Book Review: Kings Rising (Captive Prince Trilogy Book 3) by C. S. Pacat

 
 
Damen has some of his Akielon soldiers backing him as their king now that they've found him alive, but his identity has been discovered by the Veretians as well, and Damen will have to face Laurent, the prince who has sworn to kill him but who Damen was come to feel something for during their time together. The Regent is readying for war though and attempting to take over Akielos as well as Vere, and Damen and Laurent will have to work together if they want any chance at beating him.

Book Review: Kings Rising (Captive Prince Trilogy Book 3) by C. S. Pacat | reading, books, book reviews, fantasy, high fantasy, lgbt
Title: Kings Rising
Author:
Book Number: Book 3 of 3
Pages: 363
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
More Info: Goodreads, Amazon, Publisher
 

Review:

I don’t think there’s anything I can say about this book that I haven’t already said about the previous ones. This series has seriously impressed me, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I didn’t want to put any of the books down once I picked them up.

Much like the others, this one had the same eloquent writing, the complex, consistent, amazingly well-written characters, and the intricate plot involving so many different plans and troops and battles and nations and places but still somehow staying focused on the characters and not getting convoluted or confusing.

The main difference in this book versus the others was that the romance finally happened! Yeah, there was a sex scene in Book 2, and Damen had feelings, but it wasn’t a relationship, and Laurent’s feelings were still a bit of a mystery. I loved all the scenes between Damen and Laurent in this book though. They were so filled with tension because of how they still weren’t sure if they could trust each other and were still struggling with the idea of having feelings for someone they felt like they should hate. Seeing Laurent’s actions and reactions and words in those scenes was the best because he was such a complex, hard-to-crack character who was usually so iron-willed and in control and shielded.

Speaking of Laurent, I felt for him so much in this book after getting to know him and his life more. I really wanted to give him a hug and make his life and his past better and tell him that he doesn’t always have to be so rigid and shielded anymore. The poor guy, half his life has been spent trying to counter his uncle’s shady plans, he’s been alone and hasn’t had anyone he could trust and be close to since Auguste died, he’s kept everything to himself… I felt so much sympathy for him. And some things (that I suspected) were revealed in this book that definitely explained some of his behaviors.

And oh! There were some fantastic scenes that still stand out to me, like the epic okton, and the whole Charls thing that had me cracking up so much.

So yeah, this was just a fantastic, gripping, well-written series, and I am so glad I finally read it!

Now, who wants to talk fan art with me? Because I rarely read books popular enough to have fan art, and I am LOVING some of the artwork I’ve found.

For Laurent, this is closest to how I picture him, but with actual skin color instead of corpse color. Also this one. I also love this one for the harder, stronger, fiercer look he has. And both this one and this one for bit more of the pretty androgyny he has (I mean, he was able to pass for a girl when he had to). But I also love this one. So I see Laurent as kind of a combination of all those.

For Damen, I haven’t found any that look exactly how I pictured, but this one comes closest, with this one (but with darker skin and hair) and this one being next closest, and I love his vibe/attitude/body language in this one .

And for the two of them together, I love this one and this one, even though it’s super manga. THEY’RE SO BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER <3

 

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Talk to me!

Have you read Kings Rising by C. S. Pacat?
Do you like slow burn romances that take numerous books to finally happen?

 
 
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22 thoughts on “Book Review: Kings Rising (Captive Prince Trilogy Book 3) by C. S. Pacat

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  1. Greg

    I love it when a series inspires fan art, it’s so fun to see other people’s interpretations (especially since I can’t draw, so I need to enjoy OTHER PEOPLE’S artwork lol). I like the second and fifth ones you linked too quite a bit. I like him looking a bit androgynous given that it fits the story too.

    Nice too that the story stays clear in spite of all the plot stuff.

    1. Kristen Burns

      Same about not being able to do it myself and thus having to rely on other people’s art lol. I do love when the art really matches the story and also what I pictured in my head.

  2. Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

    I didn’t realize you were reading this series. I have heard so much about this one over the last few years. It seems to be a kind of love it or hate it series (from the reviews I’ve seen). So glad it was a big hit for you! And that the third book was just as strong as the previous ones. I don’t read a lot of books that generate fan art, either, but it’s always fun to check out what others have come up with. Especially when their vision matches your own. 🙂

    1. Kristen Burns

      I read it over a year ago lol, it just takes me a while to post reviews sometimes. I’m firmly in the love it camp! It really is fun when a series you’ve read has fan art to look at! And it definitely nice finding art that matches your vision.

  3. Angela @ Simply Angela

    I don’t mind the romance transpiring over several books–the Outlander series is always up and down in that area–as long as it’s not an actual romance book–then I want the romance arc to come to a close at the end of the book.

  4. Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity

    It’s been ages since I read these books and I never reviewed them when I did instead I just straight up binged them but I know there were things which bothered me in this book. Like, I loved it but I had some issues. Mostly I think I felt like the ending felt a touch too convenient. I mean, I loved this series and I would totally like to reread and maybe savour it a little more because I feel like I binge read the books so fast I have forgotten huge chunks. It was totally awesome, though. The slow burn romance was excellently written.

    1. Kristen Burns

      It’s been ages since I read them too lol. I don’t think I had issues? I don’t remember the ending very well, tbh. It’s one that I might reread one day too though. The slow burn was amazing!

  5. Dani

    Slow burn romance is such a favorite of mine! Waiting for everything to come together and for the couple to share their feelings is the pinnacle moment in a series like this. I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, so many want M/M high fantasy and this is the one to suggest! ♥️

    1. Kristen Burns

      Me too! This series might not be for everyone because of how it starts with one character being a slave to the other, but I thought that was handled really well in the end and def rec this!

  6. Olivia Roach

    I love a good slow burn romance and something it can be so slow it’s frustrating but it’s the good kind of frustrating to me. I love it <3 Also, I am so glad that the last book in the series could be just as wonderful as the previous ones for you 🙂