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donnied's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and War
ciuli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Look... If the authiur had skipped the first 3/4 of the book and I yk wrote the last 100 pages I wouls have probably enjoyed it more.
The pace of this book was so slooooooow. It took me so long to push through it that I have genuinely forgotten what happened in the first half of the book, I'm not even kidding.
I do understand that the second book in a trilogy is meant to set the story for the final, but I feel like this one could have been cut in half and could have been a duology.
Now, I definitely go have a love/hate relationship with this saga. On the one hand I am captured by the characters and their story, and I do find that even the secondary characters are well described, they have layers and each one manages to have its own voice even if they appear only for a few pages and that's something I really like and enjoy. In the other hand though, I just cannot gloss over the way that r*pe IS Just thrown left and right and talked about as something normal. I do understand that in this universe, this is the way it is, there are slave there is r*pe and this is the way things are dealt with. But I genuinely believe that sometimes it's only be used as a mean for the book to be trasgressive and "not like the others" kinda feel, and not because it's actually useful for the plot or for the world development.
The ending left us on a cliffhanger, even though I feel it was quite predictable that sooner rather than later the secret would come our as they were literally on the border with Akielos, I'm curious to see how Laurent will react when he'll finds out the truth and genuinely curious about how he's not going to kill Damen on sight as soon as he sees him again lol
The pace of this book was so slooooooow. It took me so long to push through it that I have genuinely forgotten what happened in the first half of the book, I'm not even kidding.
I do understand that the second book in a trilogy is meant to set the story for the final, but I feel like this one could have been cut in half and could have been a duology.
Now, I definitely go have a love/hate relationship with this saga. On the one hand I am captured by the characters and their story, and I do find that even the secondary characters are well described, they have layers and each one manages to have its own voice even if they appear only for a few pages and that's something I really like and enjoy. In the other hand though, I just cannot gloss over the way that r*pe IS Just thrown left and right and talked about as something normal. I do understand that in this universe, this is the way it is, there are slave there is r*pe and this is the way things are dealt with. But I genuinely believe that sometimes it's only be used as a mean for the book to be trasgressive and "not like the others" kinda feel, and not because it's actually useful for the plot or for the world development.
The ending left us on a cliffhanger, even though I feel it was quite predictable that sooner rather than later the secret would come our as they were literally on the border with Akielos, I'm curious to see how Laurent will react when he'll finds out the truth and genuinely curious about how he's not going to kill Damen on sight as soon as he sees him again lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
divine529's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is the second installment in the "Captive Prince" trilogy, and while it's definitely still a "book candy" series for me, I liked this book a bit better than the last.
This book picks up right where the last one left off, with Damen, Laurent and a whole bunch of soldiers embarking out to go to Aquitart, all the while playing a chess game of war and military strategy along the way, and their feelings continue to develop from there.
Laurent and Damen's relationship continues to bother me with the utter devotion and loyalty Damen has for Laurent after the events of the last book. It was good to see the shift in mindset, but still weird that it happens so fast. I'm also 100% convinced that Laurent knows who Damen is and has most likely the whole time which would explain, but not excuse, a lot of things from the prior book. I liked some of the side characters a bit more this book too. I'm also so glad for less rape and CSA - still present for sure, but not as explicit and prevalent as in the first book.
Some things that really grate on me though is the continued portrayal of Laurent's lack of relationships and sexual interactions (he definitely reads as asexual spectrum to me - probably demi). I hate that his personality of being cold and cruel in particular transfers to his sexual identity (a lot of it is a trauma response I'm sure too). Also Damen's reluctant bisexuality was portrayed in a frustrating way at times.
It was also a lot clearer this book why people call this a gay GoT.
Overall, still not the best thing ever ("book candy") but enjoyable in a way too.
This book picks up right where the last one left off, with Damen, Laurent and a whole bunch of soldiers embarking out to go to Aquitart, all the while playing a chess game of war and military strategy along the way, and their feelings continue to develop from there.
Laurent and Damen's relationship continues to bother me with the utter devotion and loyalty Damen has for Laurent after the events of the last book. It was good to see the shift in mindset, but still weird that it happens so fast. I'm also 100% convinced that Laurent knows who Damen is and has most likely the whole time which would explain, but not excuse, a lot of things from the prior book. I liked some of the side characters a bit more this book too. I'm also so glad for less rape and CSA - still present for sure, but not as explicit and prevalent as in the first book.
Some things that really grate on me though is the continued portrayal of Laurent's lack of relationships and sexual interactions (he definitely reads as asexual spectrum to me - probably demi). I hate that his personality of being cold and cruel in particular transfers to his sexual identity (a lot of it is a trauma response I'm sure too). Also Damen's reluctant bisexuality was portrayed in a frustrating way at times.
It was also a lot clearer this book why people call this a gay GoT.
Overall, still not the best thing ever ("book candy") but enjoyable in a way too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Child death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Acephobia/Arophobia, and War
Minor: Animal death, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, and Gaslighting
anne_boleyns_book's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Blood
sarahndipitous_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The development from the first book to this book is delightful to watch. The gradual way in which the two main characters come to trust in one another despite their hatred is one of my favorite tropes, and Pacat portrays it so well. The way it builds into the ultimate culminations of bittersweet romance is something I’ll never forget and go back to reread for years to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexual assault
akr_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and Xenophobia
Minor: Pedophilia
mausoleum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Injury/Injury detail
im_basil's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Really glad I stuck with this series! Book 2 really ups the stakes and I’m excited and terrified to see how it all plays out in 3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and War
stacyaj's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
green_amaryllis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol