the mystery started I found myself pushing on and wanting to read more and more. You just need to push through the first 20% (see below).- I really liked the heroine, Katherine. She’s intelligent, strong and says what’s on her mind. The contrast between her American sensibilities and that of her English cousins made for great drama and tension. I also really felt for her. Much of the book had her fighting for what she believed in and having people try to silence her because she was a woman.- The atmosphere was perfect for this type of book! The old English house, the isolation, dark woods and an asylum. SPOOKY!- As a huge cover fan, I LOVED this one! I particularly enjoyed the scenes that took place in the snowy forest. The contrast between Katherine in her English finery and the foggy, creepy forest pretty much sums up the book really well.What I Disliked:- What drove me insane at first was the fact that nothing…NOTHING…really happened for the first 20% of the book. I was expecting to get into the mystery much sooner. There were hints (a possible beast on the grounds, shadows in the forest) but it was just mostly an introduction to English society (etiquette, balls, clothes).

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