Review: Captive Prince (Captive Prince #1) by C.S. Pacat

Title: Captive Prince
Series: Captive Prince #1

Author: C.S. Pacat
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: May 22, 2012
Pages: 240
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, LGBT
Source: Ebook

From global phenomenon C. S. Pacat comes the first in her critically acclaimed trilogy—with a bonus story.

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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MY REVIEW

Disclaimer: This review MAY contain SPOILERS.

I am at quite a loss for words in regards to my feelings about this book, but I will try my best. 

The beginning of the book was very abrupt. The reader is plopped into the conflict without knowing a thing about any of the characters. The writing felt very choppy as well. Mostly it just felt like craziness. You can see what is happening to the main character, but you have no concept of what his personality or background is. It makes for a very emotionless and confusing read.

While you do get a general feel for the characters as the book progresses, it doesn't feel intimate at all. It feels more like reading a grocery list interspersed with slavery and sexual abuse that just leaves you aghast and unsure of what it is you are actually reading. The characters were one dimensional. Absolutely no depth. And most of what is happening is cringeworthy in the worst of ways. 

The world-building is pretty much non-existent. I try to picture these kingdoms and I just can't. 

I can almost see this being a decent read, even with the graphic subject matter, if only it had been executed in a better way. Without knowing the characters the reader cannot feel for them. It mostly felt like smut to me. No real substance to the story. I have no clue if I will continue this series or not. This series just may not be for me.

I felt like this is a book that I would have loved if it had been presented differently. Are there any books that you've read that make you feel this way?