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To Cage a Wild Bird

The hottest slow-burn enemies-to-lovers dystopian fantasy romance and instant SUNDAY TIMES bestseller

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To Cage a Wild Bird

By: Brooke Fast
Narrated by: Nikki Massoud
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Brought to you by Penguin.

THERE’S ONLY ONE RULE IN DIVIDIUM: OBEY OR DIE.

In Dividium, all crimes are punishable by life in prison. A prison that’s a life sentence in more ways than one. Where the wealthy can hunt the inmates for sport.

Raven’s mission is simple: infiltrate the infamous and deadly Endlock Prison to save her brother.

There’s just one problem: Raven has a target on her back. Her reputation as the most ruthless bounty hunter in Dividium precedes her, and the inmates she’s sent to Endlock want their revenge.

So when the prison guard she’s sworn to hate becomes her only chance to survive, Raven has no choice but to trust the one person she shouldn’t…

© Brooke Fast 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Dystopian Fantasy Genre Fiction Science Fiction Urban
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Critic Reviews

To Cage a Wild Bird bears the marks of every great 2010s dystopian. A gripping high-stakes plot that will have you on the edge of your seat with every page turn, and a delicious tension-filled forbidden romance that leaves you breathless. An incredible debut!
All stars
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To Cage a Wild Bird — ★★★★☆

I don’t think I would’ve picked this book up if it wasn’t for book club, but I’m really glad I did.

I’d just come off Savage Lands and Dagger Mouth, so another dystopian story featuring a prison, rebellion and a bounty hunter FMC had me wondering if it was going to feel too familiar.

Thankfully, it quickly became its own story.

The prison was easily my favourite part of the book. The concept of the elite paying to hunt prisoners was already horrifying, and every new layer of corruption made the world feel even darker.

The romance took a little while to win me over. I loved the tension and the stolen moments between Raven and Vale, but I didn’t completely believe how quickly they were supposedly in love. By the end of the book I was definitely invested in their relationship, but I think it needed a little more development early on for some of the bigger emotional moments to hit harder.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. The worldbuilding was the standout for me, the romance became much stronger as the story progressed, and despite a few criticisms, I’d happily pick up book two immediately.

★★★★☆

******** SPOILERS BELOW ********

Genre

* Dystopian
* Fantasy Romance
* Prison
* Rebellion

Favourite Characters

* Vale
* Raven
* August

Favourite Moments

* Learning the truth about why the Lower Sector was starving.
* Raven and Vale’s stolen moments together.
* The escape through the tunnels.
* Vale staying behind so Raven could escape.
* The final line: “Nothing could stop me from getting to you, little bird.”

Thoughts

* I guessed pretty early on that someone important had to be related to Vale because of the way everyone treated him. The reveal that the council leader was his mother didn’t surprise me, but I still thought it was well done.
* Finding out the council had deliberately restricted food to the Lower Sector just to create more prisoners for the Hunts was one of the darkest reveals in the book. It completely changed how I viewed the prison.
* I spent half the book convinced the rebellion was going to betray Raven. I kept expecting some huge reveal that they’d manipulated everything to get her into the prison, so I actually found myself trusting Vale more than the rebellion.
* August’s death genuinely surprised me. I really thought he’d survive and become a much bigger part of the rebellion.
* I wasn’t completely convinced by how quickly Raven and Vale fell in love, but by the end of the book I was fully invested in their relationship and desperate for them to reunite.

Final Thoughts

This was a pleasant surprise. It took a familiar dystopian setup and gave it enough unique ideas to stand on its own. The prison and its brutal social hierarchy were the highlight for me, and while I would’ve liked a little more development in the romance early on, the ending absolutely made me want to continue the series.

★★★★☆

To Cage a Wild Bird — ★★★★☆

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It was hunger games / prison break vibes. Loved it all but it ended on a cliff hanger

Really good

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To Cage a Wild Bird is everything a dystopian romance fan could want. Narrated by Nikki Massoud, the audiobook is fully immersive—emotionally charged and compelling, keeping me listening nonstop for under 24 hours.

The world-building is vivid and gripping, with districts reminiscent of The Hunger Games and prison hunts that feel like mini Purge nights. The romance complements rather than drives the story, adding tension, heartbreak, and depth without overshadowing the layered, complex plot.

First-person perspective, cinematic storytelling, and high-quality narration make this a must-listen for fans of dystopian romance.

A Dystopian Romance Done Right

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No way am I defending Silver Elite ( I didn't like that one either), but this reminds me of the Red Queen/Powerless situation for some reason.

1nbred cousin of Silver Elite.

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