A review by mkw1lson
Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat

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

4.25

"A kingdom, or this."

I could read 100 more books about Damen and Laurent.

I think my favourite thing about this book is how quickly it demolishes our expectations. Going into this book, we know that Damen has embraced his true identity again, that he is set to work with Laurent and stop the Regent from starting a war, and intends to march down to Ios and reclaim his throne.
We also know that when Damen and Laurent meet again, Damen will have to crush Laurent with the horrible truth that he is the man who killed Laurent's brother, only to very quickly find out that Laurent has known all along.

I love how simple and obvious this is, but how much it packs a punch as well. Damen thought that Laurent was just a cruel man when they met, a man who would torture and abuse an enslaved former soldier from Akielos simply for being who he is, but that has never been the story. Laurent - right or wrong - was torturing the man who killed his brother, who left him with the Regent to be abused and tortured himself. It was so much more complicated and this one revelation reconciles the Laurent we've come to know with the Laurent from the beginning of the first book. It also isn't shocking (which I love about all the reveals in this book) because each revelation will be something that the reader either has an instinct for there being something more there or the reader will have put together. It's satisfying to see those pieces come together.


This book packs a punch as Damen and Laurent try to find a way to navigate this intensely complex relationship between them and their countries, what can they mean to each other, what does their future look like together - can they even have a future together?

When they do find their way back to each other it's perfect, even though it never loses the edge and complex dynamic, there is love and trust and it really is special. The ending isn't what I expected, but it's better than anything I could have anticipated. There's a odd and fucked up balance between them, and something hopeful about what they can build with each other. 

I don't know what more to say other than I would be the first in line for a book about how they navigate reigning over their kingdom(s) together.
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