Review: Captured by Erica Stevens

Book: Captured (The Captive Series Book 1) By: Erica Stevens
Published: June 6, 2012
Published By: Gilmour-Cox (Free on Smashwords)

Description: Blood Slave.

Captured, taken from her beloved family and woods, Aria’s biggest fear is not the imminent death facing her, but that she will be chosen as a blood slave for a member of the ruling vampire race. No matter what becomes of her though, Aria knows that she must keep her identity hidden from the monsters imprisoning her. She has already been branded a member of the rebellion, but the vampires do not know the true depth of her involvement with it, and they must never know. Though hoping for death, Aria’s world is turned upside down when a vampire named Braith steps forward to claim her. He delays her execution, but Aria knows it’s only a matter of time before he drains her, and destroys her. Especially once she learns his true identity as a prince within the royal family; the same royal family that started the war that ultimately brought down humankind, reducing them to nothing more than servants and slaves. Aria is determined to hate the prince, determined not to give into him in anyway, but his strange kindness, and surprising gentleness astonish her. Torn between her loyalties to the rebellion, and her growing love for her greatest enemy, Aria struggles to decide between everything she has ever known, and a love she never dreamed of finding.

My Thoughts: This free book (on smashwords) was a savior during my boring last few days at work.  I hadn't expected much from it, since it was free, but it was a a lot better that I had ever hoped. Since the description gives away pretty much everything I could say about this book, and since it was short at only 113 pages, my review will be brief.

This was a love story between Braith and Aria told from their alternating points of view that keeps you wanting more and more. It captures your interest and has you feeling just as confused as they do about it. You find yourself hoping that something could be done to keep these two together. A love like theirs shouldn't be hidden, it should be allowed, but after knowing all about the world they live in, you know that they can't. You know that, like Juliet and Romeo, there's nothing that will stop the horrible ending, there's no way to stop the hate between the two races. There is a second story (which I've already begun to read as I'm writing this) so obviously they don't die at the end, but just know that these two become quite dark and depressed, and I would like to see if they'll every be able to overcome their differences and come back together. I loved this short read and I would probably read it again. Due to the grammatical errors and other little inconsistencies, I can't give this book a full 5 stars, but 4.5 will do the trick.