Rating: 4.25🌈
Prince and Pawn charts the course of romance for the third and oldest Sandrelle Prince and the current heir to the Kingdom, Audric.
This book differs from the others in that the younger brothers , widely considered vying for the throne themselves outside of inner circles, each traveled to find their own mates. Audric’s story takes place primarily at home.
This plot feels less complicated or perhaps less well explained with its backstories, while being more kinky within their personal relationship than the others.
This is a BDSM D/s relationship with pain play, even involving some interesting use of Audric’s plant magic , think tendrils , during sex. That aspect of their relationship comes into play quickly and with little discussion at first meeting. Only the timing and details surrounding that event keep me from bringing up more questions here.
Lark makes each man’s resigned, reckless emotional state a factor in their actions that night, both sides dismissing talk for sex. So the reader gets it.
What is more noticeable during the narrative is the lack of depth given to the details of Corin’s magic. There’s no information or hints as to the background for this type of magic. So it lessens in many ways the impact of Corin himself, at the end and throughout the storyline.
Whether it was Whisper the assassin in Prince and Assassin #1 (my favorite) with his believable tortured adolescent or the betrayed enemy dragonrider, Rakos, of Prince in Disguise #2, (a tight second), those strong personalities with their complicated pasts elevated their romances, built barriers to their relationships, and ultimately created a superior narrative for their storylines.
I wish I could say the same about Audric and Corin’s romance but something just feels lacking. Less depth, less focus on details about history and magic, more about their sex life.
Maybe that’s intentional and will be addressed in future books. I don’t know.
But as of now, Corin’s a bit of a weakness and not because he’s a submissive but because he’s existing in a bit of a narrative vacuum. And by hooking Audric to him, it pulls him into that as well.
The next book takes us away from the royal family of Sandrelle and to another Kingdom entirely. One we visited in Rakos’ story, and a Prince and bodyguard we met there. I can’t wait.
I’m highly recommending this series. This story moves the series arc forward and I believe that we will get more of the missing parts later on as the entire series is a complex one whose unique world is being explored book by book.
I didn’t love this like I did with the others but it was entertaining.
Read them in order for event, character, and relationship development. Just marvelous!
Perilous Courts:
🔷Prince and Assassin #1
🔷Prince in Disguise #2
🔷Prince and Pawn #3
🔷Prince and Bodyguard #4 TBD
🔷Prince and Betrothed #5 TBD
🔷Prince of Agony #6 TBD
Buy Link:
Prince and Pawn (Perilous Courts Book 3)
Description:
One night of bliss could unravel a kingdom.
Be obedient. Be grateful. As the neglected illegitimate son of a powerful family, Corin is expected to follow his magic-gifted brother to the palace as a servant. He’s unwilling but resigned—and allows himself one night of distraction in a stranger’s arms.
Corin never knew pleasure and pain could be so exhilarating. So comforting. Corin only regrets he’ll never again see the anonymous man who ruined him for anyone else.
Until the next morning, when Corin meets his brother’s new arranged fiancé.
Prince Audric doesn’t want a loveless political betrothal, but he’ll do anything for his kingdom. His last night of freedom is a rare indulgence—and a terrible mistake. Corin is sweet, beautiful, and sees Audric like nobody else does.
He’s also Audric’s fiancé’s younger brother. Audric’s arranged betrothal might be a relationship in name only, but he can’t touch Corin again.
Constant proximity hurts when they can’t be together. But avoidance is impossible when Corin might be the key to unraveling the conspiracy behind Audric’s betrothal—
And when Corin keeps fainting into Audric’s arms.
Prince and Pawn is a high fantasy gay romance with hurt/comfort, forbidden pining, inappropriate use of vines, and more magic tigers. The Perilous Courts series is best read in order, but each book follows a different prince and his Happily Ever After.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 