corkykat's review against another edition
2.0
This book was kind of blah. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for quite a while, and I was hoping for an interesting read. Everything kind of turned out bland. I give this author major props for choosing a unique subject for the story, but I feel like there was a lot she could have done to make it jump off the page. Instead, it just fell flat. It was a quick read, and something I could finally check off my list.
kirsn_peutevinck's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
3.0
This story follows a brief window in the lifeof Marjorie Bruce, daughter and heir of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland. It focuses specifically on the 8 month window of time between when her father was took the throne of Scotland, through the beginning of her days in a nunnery as a captive of King Edward I, also known as Longshanks. It was very interesting and well written.
eemcm's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jibjan12's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars- enjoyed would recommend
I don't remember much about this one but I do know as a kid I really enjoyed this book after picking it up randomly. Note: kid me did not realize it was a part of a series. Enjoyed it anyway.
I don't remember much about this one but I do know as a kid I really enjoyed this book after picking it up randomly. Note: kid me did not realize it was a part of a series. Enjoyed it anyway.
gsanta1's review against another edition
2.0
It’s too simple.
There’s two problems and we only know what happens in one.
One, there’s a girl in cage.
Two, there’s are flashbacks about the rebellion but already know what happens because she’s in a cage.
Bad guy pontificates the entire book like Bond villain.
So you have one plotline where it’s the Bad Guy talking.
Then you have the second plotline which is irrelevant.
Maybe it would’ve worked better as a short story.
Also, it’s a little strange why the rebellious Scots didn’t speak in Gaelic or Scots.
Edit:
The book also has that fancy where a character will be suffering enormous pain but still is able to think rationally, like the author has never stubbed her toe before.
There’s two problems and we only know what happens in one.
One, there’s a girl in cage.
Two, there’s are flashbacks about the rebellion but already know what happens because she’s in a cage.
Bad guy pontificates the entire book like Bond villain.
So you have one plotline where it’s the Bad Guy talking.
Then you have the second plotline which is irrelevant.
Maybe it would’ve worked better as a short story.
Also, it’s a little strange why the rebellious Scots didn’t speak in Gaelic or Scots.
Edit:
The book also has that fancy where a character will be suffering enormous pain but still is able to think rationally, like the author has never stubbed her toe before.
delladahlia's review against another edition
4.0
I read this in middle school and loved it. Sometimes it still comes to my mind. Especially noe with the release of Outlaw King.
UPDATE: I re-read the book and was reminded of why I loved it so much when I was young.
UPDATE: I re-read the book and was reminded of why I loved it so much when I was young.
lemon_drop's review against another edition
3.0
Watch Braveheart...
Read this...
Picks up Scotland's tale from the point of view of the new young princess Marjorie Bruce, prisoner to King Edward of England. The chapters alternate between her current situation in a cage outside a priory in one of the border towns with chapters covering the previous months explaining how she got captured. I loved the pyschological game played between 12 year old Marjorie (who is as snarky as a 12 year old should be) and the conviving King who is trying to break her will.
Read this...
Picks up Scotland's tale from the point of view of the new young princess Marjorie Bruce, prisoner to King Edward of England. The chapters alternate between her current situation in a cage outside a priory in one of the border towns with chapters covering the previous months explaining how she got captured. I loved the pyschological game played between 12 year old Marjorie (who is as snarky as a 12 year old should be) and the conviving King who is trying to break her will.
nairam1173's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of those that after getting about thirty pages in I realized I would be finishing out of duty to understanding my genre, not because I was particularly interested.
This is sad, because technically there were a number of things that were very interesting--the characterizations of Elizabeth and Isabel in particular were more nuanced than one usually sees with those "molds" of characters, and I liked how Marjorie's perception of them shifted as the story continued. Neil was also a character I enjoyed. Marjorie herself was not that interesting, although she is sympathetic.
Unfortunately, the novelty of Marjorie's situation wears off fairly quickly, and shifting between past and present only thinly disguises first that the past is boring and then that the present is rapidly becoming boring. The villain was drawn along very traditional lines and not really that scary to me. The relationships with all but one of Marjorie's "court" seemed too underdeveloped for their significance in the end.
note: This was shelved in the juvenile section of my library, so it surprised me when some of the more gruesome things were described and there was some language. At the same time I can see why it wasn't shelved in YA, so...
This is sad, because technically there were a number of things that were very interesting--the characterizations of Elizabeth and Isabel in particular were more nuanced than one usually sees with those "molds" of characters, and I liked how Marjorie's perception of them shifted as the story continued. Neil was also a character I enjoyed. Marjorie herself was not that interesting, although she is sympathetic.
Unfortunately, the novelty of Marjorie's situation wears off fairly quickly, and shifting between past and present only thinly disguises first that the past is boring and then that the present is rapidly becoming boring. The villain was drawn along very traditional lines and not really that scary to me. The relationships with all but one of Marjorie's "court" seemed too underdeveloped for their significance in the end.
note: This was shelved in the juvenile section of my library, so it surprised me when some of the more gruesome things were described and there was some language. At the same time I can see why it wasn't shelved in YA, so...
librarydanielle's review against another edition
4.0
Jane Yolen knows how to write. She takes history (which aside from my romance novels I don't care for) and makes it come alive.
Girl in a Cage tells the story of 11 year old Marjorie de Brus who is a prisoner of King Edward of England. Marjorie's crime? To be the daughter of Robert de Brus, declared king of Scotland.
I pretty much hated Edward here. What kind of bastard puts a small child (or anyone really) in a cage? Out in the open for people to torment?
Girl in a Cage tells the story of 11 year old Marjorie de Brus who is a prisoner of King Edward of England. Marjorie's crime? To be the daughter of Robert de Brus, declared king of Scotland.
I pretty much hated Edward here. What kind of bastard puts a small child (or anyone really) in a cage? Out in the open for people to torment?