Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios

Series: Dark Caravan Cycle #1
480 p.
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: Oct. 7, 14
Source: From Edelweiss and publisher for review
Forced to obey her master.Compelled to help her enemy.Determined to free herself.

Nalia is a jinni of tremendous ancient power, the only survivor of a coup that killed nearly everyone she loved. Stuffed into a bottle and sold by a slave trader, she’s now in hiding on the dark caravan, the lucrative jinni slave trade between Arjinna and Earth, where jinn are forced to grant wishes and obey their human masters’ every command. She’d give almost anything to be free of the golden shackles that bind her to Malek, her handsome, cruel master, and his lavish Hollywood lifestyle. 
Enter Raif, the enigmatic leader of Arjinna’s revolution and Nalia’s sworn enemy. He promises to free Nalia from her master so that she can return to her ravaged homeland and free her imprisoned brother—all for an unbearably high price. Nalia’s not sure she can trust him, but Raif’s her only hope of escape. With her enemies on the hunt, Earth has become more perilous than ever for Nalia. There’s just one catch: for Raif’s unbinding magic to work, Nalia must gain possession of her bottle…and convince the dangerously persuasive Malek that she truly loves him. Battling a dark past and harboring a terrible secret, Nalia soon realizes her freedom may come at a price too terrible to pay: but how far is she willing to go for it? 
Inspired by Arabian Nights, EXQUISITE CAPTIVE brings to life a deliciously seductive world where a wish can be a curse and shadows are sometimes safer than the light.
My thoughts:
I've always liked jinn stories but there are so few out there. In this story the characters aren't just one dimensional which can happen to a slave character but rich in descriptive magic. She also brings us back in Nalia's memory to a magical world lush in description. A world we know we will never experience except through Nalia's memory. We also are quite aware of the current war in that world and how it changed not just the people but the landscape as well.

As I said I did like the characters here. Nalia is a slave but finds ways to survive horrendous torture and revel in small rebellious victories. She was captured young and didn't have a sense of who she was or could become. In one way she changed the bindings of royalty for the bindings of slavery. Both denying who she is and what she could become. Then along comes Raif. His role is not to save her (although he plays a huge part) but to awaken Nalia into the person she wants to become. Now that doesn't mean it was all roses when he first comes on the scene, but you are aware he will become the romantic interest once he gets over being a total arse (even if he has good reason) and shows his true heart. :)

I don't want to give too much away, but the evil presence is quite evil and almost impossible to defeat. While this part of the story is complete there is still so much left open. So much more you want to explore and not just in the parts you know are to come. I'm curious where the author will take these characters and I'm most curious about Malek. He may have the most interesting journey ahead. He still has to choose who he wants to become.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed my time here and I want to see if they accomplish all their goals. The book is listed as YA since Nalia is 18 but the other characters are older. It may cross a bit over to the NA genre as well as adult. I recommend it to those that enjoy a good jinn adventure.

22 comments:

  1. I agree with you I also love Jinn stories but w don't have many so it's nice to discover this one! I'm curious!

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  2. While I liked Nalia, I just didn't like the relationships with the two guys. A triangle of sorts, but not really love. The writing was good but I wasn't captured by the story.

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    1. I never saw it as a true triangle but as Nalia trying to figure out things. She was sheltered in one way or another from the world and so had to start from scratch to figure things out.

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  3. I haven't read this one yet, but I've been hearing mixed things. I really want to pick it up, because jinn! And Arabia! So glad you enjoyed it :D

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    1. I think it depends all on how you view the relationships in the story. Some see a triangle... I never saw it because I never thought she would choose one of them.

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  4. Awesome review! I have been hearing great things a out this book.

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  5. I am happy to see the you loved this one. I have read mixed reviews on it, but I think it will be one for me, plus you don't get jinnis very often.

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    1. You may see the relationships as others have but I never considered Nalia in a triangle. Just her figuring out the nature of the Jinn/Humans.

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  6. You definitely have me curious! I wish there were more jinn stories.

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  7. I'll sound a little sadistic but I like truly evil bad guys. Otherwise the tension and fear for the characters just isn't there.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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  8. This sounds really good! I had thought a review copy was coming, but maybe not. I might have to reserve at the library or something.

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  9. Oh interesting! The cover had me curious but even more after the review. So jinn? Same/similar to djinn? Like in Rachel Caine's Weather Wardens? Along those lines?

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  10. This has really caught my eye and after reading your review, even more so!
    I can't wait to read this now! Fab review!

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  11. Sweet, I am excited you liked this. I love a Jinni book and the world/conflict sounds well done. I am excited to read it :)

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  12. Does sound like an enjoyable read seeing how it would unfold with the characters

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  13. I haven't read too many books with Dijinn / Jinn in them though I do think its a cool type of character maybe I can count 3 that I've read - so I'll definitely be picking this one up.

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  14. I loooved this book too, Melissa. Malek's character was so complex and I'm very curious to see how his character develops in the sequel. Fantastic review, dear!(:

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  15. I just started reading this one and I'm really loving it so far! I'm thrilled to see such a high rating from you! Can't wait to dive back into it this weekend :D Lovely review!

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