Reviews

Curse of the Dark Prince by Ariana Nash

aisling_rose's review

adventurous challenging dark hopeful sad 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

sallysocker's review against another edition

4.0

A perfect end to this series! This book was as action packed as the last two and as good.

In conclusion I really enjoyed reading this trilogy but it was a little to long and dragged out, but never really boring. Story wise it was good and well written. The characters was well written and had a depth to them.

readthisway's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

mariam27's review against another edition

4.0

He’d watch the world burn to see his prince safe.

I've died and gone to hell because this book broke me AGAIN AND AGAIN AND SO MANY FUCKING AGAIN, and my heart, my brain, my eyes is exhausted. Damn you Ariana Nash, DAMN YOU.

This man who challenged him, defied him, and so thoroughly understood him that he had no choice but to love him in return.

What a fucking story this book was, what a craft of a novel to drive me mad and infuriated me and all of it's action bullshit, What a book. What a craft I want to strangle and kiss and slap and hug. Ugk, this series just about frustrates me and aggravates me and makes me feel NOTHING BUT DREAD, but damn it, it also weakens me and makes me cry and makes me smile and laugh at the wicked ways of these characters, makes me nothing short of awe at the strength of them, the courage they have and the will and tenacity far braver and stronger than anything I've seen.

Nikolas laughed a deep, dark chuckle and stepped closer, filling the space between them. “Defensive, prince?” He reached out a hand and stroked a lock of hair away from Vasili’s scarred eye. Anyone else would have received a merciless backhand for daring to touch him, but Nikolas’s brazen familiarity momentarily stole all Vasili’s thoughts, even the bad ones. He’d spent so long afraid, lashing out whenever anyone strayed too close, that trusting Nikolas was terrifying, but also freeing

What the people say is true, Ariana Nash is one WICKED, VICIOUS, SADISTIC Author because holy crap, GIVE ME A BREAK WOMAN, more less, give your precious angels a break!

Vasili’s only wish was to be free.

“Part of me hates Vasili.”
Niko braced an arm against the thawing ground. “He’s an easy man to hate.”
“Harder to love?”
“Something like that.”

Vasili closed his eye and breathed out slowly. “It never ends, does it?”

He loved Vasili Caville, the cursed prince, the voiceless man, all of him.

How many times this book broke my battered, exhuasted and tired heart? Think again and a thousand more times.

Vasili Caville might be the bravest damn soul he’d ever met. He’d do any damn thing for him.

Vasili was close now. His entire body burned with dark flame. He’d likened the Cavilles to a candle. Everyone had expected him to burn out long before now. But he hadn’t. Because Vasili Caville didn’t fucking surrender to anyone or anything, least of all some ancient curse. Vasili still held on, somewhere, somehow. Niko believed in him.

Vasili was so close now every line on his face stood out, every horrible scar marking the loss of his eye and a past he’d fought so hard to survive. “I told you this life is not for us.”

And I'd do it all over again just for Vasili and Nikolas, two fools in love.

Vasili truly was a work of art. One made of razor blades.

In the quiet moments, and the moments when he’d stripped all his layers back, Vasili was spellbinding. Vulnerable and fierce. Niko’s Vasili.

This so desperately damaged prince was his entire world and had been for far longer than he’d realized. Maybe since that first kiss in a starlit field.

“Who wants a good man when they can have a vicious prince?”

Initial reaction:
SOS

estelleisreading's review against another edition

2.0

2,5 i think it's a shame to create a world where elves exist and do nothing with them...

mint_the_muffin's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• 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? No

3.25

phoebejeziel's review against another edition

dark 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

SPOILERS FOR BOOK 2 DOWN BELOW! 

I really enjoyed this series overall. I read these books fairly quickly and they were very entertaining- though I think I expected more sex scenes honestly lol. 

These books were fun, though I do think that the character work could use some improvement. While this series has dark content and the main characters are not necessarily good men, I think more progress for who they were as individuals could have been done better. Vasili in particular was a character who I was waiting to just.... be better and never really did. And it's not the he didn't clearly have some good qualities, but I think for me to be able to really root for him, I needed more. 

Vasili did a lot of really atrocious things in the series. Most I could've looked past and still rooted for him and Niko together. But something I just can't get over is how in Book 2, Vasili literally sold our Niko to his sadistic brother after essentially having a relationship with him (not necessarily said out loud, but they had a relationship). Vasili LITERALLY SOLD OUT NIKO WHICH LED TO HIM BEING DRUGGED, TORTURED AND RAPE. AND VASILI KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING THE ENTIRE TIME. 

And okay, I was willing to see how this BETRAYAL was going to turn around for Vasili. What was he going to do to try and make up for THE WORST THING HE DID IN THIS BOOK. Well readers, Vasili did... nothing. Absolutely nothing. The characters just continued on for the most part, never truly addressing this betrayal. Vasili tells Niko how much he hated his brother did what he did, Niko has a lot of PTSD and trauma from that incident, but does Vasili ever, just once, apologize for anything that he did???? THAT'S A BIG FAT NO. 

Vasili's whole thing is "well I told you I was the worst person ever!!!" OKAY SIR, BUT YOU CAN STILL SAY SORRY FOR SELLING OUT THE MAN YOU LOVE TO YOUR RAPIST BROTHER. I MEAN LET'S DO THE BARE MINIMUM HERE MY GUY. 

This is where I just find the character work... lacking. I was waiting and waiting to see how Vasili was going to try and make things right and honestly, I don't think he really tried. He was wrapped up in what he thought he had to do and it was frankly very egotistical and repetitive. I just would've liked to see something different from him throughout the series, whether that be good OR bad. 

I kinda sorta feel like I wasted my time a bit on this series, which was such a bummer. I was really holding out after finishing and overall enjoying book 2.

laylagee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

archca's review against another edition

5.0

Great conclusion

Enjoyed the book. I cried and smiled. Great finish to the series. I loved Vasili and Niko’s bond. Recommend to everyone.

libraryofconfusion's review against another edition

4.5

i'm so emotionally attached to these characters