Refugee (The Captive Series Book 3) by Erica Stevens

   At this point in The Captive Series, Braith has decided that the only way to keep Aria safe is to take down his own father, the vampire king.  In order to do so, they must travel to a place called The Barrens.  It is a desolate and rather inhospitable place where there are rumors of vampires living there that had fought against the king in the war that tore the human world apart.  On the way there they encounter vampires that are starved and crazed, the most dangerous kind.  Aria is mortally wounded and if not for Braith giving her some of his blood, she would not have made it and there would be no need for a fourth book.  (If you would rather read the book than find out now what happens, please STOP reading.)  When they get to the barrens they find these rumored vampires.  And to Aria's surprise, vampires and humans live side by side, together in peace.  It gives Aria some hope until they decide they want Braith to rule when the war they are about to start is over and done with.  He will not rule without her.  And she would not be accepted as a queen since she is human, a mere mortal.  That is when she realizes she must distance herself from him if possible.  After the war is done she must leave and go far away.  Braith's brother, Jack, has agreed to help her.  They feel like this is best.  If she cannot keep him away so he can do his duty to their world, she has a much darker thought in mind to make sure he can never find her again.  It tears her heart out thinking of it all.  But he would be the natural choice as king, not to mention the best choice.  Under his reign things would change for everyone.  There would be no more blood slaves and auctioning humans off.  Life might start being close to what it was a hundred years before, a time she doesn't even understand or know much about. 
   There are a few questions when you're reading this book that come to mind.  Like, how far would Aria go to make sure Braith is crowned the king?  You do find out towards the end of the book, but it turns out an unexpected turn of events happens at the end.  And it's and ugly one.  Also, will Braith really give up doing what everyone else thinks is the right thing to do all for Aria?  He loves her and will go to any length to protect her.  But perhaps what he doesn't realize yet is that the best way for him to protect her is to make things change.  Make a world she can live in safely.  But do you sacrifice love for duty and safety?  And will they be able to stay together through the final book? So many questions!  Can't wait until the fourth book comes out in June!  To see teasers for Salvation, book four, see the link below!

                                           http://ericasteven.blogspot.com/

                                     Kindle Edition: $2.99  (price for Refugee)



*image via Erica Stevens

Renegade (The Captive Series Book Two) by Erica Stevens

   Book two of The Captive Series begins with Aria now outside of the city and re-united with Max, her
friend who was captured, as well as the rest of her rebel family.  Although she is happy to be with her family again, she realizes how much she misses Braith.  After Max coming back so different from what he used to be, Aria's family has a hard time believing that Braith did not ever do anything to hurt her.  They don't understand anything about her being in love with him.  Meanwhile Braith goes nuts for a little while after Aria leaves, gorging himself on blood.  But it never satiates him.  He wants her back....
   This book goes in depth about the relationship between Braith and Aria.  Their relationship is not a normal one.  It would not have been normal if they were two humans or two immortal vampires.  Braith has lived for several hundred years without encountering what he has with Aria.  It's called a bloodlink.  They are so connected they feel like they must be together, must be near each other.  And it's driving Braith crazy because all he wants to do is protect her and keep her safe.  However, at first he wants her to pay for leaving him and causing him to feel this way.  But whenever Braith finds Aria again his mind is instantly changed.  It is only through his sister and another vampire that has a bloodlink with her that he even finds out what it is.  At the present time their bond has not been "completed", but the link is already so strong that if something happened to Aria it could drive Braith way over the edge of insanity.  And many people could get hurt or killed.  This bloodlink is a rare thing and never been heard of between a vampire and a human.  Until now.  And now Braith  must choose between Aria or the life he already had.  It will be difficult to get humans to trust a vampire.
   Although this book goes more into the developing relationship between Braith and Aria, Erica Stevens still continues to keep it interesting.  And though this is a new turn of the series for the reader and for the characters, it also has real life applications to it as well.  So many people wish to find that special someone to share their life with and to feel such a deep connection with as these two characters.  That is a part of the draw to this story.  People like to be wanted and needed.  However, the bloodlink is a rather unrealistic thing for the world we live in.  After all, we aren't vampires.  Braith does have to make a choice though.  The moment he decided to leave his lavish home to go find Aria he had subconsciously chosen her.  Instead of the cold hearted, uncaring vampire he could have decided to be, he chose love. It sounds a little chic flick like, but this level of love is much deeper and keeps your interest tied to the book.
   We get to choose who we are in life.  And the path is not always easy. 

                                                            Kindle Edition: $2.99


*image via Erica Stevens

Captured (The Captive Series Book 1) by Erica Stevens

 
I have seen so many vampire books since Twilight became a big hit, that sometimes it seems like you're reading the same thing over and over again.  Captured happens to be a breath of fresh air in the midst of all of these novels and stories.  This is not your standard human meets vampire, they fall in love, no one can know what they are, but they live happily ever after.  Same old Twilight story!  No this is much more in depth and not so hung up on pining away for a non human being.  The story is about vampires ruling the world.  In this world humans are caught and used as toys for blood and other purposes, then discarded or sold to someone else as a regular or one time (if they choose) meal.  Those that are not sold on the auction block are drained completely of their blood at one time to save for later.  The humans that are part of the resistance would rather die than be a blood slave to a vampire.  But once they're caught the decision is not their own.  The torture that the vampires can inflict is gruesome and horrific.
   Aria is a member of the resistance.  In fact, her father leads the resistance.  Braith is the vampire crown prince.  His father is a very harsh and horrible king.  He is the king who destroyed the humans.  Unfortunately Aria and her friend Max get caught by the vampires and are sold on the auction block.  Max is sold to a horrible female vampire who uses and abuses him.  Aria is bought by the crown prince.  This is his first blood slave.  And there is a surprise reason he buys her too!  But who wants to spoil that little tid bit? Aria and Braith do start having very deep feelings for each other and he treats her well.  He never does any harm to her, but Aria still feels trapped inside the huge city run by vampires.  Inside the city people and vampires alike have everything they need, while everyone outside of it are starving and constantly on the run.
   As I said before, this is a very different vampire tale where humans are the endangered.  There is no hiding for the vampires.  The world as we know it now no longer exists in this book.  Most everything has reverted to more of a stone age for most of the characters.  I could not wait to see what happens next in this book!  The end is what you expect (because it's hinted throughout the book), and yet, when you get there you still feel the full force of that loss and sadness.  But then again it's not the end!  There are three more books, one of which is still in the making!

                                                          Kindle Edition: Free



*image via Erica Stevens