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A review by folkofthebook
Prince of the Sorrows by Kellen Graves
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Every now and then, I come across a book that has the kind of style I yearn for in my books; indulgent descriptions, whimsy on every page, and a romantic tint to the world. If you're a fan of Holly Black's Folk of the Air series as I am, this is a series you're going to want to dig your teeth into Prince of the Sorrows.
This includes:
- lots of queer rep
- sunshine/broody dynamic
- dark-haired, morally grey MC
- Ghibli vibes (specifically Howl's Moving Castle)
- queerness normalized w/in the society of the story (so hard to find, even in fantasy)
- fae worldbuilding from Gaelic (I'm guessing, from the book's Irish Gaelic pronunciation guide) and original creation intertwined with Hades/Persephone roots
- luxurious descriptions in clothing, decor, and food that v much made my double Taurus heart giddy
While a slower pace than most fantasy tends to be, I didn't find that to be a bad thing. Graves luxuriate in their storytelling, taking their time to illustrate scenes with their words. I have had some fellow readers remark on it being "wordy", but I never found it to be unnecessarily so. Admittedly, I was able to guess a few discoveries, but I was also caught off guard by a few, which is always pleasantly exciting. Saffron is adorable as the ever-hopeful ray of sunshine, and Cylvan never fails to amuse with his cynical (defensive) humor. This was a promising start to what I believe is going to be a lengthier series (11 books??), and while I've come to dislike starting unfinished series (because of the need to reread so I remember wtf is going on by the time the next book drops), POTS is one that I will have no problem revisiting.
Check TWs!
This includes:
- lots of queer rep
- sunshine/broody dynamic
- dark-haired, morally grey MC
- Ghibli vibes (specifically Howl's Moving Castle)
- queerness normalized w/in the society of the story (so hard to find, even in fantasy)
- fae worldbuilding from Gaelic (I'm guessing, from the book's Irish Gaelic pronunciation guide) and original creation intertwined with Hades/Persephone roots
- luxurious descriptions in clothing, decor, and food that v much made my double Taurus heart giddy
While a slower pace than most fantasy tends to be, I didn't find that to be a bad thing. Graves luxuriate in their storytelling, taking their time to illustrate scenes with their words. I have had some fellow readers remark on it being "wordy", but I never found it to be unnecessarily so. Admittedly, I was able to guess a few discoveries, but I was also caught off guard by a few, which is always pleasantly exciting. Saffron is adorable as the ever-hopeful ray of sunshine, and Cylvan never fails to amuse with his cynical (defensive) humor. This was a promising start to what I believe is going to be a lengthier series (11 books??), and while I've come to dislike starting unfinished series (because of the need to reread so I remember wtf is going on by the time the next book drops), POTS is one that I will have no problem revisiting.
Check TWs!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Bullying