Review: Captured

 

Title: Captured

Author: Lauren Biel

Release Date: April 2023

Love has never been enough within these walls

Alexzander

Every day feels the same. Beaten down, conditioned to hurt others, and unable to feel anything resembling love. My existence is a hollow shell of what it could be, until I find her.

The woman I capture turns my world upside down. She's unlike any victim I've taken before, and her will to survive leaves me intrigued. As I get to know her, I start to understand what's right and just how much of my life has been wrong. But I can't let her go, no matter how much I want to.

Ophelia's become my obsession, and I know that I'll do anything to keep her with me. Our bond is twisted and complicated, built on a foundation of captivity and control. It's not healthy, but I can't help how I feel. 

She's mine, and I won't let anyone take her away from me.

Trigger Warnings: All, honestly. But… Non con between mcs, heavy non con scenes/discussions/pasts, abuse, dateline level captivity, stockholm syndrome, mention of CA and CSA, Familial SA (side plot point), alcoholism/substance use, throat f*cking, skull f*cking (actually), a REPULSIVE brother captor, another female captive (minimal interaction, no cheating between MCs once FMC is taken), murder, cum jar, cum eating contest, suicide, trauma bonding, some stalking, making checkers WEIRD.

**IF NEVER LET GO WAS TOO DARK FOR YOU, SKIP THIS!!*

Captured is a dual POV dark horror romance standalone novel with an HEA

Ophelia lives in hell every day. But what she didn't expect is her life to shift from one hell to another. 

Alexzander grew up under the devil. He was a demon, and was the source of nightmares for many. 

And when Alexzander lays his eyes on Ophelia, he wants her for himself. And will stop at nothing until she is his. 

So, this book was relatively short- I finished it within a few hours. It was dark, but not as bad as others have made it seem- either that or I am starting to become desensitized towards dark topics - but either way heed the trigger warnings before starting this one. 

Ophelia & Alexzander's story is unconventional - she is his captive, in a hell where no one before her has survived. But, something about her, calls to him. 

Although I didn't love this story, something about it felt lacking, I did enjoy reading about Ophelia & Alexzander. And I finished this book despite being in a reading slump for the past week, which might have more to do with my thoughts on the book, than the book itself. 

If you're looking for a captive romance filled with trigger warnings than this may be exactly what you are looking for. 

3⭐ out of 5⭐. 

4🌶️ out of 5🌶️. - detailed scenes throughout including kinks, dirty talk, etc

Tropes: 

→ noncon 

→ captivity

→ horror romance 

→ stockhome syndrome 

→ unalivers 💀

Trigger Warnings