Need & Captivate (Carrie Jones) Audiobook Reviews

Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged Lib Ed (August 20, 2009)
Format: Audio CD
Read by Julia Whelan

Zara White suspects there’s a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She’s also obsessed with phobias. And it’s true, she hasn’t exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane . . . but Zara’s pretty sure her mom just can’t deal with her right now.

She couldn’t be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara’s overactive imagination. In fact, he’s still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There’s something not right—not human—in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you’d have to fear. (Source)

Review
NEED, by Carrie Jones, is an alluring story that follows a phobia-obsessed girl to Bedford, Maine, after her step-father's death. Zara's mother thought she needed a change of scenery, but what Zara found was an adventure and mystery of supernatural proportions.

I enjoyed this story very much. A new image of pixies and Were's were introduced and I found myself engrossed in listening to this book right from the start. I think this book was a great beginning to the series because we got the whole backstory of Zara and the strange happenings in Bedford. I felt there was no stone unturned at the end of the book, and I was ready to continue the story when it was over.

Since this story was such a mystery at the beginning, I was surprised when each secret was revealed. The pixies and Were's that Jones created were unique in their own right. The physical attributes of the pixies was interesting, I liked the fact that when un-glamoured they were blue with wicked sharp teeth. It added an element of savagery that otherwise was not shown when glamoured. I also liked that the Were's were not just Werewolves, they were able to take the shape of other animals as well, which I admit is pretty awesome.

In terms of characters, I had mixed emotions. I really liked Zara but the Amnesty International thing got a bit preachy at times. I understand that she was passionate about it, but I felt at times it went a bit overboard for me. Also, with Issie and her babbling, I tended to roll my eyes a lot. But even though she was a bit annoying at times, I felt she was an absolute sweetheart and a steady friend for Zara during this crazy time in her life. Zara and Nick were obviously meant for each other. Nick was the protective type and Zara was always putting herself in trouble and needing Nick, they were great compliments for each other.

There was one thing that turned me off from the audiobook that probably would have never been an issue if I read the book instead of listened, which was the accents of the Bedford residents. Besides Devyn, the rest of the characters voices were high-pitched and similar to a Boston accent. Personally, I dislike that accent so for the first half of the book I was cringing whenever Betty or Issie spoke. Nothing against Julia Whelan because she only performed as she was supposed to, but I am unenthusiastic about that accent so I felt that took away from the story immensely.

Other than that, I enjoyed this story and was very anxious to start the next book, Captivate.

*SPOILER ALERT*

If you have not read Need, be aware there may be spoilers from the book. You have been warned.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Publisher: Brilliance Corporation (January 5, 2010)
Format: Audio CD
Read by Julia Whelan

Zara and her friends thought they’d solved the pixie problem. And they did — sort of. The pixies are all locked away, deep in the woods. But the king’s needs grow stronger each day that he is in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. And it’s enough to draw a new king into town. Astley claims he is different. He claims there are pixies who can live peacefully with humans, that it doesn’t have to be all violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him . . . until Astley also claims that she is fated to be his queen.

There is no way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she’s got good friends who will make sure of that. Besides, she and Nick are so in love they’re practically inseparable. But when the very thing Zara wants to protect most is exactly what’s at risk, she is forced to make choices she never imagined. . . . (Source)

Review
CAPTIVATE, by Carrie Jones, continues the story of half-pixie, Zara, and battle against the pixies inhabiting Bedford, Maine. In the previous book, Need, Zara and her friends locked her pixie father and his followers in a iron-protected house, but now they are starving with Need and will do anything to satiate their hunger.

This book was definitely a step up from the first. The tension ran high with the pixies trying to escape from their iron prison, other pixie kings trying to gain followers, and the appearance of Astley who threatened to tear Zara and Nick apart. Jones created a heart-pumping sequel that captivates you from the start.

I felt this was a better storyline than Need. I liked Need but it was more of the background story for the series. Captivate dealt with the consequences of locking up Zara's father's pixies and the beginning of a war bigger than Bedford. The book was full of action and suspense that I listened to it as much as humanly possible. Jones raised the bar when she introduced Astley and the possibility for Zara to become a pixie. I loved the Astley/Zara dynamic actually more than the Nick/Zara dynamic. I felt that she needed to become a pixie because it was her birthright, but Nick's distain for pixies kept Zara prejudiced against them. Zara's character progression was fantastic in this book. I liked when she stripped her non-violent self and really let go, she was actually pretty badass.

In terms of the audiobook, I was less annoyed this time around with the accents. Whelan did a great job portraying Astley's smoking Irish accent, and I applaud her for her ability to keep the accents and voices separate and clear.

I loved the cover for this book. The addition of the gold keeps each book linked and absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait for the continuation of the series in, Entice.

For more information:

Carrie Jones' website

Need Series website