Book Review: The Courtesan's Forgotten Prince
Tropes
Beauty & the Beast retelling
Phantom of the Opera Vibes
Victorian Romantasy
Forced proximity
High Heat
Court Intrigue
Class Difference
Secret Identity
Disfigured Prince
Beauty’s benefactor maybe more than a Beast…
Lydia is no stranger to intrigue and dangerous liaisons. Being a courtesan, she has experienced her share as one of the renowned "Virtues” of the Crimson Court. And she is most intrigued when a mysterious invitation comes from an enigmatic nobleman to be his private courtesan for the evening; he is not only hiring her for her body, but also her intellect and company.
There is only one stipulation: she is not allowed to see his face
Damian was once the Imperial crown prince, but now he is a shadow of a man. Having lost everything, his title, his status, and even his face, he has resigned himself to his only purpose in the shadows, to protect his brother, the emperor. But when he risks it all to spend one night with the Courtesan Beauty, he finds he cannot continue in his lonely existence.
Surrounded by intrigue and political machinations, these two find themselves plunged into danger, not only for their lives, but also their hearts.
My Review
I was drawn to this book by the premise, but it was the world building that did keep me interested. As soon as I started reading, I did get a vivid image of what everyone looked like and the locations. So, there is that as it shows that the author can write and build a story.
Where Lydia and Damian are concerned, they shared a slow burn romance. It took them time to get to know each other better but trusting one another and letting their guard down. It did feel like these two were forming a genuine connection. I will admit that my attachment to them was a slow growing one.
It took me quite some time to feel like I was engaging and focusing. The last third of the story is where the pacing picked up for me better. While I may not have "loved" the book, I still did "like" it.
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