STARRED Book Review: The Sapling Cage

Reviewed by Audrey Davis

A magical tale filled with adventure, mystery, courage, and friendship

Young Lorel, 16, dreams of experiencing the magical world—becoming a witch and learning the ways of the Order, fighting off monsters, helping townsfolk, and seeing more of the world outside the little village and job at the town stables. When an unnatural disease begins affecting and killing trees in the surrounding forest, Lorel is even more keen to join the witches, to help find the cause—the only difficulty is that all witches are women, and Lorel was born a boy. 

Disguising herself and accepting an unwanted apprenticeship in her friend’s stead, Lorel lets nothing stand in her way. She believes her journey is clear, but she soon learns that dark, dangerous forces and power-hungry authorities obscure her path. Lorel knows she must do what she can to help save her realm from destruction while attempting to learn to work together with her fellow young witches as a coven and conceal her identity from those who would bring them harm. 

“Perhaps I’d been more frightened than I realized. Perhaps only part of fear is how you feel in the moment. Perhaps part of fear comes later, when you try to sleep.”

Margaret Killjoy’s The Sapling Cage, the first in an anticipated trilogy, brings thrills, adventure, romance, and a little in-between. Killjoy brings such a vibrant, Game of Thrones-esque environment to life through detailed worldbuilding, genuine characters, and action-packed episodes.

Readers are given a classic-style fantasy setting, with knights on horseback, giants, elves, and magic, but with new parameters made for this realm. The story is paced nicely, with the characterization fitting well with the pressure and tension to see the witches trained, and transitions from more sincere scenes to action-filled battles are just as smooth as the character dialogue. 

“They were good men, I’m sure, in their minds. It doesn’t matter what’s in your heart. It doesn’t matter your intentions. It matters what you do.”

Lorel and the other young witches are faced with unfortunate realities and eventualities that, in a perfect world, should not happen—such as knights raiding a village and murdering innocent villagers. Left to contend with their own feelings of discomfort about a situation they cannot control, readers get to see first-hand how their distress strengthens their bond as witches and as friends with realistic interactions. 

Identity is very important to all characters, but the story’s main focus remains Lorel’s journey and desire to learn witchcraft. The characters either astutely realize, or come to realize, that the issues and danger they are faced with can be larger than any of their personal issues. Lorel wishes she were a girl and feels she must conceal her identity, but in doing so, she comes to learn more about herself, her friends, her surroundings, and that standing for injustices can be just as rewarding.

This book is a delight for anyone with a love of magical stories and high fantasy, from young adults onward. Readers are not really left wanting for any not-included information, but it left me hungry for possibilities and excited for future installments. 

“I followed her, though I felt a little queasy as we walked into the sky and the whole forest opened out beneath us. No, the whole world, out to the mountains in every direction, lit by the moon. The stars crowded the sky. The view was worth a little fear.”

---

Thank you for reading Audrey Davis’s book review of The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.