A review by nicolehitchcock
Prince of Pain by Tara Gallina

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I really thought I would enjoy Prince of Pain, especially since I’ve read and liked similar books before. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

The biggest issue that I had was the main characters. While they are supposed to be 20 years old, they read more like immature teenagers. Their behavior and dialogue made it hard to take them seriously, and I found myself frustrated rather than invested. I also prefer a strong female lead, and that’s not what we get here. Addie lacked real agency and depth, making it difficult to connect with her.

The story itself had potential, but it didn’t succeed. There was a lot of buildup around an impending danger, only for it to be resolved in a simple, passive conversation. After all that tension, the resolution felt anticlimactic and disappointing.

🌶️🌶️🌶️