Captive

The Surrogacy Trade #1

by V.M. Andrews

By the year 2120, the world has changed dramatically. Few plants or animals have survived climate change and the human population has dropped to 3 billion. For those who live in the affluent northern region, life is made comfortable by an artificial intelligence called The Gaia Machine. But for people living in the southern region, life is tough. So tough, they must trade their young women as surrogates in exchange for fresh water.

When Ophelia Alsop speaks out, she is abducted and imprisoned in a bizarre underworld where she discovers the shocking truth behind the surrogacy trade. The question is - what's she going to do about it?

If you like a dark dystopian story with unexpected twists and turns, this novella will whet your appetite. Grab it now and enjoy the ride.

91 pages, ebook

Published October 25, 2019

About the author

V.M. Andrews is a visionary science fiction author known for creating immersive and thought-provoking worlds. With a keen interest in the intersection of technology and nature, Andrews crafts stories that challenge readers to consider the complexities of identity, control, and freedom. Her writing process is way slower than warp speed, but her narratives are fast-paced and imaginative with surprising plot twists and character epiphanies. She lives among the gigantic trees in Surrey in the south east region of England where the colour green is abundant.

Reviews

[M.J. Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this dystopian/sci-fi down! I really hope I'm not alive if/when our world becomes like this! Very imaginative book. Easy read with compelling characters. On to the next in the series!

[Boshra Rasti · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sweeping read, I really liked how it started out and how it hooked you into this new world. However, I felt it was a bit rushed. I understand it is part of a series, but to me, it was more of a short-story than a novella or novel.

[Mystee Pulcine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this first in series, a post-climate change world is introduced. So many questions are raised, but once the main character starts asking them, it all goes to hell. Follow her down to hell and see what she does about it.

[Thom · Rating 4 out of 5]

What holds the future? Deep secrets to make you a Captive.

Ophelia faces a bleak future. Diagnosed with cancer, she loses her unborn child. The child that shows just how rebellious she can be. But there is much more to the story. Behind the perfection of the society surrounding her is a secret that the world needs to know.

V.M. Andrews paints a dystopian society as frightening as ‘A Brave New World’ or ‘1984’. The world above seems like Utopia but the truth is a whole different story. Every bit as delusional as ‘A Boy and His Dog’.

The story follows Ophelia as she pulls back the curtain on the illusion of a perfect society. The very evolution of mankind is at stake. Can she survive to reveal the evil hidden below.

Will this story may give birth to a rebellion? Only if we can escape the darkness.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new world in the future where you aren't allowed to have your own child. If you chose to have a child it must be by surrogacy, no exceptions. Ophelia chose to become pregnant with her own child and that is where her nightmare begins.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Its very short, about an hours read and It ends very abruptly. It's part of a series so I may buy the next to see if it continues to be good.

[V.M. Andrews]

"Captive" is book one in this dystopian sci-fi techno-thriller series.

Titled "The Gaia Machine", this series comprises:

1. Captive
2. Fugitive
3. Liberator

The complete trilogy has been collated into one book titled "Ophelia: The Gaia Machine: books 1-3"

The narrative is fast paced with several unexpected plot twists and turns so don't forget to come up for air when you need to.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent intriguing short story! Well worth a read!

[toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, well, well. What a trip that was. Loved it though!

[Shell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ophelia lives in a world where everything is controlled by the machine - Gaia. She is reeling from her cancer diagnosis, and the subsequent removal of her womb and foetus. Set in a world where pregnancy is discouraged, except as a way for the lower classes to make money for their families Ophelia's husband left her when he found out she was carrying his child.

At her follow-up appointment she makes too much of a ruckus against the government and ends up being taken away, underground. Someone ends up helping her, but who is this mysterious stranger?

This was conceptually really interesting, but the story jumped along too fast. I would have liked to see more of the world fleshed out. I suspect that more will be revealed in later books, but it left too many unanswered questions for me. The book is called 'The surrogacy trade' but it's not addressed in much detail until towards the end.
The writing was solid and the concept interesting. I liked the Gaia and the way that she interacted with Ophelia.
I'm intrigued as to where this story goes.

I received a copy of this via bookfunnel in exchange for a review.