"Captivate" by Carrie Jones

Title: Captivate
Author: Carrie Jones
Series: Need Pixies Bk#2
Published: 2010
Genre: YA

Synopsis: Zara and her friends thought they’d solved the pixie problem. And they did — sort of. The pixies are all locked away, deep in the woods. But the king’s needs grow stronger each day that he is in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. And it’s enough to draw a new king into town. Astley claims he is different. He claims there are pixies who can live peacefully with humans, that it doesn’t have to be all violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him . . . until Astley also claims that she is fated to be his queen.
There is no way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she’s got good friends who will make sure of that. Besides, she and Nick are so in love they’re practically inseparable. But when the very thing Zara wants to protect most is exactly what’s at risk, she is forced to make choices she never imagined. . . .


In a word: Captivating!

I am loving this series and think author Carrie Jones is brilliant. The book concept and delivery is superb. The characters are wonderful and completely original to me. These books are page turners that I never want to put down or end. I can't wait for the next one!

In this second book of the series, Zara, Nick, Devyn and Issie are still battling evil pixies in their home state of Maine. Zara and Nick are continuing their relationship and very much two teens experiencing first love. They adore each other and make a great couple.

They take turns "patrolling" AKA hunting for evil pixies and when they find one, they lock them in the pixie house surrounded by iron and assorted metals to keep them in. Then a new pixie king shows up in town and he insists he isn't like the others. He insists that some pixies can live side by side with humans and not kill them - provided the king has his queen to keep him in control. When a pixie king doesn't have a queen he loses control and not only himself but his own people/pixies go evil and feed off teen males' blood. A pixie king MUST have a queen to help him keep control. And the new pixie king in town, wants Zara to be his queen.

Great story! Full of action, love, some teen sexual tension, humor, a bit of sadness and some real laugh out loud moments. My favorite laugh out loud moment was Zara teasing her werewolf boyfriend about his love of eating dog treats and peeing on fire hydrants!

I had only one issue with the story and that was the end. A tragedy hits the town with multiple deaths that rock the entire town. Even the pixie hunting foursome suffer a huge blow, yet that doesn't stop them from going to a formal dance-huh? They should be attending funerals and crying their eyes out, yet they are picking out dresses for a dance. That didn't work for me on any level and I dearly wish the author had cut that out of the book. I'm guessing she kept it in so the book would have a 'happy ending' but in this case it did not work.

Easy 4 stars out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this series, but you must read "Need" first, to better understand this second book in the series.