X-Book

The Kingdom is a Golden Cage

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

A magical, classic fairytale reimagined…

Once upon a time there was a princess, locked in a tower, forced to bend to her father’s will…

But Celine is no ordinary princess, and she has no intention of being a damsel in distress.

Celine has a lover, Hugo, whose cunning plan to rescue her is tied up in his own ambition to reclaim the lands and title that are his birthright. If only they can break the spell that binds him to the body of a cat, they will free the kingdom from the grasp of a cruel witch and live happily ever after…

For the plan to succeed, they must rely on Hugo’s cousin, Philippe, to whom Celine must bind herself in marriage until Hugo can be reinstated. It’s a risk to trust him, but it soon becomes clear that this is the least of their problems, because this is a land of shapeshifters, magic, and illusion, where nothing is as it seems, even the truth.

This is Puss in Boots with the intrigue and backstabbing of Game of Thrones. A fairytale, but not as you know it…

Praise for Lilly Inkwood:

‘Reads like a fabulous mix of a fairytale and a spy thriller' Julia Golding, Novelist, Director of the Oxford Centre for Fantasy

'It was just amazing. The characters and the story and the whole thing was just a magical experience that I would like to have again.’ NetGalley reviewer

‘A fun book for readers who like plots with secrets, twists, and turns’ NetGalley reviewer

'I have recently became a fan of fantasy books and must say this is the best one I have read so far’ NetGalley reviewer

'I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down’ NetGalley reviewer

Critics Review

‘Reads like a fabulous mix of a fairytale and a spy thriller‘ Julia Golding, Novelist, Director of the Oxford Centre for Fantasy

‘It was just amazing. The characters and the story and the whole thing was just a magical experience that I would like to have again.’ NetGalley reviewer

‘A fun book for readers who like plots with secrets, twists, and turns’ NetGalley reviewer

‘I have recently became a fan of fantasy books and must say this is the best one I have read so far’ NetGalley reviewer

‘I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down’ NetGalley reviewer

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.