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A review by vagrantheather
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
It feels very strange to have enjoyed this book so much. It opens on violence and sexual assault and gets steadily darker from there.
Captive Prince is set in what seems to be ancient city states, in the country of Vere, in whose culture "bed slaves" are normative. The main character, Damen, is of a warring city state, where he was betrayed - forced out of his country and into slavery in Vere. If it sounds like this leads to a story rife with sexual violence, you're damned right it is. But the development of scene and characters is deep, the writing beautifully rich, and the central storyline compelling.
Frankly, I would never recommend this book. The subject matter is too dark and the portrayal too explicit. But I did feel that it swept me up, engaged my brain, played with my heart, and was a total page turner. Somewhat controversially I would relate it to ASOIAF for the crown politics drama, inability to trust anyone, and dim portrayal of human nature. Book 2 is already borrowed and I'm diving straight in.
Captive Prince is set in what seems to be ancient city states, in the country of Vere, in whose culture "bed slaves" are normative. The main character, Damen, is of a warring city state, where he was betrayed - forced out of his country and into slavery in Vere. If it sounds like this leads to a story rife with sexual violence, you're damned right it is. But the development of scene and characters is deep, the writing beautifully rich, and the central storyline compelling.
Frankly, I would never recommend this book. The subject matter is too dark and the portrayal too explicit. But I did feel that it swept me up, engaged my brain, played with my heart, and was a total page turner. Somewhat controversially I would relate it to ASOIAF for the crown politics drama, inability to trust anyone, and dim portrayal of human nature. Book 2 is already borrowed and I'm diving straight in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Trafficking
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia