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A review by _isabel_
Prince's Master by Alessandra Hazard
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.5
I never thought Alessandra Hazard could actually write a slow-burn like this one but oh god. I'm both elated and devastated: what a ride. WHAT A RIDE.
Teacher/student relationships aren't my fav because the power imbalance there makes me feel icky, but I knew I could trust this author with this kind of trope because I absolutely fell in love with both Castien and Eridian. Their relationship is still totally unbalanced and toxic and wild and possessive, but it's also soooooooo *squeals, swoons, clutches heart* like, you could totally feel how they were both whipped for one another. Also, their romance develops slowly, it's years in the making, so you actually see and witness and feel how their dynamic changes, how it flourishes and transforms into hateful obsession, into helpless adoration and devotion, and finally into love.
< “This will not work, Eridan,” he said at last. “You can stop batting your eyelashes. I will not change my mind.”
“I’m not ‘batting my eyelashes,’” Eridan said indignantly. “That’s my face.”
Castien’s lips twitched. “Indeed it is.” >
Also it helped that Eridian is a spoiled brat and that Castien, despite his "I don't feel emotions" attitude and his immense telepathy, did not stand a chance with him.
"Prince's Master" feels longer that it actually is, because so much happens: there's romance, there's mouth-watering sexual tension and steam, there's character development, and there's also a fair chunk of plot. I'm so damned curious to read War's story now! I can't believe I'm nearly at the end of this series.
The world-building was absolutely fabulous in this one, and I really hope Alessandra is still planning on writing a new series on the Masters of the Order. There are a few side characters and side-plots that are absolutely begging to be fleshed out properly.
Teacher/student relationships aren't my fav because the power imbalance there makes me feel icky, but I knew I could trust this author with this kind of trope because I absolutely fell in love with both Castien and Eridian. Their relationship is still totally unbalanced and toxic and wild and possessive, but it's also soooooooo *squeals, swoons, clutches heart* like, you could totally feel how they were both whipped for one another. Also, their romance develops slowly, it's years in the making, so you actually see and witness and feel how their dynamic changes, how it flourishes and transforms into hateful obsession, into helpless adoration and devotion, and finally into love.
< “This will not work, Eridan,” he said at last. “You can stop batting your eyelashes. I will not change my mind.”
“I’m not ‘batting my eyelashes,’” Eridan said indignantly. “That’s my face.”
Castien’s lips twitched. “Indeed it is.” >
Also it helped that Eridian is a spoiled brat and that Castien, despite his "I don't feel emotions" attitude and his immense telepathy, did not stand a chance with him.
"Prince's Master" feels longer that it actually is, because so much happens: there's romance, there's mouth-watering sexual tension and steam, there's character development, and there's also a fair chunk of plot. I'm so damned curious to read War's story now! I can't believe I'm nearly at the end of this series.
The world-building was absolutely fabulous in this one, and I really hope Alessandra is still planning on writing a new series on the Masters of the Order. There are a few side characters and side-plots that are absolutely begging to be fleshed out properly.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Rape