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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Ancel nunca fue un personaje de mi interés pero está corta historia me hizo conocerlo mejor y que me simpatizara más
#1 green but for a season 2★
not much happened tbh
#2 the summer palace 5★
exactly what i needed after finishing the trilogy and reading THAT ending. “You were watching the road.”
not much happened tbh
#2 the summer palace 5★
“You were a force of nature. It was infuriating to fight you. Frightening to have you on my side.”
“Frightening?”
“You didn't know how afraid I was of you?”
“Of me? Or of yourself?”
“Of what was happening between us.”
exactly what i needed after finishing the trilogy and reading THAT ending. “You were watching the road.”
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Yes
4.5
I actually really enjoyed reading Ancel's story. One thing I love about C. S. Pacat is that she wrotes characters with biases. Ancel's POV is not the same as Damen's, because their entire worldviews are different. It shines in this story, where Ancel is not a saint, but his unapologetic way of being was admirable in it's way. He was also tempered by Berenger (oh how I'd love to see more of these two, I totally shipped them), who was rock steady and gave Ancel a chance to stand for something outside of escaping poverty. I truly felt that we reached a character arc with Ancel. Some might not like him, but I always have a soft spot for characters like him, the "mean girl" archetype.
We also got some world building on how Pets are, and some insight into at least one person's experience of being, essentially a sex worker? It added nuance, while still remaining an anti-enslavement narrative overall, as a series.
I will say, we got very little of Damen and Laurent here, but that makes sense, given when the story takes place. Also, the only scene we got was that horrible scene. Ugh. It was still awful to read, and I docked the half star for that alone. It will NEVER be okay.
Kind of a weird novella to end on, but I think it was a good addition to the universe. I kind of want to devise an ideal reading order. In part, because it's fun, but also need to make re-reading plans. (Though seeing as how even reliving that scene from not Damen's perspective was gross, I don't know if I'll even include CP as a part of my personal re-read. Maybe the last half.)
I actually really enjoyed reading Ancel's story. One thing I love about C. S. Pacat is that she wrotes characters with biases. Ancel's POV is not the same as Damen's, because their entire worldviews are different. It shines in this story, where Ancel is not a saint, but his unapologetic way of being was admirable in it's way. He was also tempered by Berenger (oh how I'd love to see more of these two, I totally shipped them), who was rock steady and gave Ancel a chance to stand for something outside of escaping poverty. I truly felt that we reached a character arc with Ancel. Some might not like him, but I always have a soft spot for characters like him, the "mean girl" archetype.
We also got some world building on how Pets are, and some insight into at least one person's experience of being, essentially a sex worker? It added nuance, while still remaining an anti-enslavement narrative overall, as a series.
I will say, we got very little of Damen and Laurent here, but that makes sense, given when the story takes place. Also, the only scene we got was that horrible scene. Ugh. It was still awful to read, and I docked the half star for that alone. It will NEVER be okay.
Kind of a weird novella to end on, but I think it was a good addition to the universe. I kind of want to devise an ideal reading order. In part, because it's fun, but also need to make re-reading plans. (Though seeing as how even reliving that scene from not Damen's perspective was gross, I don't know if I'll even include CP as a part of my personal re-read. Maybe the last half.)
Note: Pet can be read after Captive Prince, but in my opinion has the most powerful impact if read after Kings Rising
Pet is the story of Ancel a redheaded spitfire pet and his ongoing quest to become contracted to increasingly powerful men. Yes it includes that scene from Captive Prince.
For the most part I really engoyed Pet. I loved the diaogolue between Ancel and Berenger and how unflichingly himself Ancel was (both as a sex worker and as a slytherin). I was also fanscinated by how C. S. Pacat was able to depict Ancel as having prejudices. In Pet, Ancel has some pretty racist thoughts about Damen which Pet itself never corrects. However because Pet exists as a short story in the Captive Prince trilogy, we the audience know that C. S. Pacat herself does not hold these beliefs.
The one reason this isn't a five star read is because as per Captive Prince canon, Ancel rapes Damen, and I had to read it again. Ancel himself doesn't feel like anything wrong has happened, but clearly there is a difference between two contracted sexworkers having performative sex and Ancel asking Laurent if he can have sex with Damen who is enslaved and does not consent. Kings Rising and The Summer Palace deal with Laurent's abuse of Damen but does not touch this scene with Ancel. It was not okay, and did hinder my enjoyment.
I want more from Ancel, both beause I am curious as to how he is post Kings Rising but also because I need to see him confront his actions.
Pet is the story of Ancel a redheaded spitfire pet and his ongoing quest to become contracted to increasingly powerful men. Yes it includes that scene from Captive Prince.
For the most part I really engoyed Pet. I loved the diaogolue between Ancel and Berenger and how unflichingly himself Ancel was (both as a sex worker and as a slytherin). I was also fanscinated by how C. S. Pacat was able to depict Ancel as having prejudices. In Pet, Ancel has some pretty racist thoughts about Damen which Pet itself never corrects. However because Pet exists as a short story in the Captive Prince trilogy, we the audience know that C. S. Pacat herself does not hold these beliefs.
The one reason this isn't a five star read is because as per Captive Prince canon, Ancel rapes Damen, and I had to read it again. Ancel himself doesn't feel like anything wrong has happened, but clearly there is a difference between two contracted sexworkers having performative sex and Ancel asking Laurent if he can have sex with Damen who is enslaved and does not consent. Kings Rising and The Summer Palace deal with Laurent's abuse of Damen but does not touch this scene with Ancel. It was not okay, and did hinder my enjoyment.
I want more from Ancel, both beause I am curious as to how he is post Kings Rising but also because I need to see him confront his actions.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes