Reviews

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

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mirahgonzalez's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

faeriesparks's review against another edition

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2.0

I know a lot of people love (even adore) this book and this entire series but I found this incredibly boring. Except for the shocking moments when someone was raped and abused, I felt nothing with this book. I didn't like the characters, the world didn't grip me, and the plot didn't interest me. Also, this definitely isn't a romance novel in my opinion.
I have to say, it was easy to get through and I didn't completely hate it, which is why I'm giving this 2 stars. But I really don't think I'll be finishing this series.

forka's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

onthesamepage's review against another edition

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dark medium-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

4.0

It takes a lot of skill to write a dark world and present it as-is, with characters who are part of systems of abuse and not cognizant of it. Neither Damen nor Laurent are innocent—despite everything Damen suffers in Vere, it's not like Akielos doesn't also have a system of slavery in place. But it's interesting to see the cracks in Damen's ideals as the story progresses, and the same is definitely true for Laurent. There are multiple moments where their assumptions are challenged, and you can feel their surprise, and how they reassess their opponent, and I love character development like that.

There is absolutely no whiff of romance in this first book, which is good, because I don't think the story allows for it yet. But the character dynamics are fantastic. Laurent is definitely the most fascinating of the two, because he is more inscrutable. Some of his interactions with Nicaise show genuine compassion. It's also clear that he doesn't hate everyone from Akielos and is, in fact, capable of being kind to the slaves, even as he is a complete bastard to Damen. I think Damen is a naïve idiot, and I say this with love, because I don't buy for a second that Laurent doesn't know exactly who he is, and has known from the beginning, which would also explain why his behavior towards Damen is different compared to how he usually behaves.

I'm definitely invested in them at this point, and I can't wait to see all the ways in which they'll grow.

Content Warnings

mickisaway's review against another edition

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1.0

i think this book might be the reason why homophobia exists. i swear i was in page 50 and i was BEGGING the book to take these gay men out of my sight.

ayzorah's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

willowmae's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense 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

4.75

Content Warnings

meganarmweak's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

astrozombies's review against another edition

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challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.25

this book has no message, gives nothing of substance, and lacks any meaningful commentary. the main character is flat and emotionless for 90% of the story, the other 10% being where he is horny beyond reason. the future love interest is wholly unforgivable, even with the very obvious tragic backstory that is soon to come.
this book contains gratuitous displays of violence and assault accompanied by some of truly the worst depictions of victims to the point where you ask yourself “is the author enjoying this?” and, worryingly, it seems as though the answer is yes.
the entire plot hinges on the truly wild assumption that nobody in the entire novel would recognize the face of the prince of a sovereign nation. really? you’re saying there was not a single important military figure in the veretian court? do portraits not exist in this world? but honestly, this convenience is something i can get over.
what i can’t get over is the overarching fact that NOTHING MATTERS IN THIS BOOK! nobody learns any lesson.
the differences between slavery in the two nations are seemingly negligible however we are meant to believe that one country is better than the other, and that the slaves in both are happy, actually, unless they’re in the other nation. crazy.
i’ve read dark rise before reading this book but going into this with that (terrible) novel as reference really colors the questionable choices pacat made in hindsight. wild

Content Warnings

nightingale4859's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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