The Captive Kingdom

The Captive Kingdom
Age Range
10+
Release Date
October 06, 2020
ISBN
1338551086
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Jennifer A. Nielsen returns to the world of The False Prince in this fourth book of the Ascendance Series!

In a peaceful Carthya, Jaron leads as the Ascendant King with Imogen beside him -- but the peace he fought so long for is not destined to last. On a routine sea voyage, Jaron's ship is brutally attacked, and he is taken hostage. The mysterious captors and their leader, Jane Strick, accuse Jaron of unthinkable acts. They are also in possession of some shocking items -- including the crown and sword that belonged to Jaron's older brother, Darius. The items unearth a past Jaron thought he had put behind him.

Though it seems impossible, Jaron must consider: Could Darius be alive? And what does Strick want from Jaron? Against his will, Jaron will be pulled back into a fight for the throne -- and a battle to save his kingdom.

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What Worked: Originally the Ascendence series was written as a trilogy. At the very end of the third book, the plot skips forward a year to give the characters happy endings and wrap up their stories. This fourth book in the series was written several years later and gives King Jaron and his friends a high-stakes adventure taking place within that missing year.
In one way as the reader, we know things must work out well because of how the third book ended. Yet, to raise the sense of danger, a friend of Jaron and a supporting character is killed when Jaron and his Pirate crew and friends are taken captive by the Prozarian race previously believed to be extinct.
During his captivity on the island of Belland, Jaron keeps assuring Captain Strick that they should go ahead and surrender because he will defeat them. She is the closest person that has ever seen through Jaron’s bravado to the core of his fears. She uses his friends and fears against him to some success.
His friends have grown surer of themselves since Jaron first met them, and they chafe under his secretiveness. In their desire to protect him from himself and the Prozarians, it is often unclear if their actions help or hinder Jaron’s own plans of escape.
With his friends’ plans undermining his own plans, Jaron is less sure of his success than ever before. It turns out his brother, Darius, is not as dead as believed. Darius is sure in his birthright as eldest son that Carthya is truly his kingdom to rule. Jaron learns devastating secrets about his family and is fully willing to turn the throne over to his brother, but not while Darius is under the Prozarians power. This leads to a weird state of flux where Jaron is still acting as king while not fully convinced of his right to lead. He must take a hard look at himself and make the best decisions he can to keep everyone alive and free.

Final Verdict: Part of what makes this series so worth reading, again and again, is the way Jaron goes from utter disaster to big reveals of strategy that save the day. It makes for a quick-paced read that is hard to put down until the very end. Jaron/Sage is one of my favorite characters to read. His wit and strength of character are very endearing to the reader because of the utter fury he causes his foes and friends alike.
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A great continuation of old favorites
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*I received an eARC of this book through Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review*

Jaron has returned with more trouble, but this time the stakes are much, much higher… If you think the first three books were exciting, then The Captive Kingdom will blow your mind with even more actions and emotions.

Synopsis:
After bringing peace to Carthya, Jaron and his friends are attacked by Prozarians and unfortunately held captive. What could Prozarians, a people that was believed to have gone extinct, possibly want with Jaron? Jaron is of course trying out crazy ideas to save his friends, but his captor, the Prozarian Captain Strick, seems to have just as many tricks up to her sleeve. Could Darius be alive, as Strick claims? Could Jaron save his friends? And could Roden finally, finally find a love interest?

Review:
For those who have read the trilogy and love Jaron, I’m happy to tell you that Jaron is exactly like we knew him from the trilogy. Even after so many years, the author did an excellent job getting back to Jaron’s voice. He is still naughty, mischievous, humorous, and ready for some trouble. (Speaking of humorous, I literally laughed out loud only two sentences into prologue!) The reading experience is like meeting a long lost friend. You will recognize him the first moment you see him, but you also get to see how he has grown into this person you always knew he would become. In The Captive Kingdom, we get to see more of Jaron’s past, know more of his thoughts and growth. As Jaron uncovered his past and secrets, he encountered self-doubt, friendship crisis, and inner struggles. It’s another great coming of age story that will excite you and move your hearts.

Aside from Jaron, characters we love and hate from the trilogy have also returned with their backstory. I love Jaron’s interaction with others and how he developed empathy for his friends. I especially love Jaron and Roden’s! There are also new friends and enemies with distinct personalities. There’s also lots, lots of secrets between them. You’ll have to follow closely though, because this time, everyone seems to have secrets of their own.

Also, The Captive Kingdom is full of twists and turns, ups and downs (mostly downs… after all, he’s Jaron), and brilliant plotting that will keep you on the edge of your seats. It’s a total page-turner. (I finished it in two days!) Something dramatic happens in nearly every chapter, making me want to shout, or cry, or scream. The story fits so perfectly and naturally with what happens in the trilogy, yet it’s still unexpected and surprising. You wouldn’t find the gap or awkwardness that usually happens in long-time follow-ups. I could totally believe only three months pass between book 3 and book 4.

The Captive Kingdom is strongly based on the previous books, so you will have to read them first to understand. If you read them a long time ago, I would encourage you to reread the trilogy, but it’s not necessary as long as you remember major events. If you haven’t yet, I strongly urge you to pick up the first book, The False Prince! It’s definitely worth your time!

The Captive Kingdom promises a roller-coaster ride about secrets and trust, family and royalty, friendship and love. Old readers will find themselves once again mesmerized by Jaron’s charm. For new readers, I recommend this series to people of all ages who wish to go on an epic adventure.

(And *scream* I can’t wait for book 5!!!! I believe it will be epic!!!)
Good Points
1. The characters stay true to their personalities in the first three books.
2. It's full of twist and turns that makes me pleasantly surprised!
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