Review: ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC - Drama Intrigue & an underwater world
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2014
Holy moly! I am absolutely in love with the world that Vanessa Garden has created in Captivate. It is very different and intriguing and just wonderful. Ms Garden’s writing style was addictive and with easy flow the pages turned themselves. The characters were multifaceted and varied with Miranda growing from timid to self-assured and King Marko from tyrant to caring and approachable. This was one brilliant read.Miranda (or Randy to her family) is seventeen (turning 18 in a week) has had a difficult past three years. Three years ago her best friend and crush, Aiden went missing in the sea. Her trips to her Grandparents shack every summer was never the same, with heartache and grief following her. Miranda’s parents died in a tragic car accident twelve months ago and on her birthday. Her birthdays will never really be a celebration again.Miranda has an older sister, Lauren and their relationship hasn’t been the same since their parents’ accident. The girls are now living with their grandparents and trying to live on without their parents. Coming back to the shack for summer has been hard, but Miranda is determined to rekindle their connection. Taking a midnight swim in the sea, Lauren and Miranda start talking, Miranda has always been in the shadows of her sister, Lauren is beautiful and gets all the attention.The girls start to head into shore, but something grabs Miranda’s ankle. Panic takes over Miranda and she struggles free, but the next minute she is dragged down under the water again; down down down and this time somebody has hold of her. Everything goes black.Miranda wakes up and thinks she is dreaming, still feeling delirious she has no idea where she is. Everything comes flooding back and her kidnapper is sitting in the corner. Robbie has been worried about the effects of the drugs and watching over her from day one. Miranda is still in the dark about where she is and why she was taken.King Marko has a responsibility to his kingdom and has to marry and produce an heir as soon as possible. With the surprise knowledge that Miranda isn’t yet 18, he will have to wait, but this will give them time to acquaint themselves with each other. Miranda is horrified by the whole marriage thing and is determined to escape. Hoping to use her feminine assets she gets close to Robbie.Discovering she is in a world under the sea with deep dark secrets hidden everywhere, Miranda has no choice but to become acquainted with this new life. With danger around every corner and the lack of females that can conceive children, Miranda has to be guarded at all times.Can Miranda escape Marin and return to her family? Will she marry King Marko and produce an heir? What about her feelings for Robbie? Is Marko’s sister Sylvia a baddie? Or will Miranda be fed to the sharks?I absolutely loved this book. It was full to the brim with drama, intrigue, mystery, romance and loyalty. Superb!! Miranda is certainly a very strange and determined teen, but has a soft heart. Robbie is the most loyal subject I have ever seen and Marko just wants to save his people from his evil brother. I am addicted hook, line and sinker and cannot wait for book two. I highly recommend this to all young adult readers.