Review of Enslaved by Sylvia Mercedes

SHE'S WILLING TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING.

HE'S WILLING TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING . . . EXCEPT HER.

Clara has been patient, waiting for her opportunity.

Now, the time has come. She will command the Prince of the Doomed City himself to aid her in her quest. Together they must travel to the various courts of Eledria, facing foes and monsters, each more deadly than the last, as Clara strives to save her childhood sweetheart from enslavement.

But each new bargain tangles her in a web of intrigue far more dangerous than she ever imagined. For there are other players in this game, other bargains being made. Worse still, she finds herself becoming irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic Prince, who has come to mean more to her than she dares admit.

When a final, most deadly bargain pushes the Prince to take drastic action, will Clara learn too late where her heart truly lies?

Return to wander through the dangerous realms of the fae with Clara and her Prince. Fair warning: this book will break your heart! (But I promise to mend it again in the next one.)

Check it out on Goodreads 

 

This book.

It shattered my heart, but not in the way it broke everyone else's. I'm going to have two controversial paragraphs lower in this review that I'll begin with "Unpopular Opinion" that will be spoiler free, but might hint at things if you want to skip those paragraphs for now.

This book was my most anticipated release of the year, and it delivered what I was looking for: forced proximity between the Prince and Darling. As antagonistic as these two are, and as much as Clara insists that they are enemies, they make great allies, and there is a connection between them that they cannot shake. I have a job, so I couldn't stay up all night, but I stayed up half-nights joining them on their adventures that took them deeper and deeper into danger. Seeing more of the fae realm was so fun, and revisiting the Haunted Isles was great. 

These two.

The Prince opened up some of his backstory, and Clara began to face her trauma. And the push-pull between them as their chemistry drew them closer, and their pride tore them apart: absolute perfection. These two; just wow. I wish I could give the names of two names that are stuck in my psyche forever (in a good way), but the spoilers would be so great (but one of them is the scene depicted on the new painted cover). Sadly, though the near-the-end stole a whole night of sleep after all . . .

Unpopular Opinion #1: The author added "spice" to this book. I knew that going in, but I was not aware to what degree. It was to a greater degree, I think, than Vow of the Shadow King. I had to skip it- except for one spot where there a lot of quotation marks together- and I honestly felt kind of sick for it. I lost some sleep previously reading it from the sheer draw of the story, but that was nothing compared to the night after skipping this part; I tossed and turned all night until I just gave up trying to sleep. I am not opposed to closed-door things happening between characters if certain conditions are met, but I very much do not like open-door. In this case, conditions were met, and I skipped, but I still felt so humiliated for the characters involved (which is dumb, I know) because I feel, in my very prudish soul, that such things are private to the couple. It also changed the whole tone of the book and the series because it just seemed like the point could have gotten across with less information, and the romance would still be there along with the charm. As for the quotation marks, I knew in my soul that a theory of mine would be either confirmed or denied in the course of that scene, and final answer concerning my theory was indeed there. Which upset my silly sensibilities more to think I almost missed what I'd been waiting four books for. But I digress.

Unpopular Opinion #2: If you've read the blurb, you know the ending is going to be heartbreaking. At the point I read it, my heart was already broke from Unpopular Opinion #1. But I do want to say this in Clara's defense: it's not her fault. And I'm not saying that just because her trauma made her do it. I believe she would have had the same reaction even if she was in a perfectly healthy relationship with the person involved, and that she would have been vindicated (maybe she would have reacted a little less, but still). And if she had not reacted, then it would be clear she was in an unhealthy relationship with the other person involved to just be okay with that kind of stunt. The ending falls almost squarely at the feet of the individual who did not communicate important things before other things escalated.

To conclude, I loved this book dearly until it destroyed me, and it will make you love it as well before it destroys you too. It remains up to you what will be the cause of your destruction. However, I do not think any of us have a choice to not read the final installment.

Note to more sensitive readers: This book has some bad language, more than the previous books, but maybe just because it's longer. There is also horror elements, a bad guy trying to do very bad things, and some nudity. The main thing you should be aware of, though, is an on-screen "love" scene. It's in only one section, so it can be skipped, but be aware that it's there.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

The perfect series for all ADULT lovers of romantic fantasy.

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I will note that the author is changing the cover soon, so if you like either the paperback or the hardback covers, now is the time to grab them.