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The Mender Trilogy #2

The Captive: Book 2 of The Mender Trilogy

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Love or An Assassin’s Choice

No longer a time-traveling assassin, Eva is desperate to start a new life with her husband — but her conscience has other plans.

When enemies attack the wealthiest plantation in Austin’s Colony, she and her husband, Jim, must flee a vengeful mob to take shelter with his family. The only problem is, Jim hasn’t seen his Comanche village in three years. And he’s not sure he’ll be welcome, especially with an Anglo-looking wife.

For Eva, their escape heralds an end to their honeymoon and takes her farther from her former mission partner, Tophe — a sworn sword, just like she was. While she’s had a change of heart, he has not, and if Tophe completes their mission, eighty men will be massacred.

In this second exciting installment of The Mender Trilogy , Eva must find a way to stop him — without starting a war with the time-traveling cult, Lux Libera.

251 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2023

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38 people want to read

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Jennifer Marchman

4 books10 followers

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,442 reviews99 followers
October 22, 2023
The Captive, book 2 of The Mender Trilogy can be read as a stand-alone but I would not suggest it. Jim and Eva are headed back to the Comanche village to start their new relationship and it’s filled with language barriers and unrealistic customs I certainly wouldn’t be able to live with. The whole thing made me nervous and I was wondering how they would get through it all. The book ends with Eva making a final decision about her original task at the beginning of book 1. And yes, I need book 3. I’m frustrated but invested. Good writing that’s kept me on the edge of my seat with an interesting history of the times.
I received eArc and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks BookSirens.
Profile Image for Cassie C.
787 reviews9 followers
October 29, 2023
While I liked the first book of this series more, I still enjoyed this one and could appreciate and understand the direction that it took. For me, with the first book, the most intriguing part of it was the moral issues brought up with the idea of knowing that things in the past are wrong, and yet not necessarily doing anything to change them and then becoming complicit in them. There is still some hints of that in this book, but understandably less so, since with this book the focus is more on Jim and Eva incorporating themselves in with the Comanche village and finding their places there. As a result, the conflict is much more focused on their relationship and how they can stay true to themselves and each other with the greater pressure of outside influences.

What I liked most about this book was that while the first book has been compared to Outlander (and somewhat understandably so, given the time-traveling and romance), this book actually takes things a step farther than Outlander with exploring culture clashes. In Outlander, Claire’s difficulties to adjusting to the time period mostly center on her struggles with gender roles and expectations. In The Mender and The Captive, Eva must also deal with this, but on top of that, must come to terms with a society that is structured far differently from her own. Whereas for Claire, the society and culture she stepped into would eventually evolve into what she was accustomed to in her own time, for Eva, being amongst the Comanche is a significant culture shock. She has to adjust not only to the idea of being married and subservient to her husband, but also to the idea of wife-sharing amongst her husband’s brothers. For me, this whole idea was fascinating to think about, because, coming from a background more similar to Eva’s, I balked at the idea of a woman being shared around from brother to brother, especially if she did not want to do such a thing. But for women and men growing up in such a society, it would obviously be completely normal, especially if so much of your society is built upon the sharing and generosity within the community for its continued survival. This exploration of the differences in culture and how things are normalized depending on how you are raised was so interesting to consider.

Because of all of this conflict around culture, it was interesting to see how Jim and Eva’s relationship developed over the course of the book, and I enjoyed seeing how they both had to adapt, grow and compromise in their adjustments with each other and within the community. While at times frustrating to see them talking past each other, it was satisfying to see them come to a good place by the end of the book.

Once again with this book, I did appreciate Marchman’s treatment of the Comanche and felt like she did her best to research their history and stay true to it and respectful in her portrayal. She clearly spent a great deal of time making sure to be as accurate as she could be, and seeking out resources and feedback from experts.

Overall, I look forward to seeing how everything concludes in the third book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Chantelle Dillon.
102 reviews2 followers
October 4, 2023
The Captive is the 2nd part to The Mender Trilogy. I will admit that this one took me a wee bit more time to get through than the first book, even though this one was a third of the length. I was surprised at the size of the 2nd book and it was evident that the story was rushed along with a lack of depth to the continuation of the story.

I enjoyed the cultural aspect of the Comanche and this part of the story is set in the village so a lot of traditional parts of the culture were explored and we see Eva learning her way amongst her new people and Jim fitting back into his roots. Again I feel a lot more could have been explored here. I understand the author was trying to remain authentic in representing the Comanche, however it could have been fleshed out more in the character development of Jim’s brother and wives and other introduced characters.

All in all I enjoyed the overall theme of the book and I am very much in the story that I need to now know what happens next - looks like we going to war in the third and final instalment of this trilogy! Let’s go!

I received an ARC of this book for free from BookSirens and I am leaving this review truthfully and voluntarily.
Profile Image for L.K. Latham.
Author 8 books13 followers
September 24, 2023
Once again, I lucked out? I received an early release of this book as part of Marksman’s review team.

Marchman continues the adventures of Eva and Jim as they adjust to together with Jim’s adoptive family. She continues to surprise with her detailed descriptions of life among the Comanche and balancing that with characters who intrigue. Throughout the book, I wanted to know how Jim and Eva would adapt and whether or not they would continue as a couple, even as Eva balances her desire to be with Jim with her desire to save her old friend.

Definitely worth the read!
112 reviews4 followers
August 29, 2023
As many know, the second book in a trilogy is often not as entertaining, sandwiched between the newness of the story's beginning and the exciting conclusion.  The division of action in this trilogy nicely avoids that.  Where the first book of course gave us the necessary backstory and established the characters and conflict, for the second installment we change settings from the pioneer cabin to life in the Numunu (Comanche) village.  And so, everything is new again as Eva lands in another foreign culture and works to adapt.  There is more at stake here for her, since these are the people of Jim's heart.  We have a new culture to learn about, emotional growth in both main characters as they work through their own individual philosophical dilemmas, and a new adventure growing.

I loved the world building.  As I said in my review of the first book, Native American history is an intense interest of mine, and so the setting in this second book really resonated with me.  Marchman did a great job on taking her thorough research on the Numunu and turning it into a world we can easily visualize, as well as people with daily struggles we can identify with.  For example, the marital customs are very new to Eva and with her now married to Jim, they both find themselves challenged in navigating a situation new and uncomfortable to both of them.  Eva is not sure how she feels about the custom, and Jim finds himself unexpectedly struggling emotionally as well, torn between a custom that he doesn't question and the reluctance both he and Eva feel toward fulfilling it.  

He pinched the bridge of his nose and stared at her feet.  'A Numu woman grows up knowing what's expected of her.  It's just a normal part of life.  I never anticipated having a wife I would have to force to maintain kinship ties.'  Jim peered down at her, face drawn.  'But worse than that, I never expected to feel selfish about a woman.' ... Eva closed her eyes and wagged her head in indecision.  Her feet wanted to run.  Her heart wanted to stay.  Her mind couldn't believe she was in this situation. Unbidden and unwelcome, Pump's words came back to her.  Her loved one, Jim, stood before her.  Here.  In this life.  This was the deal.  Take it or leave it.  There were going to be things she didn't like, things she even hated.


As we know, Eva is a Mender for Lux Libera and has been raised to believe the Lux Libera timeline (in the multiverse) is the true timeline and the other worlds are shadow worlds whose divergence weakens the True Path.  Her job has been to insert into these shadow worlds and remove obstacles that send the shadow world on a branching path too divergent from Lux Libera. She is trained as an assassin with a specialty with languages and history. Now that she has chosen to stay in this timeline and be with Jim, in a culture with defined gender roles, she has to frequently work to reconcile herself with the realities her new life bring.

Like water through sand, Eva watched herself drain away ... Future branches snapped before her, and she turned her face away.  She smoldered with anger but didn't know at whom.

(Future branches here refers to possible timeline paths)

As the second book progresses, Eva continues to struggle with what to do about Tophe, her Lux Libera partner who will be arriving in the Spring to carry out their mission.  She now knows she can't allow him to proceed, but doesn't know exactly how to accomplish that and what to do with Tophe.  The conclusion of the second book sees her arriving at her plan, and it sets us up for a third adventure in the next setting, for Eva (and maybe Jim) will have to travel to Tophe's designated arrival spot to enact their plan.  

As with the first book, I found no plot holes.  The characters are likable and relatable, and the side characters are decently developed rather than being two-dimensional props.  There is a nice balance between telling and showing, and you can easily visualize the world and the situations.  This was a good installment that moved the story forward nicely.
Profile Image for Alyssa.
38 reviews6 followers
December 23, 2023
I received an ARC and am leaving an honest review.

The Captive, book two of the Mender trilogy, spends most of its time in the Comanche village where Jim grew up after being captured. Of all Jim’s experiences, this is the place that feels most like home to him filled with a community and family that he loves.

I enjoyed this section of the trilogy as we are immersed in a different culture enabling us to better understand its norms as well as the nuances and exceptions that exist with respect to those norms. I enjoyed observing the subtle negotiations that take place between characters and how prized qualities in a culture, an excellent warrior in this case, would allow poor behavior to be excused. While the traditions here are different from that of the Anglo culture in the first book, there are so many similarities as to how a culture functions in general.

It was also interesting to observe the change in our main characters as the environment changes. We observe Jim blossom as he is back in his element and we see Eva shrink as she tries to adapt to a culture that clashes with her sense of a woman’s place in society. It illustrates how familiar and unfamiliar environments reveal completely different sides of the same person. On the farm even though they were both in an in-between place, they had privacy to negotiate their existence. No one was watching them and they were safe, albeit lonely. With the Comanche, they are under constant observation and we see the pressure this puts on their relationship and the way in which this makes Eva a captive.

Eva is also regaining her powers during this time and reflecting on the upcoming mission gone awry and the impact it will have on this timeline. We have this moment to breathe and better understand our characters. At the end we are gearing up for what feels like a final confrontation for Eva with Jim by her side. I am really excited and curious about the 3rd book and how another switch in context impacts our characters. Also, for 2 people looking for a place to live happily together, how does Marchman end her trilogy and do they ever find that place?

I really enjoyed this second installment and Marchman’s ability to drop us into the unfamiliar and subtly enable the reader to make sense of something that can seem so foreign. Details like a gentle ribbing between a Comanche husband and wife feel relatable. I appreciate how fully formed her communities are. We see both the Anglo and Comanches cultures - warts and all. Neither superior, just different.
Profile Image for Sentinelle23.
2,022 reviews33 followers
September 15, 2023
💛🏜🐎Excellent exotic suite!

After a tragic event, Eva and Jim were on the run to Comanche territory.
Jim's adopted brother accompanied them.

Eva was very upset to have to take care of all the luggage alone.
But Jim and Rutsima had to have their hands free in the event of an attack...

---------------------------

A fantastic sequel to the extraordinary adventures of Eva, the space-time traveler stuck in a place by mistake.

I find the main character of Eva very courageous in the present circumstances.

I loved reading the rest of this detailed, intimate, exotic adventure, full of mystery and unexpected events.

I recommend this essential reading for fans of realistic and original sentimental space-time adventures!


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💛🏜🐎Excellente suite dépaysante !

Après un tragique événement, Eva et Jim étaient en fuite vers le territoire Comanche.
Le frère adoptif de Jim les accompagnait.

Eva était très contrariée de devoir s’occuper seule de tous les bagages.
Mais Jim et Rutsima devaient avoir les mains libres en cas d’attaque...

---------------------------

Une formidable suite des extraordinaires aventures d’Eva, la voyageuse spatio-temporelle coincée dans un lieu par erreur.

Je trouve le personnage principal d’Eva bien courageuse dans les circonstances présentes.

J’ai adoré lire la suite de cette aventure exotique intimiste détaillée , pleine de mystère et d’imprévus.

Je recommande cette lecture indispensable pour les amateurs d’aventures spatio-temporelles sentimentales réalistes et originales !
Profile Image for Melanie S.
1,841 reviews35 followers
November 4, 2023
Love and hard choices>

Eva the Traveler has foresworn her vow of celibacy to become Jim the former Comanche captive's wife. When increasing violence on the frontier prompts his return to The People, she goes too, with an uncertain welcome and a tough adjustment to tribal life ahead. Her knowledge of the oncoming future, her yet-unfulfilled mission with her missing partner Tophe, and her increasing guilt over past missions haunt her days. She who has always excelled at assimilation now struggles to fit her relationship with Jim into the expectations of the Comanche tribe. Her Traveling ability must be concealed, but its use in resolving her own future path is inevitable. The love story continues amidst fear, uncertainty, and looming violent deaths - and it will be her voice as to who will survive. This riveting story of hard choices and conflicting loyalties balances on a knife edge from the beginning. It concludes at the knife-point, where Eva makes a desperate decision, but the results are left to the final book in the trilogy. It's a high-anxiety, adrenaline punctuated read, relieved by Eva and Jim's deepening trust and commitment. I was completely captivated, deeply moved, and unable to predict how it all will end; I am on pins and needles for the next book. My voluntary, independent ARC review is an enthusiastic recommendation, with the caveat that romance readers must not expect roses and chocolates: this love story has thorns, and a bitter taste of life's harsher truths.
Profile Image for Kat Hall.
221 reviews8 followers
October 22, 2023
Very well written. The depiction of the Comanche's life and customs is portrayed very well. Eva has a problem with their customs. Jim is so involved in being back with his adoptive family that he tends to forget Eva wasn't raised to know their customs. Eva stands on her own two feet and navigates her way quite well with the help of Jim's wives (Comanche custom that his brother's wives are also his wives). Jim has a problem with sharing Eva and refuses to let her be shared as per the Comanche custom.

Eva has to make a decision about her mission from her former life. How does she stop Tophe from completing their mission? How will her decision impact Jim and his 'people'? Both of them are stubborn and need to communicate better. It does cause problems.

This book keeps you reading and wanting to know what happens next.

This is not a standalone book even though it says it is. You do need to read the first one to get the full story as it impacts the 2nd & 3rd books.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
1,584 reviews22 followers
October 20, 2023
Again well written. Eva , a time traveler is with Jim. Each of them is dealing with things happening to them. So they must seek the help of the Comanche, who Jim grew up with. Lots of action and history written in this book. Full of love, romance, history, suspense, struggles, emotions, everything you need to make this an exceptional book. Need to read this story to keep up with her travels. Will she ever get home or is Jim her home. Will have to read the next book to find out. Would recommend to everyone.

I am an ARC and leave this unbiased, honest review.
Profile Image for Brittany.
25 reviews2 followers
November 2, 2023
Just like book 1, I was blown away at the depth of research the author did to make this story feel authentic. I enjoyed reading more about Jim and Eva's story, but this book felt quite short. I was surprised when I turned the page and found the end matter. I was hoping to get a bit further along in the story before hopping into book 3. As it is, book 2 did not do much in terms of building tension or pushing the plot forward.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for John.
541 reviews18 followers
December 19, 2023
Usually I don’t like trilogies, mostly because the middle books tend to be pretty poor. I’m not sure why. The Captive is certainly not that. It picks up where The Mender left off. A good summary is given, but please don’t read the series out of order. Not only will you be confused, you will miss the fun and relationships study of the first book. If you finished the book and are considering the second, the answer you get from me is a definite “YES”. Great book with great writing.
Profile Image for Jamie  Leigh.
6,567 reviews29 followers
January 5, 2024
Awesome read

Wow! This series does NOT disappoint! This author has created an exciting and different world! The characters are interesting, and you never know what's coming next!
3 reviews
March 17, 2024
I liked it

It kept me entertained. Very little to no cursing. Well written. A unique idea. I am planning on reading the third one right away.

Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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