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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
I don't even.....I can't..... umm... So yeah, I'm pretty sure this book has caused me to need therapy. *sigh* I really LIKED this book.
I've been a part of the goodreads community for about 8 months now and this is my very first review. I normally just post my ratings and don't write reviews because I'm pretty shy when it comes to sharing my feelings with the others. But for some odd reason I'm feeling like a Chatty Cathy, so here we go;
Was it disturbing? Yes. Did it make me think and question myself about what I would do in this type of situation? Yes. Is this book for everyone? No. I'm I still thinking and questioning myself? YES!
A Captive in the Dark is normally not my kind of book. Like a few other subjects that just don't sit well with me, books about any type of abuse are ones I tend to avoid. So what made me read this particular book? The hype. Seriously, it's everywhere! I kept seeing reviews all over goodreads and blogs I visit. It kept popping up under my book recommendations. A few of my Nook friends own it. And then what finally made me throw in the towel and say "What the hell? I'll give it a go", was the other day when I was at Barnes & Noble, I overheard a lady recommending it to another lady. She was just raving about this book so much that I honestly came home and started to read it.
This book blew my mind! I think the reason is because of the brilliant writing style of C.J. Roberts. I never thought I would enjoy this book as much as I did. As I was reading I actually found myself getting mad at myself for enjoying the book so much. I will admit that I did take a few breaks from reading because some parts really disturbed me but my curiosity kept winning out and I kept coming back to it because Iwanted needed to know what was going to happen.
Livvie was just...wow! I loved her. She is definitely in my top favorite female characters and that says something because I normally can't stand the female lead. Livvie's story is told from 1st person POV so we are made to experience this traumatizing journey with her and experience all the painful and emotional events right along with her. Livvie is a fighter. She's brave and smart and at times a bit feisty, and stubborn. Yeah, she's scared for her life but she refuses to give up all her control and won't go down without a fight.
Caleb...What can I say about Caleb?? Well when we met Caleb I despised him. I thought he was an evil bastard, sick and twisted jackass that I just wanted to punch...punch right in nuts while wearing brass knuckles. Unlike Livvie, Caleb's story is told in 3rd person POV so instead of experiencing his emotions, we become spectators and watch from the sidelines. As the book progresses we start to learn more about Caleb and begin to see the chinks in his suit of armor. I found my heart breaking for him. The man has had more than a fair share of rough times and to say he was dealt a bad hand in life is putting it lightly. His life has pretty much always been one giant clusterfuck of suck. The few times he lets his guard down with Livvie, I kinda liked him. And then BAM! Back to the jackass I want to punch...in the nuts.while wearing brass knuckles
Captive in the Dark is a heart pounding, dark and intense emotional roller coaster. Again I don't think this book for everyone but if you can keep an open mind, then read this book! I highly recommend it. It's absolutely AMAZING! If I knew who the lady from Barnes & Noble was that was talking about this book I would send her a big ole' Edible Arrangements! I'm looking forward to reading Seduced in the Dark.
I've been a part of the goodreads community for about 8 months now and this is my very first review. I normally just post my ratings and don't write reviews because I'm pretty shy when it comes to sharing my feelings with the others. But for some odd reason I'm feeling like a Chatty Cathy, so here we go;
Was it disturbing? Yes. Did it make me think and question myself about what I would do in this type of situation? Yes. Is this book for everyone? No. I'm I still thinking and questioning myself? YES!
A Captive in the Dark is normally not my kind of book. Like a few other subjects that just don't sit well with me, books about any type of abuse are ones I tend to avoid. So what made me read this particular book? The hype. Seriously, it's everywhere! I kept seeing reviews all over goodreads and blogs I visit. It kept popping up under my book recommendations. A few of my Nook friends own it. And then what finally made me throw in the towel and say "What the hell? I'll give it a go", was the other day when I was at Barnes & Noble, I overheard a lady recommending it to another lady. She was just raving about this book so much that I honestly came home and started to read it.
This book blew my mind! I think the reason is because of the brilliant writing style of C.J. Roberts. I never thought I would enjoy this book as much as I did. As I was reading I actually found myself getting mad at myself for enjoying the book so much. I will admit that I did take a few breaks from reading because some parts really disturbed me but my curiosity kept winning out and I kept coming back to it because I
Livvie was just...wow! I loved her. She is definitely in my top favorite female characters and that says something because I normally can't stand the female lead. Livvie's story is told from 1st person POV so we are made to experience this traumatizing journey with her and experience all the painful and emotional events right along with her. Livvie is a fighter. She's brave and smart and at times a bit feisty, and stubborn. Yeah, she's scared for her life but she refuses to give up all her control and won't go down without a fight.
Caleb...What can I say about Caleb?? Well when we met Caleb I despised him. I thought he was an evil bastard, sick and twisted jackass that I just wanted to punch...punch right in nuts while wearing brass knuckles. Unlike Livvie, Caleb's story is told in 3rd person POV so instead of experiencing his emotions, we become spectators and watch from the sidelines. As the book progresses we start to learn more about Caleb and begin to see the chinks in his suit of armor. I found my heart breaking for him. The man has had more than a fair share of rough times and to say he was dealt a bad hand in life is putting it lightly. His life has pretty much always been one giant clusterfuck of suck. The few times he lets his guard down with Livvie, I kinda liked him. And then BAM! Back to the jackass I want to punch...in the nuts.
Captive in the Dark is a heart pounding, dark and intense emotional roller coaster. Again I don't think this book for everyone but if you can keep an open mind, then read this book! I highly recommend it. It's absolutely AMAZING! If I knew who the lady from Barnes & Noble was that was talking about this book I would send her a big ole' Edible Arrangements! I'm looking forward to reading Seduced in the Dark.
Read my review of this on my blog, in portuguese: http://controversialwords.com/2013/12/28/captive-in-the-dark-c-j-roberts/
Woah mind freaking blown! I did not expect to like this book as much as I have, the narrative is so different from anything Ive ever read. The characters compliment each other so perfectly. I would overall give it a four and a half, just because I thought the author rushed some parts and I also wish it would have been a little longer of a story. Definitely going to read the sequel(s).
Woah mind freaking blown! I did not expect to like this book as much as I have, the narrative is so different from anything Ive ever read. The characters compliment each other so perfectly. I would overall give it a four and a half, just because I thought the author rushed some parts and I also wish it would have been a little longer of a story. Definitely going to read the sequel(s).
Vamos a escribir una reseña para explicar el rating bajo. Empecé a leer este libro en un impulso luego de ver una película sobre tráfico de personas y venganza, y me interesó el tema. Error elegir este libro de mi TBR porque la verdad tiene muy poco de este y es algo que nunca en mi vida hubiese leído de otra manera, de todas maneras aquí estoy escribiendo una reseña de un libro que terminé de leer...
Comencemos con la TRAMA: suena interesante, algo 100% ficción, de todas maneras interesante.
Definitivamente se lee rápido, pero muy poco de lo que promete la sinopsis está en el libro, lo que me importaba era la venganza... cómo iban a armar ese plan y en realidad termino siendo puro "entrenamiento" (ejem, abuso, ejem), y esa es la primera razón para no gustarme este libro. De todas maneras, no suelo leer rápido y este libro se lee rapidisimo.
Algo más para agregar, cuando lean la nota de la sinopsis: "Este libro contiene situaciones muy perturbadoras, consentimiento dudoso, lenguaje fuerte y violencia gráfica." Tomenlo enserio. Este libro es retorcido, gráfico, y perturbador, simplemente la trama se explica por si sola, pero una advertencia no está de más. Esto no es bdsm, no debería ser romantizado, es abuso, no esperen algo liviano.
PERSONAJES:
Sentí que no conocía a Olivia, lo que no quiere decir que no pudiese sentir lástima por ella en su situación, pero realmente me hubiese gustado saber más de ella. ¿Qué sabemos? Olivia es una chica de 18 años en una mala situación familiar, su madre la desprecia y la vive acusando de "ser una puta" por la manera que se viste... Todo lo que Olivia quiere es irse de su casa de una vez por todas por lo tanto al parecer es una buena estudiante pero no tenemos ni una pista de lo que le gusta, ni lo que hace con su vida aparte de pelearse con su madre... Incluso me tomó por sorpresa cuando al final empezó a hablar de libros y películas y guiones como ¡Ah, así que esos son tus intereses! Solo sabemos que tiene una amiga que al parecer tiene una vida muy diferente a la de ella, pero al final de cuentas para mi ese personaje fue una herramienta para mover la trama y nada más. Poco a poco. por momentos esto se transforma en una especie de sindrome de Estocolmo, pero no 100% lo cual, no se si es mejor o peor.
Ahora Caleb... muy controversial. Ok... comencemos por su plan: para poder vengarse de su secuestrador/abusador Caleb se introduce nuevamente al mercado de los esclavos de placer, encuentra una chica, la suecuestra, la "entrena" para soportar el sufrimiento, acto seguido la vende a su amo, mata a su comprador y la libera, AL MENOS ESO ES LO QUE ÉL SE PLANTEA. Vemos muy poco de eso en este primer libro.
Para mi Caleb es un monstruo, él lo admite por momentos pero no muestra arrepentimiento real, y aquí empieza el dilema: ¿el fin justifica los medios?, ¿su venganza vale más que la vida de Livvie?. Él se convirtió en el mismo hombre del cual se quería vengar, ¿cómo me va a gustar Caleb de esa manera?. Yo puedo entender por qué él cree que lo que está haciendo está bien, pero es irónico que se presente frente a ella de esa manera. Creo que la autora realmente estaba tratando que nos gustara Caleb con sus monólogos internos, pero no puedo.
Olvidemos el secuestro, digamos que eso está bien (¡NO!) de todas maneras creo que tendría que haberle dicho desde el principio como iban a ser las cosas, cuales eran sus verdaderas intenciones, eso hubiese hecho las cosas más aceptables y seguramente mil veces más sencillas que con sus jueguitos sádicos. Todo su "conflicto" nunca me pareció real, es lo suficientemente listo para saber lo que está haciendo, sobre todo cuando lo vivió en carne propia, y siempre terminaba "arrepentido" ¿cómo es eso?. La empatía que él no demuestra hacia Olivia yo la puedo sentir por él, me da mucha pena lo que le pasó, puedo entender por qué quiere que Olivia "se rinda", pero me parece tan ciego en su plan en primer lugar que da rabia, y lo odio. Se que fue "corrompido" pero eso no justifica nada. Listo. Fin.
#CapDisapproves
En fin, leyendo el segundo libro en espera de menos abuso y más venganza.
Comencemos con la TRAMA: suena interesante, algo 100% ficción, de todas maneras interesante.
Definitivamente se lee rápido, pero muy poco de lo que promete la sinopsis está en el libro, lo que me importaba era la venganza... cómo iban a armar ese plan y en realidad termino siendo puro "entrenamiento" (ejem, abuso, ejem), y esa es la primera razón para no gustarme este libro. De todas maneras, no suelo leer rápido y este libro se lee rapidisimo.
Algo más para agregar, cuando lean la nota de la sinopsis: "Este libro contiene situaciones muy perturbadoras, consentimiento dudoso, lenguaje fuerte y violencia gráfica." Tomenlo enserio. Este libro es retorcido, gráfico, y perturbador, simplemente la trama se explica por si sola, pero una advertencia no está de más. Esto no es bdsm, no debería ser romantizado, es abuso, no esperen algo liviano.
PERSONAJES:
Sentí que no conocía a Olivia, lo que no quiere decir que no pudiese sentir lástima por ella en su situación, pero realmente me hubiese gustado saber más de ella. ¿Qué sabemos? Olivia es una chica de 18 años en una mala situación familiar, su madre la desprecia y la vive acusando de "ser una puta" por la manera que se viste... Todo lo que Olivia quiere es irse de su casa de una vez por todas por lo tanto al parecer es una buena estudiante pero no tenemos ni una pista de lo que le gusta, ni lo que hace con su vida aparte de pelearse con su madre... Incluso me tomó por sorpresa cuando al final empezó a hablar de libros y películas y guiones como ¡Ah, así que esos son tus intereses! Solo sabemos que tiene una amiga que al parecer tiene una vida muy diferente a la de ella, pero al final de cuentas para mi ese personaje fue una herramienta para mover la trama y nada más. Poco a poco. por momentos esto se transforma en una especie de sindrome de Estocolmo, pero no 100% lo cual, no se si es mejor o peor.
Ahora Caleb... muy controversial. Ok... comencemos por su plan: para poder vengarse de su secuestrador/abusador Caleb se introduce nuevamente al mercado de los esclavos de placer, encuentra una chica, la suecuestra, la "entrena" para soportar el sufrimiento, acto seguido la vende a su amo, mata a su comprador y la libera, AL MENOS ESO ES LO QUE ÉL SE PLANTEA. Vemos muy poco de eso en este primer libro.
Para mi Caleb es un monstruo, él lo admite por momentos pero no muestra arrepentimiento real, y aquí empieza el dilema: ¿el fin justifica los medios?, ¿su venganza vale más que la vida de Livvie?. Él se convirtió en el mismo hombre del cual se quería vengar, ¿cómo me va a gustar Caleb de esa manera?. Yo puedo entender por qué él cree que lo que está haciendo está bien, pero es irónico que se presente frente a ella de esa manera. Creo que la autora realmente estaba tratando que nos gustara Caleb con sus monólogos internos, pero no puedo.
Olvidemos el secuestro, digamos que eso está bien (¡NO!) de todas maneras creo que tendría que haberle dicho desde el principio como iban a ser las cosas, cuales eran sus verdaderas intenciones, eso hubiese hecho las cosas más aceptables y seguramente mil veces más sencillas que con sus jueguitos sádicos. Todo su "conflicto" nunca me pareció real, es lo suficientemente listo para saber lo que está haciendo, sobre todo cuando lo vivió en carne propia, y siempre terminaba "arrepentido" ¿cómo es eso?. La empatía que él no demuestra hacia Olivia yo la puedo sentir por él, me da mucha pena lo que le pasó, puedo entender por qué quiere que Olivia "se rinda", pero me parece tan ciego en su plan en primer lugar que da rabia, y lo odio. Se que fue "corrompido" pero eso no justifica nada. Listo. Fin.
#CapDisapproves En fin, leyendo el segundo libro en espera de menos abuso y más venganza.
This isn't a love story, but maybe it becomes one if Roberts finishes the second book. A young girl is abducted to be sold into the black-market as a sex slave. Her captor must discipline and train her to perfection so that she will be chosen in auction by the target of his boyhood revenge. The training is gruesome and Roberts powerfully projects the girl's physical and emotional pain, making it impossible not to be dragged down into a very dark and dangerous world with her. There are times when I want to sympathize with her captor, but his detachment and cruelty keeps my protectiveness at the surface. I anxiously await the sequel.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is darkly gorgeous... I'm not just talking about the cover. I'm talking about a mindblowing, breathtaking, wounded, sexy-as-all-hell hero and a strong, beguiling, spunky, smartass heroine who both fights against her fate and learns to accept it. I was less disturbed by this story as I thought I might initially be. This isn't my first foray into stories featuring erotic extremes, but I am not necessarily a super experienced (ha!) erotica reader. Maybe it's that numbness to shock value/extreme situations (since I've read this sort of material before and have attempted to read The Story of O, which I have yet to have the balls [so to speak] to finish) combined with my willing suspension of disbelief that made this story much more appealing and sexy and less creeptastic. This book is also dirrrrrrty as heck. (And I love it for both of these reasons).
Some reviews mention that this is not for the faint of heart. Truth be told, I didn't find the material overly shocking or terrifying. Sure, I felt Kitten/Olivia/Livvie's fears and I believed her, and yet being given the POV of her captor/tormentor/trainer Caleb somehow soothes the reader into believing that he isn't truly trying to cause her harm. He means to do as he says he will--he means to train her into a sex slave. Of course, there's that pesky matter of emotions and his own heart that come into play. Oh! And I can't forget the tragic past he's had to overcome himself. With those scenes included, it's not hard to feel for him, knowing that he has walked the steps he's forcing Kitten/Olivia/Livvie to walk herself.
Okay, so she didn't ask for it. And she doesn't really deserve what she's been dealt, but in a story that could easily have been twisted to be horrific, terrifying and distasteful, C.J. Roberts humanizes everyone in this tale so that you can see what Kitten sees, feel what she feels, and realizes, as does Kitten herself, that she doesn't quite hate everything that she's being forced to endure. (Rather, she does glean pleasure from it, as well.)
This said, I would say if you've never read a dark erotic tale featuring things such as: questionable consent (meaning, well, Kitten/Olivia/Livvie doesn't really say 'yes' and isn't exactly a willing participant in the power exchange at play...and I understand that's supposed to be like, a big no-no in the BDSM world, but I let it slide given the set-up of this tale), spanking as punishment, [light?] bondage, things that might be interpreted as humiliating (I didn't think so, but I'm sure someone else might disagree), and anal sex... well, consider yourself warned.
I am so glad that Roberts describes the confusion and conflict that both characters feel as their emotions complicate their very defined positions. Caleb, as a sex slave trainer and kidnapper, and Kitten/Olivia/Livvie, the unwilling captive and sub-in-training. Roberts's characters are well-rounded, fleshed out, and individually motivated. Though the situation itself is, well, a little out there in Absurdia, I am so thankful for her crafty writing skills that have convinced me to roll with it. I've been able to buy into this plot about a broken man who was once stolen and used in unspeakable ways as a boy, formulating a revenge upon his enemy that would require that he facilitate the same traumas done to him. Except he's less cruel, by far. Except maybe he's starting to figure out what l-o-v-e might be. Except maybe he shouldn't have picked a girl he wanted for himself to be the offering he's going to give to his own personal demon.
And part of why I buy into this hook, line, and sinker, is because the characters are handled with such fragility and laced with such strength.
Plus, the sex is hot. I mean, HAWWWWTTTTTT.
I will say this: I've never bought a self-published book before, but this one was so well done I think I'd be willing to risk buying more. My one critique of the book would be that I still felt like things were a bit unresolved by the book's end, but I think that comes from my disappointment in an absent sex scene I have been basically waiting the entire book for (and I imagine may come in book 2? God, please.), and--more importantly--stems from my desire for MORE. I can't tell you how relieved/excited/thrilled I am that book 3 is being released this freaking weekend cuz I'm expecting to read through book two before then.
Some reviews mention that this is not for the faint of heart. Truth be told, I didn't find the material overly shocking or terrifying. Sure, I felt Kitten/Olivia/Livvie's fears and I believed her, and yet being given the POV of her captor/tormentor/trainer Caleb somehow soothes the reader into believing that he isn't truly trying to cause her harm. He means to do as he says he will--he means to train her into a sex slave. Of course, there's that pesky matter of emotions and his own heart that come into play. Oh! And I can't forget the tragic past he's had to overcome himself. With those scenes included, it's not hard to feel for him, knowing that he has walked the steps he's forcing Kitten/Olivia/Livvie to walk herself.
Okay, so she didn't ask for it. And she doesn't really deserve what she's been dealt, but in a story that could easily have been twisted to be horrific, terrifying and distasteful, C.J. Roberts humanizes everyone in this tale so that you can see what Kitten sees, feel what she feels, and realizes, as does Kitten herself, that she doesn't quite hate everything that she's being forced to endure. (Rather, she does glean pleasure from it, as well.)
This said, I would say if you've never read a dark erotic tale featuring things such as: questionable consent (meaning, well, Kitten/Olivia/Livvie doesn't really say 'yes' and isn't exactly a willing participant in the power exchange at play...and I understand that's supposed to be like, a big no-no in the BDSM world, but I let it slide given the set-up of this tale), spanking as punishment, [light?] bondage, things that might be interpreted as humiliating (I didn't think so, but I'm sure someone else might disagree), and anal sex... well, consider yourself warned.
I am so glad that Roberts describes the confusion and conflict that both characters feel as their emotions complicate their very defined positions. Caleb, as a sex slave trainer and kidnapper, and Kitten/Olivia/Livvie, the unwilling captive and sub-in-training. Roberts's characters are well-rounded, fleshed out, and individually motivated. Though the situation itself is, well, a little out there in Absurdia, I am so thankful for her crafty writing skills that have convinced me to roll with it. I've been able to buy into this plot about a broken man who was once stolen and used in unspeakable ways as a boy, formulating a revenge upon his enemy that would require that he facilitate the same traumas done to him. Except he's less cruel, by far. Except maybe he's starting to figure out what l-o-v-e might be. Except maybe he shouldn't have picked a girl he wanted for himself to be the offering he's going to give to his own personal demon.
And part of why I buy into this hook, line, and sinker, is because the characters are handled with such fragility and laced with such strength.
Plus, the sex is hot. I mean, HAWWWWTTTTTT.
I will say this: I've never bought a self-published book before, but this one was so well done I think I'd be willing to risk buying more. My one critique of the book would be that I still felt like things were a bit unresolved by the book's end, but I think that comes from my disappointment in an absent sex scene I have been basically waiting the entire book for (and I imagine may come in book 2? God, please.), and--more importantly--stems from my desire for MORE. I can't tell you how relieved/excited/thrilled I am that book 3 is being released this freaking weekend cuz I'm expecting to read through book two before then.