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It has been several months since Jaron, the Ascendant King, fought for Carthya’s hard-won peace in The Shadow Throne (and several years since we’ve last seen Jaron and the crew in what we thought would be the last book in a trilogy), but peace is not destined to last, and a new adventure is brewing.
On a leisurely sea voyage, Jaron’s ship is brutally attacked, and he and his friends are taken hostage. Their captor, Jane Strick, wants something from Jaron, and she seems to believe that Jaron is the reason for the deaths of his family, though she claims Jaron’s brother, Darius, is still alive. She says she has proof and even possesses items from Jaron’s past he never thought he’d see again — including the crown and sword that once belonged to Darius.
Could Darius be alive? It’s impossible, but Jaron cannot keep himself from considering the idea. Because if Darius is really alive, what does this mean for Carthya and the throne?
I’ve been highly anticipating the continuation of the Ascendance Series by Jennifer A. Nielsen, but it’s always nerve-wracking when an author continues a series that was previously closed. Did this book meet expectations? Does it fit with the other books in the series, or did its execution come across as forced?
The Captive Kingdom picks up right where the series left off (actually, it takes place in the space between the end of book three and the epilogue), and for a fan like me, it did not disappoint. Jaron is up to more of his impossible tricks and escapades as well as his trademark sarcasm and humor. He’s also kind of a jerk in this book, but this time the other characters, especially Roden, are ready to stand on their own and hold him accountable. I wish there could have been more development and involvement of some other side characters like Imogen and Fink, but overall, I’m very pleased with this new addition to the series and look forward to book five.
Rated: Mild, for a fair amount of violence and tension.
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