What do you think?
Rate this book
Captivated #1.5
Iris
"Iris" is set to be published September 1st 2014
***This book is meant to be read after Captivate Me***
Set before the events in Book One of the Captivated Series, "Iris" explores the depths of family bonds, new bonds, and the lengths a person would go to save the life of a dying sibling. In this novella, get to know Iris and her two sisters more intimately, as well as Gabriel, the first angel-human hybrid who agrees to live under her protection.
Recommended for readers 16 and up due to mature content.
***This book is meant to be read after Captivate Me***
Set before the events in Book One of the Captivated Series, "Iris" explores the depths of family bonds, new bonds, and the lengths a person would go to save the life of a dying sibling. In this novella, get to know Iris and her two sisters more intimately, as well as Gabriel, the first angel-human hybrid who agrees to live under her protection.
Recommended for readers 16 and up due to mature content.
ebook
First published August 25, 2014
1 person is currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Pierce
24 books401 followersInternational Bestselling Author Susan James Pierce writes Paranormal and Sci-if Romance novels, and they all have the same thing in common: The characters' love defies all odds. Her "unputdownable" stories will make you laugh, cry, swoon, and keep you on the edge of your seat. Enjoy the ride!
Love Contemporary Romance? Check out her books under Susan Pierce.
Instagram: https://bit.ly/2vOnYbr
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3bnYVeu
Twitter: https://bit.ly/2UEhAfp
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3plekE4
Pinterest: https://bit.ly/2IrIQLZ
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2s1S851
Booksprout: https://bit.ly/3djlQLR
Website: www.sjpiercebooks.com
Love Contemporary Romance? Check out her books under Susan Pierce.
Instagram: https://bit.ly/2vOnYbr
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3bnYVeu
Twitter: https://bit.ly/2UEhAfp
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3plekE4
Pinterest: https://bit.ly/2IrIQLZ
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2s1S851
Booksprout: https://bit.ly/3djlQLR
Website: www.sjpiercebooks.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 4, 2014
We met Iris in Captivate Me and at first she seemed like a nice person. Well, if you read the first book, you know that she turned out to be – how to I say it – an evil bitch witch. In Iris (Captivated 1.5) we get the story behind Iris and the events that led up to Captivate Me. We get to see what exactly makes her tick and discover that way down deep inside, she could be a good person if she really wanted to. But we also learn that she will do anything to try and save her sister – even if it means killing others.
I really enjoyed reading Iris. Getting to know Iris and her sisters better provided a much deeper insight for what happened in Captivate Me. Ms. Pierce continues to amaze me with her writing abilities and her creative mind. This book is a must read and I am eagerly waiting for the next installment of this spectacular series.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
- See more at: The Avid Book Collector
I really enjoyed reading Iris. Getting to know Iris and her sisters better provided a much deeper insight for what happened in Captivate Me. Ms. Pierce continues to amaze me with her writing abilities and her creative mind. This book is a must read and I am eagerly waiting for the next installment of this spectacular series.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
- See more at: The Avid Book Collector
September 2, 2014
Check out my blog for the tour, enter the giveaway too.
This is a hard review to write without spoilers for book 1 Captivate Me. So I will make this short and non-spoiler as I know some of you may not have read book 1 first, and even though this book takes place before the events in Captivated, this must be read after book one. If reading this one first it would be such a big spoiler for you, Trust me, reading Captivated first will make it so much better, some of the twist and turns and even mysteriousness of events in book 1 make it so good, but it's the not knowing part that really makes it intriguing.
This series as a whole so far is just amazing. This book just added more to it.
I can't say anything about it at all, as I said, because of spoilers.
It was written well, just like the other book, and the series that ties into this one as well. I also recommend those as well.
Overall a great paranormal book, that I couldn't put down. Just wish there was more of Gabe in this one, but was still great.
I highly recommend this, and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.
Book One.
Previous series that ties into this one:
August 29, 2014
Iris, Novella: The Captivated Series By S.J. Pierce
4 out of 5 stars
Very original, a prologue in novella form to the first book in the series, “Captivate Me”, from the villain’s point of view. A completely new reading experience for me that helped flesh out the characters from the book in a different light. It is a really great idea in my opinion and a twist that kept me intrigued and reading as it came after the first book. As with my last review I will give you a little taste of some of this authors best work…her prologue’s are very powerful and set just the right tone for what follows, a talent that many authors aspire to but few achieve, grabbing your attention in that first paragraph or two. Well here goes:
“Witches – the word can have a negative connotation. In some, the word evokes visions of darkness and satanic rituals. It’s also used as a derogative term against women, and believe me, to call me one in that way is the surest way to die, or at the very least, a spell cast on you that will make you wish you were. I prefer to be called a conjurer.
Of our kind, there are two types – conjurers of the light, and conjurers of the dark. Conjurers of the light pull their powers from the Earth and are believed to be blessed by God himself. They are one with nature, can heal and always use their powers for good. They devote their lives to living out their purpose of goodwill and helping those less fortunate.
My two sisters and I, we’re not those kind of witches.”
My reasoning for not giving it the 5 stars the book received is that it was more an explanation of what had gone on before from the villain’s viewpoint than any real new information that you couldn’t logically deduce. While I found the concept of the prologue in novella form following the book highly original, the content was somewhat predictable because I had read the book and I knew where the story was going. It is a well written novella, it just lacks some of the excitement and discovery of the book. Just one new tidbit of information, one ah-ha! moment, you couldn’t piece together without reading the book would have gotten that extra star. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it certainly gave more depth to the characters. I recommend reading it with the book. Another winner from S.J. Pierce.
*A complimentary copy was given in exchange for an honest review.*
Cheryle, My Secret Book Spot
4 out of 5 stars
Very original, a prologue in novella form to the first book in the series, “Captivate Me”, from the villain’s point of view. A completely new reading experience for me that helped flesh out the characters from the book in a different light. It is a really great idea in my opinion and a twist that kept me intrigued and reading as it came after the first book. As with my last review I will give you a little taste of some of this authors best work…her prologue’s are very powerful and set just the right tone for what follows, a talent that many authors aspire to but few achieve, grabbing your attention in that first paragraph or two. Well here goes:
“Witches – the word can have a negative connotation. In some, the word evokes visions of darkness and satanic rituals. It’s also used as a derogative term against women, and believe me, to call me one in that way is the surest way to die, or at the very least, a spell cast on you that will make you wish you were. I prefer to be called a conjurer.
Of our kind, there are two types – conjurers of the light, and conjurers of the dark. Conjurers of the light pull their powers from the Earth and are believed to be blessed by God himself. They are one with nature, can heal and always use their powers for good. They devote their lives to living out their purpose of goodwill and helping those less fortunate.
My two sisters and I, we’re not those kind of witches.”
My reasoning for not giving it the 5 stars the book received is that it was more an explanation of what had gone on before from the villain’s viewpoint than any real new information that you couldn’t logically deduce. While I found the concept of the prologue in novella form following the book highly original, the content was somewhat predictable because I had read the book and I knew where the story was going. It is a well written novella, it just lacks some of the excitement and discovery of the book. Just one new tidbit of information, one ah-ha! moment, you couldn’t piece together without reading the book would have gotten that extra star. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it certainly gave more depth to the characters. I recommend reading it with the book. Another winner from S.J. Pierce.
*A complimentary copy was given in exchange for an honest review.*
Cheryle, My Secret Book Spot
August 15, 2014
Flawless! Imaginative! Well written! No editing issues! Depth!
This is after Captivate Me, which is one of my favorite books I've read this year. I love Kat, the main character in Captivate Me. Iris and her sisters, while interesting in their own way, just can't compare to Kat. So, while I love how the book was written and was blindsided by the depth of the witches, I still love Kat better. As much as I tried to care about Iris and her sisters, I just don't. Probably because they're witches and I've never been a fan of witches. This is the first book about witches I've ever read. Unless S.J. Pierce writes another one, I won't be reading about witches again. Still, if you love witches, you'll LOVE Iris. Read Captivate Me first, though, as it is book 1.
S.J. Pierce is an excellent author. I happily read anything she writes. For paranormal readers, or readers who love well written novels, she is a must. She's for sure a favorite of mine. :)
This is after Captivate Me, which is one of my favorite books I've read this year. I love Kat, the main character in Captivate Me. Iris and her sisters, while interesting in their own way, just can't compare to Kat. So, while I love how the book was written and was blindsided by the depth of the witches, I still love Kat better. As much as I tried to care about Iris and her sisters, I just don't. Probably because they're witches and I've never been a fan of witches. This is the first book about witches I've ever read. Unless S.J. Pierce writes another one, I won't be reading about witches again. Still, if you love witches, you'll LOVE Iris. Read Captivate Me first, though, as it is book 1.
S.J. Pierce is an excellent author. I happily read anything she writes. For paranormal readers, or readers who love well written novels, she is a must. She's for sure a favorite of mine. :)
August 17, 2014
At first the idea of this book seemed really strange to me, I had just finished the previous book in the series and I spent most of that time hating Iris. So when I saw the title of the book and the premise, I had a little hulk-rage moment. I have to say that the book converted me, I’m still pretty pissed with Iris but I think I have a better understanding of her motives. It also made me consider that if someone I loved was dying and I had the power to stop it…would I do it? Even if it cost a lot of people their lives? This book put me in a very ambiguous place morally….which felt really weird. I had to empathize with Iris’s situation and that of her sister and also wonder if Iris was really as bad as I thought she was. Ok, she’s not winning any Ms. Congeniality contest…that’s for sure. She’s surly, sarcastic, hot-tempered, and she drinks out of the wine bottle. I like the introduction of Kai, he kind of mellows her out. He’s kind, generous, and patient enough to put up with Iris’s crappola. I sometimes think when author’s write villains that they tend to make them so two dimensional. So I really appreciate the author’s attempt to explain what made Iris the way she is and why she’s willing to hurt so many people. Usually I skip these little books in-between main books in a series but I’m glad that I didn’t skip this because I think it enriched the whole series and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.
September 3, 2014
Full review @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
I read Captivate earlier this year and when I saw this novella about Iris, I wanted to get to know her and find out what her real motivations were. It turned out to be a great read and really did give me a lot of answers.
Iris is a hard person to crack because of the heartache that she had suffered in the past, but throughout this story her walls began to crumble. It was interesting to see her let someone in who wasn’t her family. I met a lot of other characters as well: Iris’ sisters Rose and Lilliana, and I also found out how Kai fitted into the whole picture. I expected to meet all these people and not like them as they are evil people, but I found that they weren’t that bad and were doing something to keep their family together.
Iris was an enjoyable read and although they are the bad people in the overall storyline, I liked getting to know them better. They weren’t as evil as I thought they would be, but they were great characters nonetheless. This story has given greater depth to the whole series. Now that I am done, I am interested to see what will happen with the original characters, Kat and Gabriel.
Complimentary copy provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review.
I read Captivate earlier this year and when I saw this novella about Iris, I wanted to get to know her and find out what her real motivations were. It turned out to be a great read and really did give me a lot of answers.
Iris is a hard person to crack because of the heartache that she had suffered in the past, but throughout this story her walls began to crumble. It was interesting to see her let someone in who wasn’t her family. I met a lot of other characters as well: Iris’ sisters Rose and Lilliana, and I also found out how Kai fitted into the whole picture. I expected to meet all these people and not like them as they are evil people, but I found that they weren’t that bad and were doing something to keep their family together.
Iris was an enjoyable read and although they are the bad people in the overall storyline, I liked getting to know them better. They weren’t as evil as I thought they would be, but they were great characters nonetheless. This story has given greater depth to the whole series. Now that I am done, I am interested to see what will happen with the original characters, Kat and Gabriel.
Complimentary copy provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2015
Iris follows the journey of, well, Iris. She’s one of the major plot-twisters in Captivate Me and boy, has she got personality. The reason I haven’t spoken at all about her is because I liked her better in this novella.
Or maybe that’s because I understood her well here. Her motivations, her fears, her weaknesses and strengths—they were all laid out for everyone to see.
Sure she’s a bitch even when she didn’t have a reason to be, but I’m in the business of respecting bitches—good or bad. Iris knows what she wants and she goes for it. I love that.
I love the fact that she doesn’t require any man in her life to set it straight. She’s good at what she does and she doesn’t care what the world thinks.
I picked up Iris immediately after I finished Captivate Me. I didn’t want to lose the link and I was really, really curious. If you’ve read the synopsis, you know that this one is being deliberately kept vague.
It’s well written, with just the right amount of drama and tension to keep you hooked. A definite winner, this one :D
Find this review and more at Rhea's Neon Journal.
Or maybe that’s because I understood her well here. Her motivations, her fears, her weaknesses and strengths—they were all laid out for everyone to see.
Sure she’s a bitch even when she didn’t have a reason to be, but I’m in the business of respecting bitches—good or bad. Iris knows what she wants and she goes for it. I love that.
I love the fact that she doesn’t require any man in her life to set it straight. She’s good at what she does and she doesn’t care what the world thinks.
I picked up Iris immediately after I finished Captivate Me. I didn’t want to lose the link and I was really, really curious. If you’ve read the synopsis, you know that this one is being deliberately kept vague.
It’s well written, with just the right amount of drama and tension to keep you hooked. A definite winner, this one :D
Find this review and more at Rhea's Neon Journal.
September 5, 2014
So hard to write this without giving anything away. First I feel for Gabriel and iris. why Iris? she is afraid to love. Afraid to get close to anyone. Her love for her sisters is boundless but to love another scares the jajoobies out of her.
why Gabriel? He is so kind and trusting. So sweet and just doesn't deserve what may or may not happen. too kind for words.
here we see the true Iris the one behind the mask. The tough as nails Iris who loves and has fears and insecurities. The one who can be kind but also pretty deceiving. We see her let her walls down and take a chance.
This is a wonderful novella that shows how far one goes for love and how deeply one can love. Shows that family is truly more than just blood and that to protect ones family and make sure they are okay will always come first. A interesting story of love that you fight but is good for you and hope that there are alternatives to what may or may not occur. A captivating novella that has you hope, smile and look forward to more.
why Gabriel? He is so kind and trusting. So sweet and just doesn't deserve what may or may not happen. too kind for words.
here we see the true Iris the one behind the mask. The tough as nails Iris who loves and has fears and insecurities. The one who can be kind but also pretty deceiving. We see her let her walls down and take a chance.
This is a wonderful novella that shows how far one goes for love and how deeply one can love. Shows that family is truly more than just blood and that to protect ones family and make sure they are okay will always come first. A interesting story of love that you fight but is good for you and hope that there are alternatives to what may or may not occur. A captivating novella that has you hope, smile and look forward to more.
September 6, 2014
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Captivate Me definitely left me intrigued by Iris so I was thrilled that there is a novella all about her past! I loved how complex Iris is as a character. In Captivate Me you go through so many emotions concerning her and her actions, but this novella explains why she did everything that she did so well. I found myself hating her, feeling sorry for her, loving her, and then hating her all over again... but most importantly I really feel like I understand her now. People aren't usually just good or bad, some things are not black and white... and this story is all about Iris and Kai's very gray morals. Also I LOVED Iris and Kai's love story. It was surprisingly sweet and endearing. I actually liked this one even better than Captivate Me, so I am excited to see what's to come for this series. 4.5 stars
Captivate Me definitely left me intrigued by Iris so I was thrilled that there is a novella all about her past! I loved how complex Iris is as a character. In Captivate Me you go through so many emotions concerning her and her actions, but this novella explains why she did everything that she did so well. I found myself hating her, feeling sorry for her, loving her, and then hating her all over again... but most importantly I really feel like I understand her now. People aren't usually just good or bad, some things are not black and white... and this story is all about Iris and Kai's very gray morals. Also I LOVED Iris and Kai's love story. It was surprisingly sweet and endearing. I actually liked this one even better than Captivate Me, so I am excited to see what's to come for this series. 4.5 stars
September 5, 2014
***I received a free copy for an honest review***
Note: This review contains NO spoilers
In this novella, it tells Iris' story before Captivate Me. Of course, Captivate Me must be read before reading this novella. We learn that Iris wasn't always the person she was in the first book. This novella gives more details and history about her and her sisters. It also tells of the history or timeline of how it led to the events in Captivate Me. It is always interesting to find out what drives a character to do what they do and why.
I definitely don't want to say too much without revealing too much of Captivate Me. But, I do have to say that this novella will give you a better understanding of what drove Iris to do what she did and does.
Note: This review contains NO spoilers
In this novella, it tells Iris' story before Captivate Me. Of course, Captivate Me must be read before reading this novella. We learn that Iris wasn't always the person she was in the first book. This novella gives more details and history about her and her sisters. It also tells of the history or timeline of how it led to the events in Captivate Me. It is always interesting to find out what drives a character to do what they do and why.
I definitely don't want to say too much without revealing too much of Captivate Me. But, I do have to say that this novella will give you a better understanding of what drove Iris to do what she did and does.
September 1, 2014
I have always loved Novellas and how they give you a more in depth story into it's characters.
Very interesting read but pretty slow plot after reading Captivate Me. I loved getting to know more about Iris and her sisters and discovering what makes her who she is. Still, it's hard for me to feel bad for her and her sisters and I'm glad Captivate Me ended the way it did. It should be interesting to see what Lilliana bring to the table in the next book after the way Captivate Me ended. I honestly can't wait for the second book in the series Fight for Me to release spring of 2015.
See more reviews here
Very interesting read but pretty slow plot after reading Captivate Me. I loved getting to know more about Iris and her sisters and discovering what makes her who she is. Still, it's hard for me to feel bad for her and her sisters and I'm glad Captivate Me ended the way it did. It should be interesting to see what Lilliana bring to the table in the next book after the way Captivate Me ended. I honestly can't wait for the second book in the series Fight for Me to release spring of 2015.
See more reviews here
August 10, 2016
Iris is a novella which gives you an insight into the decisions Iris made which lead her to the point in time that Gabe enters her life. The rest you will know from reading Captivate Me. I would say that although this could be read as a standalone, it is far better to be read in addition to Book 1. By itself it is interesting. Following on from Book 1 means that it sheds light onto the whole perception of a character. This novella is a brilliant addition to the series and definitely adds to the story. Definitely recommended for all fans of the Captivated series.
August 29, 2014
My full review is coming...
January 20, 2017
Add on
It's a nice add of information that complements the first book and the history being it all. It brings more character and emotion into the people involved. It makes it easier to understand what's going on. I really loved this book. You never think you'll feel something for the bad guy but this book sticks it to you.
It's a nice add of information that complements the first book and the history being it all. It brings more character and emotion into the people involved. It makes it easier to understand what's going on. I really loved this book. You never think you'll feel something for the bad guy but this book sticks it to you.
March 9, 2017
Iris is was told from the villains POV and explains what her motives were when she committed the horrendous crimes in the prior book Captivated ....even though I wanted to feel sorry for her..her reason for her actions were self serving though some of it was motivated by familial love... self love was a big part of it too...but it was a interesting story none the less...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2017
As always SJ pierce brings it. Only she can make you feel sorry for the bad guy. This she does in this story.
March 10, 2017
I loved this novella!! Reading this after Captivate Me will really help you understand and appreciate the story & characters more as well as help you become more invested. I love how it portrays the love between the sisters and how they will do anything for each other. It is a wonderful addition to this must read series!
January 17, 2022
This is a opportunity to understand Iris better.
In “Captivate me” we see what seem a good person turning to be the very bad witch they hide.
And her plan to trap them was real evil.
With this story she seems more humane - even that we don’t accept her reasoning, we can understand it!
In “Captivate me” we see what seem a good person turning to be the very bad witch they hide.
And her plan to trap them was real evil.
With this story she seems more humane - even that we don’t accept her reasoning, we can understand it!
August 24, 2016
C’est vrai que je ne vous ai pas parlé des « méchants » dans ma précédente chronique car je ne les voyais pas vraiment (d’où ma petite déception sur l’action qui est trop tard dans le livre). En fait, je comprends mieux le personnage d’Iris et pourquoi elle est ce qu’elle est devenue.
Pour faire simple, Iris est une sorcière qui à la main sur le cœur, uniquement pour sa famille. Eh oui, la famille c’est sacré pour elle. Et lorsque sa sœur ainée – Rose – se retrouve en stage 4 d’un cancer, des choix s’imposent à elle.
Iris pouvait prendre la bonne voie, elle pouvait vivre autrement, elle pouvait « la laisser » partir. Et pourtant… Ses choix l’ont finalement conduit vers un destin des plus effroyables à la fin du tome 1.
Ce qui a été positif pour elle, c’est sa rencontre avec l’infirmier de sa sœur, Kai. Leur histoire est tout aussi romantique qu’un roman à l’eau rose, sans le côté rose. On va dire… noir. Ouais, noir.
Une chose est sûre, c’est que le second tome promet du lourd (enfin je l’espère), car n’oublions pas : dans le résumé il est dit qu’elle a des sœurs. Rose est hors course, donc il reste Iris et… Lillina…
Pour faire simple, Iris est une sorcière qui à la main sur le cœur, uniquement pour sa famille. Eh oui, la famille c’est sacré pour elle. Et lorsque sa sœur ainée – Rose – se retrouve en stage 4 d’un cancer, des choix s’imposent à elle.
Iris pouvait prendre la bonne voie, elle pouvait vivre autrement, elle pouvait « la laisser » partir. Et pourtant… Ses choix l’ont finalement conduit vers un destin des plus effroyables à la fin du tome 1.
Ce qui a été positif pour elle, c’est sa rencontre avec l’infirmier de sa sœur, Kai. Leur histoire est tout aussi romantique qu’un roman à l’eau rose, sans le côté rose. On va dire… noir. Ouais, noir.
Une chose est sûre, c’est que le second tome promet du lourd (enfin je l’espère), car n’oublions pas : dans le résumé il est dit qu’elle a des sœurs. Rose est hors course, donc il reste Iris et… Lillina…
May 1, 2017
Holy moly!!! I am in love with this series. I am addicted badly. I am gonna jump into the next book. So ready.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews