Book Review for Prince of the Undying by Karen Kincy

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form. 

Prince of the Undying, by Karen Kincy, is a paranormal romance about leaving behind a horrific legacy to secure a future for yourself and your loved ones. Ardis is a mercenary who stumbles across a “dying” necromancer named Wendel, also known as the Prince of the Undying. Falling hard and fast for the supposed abomination, Astrid suddenly finds herself embroiled in a supernatural war as countries fight for control over magic and technology. With Wendel and Konstantine, a very young Archmage of Vienna, Astrid must navigate through complex alliances and histories to understand the true nature of the looming war and the cost that comes to fight it.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance between Wendel and Astrid. Everything was just so extra. At first, it was rather cute, if a little cringe, that Astrid would blalantly announce her attraction to Wendel, even if it was only in her thoughts. But the more they interacted, the more staged it felt, and when we got to the pivotal “I love you scene”, it felt very unearned. I understand that war makes people do dumb things sometimes, and the adrenaline may intensify already existing feelings, but it was still too fast-paced for me. The fact that Wendel became codependent on her because of his own heartbreaking past did little to sweeten the relationship for me. I also really wished that their actions and histories were more fleshed out. The characters wanted to be more, and in hindsight, they were interesting. I would’ve loved to know more about Wendel’s background and his relationship with the Order of Asphodel, as well as his own family. I wanted to see the hardened exterior that Ardis probably had to develop to ensure her own safety, alongside the fondness she had for her mother. Unfortunately, the romance got in the way of the character development. 

That being said, I absolutely loved the backdrop of the world. I cannot begin to imagine the magnificence of integrating magic into everyday technology, including warfare. I enjoy urban fantasies, and this book did not disappoint. Everywhere the characters went, I felt like I was being immersed in some dark dungeon with only magical orbs for light, or even tall shelters with tiny magical devices floating by. Even the military names like Project Lazarus gave me the chills. 

This book has a lot of potential. The intensity of the romance between Wendel and Ardis is good, and the settings provide the perfect way to explore the story. However, that romance overshadows a lot of the character’s development and relationships, and I feel it detracts from the plot as a whole. So for now, I’ll give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.