A review by theshelfarchive
Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven

adventurous medium-paced
  • Strong character development? No

3.0

After thoroughly enjoying The Horde King of Shadow, I had high hopes for Captive of the Horde King. Unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me.

The story centres on the two MCs falling in love, but that focus came at the expense of world-building, which I felt was lacking—especially for the first book in a series. I wanted to be immersed in the alien world Draven created, but much of the setting and lore felt like filler rather than a fully realised backdrop.

The heavy emphasis on sex and the physical relationship between the MCs also didn’t quite work for me. While I don’t mind spice in my books, this felt more like an erotic romance novel that just happened to be set on an alien world. It seemed like the fantasy elements were secondary, and I found myself wishing for a better balance between the romance and the broader narrative.

That said, Draven’s writing itself is solid, and her style remains engaging. I just wish the story had leaned more into exploring the rich potential of its setting.
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