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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
It's the end of an era - no more Perilous Courts books to look forward to, even if my deep enjoyment of them kind of waned once we left the princes of Sandrel behind.
In preparation of this final installment, I re-read the first five. Doing a back-to-back speed run of the entirety of the series helped remind me of some of the nuances of the world, political schemes, magic system, characters, etc. and I went in to Prince of Agony fully prepared to learn of what fresh evil the king had planned for his youngest and most unhinged son.
The explanation for Kazia's behavior - though awful - justified his actions beautifully. His abuse, his lack of trust, his ability to act like a deranged brat without consequence (aside from, you know, the abuse from his own parents) all made believable sense. His desire to cause chaos in order to take things away from his father without damaging his country too much set up his split-second decision to trap Lucien ... but everything thereafter felt a little weak.
Okay, Kazia needed a mage to help him sense scalestone in order to find his filactory, and he needed that mage under his control so that he wouldn't expose himself to someone dangerous who might use him as a Grail. He also thought of Lucien as a potential weapon he could command. Lucien surprised Kazia with his acts of kindness, however mild they were, and perhaps he was a little attracted to him. Kazia also knew what it was like to be controlled to do things against his will and used, and had sympathy for Lucien's helplessness and self-disgust for subjecting another person to a similar kind of control that he himself suffered.
But taking the control collar off of someone with abilities Kazia repeatedly and justifiably said were evil and that he did not trust? Allowing himself to be collared?! Like, okay, the dynamic was there and simply asking to be explored (which, it really wasn't, which is another axe I have to grind) but from everything that the reader was led to believe about Kazia's character and trauma response, it felt like a major departure.
Lucien also didn't really have a personality. He came in cocky and like "whoo, dragons!" but beyond that, he felt like he was moldable to fit with whatever Kazia was feeling in the moment, which felt like a departure from how he'd been portrayed as a side character in Julian and Audric's books. His triumph in bonding with a dragon - something that had been a goal and defining characteristic - was secondary to his falling in love with Kazia, and that felt like a weird choice for his character. The enemies-to-lovers speed run just felt weak, and when held up in comparison to other enemies-to-lovers done well (particularly the heavyweight champion of Captive Prince trilogy) this didn't stand a chance.
I'll also say that the resolution hit me in a weird place. I'm still trying to figure out why, because the king and queen were definitely bad and deserved their fate. Also, all the princes and their respective lovers having a reunion at the end felt ... performative? Like bringing back the departed stars on a television show for one last glimpse. It made sense for the story, but it felt more cringe than fun.
And WHISPER. The book gets points for having a solid Whisper arc, but my guy was kind of acting out of character?! Like I get it, you go to rescue someone and they're once again falling in love with the enemy and refusing your help (which also, felt a little lazy on the author's part) but Whisper actually voicing it aloud sarcastically? Unless Julian was rubbing off on him more (lol) it just didn't feel like the character I still hold up as the best across the entire series. Also, revealing who his parents were at the end felt trite and unnecessary.
All in all, this was enjoyable fun. And if I ever do another grand re-read, I may find myself thinking more fondly of this final part.
In preparation of this final installment, I re-read the first five. Doing a back-to-back speed run of the entirety of the series helped remind me of some of the nuances of the world, political schemes, magic system, characters, etc. and I went in to Prince of Agony fully prepared to learn of what fresh evil the king had planned for his youngest and most unhinged son.
The explanation for Kazia's behavior - though awful - justified his actions beautifully. His abuse, his lack of trust, his ability to act like a deranged brat without consequence (aside from, you know, the abuse from his own parents) all made believable sense. His desire to cause chaos in order to take things away from his father without damaging his country too much set up his split-second decision to trap Lucien ... but everything thereafter felt a little weak.
Okay, Kazia needed a mage to help him sense scalestone in order to find his filactory, and he needed that mage under his control so that he wouldn't expose himself to someone dangerous who might use him as a Grail. He also thought of Lucien as a potential weapon he could command. Lucien surprised Kazia with his acts of kindness, however mild they were, and perhaps he was a little attracted to him. Kazia also knew what it was like to be controlled to do things against his will and used, and had sympathy for Lucien's helplessness and self-disgust for subjecting another person to a similar kind of control that he himself suffered.
But taking the control collar off of someone with abilities Kazia repeatedly and justifiably said were evil and that he did not trust? Allowing himself to be collared?! Like, okay, the dynamic was there and simply asking to be explored (which, it really wasn't, which is another axe I have to grind) but from everything that the reader was led to believe about Kazia's character and trauma response, it felt like a major departure.
Lucien also didn't really have a personality. He came in cocky and like "whoo, dragons!" but beyond that, he felt like he was moldable to fit with whatever Kazia was feeling in the moment, which felt like a departure from how he'd been portrayed as a side character in Julian and Audric's books. His triumph in bonding with a dragon - something that had been a goal and defining characteristic - was secondary to his falling in love with Kazia, and that felt like a weird choice for his character. The enemies-to-lovers speed run just felt weak, and when held up in comparison to other enemies-to-lovers done well (particularly the heavyweight champion of Captive Prince trilogy) this didn't stand a chance.
I'll also say that the resolution hit me in a weird place. I'm still trying to figure out why, because the king and queen were definitely bad and deserved their fate. Also, all the princes and their respective lovers having a reunion at the end felt ... performative? Like bringing back the departed stars on a television show for one last glimpse. It made sense for the story, but it felt more cringe than fun.
And WHISPER. The book gets points for having a solid Whisper arc, but my guy was kind of acting out of character?! Like I get it, you go to rescue someone and they're once again falling in love with the enemy and refusing your help (which also, felt a little lazy on the author's part) but Whisper actually voicing it aloud sarcastically? Unless Julian was rubbing off on him more (lol) it just didn't feel like the character I still hold up as the best across the entire series. Also, revealing who his parents were at the end felt trite and unnecessary.
All in all, this was enjoyable fun. And if I ever do another grand re-read, I may find myself thinking more fondly of this final part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
This book is all about Kazia and Lucien and finding out wat made Kazia the person he is. I really loved them together and their story.
That a lot of other characters returned was also a sweet surprice. Especially since this was the last book in the series. I'm so going to miss this world and all the princes,their loves, dragons, fellcats and other characters. Hopefully we can return to this world someday.. please?
That a lot of other characters returned was also a sweet surprice. Especially since this was the last book in the series. I'm so going to miss this world and all the princes,their loves, dragons, fellcats and other characters. Hopefully we can return to this world someday.. please?