Book Review - Captives

About the Book
Imagine the year is 2088. Your world and everyone you know and love has been stolen from you in one catastrophic moment.

Such is the case in Jill Williamson’s heart-pounding new novel, CAPTIVES (Zondervan; $9.99; April 2013). The Replication author delivers an enthralling account of what happens to seventeen-year-old Mason, his younger brother, Omar, and their older brother, Levi, who live in the humble village of Glenrock.

Just when the family is preparing for Levi’s marriage, and the arranged engagements of Mason and Omar, their lives are rattled when their village is ambushed and virtually decimated by members of the Safe Lands, a walled-in world that may not be as safe as it claims. Only Levi is spared, having been sent off on a wild goose chase by Omar prior to the event.

The survivors of the attack, including Mason and Levi’s fiancée, Jemma, are taken and become hostages in the Safe Lands, where technology advances and the search for pleasure has created a culture based on entertainment, fashion, and a unique caste system .



As they struggle to adapt to their new surroundings, the reason for their capture begins to surface: the Safe Lands needs outsiders in order to reproduce, and each female abductee must become a “surrogate,” and bear children to keep the curiously barren wasteland populated.

To their dismay, the abductees learn it was Omar who “donated” them to the Safe Lands, who thought the new place would provide them with better lives. Plus, in exchange for his “donors,” the Safe Lands enforcers promised him power and wealth, two things he never had in Glenrock.

It is up to Levi to infiltrate the Safe Lands and try to rescue his loved ones.

Meanwhile, Mason befriends a scientist who offers him a job in the lab. Can he use his new position to keep the Glenrock people safe?

Though Omar tries to assimilate into this new culture full of excess and boundless temptation, he soon regrets his betrayal. But will Levi and Mason be able to trust him enough for him to help them all escape before it’s too late?

With the intriguing plot of CAPTIVES, Williamson continues to display her ability to take on a multi-layered futuristic narrative filled with suspense, philosophical messages and teenage candor similar to that in the popular Hunger Games trilogy. She deftly pens a tale that it will stay with readers long after the last page.

My Take on the Book
This was an intriguing book that really grabs hold of you from the first page and keeps you guessing from beginning to end. Some of the concepts reminded me of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and some of the Utopian concepts that are brought up in that text. This story however goes beyond this and makes you think about the humanity of this society in a whole new way. I loved the characters within this book and with each page you get to know the characters more and more and get drawn into the drama that surrounds the main protagonists. All-in-all this was a great book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I know I will be looking for much more form this author in the future!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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