Book Review: Captive: The Forbidden Side of Nightshade by A.D. Robertson

Title: Captive: The Forbidden Side of Nightshade
Author: A. D. Robertson
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Publishing Date: October 22nd
Length: 320 pages
Keywords: Adult, fiction, shapeshifter, romance
Source: Publisher 

Twenty-five-year-old Tristan Doran enjoys a life of incredible power and privilege. As a direct descendant of the Keepers—witches who have embraced dark magic—he defers to no one but his overlord, Lord Bosque Mar. For most of his life, Tristan has been kept out of the centuries-old Witches War, his bloodline too valuable to risk in battle.

But when a beautiful, young human Searcher named Sarah is captured and made a prisoner in his Irish castle, Tristan’s infatuation with her flings him headlong into the fray. Captive and captor, unable to contain their longing, embark on a passionate, forbidden romance together—only to learn that their love is at the heart of a prophecy predicting the downfall of the Keepers’ ages-old reign.

Captive explores the darker side of the richly imagined Nightshade universe, a fantasy world of powerful dark witches, shape-shifting wolf warriors, and fascinating history. The first of three erotic novels, Captive delves deeply into the fiery, illicit romance of two young lovers whose very desires invite their doom.

Summary by Goodreads

So far you've mostly seen reviews of YA titles published here on the blog and today's review of CAPTIVE is an exception. I was so curious about this new NIGHTSHADE book by Andrea Cremer, written under the pen name A.D. Robertson that I couldn't pass up the kind offering of an e-copy by Dutton Adult. 

Despite its rather uninspired cover, CAPTIVE surely introduces us to a higher seductive sphere of the NIGHTSHADE world. It's called 'the forbidden side of Nightshade', and rightfully so. For once this book is more erotic and explicit than the NIGHTSHADE trilogy before it. The R-rated scenes are what makes Sarah and Tristan's story so steamy and overly intriguing, the attraction between them is palpable.
When I first heard of Andrea Cremer's new book I couldn't help myself to compare it to one very popular series by E.L. James you might know, but CAPTIVE isn't nearly as taboo as I imagined it to be. It was written in a style that could've fit the original NIGHTSHADE trilogy, too, and easily added some steam to Calla's romantic scenes.

But there's more to the forbidden side than the sex scenes. Tristan is a Keeper and Sarah a Searcher, both sworn enemies and not at all allowed to engage with each other in an intimate relationship. 

Their story begins when Sarah volunteers to go on a suicide mission, travelling to a tiny private island with the task to explore its lonely castle, that is soon functioning as Sarah's prison. The setting creates a glum atmosphere that worked well in order to constitute a darker erotic love story between Sarah and Tristan.

There could've been more to the story than its only setting or Andrea Cremer could've dedicated selected chapters to the story from the Searchers' perspective and the things that were happening while Sarah was kept as a prisoner.

CAPTIVE doesn't have as many battles as the NIGHTSHADE trilogy to offer, its focus is on Sarah and Tristan getting to know each other. It's mostly just the two of them with very few other characters having appearances from time to time. Bosque Mar, the evil Keeper you know from the NIGHTSHADE series, will be playing a role, too. 

Significant is that Andrea Cremer  kept the spirit of her NIGHTSHADE series and told us some more about the ancient war between Keepers and Searchers. Fans won't be disappointed! 

3,5/5 ***/* CAPTIVE - Not as bellicose as the NIGHTSHADE trilogy nor as refined plot-wise , but with high aphrodisiac paranormal appeal.

The NIGHTSHADE series had many characters I set my heart on and there was so much more at stake than in CAPTIVE. So now the novel about the forbidden side of Nightshade appeared a bit imbalanced if you compare it to the NIGHTSHADE trilogy before it, but it got into the required details where the NIGHTSHADE series always put an end to explicit sexual interactions, since it was a YA series.

"At that late hour Castle Tierney was quiet, but Tristan knew better than to believe he moved through its halls without notice. There was never a time when all the creatures within the castle walls slept. It was a place of wariness and watching."  ― Chapter 5

CAPTIVE you might also enjoy DARKFEVER by Karen Marie Moning, HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost and DARK LOVER by J.R. Ward. Three series I have yet to read, all of them for an adult audience. I'm not sure I've heard about a YA book series with an adult companion novel with R-rated content to recommend. Can you think of any?  

* Andrea Cremer's newest YA book SNAKEROOT will be released December 10th 2013.

* Click here to read an excerpt of CAPTIVE.

* For more information about Andrea Cremer and her books visit www.andreacremer.com.

* Thanks to Dutton Adult for sending me an e-copy of CAPTIVE for review!

Mini Reviews # 3

Today's Mini Reviews post is dedicated to three sequels, which are all the second book in a trilogy. These books are VANISH by Sophie Jordan, the second book in the FIRELIGHT series and the draki saga around Jacinda and Will. Then there is HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand, who wrote the UNEARTHLY series. And we've got WOLFSBANE, a NIGHTSHADE novel by Andrea Cremer. You see, this post is full of paranormal creatures: drakis, humans with a dragon-like appearance, angels and shapeshifters or wolves.

Vanish (Firelight #2) by Sophie Jordan

Jacinda fell in love with the human Will and disclosed her biggest secret - of being a draki - in the first FIRELIGHT book. It didn't end well and Jacinda and her family had to return to the pride they had once escaped. Now, the second part of her story offers a deeper insight into the tribe culture of the draki pride. We see how the system of power and social acceptance in the group work as a mechanism of control, even over Jacinda's personal life. Her people - who would do everything to stay hidden in the mountains and protect their group - put high pressure on Jacinda's relationship with Will and try to keep the young lovers apart.
While being back in the pride, she has to adept to her old life again and try to mend all the broken bonds of friendship and family she had left behind. We learn more about several pride members like Cassian's cousin Corbin and his sister Miram, who didn’t exactly make an impression on me with their friendliness. Tamra, Jacinda’s sister plays and important role, too.

Some sequences felt rather sluggish, whereas scenes featuring Will managed to at least satisfy me in some way. He is definitely my favourite character in VANISH, because he is most likely and convinces with his steady character and strong believes.

It were Jacinda's feelings and struggles that didn't quite convince me though. In FIRELIGHT I’d felt more connected to her as our protagonist. In VANISH she’s got to choose between Will and Cassian and between staying in the pride or escaping to the human world. 

3/5 *** VANISH - Kisses here, struggles there and only slightly convincing. 

Most of the story is set in the boundaries of the pride and constantly circles around Jacinda’s previous decision so that VANISH felt kind monotonous after a few chapters. The writing was good, but the story didn’t completely suck me in.

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publishing Date: September 6th 2011 

Length: 294 pages

Keywords: YA, draki, romance, action, tribe culture, hunters, love triangle  

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary

Vanish Excerpt

Author's Homepage

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand

In UNEARTHLY Clara  found out about her heritage as an angel, how to use her newfound powers and the influence being an angel on her family and personal life.Where UNEARTHLY was delightfully funny, this second book in the series begins with a pensive and depressing undertone right from the start. Only a few pages into the story and tears started escaping my eyes. Clara kept having visions about a funeral with one significant character missing among the attendants. She desperately tries to find out whose death she's indirectly foreseeing and these uneasy feelings are easly spreading to the reader. Problems start piling up and misery and trouble are bound to occur.

There is also a black wing - the name doesn't suggest anything positive, does it? - waiting for Clara and her family. Clara has to figure out her destiny, while not imperiling her loved ones. 
In this part of the story we and Clara learn more about the nature of angels, prophecies and customs which make up an interesting and informative part of the novel. Be prepared for a lot of heavenly power! We follow Clara's family and friends, but are also introduced to old friends and important persons of the past who come back to be a part of the Gardener family’s life again.

Team Christian or Team Tucker? That’s the essential romantic debate in HALLOWED. Although Clara loves Tucker, her connection to Christian is as strong as never before. I cheered for Tucker all the time and he fought for Clara, but there is only so much he can take. I looove Tucker! He is no angel, but no less heavenly! 

4/5 **** HALLOWED- The heavely torn sequel to UNEARTHLY, with a major romantic choice and a great loss that has to be endured!

HALLOWED is a sequel that doesn’t disappoint. From page one moving and so sad. I didn’t want it to end, even though I knew what was coming and inevitable. This series is one of my favourite angel book series. The overall writing is casual and filled with all kinds of natural emotions that show even angels aren’t free from worldly and human concerns.

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publishing Date: January 17th 2012

Length: 403 pages

Keywords: YA, angels, romance, action, loss, love triangle  

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary

Hallowed Excerpt

Author's Homepage

Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer

What an unbearable ending Andrea Cremer left us with NIGHTSHADE! Calla has been taken by the enemies and the last thing that's on her mind before she blacks out, is finding her way back to her pack and her love Shay.

In this sequel, Calla wakes in a whole new setting, which she and I needed quite some time to adjust to. She isn't in good old Vail - with her pack - anymore, but with the Searchers, her supposed enemies. 

I’m very thankful that Andrea Cremer included flashbacks to past events. They were very much needed to refresh my memory. Andrea's writing is just as brilliant as in her debut novel.
There is a lot to learn about the Nightshade universe, Keepers, Searchers and Guardians. So many facts that made the first half of WOLFSBANE rather slow to read. But it was followed by a bombastic second half.

It felt right that Calla wasn't alone with the Searchers. Giving her Shay as companion was a nice way to cultivate their relationship and add further experiences and trials. Ren was a constant, too…at missing, unfortunately. I am Team Ren supporter and felt sorry for the way his part of the story played out.

 WOLFSBANE was a novel that worked for me, relationship-wise. Andrea Cremer put together couples that I really cared about. 
 There’s much talking in WOLFSBANE, about the Keepers, Searchers, Guardians, their secrets, magic and different worlds. The new charaters are ace. My favourites were Adne and Connor, who were just so entertaining.  
Then there’s still Shay’s secret to unravel, just like many other incidents of the past. But what is the Scion supposed to do and which role does Calla play in all of it?

4,5/5 ****/* WOLFSBANE - Impulsive and explosive, just like protagonist Calla! 

Two emotional universes, the best couples ever and a kick-ass finale. This novel often felt like the last in a series. I can’t believe the grand finale is still coming in BLOODROSE. I loved how Andrea Cremer pictured Calla’s human and wolfish emotions and reactions, which were really enjoyable thanks to the dual perspectives. 

Publisher: Philomel

Publishing Date: July 26th 2011

Length: 390 pages

Keywords: YA, romance, fantasy, action, wolves, shape shifting, love triangle  

Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary

Wolfsbane Excerpt

Author's Homepage