6.82k reviews for:

The Prisoner's Throne

Holly Black

3.88 AVERAGE

andreavh's review against another edition

4.5

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Okay i just really love Oak and looooved seeing his pov. 
He’s a fascinating character

and i loved the exploration of his losing-himself both in the sweet talking and the fighting. and also how he feels about being loved when he can just make anyone love him… this makes the romance w wren amazing cause they just both wanna be loved so bad

Loved seeing the royalty from the inside and the problems the royal family has. Its different from in Judes books, seen as she has this deep anger inside her, that all resentment towards the family can be attributed to, whereas Oaks issues come from so many different aspects of his backstory and upbringing. 

Oaks voice and (human-like) humor was a huge part of why i liked reading this. 

Oaks speech at the end perfectly sums up this wonderful love story, which is what this book is at its core

The romance and the yearning in this one were incredible. 

OAK YOU DECEIVE EVEN WHEN YOU DONT MEAN TO god all those conversations w Wren he just can’t trust his mouth can he

There was a LOT of scheming and I didn’t see through all the mysteries and didn’t predict the twists. i think maybe the reveals didn’t all hit as hard as some of the other books in this universe… idk i really loved the book anyways so no worries. 

Just like in the first one I though we had some great side characters though the snippets we see of them were very short and i would’ve loved to see more of them. 

This could’ve maybe been five stars but i think i just took to many breaks reading it so that’s my fault…

chloe_e3's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional sad medium-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

lovejenim's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous emotional funny tense medium-paced

enhays04's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

tiltawhirl09's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous challenging funny slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book was a bit of a drag getting through. I do think that Oak's perspective was much more interesting than Wren's, but it felt like so much of the book relied on the whole miscommunication trope (which is literally only bearable in comedies). Overall, the story was good (if not a bit slowly paced) and I liked the way that it resolved, but if I were the type of person that speculates while I'm reading, I would have seen the main "plot twist" at the end coming a mile away. I probably would just suggest that Elfhame enjoyers stick to the main series, unless they really enjoy Oak as a character.

shadow_singer123's review against another edition

3.0

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I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first one in terms of actually reading it. However I still found that it didn't draw in as much as some other really great books have. Switching to Oaks POV was definitely a smart choice and I feel that it made the book more readable, but I still feel that it would have benefited from having some other POVs in there, just to expand more on the plot and to increase the tension and anticipation I felt at the entire situation. The romance between Oak and Wren didn't hit the spot, or any spot for me, it just felt flat and lifeless -maybe with another book or a novella their relationship could be expanded upon. There was so much promise with their beginnings in the Queen of Nothing and I feel that they were done dirty as there could have been such a better storyline about them. I particularly feel that Oaks character was really original or fit right in the series as a whole and I just wonder if the author was aiming for something else and just fell short. To end the negativity I will say that I love Wren especially in the first book, her character is one we haven't quite seen in this series and it was so interesting to see how she interacted with those around her. I will still say that I don't think she got enough development through the duopoly thought. Overall I wouldn't read again, but I would recommend it to someone who liked the Cruel Prince series, or just as something that doesn't feel too high stakes to read.

nycie's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

marymarie4's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous emotional 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

natsumi_k5's review against another edition

4.0

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"We do not love because people deserve it—nor would I want to be loved because I was the most deserving of some list of candidates. I want to be loved for my worst self as well as my best. I want to be forgiven my flaws."

Once again I am whisked away to the land of Elfhame and completely falling in love with it all once more.

Oak's story is personal and focuses a lot on self, love, and trust. It was a delight to be in his mind and see how much he has grown. This book ends his story, and Holly does a great job at concluding it in a way that makes us all understand characters and the world more deeper.

I enjoyed Oak and Wren...however, I just felt that Wren's relationship with Oak was a little...weird. It wasn't like the first book where you could see their relationship building. It felt like it was too forced. Or fake. Too bland I guess. And I think it was because Jude and Cardans relationship just trumps everyone else's.

Speaking of...I WAS BLESSED WITH JUDE AND CARDAN MOMENTS! ugh. They honestly were the best part of the book. Loved them so so so much and was so happy that Holly included them in the story.

The overall story was ok as well. I wasn't too into it. Don't know why but wasn't sure I liked how it played out. It was entertaining but I don't know it was...kinda boring? I'm not sure how to put it. But I just didn't care for the plot.

The characters were great though and the world building was great! I feel like the way this story plays out it might lead to another Elfhame story? Maybe! I'm excited if so!

reigning_rose's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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