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A review by phoebejeziel
Curse of the Dark Prince by Ariana Nash
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
SPOILERS FOR BOOK 2 DOWN BELOW!
I really enjoyed this series overall. I read these books fairly quickly and they were very entertaining- though I think I expected more sex scenes honestly lol.
These books were fun, though I do think that the character work could use some improvement. While this series has dark content and the main characters are not necessarily good men, I think more progress for who they were as individuals could have been done better. Vasili in particular was a character who I was waiting to just.... be better and never really did. And it's not the he didn't clearly have some good qualities, but I think for me to be able to really root for him, I needed more.
Vasili did a lot of really atrocious things in the series. Most I could've looked past and still rooted for him and Niko together. But something I just can't get over is how in Book 2, Vasili literally sold our Niko to his sadistic brother after essentially having a relationship with him (not necessarily said out loud, but they had a relationship). Vasili LITERALLY SOLD OUT NIKO WHICH LED TO HIM BEING DRUGGED, TORTURED AND RAPE. AND VASILI KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING THE ENTIRE TIME.
And okay, I was willing to see how this BETRAYAL was going to turn around for Vasili. What was he going to do to try and make up for THE WORST THING HE DID IN THIS BOOK. Well readers, Vasili did... nothing. Absolutely nothing. The characters just continued on for the most part, never truly addressing this betrayal. Vasili tells Niko how much he hated his brother did what he did, Niko has a lot of PTSD and trauma from that incident, but does Vasili ever, just once, apologize for anything that he did???? THAT'S A BIG FAT NO.
Vasili's whole thing is "well I told you I was the worst person ever!!!" OKAY SIR, BUT YOU CAN STILL SAY SORRY FOR SELLING OUT THE MAN YOU LOVE TO YOUR RAPIST BROTHER. I MEAN LET'S DO THE BARE MINIMUM HERE MY GUY.
This is where I just find the character work... lacking. I was waiting and waiting to see how Vasili was going to try and make things right and honestly, I don't think he really tried. He was wrapped up in what he thought he had to do and it was frankly very egotistical and repetitive. I just would've liked to see something different from him throughout the series, whether that be good OR bad.
I kinda sorta feel like I wasted my time a bit on this series, which was such a bummer. I was really holding out after finishing and overall enjoying book 2.
I really enjoyed this series overall. I read these books fairly quickly and they were very entertaining- though I think I expected more sex scenes honestly lol.
These books were fun, though I do think that the character work could use some improvement. While this series has dark content and the main characters are not necessarily good men, I think more progress for who they were as individuals could have been done better. Vasili in particular was a character who I was waiting to just.... be better and never really did. And it's not the he didn't clearly have some good qualities, but I think for me to be able to really root for him, I needed more.
Vasili did a lot of really atrocious things in the series. Most I could've looked past and still rooted for him and Niko together. But something I just can't get over is how in Book 2, Vasili literally sold our Niko to his sadistic brother after essentially having a relationship with him (not necessarily said out loud, but they had a relationship). Vasili LITERALLY SOLD OUT NIKO WHICH LED TO HIM BEING DRUGGED, TORTURED AND RAPE. AND VASILI KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING THE ENTIRE TIME.
And okay, I was willing to see how this BETRAYAL was going to turn around for Vasili. What was he going to do to try and make up for THE WORST THING HE DID IN THIS BOOK. Well readers, Vasili did... nothing. Absolutely nothing. The characters just continued on for the most part, never truly addressing this betrayal. Vasili tells Niko how much he hated his brother did what he did, Niko has a lot of PTSD and trauma from that incident, but does Vasili ever, just once, apologize for anything that he did???? THAT'S A BIG FAT NO.
Vasili's whole thing is "well I told you I was the worst person ever!!!" OKAY SIR, BUT YOU CAN STILL SAY SORRY FOR SELLING OUT THE MAN YOU LOVE TO YOUR RAPIST BROTHER. I MEAN LET'S DO THE BARE MINIMUM HERE MY GUY.
This is where I just find the character work... lacking. I was waiting and waiting to see how Vasili was going to try and make things right and honestly, I don't think he really tried. He was wrapped up in what he thought he had to do and it was frankly very egotistical and repetitive. I just would've liked to see something different from him throughout the series, whether that be good OR bad.
I kinda sorta feel like I wasted my time a bit on this series, which was such a bummer. I was really holding out after finishing and overall enjoying book 2.