REVIEW: Captivate (Submerged Sun #1) by Vanessa Garden

In a glittering underwater world, nothing is as it seems...

For the past twelve months since her parents’ death, seventeen-year-old Miranda Sun has harboured a dark secret — a secret that has strained the close relationship she once shared with her older sister, Lauren. In an effort to repair this broken bond, Miranda’s grandparents whisk the siblings away on a secluded beach holiday. Except before Miranda gets a chance to confess her life-changing secret, she’s dragged underwater by a mysterious stranger while taking a midnight swim.

Awakening days later, Miranda discovers that she’s being held captive in a glittering underwater city by an arrogant young man named Marko...the King of this underwater civilisation.

Nineteen-year-old Marko intends to marry Miranda in order to keep his crown from falling into the sinister clutches of his half-brother, Damir. There’s only one problem. Miranda is desperate to return home to right things with her sister and she wants nothing to do with Marko. Trying to secure her freedom, Miranda quickly forms an alliance with Robbie — Marko’s personal guard. However, she soon discovers that even underwater, people are hiding dangerous secrets...

My Thoughts:

Part of me wanted to believe that an underwater city existed. Because, if Marin didn't exist, it would mean that all of these people here, my captors, were clinically insane. And I did not want to be at the mercy of crazy people.

Captivate is such a wonderful title for this book. I was definitely captivated throughout the story. I love books that deal with underwater worlds. It all seems so very magical to me. As the story went on, I found myself more and more intrigued and curious about how things were going to play out. There was a real sense of mystery surrounding things. 

Miranda has been dealing with the death of her parents and the resulting strained relationship with her sister when she finds herself kidnapped and wakes up days later in an underwater world. Waking to find her kidnapper, Robbie beside her and being told that she is to marry the king, Marko to help populate and save the city.

I stared up into Marko's beautiful Face, the kind of face artists would willingly starve to paint. It would be easy to fall under this intoxicating spell of fantasy, to imagine that I was a character in a book and indulge in wherever the story went. Let Marko lead me into a world I wouldn't dare tread in reality.

What at first I thought was going to turn into a love triangle really didn't eventuate. In fact, for most of the book, there isn't any real romance at all. Yes, it's expected that Miranda is going to jump at the plan that's been put before her, and marry Marko, but Miranda is having none of that and wants nothing more than to return home. This aspect of the story was one that I think I enjoyed the most. Miranda's unwavering strength to stand up for what she believed were her rights. She's been kidnapped and held captive, so I think I would have been pretty put off if there was an instant attraction here. The author handled it perfectly here I think.

Robbie was such a sweetie. He was really protective of Miranda almost from the very start. I loved that his feelings were conflicted between loyalty and what is right. That really showed his wonderful character. At first that's where I wanted the romance to be, because, honestly, who could like Marko. He was so abrupt and standoffish. I didn't like him very much at all. Him and Robbie were like polar opposites. And it was for almost all of the book that I felt that way. But Marko slowly started to show me his true colours and I couldn't help but begin to like him. His responsibilities are so big and he has so much pressure placed on him as well as battling all the evil entities that are coming into play.

And I feel that we have only really skimmed the surface of those evil forces. We got brief glimpses into things, but I think there are definitely some challenges ahead for the characters. And I personally can't wait to see what will play out.

Now, I wasn't immediately taken in by the story and it's characters, but from about a third of the way in, I was completely on board. I think it was from that point on that I felt I was getting a better understanding of the characters and the plot was really starting to settle into a nice groove and pace. There were also a few mysteries that really peaked my interest as well. Also, that ending has guaranteed that I will be grabbing myself a copy of the next book upon it's release. 

How could a monster like him look so... so good? It was just wrong.

4/5 Completely Intrigued Stars.

A huge thank you to Harlequin for the review copy via NetGalley.