Damen has been given as an anonymous sex slave to his mortal enemy, the Crown Prince of Vere, Laurent, and must pray that he isn’t recognised as the man who killed Laurent’s brother in battle many years earlier. The plot centres on Damen, Prince of Akielos, who is double-crossed by his brother after the death of their father. I wasn’t sure what to make of it: I was shocked and uncomfortable, yet the characters were engaging, the narrative exciting, and the prose seamless. It’s detailed and direct, replacing the medieval battlefield with the bedchamber. I found instead brutality, rape, and dynamics of absolute power and enforced submission. I began this book eagerly anticipating some hypermasculinity and queer romance. Enough said, sign me up! What Pacat is doing here is intriguing, clever, knowing, and quite a lot of fun. Before reading it I’d heard the premise –medieval-style fantasy with gay princes. The first installment of the Captive Prince trilogy by Melbourne author C.S.
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