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Review

The second book in The Captive series, this is a fantastic follow up to book one – Captured – and continues the story of Arianna and Braith and their battle to be together in a world where vampires rule over an enslaved human race.

Just a warning – this is going to be a bit spoilery if you haven’t read the first book. And if you haven’t read the first book – it’s free on Amazon, so DO IT NOW!!!!

The story picks up around two months after the end of the hideous cliffhanger that ended the last book. Arianna and Braith are both devastated following their separation, both under the misconception that they have been betrayed by the other. Arianna takes solace in finding quiet time (usually with Max who is still very much devoted to her), while Braith goes all feral vampire – manwhoring, killing and drinking the blood of anybody he can get his hands on. Thankfully, it doesn’t take too long for the confusion to be resolved, and the reunion between them is beautiful and heartbreaking as they come to realise exactly what they mean to each other, as well as all that stands between them.

They refuse to allow their differences to keep them apart (yay), despite coming from completely different worlds and being on opposite sides of the struggle (the heir to the Vampire throne and the daughter of the leader of the Resistance – it doesn’t get more complicated than that!). And there is a strong focus on their relationship which only strengthens as they come to realise the depth of their feelings, and what the bond between them truly means. I loved seeing them open up to each other. The emotion is absolutely beautiful.

“He grabbed hold of her, pulling her against him. A small gasp of surprise escaped her as he fell to his knees before her. He wrapped his arms around her waist as he rested his head against her stomach. “You humble me Arianna. I don’t deserve you; I did nothing to earn your love, or the gift … that your presence has brought back to my life.”

Braith in love is a gorgeous thing to see! He is so beautifully protective, swoony and tender with Arianna, but to the rest of the world he is a macho Alpha who is immensely powerful, vicious and ruthless and actually a bit of an asshole, and I LOVE him!

“I swear I’ll snap your neck just because you’re annoying me”

(I would love to say that to somebody… just once!).

And then there’s the rest of the story. As the vampires continue to hunt out the resistance movement, and as Braith begins to spend time away from the Palace for the first time, he slowly comes to realise exactly what his father’s rule means for those living outside of his privileged part of the world, and it is truly horrifying. With the help of Jack, and the introduction of two new and important characters – Ashby and Melinda (love them) – the truth of the war, its history, and Braith’s place in it, is revealed, and it provides a fantastic lead in to the next book!

Spoiler

“Somewhere along the way though, he had realized that there was nowhere safe for her, and no one that could protect her, except for him. And if he was going to keep her safe, then his father would have to be removed. A new power, and a new world system, would have to be established.
“This will be interesting, a civil war,” Ashby pondered. “A civil war involving the most powerful regime to ever rule us, a war between the murderous, vicious father , and the son who hates him; imagine the consequences of such a thing, imagine the horror.”

OMG! Shivers… seriously!

I am loving this series! I love the world, I love the characters and I love Stevens’ writing style! She brings so much emotion to the story, and not just the romance – the disgust, the hate, the longing, and the heartbreak, I could feel it all! I raced through this book, and can’t wait to see what comes next.

Loved it – 4 stars