In D. M. Smith’s The Cage, The Corporation contained a mass Cargo Flu epidemic. The book is divided into three parts. In The Remains, Robert Larsen was attempting to figure out why he had no memory of the past. The Corporation controlled everything in his life. Meanwhile, outside of town, Max Wyse discovered that the exile community had been approached by the Corporation. In Childhood Ends, Max meets Robert Larsen. He accompanied Robert around the countryside, looking at salvaged property. Robert revealed that he had information that would help Max assist the exiled town. After receiving the information, a raid took place and Max was taken into custody. Frank told him to persuade the exiles to allow the Corporation to train them as a militia for war. The final part, And There Was Light, unravels the coup that was underway in the city and Max’s role in uniting the exiles.

D. M. Smith built intense suspense with the various viewpoints of the characters. Robert’s medical issues brought him into contact with Dr. Stevens, who provided a wealth of information throughout the plot. Jack Ryan’s leadership qualities overshadowed Max’s inexperience. The transition between characters was seamless. The timeline of events was easy to follow, as the three parts flowed in chronological order. I disliked Agnes, who was Robert’s girlfriend. She played a major role in preventing Robert from moving into the exiled country. Mr. Anderson was an inspiration to everyone. Secrecy prevented those who had vital information from working together. Transparency was necessary for anyone who wanted the countries and cities to work together. The Cage is great for readers who enjoy dystopian stories about conspiracies, government development, and asset control.

The Cage by D. M. Smith is an extraordinary dystopian thriller. Robert Larson could not remember anything that occurred beyond a few months before. For Robert, his life had become a cage because of his memory loss. After passing out because of a headache, Robert recalled something from his past involving the house of Dr. Paul Stevens outside the city. Robert later met other people, and one of them could also not recollect anything about his past. The group was drawn together and became friends. All of them were looking for ways to build a new future. Cargo flu had swept the world twenty years previously, and it now continued to function as a shadow of its former self. New opportunities and means existed to rebuild the destroyed old world, and the four new friends were working together toward creating a new future.

The Cage was complex and exciting and author D.M. Smith had me hooked from the first page. The storyline moved at a leisurely pace, but so much was happening that there was never a dull moment. The chapters flowed into each other and were easy to read. All the twists and turns had me guessing until the end. It was a page-turner, and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were well-developed and authentic. My favorite was Robert. I was intrigued by his memory loss and astonished when the cause was revealed. The narrative is brilliantly written and exceeded my expectations by far. This story will stay with me for a long time.