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kacelaface's review
4.0
I recently discovered Annika Martin is a pen name for Carolyn Crane and just about lost my mind. More Crane goodness to devour!? Yes, please! All of her books are on a firm read, recommend, repeat cycle for me and this book did not disappoint. It's a dark read but still has a lot of the banter and quirk I associate with her work.
I love the way the characters' backstories were revealed slowly, and in their own words as the trust between them grew. No boring expository writing here! They revealed their secrets, but only bit by bit - and never completely. There is much the reader has to (gets to?) fill in about what these characters endured.
A thoroughly enjoyable read. I look forward to the next installment of the Criminals & Captives series!
I love the way the characters' backstories were revealed slowly, and in their own words as the trust between them grew. No boring expository writing here! They revealed their secrets, but only bit by bit - and never completely. There is much the reader has to (gets to?) fill in about what these characters endured.
A thoroughly enjoyable read. I look forward to the next installment of the Criminals & Captives series!
pattyfgd's review
5.0
Prisoner
Criminals & Captives Series, Book 1
By: Skye Warren, Annika Martin
Narrated by: Jacob Morgan, Lauren Sweet
If you love dark romantic suspense, this book is for you. This first book I have listened to by Skye Warren and Annika Martin writing together and I would not turn it off no matter who was talking to me! I had to know what was going to happen next. Abigail is given a class of prisoners to work with and using his cunning skills uses her to help break out of jail. But it doesn't stop there. He takes her with him...and keeps her! And our story begins, with a sizzling chemistry between Abby & Grayson, a story that is so heartbreaking that it's impossible not to sympathize with and a vengeance beyond compare. It's one of those books that hooks you in and keeps you there, living with the characters and making you feel it all. I loved every minute.
The narration is impeccable by Jacob Morgan and Lauren Sweet. Morgan must have a little dark in him, as he is able to tune into these characters and deliver such a believable performance. Sweet plays the innocent so well, with her young voice and evolves as she learns about Grayson. It's a stunning performance.
Criminals & Captives Series, Book 1
By: Skye Warren, Annika Martin
Narrated by: Jacob Morgan, Lauren Sweet
If you love dark romantic suspense, this book is for you. This first book I have listened to by Skye Warren and Annika Martin writing together and I would not turn it off no matter who was talking to me! I had to know what was going to happen next. Abigail is given a class of prisoners to work with and using his cunning skills uses her to help break out of jail. But it doesn't stop there. He takes her with him...and keeps her! And our story begins, with a sizzling chemistry between Abby & Grayson, a story that is so heartbreaking that it's impossible not to sympathize with and a vengeance beyond compare. It's one of those books that hooks you in and keeps you there, living with the characters and making you feel it all. I loved every minute.
The narration is impeccable by Jacob Morgan and Lauren Sweet. Morgan must have a little dark in him, as he is able to tune into these characters and deliver such a believable performance. Sweet plays the innocent so well, with her young voice and evolves as she learns about Grayson. It's a stunning performance.
myloveoflit's review
3.0
Abigail is a college student who is assigned to teach a writing prompt class at the local prison. Dealing with inmates was not her first choice. Dealing with one inmate in particular will test her morals.
Greyson was that particular inmate. He took one look at Abi and knew he could play her, but also wanted to do so much more. Little did Abi know she was just a pawn in Greyson’s prison break. However, Abi didn’t get out fast enough before Greyson could get his grip on her. She left him no choice but to take her with him.
Greyson was on a mission for revenge and redemption. His reasons stem from a tortured and unspeakable childhood that he and a group of other boys were subjected to. These boys, now adults, were seeking vengeance when Greyson was framed for killing a cop. Now Abi only sees a dangerous criminal. One who won’t let her go.
Greyson was that particular inmate. He took one look at Abi and knew he could play her, but also wanted to do so much more. Little did Abi know she was just a pawn in Greyson’s prison break. However, Abi didn’t get out fast enough before Greyson could get his grip on her. She left him no choice but to take her with him.
Greyson was on a mission for revenge and redemption. His reasons stem from a tortured and unspeakable childhood that he and a group of other boys were subjected to. These boys, now adults, were seeking vengeance when Greyson was framed for killing a cop. Now Abi only sees a dangerous criminal. One who won’t let her go.
coco_90's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
charms1976's review
4.0
Loved the story and the characters. The ending felt a little rushed though in my opinion. I do look forward to reading the next book though!
kelly_reads_books's review
5.0
I loved this story. Annika Martin is a true author who writes books that keep the reader riveted to the book. I was unable to put this down literally.
Grayson and Abby were as opposite as can be, but they found common ground.
Grayson and Abby were as opposite as can be, but they found common ground.
loveryou3000's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ameserole's review
2.0
This book was definitely a toss up for me which explains why it took me so freaking long to write the comments and this review. I can totally see how Prisoner could be called a dark romance but to me it didn't actually seem that dark.
Prisoner is a dual POV from Grayson and Abby. It was a pretty interesting book but for the most part it was kind of boring. Yes, there was romance but it wasn't really smutty, which is what I was expecting from a dark romance. Yes, it was dark but like not that dark. It was just an okay kind of book. I don't really know how else to explain that it wasn't really a dark romance in my eyes.
I also thought it was kind of cool how the book started and ended the same sort of way: with someone breaking out of prison. I liked Gray and Abby separately and I kind of liked their romance but I just thought it was weird.
Then there's Stone, who is apart of Grayson's group, and I hated everything about that man. Besides romance, there's death and deception up the wazoo. I'm glad that I didn't have any expectations set for this book but I'm also slightly disappointed after reading it?!?
Oh god, I feel like my review is a hot mess. I have no idea if I want to read the next book in this series.
Overall, the book was meh. I don't want to reread it every again.
Prisoner is a dual POV from Grayson and Abby. It was a pretty interesting book but for the most part it was kind of boring. Yes, there was romance but it wasn't really smutty, which is what I was expecting from a dark romance. Yes, it was dark but like not that dark. It was just an okay kind of book. I don't really know how else to explain that it wasn't really a dark romance in my eyes.
I also thought it was kind of cool how the book started and ended the same sort of way: with someone breaking out of prison. I liked Gray and Abby separately and I kind of liked their romance but I just thought it was weird.
Then there's Stone, who is apart of Grayson's group, and I hated everything about that man. Besides romance, there's death and deception up the wazoo. I'm glad that I didn't have any expectations set for this book but I'm also slightly disappointed after reading it?!?
Oh god, I feel like my review is a hot mess. I have no idea if I want to read the next book in this series.
Overall, the book was meh. I don't want to reread it every again.
divapitbull's review
4.0
Prisoner was surprisingly well done and entertaining. I have always loved an anti-hero; the bad boy who’s genuinely really a little bad – but also redeemable to some degree. Grayson Kane fits the bill. Granted he’s incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit; but he has committed other crimes. Grayson is a sympathetic character because of his tragic past which leaves him feeling less than – less than others, and less than human. When lovely 19-year-old Abigail Winslow waltzes into the The Kingman Correctional Facility to teach an English class as part of her own undergrad class work, it’s insta-attraction on both their parts. And I’m just gonna set aside the little voice in my head that keeps asking what sort of college sends a 19-year-old sophomore girl into a men’s prison to teach anything.
Abby is teaching Contemporary Memoir; her Professor feels that some people need to tell their stories in order to be healed. Abby will select some memoirs written by the prisoners to go into an online journal and Grayson sees his opportunity to use the class as a way to get a message out to his peeps on the outside; and from there it’s only one step away from a prison breakout and doesn’t Abby just happen to be in the right place at the wrong time. Thankfully Abby was a likeable character as well. Despite being 19, she’s surprisingly mature and it helps that underneath her prim and proper schoolgirl veneer she has a past and some secrets of her own that have left her not so naive and with an inner resiliency.
There are moments where Grayson tries to scare Abby, and there are some elements of dubious consent. It does make sense given Grayson’s background. Most people who are abused are resolute in their condemnation of abuse. A small portion of survivors are so messed up that on some level they think “this is how the world works”; and Grayson’s history allowed him to rationalize his behavior in his own mind. While the dub-con is not for everyone; the story wasn’t really dark, and Grayson wasn’t really a villain. He didn’t want to hurt Abby, he wanted to care for and protect her; and considering all the ways in which a hostage could be hurt – he didn’t really hurt her. The only thing I really didn’t like was the glasses. That really pissed me off, more than the questionable sex while Abby was drugged so she would sleep and not try to escape.
Prisoner was a pretty quick read that never really dragged with an improbable but satisfying HEA.
Abby is teaching Contemporary Memoir; her Professor feels that some people need to tell their stories in order to be healed. Abby will select some memoirs written by the prisoners to go into an online journal and Grayson sees his opportunity to use the class as a way to get a message out to his peeps on the outside; and from there it’s only one step away from a prison breakout and doesn’t Abby just happen to be in the right place at the wrong time. Thankfully Abby was a likeable character as well. Despite being 19, she’s surprisingly mature and it helps that underneath her prim and proper schoolgirl veneer she has a past and some secrets of her own that have left her not so naive and with an inner resiliency.
There are moments where Grayson tries to scare Abby, and there are some elements of dubious consent. It does make sense given Grayson’s background. Most people who are abused are resolute in their condemnation of abuse. A small portion of survivors are so messed up that on some level they think “this is how the world works”; and Grayson’s history allowed him to rationalize his behavior in his own mind. While the dub-con is not for everyone; the story wasn’t really dark, and Grayson wasn’t really a villain. He didn’t want to hurt Abby, he wanted to care for and protect her; and considering all the ways in which a hostage could be hurt – he didn’t really hurt her. The only thing I really didn’t like was the glasses. That really pissed me off, more than the questionable sex while Abby was drugged so she would sleep and not try to escape.
Prisoner was a pretty quick read that never really dragged with an improbable but satisfying HEA.
pamgodwin's review
5.0
You might think you can’t handle disturbing subject matter, consider yourself squeamish, and have no interest in testing the edges of your comfort zone. But you would do yourself a disservice to miss out on this one.
The story is only as dark as it needs to be. It doesn’t try to shock for the sake of shocking. The tone is measured. This is emotional storytelling with a purpose. And the result: one of the most electrifying and intelligent love stories of the year.
It’s a complexly-woven tale of heartache vs resilience. Human depravity vs the innocence of boys. Injustice vs the men they’ve become. Fear vs trust. All of this energized by superb writing from the first page to the last.
We've seen this broken anti-Hero before, but no man is better equipped to invigorate the template than Grayson. He is the epitome of a crushed spirit, the events that befell him chipping away at his soul and the souls of his crew, those who endured the harshest conditions with him.
As the anti-Hero, he gives... not exactly a story of redemption, but an initiation into a series that powerfully evokes the lives of these scarred boys. As the mood flits between chilling and insanely sensual, Grayson illuminates their tragedy with an astonishing sympathetic eloquence. You’ll feel like a part of their intimate club, hurting and surviving alongside them. You won’t ever want to leave.
The timid yet fierce Abby seems limited in how deep she can burrow into Grayson’s fractured, ironbound heart. But anyone would be lost in the wake of what he puts her through. That it works is a testament to the potent writing and the real sense of empathy toward both sides of the relationship.
Prisoner is a saturation of senses, filled with a rich, robust cast of characters, cold prison halls, and thoroughly-satisfying sex scenes. Its descriptive beauty aside, the deepest, most painful gut of the story is not a sappy love-conquers-all. But it will leave you with a belly-full of feelings. The very best kind.
The story is only as dark as it needs to be. It doesn’t try to shock for the sake of shocking. The tone is measured. This is emotional storytelling with a purpose. And the result: one of the most electrifying and intelligent love stories of the year.
It’s a complexly-woven tale of heartache vs resilience. Human depravity vs the innocence of boys. Injustice vs the men they’ve become. Fear vs trust. All of this energized by superb writing from the first page to the last.
We've seen this broken anti-Hero before, but no man is better equipped to invigorate the template than Grayson. He is the epitome of a crushed spirit, the events that befell him chipping away at his soul and the souls of his crew, those who endured the harshest conditions with him.
As the anti-Hero, he gives... not exactly a story of redemption, but an initiation into a series that powerfully evokes the lives of these scarred boys. As the mood flits between chilling and insanely sensual, Grayson illuminates their tragedy with an astonishing sympathetic eloquence. You’ll feel like a part of their intimate club, hurting and surviving alongside them. You won’t ever want to leave.
The timid yet fierce Abby seems limited in how deep she can burrow into Grayson’s fractured, ironbound heart. But anyone would be lost in the wake of what he puts her through. That it works is a testament to the potent writing and the real sense of empathy toward both sides of the relationship.
Prisoner is a saturation of senses, filled with a rich, robust cast of characters, cold prison halls, and thoroughly-satisfying sex scenes. Its descriptive beauty aside, the deepest, most painful gut of the story is not a sappy love-conquers-all. But it will leave you with a belly-full of feelings. The very best kind.