Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - Captive Prince

4.79

This is at least the fourth time I’ve read this series. I’m positive that number is higher, but not by how much. I genuinely wish so badly that I’d done some kind of review for this series when I’d originally read it, especially for the first installment. But, that’s was years ago, so now I can only read this book again already knowing everything there is to know about the characters and their true natures and motivations. Still, this series holds strong in its position as my favorite. It’s most definitely not something that I would recommend to everyone and not even something I feel comfortable sharing with a lot of people, because I understand the troubling nature of some of the content. Arguably, most of the content in the first installment. It’s very troubling though, to see so many people that only read the first book criticizing the entire series as if it’s all the same. I can only believe that those people read the first book, decided it wasn’t worth finishing the series and then spew vitriol about the entirety of it. There is valid criticism to be said of the series, but it’s rarely what people talk about. My ratings of this book will probably be higher than deserved, but I don’t know how to remove my bias as a person that’s reviewing based on a revisit of the series.

Quality of Writing: 10/10
Pacing: 10/10
Plot Development: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Enjoyability: 10/10
Ease of Reading: 10/10
Ending: 8/10

Content Warnings

madzcp's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This series is my all time favorite. I reread them almost every year. The subject matter can be challenging to read, and is presented in a controversial way. However, it is MEANT to be that way. People who give these books bad reviews, but have not read all three, should not be condemning them for the trigger warning type content. It is addressed in the future books. There is purpose to the content. It is meant to make you uncomfortable.

Content Warnings

samchase112's review against another edition

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challenging dark slow-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? Yes

5.0

If you want something comfortable, lighthearted, or realistic, this is not the book for you. Damen and Laurent's world is dark, casually evil, and ripe for constant power struggles. The world C.S. Prat creates is deeply but purposefully uncomfortable. Personally, I love the sinister, calculated, precise battles of monarchical environments, and this one was done so well. Laurent was so mysterious and beautiful, contrasted with the straightforward Damen. I desperately want their story to move forward!

I have to say that this book very strongly reminded me of The Foxhole Court, from the strained relationship between Laurent and Damen, to the very tone (dark, tense, and very gay), to the way the book itself was written. We weren't given much backstory for Damen - the novel opens on the new predicament he finds himself in - and there seems to be no real divide between this and the second book. Nonetheless, I am now OBSESSED. Fans of AFTG would definitely enjoy CaPri.

So...I can't stress enough how much this pulled me into the world of warring nations, 24/7 courtly sexual pleasure, constant threat of violence, and political intrigue. I am ready for MORE, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!!!

Reread: September 2021

I love rereading series like this, because you pick up on so many little hints and details that were missed the first time, after having read the entire throughline of the trilogy and knowing how things resolve. Damen and Laurent are such interesting characters, and I will happily just watch them interact with each other as many pages as possible. The sexual tension is just so freaking good, especially when you know how things will end up. As always, I love how clever this book is; so many details and schemes, it intrigues and interests me so much. I have also grown to appreciate C.S. Pacat's clear, concise writing style, and how each word contains little hints. Highly, highly recommend this superb trilogy!

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