Reviews

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

bluebellreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

soleil_reads's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

maddoxx's review against another edition

4.0

I don't wanna give this a five stars rating because I feel there's just issues in this book that can't go ignored.
When I started reading I even had a sick feeling in my stomach because it just made me so damn unfomfortable - the way they showed slavery as something completely normal. Also the torture. I'm not squeamish, that's not it. Just the way the main characters were handling this kind of stuff...
It got better, though. I expected much worse from what I've heard from people that were talking about the book. In the beginning I hated Laurent but by the end of the first book I was absolutely hooked and couldn't wait to start the second one. Call it a guilty pleasure but... I just like that the characters in this world are far from perfect righteous men who fight for justice and blah blah blah. I mean Damien is a little on the righteous side.

Spoiler

But he killed Laurents brother, sooo... yeah.

What I found so damn interesting about this book was that there was no character I hated with a passion (except for Damiens brother), I could understand them all. Their motives, their goals.
And the lies! The schemes! The intigues! I usually despise politics in books but this is the very first time that I absorbed it like a sponge. C.S. Pacat really knows how to grip the reader tight until the very end and I was amazed by her writing style and plotting skills.

I fully understand why some people hate this book but I... I'm in love with it.

agniesken's review against another edition

haven't committed to it yet, will save it for later. the setting isn't really my thing 

clumsbe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lunahale's review

tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

i read this for the first time a few years ago, but by the first twenty pages of my reread, i realized that i didn’t remember ANY of this. some names were familiar and i remember the basic plot but everything else felt new. so it was fun to read this again, and i’m happy i did. i remember likening the second and third books more so i’m excited to keep going

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture

moonpiereads56's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed the characters, their dynamic and the world the story takes place in. TW for slavery, rape and abuse.

thea_maarup's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This is not just smut in a cover, there is some serious world building and politics at play. I'm pleasantly surprised and impressed by the author.

krln's review against another edition

2.0

stopped like halfway through, ive read it gets better in the next books and i might come back to it, but slavery isnt really that romantic to me
(but if anybody whose first language isnt english wants to read it but doesnt know if the language isnt too complicated-dont worry, theres always some words but you get them from the context)

jaycie_90's review against another edition

5.0

Damen is a warrior prince who is heir to the throne of Akielos. With a horrendous plan, Damen is betrayed by his half-brother. He is then sold to the neighboring kingdom Vere as an enslaved person, with his true identity hidden. The Vere kingdom is run by the regent holding the throne until his nephew Laurent, the heir of Vere, is old enough to take his rightful place. However, Laurent is proven day by day to be irresponsible. But soon, Damen learns at the Vere kingdom that nothing is as it seems.

What’s not to like? Heroines, villains, sword fighting, wicked and courageous plans to conquer kingdoms, and a slow-burn romance. With all my tropes rolled into one, it’s bound to be a gem. If you liked the series Scarlet and the White Wolf by Kirby Crow, you would likely enjoy this immensely.