Hello everyone this is my first ever review of the Captive Prince Trilogy! So I'm gonna review each of the trilogy one by one. Giving out my honest critique of the trilogy and I will also do a part 2 review talk about the controversy surrounding the first book that had others saying that “It infected the entire trilogy!”
I personally don’t believe that but again I’ll save that for part 2 which also means I will be SPOILING the Whole Trilogy in each of my Reviews,so If you haven’t read them...Then plz read [or listen to] the trilogy for yourself or you could wait for my part 2 talk about the controversy b/c that’s where it mainly towards the first book anyway.
(Disclaimer: I listened to the CP Trilogy months ago on Audiobook on YouTube but sadly the Captive Prince Trilogy audiobook were mysteriously have been taken down,so I only have memories of Vol.1 and 3 but not Vol.2,so when I review Vol.2 I’m going try to memorize what happen there and hope for the best,however we can all gush out in comment section of the parts in there anyway so,lol. <3)
(And Also: Those ‘Side Note’ things are my extra thoughts on my opinion, you could read them If you want to but you don’t have to.)====================================================
A Few People who have said,“Its like game of throne but gay.”
Ever since I heard that my first thoughts were “Ok so its gonna have some interesting characters,adventure fantasy world alongside some mystery element that is going to be a big part of the main plot later on,alright let's see I’ll get that.”
And sure enough that's what I exactly got in the first book; interesting atmospheric fantasy world,a likeable MC,a mysterious yet entertaining love interest,and a mystery plot that is so simple yet grand at the same time,so yup this 100% spoke to me.
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Alright so let’s get into my; Pros,Cons,and Overall Thoughts on The Captive Prince Vol.1:
The Pros:
+ The Story; I'll delve into the plot and theme later in Vol.3 but in short; The story is simple yet smoothly complex and its theme is really flexible.
+ Writing Style; C.S. Pacat Writing Style is magically wittren. Which is quite impressive knowing there’s no magic in this fantasy world yet somehow makes it feel so grand and atmospheric that it touches your heart and imagination. Like I can completely see it as an Anime Format of the; world,atmosphere, characters,fight scenes,body language,etc.
[Side Note: I’ve read a review saying that her chosen intelligent words are “completely” unnecessary,which I totally get and noticed that but I think its just her own style/choice of writing knowing that its in the New Adult Fantasy Genre,so I really do understand that it is kind of unnecessary but I don’t really mind that much about it b/c its targeted towards adult/mature audience.]
+ The Pacing; OMG The pacing in this book is excellent,which I will admit that it can be kind of slow and can be pretty boring for others that I completely understand if that’s their main criticism of it,but to me it was great and loved every single moment of it...Except for one but we’ll get into that in my part 2 review about the controversy on how I feel about it.
+ The World-Building; Is rich and fascinating of Vere’s Politics and Culture,Inside the Kingdom of its; Building,Rooms,Court Garden. The atmosphere is great and there is something that I’ve been paying close attention to and notice the Veretians people's worldview of their pets,their behavior,and choices of words they use when talking about pets. I felt C.S. Pacat did it purposely in an interesting and uncomfortable way like the word “Male”,“Belonging”,which in Damen use the word “Territorial” later near the end with Govart,and the way they sexually talk and interact with Damen as tho he’s not really a human but an attractive male animal,and the way it was written was quite uncomfortable and unnoticeable at first but relisten to it,it was interestly good and giving her credit for.
+ Our MC aka The ‘Pince Killer’ himself; Damen,OMG It was so wonderful to be in his head again,he's so good and honest yet naive of his enemy land; struggling to learn their Politics and Culture while also dealing with Laurent both Physically and Mentally Torment but still keep his strong will and dignity. Knowing deep down he hates the position that he's in but he never took his anger out on innocent people or didn’t think in a modern mindset of the time period that he’s in,which thank you C.S. Pacat. [Side Note: By him finding out on his own that slavery is bad and not by telling a whole speech about why slavery is bad from him or from anyone.] There’s so much more I want to say about my love for Damen but in short; I love him and his third in a half character development and arc that we’ll get into that,in my Vol.3 review someday,trust me. -_-
+ Our Main Love Interest aka The ‘Cast-Iron Bitch’ himself; Laurent the most adored and fan favorite character of the CP trilogy/series fandom and rightfully so. Alright so back then before I listened to the trilogy,I spoiled myself long ago that Laurent wasn’t really the true bad guy in the story,so I kept that in mind throughout Vol.1 he was unlikable sure but I enjoyed him so much.
He was snobby,intelligent,mysterious and was very entertaining and I liked that side of him,so it was really nice seeing that veretian snake side again and relisten of his action and attitude in Vol.1,it all sounded quite justified to me,let me explain;
His Attitude Towards His Uncle - His uncle is a goddamn Pedophile who took advantage and raped Laurent when he was thirteen year-old and threw him away when he was basically fourteen, [or MBY even a bit older b/c of Aimeric.] So Laurent has an entire right reason to have an attitude towards his uncle as he rightfully should and view him as a villain in his eyes.
Laurent torturing and almost killing Damen - [Side Note:Putting my love for Damen aside.] Was also justified b/c Laurent had hate Damen for his entire teenage life for killing his big brother,so even tho some people have read the trilogy/series or re-reading them don’t agree what he did to Damen but to me,imho I side with Laurent b/c I honestly felt relistening to Vol.1 that Laurent didn’t took Damen’s torture way too far. It felt like it was the right amount with; the rape and the whipping [Side Note: The way that whipping scene was written was handled very respectfully,I really like how she didn’t shy away from it either of the details,that was very brave for her to do that.] alongside the consequence of that whipping afterwards as well was all just to me,and the way Damen asked Laurent to help Erasmus and saved him from his uncle men,both sides balance out the other of their good and bad deeds.
There’s still more I want to say but I’ll leave it in my Vol.2 and 3 review of his character development ofc but anyways in short; Laurent’s action in Vol.1 is justified imho and my favorite moments was his attitude towards his uncle throughout Vol.1 it was so satisfying and amazing to listen to him in that way, tying into his character on what he been through with his disgusting predator of an uncle. :’) <3
+ The Side Characters; So relistening Vol.1 my thoughts on the side characters is still the same but a bit different now:
Govart; Oh Govart back then I never thought that much of him but now he’s a bit of a comic-relief of his bitter attitude in Vol.1. It was pretty fun; him getting beaten-up and cursing like he’s just reminding you that “If your thinking you're reading a YA book THAN TO F**KING BAD ITS A NEW ADULT BOOK,SO GET OVER IT!”..Well I mean the World-Building and Laurent makes it truly clear by doing that but Govart was just a sprinkle to that vibe of it,Lol.
Laurent’s little veretian posse/friends,The Berenger,Ancel,and that one woman that I searched for her name and came out with nothing; Back then they were kind of annoying but now they're still a bit annoying however they were pretty snobby unlikeable characters yet entertaining as one and I liked them for it.
Erasmus + Torveld; Back then I only loved their mini subplot b/c it was Damen’s character moment but never cared about them however now relistening of Vol.1 their literally my second fav. couple in the whole trilogy and it’s such a shame that we never get see them again or even have a short story to see how their doing later after everything that had happened. </3
Nicaise; The first time I listened to Vol.1 I thought,he was just ok and I kind of felt his and Laurent’s friendship but nothing else after it throughout the whole trilogy however relisten to it…OMG I’ve seen everything crystal clear of this character and his friendship with Laurent and it is so sad and soul crushing. Thinking back what Laurent had said in Vol. 2 & 3. Paying more attention to those details and what Laurent meant when he said,“He stopped half-way.” He literally did stop half-way,I felt it in Vol.1 and not only it made me respect Laurent’s character a lot more on knowing what he was trying and wanting to do with Nicaise was protecting and emotionally/mentally saving him from his disgusting uncle. [Side Note: Showing me that Laurent isn’t all that perfect.] Which that’s why he didn’t want to leave but his uncle was constantly sending out men to try to kill him inside their home and If he does leave,his uncle will still send out men to kill him regardless,so at that point Laurent didn’t have a choice of that matter of leaving him. Laurent thinking confidently he’ll come back for him but failed,making Nicaise the first character in a long time that I’ve felt sympathy and hopelessness towards, just knowing his fate and can’t do or say anything about it to change it. </3
+ The Ending; I Love the ending so damn much,Damen realizing the truth on his own,Laurent confirming it to him of those truth,the hints,the mystery,everything was falling into place at that ending and it was perfection,and I swear If Vol.2 and 3 never existed,I would of still love Vol.1 as its own standalone but I would’ve been so heartbreak If the story never continued on. So I’m very blissful and grateful that the true fans wanted the story to continue and C.S. Pacat got to finish her story. :’) <3
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Alright Coming Into The Double Positive That I Love Most in This Book/Volume:
++That Mini Subplot with Erasmus (Aka This is Where Laurent & Damen Characters Shines Through Together); Imho This is my favorite subplot in the whole trilogy ever [Side Note:And The Most Underrated Unpopular Opinion in Captive Prince Fanbase,I bet to,lol.] and it means so much for me when I first listen to it and I was so happy and nostalgic relisten to it again. So this is where Damen feels really bad for Erasmus' story of his abuse in Vere and others alongside with him while feeling hopeless for not having the power to do anything about it and his decision for doing the right thing for his people in need, [Side Note:Which was strongly written by the way.] and this is why I prefer Damen over Laurent b/c of that whole subplot of his own willingness to swallow his pride and gambled to trust Laurent is so amazing,powerful,and also secretly very low-key scary. Making Laurent’s snobby yet mysterious personality more suspenseful and satisfyingly entertaining of his character on teaming-up with Damen. How he was willing to help Erasmus and the other pets out of their abusive environment as he was with his uncle,showing his deep hidden caring side,that I bet he secretly haven’t felt that way for a long time,and that’s where I felt their chemistry truly blossomed not romantically but showing a different side to one another even though it was pretty brief. <3
++NO LOVE V/TRIANGLE; THIS WOMAN IS SO GODDAMN AMAZING! SHE COULD’VE EASILY DONE IT AND PUT IT IN THE BOOK OR HELL EVEN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE TRILOGY BUT NOPE! SHE COULD’VE EASILY PUT LAURENT X TORVELD TOGTHER OR DAMEN X ERASMUS TOGETHER BUT AGAIN NOPE. SHE COULD OF SUPER EASILY WOULD HAVE THE MAIN COUPLE HAVE POINTLESS; DRAMA,ARGUMENTS,JEALOUSY,MISUNDERSTANDING,CHEAP OR OVER THE TOP CLICHES THAT WE SEEN BEFORE IN WEAK LAZY-ASS ROMANCES OR COULD OF NOT CARING ABOUT THE PLOT AND PUT IT IN THE BACKGROUND AND JUST MAINLY FOCUS ON THE ROMANCE TRASH FEST. [Side Note: And this Vol.1 we’re talking about like early on in the story and it would have been a disaster of mess from the very geico.] SHE COULD OF HAVE EASILY WROTE ERASMUS AND TORVELD AS TOOLS FOR LAURENT AND DAMEN TO GET TOGETHER,LIKE SOME OTHER AUTHOR I KNOW, LIKE AN S TO THE J TO THE M HOWEVER NOPE! SHE DIDN’T DO ANY OF THAT CRAP AND IT’S SO DAMN REFRESHING,THANK YOU! <3
[Side Note: OH AND HERE’S AN IDEA FOR THOSE WHO HATES THE MAIN OTP,MAKE AN FANFIC ALTERNATE UNIVERSE OF LAURENT X TORVELD AND DAMEN X ERASMUS TOGETHER INSTEAD,UR WELCOME. :) ]
++SHOW DON’T TELL; [Side Note: I’ll delve into my problems with it,in Vol.3 but for now,lol.]
Yeeee SHOW DON’T TELL ISN’T DEAD! SHE IS LITERALLY THE QUEEN OF IT,THANK YOU,FINALLY! <3
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The Cons:
- That Small Fight Scene with Damen and Govart near the end was so unnecessary b/c I was feeling an intimate moment of him escaping but then got detached when that happened. Damen should’ve accidentally gotten caught all by himself.
- The Prologue was a bit too long; it should’ve just been in chapter one.
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My Overall Thoughts:
Captive Prince Vol.1 is a great story to start off the Trilogy of its; great pacing,a likeable MC,few interesting side characters,a rich interesting fantasy world,and an amazing ending that will magically begs you for more. My ranting of it is a solid 5 stars and my ranking of it is in my #2 spot in the Trilogy.
CP Vol.1 means the world to me and it might be an unpopular opinion to put it on the #2 rank but I don't care,I’ve been head over heels in love with it from the very start and nobody won’t change my mind on that. :’) <3
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(P.S. I want to said thank you to @Mira Laime for giving me free permission to do my review here. Thank you so much it means alot to me as a fan. ^_^ <3)