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elskabee's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
This is a book that defies classification. I can hardly call it it a romance based off the the first book, but it's not really about anything in particular? And yet I had to keep reading to find out what happens!
Damen is just stuck in shitty situation with no real way to do anything about it lol. He's kind of dumb and is somewhat self-admittedly a himbo in that he prefers the physical violence of his homeland over the poisonous psychological and political warfare of the Veretian court. He can't figure out pretty much anything until he's told or it becomes painfully obvious lol but I'm not that mad. I wish he had more of a personality as most of the time he felt a bit wooden.
Laurent on the other hand is fascinating as hell. He's a huge asshole and makes this book enemies to lovers in the extreme because he treats Damen (and really everyone he's not trying to politically seduce) terribly. Buuut as you grow to understand him and the shitty situation he is also in and you learn more about the inner workings of the court... well it's hard not to start to have a little tiny bit sympathy for him. Trying to understand why he behaves the way he does is one of the most intriguing parts of this book for me.
In terms of the overall worldbuilding, I wish the slave system was a bit more explained as it's left pretty vague. Like, are they actually slaves? How much choice do they have in the matter (aside from Damen)? Other than that I thought it was reasonably well done with explaining what needed to be explained but not ever info-dumping or giving extraneous information. The politics of the court was chef's kiss. I LOVE political intrigue and this is full of it and it's pretty well done imo. The author is good; there was stuff early on that I thought were questionable but the author made me come around on why those aspects were included.
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, War, and Trafficking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Fire/Fire injury
dazaireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Child abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Murder, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, War, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, and Violence
nolimalumsedheroa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.25
Side note: I'm currently lacking in sleep, so this review might be a hot mess
I'm not really a fan of some of the sexual interactions, but I really loved the characters. This book was great, because it got me out of one of my biggest reading slumps yet.
DEFINITELY NOT FOR EVERYONE
In contrast to the overall smuty/eroticay vibe, the book almost doesn't feature sexual content, HOWEVER when it does, it might be a little triggering to people.
Here are my personal TWs/tags: Master/slave kink, CNC, Rape, Pedophilia?(I'm not entirely sure if this is the correct tag here. On the one hand, one of the people involved in the relationship is a minor, however they're very much consenting to everything and if the story said they were 20 instead of 13, it wouldn't really change a thing since they don't act infantile at all... I guess a main question is if they're able to consent), also I found allusions to familial SA; Voyeurism could be also argued, Public play
As I said, I loved the characters. Himbo and 🐍 are so complimentary of each other when you truly observe them, it's fascinating.
If you're in the mood for a smuty and horny book low on sex displays which would make a Christian woman clutch her pearls and start crossing, I feel like this book fits the bill.
Also, it did better than FSoG with explaining the contract relationships, so there's that.
There were some... choices made here, which made me quote one of the most iconic lines Jenkins (from The Librarians) has ever said:
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Overall, I liked the book 4.25/5
Now off to the next one since the insomnia isn't going away 🙂
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Torture, Sexual harassment, Rape, Slavery, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: War, Sexual content, Trafficking, Gaslighting, and Bullying
Minor: War, Incest, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
lavender_lores's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
kommatator's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor: Rape, Slavery, War, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Child abuse, Death of parent, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
jmross10's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There is a slow burn romance that develops over the duration of the series but don't go into this book expecting to see much of it. There are the tiniest hits of what could be. There is no actual suggestion as to what it is.
For that matter, don't go into this book expecting to know what's going to happen next either. While the world is interesting and the characters are messy, the most captivating part is easily the chaotic political maneuvering in Vere. Everyone seems to be twenty steps ahead of the reader. Some of them - Laurent - are thirty.
Captive Prince is not necessarily an easy read but there are real emotional stakes, consequences for character's actions, and an unraveling of political plots that makes it well worth the effort. Pacat is an excellent writer and worth giving a try!
Graphic: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Body horror, Bullying, Sexual content, Slavery, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Fire/Fire injury
shonaberu's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
jo_183's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Slavery, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Grief and Murder
lanna_aud's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Torture, and War
Minor: Animal death
skypirateb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Slavery, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pedophilia and Child abuse