Captive Prince
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat is $1.99! This is book one in the extremely popular Captive Prince trilogy, which is a gay romance with royalty, intrigue, and fantasy elements. Many people I know (including my roommate) have loved this series, but there are a few reviews on Goodreads where the readers said they were bored. Have you read this?
Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos, but when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity, and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.
Beautiful, manipulative and deadly, his new master Prince Laurent epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country.
For Damen, there is just one rule: never, ever reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reason to hate him than anyone else . . .
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Beyond Scandal and Desire by Lorraine Heath is $1.99! This is part of today’s Kindle Daily Deals. This is the first book in the Sins for All Seasons series. Elyse gave this book a C- because she’s reached her limit in terms of heroes using the heroine in his plans for revenge. But your mileage may vary when it comes to this trope.
At birth, Mick Trewlove, the illegitimate son of a duke, was handed over to a commoner. Despite his lowly upbringing, Mick has become a successful businessman, but all his wealth hasn’t satisfied his need for revenge against the man who still won’t acknowledge him. What else can Mick do but destroy the duke’s legitimate son—and woo the heir’s betrothed into his own unloving arms . . .
Orphaned and sheltered, Lady Aslyn Hastings longs for a bit of adventure. With her intended often preoccupied, Aslyn finds herself drawn to a darkly handsome entrepreneur who seems to understand her so well. Surely a lady of her station should avoid Mick Trewlove. If only he weren’t so irresistible . . .
As secrets are about to be exposed, Mick must decide if his plan for vengeance is worth risking what his heart truly desires.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss is $1.99! This is another Kindle Daily Deal and it’s been on my TBR for a while. It’s a historical mystery with fantasy elements and the characters are based on recognizable figures in literature. However, some readers warn that the pacing is a bit all over the place.
Based on some of literature’s horror and science fiction classics, this is the story of a remarkable group of women who come together to solve the mystery of a series of gruesome murders—and the bigger mystery of their own origins.
Mary Jekyll, alone and penniless following her parents’ death, is curious about the secrets of her father’s mysterious past. One clue in particular hints that Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes.
But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana, a feral child left to be raised by nuns. With the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde, and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherin Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein.
When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. Now it is up to the monsters to finally triumph over the monstrous.
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We also may use affiliate links in our posts, as well. Thanks!A Town Like Alice
RECOMMENDED: A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute is $2.99! Carrie described this as a “classic romance” and gave it an A- grade. She does warn that the book does reflect the racism present at the time of the book’s setting, but she also said this:
Shute’s books are not revolutionary or visionary. What seems to interest him as an author is the heroism of the ordinary person.
Nevil Shute’s most beloved novel, a tale of love and war, follows its enterprising heroine from the Malayan jungle during World War II to the rugged Australian outback.
Jean Paget, a young Englishwoman living in Malaya, is captured by the invading Japanese and forced on a brutal seven-month death march with dozens of other women and children. A few years after the war, Jean is back in England, the nightmare behind her. However, an unexpected inheritance inspires her to return to Malaya to give something back to the villagers who saved her life. Jean travels leads her to a desolate Australian outpost called Willstown, where she finds a challenge that will draw on all the resourcefulness and spirit that carried her through her war-time ordeals.
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Captive Prince is excellent. It’s so much better than the garden variety m/m stories that are everywhere. You NEED this book. If you don’t normally read this genre this is a great “starter” book as it contains revenge, intrigue, friendship and betrayal. I need a re-read asap.
The Penguin Classics version of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House is $1.99. Here’s an Amazon link because even using “the haunting of hill house shirley jackson penguin classics” doesn’t put the correct edition in their absolute trash search results:
https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Hill-House-Penguin-Classics-ebook/dp/B004SS1MJI/
I’ve always wanted to read the Goss book and now the sale takes away any obstacles. The first book in the Captive Prince series is where all the world building happens so that might be why folks find the pace slowed but it’s an intriguing tale and so well written to boot so I highly recommend it.
A Town Like Alice is wonderful. Really, really good. Once you finish reading it, then you can watch the mini-series with Bryan Brown. I used to have it on VHS (yes, I am old), and it Is also really well done.
Be warned that the first book of Captive Prince is brutal and contains non-consensual sex. For me the series was the definition of crack– “this is kind of awful but I must have more.”
FYI, I just went to Amazon to buy A Town Called Alice, and many reviews are saying that this an abridged and simplified version. Buyer beware!
The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett is 1.99 at amazon. This is the first book in her Lymond Chronicles series. It is historical fiction and an old favorite of mine. This series helped me through many plane rides and hospital visits when my mother was ill almost 20 years ago. These books rarely go on sale — so I thought it should pass the info along.
“Captive Prince” very good, but it deserves a non-con warning.
Ehhhh, is Captive Prince the one with super side-eye-worthy worldbuilding with regards to racial stereotypes? Or am I thinking of something else?
I also enjoyed “A Town Like Alice”, however the Amazon link is not working now, maybe they pulled it down? The Nook link does not have any warning about being abridged.
While I loved the Captive Prince books, I wouldn’t call the first book a romance, let alone erotica (which I’ve seen it called) the heroes don’t even kiss until book 2. The first book is more intrigue and court politics, plus setting up the world building.
@Karin: Updated the Amazon link! Thank you!
Hi @Amanda, the link works now, but it says the book only has 123 pages! I know when I read it in print it was a lot longer than that, so definitely buyer beware. There seems to be something fishy about this edition, as @Kate also noticed.
@Failed Indie: I think some people, specifically Americans, read one of the protagonists as black, which caused people to argue that it was racist because of the slavery narrative. He isn’t black though. (There may be other reasons to argue for the worldbuilding being racist, but that’s the common one I think, and it’s pretty definitively not true in the text.) Does that ring a bell for you?
http://answersfromvanaheim.tumblr.com/post/155213578222/hey-im-loving-captive-prince-but-someone-told-me kind of goes over it and argues that the book (mostly) isn’t.
YMMV on the books portrayal of race; I enjoyed them and didn’t find that the way race was portrayed was a huge issue, but I’m a white American. The slavery aspect of it is pretty rough to read, and it’s pretty rare that I can read a book with a slavery narrative; this one works for me but it is very much not for everyone.
It’s pretty obvious from the character names and the general depictions of the two kingdoms and their cultures that Akielos is based on Greece/the Mediterranean and Vere is based on France/Western Europe. The author is Australian so I doubt she was making any veiled references to modern American history; slavery has existed in many cultures at different times.
On another note, the books have such elegant writing and very twisty plotting, which you don’t even hope to find in most m/m romance.
I have the longer version of A Town Like Alice. It’s 301 pages. That book is also on sale for $2.99
https://smile.amazon.com/Town-Like-Alice-Nevil-Shute-ebook/dp/B00AEZZZF6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528149322&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Town+Like+Alice
The Captive Prince Trilogy is one of my favourite series ever.Like most high fantasy, book 1 is mostly world building, the romance really starts in book 2 & OMG book 3 is just perfection. Definitely for the dark reader, and for those who enjoy gladiator/300 inspired movies – think leather skirts and leather body armour…
Mick Trewlove?? really, I would have a hard time reading the Heath book based on that alone. In my head I hear the priest from The Princess Bride! (Twoo Wove)
As for the Goss book, I also have it in my TBR, the sample is really interesting. Also, it was one of the nominees for this year’s Nebula award.
Re:Captive Prince: I don’t think the controversy surrounding this series has much to do with a lack of reader engagement … Rather, there is a lot of content in the series that certain readers would (understandably) find objectionable, including slavery, physical abuse, rape, and dubious consent. A fun, YA adventure treatment of the enemies-to-lovers trope this is not. Emphasis on the N.O.T.
So. With that said, I do think the books are competently written. The pacing is tight, the story well-plotted, and the characters well-drawn. The differences in upbringing, culture, and circumstances organically mold the conflicts, prejudices, and attraction that springs up between the two protagonists. And lest you think the premise cliched, like I did, there were several plot twists that did surprise me. But the readers who take issue with the author’s treatment of consent also make valid points. And if slightly problematic HEA are dealbreakers for you, then maybe you are one of the readers who should steer clear. Think Patricia Gaffney’s To Have and To Hold, which has been debated on this blog as well.
As someone who reads a lot of gay romance and enjoys it in a non-fetishy way– the worst thing about this genre is how racist (and Anti-Semitic!) many of these romances are. It’s gotten better over the years, but I’ve had to DNF books because the protagonists ended up making anti-Asian “jokes”, comparing Jewish people to wild animals/Nazis, or referring to African Americans’ body parts in demeaning ways.
Captive Prince is not as bad as other books I’ve DNF’d, but it’s still… problematic. Noncon, fetistic depictions of gay men, and anglo-fetism, you name it. Some readers also felt that the story negatively depicted POC characters, but the writer is Italian-Australian and allegedly based her POC characters on her own experiences as a minority. I don’t exactly agree with this line of reasoning, because intent isn’t magic and people in minority groups can still produce racist works. But, I concede that the author’s intentions complicate the question of “is this book racist?”
Overall, Captured Prince was not as bad as other gay romance stories I’ve DNF’d (that doesn’t say much!) It has a lot of style and well-paced plotting, so I understand why it’s crack/catnip to some readers. But, honestly? I would be extremely reluctant to recommend this book to new readers in the gay romance genre.
I agree with X… enjoying Captive Prince takes all your “How to enjoy problematic things” skills and although I’m fine with that, I was dismayed that the first m/m romance (of a sort) that Penguin Books decided to publish was this one. When the “mainstream” notices you, and you’re not certain what to make of their choices…
Loved the Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter – definitely a quick, engaging read. I think I read it at the beach or pool last summer and was completely enthralled. It has a bit of a mystery and a found family theme – based on all of these girls found in literature. It seemed to be setting the stage for a future romance as well. Highly recommend it.
Cosign X, yes, neophytes should definitely start elsewhere. This one is problematic in more ways than one. And, yes, m/m can be home to some of the most godawful, racist, misogynistic, not-queer-friendly trash. Readers have to read with a discerning eye.
It also needs to be mentioned that the books do not standalone. It’s one story packaged into 3 books.
@ Amazon:
JD Robb – Devoted in Death (#41) – 1.99
Linda Howard – Kiss Me While I Sleep – 1.99
Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Nobody’s Baby But Mine – 1.99
Thanks for the clarification! That was the controversy I remembered, though it is good to hear the author’s clarification on it.
I am personally not on board with “non-con” (not even fond of that term…), so I will pass, but I feel better about it at least. Thank you.
y’all are wreaking havoc with my budget … just sayin’
As a counter to everyone that loves it I have to say I think that Captive Prince is one of the worst books I’ve read and definitely didn’t live up to the hype for me due to the really horrible rape, non-con, child abuse, torture etc etc. YMMV of course, but I’d strongly recommend that people check the content warnings.
@Laurel; And if you like old movies, the original adaptation of A Town Like Alice starred Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch, circa 1955. I should have a dusty copy of the novel somewhere. I must look for it.
@E.L. And @Cosign X – where would you suggest newbies to m/m start? The choices seem overwhelming and as someone who has read a ton of m/f romance but not m/m romance, I would love suggestions? Was there a rec league for this already? If so and someone has the link handy, please post it!
Really… Captive Prince and The Game of Kings were on sale the same day, but nobody mentioned that the one (TGOK) inspired the other? The author’s acknowledged it, and if you read both, you’ll see the clear lineage.
And as to where to start for m/m romance, I haven’t read a ton, but I highly recommend KJ Charles.
@Katie C: I highly recommend Cat Sebastian. She’s wonderful. “The Soldier’s Scoundrel” and “The Ruin of a Rake” are probably my favorites thus far. Tere Michaels’ “Faith & Fidelity” will always have a special place in my heart, too; I love Matt and Evan. Plenty of angst, given that Evan is a widower and a cop, but also some great humor and a great cast of supporting characters (especially Evan’s partner, Helena).
@Katie C: Alexis Hall is a good author. And do you like sports? Tigers and Devils (Aussie Rules football) is nice.
Anyone else tired of book titles with the woman as only her relationship to a man? The [man’s job]’s Wife (or Daughter). Over it, so over it they are an automatic pass for me.
Highly recommend A Town like Alice. I can guess what they might cut out of the book to abridge it, and the romance part probably wouldn’t suffer, but the whole story is much more than two people in love and a mature reader who is educated about history will be able to deal with the racist parts and still enjoy the sheer determination of the heroine and the frontier spirit of the Australian outback community.
@Katie C – K.J. Charles’s books are excellent. I particularly love her Sins of the Cities series. In addition to being well-written m/m romance, they also touch thoughtfully on issues of neurodiversity (one of the main characters is autistic, although the term is never used because it would be anachronistic), race, class, gender (another main character is genderfluid), and more. She’s on my one-click insta-buy list at this point.
I absolutely loved the first Captive Prince book, though I acknowledge the inherent problematic nature of straight women writing gay men. And I agree that the first book is not a romance! But as a story of palace intrigue, it’s SO GOOD and so twisty! Just masterfully constructed, and not what I was expecting at all. The differences between the two main characters’ cultures (at least from our narrator Damen’s POV) are also fascinating. The action sequences are perfection and there’s a lot of humor amid the brutality. Telling the story entirely from Damen’s perspective, not knowing what Laurent knows or thinks, makes it super-suspenseful. For me, a lot of historical m/m is difficult to enjoy because of the suspension of disbelief required — for the most part, the HEA for gay men in most periods of history was pretty elusive. The fact that this is fantasy — and that it often seemed to play with the oiled and heaving conventions of 1950s swords-and-sandals beefcake movies — helped me enjoy it. I was delighted by the second book too, but felt the third seemed rushed and kinda obvious and there were (spoiler-y, so I won’t elaborate) aspects that did not work at all for me, sad face.
@Katie C. — I’m flattered you asked for my opinion, and recommend these books to new readers of gay romance novels:
“Someone Worth Saving” by Ruthie Luhnow (slow burn northern cowboy romance), “Concourse” (hot boxers who minus the toxic masculinity!) and “Sutphin Boulevard” (hot teachers who don’t prey on students!) by Santino Hassel and “For Real” by Alexis Hall (BDSM! Older men! No abuse or consent issues!) These books don’t shy away from gritty issues or unlikeable characters, but they thankfully exclude sexism or anti-gay fetishising.
If you prefer edgier stuff, I also recommend “Beijing Comrades” (classic internet erotica from China) and “Call Me By Your Name” (Jewish-Italian coming-of-age erotica.) Be warned that both are non-HEA, have protagonists who start off as teenagers, and contain abusive relationships. Despite that, I recommend these because of how skillfully they tackle those aforementioned issues (kind of like Queer as Folk, minus the disheartening Anti-Asian and Anti-Jewish content.) Both books provide compelling examples of how romantic-erotica can become as high-literature, and serve up meaningful social criticism. Beijing Comrades set off a heated debate in China AND Japan about gay relationships, and the move version of Call Me By Your Name just won an Oscar.
There are nany other grear books out there– A lot of different people (of all different genders and sexual orientations!!) write and read this genre. You don’t have to be male (or gay) to become a part of that!
@HeatherS, @Vasha, @Lexica and @X – thanks for all of the suggestions – I have updated my TBR list with many of them!