Captive: Review

Synopsis:

For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister's niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever.

But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape.

As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?

***

Captive is the sequel of Pawn, in which Kitty Doe is forced to be masked (yes, she somewhat agreed to it, but that didn't make it any less, well, forced) and portrayed as Lila Hart. To describe it in one sentence, I'd say Captive is more action packed and tense, but also more annoying. 

I guess I'd start with Kitty Doe. I like Kitty a lot in Pawn, if you've read my review of it.  I still like her a lot and to be honest, there are a lot of character development in Kitty. By the end of the book she has become quite a decision maker, with calculating thoughts and stuff. But I guess that kind of development comes after tons and tons of annoyance, because Kitty is very reckless and even a little thoughtless at the start of Captive. Which, sometimes, makes me want to punch her in the face or shake her. I get that she doesn't like to be left out, but I'd also say that she's too much of a liability to the rebellion at that moment, and for some reason she doesn't get that. It's frustrating as hell. 

Another character that is also frustrating is Knox. I'd say being really hard to read is actually a character strength and it actually adds more fun. But like with Kitty, sometimes I really doubt his critical thinking abilities. Seriously, however fragile the rebellion really is, it won't hurt to keep Kitty updated when she wears the face of the head of Blackcoat rebellion? There are also times that he misses out the bigger picture, which I'm not going into details here. The cold shell he wears is pretty much invincible to penetration and that makes me want to kick him at times. However, I have a feeling that this cold shell hides something interesting. We'll just have to see, huh?

Despite all the annoyance, the book has vastly improved. Besides character development, a mixture of new and old characters are really fun. You can't really expect anything from them, as they might "snitch" you anytime if you take a wrong step. For their own good. It actually reflects the current society, where people will do anything, including betraying your friends, just to get what you want. Oh, and in case you don't know, it's slightly more difficult for me to come up with something that connects the story of Pawn to the society. In some ways it's an improvement. It's pretty hard to put the book down. The book is full of surprises, both good and bad. And what's a book without plot twists? Certainly not a good one. The suspense is definitely more intense in Captive. I'm already excited for the finale. It's the perfect catalyst.

I guess the only thing that I actually don't like (yes I talked a lot about annoyance, but that doesn't mean it's not cool in some ways) is the rare appearances of Benjy. Contrary to what a lot of readers think, I actually really like Benjy. Besides all the sweetness, he's one big certainty. I think the fact that nothing is certain in this series is why Benjy is kind of left out in the trilogy. But that doesn't mean I'm not pissed about it. He's a great character and he's mature enough, which can't be said to most of the characters (including a lot of important characters). Oh yes, he's sweet and supportive (and protective), despite obvious danger. And he knows how to handle himself well in an emergency situation. I seriously hope that I will see more of him in Queen. 

I really like Captive, just like with its previous counterpart. Despite obvious flaws, this book is still slightly underrated, and I can't wait for the last installment. 

Rating: 8/10

Pawn: Review

Synopsis:

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Previously titled Masked.

***

I'm curious about this series because I think it's going to be a dangerous ride. Though I'm not very optimistic about it because I'm growing more and more nonchalant to new dystopian series. Turns out Pawn is a much better book than I ever expected. I seriously think that this is a series worth everyone's time. 

If you are looking for an action-packed story in Pawn, you might not be very satisfied. But it's a really clever and smart book. The games played between the Hart family is really dangerous. The Harts always suspect each other and they all have an agenda of their own. They will do anything to achieve their goal, even if it means lying to their family. Even if it means killing the ones that shares the same blood. It's quite fascinating to read. All the struggles and suspicions will leave you breathless as they woven together to piece the whole picture.

Kitty Doe is the one unwillingly caught in the middle. She is a III, which means she's a tiny step away from being sent to Elsewhere, a place where none comes back when they are sent there. Like many IIIs, she longs for a chance to matter, except when she's given the choice to be part of the Hart family, she's caught in the middle of the family mess. Kitty is a very smart girl, despite her learning disabilities. She figures out consequences of every events very quickly. She's also brave and self-sacrificing when it comes to what she loves. It's typical for a heroine in a dystopian series, but somehow this kind of personalities suits her great. I really like her.

My favorite character, besides Kitty, is Benji. He's a sweetheart. Though he doesn't show up in the book almost one-third of the time (or more, I can't remember), his goodness shines through. He's loyal to Kitty and he really loves her. It's very cute and endearing to watch. I really hope that I can see more of him in Captive. The other characters have a strong personality and a clear agenda too. Though many of them are bitches or punks, I must admit they're great characters.

The world created by Aimee Carter is closely related to the world we're living in (or more like, the city I'm living in). It's a more brutal version of the keen competition we're facing today. If you don't get good grades at school and do well in public exams, you don't get a chance to have a good life. Though people don't get executed just because they're criminals or they got low grades, sometimes in real life people wishes for death if their lives are too hard. It's a dark world in Pawn, but in some ways it can well be our future. Nice job in background creating here.

I'm excited to read Captive, the second book of the series. My hopes are raised and I don't want it to be damned in the sequel. 

Rating: 8/10