i remembered enjoying the first book—A King So Cold—so that's why I picked up this book. Either because I get older or my taste changed, i found The Stray Prince to be tiresome.

the pace itself isn't bad. there were no parts that were dragged or rushed. things escalated quickly from the beginning. but I think the pace is a no for me since it's combined with the plot. i felt like being strapped down on a never-ending rollercoaster ride. problem A solved, came problem B. the characters solved B, problem C already came knocking at their door. the cost of this is that each problem was resolved too clumsily for my liking.

what's more unbearable for me was the characters. i didn't find any major character development in any of them. Audra, our FMC, kept being her proud, i'm-very-cruel self. while Zad was still territorial and a fool for love. all the drama could be avoided if only these two would just lower their ego, sit down, and communicate. at some point, even Kash has had enough of them. the only character I'm intrigued by is Ryle. yes, he's a villain but his moves kept me interested enough to keep reading.

also, what was "the war" at the end? i don't understand why is it there at all. well, it had a hand in fixing Audra and Zad's relationship, as well as Este and Kole's but it was so unnecessary. another thing, why must everything have to be about sex in this world? the land is dying because the ruler needs to have an orgie?? the fae ruler will have a headache because they absorb too much power from the land, thus they need to climax—or in their word, release themselves?? *scream into the void*

all in all, The Stray Prince clearly wasn't written for me. don't get me wrong, i enjoy fantasy stories that have a dark nuance to them with characters that aren't saints or heroes. alas, this book was a miss. i give the 0.5 star for the epilogue because it was sweet and a much-needed cure after the previous 25 chapters.
but i think this book might be for you if you like: