Kings Rising (Captive Prince, #3) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Feb 02, 2016 Sharon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I read this book months ago, but Kings Rising is the climatic (pun intended) end to the Captive Prince trilogy and any pre release talk was punishable by...I don't know, but I wasn't going to chance it. I will keep this spoiler free because everyone has been waiting to find out how this story plays out. Kings Rising is definitely worth the wait and if you've read the first two books, RUN and get this one cause...*slaps hands over mouth*

The story is told from Damen (Prince Damianos of Akielos) PO ...more

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Jun 29, 2013 is mee... kissa rated it liked it

I'm not sure how to feel about this. I absolutely loved the first two books in this series, but I feel like this one fell short. It may have been because my expectations were too high, given that it is the final novel in my beloved Captive Prince series, but it has left me somewhat dissatisfied. Although I have no huge objection with the majority of the novel (aside from a few scenes here and there), one of my greatest complaints would have to be Laurent. The carefully cultivated image of Lauren I'm not sure how to feel about this. I absolutely loved the first two books in this series, but I feel like this one fell short. It may have been because my expectations were too high, given that it is the final novel in my beloved Captive Prince series, but it has left me somewhat dissatisfied. Although I have no huge objection with the majority of the novel (aside from a few scenes here and there), one of my greatest complaints would have to be Laurent. The carefully cultivated image of Laurent as a calculated and previsional individual takes a blow. Although still intelligent (yet certainly dulled), Laurent adopts a more relaxed characterisation with a greater sense of spontaneity. Although it's a change I could see happening with Damen's influence (who unfortunately and even strangely, did not appear to gain any of Laurent's qualities at all), I felt like it happened much too quickly and was to too large a degree for a character like Laurent, whose shrewdness and tactical persona does not allow for such a considerable transition. Additionally, the transformation made absent the mystery and thrill that previously shrouded Laurent, which unfortunately for me, was a huge part of Laurent's appeal that I think should have been dispensed with later than it was. It all just seemed too unrealistic to me for such a character. I also think that this sudden change was because romance took a greater stance in this novel. Although it was something I expected based on what happened in the previous novel, it was a little disappointing to see how overt it had become, where previously it had a quality of finesse that, I think, suited Laurent's character perfectly. Although some scenes were poignant and beautiful, at times the romance just felt out of Laurent's character and more like fanservice or a method to speed up the romance, which was sad because it stymied the accumulation of sexual tension and chemistry that existed between our protagonists. The other major issue I had was the climax. It seemed convenient and lacked the elaboration I had associated with the series, which played a major hand in how incredible the first two novels were.

All in all, Kings Rising is not a bad novel, but it was certainly not of the same caliber as the first two of the series. ...more

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