Book Description:
Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.
A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.
Review: One of the reasons I enjoyed Need (the first book in this series) so much was because of the honest and thoughtful voice of the protagonist, Zara. She was understandably melancholy (read my review HERE), but completely lacking in self pity. She was a realistic teenager without any of the CW-esque superficiality. In Captivate, after surviving a series of earth shattering experiences, and nearly loosing her life, I expected Zara to be even more grounded and serious about the new direction her life had taken. Unfortunately the older and wiser Zara is notably absent this time out.
**Spoilers if you haven’t read Need**
Captivate begins with Zara and Co. still hunting stray pixies and trapping them inside the iron enforced hidden mansion with her pixie king father. Zara is increasingly anxious about her werewolf boyfriend Nick’s solo missions, while he is equally upset by her sudden softening towards one particular pixie, Astley. Astley, a pixie king himself, challenges Zara’s long held belief that all pixies are evil. He makes no secret of his desires to have her as his pixie queen, but he does not force her either. He encourages her to consider the fate of the humans she loves as they are in danger once again with more and more pixies arriving and the reality of the temporary ‘pixie prison’ inevitable collapse, not to mention another king whose evil surpasses any that Zara has imagined.
Captivate introduces some new mythology into the Need universe, specifically Norse mythology. Valhalla, valkyries, the great battle of Ragnarök, and the god Odin. We don’t get a full explanation of how this added mythology will impact the already established world building. That information seems to be reserved for the as yet untitled Need book 3.
The basic plot is a fun continuation of the original premise of Zara trying to come to terms with both her human and pixie heritage and the nature of good and evil within all of us, but because of the lack of depth with the main characters, this sequel seems somewhat shallow. Zara and her friends are now inordinately consumed with junior high-ish angst over their respective crushes. The dialogue (which was so smart and snappy in Need) is now bogged down with plenty freaking ’s and cool ’s etc. And Zara makes several TSTL (To stupid to live) choices that really grated. I did enjoy the love triangle that was created with the introduction of Astley (I predict a Team Nick vs Team Astley war will be ensuing, and for the record: I’m going with Team Astley).
Despite some significant flaws, Captivate is still a good read though no where near as captivating as Need. Carrie Jones proved her talent to me with the first book in this series, and while the second effort was a bit of a stumble, I’m hoping the third book will more than make up for it.
Sexual Content: (YA books receive a more thorough breakdown) Kissing
My Rating (out of 5):
Click HERE to read an excerpt of Captivate
Disclosure: I received this book for review courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing
Product Details
Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (January 5, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1599903423
- ISBN-13: 978-1599903422
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I'm quite looking forward to this, I am a firm pixie fan after Need.
ReplyDeleteKinda disappointing. Blah I so want to read this still
ReplyDeleteWhen this book comes out in paperback, I'm going to read it. I just finished Need and I'm looking forward to reading Captivate. I'm sorry you didn't like it as much as Need.
ReplyDeleteHmm, it's never good when the 2nd book isn't as good as the first. Still can't wait to read it though!
ReplyDeleteI really struggled with the dialogue as well and the constant self-righteous monologues. But I am definitely Team Astley (for the record).
ReplyDeleteMiss Remmers - I'm hoping that the stakes will be high enough in ENTICE that all the characters will have to mature a lot.
ReplyDelete