Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

23 reviews

m4ximus_pr1m3's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, Sexual violence, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Confinement, Slavery, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Kidnapping, War, Death, and Grief

astrozombies's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Incest and Violence

danteeeh's review

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, War, Kidnapping, and Sexual content

Minor: Death, Animal death, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Trafficking, Drug use, Confinement, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, and Cursing

_ali__aiko777's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Xenophobia, Rape, Confinement, Slavery, and Trafficking

Moderate: Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, and War

There's implied pedophilia and csa between a main character and older family member.

hazel_oat's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Death, Murder, Sexual content, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Confinement, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Drug abuse

Minor: Miscarriage, Death of parent, Grief, and War

depressionesque's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Torture, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, Death, Confinement, Blood, and Animal death

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, and War

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion

hedonsgaybookshelf's review against another edition

racist, SA/trauma porn

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia

cyancookie's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal death, Trafficking, Pedophilia, and Torture

Minor: Death of parent, Xenophobia, War, Incest, and Fire/Fire injury

violetlunablossom's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

4.25

For years, I had put off reading Captive Prince, partly because I had other books higher on my TBR list and partly because of the ever pervasive controversy of its handling of certain subjects. And honestly, I can completely understand why people are put off by this book. There are definitely scenes that are hard to get through and language used to describe what's happening doesn't make it much better. To most, this does seem like a book that fetishisizes such subjects, and I wouldn't blame people for thinking this. But it gets a little easier to understand certain world building decisions that Pacat made, in my opinion, when you view them through the historical inspirations that they come from. Akelios and Vere are very clear based off of two different cultures from the past, so things kind of click into place when you realize the context. 

That being said, I did find the political intrigue and world building to be surprisingly strong, and the way that deceit and the abuse of power is displayed is incredibly engrossing. Damen is a protagonist that I was immediately endeared to and watching him navigate Veretian society and politics while trying to keep his identity a secret was very engaging. Conversely, Laurent was a compelling secondary protagonist, with all his brutality and wit. Every time him and Damen shared a scene, I was glued to the page because of how unpredictable everything was. The two of them are obviously being set up as a slowburn enemies to lovers and I couldn't be more excited to see how their relationship grows. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Rape, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Murder, Blood, Child abuse, and Trafficking

teagstime's review against another edition

dark tense 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? Yes

5.0

Very VERY interested to see where this series goes. I ate this book up in a day, which is saying something because reading is terribly difficult for me lately! ❤️ The political intrigue is so fun to read, and really just... takes a good look at power and war and the ruthlessness which accompanies it. 

Personally a big fan of Damen and his struggle to understand anything about Laurent- because I, too, struggle to understand him. Laurent... I want to crawl inside your brain. That boy definitely has so much emotion hidden under the cold, cruel demeanor... and I'm sooo ready to dive in 😌

I cannot rec to anyone without them looking into the TW first, because there's some content I can see being... problematic, let's say! But in my opinion, none of those acts are really glorified- our main two characters are/become aware of these issues and want to change things. But, imo, a very good read and I definitely have high hopes for the rest!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Blood, Confinement, Death, Sexual violence, Slavery, War, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Classism, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Violence, and Torture

Moderate: Death of parent and Drug use