Captive in the Dark (The Dark Duet, Book 1) by C.J. Roberts
Genre: Erotica
Edition Reviewed: eBook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Captive in the Dark
Caleb is a man with a singular interest in revenge. Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery by a power-hungry mobster, he has thought of nothing but vengeance. For twelve years he has immersed himself in the world of pleasure slaves searching for the one man he holds ultimately responsible. Finally, the architect of his suffering has emerged with a new identity, but not a new nature. If Caleb is to get close enough to strike, he must become the very thing he abhors and kidnap a beautiful girl to train her to be all that he once was.
Eighteen-year-old Olivia Ruiz has just woken up in a strange place. Blindfolded and bound, there is only a calm male voice to welcome her. His name is Caleb, though he demands to be called Master. Olivia is young, beautiful, naïve and willful to a fault. She has a dark sensuality that cannot be hidden or denied, though she tries to accomplish both. Although she is frightened by the strong, sadistic, and arrogant man who holds her prisoner, what keeps Olivia awake in the dark is her unwelcome attraction to him.
WARNING: This book contains very disturbing situations, dubious consent, strong language, and graphic violence.
Review:
One of my GR friends aptly sums up what I was getting into when I picked up this book, "Get ready for a huge mind fuck!" Of course I didn't read that post until I was about 20 to 30 pages in, but once I read those words I knew they were right. This book is one big mind fuck.
Livvie is pulled from her life and wakes up in a new world where she is blind folded and truly a captive of darkness. She's stripped bare of not only her clothes, but of her self. Left defenseless and trying to cling on to her sanity. Caleb is a master at brain washing her. Soon she can't tell when she needs to fight, or when to please the master. It's heart wrenching watching Caleb basically tear her apart and destroy her.
The story is told from both the perspective of the captive (Livvie) and the captor(Caleb). That's where the true mind games start. Readers can't truly hate Caleb as he is a victim from much the same background as the future he's forcing Livvie to live. A Pleasure Slave. He was used and ruined at a younger age, no longer can understand or relate to humanity. (Or at least humanity as we see it.) He's bent on revenge and he needs Livvie to get it. Obviously this book is not black in white. It deals in all the shades of grays. Many times I wanted Livvie to keep fighting, but then the hopelessness of her position bogs me down. One thing I need to make clear is that this is not a Romance. Maybe some readers will interpret it as such.
This book is meant to be dark and scary. It shows that no matter how much we choose to see things as good and evil, that their will always be hidden shades of gray. How do we then choose to condemn someone, justify actions, or even function in an unclear world. Captive in the Dark skillfully shows how someone is broken. How a strong person is torn apart psychology and physically. It's vivid in it's clarity. Many times I kept thinking that CitD gave great insight into how anyone could suddenly find themselves in an abuse relationship.
In the end, I don't think there is anything that can truly express this book. It hurts, scares, and leaves it's reader in a turmoil of thoughts. It's a provoker. It kept me running hot in anger, fear, shame, turned on (yeah, that's where some of the shame came from), and a multitude of emotions I'll probably never be able to figure out. Upon the last page I not only had a overwhelming desire to never leave my home again, but to keep everyone I know locked up in safe little bubbles. For days if not weeks this book echoed in my mind. Haunting my every thought. For me this was not a romance. I fear that Livvie will become trapped by Cable and remain is slave. Hope that Livvie can become Caleb's salvation. That Livvie will escape. That Caleb winds up dead, maybe even by Livvie's hand. Or that Caleb finds his way out. In the end it's not a romance. It's mind fuckery. With beautiful writing. (Though the jump from 1st to 3rd person is slightly disruptive.)
Sexual Content: Dark and graphic sex. Plenty of foul talk. Basically rated X my friends.
4/5- Great! Really enjoyed it.
| Previous book(s) in series: | ||
| Reviewed on BW: | Amazon: | Goodreads: |
| Captive in the Dark (1) Seduced in the Dark (2) | Paperback | Kindle Paperback | Kindle | Captive in the Dark (1) Seduced in the Dark (2) |
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