Captivate [Hardcover]

Carrie Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2010

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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—In Carrie Jones's sequel (2010) to Need (2008, both Bloomsbury; Brilliance, 2009), Zara and her friends have been capturing pixies and locking them up to save their Maine town. Like vampires, but apparently messier and more violent, out of control pixies need to feed on blood. Zara's father, the pixie king, was imprisoned in the first book, and he begins to lose power over his people. But, as Zara and her friends learn, there are rival kings. Julia Whelan does a wonderful job of giving each character a distinct voice, and her delivery and comic timing are spot-on. Norse mythology is woven into the tale, adding a different layer to the fantasy elements. There is plenty of backstory throughout the book to allow listeners to catch up and get to know the characters and their situation. The ending is a bit abrupt, and listeners are left eagerly awaiting the next installment.—Genevieve Gallagher, Charlottesville High School, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From Booklist

Half-pixie/half-human Zara, Nick, and their friends imprisoned evil pixies in Need (2008), but more of the wicked sprites are springing up everywhere, and a pixie king is convinced that Zara is his queen—something hard to refute since her skin turns blue every time he appears. Nick is fatally wounded during an ambush, causing Zara to believe she must give in to her dark side to save him. This entry successfully delivers expected characters, tensions, and romance. Norse lore adds a new dimension, but feels extraneous rather than integrated into the story. Still, fans will rejoice in the familiar. Grades 7-12. --Cindy Welch

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (January 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599903423
• ISBN-13: 978-1599903422
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carrie Jones graduated from Vermont College's MFA program for writing. She has edited newspapers and poetry journals and has recently won awards from the Maine Press Association and also been awarded the Martin Dibner Fellowship as well as a Maine Literary Award.

Her first book, TIPS ON HAVING A GAY (EX) BOYFRIEND appeared May 2007. Her second novel tentatively titled,LOVE (AND OTHER USES FOR DUCT TAPE) came out March 2008. Another book, GIRL, HERO was released after August 2008. TIPS won the Maine Literary Award and the Independent Booksellers Award.

NEED, an urban fantasy/romance appeared December 2008 and has been named a VOYA Best Books of 2008 and is a finalist for a bunch of other awards.

That's boring though, isn't it? Here, let's try it this way.

Carrie Jones likes Skinny Cow fudgsicles and potatoes. She does not know how to spell fudgsicles. This has not prevented her from writing books. She lives with her cute family in Maine, but she grew up in Bedford, NH where she once had a seance with cool uber-comedian Sarah Silverman.

The Meyers brothers are from Bedford, too, so you'd think it would make Carrie funnier, coming from Bedford N.H. Obviously, something didn't work.

Carrie has a large, skinny white dog and a fat cat. Both like fudgicles. Only the cat likes potatoes. This may be a reason for the kitty's weight problem (Shh??? don't tell). Carrie has always liked cowboy hats but has never owned one. This is a very wrong thing. She graduated from Vermont College's MFA program for writing. She has edited newspapers and poetry journals and has recently won awards from the Maine Press Association and also been awarded the Martin Dibner Fellowship as well as a Maine Literary Award.

Still boring? Still with me? How about this....

2. Carrie can not drink coffee. It makes her insane. Do not give her caffeine.
3. Carrie is very responsive to loving strokes on the hair, kind of like a puppy. However, do not do this without asking first unless you are a ridiculously handsome man or an editor who is about to offer her a trillion dollars for the first draft of her novel.
4. Carrie is secretly really, really shy even though she's pathetically outgoing in person. She has a very hard time calling people. So, if you want to talk to her, make the first move. And, if you're her in-Maine female best friend, Jennifer, do NOT get mad at her because she is so bad at returning emails.
5. Carrie sometimes wears mismatched socks, if you do not think this is cool, do not tell her. You will hurt her feelings.
6. Carrie really, really wants you to like her books. Please like her books. PLEEEAASSSEEEE. She'll be your best friend forever. That is, if you want a friend who is shy about calling and emailing and who wears mismatched socks and can't drink caffeine and likes being pet on the head. Hhmmm???.
7. Carrie is not above begging.
8. Carrie, like Belle in TIPS drinks Postum. It's for the same reason, too.
9. Carrie loves Great Pyrenees dogs. They are huge and white, and furry and it looks like they have white eyeliner and mascara on, which is way too cute. Do you have one? Send a picture!
10. Carrie lives in Maine. She has a hard time with this in the winter. It is bleak in Maine in the winter. Imagine everything shades of gray and brown and no green anywhere except for in people's noses. This is Maine in Winter. Maine in summer is the best place in the world, so it's a trade-off. Feel free to invite Carrie to your house in the winter, but not if it's in Greenland, Canada, or anywhere north of Florida.
11. Forget that. She'd still probably come.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun and action-packed sequel!, January 5, 2010

By 

The Compulsive Reader (Big Rapids, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Captivate (Hardcover)

Zara and her friends may have succeeded in trapping the killer pixies preying on young boys in Need, but now they find themselves facing bigger problems. Pixies from all over the world are flocking to Maine, sensing Zara's father's weakness and hoping to become the new pixie king. They are bringing plenty of trouble with them, especially a certain pixie king, Astley. He insists that Zara must become his queen, and as much as she loathes the thought, she can't help but want to believe certain things he tells her. And then when things veer wildly out of control, it turns out everyone must face challenges they never dreamed of.

All the lovable and dynamic characters from Need return in Carrie Jones' Captivate, making for a witty, suspenseful, and absorbing read. Despite its rather serious elements, Captivate stays witty and cute through the light romance between Nick and Zara and the fun supporting characters that often provide comic relief throughout the story. Zara still remains a strong, admirable heroine with her passion to help people, from oppressed people in third world countries to her own friends and family. Though she is very noble and protective, her very real fear of what might come keeps her grounded and human.

A few new characters are also introduced, which keeps things interesting. Astley's appearance in the series will most like inspire many Team Nick vs. Team Astley debates among fans, and it will be most interesting to see how the relationships between Nick, Astley, and Zara develop, especially as it is the dynamics between the three that provide plenty of tension that propels Captivate's plot. Though the book itself feels more like a continuation of a story in general rather than its own entity with a beginning, middle, and end like Need, the surprising turn of events and the cliffhanger ending will have everyone eager for a sequel. Captivate is a wonderfully entertaining book, one that girls will continue to flock towards thanks to its gutsy and relatable heroine and the constant action and suspense throughout.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Captivate is still a good read though no where near as captivating as Need., February 20, 2010

By 

All Things Urban Fantasy (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Captivate (Hardcover)

Review courtesy of [...]

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: 3 out of 5

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Was Captivated!, May 16, 2010

By 

Susan B. Evans "The Story Lady" (Rosenberg, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Captivate (Hardcover)

I enjoyed Need (the first book in the series,) and was eager to get my hands on Captivate. As soon as it was available at my library I snatched it up! I devoured it in just a couple of days and was not disappointed. I love the direction the story is taking and the Norse mythology surrounding the fairies added an interesting depth to Jones' fictional world.

Captivate is full of action - from page one - and has fantastic plot twists that kept this reader on the edge of her seat. The introduction of fascinating new characters as well as further development of favorite characters from Need, combine to make Captivate an exciting and well-written addition to this delightful series.