Kings Rising (The Captive Prince Trilogy) Paperback – February 2, 2016

Before I start the review: it's on the whole Captive Prince trilogy, not just one book.Writing this review was a HUGE problem for me. No, not because this is the first time I'm reviewing three books all at once, although I feel like I should explain why I'm doing it. It's simple really: when I thought of things to say about Book I, they were the same as I would've said for Book II and Book III. That's why I decided to put Captive Prince, Prince's Gambit and Kings Rising in the same review.But back to why writing this review was a problem for me.This is one of those rare times when I adore everything about the books (covers aside) and am thoroughly engaged from start to finish. It's a bit like a drug because you keep needing more, but there are no side effects. Well, apart from your eyes getting tired and you becoming sleepy because you are not supposed to stay up this late for a book. But let's face it: we all do it. We all go "Just one more chapter" even though we know we won't stop reading after just one more and that we'll be like zombies the next day.So why is it difficult to write a review?Because the whole review will be me gushing about how awesome the three books are. Seriously, I'm in full fangirl mode when it comes to these books. However, I'll try to tone it down a little so the review isn't just "Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!"Let's start with the blurbs. And don't worry: as always, I'll keep the review spoiler-free so I will comment on the books, but I won't tell you exactly what's in Book III thus spoiling Book I and Book II for you.To be honest, I never thought the covers were eye-catching (although they go with the theme of the books), so if I hadn't read the blurbs, I wouldn't have given the books a try. But the blurbs were pretty interesting, promising us adventure and intrigue. I was a little bit worried because I don't like too much political intrigue, but even though it plays a huge part in the series, it never comes off as excessive. There's enough to keep the plot moving, to keep you wondering which of the characters you could trust and which not, but not enough for you to be so totally confused at what's going on that pull you hair out in frustration.A reason why nothing was too much in this book even though something was always going on was the perfect pacing of the story in all three books. You have a slow-paced moment, then a fast-paced one; you have an intellectual challenge, followed by a physical one; you have the all business moments, but also some more intimate ones. Basically, there's something for everyone, it's balanced and well-paced.Another reason why there's no dull moment and I was absolutely engrossed was... Laurent.He turned into one of my all-time favorite characters from any sphere of entertainment (books, movies, anime, comics) from the very start. I'm one of those people who stand by smart is sexy and that guy is very, very intelligent. I also like how he's somewhat of a mystery, a controversy at first. Something would happen and Damen would interpret it one way, but there would sometimes be a hint that he might've gotten things wrong. I also find Laurent's character arc more interesting than Damen's.Don't get me wrong: I like Damen, but that's it.I care for him, I would cheer for him, I wouldn't want him to get hurt, but I can't help but compare him to the other main character and Laurent is just so captivating that Damen pales in comparison. He is interesting, he is developed, we see a change in him, we follow his journey, but he is no Laurent.As for the rest of the characters: some I like more, some I like less, but all are well-written with maybe the exception of Damen's brother. But like in the Damen/Lauren case, it could seem that way because I'm comparing him to others. He just didn't really leave an impression on me.One character who I loved to hate and on whom I wish great physical and psychological harm is the Regent - just as brilliant as Laurent, but lacking redeeming qualities. If he was written poorly, I wouldn't have enjoyed the books so much because without him there would be no intrigue, so I'm glad he was created the way he was. Even though I hate him. With a passion.The last big reason why this is such a page-turner are the twists. Obviously, I'm not going to tell you what they are, but there were a lot of times when I thought "I totally didn't see this coming although it makes perfect sense so I know it was planned and not a whim the author woke up with one morning". The biggest one comes near the ending of Book III and oh, my God, Laurent is brilliant!Yes, I know I'm supposed to skip the "Oh, my God". No, I don't regret using it; it's perfectly in place.Why?Because even though I told you there will be a twist there and you'll now be expecting one, you are still not going to be able to guess it. But once you read it, yep, it will be perfect. I had a lot of squealing fangirl moments while I read the Captive Prince trilogy, but this was probably the biggest one.And before I conclude the review, there's just one more thing I'll add: I like C.S. Pacat's writing style.There are so many other good (pacing, most characters, some twist) and great (other twists, Laurent!) things about the book that the writing style is not the first thing that would come to mind when I think of the trilogy (yes, yes, the first thing is Laurent), but I did enjoy it. It's not overly complicated, it's descriptive where it needs to be, it doesn't slow the tempo with a bunch of details in a fast-paced scene... In short: I enjoyed it.All those things are why the three books would make it to my "Favorites I Read in 2017" list as well as my all-time favorite books.I'd recommend The Captive Prince trilogy to the entire human population and any aliens from outer space who either speak English ('cause according to Hollywood most aliens do) or have the technology to translate the trilogy to their native language.Okay, I was (sort of) joking before, but unless you dislike LGBT books or are sensitive about slavery or humans being paid for sex (mind you, one of them is really young), I can't think of a reason why you shouldn't read these books.

Wow. The level of detail and foreshadowing was incredible. I loved the character development.SPOILERS:I loved the lack of miscommunication trope and how Laurent and Damen kept trusting each other even when there was appear of betrayal.

Wow. Just wow. The final book of this series could not have been any better. The politics, the maneuvering, the way that each them took on each other’s style to help win their HEA …. Ugh. Incredible.

This series has been talked about a lot in my online reading circles. At first, I wasn't sold on the series. I thought the first book had some problematic elements, and almost put it down. But I'm glad I stuck with it. It's a good trilogy, as a whole. I feel like I say this for a lot of books I read, but the ending was very short. I get to like, 85% and we haven't gotten to the big finale, or even close. We got there though, and I'm glad there are some novellas to read because after the ending here, I want to see what's next for Laurant and Daimonos.

I loved this book so much. I think it had the perfect ending and I absolutely loved the relationship of Laurent and Damen❤️.The plot definitely kept me on my toes. Highly recommend!

It was amazing to see how the little story puzzle pieces started to fall into place until they made the final picture at the end.Loved the story as well as the characters. I wish there had been stories like this when I was a boy... Well done. Thank you.

The Captive Prince was so wondrous, I paid full price for the books (only one of which had been reduced to $1.99) meaning that I was willing to shell out $19 in two days just b'c I was so caught up in the storyline, the richly drawn characters and the incredible (constantly surprising) twists and turns that happened so frequently, I started to feel like Watson to Sherlock at some point fairly early on in book one. That is my long-winded way of saying I totally loved it!!In the world created by C.S. Pacat, gender roles are different then one generally sees either in RL or romances. This idea is not universal, but in order to avoid illegitimate children (an important point in the series), same-sex pairings are the norm in all surrounding Kingdoms (except for the purposes of begetting heirs), and female warriors, peppered throughout Vere, for example, are warriors of great renown.And so (the trilogy opens with this detail, so I'm not giving away spoilers) when Damen, the true Prince of Akielos (would-be King) is sold into slavery as a 'special gift' for Laurent, the young Prince of Vere (who has not yet turned 21), it is assumed (at first) that Damen would, among other tasks, be warming Laurent's bed. Of course, there are complications galore, a few of which also come out at the very beginning of the trilogy. Damen, as a young warrior of 19 (now 25) killed the heir to the throne of Vere (and Laurent's most beloved older brother) in a war between kingdoms, thus given the sobriquet of Prince-Killer (not particularly original, but it says what's necessary) and so he's not only in a foreign country as a slave, but one in which every individual wishes him harm. And there are serious difficulties dealing with Laurent, whom Damen at first just believes is a pouty, lazy aristocrat. A most beautiful one, but still... He quickly realizes his mistake. Just not the depth of his misperception.With floggings, wild chases on horseback and across the city late at night, treasonous plots, random sexual encounters, medieval entertainment including sporting events and, again, sexual encounters (seriously), cheating death time and time again, small and large armies trained and/or sent out to war, double-agents, triple-agents, dungeons, pleasure pets (human, that is), brothels, camps, castles, holdings, rape, murder, and the most heinous villain since Moriarty (from AC Doyle or any Sherlock series), or, say, Hans Gruber (Die Hard) -- a smart, bright HORRIBLE villain -- The Captive Prince Trilogy contains all one might look for in such a series. And it brings up questions of morality - whether there is a grey area between white and black. And, to my most delightful surprise, even a dash of Agatha Christie-type explanation near the end!All that PLUS the relationship between Damen and Laurent, which builds so slowly, so cautiously, in such a manner that the reader is actually taken aback when something physical starts up between them. It's a remarkable trilogy that, under other circumstances, I could actually see the grandson in The Princess Bride enjoying -- except, this IS a kissing book, this is a very adult book simply masquerading as a fairytale.I had only one problem with the entire trilogy, dealing with a plot point (I thought) was so blazingly clear about halfway through book one, that I honestly could not understand why it took Damen by surprise somewhere near the end of book three. While his character was established to be lacking in cunning and deviousness such that he did not perceive it in others, I (apparently mistakenly) thought that he was also shown to be a somewhat wiser man through the time he spent in the military. Clearly I was wrong. However, while this was, in fact, an important point in the trilogy, Damen's ignorance of it is somewhat nit-picky simply b'c all three books were basically non-stop action. There wasn't any time to dwell on (what I considered to be) Damen's idiocy when so many other things were happening all around him.And, to be fair, in the end it's just a fairytale with a fairytale ending. And it gave me two days of tremendous fun to join Damen and Laurent on their adventures throughout various parts of Vere and Akielos! (And, to be truly, truly fair, Laurent's character, flaws included, happens to be a personal favorite type of mine, so it was much easier to get annoyed with Damen on Laurent's behalf.)My recommendation, having spent weeks and weeks trying to find either free, KU, or not at all expensive books, is that the minute you're willing to spend money, spend it on this Trilogy!!