History YMMV / CaptivePrince

* AudienceAwarenessAdvantage: Some readers are a little harsh on Damen because he doesn't realize that [[spoiler:the Regent sexually abused Laurent]] until it's explicitly stated in the third book. However, Damen is described in-universe as a straightforward thinker who [[GoodCannotComprehendEvil doesn't understand how people can do truly despicable things]], so he probably wouldn't analyze the potential origins of [[IceKing Laurent's]] [[HatesBeingTouched behavior]]. Also, being a WarriorPrince-turned-SexSlave who's trying to survive in an enemy country, hide his identity, and return to his own nation, Damen has...quite a bit on his mind that doesn't involve inspecting every single one of Laurent's quirks.

* CompleteMonster: [[spoiler:The Regent]] is a sadistic, power-hungry [[spoiler:pedophile]] who [[spoiler:assassinated his brother]] and [[spoiler:raped his nephew]]. [[HateSink There is nothing good about him whatsoever]].

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: A large, muscular, dark-skinned man is sold into slavery and given as a gift to a blue-eyed, blond-haired, light-skinned prince. The master tortures his slave but the two eventually fall in love. While their relationship dynamic is a bit more complex than this would imply, it's not surprising some readers find it off-putting.

* HypeBacklash: ''Captive Prince'' was one of the most popular pieces of gay literature in 2016, but its content and overall subject matter stirred up controversy. Some readers point out that the book's central romance isn't a very positive depiction of a gay relationship, even comparing the novel to ''Literature/FiftyShadesOfGrey'' for allegedly glorifying a toxic romance. While Laurent does [[TookALevelInKindness get better]], he still spends a lot of the first novel physically, sexually and emotionally torturing Damen (his future LoveInterest). Then there's the fact Damen is Laurent's slave, as in a ''literal'' slave who is held against his will, rather than it being some consensual kink thing. Many have also expressed discomfort with the descriptions of Damen and Laurent's appearances, perceiving uncomfortable racial implications.

* CriticalResearchFailure: "Lykaios" is a female slave, but the name is masculine. No feminine Greek names end in "-os."

* DontShootTheMessage: ''Captive Prince'' ultimately has an anti-slavery message, with both Damen and Laurent coming to realize how immoral and damaging slavery is by the end. This is despite Damen growing up in a society where it's considered normal, and despite Laurent having originally justified it as part of his [[spoiler:revenge mission]]. However, some readers feel this is undermined by the fact that around two-thirds of the first book are dedicated to graphically depicting sexual slavery and other abuses, to the point where it can feel exploitative. Not to mention, of course, the positive depiction of a romance between a slave and his abusive master. Some readers find that the sequels are better in this regard.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Nicaise is one of the fandom's most beloved characters, despite only having a side role in one book. This is probably because he's the first person we see with a positive relationship with Laurent.

** Did Jokaste betray Damen because she was trying to [[spoiler:[[CruelToBeKind protect him through manipulation of Kastor's actions]]]]? Or because she simply [[IDidWhatIHadToDo had to pick the side in the coup that was least likely to get her killed]]? Was it some mixture of both?

** Is Kastor a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] willing to do anything, including kill family, in order to take the throne? Or is he a resentful [[TheUnfavorite unfavorite]] who loves his family on some level but feels their treatment of him justifies what he does to them, ultimately driving him to [[spoiler:[[AmbitionIsEvil sacrifice them]]]] for a greater goal that will finally make him feel appreciated?

** Is Kastor a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] willing to do anything, including killing family, in order to take the throne? Or is he a resentful [[TheUnfavorite unfavorite]] who loves his family on some level but feels their treatment of him justifies what he does to them, ultimately driving him to [[spoiler:[[AmbitionIsEvil sacrifice them]]]] for a greater goal that will finally make him feel appreciated?

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Is Kastor a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] willing to do anything, including killing family, in order to take the throne? Or is he a resentful [[TheUnfavorite unfavorite]] who loves his family on some level but feels their treatment of him justifies what he does to them, ultimately driving him to [[spoiler:[[AmbitionIsEvil sacrifice them]]]] for a greater goal that will finally make him feel appreciated?

* AngstWhatAngst: There's [[AngstAversion quite a bit of angst]] in the series overall, but pretty much none of it is generated from the infamous scene in the first book where Laurent [[spoiler:[[ForcedOrgasm forces]] Damen to publicly receive a blowjob from an [[HighClassCallGirl escort]]]]. One would think that this trilogy, which later focuses considerably on [[spoiler:sexual trauma]] as a part of Laurent's backstory, would depict the consequences of a [[spoiler:sexual assault]]. But Damen really has no notable response other than a brief period of anger.

** Despite making it clear that Damen isn't forcing anything on him, Laurent is rather confused and uncomfortable during [[spoiler:[[TheirFirstTime their sex scene]]]]. Damen himself is puzzled by Laurent's gaps in [[spoiler:sexual awareness]] and odd responses to intimacy, especially since Laurent said he [[OfCourseImNotAVirgin wasn't a virgin]], but he chalks it up to Laurent's general paranoia and ControlFreak tendencies. Then it's revealed that Laurent lost his virginity when he was [[spoiler:thirteen...to [[RapeAsBackstory his uncle]]]]. And all of his quirks surrounding physical contact become very dark.

* AngstWhatAngst: There's [[AngstAversion quite a bit of angst]] in the series overall, but pretty much none of it is generated from the infamous scene in the first book where Laurent [[spoiler:[[ForcedOrgasm forces]] Damen to publicly receive a blowjob from an [[HighClassCallGirl escort]]]]. You would think that this trilogy, which later focuses considerably on [[spoiler:sexual trauma]] as a part of Laurent's backstory, would depict the consequences of a [[spoiler:sexual assault]]. But Damen really has no notable response other than a brief period of anger.

* AngstAversion: It's not uncommon for people to be put off reading the first book due to the sheer amount of sexual violence and abuse present. Even some readers who enjoy the trilogy as a whole find the first book difficult to get through, and certain people say it's their least favourite installment due to the content.

* FandomSpecificPlot: The "Auguste doesn't die" alternate universe is the most common fic type in the fandom, taking cues from Damen's in-universe fantasies about what could have been. In these stories (which are often very fluffy), the battle at Marlas either doesn't happen or is resolved peacefully, [[BestFriendsInLaw Auguste and Damen become close friends]], and Damen falls for a less antagonistic Laurent once he's old enough. Another very common fic plot is involves swapping Damen and Laurent's roles so that the Regent is sending Laurent to be Damen's slave.

* AngstAversion: It's not uncommon for people to be put off reading the first book due to the sheer amount of sexual violence and abuse present. Even some readers who enjoy the trilogy as a whole find the first book difficult to get through, and it's not uncommon to hear people say it's their least favourite installment due to the content.

* FandomSpecificPlot: The most common story type in the fandom is the "Auguste Doesn't Die" plot, which takes cues from Damen's own fantasies about what could have been. In these stories, which are often very fluffy, the battle at Marlas either doesn't happen or is resolved peacefully, Auguste and Damen become close friends, and Damen falls for a less antagonistic Laurent once he's old enough. Another very common one is the role-swap fics, where the Regent sends Laurent to be Damen's slave.

* AngstWhatAngst: There's [[AngstAversion quite a bit of angst]] in the series overall, but pretty much none of it is generated from the infamous scene in the first book where Laurent [[spoiler:[[ForcedOrgasm forces]] Damen to publicly receive a blowjob from an [[HighClassCallGirl escort]]]]. You would think that this trilogy, which later focuses considerably on [[spoiler:sexual trauma]] as a part of Laurent's backstory, would depict the consequences of this [[spoiler:sexual assault]]. But Damen really has no notable response other than a brief period of anger.

* AngstWhatAngst: There's [[AngstAversion quite a bit of angst]] in the series overall, but pretty much none of it is generated from the infamous scene in the first book where Laurent [[spoiler:[[ForcedOrgasm forces]] Damen to publicly receive a blowjob from an [[HighClassCallGirl escort]]]]. You would think that this trilogy, which later focuses considerably on [[spoiler:sexual trauma]] as a part of Laurent's backstory, would depict the consequences of this [[spoiler:sexual assault]]. But Damen really has no notable response other than a brief moment of rage.

* HarsherInHindsight: Laurent shows up drunk in Damen's cell after their first meeting and has him roughed up, threatening to do worse. Damen dismisses him as a dissolute sadist. Much later, several grim details are revealed: Laurent is usually TheTeetotaler, he immediately [[spoiler:recognized Damen as his brother's killer]], and he expected [[ManipulativeBastard the Regent]] to use [[spoiler:Damen's identity]] as a weapon against him. Only after this does the reader understand [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness just how much strain Laurent was under]] during that scene.

* GrowingTheBeard: Many readers consider the sequels to be improvements over the first book, as they greatly tone down the more graphic content, make Laurent and Damen [[spoiler:equals]] so that their romance comes off far less problematic, and focus more on things like political intrigue and action than constant abuse of slaves. These traits allow for the trilogy's better qualities to shine.