A review by alecashlark
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

A promising start to a well-loved series, Captive Prince is a daring and excellently-written tale of betrayal, deceit, and manipulation, set against a backdrop of moral ambiguity and ambivalence, with a whispered vow to deliver an epic, memorable romance in the following installments.


Writing: Told in third-person limited narrative, the point of view is slightly more distant that I prefer. But that didn’t take away from the skillfully descriptive writing style.

Character: I wanted a little more depth and strength to Damen’s character development, but I liked him nonetheless. I loved Laurent; I couldn’t not. I disliked most of the rest, but I was intrigued by all of them.

Plot: The story, with its many deceitful maneuvers, didn’t really surprise me; a book rarely does. I simply knew what it would deliver and was satisfied and very impressed when it did.

Romance: There wasn’t really any romance here, but it was obvious that there would be one in the next books, and that it would be challenging, slow-burn, and hard-won in the end.

To conclude: Captive Prince is a clever and attention-grabbing setup for the series, and I am excited to see more of the characters and how their story will further unfold. 3.5/5 stars.