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A review by _isabel_
Prince of Agony by Tavia Lark
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
"Prince of Agony" might be my favourite Tavia Lark romance to date. I loved it with my whole damn heart and soul.
I've been (im)patiently waiting for Kazia's book since the very first time he appears on page as a cruel, chaotic, spoiled prince with a wall around his heart a mile wide and a thousand different masks. We all knew he was hiding something, probably something painful, but let me tell you, my heart was not ready. Prince of agony, indeed.
And Lucien! He's been one of my favourites since Whisper and Julien's book, and I was sooooooo looking forward to getting to know him better.
And my expectations were not only met, they were surpassed. I think I say this every time I review one of Tavia's books, but her writing and her characters are MADE for me: everything she writes is a dream come true, and every new book of hers leaves me even more in awe. Her latest release is absolute perfection: it's entertaining and ridiculously easy to inhale, it's fun and subtly snarky, it's steamy and sweet and lovely and romantic, and it also captures your heart and then crushes it into smithereens. I cherished every single second I got to spend inside Kazia and Lucien's head: I never wanted to leave.
Their romance left me breathless and swooning: their dynamic was literal perfection, and seeing them start to slowly care for each other, protecting each other in such small but meaningful ways, despite them being on opposites sides of a war (and despite Lucien's captivity in Draskora) was such a treat, a joy to witness. Slow burn deliciousness with a side of enemies to lovers and reluctant attraction, the snarky sunshine/grumpy brat pairing of my dreams, with the sunshine being a meddling protector type and the grump being the touch-starved, tightly wound type.
Both of them are SUCH chaos gremlins though: they literally thrive on being menaces, and can't follow a plan to save their lives. I loved them.
< “How exactly did you plan on doing this without me?”
“I was just going to blow things up,” Lucien admits.
Kazia shrugs. “I was just going to make Lucien blow things up.” >
This quote is so ✨them✨
Lucien and Kazia are WONDERFUL protagonists. Maybe my favourite of Tavia Lark's to date. They both have hidden wounds and secret hurts, and seeing them slowly build a relationship between them, from distrust and reluctance to helpless attraction and affection, the sheer need to take care of one another, to be their own two-person army against the whole world, was absolutely wonderful.
I may have developed a HUGE crush on Lucien: I loved him before to be fair, but now I'd literally jump from a window if he said so. Fierce and snarky and chaotic, attentive and careful and far more insightful than I (and Kazia) gave him credit for. He's absolutely wonderful, and I adored him so much. And Kazia! God, that man is a walking contradiction: he's ruthless and cruel, but out of necessity. He's petty incarnate, but he's also touch-starved and so damned innocent and sweet at times, and seeing his walls come crumbling down from Lucien's persistent, yet careful, brand of care was beyond satisfying and it made me nearly tear up. The build-up to their relationship and their HEA was absolutely brilliant, and I already can't wait to re-read their story.
< “Marek’s a softy, though, based on how he treats his husband. Just act cute and ask for help, and he’ll crack.”
Cuddling his rat, Kazia gives a confused frown. “I don’t know how to act cute.”
Lucien grins. “You’re always cute, brat. It’ll be easy.” >
*SWOONS*
The plot is complex and compelling, the world-building simple yet unforgettable and mesmerizing, and the writing was so damned gorgeous, and it made me feel like I was there with them both, and all the other unforgettable side characters. It was so lovely to see some well-known characters again, and to meet new ones too: Tezurit deserves a special mention. She's as sassy and chaotic as her bonded rider.
I can't believe this series is done, I'll miss this world so much. The ending was perfect though, and I'm so satisfied with how everything turned out.
I'm so excited for the next Tavia Lark masterpiece, but in the meantime, I might have to read her books once or two dozen times.
TWs/CWs: child abuse, torture, violence, death.
I've been (im)patiently waiting for Kazia's book since the very first time he appears on page as a cruel, chaotic, spoiled prince with a wall around his heart a mile wide and a thousand different masks. We all knew he was hiding something, probably something painful, but let me tell you, my heart was not ready. Prince of agony, indeed.
And Lucien! He's been one of my favourites since Whisper and Julien's book, and I was sooooooo looking forward to getting to know him better.
And my expectations were not only met, they were surpassed. I think I say this every time I review one of Tavia's books, but her writing and her characters are MADE for me: everything she writes is a dream come true, and every new book of hers leaves me even more in awe. Her latest release is absolute perfection: it's entertaining and ridiculously easy to inhale, it's fun and subtly snarky, it's steamy and sweet and lovely and romantic, and it also captures your heart and then crushes it into smithereens. I cherished every single second I got to spend inside Kazia and Lucien's head: I never wanted to leave.
Their romance left me breathless and swooning: their dynamic was literal perfection, and seeing them start to slowly care for each other, protecting each other in such small but meaningful ways, despite them being on opposites sides of a war (and despite Lucien's captivity in Draskora) was such a treat, a joy to witness. Slow burn deliciousness with a side of enemies to lovers and reluctant attraction, the snarky sunshine/grumpy brat pairing of my dreams, with the sunshine being a meddling protector type and the grump being the touch-starved, tightly wound type.
Both of them are SUCH chaos gremlins though: they literally thrive on being menaces, and can't follow a plan to save their lives. I loved them.
< “How exactly did you plan on doing this without me?”
“I was just going to blow things up,” Lucien admits.
Kazia shrugs. “I was just going to make Lucien blow things up.” >
This quote is so ✨them✨
Lucien and Kazia are WONDERFUL protagonists. Maybe my favourite of Tavia Lark's to date. They both have hidden wounds and secret hurts, and seeing them slowly build a relationship between them, from distrust and reluctance to helpless attraction and affection, the sheer need to take care of one another, to be their own two-person army against the whole world, was absolutely wonderful.
I may have developed a HUGE crush on Lucien: I loved him before to be fair, but now I'd literally jump from a window if he said so. Fierce and snarky and chaotic, attentive and careful and far more insightful than I (and Kazia) gave him credit for. He's absolutely wonderful, and I adored him so much. And Kazia! God, that man is a walking contradiction: he's ruthless and cruel, but out of necessity. He's petty incarnate, but he's also touch-starved and so damned innocent and sweet at times, and seeing his walls come crumbling down from Lucien's persistent, yet careful, brand of care was beyond satisfying and it made me nearly tear up. The build-up to their relationship and their HEA was absolutely brilliant, and I already can't wait to re-read their story.
< “Marek’s a softy, though, based on how he treats his husband. Just act cute and ask for help, and he’ll crack.”
Cuddling his rat, Kazia gives a confused frown. “I don’t know how to act cute.”
Lucien grins. “You’re always cute, brat. It’ll be easy.” >
*SWOONS*
The plot is complex and compelling, the world-building simple yet unforgettable and mesmerizing, and the writing was so damned gorgeous, and it made me feel like I was there with them both, and all the other unforgettable side characters. It was so lovely to see some well-known characters again, and to meet new ones too: Tezurit deserves a special mention. She's as sassy and chaotic as her bonded rider.
I can't believe this series is done, I'll miss this world so much. The ending was perfect though, and I'm so satisfied with how everything turned out.
I'm so excited for the next Tavia Lark masterpiece, but in the meantime, I might have to read her books once or two dozen times.
TWs/CWs: child abuse, torture, violence, death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Torture
Moderate: Death and Violence