Book Review: Captured by Makayla Jade5/17/2023 Review by Gaby Pheonix The era of dystopian novels is not over yet and this book absolutely shows it. Written by Makayla Jade, Captured is the first book of the trilogy The Genesis Awakening, and it brings back all the feelings of the dystopian era with strong protagonists going against a corrupt government. Following Emerson, the book presents this world divided in two parts: Calveron, the
beautiful part where all the “Civilised people” live locked up, and Beast Eye, the external run-down city where all the “Ransacked” live as outcasts missing a lot of basic things. One of the best things about this book is that you have an unreliable narrator. Throughout the book, Emerson has amnesia since she lost twice all of her memories; even for her, some events are a big surprise. While she tries to figure out all the mysteries about her nightmares, she discovers another side of her life and keeps remembering it throughout the book with flashbacks of her memories coming back. On occasions, there are other two narrators, which help see the other side of the coin; given that Emerson got to see both worlds, getting Hayden and Jasper to tell their side of their worlds where they have lived their entire lives, shows a whole different picture than the one Emerson gives. The secondary characters, both antagonists and supportives, are so well written that it is inevitable to care about them. The gang is full of wonderful characters that fulfilled perfectly the trope of found family. But the antagonists are a lot different story, they are mean on a new level, but they are also humans. Showing Rebbeca and Albert actually caring about their son hits differently when they are meant to be the villains even though is established what they have done. Since the book has only one way to see things, that is through Emerson's eyes, you have to always doubt everyone, besides each character tells a different story about the past so is hard to know who you can actually trust. And speaking of trust, the whole trope of “Enemies to Lovers” is always great in any story, there are many ways the author could work with it and the path she used is just mind-blowing. Personally, I still got mixed feelings about the ending; it did surprise me in a certain way, even though some plots were a little predictable and I could see them coming, but it felt really quick and sudden. It was great to end it just in the middle of chaos since it creates expectations for the audience, but for somebody that’s not a great fan of open endings, it just feels out of place and leaves me all confused. Still, as I said, the book just brings me back to old times reading “The Hunger Games”. The story is marvelous and so well constructed. I can’t wait to keep reading the saga and solve all my doubts, because I still want to know where the ring is and what happened to the gang. Review by Carmella Rocco "I know that soon enough this place will be filled with a lot more noise than just my footsteps. It will be filled with the monsters that call themselves humans." (Jarc, 17) Based in a dystopian world, after a series of strange and strangely familiar dreams Emerson Clark is forced to leave the pull-together gang of teenagers she calls family to travel back into enemy territory- right into the hands of those who killed her mother as a child. Only, it is within moments that she is captured and must inject herself with a serum that, consequently, steals her memories- all she has ever known and Loved. Trapped in a place, a prison, where she is alone with her thoughts and people she only knows as evil, Emerson must find a way to escape the clutches of injustice and being used as a lab rat for information she doesn't have. "Captured" is especially cool in the way it draws a world of the dystopian genre. Civilization is separated based on their genes based on what they call Ransacked (bad genes) and civilized (good genes). In this, the CSO rules- a government focused on power, both keeping and taking. This is where our plot begins. Trapped in the sterile facility with no one but a boy with a sinister connection to her past, it is the CSO that keeps her there in the belief Emerson Clarke has highly important information, only, Emerson, as far as she knows, has no idea what they're talking about- only that she has to get away, even as she doesn't remember where she's running to. As said, "Captured" is very much a YA Dystopian, full on with the evil governments, sinisterly divided world, and a hero-like protagonist. She is brave, unwilling to give up nor give in. Most importantly, she is lost in who to become as the world holds her down. It is this which allows us, all of us, to connect with this story- at some point within life we will all come to a place where we feel trapped. Emerson shows us how to live through this. To keep standing up when all seems hopeless and the road ahead seems blurred. To see humanity in people we deem as inhuman(whether they are, or not). Emerson herself is who we spend the majority of the novel in (save for a few chapters from others POVs, a great, intriguing, and perspective bringing to the story!) The writing has a blunt, straightforward effect with funny quick-wit and clear emotions. Every character's mindset has great bulk, and the ways in which that bulk lets them build complicated relationships with one another is intriguing. It is also made an exciting read how the author takes advantage of drawing in the reader through the many plot twists, turns and reveals and is able to keep them there with the huge cliffhanger at end! The highlights of this book definitely centered around the characters and their relationships with one another, specifically Emerson and Jasper- the boy in her facility. The way they seem to grow around each other and bring light and fun to such a desolate setting was fun to read- it invoked hope in the self and hope for others. Jasper himself, brought perspective to parent-child relationships, specifically the discussion of "Are we our parents? Are we our past?" and more importantly, "If so, can we escape them?" Which leads me to my leaving thoughts: the story is beautiful in the way it constructs a story of coming to terms with new found trauma and facing those who have hurt you. Forgiveness in a world that has wronged you- and being able to take away that forgiveness if and when needed. To forgive, after all, is not to forget. The themes of family and self also stuck to me: the people of this world are separated based on genes, and in turn, pull out an interesting discussion of nature versus nurture. By nature, someone can be not inherently evil, nor cruel, but grown in an environment under certain people and certain conditions, they may have no choice but to become those people- it's all they've ever know, all they've ever know to be right. Captured was a pleasure to read, and I am so grateful I had the chance to do so. I would definitely recommend it, especially to lovers of found family and those feeling Nostalgic for 2014 dystopian! For a reference, I found these books are both similar and can be recommended for lovers of Captured and those who are interested in reading it: The Divergent Trilogy (by Veronica Roth), The Giver (by Lois Lowery), and The Host (by Stephanie Meyer). Review by Devin Higgins Synopsis Emerson Clarke believes she grew up as nothing more than Ransacked--an outcast in a dystopian world. She lives the best life she can with her found family and nightmarish visions of a little girl until she's taken by authorities from Genesis City. When she takes away her own memory to keep the leader of the city, Albert Cunningham, from using her, she learns far more about her family, her past, and the role she plays in the future of Genesis City than she ever bargained for. Review Characters:
1 Comment
MakaylaJade
5/23/2023 06:32:26 pm
Thank you so much for these reviews!
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