THE VERDANT CAGE

Lourey’s dystopian novel emphasizes the value of communities and how they can dismantle local injustice.

Rose Allgood is lucky to be a citizen of Noah’s Valley; at least, that’s what she tries to remind herself as she walks down the aisle on her wedding day. The marriage is prearranged, as most everything is in the community, in which the remnants of humanity find sanctuary from a world that’s now a wasteland.Her wedding, however, is interrupted by a scuffle in the crowd. Once the crimson cloaks of the spectators have parted, Rose sees her mother lying in a pool of blood, and her twin brother, Jonas, standing above her with a blade in his hand. Only minutes before, Jonas had promised to tell Rose the secret truth of Noah’s Valley, whispering, “We’re not what you think, Rose,” but soon, he’s sentenced to death as a Harvest sacrifice. With hardly a moment to breathe, Rose weds Gryphon Tzu, son of Jarek Tzu, the lead Elder who tyrannizes the Valley. While adjusting to her new marriage, home, and in-laws, she begins to uncover new information about her family members’ deaths. She soon finds herself entering a rabbit hole of investigation that reveals the origins of the Valley and the deep corruption that sustains it. As something begins to cull the population, Rose must put herself in danger in order to unite and ultimately liberate herself and her fellow citizens. Many contemporary dystopian archetypes are present in Lourey’s novel—including an insular society kept within walls, divided into craft-based sects, and a council of shadowy elders keeping them all in line—but the conspiracy at the center of it all is pertinent to current anxieties over wealth inequality and corporate deregulation. The deft prose is enlivened by action sequences, as well, which are sure to draw readers into the central mystery. A fundamental question arises for readers to ponder: Can communities founded on the principles of injustice produce good and truly righteous people—and what happens if they do?

An entertaining and timely spin on a familiar setup.