A review by djinnduffy
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

4.0

This is a book (and series) as compelling as it is off-putting. It's never a series I thought I would cherish as much as I do, and yet, here I am on my nth reread, finding the story ever more thrilling with every go. I adore this series, and this first entry is such a solid start. The romance is nowhere near its ultimate glory, as this is a book that largely focuses on world-building, character development, and plot. My first time reading it, I remember feeling rather bored and very caught up in the elements of the story I found repugnant. And let it be said, I still find those elements repugnant, and I still feel incredibly mixed about their inclusion (I think this story could absolutely have been told without much of that content). But the love I feel for Laurent and Damen is so deep, that even this first non-romantic foray into their relationship, surrounded as it is by layers and layers of problematic content, has become more and more satisfying every time I take it in.

C.S. Pacat is a very good writer, and the story she tells unfolds gradually, curiously, and very neatly, especially when you're rereading. I find myself catching on so many moments in this first book that feel like emotional bombs knowing where the characters are going to end up. I find myself rushing to get to the end and having to force myself to slow down and take in every word, because I love them all.

I don't talk a lot about this series because I know it's polarizing, but I won't pretend I don't find a lot of value in it, and I won't pretend it doesn't bring me a lot of joy. Captive Prince is not my favorite of the three, and I think it's the hardest to get into when you're reading for the first time. But it has improved in my mind with every reread, and I think that speaks to its quality overall.