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7.73k reviews for:

Captive Prince

C.S. Pacat

3.6 AVERAGE


idk!! I mean I liked it enough to want to read the next book but I can't help but feel like this is just GOT w/ yaoi weeaboo-y tendencies what w/ the whole casual inclusion of. rape and underage boys (THIRTEEN yr olds as 'pets'????no) but it is also 1 am and I am very tired and that said I did finish the book in one sitting

(Ok that is a lie I read one chapter yesterday before falling asleep)

(I'm just gonna go now)

I loved this story. Slavery, child abuse, court intrigue and so much hatred between the two leads.
If game of thrones was gay and not as complicated but still awesome.
I really liked how the relationship slowly progressed from hate to reluctant trust to love.
dark tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

After successfully bingeing this entire series in 48 hours, I am obsessed. Book one was not my favorite of the trilogy and is much darker than the other two, however, the series as a whole is such an engaging read and 100% worth it.

What i loved: The pacing, the main characters, the twists.

TW for series:
Spoilertorture, slavery, sexual slavery, on page sexual assault, references to child sexual abuse (not on page). While this is very present in book one, it is drastically toned down in the following books.


I just finished listening to this audiobook because I couldn't stay away. I have now gone through this book twice, and I'm sure I have many more trips back in my future.

It's so interesting to come back and read this book after having finished the full series. I can read between the lines now and see things that were very cleverly hidden before. Most of my first impressions of the main cast were so ill-informed! No Spoilies, just saying that there's SO MUCH MORE to the story than we can see in the first installment.

I feel like I should touch on Damen a bit, considering he's the main protagonist in CP. I like Damen. I think he's kind and noble and loyal, and every bit what a prince should be. I appreciate that he's not perfect, though. That makes him so much more relatable. I enjoy being privy to his world view expanding as he spends more time with Laurent. He's a solid protagonist, but he's definitely not the star of the book for me.

That title goes to Laurent.
Okay, but Laurent.
Laurent is easily my favorite literary character ever written. His mind is stunning. He's whip-smart. He's clever. He's always thinking 5 steps ahead. He has IRON CONTROL over himself that he's honed over the years out of complete necessity. He's guarded, but so vulnerable. He's afraid, but overwhelmingly brave. He's funny as hell. The way he speaks is honestly so attractive to me. He's made out to be this conniving snake that only looks out for himself, but what the reader doesn't know yet is the reasons why, which are BRILLIANT. I could go on and on.
Laurent's relationship with Nicaise is one of my favorite "hidden" things in this book. He's so salty and sarcastic with him, and they seem to the reader to hate each other, but what you can't really see right away is the way he's prone to look out for and protect him. Because of his past, Laurent cares for this boy and takes care of him in the best way that he can (which is honestly the only care that Nicaise would probably accept).

Pacat does a fantastic job of illustrating her world. She spends the necessary time explaining the different cultures and customs of both Vere and Akielos, as well as introducing the reader to the customs and geography of the other countries that she expands more on in the next books. The things that she leaves out in Captive Prince are the necessary mysteries of the story line, but don't worry--all will be explained. And when it is, it's SO GOOD.

I guarantee that I will never tire of this book and of the world within. 5 star, easily. GO READ. NOW.
adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
challenging dark hopeful informative mysterious 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: No
adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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spiralcourse's review

5.0
adventurous dark mysterious 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