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A review by djinnandtea
Prince's Gambit by C.S. Pacat
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You know that TikTok meme about doing a "wrap around" and how there's a video of someone BookTok used that sound to describe rereading favorite books? Prince's Gambit is a wrap-around book for me, one I can easily and delightfully read without much recovery time from the last go-round.
I've put off reviewing, I think, because I don't know how to put into words how much I love this book. It's such a good follow-up to Captive Prince, and the best book in the trilogy, in my opinion. Damen and Laurent develop so beautifully in this novel, and now that they aren't quite so at each others' throats, their humor and friendship can really blossom. This is obviously not a book defined by its romance, as it is deeply plot-driven, too, but as someone also venturing out into the romance genre, the one thing I adore about this book (and the series generally) is how slowly and gently the romance between Damen and Laurent grows. Nothing is rushed. Every single moment of affection is earned in the best possible way.
As I said in my review for Captive Prince, Pacat is a very good writer, and there's no decrease in deftness in this book. It's engaging, it's funny, it's tender, it hurts. Alternative historical romance, or whatever this genre would be considered, is not one I'm drawn to normally, but this series is irresistible to me, and Prince's Gambit in particular is just such a good showing of why. The story is just that good. And the book ends with me itching to immediately pick up the next and final one in the series, King's Rising. That feels like a good sign of a great book to me.
I've put off reviewing, I think, because I don't know how to put into words how much I love this book. It's such a good follow-up to Captive Prince, and the best book in the trilogy, in my opinion. Damen and Laurent develop so beautifully in this novel, and now that they aren't quite so at each others' throats, their humor and friendship can really blossom. This is obviously not a book defined by its romance, as it is deeply plot-driven, too, but as someone also venturing out into the romance genre, the one thing I adore about this book (and the series generally) is how slowly and gently the romance between Damen and Laurent grows. Nothing is rushed. Every single moment of affection is earned in the best possible way.
As I said in my review for Captive Prince, Pacat is a very good writer, and there's no decrease in deftness in this book. It's engaging, it's funny, it's tender, it hurts. Alternative historical romance, or whatever this genre would be considered, is not one I'm drawn to normally, but this series is irresistible to me, and Prince's Gambit in particular is just such a good showing of why. The story is just that good. And the book ends with me itching to immediately pick up the next and final one in the series, King's Rising. That feels like a good sign of a great book to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Incest, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Violence