Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

191 reviews

simply_jxde's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

The trigger warnings are to be taken very seriously. Very very seriously. If you can stomach the very wrong and depraved things that occur in the book, you might come to enjoy the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Violence

a_fret_argent's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Drug use, Pedophilia, and Injury/Injury detail

green_amaryllis's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Confinement, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, War, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping

stirlingluci's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Slavery, and Rape

Moderate: Drug use and Violence

Minor: Pedophilia

cyancookie's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal death, Trafficking, Pedophilia, and Torture

Minor: Death of parent, Xenophobia, War, Incest, and Fire/Fire injury

mirandoop's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

The beginning has both a wonderful yet repulsive hook to it. After I got past the initial shock, I couldnt put it down, and I finished the book in a morning.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Rape, Violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse

turbulentcrust's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Sexual content, Rape, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual assault

intofolkloreee's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Diving into this trilogy i had no idea what a brainrot it would give me. Literally cannot stop thinking about these books. So here are my thoughts on the first book because i need to RAMBLE. 

”Is there anyone at this court who isn't my enemy?"

"Not if I can help it," Laurent said.

I strongly think that instead of a trilogy it should have been one huge brick of a book. This is because the first book reads very differently after having finished the whole trilogy. The second and third book gave me such a different perspective of the first book because we never got the full picture until then. I do really enjoy this about C.S Pacat’s writing style and I think he’s a very talented writer. He slowly peels back the layers as the story goes on until we get the broader vision, making us look back and see certain actions and events in a different light. It’s really genius how she manages to switch the whole narrative around, and a little bold. This also comes with a problem though. We don’t get the full picture until the other books which makes the first book look weak on its own. 

My first impression of Damen was that he’s very loyal and honorable. He has very strong morals about what’s right and wrong in certain situations that he follows even if they don’t benefit him. Though i STRONGLY disliked Laurent i found myself intrigued by his character, especially towards the end when he makes quite the sacrifice to save Damen. I was like hmm there’s something MORE to him behind this frigid bitch persona. I was curious to see where C.S Pacat would take the building trust between Damen and Laurent and how their relationship would continue to develop. Also,  Laurent is just wayy too clever. I want to study his mind under a microscope. I found the dynamics between the other characters really interesting too. The tension between Laurent and the regent (who I want to burn alive)… Laurent and Nicaise’s bittersweet plotting against eachother… Erasmus and Damen’s interactions were really interesting to read as well.

This is probably the first fantasy book without magic that I’ve ever read and I think it works really well. I don’t think that magic would have been necessary in this story. The politic intrigue and mind games definitely filled that hole and kept me on my TOES. Everything’s honestly so clever and significant for the plot. Nothing is there without a reason behind it and not just as useless fillers — it continues to have importance for the rest of the trilogy. 

Lastly i need to adress the controversy surrounding these books, because its dark themes and long list of trigger warnings (which i highly suggest looking up if you’re interested in reading the trilogy) is no secret. I’ve seen some reviews saying that this book glorifies rape and slavery which I personally don’t agree with. 

In the first book C.S Pacat spends time to show all the horrific things going on in the Veretian court where no one bats an eye at the rape and slavery. Even In Akielos, Damen’s nation, slavery is part of the culture, and he has grown up with it being normalized which has affected his view of it . This changes as he goes from being a privileged prince to a slave in Vere. We get to experience this dark world through Damen’s eyes who’s been raised with this normalized idea of slavery ingrained in him which is why the tone of the book can be read as not always critical. This doesn’t mean that there’s any condoning for the slavery and rape. Damen’s appal and horror is very clearly portrayed as he becomes a victim of it, and sees others experiencing it around him. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, and Rape

cm02's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious relaxing tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Rape

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

natnat_7's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Racism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, War, Slavery, Drug use, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Murder

Minor: Pregnancy