Captivate by Carrie Jones

(Need Series, #2) Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

Zara and her friends thought they'd solved the pixie problem. And they did - sort of. The pixie's are all locked away, deep in the woods. But the king's needs grow stronger each day that he is in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. And it's enough to draw a new king into town. Astley claims he is different. He claims there are pixies who can live peacefully with humans, that it doesn't have to be all violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him...until Astley also claims that she is fated to be his queen.

There is no way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she's got good friends who will make sure of that. Besides, she and Nick are so in love they're practically inseparable. But when they very thing Zara wants to protect most is exactly what's at risk, she is forced to make choices she never imagined....

I was completely captivated by this one - and yes, that's an intentional cheesy line. I'm allowed these sometimes.

After the excellent series debut, I couldn't wait to read this one nd see how firm the band-aid fix from that end held.

As with the last book, the group remains deadset against prejudice on anything to do with "big, bad pixie." They do have good reasons to hate, but the 'trapping' still irks me. Even if their hands were tied, it's still cruel and ignorant.

Zara gets ample warning about the disastrous consequences which soon befall her harebrained scheme. The worst thing about that really is it was so obvious what would happen, warning or not. Still everyone ignores advance warning and are still "unprepared" when it blows up in their faces. Argh! Annoying, right? The Valhalla story angle...well, I'll see where the author leads with it. I'm optimistic.

This sequel dishes out a large, depressing change, the intro of a new major player, and branches it's story out to expand horizons beyond the chilly town.

Compared with the first book, this one kicks off with more energy, the dilemma already in their faces. Even tension levels hold strong since pacing is even.

There are several emotional clenchers - wow on what happens to a main! - where shall that lead next? As the newcomer, Astley is intriguing enough to be considered a "good add." Oodles more on the level of group tension due to major changes, but also hard decisions Zara makes.

I hope I'm not the only one NOT warming up to 'dear, old mom?' Yeah, I get that the father's a monster in many respects - I really do - and it's not the mom's fault he 'needs' her to keep the madness at bay....but he does seem to genuinely care about her enough to let her go, which he knew would have him weaker in the process. At the end she's so filled with hated she can't even fully accept her own daughter the same? Really? Yuck. She is blinded by so many pre-arranged prejudices.

At least again Betty completely rocks at being the grandmother. :)

As a Young Adult, this lacks consequential melodrama - I'm pleased to report emo thoughts are kept off the table. There's not a triangle yet but one might be looming. Enough violence will keep action/adventure fans pleased, still a PG-13 book all the way. Sadder than the original, many life altering scenes.

I missed the excitement, intrigue and strong mystery the first boasted, but still dig this action-packed followup. I didn't fall in love with the mains further, but I approve of all newbies blended into the fold. Holding a strong sense of urgency and higher-paced action, while being coated with sadness, this sequel is captivating enough to recommend.

   Book Quotes:

“Losing people you love affects you. It is buried inside of you and becomes this big, deep hole of ache. It doesn't magically go away, even when you stop officially mourning.” 

“I swear his pheromones have my freaking name written on them. They hone in and attack.”  

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