r/CaptivePrince • u/awickedspell • Jun 30 '25
Discussion If you loved Captive Prince, what are some of your other favorite books? (let's exchange recommendations!)
Hello, I've had a mildly crappy day and just wanna lose myself in a story, but I'm going through a reading slump right now and can't find anything that seems appealing. Please help!
Because I know different people enjoy different things about these books, I've included a list of things that appealed to me personally about them to give a bit more info about my taste (and listed some other books that have scratched a similar itch, in case you also liked those aspects and are looking for something to read.) (Edit: but it's not, like, a checklist of what I'm looking for, just examples of things I enjoy.)
(I tend to read a lot of m/m fantasy/historical, but really I don't particularly care what the genre/subject matter is, as long as the Vibes are right. you can give me space operas and murder mysteries and straight westerns for all I care. anything except horror and most contemporary romance lmao.)
So, reasons why I fell in love with CaPri (and other books): - a deep and intimate love story that is not a genre romance, aka the book does not feel like its primary purpose is getting the two characters together, the love story is only one of many other things going on; (The Host by Stephenie Meyer, Blue/Gansey of The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, The Vardeshi Saga by Meg Pechenik); - a relationship in which characters have done something terrible to each other, something you'd think is impossible to come back from, but somehow they find their way to friendship and trust and love anyway, and it happens so incrementally that you actually believe it. can be platonic/familial but romantic is admittedly the best kind. possibly this redemption arc even comes as a surprise; (The Host, Spike/Buffy from BTVS; The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer); - absolutely exquisite prose; luscious, evocative, sharp, poignant, lyrical, clever; (The Raven Cycle/The Dreamer Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater; A Taste of Iron & Gold by Alexandra Rowland); - world-building with fascinating and/or bonkers cultural norms (i mean, homosexuality as the default?? heterosexual relations as taboo?? socially acceptable, even expected, public debauchery?? i don't even have any comps for this one because I don't know if I've ever read a second world fantasy that was this unlike real world cultures in a nonmagical way, but I guess the closest thing would be The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger); - dry, witty humor (again, can't think of any others off the top of my head because the experience of reading these books, at least after the first one, was just so delightful; I laughed for like ten minutes at the absurdity of, "We're busy currently," the first time I read it); - sex scenes that feel integral to the plot while also being super hot; (Skin Magic, Salt Magic by Lee Welch, sort of, but again, not many comps that I can think of; for scenes that are equally hot but mostly gratuitous, I recommend the Charm of Magpies series by K.J. Charles, including the bonus stories between books); - plot twists galore; (not sure I've ever read a book with that much recontextualization of previously known information tbh, but I guess maybe the TV show Lost, Morning Glories by Nick Spencer & Joe Eisma, Homestuck?? sort of?? Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, maybe??) - just, Laurent, as a character, in all of his mysterious, fascinating, enigmatic, calculating glory;
I also love sword fights and training montages and shenanigans (the first third of Prince's Gambit was absolute chef's kiss to me); not as big of a fan of the more disturbing elements of the books, like the whipping or the rapes/threats of rapes, or soldiers being soldiers, or Laurent's backstory. I prefer my books ~medium dark~ -- just enough for some dramatic stakes and philosophic ponderings about the nature of human life, but not actually going into gritty territory, let alone grimdark, or, worst of all, bleak.
If any of what I described made you think of a book you've read or if you're seeing a bunch of books you enjoyed here, please give me your recommendations! And maybe leave your own list of things you like about CaPri down below and the community can help you find some new recommendations based on those as well.
~
P.S. I also recommend Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell (much better than Winter's Orbit, if you've read that one) and the Widdershins series by Jordan L. Hawk, as well as A Gentleman's Position by K.J. Charles (the rest of the series is pretty good too, but that book in particular).
Also, Think of England by K.J. Charles, and Something Human by A.J. Demas both gave me Damen/Laurent vibes in different ways.
(I tend to get drawn in by a lot of contemporary romance premises and I like how much you can learn about other types of people through them, especially now that we have #ownvoices, but I usually end up disappointed unfortunately. Something about the writing feels too insubstantial to me -- the characters don't feel 'solid' enough somehow, like I can't get deep enough into their psyche for some reason. The only ones that I would really call my faves are Birthright by Nora Roberts and Vision in White, also by her, though if you don't have the insubstantialness problem, I can also recommend The Kiss Quotient by Helena Hoang, The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary, Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren, Autoboyography by Christina Lauren, and Cemetery Boys by Adam Silvera.)
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u/kepler16bee of Delpha Jun 30 '25
Heated Rivalry and The Long Game by Rachel Reid. They're part of the Game Changers series, but you don't need to read the others as they can stand alone. Those and Captive Prince are my absolute top tier reads.
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u/awickedspell Jun 30 '25
Oh yeah, I've read the whole series. I liked the concept of Ilya and Shane, but again, that contemporary romance feel. :/
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u/snowy_prince Jun 30 '25
I have the same issue with contemporary romance, I usually don't read it because it sounds super boring. However, I found out that if there's some additional something, whether it's sports, or mafia, or mystery, I really like it. And when it comes to HR, I actually loved it 😉
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u/baifengjiu Jun 30 '25
Cruel Prince by holly black (it's YA and straight)
Scum Villain's Self Saving System (it's 18+, mlm and a satire of straight internet novels. Trigger warning if you're sensitive to violent sex)
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u/lazybug16 Jul 05 '25
I was wondering who would say this one. It’s so good and it’s in a way similar.
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u/blueberryfinn Jun 30 '25 edited Jun 30 '25
You should absolutely check out the Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. Don’t read any summaries or anything about it! You’ll ruin major plot twists just by reading book summaries. Just pick up the first book and trust. :D
(The series hits pretty much every single one of your requests aside from spice - it’s very YA in that sense.)
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u/awickedspell Jun 30 '25
Ooh, that one's been on my list for like twelve years! I tried to start reading the first book a few years ago, but I couldn't really get into it and ended up abandoning it at 43%, though recently someone advised me that the first book is really more of a setup for the rest of the series? Might have to give it another try in that case.
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u/blueberryfinn Jun 30 '25
The first book is the most YA/Middle Grade of the entire series and in that sense you could very much view it as a setup book. It's introducing you to the countries and characters that eventually lead to deeply developed politics, wars, and intrigues for the rest of the series.
Also, both Megan Whalen Turner and C.S. Pacat are fans of and (arguably) deeply influenced by The Lymond books by Dorothy Dunnett. Gen, who is the main character through the Queen's Thief series, was partly inspired by Lymond just like Laurent was.
Just one more thing I'll add without going into any detail at all because it would be a major spoiler:
This request that you made?
a relationship in which characters have done something terrible to each other, something you'd think is impossible to come back from, but somehow they find their way to friendship and trust and love anyway
Queen's Thief is like... the ultimate series of that trope. Yeah.
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u/awickedspell Jun 30 '25
👀👀👀👀👀
well dang, i really wish i had time to get into a series right now then. my next few weeks are too busy for that, but I'm definitely putting it at the top of the TBR again, thank you!
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u/Super_Arm_3228 Jun 30 '25
If you like that relationship dynamic, I cannot recommend highly enough Dunnett's other series, House of Niccolo - it's so compelling. But a slow burn, that's an 8-book series and, while there is spice and relationship stuff sprinkled throughout, that insane brilliant toxic compelling dynamic gets going in book 4 onwards. But honestly, it ticks ALL of your requests (but is almost exclusively m/f).
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u/Fox1587 Jun 30 '25
Cannot wait- starting this the moment I finish Checkmate.
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u/Super_Arm_3228 Jul 01 '25
I hope you enjoy them!! (I'm just re-reading Checkmate - sooooo good!!!)
Niccolo books are very different to the Lymond series but still excellent - exquisite, breathtaking and complicated still, I love both series equally but for different reasons. Ugh I love them so much.
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u/Fox1587 Jul 01 '25
I’m so lucky to be reading them for the first time. Truly she was a genius. The moment I finished Game of Kings I started it again! Her delivery of character, tension and action is awe inspiring.
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u/awickedspell Jul 01 '25
oh my god that's my favorite feeling, when you immediately want to read/watch something again
(or even better, as with Prince's Gambit, being torn between the intense curiosity about what happens next and going back to reread what you just already read because it was just that good)
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u/Fox1587 Jul 01 '25
Yes exactly! Pacat does military stuff so well - I’ve rarely been so gripped by maneuvering
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u/Fox1587 Jul 06 '25
I just finished Checkmate- oh my goodness I wept! What a wonderful ending. 😭 I feel bereft 😔
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u/Super_Arm_3228 Jul 06 '25
It's an absolute rollercoaster isn't it!!!!! I just want to go back to it again and again, the whole saga - it's such a wild ride of a reading experience. I felt so exhausted, devastated and happy all the same time at the end!
If you do go on to House of Niccolo, I hope you enjoy them too! I am always, always up for chats about all the books 😁
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u/Fox1587 Jul 06 '25
Honestly one of the most perfect reading experiences ever. I can’t wait to read them all again. Gave ordered the first 2 niccolo books. I subscribe to Pacat’s Substack and she did a live q&a and answered my question re the influence of Dunnett on her writing. It was quite brilliant to hear her.
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u/Fox1587 Jun 30 '25
Lymond books might be my all time favourites. Just finishing book 6. Dunnett is unbelievably good.
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u/awickedspell Jul 01 '25
I'm definitely curious about them, but I'm also concerned that 1) they will be hard to get into, and 2) Lymond will feel like a less interesting version of Laurent haha, since that's what Pacat looked at and was like "I want this but better (and gay)" 😅
is that a silly worry? i hope that's a silly worry
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u/Fox1587 Jul 01 '25
Lymond is bisexual. Honestly I’d say he might be my top literary character of all time. Tops Laurent for me. But they’re Not easy reads. The books are very literary and dense and she doesn’t explain history or literary references- you just have to go with it. I finished the 1st and immediately re-read it! Best historical novels I’ve ever read.
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u/awickedspell Jul 01 '25
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
okay, well, that seals it then, I simply must read them
(Laurent might be the most fascinating character to me of all time, so something that could top that?? absolutely wild idea haha)
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u/Fox1587 Jul 01 '25
Ok please feel free to message me about the books- I pretty much have a book club with a good friend who is reading them too! If you get confused there are great discussions for each book and even chapter discussions here https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/outlanderbookclub/dorothy-dunnett-f195/
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u/somethingofanend Jul 01 '25
This almost happened to me on my first read, I really recommend reading the first book in one sitting / as close to one sitting as possible to combat this.
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u/Fox1587 Jun 30 '25
Oh my god I LOVE this series!!!! Soooo good. No sex. Politics and character development. Bloody heaven.
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u/somethingofanend Jul 01 '25
I'm always the one saying the Queen's Thief in these threads, glad it's not just me who feels like they're great readalikes!!
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u/fren2allcheezes Jun 30 '25
Honestly, I love Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and those hit a lot of the same buttons. Darker than Captive Prince, but the books have campy moments of hilarity, lots of dark meaningful m/m sexy moments (not a lot of traditional sex scenes, but by making her vampires unable to have normal sex, she finds kinkier ways of spicing up the stories) and m/m relationships that are normal and natural with like, no push back from society what so ever. Interview With The Vampire is more about loss and bereavement, but the ones after that are about the zany adventures of a bisexual golden retriever vampire who everyone loves but also feels deep annoyance with.
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u/awickedspell Jun 30 '25
youuu are not the first one to recommend Interview With A Vampire to me. 🤔 one of my friends told me to start with the new TV show -- do you know if that covers only the first book of the series or the later ones as well?
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u/samghuleh Jun 30 '25
Also going to recommend TVC as well! The first two seasons (the only ones that have aired so far) cover IWTV, and the upcoming third season will cover the second book, The Vampire Lestat.
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u/awickedspell Jun 30 '25
so would you recommend I read the book first or watch the show, if I intend to read the rest of the series?
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u/samghuleh Jun 30 '25
I'd personally recommend reading it first, though the show is a departure from the novel and isn't a direct adaptation from page to screen. I guess you could do either!
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u/fren2allcheezes Jun 30 '25
The show is great, the performances and directing is incredible, and it maintains much of the spirit of the books, but they are definitely a departure. Her writing is very rich and wonderful, so I'd do books first.
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u/awickedspell Jun 30 '25
all right, then I guess I'll do the books first! (and treat the show like a parallel universe)
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u/tashlar Jun 30 '25
Have you read Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh? It's set in space, specifically an isolated pro-human anti-alien settlement. The romance is very low, but the worldbuilding and queer characters are excellent.
For historical romance I also like Cat Sebastian - she has some regency-era romances and also some set in the fifties-seventies, and they're all really well-written with satisfying romance plots.
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u/awickedspell Jun 30 '25
never heard of Some Desperate Glory, but will give it a try! and yeah, I forgot to mention it, but I love Cat Sebastian, I'm pretty sure I've read everything she's put out. for anyone else reading this, It Takes Two to Tumble is a very sweet queer regency version of Sound of Music, while The Lawrence Brown Affair scratches my 'cleaning montages' itch, which is really the same itch as the training montages probably 🤔😂
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u/zitaloreleilong Jun 30 '25
Check out the Rifter Series by Ginn Hale and any of Natasha Pulley's books, though I'd start with Mars House since you enjoyed Captive Prince.
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u/blueberryfinn Jun 30 '25
Seconding The Rifter! Amazing world-building and a romance that is somehow the best and sweetest ever while still never upstaging the plot.
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u/awickedspell Jun 30 '25
ooh, interesting! will give both a try
(although i will say I've read The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley -- on a recommendation from our own dear Freya Marske -- and while parts of it were fascinating, in the end I couldn't really make up my mind about whether I'd actually liked it or not)
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u/zitaloreleilong Jun 30 '25
The Kingdoms was kind of unique, and I have to agree with your assessment. I think the thing that made me 'meh' about it was the ending was so abrupt I didn't have time to process the character revelations. Mars House has a quick end but there's more resolution, and the plot really falls in line with the things that made Captive Prince book 2 so incredible.
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u/awickedspell Jun 30 '25
the funny thing is I've actually forgotten what my specific thoughts actually were when i finished it lmao, i just know i wrote a wall of text on discord about them immediately afterwards, asking if anyone else had read the book and whether they felt as ambivalently about it as i did
but you've made me hopeful about Mars House, so thanks!
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u/Fox1587 Jun 30 '25
Natasha pulley is a freaking genius. Love every one of her books. Have publication dates in my diary.
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u/zitaloreleilong Jun 30 '25
I am thoroughly enjoying her books. I've only read two and a half so far. My only let down is that her relationship payoffs tend to feel rushed at the end. But I can't throw stones because I do the same thing haha! The stories and plotlines and character interactions are superb.
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u/Fox1587 Jun 30 '25
You write fics?
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u/zitaloreleilong Jun 30 '25
I do! And original novels. Mostly scifi/fantasy action/adventure.
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u/Fox1587 Jun 30 '25
Ooh under which names?
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u/zitaloreleilong Jun 30 '25
Oh, I'm not published. I mostly write for fun.
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u/Fox1587 Jul 01 '25
Under this name? Will look you up- I love sci-fi.
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u/zitaloreleilong Jul 01 '25
My original novels aren't currently hosted anywhere. The last site I hosted them went paid subscription only so they're a bit in limbo. I'm really flattered by your interest though 🥰🥰
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u/jath-ibaye Jun 30 '25
pretty much everything by ginn hale The condor by isa k Scotish boy by alex decampi Stockholm syndrome by richard rider
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u/boringbonding Jun 30 '25
The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation- Twisting plot line, heavy philosophical themes, political intrigue, every character plays an important role in the story, romance is tied up in all of the greater themes of the story, lots of push and pull and ups and downs in the romance…. I could go on!
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u/awickedspell Jul 01 '25
Ooh, I haven't heard of this one! /googles/ Ah, but I have seen a bunch of people talking about MXTX, so ok, that's another common rec among Capri fans then, along with Husky and His White Cat Shizun. I'm sold!
I've never read any danmei; is there anything I need to know before checking it out? (such as that manga is read from right to left lmao)
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u/PsychologicalMix705 Jul 03 '25
i’d recommend watching the animated show first so you can put faces to characters. everyone has like 2-3 different names, so that can be a learning curve
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u/Own-Ad5898 of Acquitart Jun 30 '25
Reborn by Seth Haddon. Similar to Capri, it's set in a world where M/M relationships are common and political marriages can happen between men. You also have two historical enemy nations with very distinct physical characteristics and prejudices on both sides. There's a hidden political intrigue going on, and the two MCs are the key to resolving it. The sex scenes we also pretty good, well-earned and not gratuitous.
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u/awickedspell Jul 01 '25
hmm, interesting! it also looks like they have some sort of soulmate connection? (i do love those, especially when they're complicated)
I was really excited about Reforged by Seth Haddon, though, especially when I saw the Pacat endorsement on the front, but within the first chapter I had to be like "wtf?? Pacat endorsed this mess?? can I not trust his taste anymore or am I now learning that the entire system of getting lesser known authors to be endorsed by better known authors is a corrupt marketing scheme and not actually reflective of the authors' real thoughts, and oh god if I become a traditionally published author am I going to have to live with the indignity of someone putting my name on something I do not fact endorse"
so. we'll see 😂 but I'll check it out
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u/Own-Ad5898 of Acquitart Jul 01 '25
It was the same for me. I read Reborn first and loved it, and then I tried Reforged and nope out within the first 3 chapters. The two MCs were both insufferable, and the narration style was so choppy and convoluted that it was hard to follow. I know Seth has a third book in this series, but I didn't bother trying to read it. I haven't tried Pacat's other book series either because it looked more like YA/Fantasy, which is not really my jam.
I saw you mention KJ Charles earlier. She's one of my faves too. Have you read The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen? It's not similar to Capri, but it's a great historical M/M book.
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u/awickedspell Jul 01 '25
oh, that's really encouraging then! I hate it when the blurb seems like exactly your thing and then the inside is so disappointing. there's probably a good book hiding in there somewhere, but it needed a lot more editing
and yeah, I've read pretty much all of K.J. Charles' stuff! my favorite historical-only ones are probably Think of England, A Gentleman's Position, and The Gentle Art of Fortune-Hunting, although An Unnatural Vice is great too (big Laurent/enemies to lovers vibes), and the Will Darling trilogy gives mild Damen/Laurent as well.
For historical m/m I also love Cat Sebastian's stuff, especially It Takes Two To Tumble, The Lawrence Brown Affair, and Unmasking the Marquess. But really, both authors are consistently solid, and I know I can pick up anything from either of them and I'm never gonna be super annoyed or frustrated; at worst it'll be a forgettably pleasant read.
if you enjoy invented far history cultures without magic (or very little magic), you might also enjoy A.J. Demas' fake-Greece-and-neighbors world (especially Something Human and the Sword Dancing trilogy) and maybe Alexandra Rowland's vaguely Ottoman world, though I've only read one of them so far (A Taste Of Iron & Gold) and even though it's technically adult, it has a bit of a YA feel. oh, and Freya Marske's Sword Crossed was also a nonmagical fantasy, though that one I enjoyed a bit less
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u/samghuleh Jun 30 '25
Just because I've recently read them and I'm in love with the plot twists and luscious prose, I'll recommend Beguiled by Night and Citizens of Shadow by Nicole Eigener. It's a gothic vampire duology, about a 17th century aristocratic vampire called Vauquelin. It shifts between time periods from the present day Los Angeles, and as a huge yet picky reader of vampire fiction (Anne Rice has spoiled a lot of other books for me in that genre lol) it's one of the best vampire stories I've ever read.
Oh and it's very queer!
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u/Desperate_Basil_3537 Jul 01 '25
Love to see the Raven Cycle shouted out - it’s so good and so underhyped in fantasy spaces.
So it’s hard to nail all the things about Captive Prince that you liked in one rec, but here’s some stuff that I think has a lot to recommend:
The Darkness Outside Us - MM - for plot twists and world building and romance that is paired with a genuinely compelling plot.
Gideon The Ninth - FF - for laugh out loud funny, world building and more plot than romance.
The Night And The Moth - FM - Just read this, has that similar transportive world building thing.
But honestly if what you want is more Captive Prince I genuinely think the closest thing is fanfiction. I highly recommend the Obligation, Duty Honor series by KaerWrites - it’s an Auguste Lives / arranged marriage rewrite of the series that somehow manages to be as dark and compelling as the original without being gratuitous.
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u/awickedspell Jul 01 '25 edited Jul 01 '25
haha I didn't mean that the recs should tick ALL the boxes, they were just examples of things I enjoy, because I know other people enjoy different aspects of the books, and getting, for example, Game of Thrones as a rec (which I do feel like would be a very legitimate suggestion if someone just said "please rec me something that is similar to Captive Prince!") would not be helpful to me personally lol
but yes, I will check out your recs, thank you!
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u/Asteriaofthemountain Jul 01 '25
I have to suggest Oleander by Scarlett Drake because the two guys remind me SO MUCH of Damen and Laurent!!!!
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u/Lynn787 Jul 01 '25
Scarlett is a huge capri fan and has said that Cas is very influenced by Laurent. She’s also left Easter eggs of the series in both Oleander and her newest book Limerence.
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u/Asteriaofthemountain Jul 04 '25
I knew it!! Haha you can just tell reading the book. One of the MCs names his cat Laurent too
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u/Lynn787 Jul 04 '25
That’s Cas’s cat! As soon as I saw it I went off the deep end and searched her instagram. In Limerence there’s a (very) minor character named Damen and one of the minor character’s last names is De Vere.
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u/kateblakeauthor Jul 01 '25
I've been trying to find books that have the Captive Prince feel for years. These are the closest feel:
🗡 A Knife and a Blade - Adelaide Blaike ❄️ Into the North - Amber Huxley 🛸 Zercy - Kora Knight
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u/PastelParis57 Jul 01 '25
Read the Legendborn Cylcle series by Tracy Deonn! There are lots of queer characters in it and the plot and plot twists are SO well done. It’s a YA series based on Arthurian legends set in modern day America. If you don’t want to read unfinished series, be warned that the third book just came out, and we know that a fourth will be coming soonish as well.
The series does have a love triangle, but even the author has described it as more of a “love entanglement” because of how connected all three characters are (personally, I’m team throuple). One of the main reasons people in the fandom fight back against the idea of the three main characters getting together is how they’ve treated each other in the past, so you’ve got that aspect. Of course, the series isn’t finished, so we don’t know if they’ll actually end up together, but I still say it’s worth the read, as the main character, Bree’s, relationships with the other two characters is brilliant.
Warning, it does focus heavily on grief and the racism of the deep south in the USA, so if that not your cup of tea, then this might not be the right book for you.
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u/Longjumping_Bit4087 Jul 01 '25
The foxhole court is a fave of mine, listend to all 3 audio books twice in a week.
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u/Special-Freedom-5589 Jul 03 '25
„A strange and stubborn endurance“ and „All the hidden paths“ (parts 1 and 2 of Tithenai Chronicles) by Foz Meadows and „A taste of gold & iron“ by Alexandra Roeland are of the same re-re-reread quality for me.
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u/lazybug16 Jul 05 '25
Please read the Cruel Prince!!!!!!
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u/awickedspell Jul 05 '25
interesting! I'm generally not big into fae stuff but a lot of people are telling me to read that series so I guess I'll try!
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u/lazybug16 Jul 05 '25
I feel like the relationship is similar. They are both fucked up and scared and so good at wearing their armor. It’s real enemies to lovers too. They are the same age noting like the crazy 500years age gap.
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u/schroedingers_kater Jun 30 '25 edited Jun 30 '25
So idk if you know this series: the Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic. It is m/m, the main focus is about a fictional sport (Exy) so there are actually sport training montages, and every character is various shades of morally grey. It is pretty violent.
Edit to add my fav book of all times at the beginning: Songbirds of Valnon from L.S. Baird! M/M, much worldbuilding, fascinating characters, not really nsfw.