Scan barcode
A review by mkw1lson
Prince's Gambit by C.S. Pacat
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The ultimate enemies-to-lovers here.
I adore this book, this is the pay off for the set up in the first book. This is two guys who hate each other, who loathe each other, stuck together by the circumstances of a nefarious plot because out of everyone they can only really depend on each other to make sure they are their countries survive this. And somehow along the way, they start to learn more about each other, they begin to understand each other and their worlds and experiences. There's a big, heavy secret between them,more than one and it adds this tension of knowing that their growing closer and knowing that they're falling in love, but also knowing that this weight hangs over them that can crush this fragile thing at any time.
It is so good.
I love the moments we see Laurent start to thaw and reveal himself more and more as he starts to trust and depend on Damen more and more. The moments where he gets to be young and free are so refreshing and beautiful. Damen also shows this natural leadership and capability. Who else could go from a slave to the most trusted Captain of the Prince of Vere? The man is born a King and can't even pretend to be less than that. I love that the very existence of Damen and the trust that somehow exists between Damen and Laurent is enough to throw a wrench in the Regent's careful plots. And it's so beautiful how Laurent goes from this hopeless place, knowing he's marching to his death with gritted teeth, to having hope because Damen is there to say - hold on, no, that's not happening.
This book will completely engross you and if you don't love Damen and Laurent and their love story by the end of this book, I don't know how to help you, because this is perfection.
Also, once again, the end of this book will leave you grabbing for the third.
Heed the warnings. It's not as bad as the first one, in my opinion, but there are still a lot of heavy topics dealt with in this book and the characters are flawed, so it's not always with the best/most sensitivity, but it is true to the characters.
I adore this book, this is the pay off for the set up in the first book. This is two guys who hate each other, who loathe each other, stuck together by the circumstances of a nefarious plot because out of everyone they can only really depend on each other to make sure they are their countries survive this. And somehow along the way, they start to learn more about each other, they begin to understand each other and their worlds and experiences. There's a big, heavy secret between them,
It is so good.
This book will completely engross you and if you don't love Damen and Laurent and their love story by the end of this book, I don't know how to help you, because this is perfection.
Also, once again, the end of this book will leave you grabbing for the third.
Heed the warnings. It's not as bad as the first one, in my opinion, but there are still a lot of heavy topics dealt with in this book and the characters are flawed, so it's not always with the best/most sensitivity, but it is true to the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and War
Moderate: Pedophilia and Suicide
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault