Saturday 30 March 2013

CAPTIVES - SAFE LANDS BK#1 BY JILL WILLIAMSON

ISBN: 978-0310724223
ASIN: B008EGV6LO
Publisher: Zondervan
Pages: 304
Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book
Expected Publishing Date: 2nd April

BLURB from Goodreads
One choice could destroy them all. 
When eighteen-year-old Levi returned from Denver City with his latest scavenged finds, he never imagined he'd find his village of Glenrock decimated, loved ones killed by enforcers, and many---including his fiancee, Jem--taken captive. Now alone, Levi is determined to rescue what remains of his people, even if it means entering the Safe Land, a walled city that seems anything but safe. 
Omar knows he betrayed his brother by sending him away to Denver City, but helping the enforcers was necessary. Living off the land like nomads and clinging to an outdated religion holds his village back. The Safe Land has protected people since the plague decimated the world generations ago ... and its rulers have promised power and wealth beyond Omar's dreams. 
Meanwhile, Jem is locked in a cell, awaiting the Safe Landers' plan to protect their future by seizing her own. Can Levi uncover the truth hidden behind the Safe Land's facade before it's too late?


MY REVIEW
I received this one from Jill Williamson as the copy sent to me by Netgalley was on epub at that time. I received the book free in exchange for my honest review.
The cover represents the books really well. I would say the male on the cover is Levi, though the man could be one of the other young Glenrock males I suppose. I think of it being Levi when he gains access to the safelands, staring up at their large somewhat over powering buildings. I like covers tat I can place within the concept of the book. The fontand colours of the title, series name and author name all work well placed at the top of the cover.
Now to the book, I admit to being pulled in and hooked almost straight away. The first line of the blurb is a really big statement in relation to the book, as One Choice made by a young man disgruntled at his father appearing to love and care for him as much as his brother does bring disaster to the village of Glenrock. Omar is always being ridiculed by his father as weak and useless, preferring to paint and be artistic tan fighting and hunting for his family. In a temper one day Omar comes across a Safe Lander. Omar seems to think all is problems would be over if he lived in the Safe Lands. Life seems so easy over the other side of the great wall which surrounds the Safe Lands. A plan is hatched . . .Omar agrees a party of Safe Landers should come to his village and persuade the people at Glenrock to move to Safe Lands. In Omar's mind all this will happen in a friendly peacable manner, however his decision to give away the exact location of his village as tragic circumstances. 
The Safe Landers come to Glenrock, but they don't speak peacefully they take the females and young men by force any of the older males that get in the way are shot and killed. Even the village elder.
Once inside the Safe Lands walls the whole story about Omar and the safelander's is made apparent. Obviously the young males and females held Captive resent Omar and see what he did as betrayal. The only hope is Levi. Levi was not captured, can he get into the Safe Lands and rescue them all? 
There's so much more to this book, like the plague the Safelanders have, the reason they need the young males and the women to help them continue their existence. I really could go on and on about this book.
The characters I liked a lot are Jem and Levi, their true love for each other that lasts the whole way through the book, no matter what is happening to them. I also like one or two of the Safe Lander's such as Bender, Lonn and Ciddah the medic at the Highland Harem where the women are coerced to stay and . . .well I can't say any more without spoiling the book which you must read for yourselves.
When reading this book a phrase came to mind "the grass is always greener on the other side" but will that be the case for all or in fact any of the Glenrock people.
So did I enjoy this book? Loved it, I really felt sucked right into the book, and really enjoyed it. Would I recommend this book? Yes, especially to those who love dystopian books. Would I read a BK#2? Yes please,I'd read Bk#2 now if I could! Will I read more by Jill Williamson? Yes, I have read one of her other books Replication which I also enjoyed lots too. So definitely will be looking out for more books by Jill!

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