Captive by A.D. Robertson

Captive:
The first adult novel set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Nightshade series, Captive delivers a steamy, forbidden romance between sworn enemies drawn together by an irrepressible desire.

Twenty-five-year-old Tristan Doran enjoys a life of incredible power and privilege. As a direct descendant of the Keepers—witches who have embraced dark magic—he defers to no one but his overlord, Lord Bosque Mar. For most of his life, Tristan has been kept out of the centuries-old Witches War, his bloodline too valuable to risk in battle.

But when a beautiful, young human Searcher named Sarah is captured and made a prisoner in his Irish castle, Tristan’s infatuation with her flings him headlong into the fray. Captive and captor, unable to contain their longing, embark on a passionate, forbidden romance together—only to learn that their love is at the heart of a prophecy predicting the downfall of the Keepers’ ages-old reign.

Captive explores the darker side of the richly imagined Nightshade universe, a fantasy world of powerful dark witches, shape-shifting wolf warriors, and fascinating history. The first of three erotic novels, Captive delves deeply into the fiery, illicit romance of two young lovers whose very desires invite their doom.

A.D. Robertson is a pseudonym for Andrea Cremer, I have not yet experienced her previous young adult work, and I’m kind of disappointed that I skipped ahead to her debut adult release. Captive left me feeling a little (ok a lot) lost. While a brief introduction is given to the world Robertson/Cremer has created, it was just that: brief. As a novel on its own, I didn’t feel like I was given enough information about the history of the so-called war going on between the Keepers and Searchers. I think, for me anyway, without reading the Nightshade novels this book falls flat; feeling more like a novella rather than a full length novel, simply because the story and characters seemed so stilted. And while the sex is steamy and heart-pumping, I wouldn’t categorize this as an “erotic” novel, more along the lines of paranormal romance. Now, that being said, what I did enjoy about Captive was the romance between Sarah and Tristan, it was endearing and tender. Two individuals from opposite sides of the war who fall deeply in love, creating a traditional love story, right?  And who doesn't adore a good love story?  At first they disagree and are distrustful of one another, but the more time they spend together, the more heated their feelings become. As the danger surrounding them builds, they finally give into their desires. And with their new connection strengthened by their commitment, they finally escape the island where they are both prisoners.