The Prince's Heart

by Ben Chalfin

Red White and Royal Blue meets The Goblin Emperor in this enchanting slow-burn LGBTQIA+ Romantasy set in the mystical realm of Soeria, where a prince must choose between duty and heart.

In the heart of Soeria, where royal bloodlines carve the paths of destiny, Prince Darien Garros, the kingdom's beloved second son, faces the age-old clash between duty and desire. For years, Darien has dodged the court's expectations to find a suitable match, yearning instead for a love that values the man behind the crown. His longing seems answered in Tag Leara, whose charm and genuine affection ignite a hope Darien dared not admit.

Yet, fate is a fickle master. A sudden tragedy propels Darien into a role he never sought, challenging his deepest convictions. As the weight of legacy and the whispers of power threaten to suffocate him, Darien confronts the ultimate test. Torn between the call of his blood and the pull of his heart, he stands at a crossroads that could reshape the future of Soeria itself.

With every choice comes a price, and Darien must Will he follow the stringent demands of royalty, or will he choose the perilous path of love? In a world where allegiance and affection collide, Prince Darien's story is a testament to the enduring battle between the crowns we bear and the hearts we hold dear.

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Queer, Romance, Romantasy, M M Romance, Adult

Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2025

Reviews

[b.andherbooks]

DNF; i'm so bored. Insta-love, poor world-building, and the audiobook narrator is not differentiating enough between the characters.

[Alethea Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prince's Heart is a poignant, queer romance set against a backdrop of political cut-and-thrust that will make you both cry and cheer. Chalfin perfectly balances the personal drama of Darien's quest for true love with the terrifying consequences it could have on Soeria. He expertly broke my heart, healed it, and broke it again. I promise you'll be rooting for Darien, Tag, and Soeria with all your heart, too.

From the first page, I knew I was going to like Darien. I immediately wanted to protect him from all the bad things that must be coming. It's hard to be a noble and find someone who will love you as you rather than your title. I loved this queer-normative world where a gay prince is accepted without anyone batting an eye and his consort (whomever he may be) and heir are seen as no less legitimate.

[mira · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story felt shallow and meaningless. I was so intrigued by the description just to be let down by the execution. The story that is said to be slow-burn has love confession in the first quarter of it. And unfortunately I couldn't finish it. Although I might be missing out something, I don't regret my decision.


Thank NetGalley, the publisher, the author, and the production team for giving me this opportunity

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much Netgallery for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked The Prince’s heart, but I can’t say I *loved* it, which i makes me a little sad because I really, really wanted to adore it! the story itself was interesting and the characters pleasant to follow, but it was definitely missing some depth overall. it took less than a hundred pages for our main couple to get together, and even less time for them to fall in (insta)-love. the building of the relationship was close to non-existent, and everything felt just….. easy, really, which is not a bad thing but not what i typically look for in a fantasy romance.

the writing was easy to read but maybe a little less developed than I would have liked, and I believe it would have benefited from having less “omniscient” italic questions on top of the characters’ struggle throughout the entire story. the way the character was written felt very “innocent” and inexperienced overall, which gives a YA vibe to the whole story—and the relationship.

the plot was predictable, and so was the villain of the story, but I still enjoyed reading through the political sides, even if it felt very easy and forthcoming. overall, I wish we’d gotten to see more of the characters and their development, because this story felt more like a coming of age than a romantasy story—since we knew so little about the two protagonists in the first place, there’s not much to get attached to when it comes to their relationship. I think this book would do much better advertised to a younger audience, but this is once again a personal and subjective review :)

2.75/5 ⭐️

[Rowen H. · Rating 1 out of 5]

whoever decided to tagline this "Red, White, and Royal Blue meets The Goblin Emperor", I just want to talk.

[Izzy⁷♡•° · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

So where do I even start with this one... firstly this is not a fantasy book, making up some random realms does not make a book fantasy there isn't a single drop of any fantastical element in this book. Marketing please do better, while at it don't compare this book to Red, White and Royal blue you're just shooting yourself on the foot. I also hope the The Goblin Emperor comparison is just because of one element (that spoils the half mark of this book) because I want to read that book and I don't want it to be as bad as this.

As I was reading yesterday and throughout today I was thinking that maybe I was being to harsh in my thoughts about this book, but after finishing it I can't even come up with one thing that I liked about it, like I'm sorry I can't even make one thing up.

The worst thing about this book for sure is the horrible insta love that happens in the very first pages. There are literally two instances of it back to back (it's not a love triangle, our main character just falls in love with anyone he sees basically).
These people are confessing their undying love for each after what knowing each other for a month? And my absolute biggest gripe, the author literally doesn't write their conversations. The amount of times he just says 'they talked about this and that and everything in between' (I'm paraphrasing here, but that's literally what happened) made my blood boil, no chemistry whatsoever.

Now because our main characters are in love we have to deal with Darien being the most immature person in the history of the universe and literally pulling the but daddy I love him monologue. I haven't seen a single drop of chemistry between you too hell you don't even talk with each other and I am supposed to believe that. Please I wanted to gag everytime they were saying they loved each other.
All the characters were so horribly flat. No, and I mean absolutely no personality. I guess Tag had a personality, the personality of a flip flop with the way he was changing his mind about being with Darien every paragraph. The "villain" that you could see was the bad guy from the first mention, the absolute no reason the be like that besides just being a "villain", the whole monologue he did, so bad. I am not even going to mention any other character because they are not relevant for anything and I am incredibly frustrated.

The plot was so painfully predictable, being that the foreshadow was literally the author screaming in the most obvious way what was going to happen, there was no way to miss it. The pacing was also so bad. This book is not even 300 pages and the "real" plot only started at 50%, and it wasn't like the author lost any time setting characters and the world up, because as we can see there was nothing to set up. Let's also not even get me started on that stupid ending that ended with the most perfect bow I have ever seen, my eyes rolled so hard.

The writing was also so weird why is our prince that is in a seemingly historical realm where there is no assemble of a modern setting saying: 'you get the gist of it'. To not say that the author just cuts scenes so that he can move time forward, so messy.

Anyways this whole book was a dumpster fire of a mess, I should have dnef it I just stuck to it because it was short and I wanted to see if the ending was going to be as stupid as I thought it was going to be. I was proven right, but at what cost.

[Meltriestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prince's Heart by Ben Chalfin
Rating: 4/5 stars

First Impressions:
The Prince’s Heart is a sweet and charming story that delivers cozy vibes and heartfelt moments. It’s a quick, easy read with a light and comforting atmosphere, making it a good pick for when you’re in the mood for a romantic and uplifting tale.

Plot & Pacing:
The plot was fun to follow, with a few twists and turns that kept me engaged. While some of the twists were a tad predictable, others added a nice surprise to the story. The mix of love, heartbreak, tragedy, and sweet little moments worked beautifully to create a well-rounded narrative.

The pacing did feel a bit rushed at times, especially when it came to the romance. The insta-love aspect of the story felt a little too quick, and I found myself wishing for more time to let the relationship and emotions truly develop.

Worldbuilding
The fantasy elements, while present, were fairly light, and I would have loved to see them explored more deeply, same goes for the overal world.

Characters:
The characters were fun and relatable. I really felt for them, and their emotional journeys were engaging to follow. Darien was a great POV character, but I couldn’t help wishing for a dual POV to see more of Tag’s perspective. I think this would have added extra depth to both their romance and the story overall.

Romance:
The romantic pairing between Darien and Tag was absolutely adorable. Their relationship had a lot of sweetness and heart, though I do wish the insta-love aspect had been developed more gradually to allow for a stronger emotional connection.

Writing Style:
The writing style had a charming and cozy tone that fit the story well, but it was occasionally clunky, especially in some of the dialogue. There were moments where it leaned a bit too much on "telling" rather than "showing," which took away some of the emotional impact.

As a reader with dyslexia, I found the book overall to be a smooth read, though there were a few phrases that made me double-take, thinking I’d misread, only to realize it was just how they were written.

That said, I really appreciated the shorter chapters, which kept the pacing light.

Final Thoughts:
The Prince’s Heart is a sweet, cozy story with a lot to love—fun characters, an adorable romance, and an uplifting tone. While the pacing and fantasy elements felt rushed and the insta-love could have been fleshed out more, the heart of the story shines through. A few extra pages could have elevated the characters, world, and relationship even further, but this is an enjoyable read for fans of a quick, feel-good romance.

I also have to mention the cover—it’s absolutely gorgeous and perfectly fits the vibe of the story!

Overall, this was a delightful 4-star read, and I look forward to seeing more from Ben Chalfin in the future.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Prince’s Heart is a clumsy yet, at times, endearing story about a prince forced to choose between duty and desire. This book centers around Darien, the prince and second-in-line for the throne of a small kingdom. He meets Tag, a lower-status relative of a neighboring kingdom’s royal family, and the two fall desperately in love. However, Darien is forced to choose between a life with Tag and an arranged marriage which will help secure his kingdom’s safety after tragedy changes his life forever. This book is charming yet overall fails to establish the tense atmosphere necessary to make the conflict in this book impactful.

The biggest positive thing about the book is that it is a sweet story. This book is relatively short for a romantasy, and this makes it a quick and fun read. The romantic pairing is sweet, and it's easy to root for them throughout the novel. There’s also a really fun collection of side characters—Darien’s siblings have fun interactions with him and are characterized well for being such a quick read.

The biggest shortcoming of this book for me was that the main romantic relationship was insta-love. It was the kind of romance where the point-of-view character sets eyes on the future love interest for the first time and is instantly smitten. It only takes a few conversations for the pair to get together. As someone who enjoys reading about the yearning in a romance plot, this wasn’t a satisfying romance story to me. Furthermore, it lowers the stakes of the novel as a whole—if the pair could fall head-over-heels in love after a few conversations, certainly the potential loss of this love isn’t a huge deal, as it doesn’t even feel like the pair know each other that well. Throughout the book, lip service is paid to the idea that the couple won’t work out for a variety of reasons, but even during these scenes it never really feels like the relationship is under threat. This may be less of a negative for readers who enjoy insta-love as a plot, but it didn’t work for me and this took away a lot from the conceit of the novel.

The dialogue in this book is also often very clunky. This problem is twofold: first, when it comes to exposition, characters just say things to serve the plot rather than because it makes sense. For example, there was an instance where Darien said to Samis, who is crown prince of the kingdom, (I'm paraphrasing here) “You remember how the kingdom was founded by our great-great grandmother who found to free us of the empire, yes?” as a way of introducing the political history of the region. This is just clumsy, because yes, Samis should know this, and this happens repeatedly. There are a ton of facts dropped this way, and they all feel out of place. Given the novel is first-person POV from Darien’s perspective, I feel like a lot of this could be communicated with narration and not have the break the believability of the book (especially since Darien is a huge history nerd, and thus could be charactered by the way he gives narration if he goes out of his way to think about the impact of the nation’s history on current events). The second problem is that the narration often fails reflect much of a character’s emotional state. A lot of the dialogue is surface-level and somewhat repetitive and feels shallow as a result. For example, when Darien is dealing with major life tragedies, the start and end of what Tag has to say to him is “It’ll be okay.” It just feels like super shallow support to give to someone dealing with major life tragedies. A lot of the dialogue is on this level, and it makes the characters feel immature.

There’s also a major lack of logic in how things work. I can’t give any of the egregious examples without spoiling the ending, but a minor example will suffice. At one point, Samis and Darien need to talk in secret. They decide that, in order to be secret and avoid being overheard, they should leave the royal palace (where they have private rooms and the ability to tell servants to leave them alone) and instead go to a public tavern (which is described as being full of people). You know, so no one hears what they’re talking about. This sort of logic is pervasive throughout the book, including in how the major conflict is resolved. There are a ton of assumptions that just don’t make sense or plans that hinge on very specific things happening that always just work out perfectly despite it. I understand that the point of the book is the conflict in Darien’s heart, not exactly how plans are executed, but becomes very distracting throughout the book.

In the end, while this book is overall sweet and charming, I just struggled to feel the weight of the relationship and found both dialogue and plot to be on the clumsy side. This together made the book a less-than-impactful read for me. I would recommend it to readers who like a short and satisfying romantasy, particularly to readers who like it when the couple gets together quickly, and the tension instead revolves around whether or not they can choose their relationship over other obligations in their lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[The Introverted Dodo Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Prince's Heart by Ben Chalfin is a light-hearted, quick-and-easy LGBTQIA+ romantasy. My mind ran away from me, imagining this book as the love child of Red, White & Royal, and Tales of Verania (I think I partly disappointed myself!!). Those combined would be an utter romp. So, I thought I would be singing its praises. Alas, I was left underwhelmed. Maybe I was expecting more fantasy - à la, Tales of Verania. Or to be more invested in the actual romance. Describing The Prince's Heart as "slow burn" is a bit of a misnomer. Instead, it's an insta-love romance with absolutely no burn!! Of course, the preference is heavily subjective - some readers love insta-love storylines, but I'm not particularly fond of them. I love pining and angst and drama and yearning, but again, that's my subjective opinion. But the two leads had absolutely no chemistry. They simply both like each other and fall into a relationship without that beautiful euphoria of first love. I thought the third act break-up would liven things up a bit, but both MMCs lay down their swords way too easily when it came to their relationship being in jeopardy, which was frustrating.

The dialogue was clunky and had the tendency to pull me out of the story. There's no dichotomy between the dialogue and the characters' inner self, so every conversation was on-the-nose and uninspiring. All too often, the characters say something clearly only meant for plot purposes, which made the dialogue extremely stilted. Chalfin also made a habit of exposition dumping, stating the background of the fictional kingdom through conversations when it simply made no sense for royalty to constantly remind each other of their own history.

The political drama was interesting, though the reader could see the twist coming from a mile away. The conclusion felt somewhat rushed. The middle dragged a little. There's definitely a target audience who will absolutely love this novel, but for me, it just needed some more work.

👑 Insta-love romance
👑 Queernorm kingdom
👑 Arranged marriage
👑 Royalty
👑 MLM
👑 Political drama

Thank you, NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing, for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[sophie's reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prince's Heart is a moving, queer romance set in a time of political divide in the land of Soeria.

Ben Chalfin writes so poignantly about the drive for true love but the dangerous consequences that could unfold within the palace. From the moment you are introduced with Darien you instantly are rooting for him not only to find his soulmate but also to become respected within Soeria. This book is one of those that breaks your heart builds it back up only to shatter it again. One aspect of the story I found a shortcoming stopping me from giving 5 stars was the rather instant love story between Tag and Darien. I much would’ve gathered we built up more of the story behind Soeria and the rulings whilst their relationship burned slowly in the background. This would allow the reader to feel as though they waited for this moment rather than started reading half way through. It also would give the high stakes of their relationship more urgency as it shows they worked for their love rather than a sort of whirlwind effect. On the other hand I was truly taken aback by the concept that being queer within a royal family was completely normalised and not even once questioned which is a shock in comparison to other novels eg Red White Royal Blue. I think what overall stands out to me is the message that love will conquer all pain especially grief in Dariens case. Although I found the relationship building a bit lacking and the world building rather clunky I’d definitely recommend this book to someone looking for a short queer romantasy story.

[akira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edit (24/11/2024) - the description now reads as "Red, White, and Royal Blue meets The Goblin Emperor" which is undoubtedly a better comparison for the story.

----------
Honestly, I was mostly confused by this book. The tagline describes this as a romantasy for fans of Red Queen and Throne of Glass, and I'm genuinely not sure what is meant by that. If you have read either of those books, there really isn't much similarity you will find here.

There only thing I can think of is the royal setting, and that too is pretty much the extent of the Fantasy aspect of this book - a fictional royal family from a fictional kingdom dealing with politics of other fictional kingdom.

That said, I do think it does a great disservice to the book by setting expectations that are not exactly true.

At its core, The Prince’s Heart is a queer love story about a prince desperately trying to hold onto the love that he has found while also dealing with devastating personal tragedy. It's a charming love story with truly lovely and sweet characters that I was rooting for, despite it all.

Thank you so much to Rising Action Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

2.75 stars

The Prince’s Heart was, at times, a difficult read and while it seemed to want to be a fantasy romance, it had so many issues it often became its own worst enemy. Let’s start with the positives. It is fantasy-lite, so for readers who aren’t normally fans of fantasy or who want to dip their toes into the genre, this might make a nice entry point. It’s got all the flavor of a fantasy without any complex world building. Darien and Tag are also sweet enough characters, both well-meaning and genuine. So there are no anti-heroes or or overly complex moral dilemmas here, if you like your romances simpler and more straightforward.

On the whole, I struggled with The Prince’s Heart and did not enjoy it as either a fantasy or a romance. The storyline and characters were too simple and lacking in depth and, when combined with a somewhat jagged writing style, I was never able to find my groove with this one.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.

[Cam · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 rounded down unfortunately...
I was expecting a lot more of this book and it sadly never delivered. I think it suffers a lot from being marketted as a romantasy and similar to RW&RB.
I am not a romantasy fan but I thought I would give the genre one last chance (hoping that a queer couple would make it better) but The Prince's Heart was not the book for that purpose.
The only fantasy aspect of the story was the made up countries and politics. I was expecting magic and adventure but unfortunately got none of it. I really wish we had gotten more worldbuilding.
Also, I really do not see the ressemblance to RW&RB appart from one of the main characters being a prince...
The chemistry fell a bit flat for me and so did the characters, I had trouble connecting with them all throughout the novel.
The narrator did a good job with the audiobook though, I will give it that.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook.

[Michael B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this story! Prince Darien has been yearning to meet the right man for him to share his life with. That’s when Tag Leara, the son of one of his mother’s oldest friends, enters the picture.

Unfortunately, Darien’s father, the king, and his council have decided the price must marry someone of their choosing. Someone to strengthen their relationship with another country. That’s when Prince Arbois enters the picture and things start to get interesting.

Overall, this was a cute book that left me with a smile on my face. I loved the characters, and despised Arbois. If you enjoy mm romance/romantasy books about royalty, I think you’d be happy to pick this one up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Prince’s Heart,” by Ben Chalfin

This was a cute, slice of life sort of royalty M/M book. This book would be good for people who like cozy reading. I liked both main characters, they were adorable together. A few things didn’t make sense realistically, they were okay with him being gay even though they didn’t have enough males in the royal line in a worst case, but I just pretended like it made sense lol. In the blurb it said it’s like Red Queen or Throne of Glass, and I personally think this book isn’t close to any of those type of books, more like Red, White, and Royal Blue and Bridgerton vibes instead. 3 out of 5 stars.

-M/M
-Magic

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

[Heather Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced, sweet romance. There was more political intrigue than I expected but I felt that the plot twists were pretty predictable. I enjoyed the two main characters but I do wish we got to see a little more of their relationship. This was a short and sweet romance that I enjoyed overall.

[Brianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Ben Chalfin, Netgalley, and the publisher, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Final rating: 2/5

I have to say, I hate that I'm writing this review because it's not often that I DNF something. I tried my absolute hardest to finish this book, however, I had to stop at about 50% mark. My gripes with this book are numerous, but mainly my dislike of it comes down to this: One, the writing style felt more like Young Adult than Adult. Don't get me wrong, there are some amazing Young Adult writers out there, but this story felt more like it was intended for a younger audience, and the writing style reflected that. Quite frankly, I found it a little bland. Two, this hardly counts as a fantasy story. Other than a few made-up names and lands, this hardly felt like it belonged in fantasy. The world-building was practically nonexistent, and what was there was quite generic. Finally, the insta-love in this book killed it for me. I think insta-love can work if done right and the chemistry is there, but I just didn't feel it in this book. It felt like the characters were together for the sake of being together as opposed to actually liking each other. I wish that I had liked this book; I think it has all the elements of something I would have liked. Unfortunately, this one just didn't hit home for me.

[Nicholas Westerfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prince’s Heart is a captivating romance with a strong political backdrop. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, though their fast-paced love story may feel rushed for some. What really drew me in was the intriguing political dynamics that added depth to the narrative, creating a tension that kept me hooked. The world-building is well-done, and the characters are likable, with clear motivations. While the romance could’ve benefited from more development, the overall story is engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A solid debut.

[Nnekka Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet closed door, MM romance. Following the prince as he tries to find love for him and not his title. Having to stave off the unwanted affections/attention of someone that just wants his title and not him.
This is a close door romance, so there’s no descriptive scenes.
I got to listen to this as an audio, and the narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. The story kept you engaged throughout the whole thing.
This is more of a fantasy you got your king and queen princess castles, no modern technology. I will say that it starts off and you’re not exactly sure what time period. You’re in so that did take a minute to figure out where we were coming in on the story.
But all in all, I definitely recommend for a closed door romance, and something that gives you this sweet and giggles, but also some heart aches as well.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like sweet romances with princes and a dash of intrigue this might be good for you. There are parts that are sort of predictable, I listened to the audiobook and was yelling at my phone about who the bad guy was and what he did and was planning, but also some parts that were heartbreaking, sweet, or exciting. I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrator. He didn’t do a bad job, I just like a deeper voice. And I also thought some of the dialogue was cheesy. Those reasons and the fact that the book took until about 30% to hook me was the reason I didn’t rate higher.

I was given this copy in exchange for an honest review, and I thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Publishing for the opportunity.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story started off as a seemingly simple romance, but became much more complex than that. There is political turmoil, an arranged marriage to a prince, multiple assassinations, and an ascension to the throne. The story was gripping and beautifully written. The plot seemed to resolve a little too easily, but it was satisfying nonetheless. I loved the characters.

[Steven Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. Historical romance is often stiff and blase. THE PRINCE’S HEART was far from it.

The writer created a castle full of complicated, three-dimensional characters. They made it clear who was whom, who wanted what, and what would happen if they didn’t get it. That made the book enjoyable and easy to follow.

The best part of the book is the fact that Prince Darien fought for his love (Tag) and did what he had to when he though he’d lost everything. The intimacy between them was sexy, sweet, and satisfying. The author had twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, which made the book more enjoyable.

The writing is easy to read, flows well, and is accessible to everyone. I found no confusing sections at all. There was an inconsistency in a scene as to the time Darien and Tag were supposed to meet at the stables, but I’m sure the author will catch it before it’s released.

Overall, this is a fantastic book. It’s a gem of an entry into adult gay romance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.1>

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Ben Chalfin, and the publishers for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

Overall, I enjoyed most of the story. I didn’t mind the “insta-love” to me it just felt like they were meant to be. Yes, it could have been drawn out a little more. I felt like Darien's character changed in the last 30% which made me not enjoy it as much. I also didn’t enjoy where the villain reveals all the parts. I thought it would go differently. It did give me RWRB vibes which I loved. I will pick up another book by this author.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are feeling a little stressed about the world we live in right now, I have great news — The Prince's Heart is nothing like it. This romantasy is set in a universe refreshingly free from prejudice, where our characters' love is celebrated. Sometimes it's just nice to dream. And to cheer on the warm affection of two sweet guys.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A queer romantasy set in the realm of Soeria, Prince Darien seeks a suitable match but is hoping to find someone who actually loves him instead of someone who wants to be with him because he is a prince. He believes he may have finally found his person when he meets Tag and is hopeful they will be allowed to court since he is not next in line for the throne. Then an unspeakable tragedy happens which changes everything and forces Darien to choose between duty and love. This book started out strong and I really loved it at first, but in the end it fell a bit flat for me. I was definitely caught off guard by a few early dramatic twists I did not see coming but after that, I think some of the plot developments were a bit obvious to me. I kept expecting more major twists to develop that would surprise me but it essentially played out as I expected it might. It also felt like Darien found love a little too quickly with not much tension or build up. I would have liked to see more character and relationship development between Darien and Tag. I did enjoy the world of Soeria and the dynamics of the kingdom and throne. I love the premise and characters but felt they needed more development in order to connect with them. Overall it was still a fun story and I am glad I read it! Thank you to NetGalley, Ben Chalfin, and Rising Action Publishing for the gifted ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie (NovelBound1813) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Prince's Heart is a queer romance set in the fantasy kingdom of Soeria. Our MMC, Darien, is the prince of Soeria. As second in line to the throne, he's content to let his older brother handle matters of court politics. What Darien most wants is to find someone who could love him for who he is and not for his title or position. When he meets Tag, he thinks he might have finally found this person, but when tragedy strikes will Darien have to choose between duty and love?

I loved the premise of this book. Darien is a great character and I was really rooting for him throughout this book. There were times, though, when I felt like I was rooting for Darien and Tag way harder than they were. I wish I had seen them, Tag especially, fight harder for what they wanted. The book started off strong, but it did drag a little in the last half, which is really when things should have been picking up. There were so many times when I wanted to shake these characters! I really felt for Darien throughout this book as he's put into some impossible situations and is trying to navigate them in a way that protects his country and the people that he loves. Overall, I thought this was a good debut novel and I'm excited to see what comes next from this author.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing. This is my honest review.

[Hanna Brisbois · Rating 1 out of 5]

DBF: time of death 20%

There is ZERO plot! It literally starts with the crown prince introducing his younger brother to a guy, in the hopes that they will hit it off. They do, but the guy is basically like "who cares if I like you. You're a prince! That's the only reason I'm courting you"... to which the prince is obviously offended. Then, he tells his brother what happened and his brother is like "well you are a prince... nobody is going to be interested in you for any other reason. Even my wife only dated me because I'm going to be king".... WHAT! lol

Then the next guy he meets is INSTANTLY the one. I can see where this story is going, and quite honestly I don't care. There's been no world building whatsoever. Like, I don't even think this can constitute as fantasy. It could be taking place in our world for all I know... or the moon... or anywhere. I know nothing about the politics of their court. Literally, the only thing I know, at TWENTY PERCENT INTO THE BOOK, is that the prince is lonely and having a hard time finding love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Madison Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW: I went into The Prince’s Heart expecting an epic fantasy romance, but I got a politically driven plot with a lackluster love story. The marketing made it seem like this would be a thrilling, high-stakes romance, but in reality, it was an insta-love story wrapped in a political drama.

The love interest? Boring AF. He was not compelling, and I couldn't understand why the protagonist was so deeply in love. The only character that kept my attention was the villain—at least he had some personality. The main character was enjoyable, although I couldn't quite like him all that much. I wasn't bored by him the way I was by the love interest.

On the bright side, the narrator did a great job, and the book was easy to get through (especially at 3x speed). If you're looking for a light romance, it might be enjoyable, but don't go into this expecting something like Throne of Glass. This book is much more in line with Bridgerton in terms of romance and court intrigue.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an audio-arc of this novel!
I thought this book was fine. Even though it is an adult novel, it read more YA to me. The main character was 25, but he felt much younger. I kept having to remind myself that Darien wasn't a teenager. Also, this book almost felt like 2 stories in one. The first half was just romance while the second half was all plot. I think the plot could have been paced better so it wouldn't have felt like it came out of nowhere. The plot itself also wasn't great. Darien just wasn't a very intelligent character which made the mystery portions very frustrating. He is also really bad at politics, which made all the political portions embarrassing. The romance itself was fine, but it was not a slow burn. Darien falls in love with Tag the moment they meet. I didn't love this book, but it was a cute quick listen.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Prince’s Heart by Ben Chaflin is a fantasy romance about a prince who struggles between love and duty. The story has some nice moments, and the setting is vividly described, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The pacing felt off; some parts dragged, while others seemed rushed. I also found the romance a bit predictable and the dialogue somewhat forced, which made it hard to fully connect with the characters.

Overall, this book may appeal to readers who enjoy a straightforward romance with a fantasy twist, but it wasn’t quite my style. I’m giving it three stars as it might be a better fit for others.

Thank you to Rising Action Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.