As gratifying as I hoped it would be and well worth the wait.
Kings Rising Fulfilling a Trilogy
Picking up exactly where Pacat left us in Captive Prince: Volume Two at Ravenel, we are swept into the whirlwind of action, intrigue and romance at a stallion’s pace. Feeding into his archetype, Damen is as gallant as ever as he continues to trust blindly the ever shifting equation of Laurent. Readers better make sure they are secure in the saddle as the pages don’t just engage in this installment – they grip. I read this in a frenzy - heart pounding, butterflies fluttering - and after closing the last page, I had to come down from the “high” of this epic ending for a few days.
Indeed this might be the most successful third installment in a trilogy that I have ever read. When I read Captive Prince: Volume One, I wasn’t sure this was going to be “my thing” – but it’s ending made it appear that all the pieces to the puzzle were starting to fit together. It grabbed me. So I grabbed Volume II. Volume II then rearranged all the pieces on the board making me realize that the puzzle in Volume I was not the picture I had thought. Kings Rising stepped in and went and rearranged all the pieces in Volume I, AGAIN, that I thought Volume II had made fit, into one cohesive beautiful work. Leaving me in awe for being so blind from the start.
After I closed Kings Rising, I went and reread Volume I as if seeing it for the first time – seriously, after finishing Kings Rising, Volumes I & II became new books to me. As if I had originally read them in the dark and someone finally turned on the light.
And a big surprise - I laughed while reading this third and final installment more than I expected. The cheeky humor is wittiness at its best. I raged at the villains. I longed for sweet kisses and gentle understanding for our heroes. I even sniffled at the epic man-pain. And when it all came together to a most fitting close, I felt the satisfaction of a battle long won.
I had questioned for the past three years, if during this wait for the third installment, my imagination would ruin it with my own head canons or if I had set my expectations too high for Pacat to ever meet. I didn’t. Kings Rising is a success.
The Captive Prince Series – Beautiful by Design
Captive Prince is a trilogy in perfect symmetry. In symmetry from start to finish across the map of their fictional world. In symmetry in story arc and character fate. In symmetry in design and layout – even much of the wording is reflected back on itself. The first half of the trilogy is like looking at the negative of a photograph, while the second half is the photograph coming into focus.
Pacat masters the power of the prose throughout the trilogy. Pacat’s talent at multi-layering meaning in the prose continues to be exquisite. Sentence structure kept simple, word choice and phrasing deliberate. There is not a single line that is boring or mundane. Every word is relevant and wording is key. And as I mentioned in my review of the first two volumes – watch for the symbols in objects and color. The novel details are threaded through all three volumes.
An underlying commentary is just beneath the surface. This is the story about the victim of abuse - and also about a man who was victim to his ignorance of it. This is a story about two princes who must fight for their thrones to become the kings they were born to be. This is a story about learning to trust based on instinct rather than deed and that maybe what is least trustworthy are your own perceptions. And threaded through it all is a subtle commentary on what it means to be a slave - literally and figuratively. That being free of restraints doesn’t mean we are free of constraints. And that despite the free agents we perceive ourselves to be, the only choices we really have are what we are slaves to. For whether we be kings or queens or anything in between we are all slaves to our hearts.
This series is not without its flaws as none of us are, but the brilliance of the work as a whole outshines any imperfections. To the readers who own the original Gatto books: Jokaste’s hair color is …?
I don’t know how many times I will reread these books over my life-time. But I do know that I will reread them. They will be entertaining every time. And I won’t be surprised in the least if in future reads I continue to fit another piece into the puzzle that I didn’t even know I was missing.
C.S. Pacat
The Captive Prince series documents something readers not often get to witness. It documents the evolution of a writer and the launching of their career. C.S. Pacat (formerly S.U. Pacat, formerly Freece) started posting chapters of a slave fic as a free work in progress on LiveJournal. She started writing as many of us do – alone and inspired, on our own dime. As her audience grew, she interacted with them and her skill grew with the work. Then Penguin handed her a paycheck and a support team and her work became pristine. The opening chapters of Volume I will always be not quite as polished as the closing ones of Kings Rising. And I appreciate that. Over the course of this series, Pacat wrote alone, wrote with an audience and wrote professionally. For those who stumbled upon this WIP on LiveJournal a number of years ago, it’s not just Damen and Laurent’s end point that we are in awe of – it is Pacat’s as well.
For many of us with LiveJournal or Archive of Own accounts and the like, Pacat’s success tied with Captive Prince’s represents hope, achievement and recognition. Many of us who have LJ and AO3 accounts have backgrounds in fandom – which is often perceived as a tawdry start, even if our original works demonstrate otherwise. Pacat started as one of us. Once in awhile online writing communities need a shout out. Her acknowledgment of her roots with us and continued interaction with fans that she cultivated from the start to fans that are just now finding the series, is one of her most endearing attributes (besides this totally awesome series she wrote).
With the Captive Prince series fast becoming a cult classic, my biggest fear for her currently is that she will never out do herself. Is it possible for her to continue to draft works as profound as this series? Does she need to or is the fan base secure? She has achieved writing a series as smart as her inspiration to do so – Dorothy Dunnett’s The Game of Kings. Ending it here at the zenith of the series might be a smart move, but maybe capitalizing on the momentum already established with the series and – like Dunnett – adding more volumes to this verse might be the smarter way to cut it. Either way do not fear, it has already been revealed that three short stories from the Captive Prince world will be released – so at least not all is said and done.
"The symmetry that ruled both their lives had brought them here, at the end of their journey."
Kings Rising was the very first book added to my “TBR” when I joined Goodreads in 2013. Captive Prince Volume I was my first ever book featuring an M/M pairing. The series introduced me to a whole genre – and I’ve gained much from that genre - friends, books, hours spent in a blissful escape and many more spent discussing them. I thank Ms. Pacat for this stunning series and the creation of two heroes I adore. Though, it is Damen that I would ride off into the sunset with any day, it is Laurent who deserves him.
Kings Rising
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 6,072 ratings
Price: 17.46
Last update: 09-03-2024
About this item
The stunning conclusion of a worldwide phenomenon - from the boldly original author of Captive Prince and Prince's Gambit.
His identity now revealed, Damen must face his master, Prince Laurent, as Damianos of Akielos, the man Laurent has sworn to kill. On the brink of a momentous battle, the future of both their countries hangs in the balance. In the south, Kastor's forces are massing. In the north, the Regent's armies are mobilizing for war. Damen's only hope of reclaiming his throne is to fight together with Laurent against their usurpers. Forced into an uneasy alliance, the two princes journey deep into Akielos, where they face their most dangerous opposition yet. But even if the fragile trust they have built survives the revelation of Damen's identity, can it stand against the Regents final, deadly play for the throne?
Top reviews from the United States
Rachel5.0 out of 5 stars
Success!
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2016
Dilyana5.0 out of 5 stars
A breathtaking mixture of war, intrigue and romance
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2017
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.
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.
jhen5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite series of all time
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2024
This series has been and will remain my favorite of all time. I have read it so many times and this time shockingly felt like the very first, so new and incredible. My ONLY complaint is that they never directly outright said that they loved each other. Did they have to? No it was obvious and you could argue words weren't needed when actions were beyond enough and you're right but still. I'd have wanted them to say it anyway. This series is immaculate. The way Pacat tied everything together, the way so many parallels were drawn near the end, mirrored up so closely against scenes from the past. The way how the plot was never lost not once. Just... Immaculate character work, character arch. An intimate, difficult, long love story with so many obstacles and painful presences. Beautiful intimacy and declarations of love. No telling, just showing. I could gush about this for ages but truly Pacat put her entire foot in this series. I ain't it up. 10/10 will read this again ❤️