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miki514's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
monalisalisa's review against another edition
4.0
This book was fantastic. I truly did feel for Damien and his situation and I just wanted the best to happen to him. I’m not really sure how to feel about Prince Laurent because I know that we are not supposed to instantly like him but I’m still trying to find redeeming qualities about him so that maybe in the future I will grow to see a better said of him in the next book.
thebonekingdom's review against another edition
3.5
3/5 Volume 1 || 4/5 Volume 2
If I had one thing to say about this book, it would be "Unexpected".
Unexpected because some of the things people criticised the book for, clearly didn't align with what I read.
1. The book isn't full on sex. There are exactly two and a half explicit scenes.
2. The book is not glorifying slavery/corporal punishment/rape. The story is about those topics, of course they are going to be talked about however they aren't portrayed as better than they actually are, or as romantic.
And I feel like it is important to add that there is no love story in the first volume at all.
Despite those two details, I do agree that explicit rape scenes should never exist. Dealing with this topic is one thing, but there are many ways to tackle it without describing the act. Portraying a rape scene the same way a regular explicit sex scene would be, is unecessary. It is a traumatic event and should be dealt with as such
Now, focusing on my general review of the book, what do I have to say?
For starters, and surprisingly, not a lot of events happen in the first volume and it dawned upon me after finishing it. It is short, the MC stays in one place, the castle, his movements are controlled and he doesn't interract very often with other characters.
For this reason the plot felt rather simple and as much as it didn't bother me while reading —It was surprisingly entertaining and I did laugh many times— I hope the plot thickens in the next two volumes — and from the way it ended, I'm inclined to think it is going to be the case.
Now, regarding the characters, a few may already know how much some moments made me despise Laurent and Damen. Neither is perfect, and both are princes before anything else
The one thing that particularly upsetted me is Damen's reflection on slavery, which, in reality, is just a battle between what he think his a good and a bad slavery.
He is a prince who grew up with slaves and whose only experience as a slave himself is in a country that treats them way worse than in his own. His reaction to compare both is not surprising, however I hope the story adresses slavery in general in the next two volumes and do not leave us with Damen first vision of it.
I could also mention Laurent's whole being. This kid never fails to infuriate me but I have to admit that one part of his backstory made me reconsider my opinion on him! It isn't directly mentionned in the first book but I'm as good as Sherlock Holmes and was able to discover it (it was obvious but shh)
[Review Captive Prince Volume 2&3]
This may be the first time I'm going to say this but I loved the romance in those books. The development of Laurent and Damen relationship was incredible.
In the second volume, the dynamic between both evolves and Damen becomes slave only by name. They recognise each others strength, learn to work together and progressively start to respect each other.
I greatly appreciated the way those changes weren't triggered by a sudden appearance of romantic feelings between them but more by the realisation that working together would benefit their respective goals.
There relationship doesn't go from hate to love in an instant and this second volume shows us a huge period where they learn to live together before even starting to feel romantic feelings for one another.
In those two last volumes the author did something that gave me a very positive impression of their romance.
Whether at the beginning, where despite their feelings their relationship is still tensed, or the end, their feelings don't make them simply forget what they did to each other and who they are/were to each other.
Throughout the book, we can see them unravel their past wounds —inflicted by each other or not— and heal them together, accepting the other entirely and not just a separeted version from the one that is hurt and hurted them.
There is a constant reminder of what the Prince of Vere is to the Prince of Akielos and vice versa. They see each other in their entirety, without cover and lies.
For me, it's a good testimony of the nature of bond that link them together, which is made much more meaningful and symbolic than if these elements had been merely ignored.
If I had one thing to say about this book, it would be "Unexpected".
Unexpected because some of the things people criticised the book for, clearly didn't align with what I read.
1. The book isn't full on sex. There are exactly two and a half explicit scenes.
2. The book is not glorifying slavery/corporal punishment/rape. The story is about those topics, of course they are going to be talked about however they aren't portrayed as better than they actually are, or as romantic.
And I feel like it is important to add that there is no love story in the first volume at all.
Despite those two details, I do agree that explicit rape scenes should never exist. Dealing with this topic is one thing, but there are many ways to tackle it without describing the act. Portraying a rape scene the same way a regular explicit sex scene would be, is unecessary. It is a traumatic event and should be dealt with as such
Now, focusing on my general review of the book, what do I have to say?
For starters, and surprisingly, not a lot of events happen in the first volume and it dawned upon me after finishing it. It is short, the MC stays in one place, the castle, his movements are controlled and he doesn't interract very often with other characters.
For this reason the plot felt rather simple and as much as it didn't bother me while reading —It was surprisingly entertaining and I did laugh many times— I hope the plot thickens in the next two volumes — and from the way it ended, I'm inclined to think it is going to be the case.
Now, regarding the characters, a few may already know how much some moments made me despise Laurent and Damen. Neither is perfect, and both are princes before anything else
The one thing that particularly upsetted me is Damen's reflection on slavery, which, in reality, is just a battle between what he think his a good and a bad slavery.
He is a prince who grew up with slaves and whose only experience as a slave himself is in a country that treats them way worse than in his own. His reaction to compare both is not surprising, however I hope the story adresses slavery in general in the next two volumes and do not leave us with Damen first vision of it.
I could also mention Laurent's whole being. This kid never fails to infuriate me but I have to admit that one part of his backstory made me reconsider my opinion on him! It isn't directly mentionned in the first book but I'm as good as Sherlock Holmes and was able to discover it (it was obvious but shh)
[Review Captive Prince Volume 2&3]
This may be the first time I'm going to say this but I loved the romance in those books. The development of Laurent and Damen relationship was incredible.
In the second volume, the dynamic between both evolves and Damen becomes slave only by name. They recognise each others strength, learn to work together and progressively start to respect each other.
I greatly appreciated the way those changes weren't triggered by a sudden appearance of romantic feelings between them but more by the realisation that working together would benefit their respective goals.
There relationship doesn't go from hate to love in an instant and this second volume shows us a huge period where they learn to live together before even starting to feel romantic feelings for one another.
In those two last volumes the author did something that gave me a very positive impression of their romance.
Whether at the beginning, where despite their feelings their relationship is still tensed, or the end, their feelings don't make them simply forget what they did to each other and who they are/were to each other.
Throughout the book, we can see them unravel their past wounds —inflicted by each other or not— and heal them together, accepting the other entirely and not just a separeted version from the one that is hurt and hurted them.
There is a constant reminder of what the Prince of Vere is to the Prince of Akielos and vice versa. They see each other in their entirety, without cover and lies.
For me, it's a good testimony of the nature of bond that link them together, which is made much more meaningful and symbolic than if these elements had been merely ignored.
ollie32149's review against another edition
The writing was just inherently bad and just confusing as well as they story line was bad and not cohesive. Also don't like the pedophilia and slavery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Violence
miraclexaligner's review against another edition
2.0
hmmm…an odd book.
Before stating the obvious, I wanna talk about the story itself: it’s very much unfinished? like no cliffhanger or anything just….I had to double check if the version I was reading was cut short or something of the sort.
Erasmus’ backstory, albeit good to know, felt out of place and abrupt. Like why would you finish off a novel with a—so far—irrelevant/minor character’s backstory? That’s typically reserved for e-novellas or just a flashback-chapter in between. Extremely weird.
And then the actual final chapter, where Damen & Laurent set off for a mock-war or whatever it was. I admit reading it again I can see how it’d be a fitting ending for a book..but it certainly didn’t feel like it????
Not enough has happened for the book to end here. It would’ve been more proper to end it after the “war” has ended. If the rest of the volumes are of this calibre then it should’ve all been added to a singular standalone book imo.
Now for the obvious concerns which I’m sure most reviewers have already touched upon; this book contains rape, slavery, and pedophelia. I’ll be honest, what with getting into manga and manhwa last year, I’ve grown desensitised to many problematic and graphic things depicted in fictional stories. But even then I was still taken aback by the scenes in this book. It’s just…too much. It’s not a passing scene or two, that you might overlook for the greater good of enjoying the book, but rather a reoccurring theme throughout it. Do I think the book could live without it? No. Those scenes weren’t depicted idly. They are crucial to paint a clear image of what Vere is and how they treat slaves: which is a common practice there and is basically the focus point of the book. You learn about the intermingling relationships between the slaves and their masters/slaves and other slaves (and of the mcs) etc [this book is political so that’s not the entire plot but it is a big theme]. Also the whole slavery thing is romanticised: although abusing slaves isn’t, but the concept of owning slaves is clearly portrayed in a positive light. As for the pedophelia, it’s only implied, but I suspect the other volumes might elaborate on what Vere’s regent has done in more detail. I digress, my point is: the book is problematic and barbaric events are constantly unfolding. If that triggers you, don’t read it.
Now for the main characters: I won’t evaluate because much of what is wrong with Laurent is a result of the normalisation of abusing slaves and just asserting authority as a person in a position of power. I hated Laurent for the majority of the book but little by little I started understanding him more. Being taken advantage of as a kid [implied] by his uncle doesn’t justify how he treated Damen, but that’s not what I’m referring to here. At some point, I was rooting for them. I still am, but the way this book ended was so abrupt that I can’t even give a proper review on their relationship. There is potential though.
note: I think the people who are complaining about the mere possibility of someone rooting for these characters are simply dense. You need to understand that there is a world of a difference between fiction and non-fiction. I would not look past anything remotely rapey/abusive about a person, but I might do it with a fictional character. It’s a mixture of being desensitised and knowing the difference between real people and words on paper. If that’s not your thing, slay. But accusations won’t make your argument any less unfounded. Just because I can tolerate those scenes doesn’t mean I enjoyed them, and just because I can overlook things characters did (which I disagree with), doesn’t mean I’ll do the same with a real person. Touch grass.
That’s it for my TedTalk
Before stating the obvious, I wanna talk about the story itself: it’s very much unfinished? like no cliffhanger or anything just….I had to double check if the version I was reading was cut short or something of the sort.
Erasmus’ backstory, albeit good to know, felt out of place and abrupt. Like why would you finish off a novel with a—so far—irrelevant/minor character’s backstory? That’s typically reserved for e-novellas or just a flashback-chapter in between. Extremely weird.
And then the actual final chapter, where Damen & Laurent set off for a mock-war or whatever it was. I admit reading it again I can see how it’d be a fitting ending for a book..but it certainly didn’t feel like it????
Not enough has happened for the book to end here. It would’ve been more proper to end it after the “war” has ended. If the rest of the volumes are of this calibre then it should’ve all been added to a singular standalone book imo.
Now for the obvious concerns which I’m sure most reviewers have already touched upon; this book contains rape, slavery, and pedophelia. I’ll be honest, what with getting into manga and manhwa last year, I’ve grown desensitised to many problematic and graphic things depicted in fictional stories. But even then I was still taken aback by the scenes in this book. It’s just…too much. It’s not a passing scene or two, that you might overlook for the greater good of enjoying the book, but rather a reoccurring theme throughout it. Do I think the book could live without it? No. Those scenes weren’t depicted idly. They are crucial to paint a clear image of what Vere is and how they treat slaves: which is a common practice there and is basically the focus point of the book. You learn about the intermingling relationships between the slaves and their masters/slaves and other slaves (and of the mcs) etc [this book is political so that’s not the entire plot but it is a big theme]. Also the whole slavery thing is romanticised: although abusing slaves isn’t, but the concept of owning slaves is clearly portrayed in a positive light. As for the pedophelia, it’s only implied, but I suspect the other volumes might elaborate on what Vere’s regent has done in more detail. I digress, my point is: the book is problematic and barbaric events are constantly unfolding. If that triggers you, don’t read it.
Now for the main characters: I won’t evaluate because much of what is wrong with Laurent is a result of the normalisation of abusing slaves and just asserting authority as a person in a position of power. I hated Laurent for the majority of the book but little by little I started understanding him more. Being taken advantage of as a kid [implied] by his uncle doesn’t justify how he treated Damen, but that’s not what I’m referring to here. At some point, I was rooting for them. I still am, but the way this book ended was so abrupt that I can’t even give a proper review on their relationship. There is potential though.
note: I think the people who are complaining about the mere possibility of someone rooting for these characters are simply dense. You need to understand that there is a world of a difference between fiction and non-fiction. I would not look past anything remotely rapey/abusive about a person, but I might do it with a fictional character. It’s a mixture of being desensitised and knowing the difference between real people and words on paper. If that’s not your thing, slay. But accusations won’t make your argument any less unfounded. Just because I can tolerate those scenes doesn’t mean I enjoyed them, and just because I can overlook things characters did (which I disagree with), doesn’t mean I’ll do the same with a real person. Touch grass.
That’s it for my TedTalk
samgougher's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 on first read, 5 on re-reads with context of books 2&3
leonieparamor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kirstym3692's review against another edition
2.0
DNF around 50%. While the story was okay, I just couldn't remember half the things that were going on and I didnt know who everyone was.