Customer Reviews

Captivate

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

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.

I'm not exactly sure why - but whenever the story comes around to Zara and Nick the writing becomes overwhelmingly and unbearably corny! The first half of the book is a challenging obstacle with poor dialogue and tacky overuse of the pet name "baby". Zara, who is supposed to be the heroine of the book, lacks admirable characteristics - she is selfish, narrow-minded, immature, and a hypocrite - all of her focus and her main top priority is her boyfriend, Nick. There is no mention of concern on Zara's part about the safety of the people in their town, but instead her constant thoughts and worries focus only in the safety of her boyfriend which is repeatedly mentioned in the first half of the book. Let us not forget that Zara is supposed to be a major supporter of Amnesty International, yet to the contrary she is quick to judge, condemn and imprison an entire species that she knows little about. You would think that a person who would have the compassion to write letters in support of human rights would have a guiltier conscious and be more highly aware of oppression.

The writing does vastly improve when Nick leaves the scene which happens in the middle of the book. The chemistry and mystery of what's to come between Zara and Astley is captivating. To be more specific, Astley is captivating - Zara remains tiresome. Astley is an intriguing character and was my only reason to continue reading. The book does end with a major cliffhanger which may irritate some readers - but effectively made this somewhat disappointed reader anticipate the next book.

After reading this book, I was left wondering what the heck happened. The writing went down a notch, the characters morphed into one-dimensional fillers, and the romance was not that believable. There was a drastic change from Need to Captivate, one I absolutely didn't like.

Captivate picks up a few months after where we're left off with Need. Captivate didn't transition well from its predecessor - we're pretty much thrust back into the story without character descriptions or at least a little synopsis of what happened before. I couldn't even remember how Zara's, Devyn's, or Issie's appearances looked like.

The writing style was just atrocious. Sentences were short and fragmented, and there were barely any worthwhile descriptions. Sometimes even mundane aspects would be written into the book - do we really need to know that Devyn grabs a drink of water, or that Zara goes pee? What does that really bring to the storyline other than filler? All of the characters sounded the same - if there hadn't been "Zara said" or "Issie said", etc, I wouldn't have even been able to tell who was talking. Even their personalities were inconsistent - Astley has a certain way of talking, and after a while Zara started talking the same way. Uhh, I was pretty sure she had never spoken the way Astley did throughout any of the novels.

I think Carrie was trying to portray "out-casts" and minorities in this novel. Everyone had dreadlocks or cornrow's or hair dyed green in Mohawks. Okay, I get that she wants diversity in her town, but it was never like that in the previous novel. I had to roll my eyes after yet another person was introduced that had dreadlocks.

Zara pissed me off this time. Every time she spoke, I wanted to either strangle her or throw the book across the room. I mentioned this in my review of Need, but good GOD is she stupid. She gets so many warnings from the pixie kings but she ignores them. If she had only paid heed to them, none of the stuff that happened would have happened, and a bunch of people wouldn't have gotten killed just because of her sheer stupidity. The best part? She has the gall to blame the pixies for what happened, but hot damn was it her fault. She's so dang self-absorbed and whiny; if she could have sacrificed one person or herself, none of the innocents would have died. She's all about protecting people from the pixies, but what she did endangered them. She never thinks about her actions. All she does is "research" that comes up inconclusive or just gets solved by Devyn. I couldn't even feel sorry for her after what happened to Nick. And her reaction to losing Nick? Oh, I'll just grab a sword and try to take out as many pixies as I can, but get swarmed in the process and only really inflict ONE minor injury and then have to get rescued. URGH.

The other characters pissed me off too. It was like Carrie had a list: Nick - protective, "macho"; Devyn - "nerdy guy who researches a lot"; Issie - "eccentric who loves bunnies but is clumsy and weak". They were so one-dimensional this time. What happened to my vivacious Issie from Need? The only two characters I liked were new: Cassidy and Astley. I couldn't not like Astley, but if I say why I might spoil something. Same with Cassidy. But in both cases, they were refreshing next to the gang of four.

I was definitely not emotionally connected to any of the characters this time around, aside from Astley.

The plot was okay, but sort of dull. Nothing too twisty this time - the only "twist" happened with Cassidy. Need was suspenseful - Captivate just wasn't. Pacing was alright - not too action-packed, and only lagged in the beginning. I have to admit that the read got better after Zara finally agrees to Astley's suggestions, so I'm still holding on to hope that the third novel will be better than this one.

I stayed up all night reading this book and I cannot WAIT for the third book. There were a lot of things i liked about this book. Bringing Astley into the book and all the other different types of fae. I thought that was just neato! Had a lot of action in it kept me in the book I couldn't put it down! The only thing that i found a little annoying was the way Issie and Zara acted like such preteen girls in the book. They may be teenagers but Zara's IQ seems to have dropped a little since need. Another thing thing that bothered me was the fact that with all the pixies stalking them and taking people.. they still were going to the dance? Your friend is dead the other is missing and your going to a dance?? Hello?? Am i the only one who noticed that? I found it awfully strange. Maybe it was just me. Anyway, Good book. 3 stars. Could have been better. Don't like cliff hangers..

Captivate is a remarkable book, as a sequal to Need, I have to say the second surpassed the first, leaving me even more excited about what else is comimg up in the series. Romantic, suspensful, and captivating (pun-intended), Captivate is a must read sequal that takes readers more into the faerie realm introduced in the first book and into the minds of new and old characters leaving you needing (another intended pun) more!!!

Zara, the spunky main character who has just recently lost her step-father, learned she is part faerie, and found out her real father is a faerie King that has been preying on little boys, is one of the many characters I fell back in love with after the months between reading Need and Captivate. In my opinion, Zara grew more as a character than anyone else in the book, and that made me love the book so much more. From the naive girl in the first book (remember- the girl who runs towards the unnatural voice in the woods in the middle of the night calling her name), to an incredibly strong leading character who isn't afraid of taking risks and plunging into danger for the sake of those she loves. Watch out Rose (Vampire Academy) Zara's now in the running for my favorite leading character!!!

Nick, Issie, and Devyn also grow in this book. Issie is still the loveable best friend who would still do whatever it is to help her supernatural friends even if she isnt exactly sure what she is doing. I stilled loved Devyn, I jumped up and down when he finally got out of his wheelchair, but then sat immediately back down when I realized it wasn't Issie he was sharing this special moment with. I mean gosh, Devyn is the eptiome of how clueless guys really get. All through the book I was yelling at him "How can you do that to loveable Issie?". And Nick is still the overprotective "hero guy" he feels he needs to be throughout the book.

Where do I start with this plot? So much is going on. Escapes, new Kings, a developing love triangle, transformations, discoveries, and so many near death experiences, and the new King Astley is at the center of it all. To be honest, I really didn't like him at all. Not only because he threatened my beloved Nick's place in Zara's heart, but because he seems so fake. Everything he said seemed to be totally ingenuine, and just for the sake of getting on Zara's good side. It was annoying. Every chapter brings a new faerie tip, and shocking gasps making you want to change pages even faster!!!

The ending was the perfect setup for the next book. Though some might think it was just a way to guarantee readers buy the next book, I don't think of it like that at all. I am even more eager for the next book in this series than I was for the second, and I expect it to be just as great in every way!!!

I Recommend: I recommend this book to all lovers of paranormal romances, lovers of the first book, fae, love triangles, and a book that you will definately not be able to put down!!!

[...]

Love this series. I must say that I enjoyed Captivate more than Need. I think the romantic tension Astley brings into this book is tantalizing. While I love Nick and Zara, there is something about Astley that makes one weak in the knees. I am a huge Twilight fan (Team Edward) and find that Astley's mannerisms and actions very much remind me of Edward - lusty in a sweet, romantic kind of way. His uncertainty makes him vulnerable and lovable. Zara is great and, as someone else mentioned, her wide range of emotions is so real and grounded you can really feel for her. It was much more fast-paced than Need and I too found it hard to find a spot where I could put it down. With this kind of ending I hope that book three is not far off. Also have to say that the cover art on both books is just gorgeous. While you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, it's what first caught my eye. If you're looking for similar reading, I would recommend Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception & Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie by Maggie Stiefvater as well as The Dark Divine by Bree Despain.

Captivate by Carrie Jones picks up where Need left off: Zara, her friends Issie and Dev, her werewolf boyfriend Nick, and her grandmother Betty (also a were) have captured Zara's pixie father and many of his subjects and trapped them in a house deep in the Maine woods. It's not a perfect plan for how to deal with the problem of the cruel pixies, but it's the best idea they have had to keep their town free of the menace. So it's back to school and the rather normal things of life...until more pixies begin to show up and Zara finds those she loves in dire peril.

This sequel is packed with action and emotion, though it does seem like mostly a bridge to the next entry in the series. Zara's love for Nick is strong and fierce, and she's no simpering wallflower waiting to be rescued, taking charge and making hard decisions. This creates tension between Nick and Zara, which makes their relationship that much more believable. Things are complicated by the appearance of another pixie king named Astley; Zara has to determine whether or not she can trust him...which might become a life or death decision in more ways than one.

I really enjoyed Captivate, and I liked how Ms. Jones allows Zara to experience the full range of emotions: love, anger, confusion, grief--they're all there in full measure. My main problem with the novel came in its ultimate ending (which is obviously a set up for the next book) since I could not see Zara pausing even a moment from the quest for which she made such a huge sacrifice. Other than that, this book...well, captivated me. I had a hard time finding a stopping point every time I picked it up, and I was drawn into the story completely. I will be waiting excitedly for the next installment to find out just where we're going and how we're going to get there.

I've read alot of sequels lately and overall, have been disappointed. Usually they have been "middle books" stuffed with things that represent the characters simply marking time until the big finish. This book is certainly different. I feel that the author took a big risk here- she took this story to new places that surprised me and did a great job on building her characters from the past book plus adding an exciting new one. I'm not going to speak to the plot because I feel that if I say anything specific it will give things away. This is simply a good story. I imagine that there will be some people who don't like it because like I said, she has taken some risks. There is less teen romance- it plays a small part with a couple of the other characters, but her main characters have matured beyond it and Zara finds herself in a position where she has to make some really painful choices. Carrie Jones is a good writer - the finish to this story is building up to be quite something.