Book: Captivate by Carrie Jones

Publishing Info: Published by Bloomsbury USA; 273 pages in hardcover

Goodreads Summary: 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.

I liked Captivate, but I think I liked Need better.

While I liked Zara and Nick’s relationship in Need, it was a little too corny and over the top for me.  And I didn’t like Zara as much either.  Her whole “I don’t want to be a pixie because they’re evil but in the end, I’m going to turn pixie to get Nick out of Valhalla even though he hates pixies because I need to save him and no one else can do it” thing was really annoying.  I was hoping that she wouldn’t turn pixie, but unfortunately, she did.

With a pixie war looming, this book felt like it was a setup for the next one, and there are hints at a potential love triangle in the next book.  She is Astley’s pixie queen, and Jones does get some credit for hinting at it to save everyone.  I have the feeling she might end up with Astley if there is a love triangle.  Oh, who am I kidding, that’s probably what is going to happen in the next couple books.  These pixies seem hellbent on having Zara as their pixie queen.

It was no surprise that Issie and Devyn ended up together, although it was surprising it didn’t happen in the first book.  Zara was complaining and whining a lot, Nick was super-protective, and Issie and Devyn were just there.  Cassidy and Astley were a breath of fresh air next to everyone else.

It does seem like Zara is (possibly) facing her fears, because she only recited phobias a few times.  I did miss it though.  And each chapter is now headed by a pixie tip, which was fun, because pixies are out to get Zara.  I liked how her skin would randomly turn blue and I liked the Norse mythology that was introduced.  Like the mysterious Valkyrie that appeared and eventually took Nick to Valhalla.

Overall, it gets a 3 out of 5.  I liked it, but Captivate was not very captivating.  I’m hoping the next one is better.