Scan barcode
A review by foxo_cube
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really don't know what to say about this book because it's a very nothing kind of book.
Okay, so, for context, a friend of mine has lent me the trilogy because she says it's a fun hate-read, but despite being warned that nothing really happens until the latter half of the second book, I'm just a bit at a loss. How was there enough words to make this a book? The actual story that happened could have been half the length, maybe even less.
Due to its premise and setting, it ends up coming across as pornless porn. I don't know how else to explain it. Everyone's got a sex slave and having public sex and the nobles all watch rape as a fun performance from slaves trained to do that and yet it is written in a strange, sanitised kind of way that does the impossible and makes that absurdly depraved idea come across as boring. That sort of thing should be shocking! Damen is shocked, for one, or so we're told. That guy's got the personality of a flannel, so it's hard to tell. In <i>his</i> country, they are much nicer to their sex slaves, he thinks.
The fact that in not-France everyone has only gay sex because hetero sex is taboo outside of marriage is SO funny. It makes me think of that Gacha Life screenshot of the guy like "it's my first day at gay high school, I hope nobody finds out I'm straight". Also got to love the one token named woman with a female "pet" who's clearly thrown in there to make it seem marginally less like Pacat isn't just the ultimate fujoshi.
The politics and intrigue could have had the potential to be interesting if a) we had any reason to care and b) they were a little less straightforward. The entire cast of characters are very head-empty and this includes the ones that we are <i>told</i> are these incredible political masterminds (looking at Laurent).
I don't know. I feel like the vision for this book was clearly to be shocking and dark and intriguing and probably erotic(?), but it falls flat like you wouldn't believe. I couldn't even hate it because that's too strong a feeling. I will have forgotten everything about it within the week. The second one had better be more entertaining otherwise I will have to disown my friend.
Okay, so, for context, a friend of mine has lent me the trilogy because she says it's a fun hate-read, but despite being warned that nothing really happens until the latter half of the second book, I'm just a bit at a loss. How was there enough words to make this a book? The actual story that happened could have been half the length, maybe even less.
Due to its premise and setting, it ends up coming across as pornless porn. I don't know how else to explain it. Everyone's got a sex slave and having public sex and the nobles all watch rape as a fun performance from slaves trained to do that and yet it is written in a strange, sanitised kind of way that does the impossible and makes that absurdly depraved idea come across as boring. That sort of thing should be shocking! Damen is shocked, for one, or so we're told. That guy's got the personality of a flannel, so it's hard to tell. In <i>his</i> country, they are much nicer to their sex slaves, he thinks.
The fact that in not-France everyone has only gay sex because hetero sex is taboo outside of marriage is SO funny. It makes me think of that Gacha Life screenshot of the guy like "it's my first day at gay high school, I hope nobody finds out I'm straight". Also got to love the one token named woman with a female "pet" who's clearly thrown in there to make it seem marginally less like Pacat isn't just the ultimate fujoshi.
The politics and intrigue could have had the potential to be interesting if a) we had any reason to care and b) they were a little less straightforward. The entire cast of characters are very head-empty and this includes the ones that we are <i>told</i> are these incredible political masterminds (looking at Laurent).
I don't know. I feel like the vision for this book was clearly to be shocking and dark and intriguing and probably erotic(?), but it falls flat like you wouldn't believe. I couldn't even hate it because that's too strong a feeling. I will have forgotten everything about it within the week. The second one had better be more entertaining otherwise I will have to disown my friend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Slavery
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail