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Captive Prince Short Stories #2
The Summer Palace
"When all this is over, we could take horses and stay a week in the palace..."
Set after the events of the Captive Prince trilogy, The Summer Palace is a story about Damen and Laurent. It's an epilogue of sorts to the Captive Prince series.
Set after the events of the Captive Prince trilogy, The Summer Palace is a story about Damen and Laurent. It's an epilogue of sorts to the Captive Prince series.
30 pages, ebook
First published January 5, 2017
223 people are currently reading
7375 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Pacat
70 books16.8k followersC.S. Pacat is the USA-Today best-selling author of Dark Rise, the Captive Prince trilogy, and the GLAAD-nominated graphic novels Fence.
Born in Australia and educated at the University of Melbourne, C.S. Pacat has lived in a number of cities, including Tokyo and Perugia, and currently resides and writes in Melbourne.
Born in Australia and educated at the University of Melbourne, C.S. Pacat has lived in a number of cities, including Tokyo and Perugia, and currently resides and writes in Melbourne.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,201 reviews
February 24, 2021
"Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them."
MY BABIES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
MY BABIES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.
October 20, 2018
Imagine giving this less than 5 stars, can't relate
___
Reread before The Adventures Of Charls:
I honestly need a different rating system for the Captive Prince books because there's no way this is ONLY a five stars
Original review:
If this was still 2016, I would be writing something like "Yuri On Ice and The Summer Palace saved 2016".
As it happens, this is 2017, so allow me to say:
Whatever shit will happen this year, whatever nuclear war is waiting for us, The Summer Palace single-handedly, retroactively saved 2017.
I can't believe this is officially canon Lamen fluff. This is fluff that out-fluffs every single piece of fluff out there, but it's not cheesy, it's not gratuitous, it's not without meaning, because it's fucking Damen and Laurent we're talking about, okay?
Every soft moment has been earned through a path of loss and pain and regret and conflict and healing and slowly trusting each other. So let the fluff gates open, let my babies be together, let them walk naked through Akielon palaces,
because they deserve the world.
Because I cannot form coherent thoughts, allow me to just bullet-point my favorite things (except like, you know, tHE WHOLE THING):
I'm so not done with this. I'm going to reread it every day of my life.
____
I've preordered this SO HARD.
I cried at each word in the Newsletter excerpt and I don't think I'm emotionally ready to get more canon Damen/Laurent.
___
Reread before The Adventures Of Charls:
I honestly need a different rating system for the Captive Prince books because there's no way this is ONLY a five stars
Original review:
If this was still 2016, I would be writing something like "Yuri On Ice and The Summer Palace saved 2016".
As it happens, this is 2017, so allow me to say:
Whatever shit will happen this year, whatever nuclear war is waiting for us, The Summer Palace single-handedly, retroactively saved 2017.
I can't believe this is officially canon Lamen fluff. This is fluff that out-fluffs every single piece of fluff out there, but it's not cheesy, it's not gratuitous, it's not without meaning, because it's fucking Damen and Laurent we're talking about, okay?
Every soft moment has been earned through a path of loss and pain and regret and conflict and healing and slowly trusting each other. So let the fluff gates open, let my babies be together, let them walk naked through Akielon palaces,
because they deserve the world.
Because I cannot form coherent thoughts, allow me to just bullet-point my favorite things (except like, you know, tHE WHOLE THING):
I'm so not done with this. I'm going to reread it every day of my life.
____
I've preordered this SO HARD.
April 10, 2019
Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them.
HOLY SHIT WHAT WAS THIS
C.S. PACAT DID THAT
IM CRYING I CANT BREATH DAMEN AND LAURENT ARE SO IN LOVE AND SO HAPPY AND IM A WEEPING MESS HERE
sorry but this is not a review its just a mess by me, a mess
also it's literally story recap so there are only spoilers so please proceed with caution
He loved the way that Laurent kissed, as if Damen was the only person that he had ever kissed, or would ever want to.
LISTEN
*damen leaving the King's retinue behind to surprise laurent
*laurent waiting for it
*damen and laurent laughing together
*LAURENT BABBLING
*damen and laurent jus t kissing
*damen being horny af about Laurent
*LAURENT LAUGHING
*laurent ordering people at Ios while damen was uncoscious (after KR's events)
*LAURENT TUCKIGN A FLOWER INTO DAMEN'S HAIR AND DAMEN DOING THE S A M E
*damen calling his mother's gardens and basically everything OURS
*laurent??? talking???? to damen mother's???? statue????? because it's tradition???? to ask a parent for courtship?????
*LAURENT AND DAMEN TALKING ABOUT AUGUSTE AND LAURENT WANTING TO TAKE DAMEN TO A PLACE WHERE AUGUSTE'S BURIED
*laurent and damen talking abt damen killing auguste
*laurent attending damen at the baths
*DONT FORGET LAURENT LAUGHING
*laurent pouring water over himself :-)
*laurent basically washing damen????? gently washing his scars on the back???? damen dying inside because of it (and me dying outside)???
*laurent and damen talking abt damen's capture
*laurent pouring cold water over damen after really hot bath AND LAUGHING
*LAURENT LAUGHING
*LAURENT LAUGHHHHHHIIINNNGGG
*im determined to believe laurent's laughter stopped global warming, world hunger, cured every illness in the world and saved my life
*N I K A N D R O S TEACHING LAURENT HOW TO WRESTLE
*LAURENT LAUGHING AGAIN
*damen dumping a towel over laurent's head and "enjoying watching laurent emerge from it with his hair mussed"
*damen making laurent walk NAKED in the palace wth
*laurent and damen kissing everywhere in the gardens on the balcony im dead
*"our new palace on the border" rip
*damen and laurent making love
*laurent inviting a guard inside just after it damen groaning because he knew he would do it
*damen laughinG
*"you were watching the road" damMIT
*laurent and damen basically being utterly HAPPY AND IN LOVE
im dead
‘You were a force of nature. It was infuriating to fight you. Frightening to have you on my side.’
‘Frightening?’
‘You didn’t know how afraid I was of you?’
‘Of me? Or of yourself?’
‘Of what was happening between us.’
im sobbing
Before Laurent could answer, there was an unmistakable knock on the door.
The sound made Damen groan, because he knew what Laurent was going to do.
‘What?’ called Laurent, pushing himself up on an elbow.
laurent is such a little shit
'Come out,' said Laurent.
He emerged hotter than steam, overheated like one boiled, his olive skin turned ruddy by the water. Laurent filled the pitcher from the secondary sluice, approached, and shifted his grip. Damen threw up his arms instinctively.
‘No, Laurent, that’s cold, it’s—’ Gasping.
Shock of the frozen water. Ice cold on superheated skin, like plunging into a river, a too-sudden revitalisation. Instinct propelled him to grab Laurent in revenge, to drag him forward, their bodies colliding.
Cool body plastering against hot. Laurent was unexpectedly laughing, his skin warm as sunlight. The struggle took them both to the slippery marble.
laurent is a little shit and i would die for him
what did i do to deserve this
this story obliterated me
im a sobbing mess because of all this fluff
i want more
im fucking crying at damen and laurent being geniunely happy they deserved it so much please never take hapiness from them
p.s. i want a story abt laurent and nikandros bonding because jfc i need this shit in my life
p.p.s. or a story abt future laurent and damen but from nikandros & jord perspective who probably would be fucking done with them and will bond over it
P. P. P. S. A STORY ABOUT THE ROYAL WEDDING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DESERVE
this is the best thing that happened in january 2017
___________________________
pre-read
upd
1) i just saw the excerpt
2) i love dying and being dead
3) the story is about 8k words which is less than I expected BUT IM STILL EXCITED
i've read like 3298317489237493 of post-kings-rising fics BUT IT'S OFFICIAL AND I NEED IT RIGHT NOW
remember this from Kings Rising:
Laurent’s breathing was easy, as though he was relaxed and sleepy, lying beside Damen. Damen heard himself say it.
‘There’s a summer palace in Ios outside the capital. My mother designed the gardens there. They say it’s built on Artesian foundations.’ He thought of the meandering walks, the delicate, flowering southern orchids, the sprays of orange blossom. ‘It’s cool in summer, and there are fountains, and tracks for riding.’ His pulse beat with uncharacteristic nerves, so that he felt almost shy. ‘When all this is over . . . we could take horses and stay a week in the palace.’ Since their night together in Karthas, he hadn’t dared to speak about the future.
He felt Laurent holding himself carefully, and there was a strange pause. After a moment, Laurent said, softly, ‘I’d like that.’
Damen rolled onto his back again, and felt the words like happiness as he let himself look up again at the wide sweep of stars.
PLEASE GIVE IT TO ME NOWWWWWWWW
PLEASE GIVE ME A SHORT STORY WITH MY SONS JUST BEING HAPPY AND IN LOVE
Read
August 4, 2024i mean you can't read the trilogy without reading this novella afterwards.
i'd die for laurent of vere
i'd die for laurent of vere
January 13, 2017
5 Stars.
30 page epilogue that was just beautiful.What can I say,Laurent and Damen are perfect together.
For fans of this series this is must read....
"Are you courting me?"said Damen
30 page epilogue that was just beautiful.What can I say,Laurent and Damen are perfect together.
For now it was the simple pleasure of Laurent beside him,their hands linked,with only sunlight and fresh air about them.
For fans of this series this is must read....
March 29, 2020
”I thought, I have lost everything and gained you, and I would almost make the trade, if I didn’t know it had happened that way for you, too.”
I don’t know how I managed to avoid reading this for 3 freaking years! Like seriously, how did I even survive without this sweetness in my life? This was exactly the kind of ending I wanted to read when I finished “King’s Rising” or even more accurate it was the ending I would have NEEDED after finishing the final book!
”It had felt at times surreal: the wonder of what was newly between them set against the seriousness of their days, the difficulty of those early decisions.”
”Laurent had a mind that took in problems, faced them, quantified them and then, steadily, solved them: keep Damianos alive; cement Damiano’s rule; don’t appear to be ruling in his stead.”
I loved that we found out about what happened after the final showdown at the palace and that we got to see how Laurent took over control of the situation. Taking care not only of Damen, but also of his country. The moment when he spoke to the statue of Damen’s mother was so heart-warming and I believed him every single word he said.
”No, I – thinking about you and being with you are different, you’re always more powerful, more –“
“Go on.” Damen felt a wellspring of pure pleasure, laughing against his neck.
“Stop my mouth,” said Laurent. “I don’t know what I’m saying.”
Also can we please appreciate how honest and direct they were in this? I adored that they felt kind of shy around each other at first, but gradually found back to their own rhythm once again. I suppose their relationship is still very new and it wasn’t easy to see each other after everything that happened between them. One of the most beautiful things about this short story was their conscious effort to rekindle their flame and to keep their walls down. For each other they tried. <333
”Damen was smiling; there was delight in seeing Laurent explore himself, a young man who was sweet, teasing, at times unexpectedly earnest. Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them.”
The best thing was the scene in the bath though! I can’t even put into words how much it meant to me to see them like that. To see how much Laurent cared, how painful it was for him to be reminded of what he did. He atoned for his actions in his own way and it was done so beautifully I have no words. This scene was exquisitely painful and excruciatingly bittersweet to read. My heart bled and ached for both of them. <3
”Nothing could wash away the past, but this took them both there, touching a painful truth, acknowledging it.”
If you ask me C.S. Pacat writes some of the most beautiful moments in bookish history. I loved this. So, so much! There’s nothing else to say. Except of probably this:
Laurent said, “What?”
“You were watching the road,” said Damen.
*dies out of sheer pleasure* T_T
______________________________
Because I need something fluffy and heart-warming right now. <3
I've waited long enough and I'm going to savour every single one of those 30 pages.
I wanted to read this for more than 3 years and I think I deserve to read this happy ending. *lol*
It's now or never, folks!
Let's hope this is exactly what I need! XD
I don’t know how I managed to avoid reading this for 3 freaking years! Like seriously, how did I even survive without this sweetness in my life? This was exactly the kind of ending I wanted to read when I finished “King’s Rising” or even more accurate it was the ending I would have NEEDED after finishing the final book!
”It had felt at times surreal: the wonder of what was newly between them set against the seriousness of their days, the difficulty of those early decisions.”
”Laurent had a mind that took in problems, faced them, quantified them and then, steadily, solved them: keep Damianos alive; cement Damiano’s rule; don’t appear to be ruling in his stead.”
I loved that we found out about what happened after the final showdown at the palace and that we got to see how Laurent took over control of the situation. Taking care not only of Damen, but also of his country. The moment when he spoke to the statue of Damen’s mother was so heart-warming and I believed him every single word he said.
”No, I – thinking about you and being with you are different, you’re always more powerful, more –“
“Go on.” Damen felt a wellspring of pure pleasure, laughing against his neck.
“Stop my mouth,” said Laurent. “I don’t know what I’m saying.”
Also can we please appreciate how honest and direct they were in this? I adored that they felt kind of shy around each other at first, but gradually found back to their own rhythm once again. I suppose their relationship is still very new and it wasn’t easy to see each other after everything that happened between them. One of the most beautiful things about this short story was their conscious effort to rekindle their flame and to keep their walls down. For each other they tried. <333
”Damen was smiling; there was delight in seeing Laurent explore himself, a young man who was sweet, teasing, at times unexpectedly earnest. Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them.”
The best thing was the scene in the bath though! I can’t even put into words how much it meant to me to see them like that. To see how much Laurent cared, how painful it was for him to be reminded of what he did. He atoned for his actions in his own way and it was done so beautifully I have no words. This scene was exquisitely painful and excruciatingly bittersweet to read. My heart bled and ached for both of them. <3
”Nothing could wash away the past, but this took them both there, touching a painful truth, acknowledging it.”
If you ask me C.S. Pacat writes some of the most beautiful moments in bookish history. I loved this. So, so much! There’s nothing else to say. Except of probably this:
Laurent said, “What?”
“You were watching the road,” said Damen.
*dies out of sheer pleasure* T_T
______________________________
Because I need something fluffy and heart-warming right now. <3
I've waited long enough and I'm going to savour every single one of those 30 pages.
I wanted to read this for more than 3 years and I think I deserve to read this happy ending. *lol*
It's now or never, folks!
Let's hope this is exactly what I need! XD
March 27, 2017
My skin is clear, my crops are thriving, my children are fed, and this epilogue made me even gayer, which is to say that it truly was a divine gift from our Lord and saviour C.S. Pacat. My soul has been saved; no need to send me to heaven, for I have already been there.
And it was told that we should receive an epilogue, so thy author said 'The Summer Palace'. And it was good.
Amen, brothers and sisters. Amen.
March 17, 2022
5 'Super cute and adorable' stars
This is not a review. This is me uncontrollably gushing about my kingly babies 👑🧡👑💙 You have been warned! 😎 Also, possible spoilers! I said I have no control 🤭
This tiny novella is EVERYTHING I could ever want after the kind-of-abrupt ending of Kings Rising. After so much pain and sadness that my poor babies 🧡💙 went through, they deserved a HEA that tastes like coffee ice-cream with chocolate caramel (yeah, my four favorite things in the world 😋😋).
And now, are you ready?? ... ... ... Ok, let the gushing begin!!
They are having a vacation. Yes, a VACATION! Or maybe honeymoon, well pre-honeymoon? No, it can totally be an official honeymoon. As far as I'm concerned, they already got married at the exchange of the cuffs ceremony. Try to argue with me if you dare. Now, where was I? Yeah right, honeymoon/ vacation in that Summer Palace. Awww, Damen is so romantic 😍😍 and he was in such a hurry to get to Laurent, that he left his royale guard behind and just rode ahead by himself. Oh, young love 💗💗
And Laurent was waiting for him, wearing a CHITON, and a very short chiton at that, if I may say so. Because he knows Damen goes crazy when he sees him dressed like that 😏 my baby has become such a tease. What a naughty boy 🥰
Have you melted already? No? Do you need more? Because I can deliver 😄¸
These two cuties put flowers into each other's hair!
*I'm dead*
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
And then Damen showed him the statue of his mother and Laurent was speaking to Damen's mother and I'm not ok because that scene was so heartbreakingly beautiful I can't...
Now, you understand what I'm talking about? 😭😭😭 And Laurent asked Damen if he can take him to the statue of his brother and Damen said yes 😭😭😭 My poor babies lost everything but at least they have each other. I don't know if I'm crying sad tears or happy tears or both. They are so perfect together 😭😭😭 *some more tears coming* They went into baths and Laurent attended Damen and washed the scars on his back and I'm crying again because it was like washing away both of their pasts. A clean start for their love to thrive without the shadows of hate and pain 😢😢
Alright, no more tears. The past is buried and a bright future awaits 🌞🌞
💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
It's time to start fangirling again. This baths scene is perfect. Laurent is playful and Damen is just love-struck so much. And they are wrestling because Laurent splashed ice-cold water over Damen (that's just golden) and overall, I was waiting for this for the whole three books, and here I am now, unable to move on from how happy they are and I just want to be stuck in this moment.
'Of course, you are Damen!' My kingly baby is the best at everything. I have a feeling that Laurent and Nikandros are becoming BFFs and it looks like Damen doesn't like that. Pfff, like Laurent would ever be interesting in anyone beside Damen. 'Damen, my precious baby, you're safe. Laurent has eyes only for you.'
And now we have to address the scene when they are walking naked through the palace, holding hands!!! Yes, you heard that right! Also, Damen is totally alright with that, while Laurent can't believe what's he doing. However, I'm sure we all remember how nonchalant Laurent was when they were interrupted in the middle of foreplay, while Damen was blushing like a virgin. These two cuties are made for each other 😊😊🧡💙🧡💙😊😊
*million heart eyes*
*happy screaming*
*hugging random people* fortunately, I'm alone at home right now, so no need to worry about being hug-attacked
Also, that scene... As we already noted, Laurent doesn't care much about being interrupted no matter what kind of state he is in 😆
... because when you're a king you don't come - you arrive 😂 I bet this became their private (or not so private) dirty joke. I can just hear Laurent saying to Damen 'I will make you arrive.'
I'm sure that the whole King's guard was gossiping if the King of Akielos and the Prince of Vere really did it in the gardens 🤣🤣🤣
Poor Laurent... we all know how horny Damen is. Laurent will probably need a week-long bed-rest before he will be able to go riding. And who needs horses anyway when you have a stallion in your bed 😏😋
I'm seriously in love with the way my precious babies are in love with each other 🧡💙🧡💙
For the end, I have to share these pics because they are gorgeous and with the minor changes these two could totally be Damen and Laurent.
You might want to open the spoiler in private 😉
First read: 17 Aug 2020 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Re-read: 17 Mar 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is not a review. This is me uncontrollably gushing about my kingly babies 👑🧡👑💙 You have been warned! 😎 Also, possible spoilers! I said I have no control 🤭
This tiny novella is EVERYTHING I could ever want after the kind-of-abrupt ending of Kings Rising. After so much pain and sadness that my poor babies 🧡💙 went through, they deserved a HEA that tastes like coffee ice-cream with chocolate caramel (yeah, my four favorite things in the world 😋😋).
And now, are you ready?? ... ... ... Ok, let the gushing begin!!
They are having a vacation. Yes, a VACATION! Or maybe honeymoon, well pre-honeymoon? No, it can totally be an official honeymoon. As far as I'm concerned, they already got married at the exchange of the cuffs ceremony. Try to argue with me if you dare. Now, where was I? Yeah right, honeymoon/ vacation in that Summer Palace. Awww, Damen is so romantic 😍😍 and he was in such a hurry to get to Laurent, that he left his royale guard behind and just rode ahead by himself. Oh, young love 💗💗
Damen looked too—at one thing only: the breeze playing with a strand of blond hair, at the cool, pale limbs in white cotton. He felt his own rising happiness, the speeding of his pulse.
And Laurent was waiting for him, wearing a CHITON, and a very short chiton at that, if I may say so. Because he knows Damen goes crazy when he sees him dressed like that 😏 my baby has become such a tease. What a naughty boy 🥰
Dressed like that, it was like having him naked; there was so much skin, and nothing to unlace. Damen pressed Laurent back against the marble.
‘Stop my mouth,’ said Laurent. ‘I don’t know what I’m saying.’
Damen lifted his head and kissed Laurent tenderly, found him flushed, warm like summer.
Have you melted already? No? Do you need more? Because I can deliver 😄¸
Laurent plucked a white flower from the low-hanging branches and lifted his hand to tuck it into Damen’s hair as if Damen was a youth from the village.
‘Are you courting me?’ said Damen.
He felt foolish with happiness. He knew courtship was new to Laurent, didn’t know why it felt so new to himself.
‘I haven’t done this before,’ said Laurent.
Damen took a flower of his own. His pulse sped up, his fingers felt clumsy as he tucked it behind Laurent’s ear.
These two cuties put flowers into each other's hair!
*I'm dead*
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
And then Damen showed him the statue of his mother and Laurent was speaking to Damen's mother and I'm not ok because that scene was so heartbreakingly beautiful I can't...
‘I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his people.’
Now, you understand what I'm talking about? 😭😭😭 And Laurent asked Damen if he can take him to the statue of his brother and Damen said yes 😭😭😭 My poor babies lost everything but at least they have each other. I don't know if I'm crying sad tears or happy tears or both. They are so perfect together 😭😭😭 *some more tears coming* They went into baths and Laurent attended Damen and washed the scars on his back and I'm crying again because it was like washing away both of their pasts. A clean start for their love to thrive without the shadows of hate and pain 😢😢
Alright, no more tears. The past is buried and a bright future awaits 🌞🌞
‘The night you told me about this place, it was the first time that I ever thought about the future. I thought about coming here. I thought about... being with you. It meant something to me that you suggested it. What we had on the ride to Ios, it was already more than I... At the trial, I thought it was enough. I thought I was ready. And then you came.’
‘In case you wanted me,’ said Damen.
💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them.
It's time to start fangirling again. This baths scene is perfect. Laurent is playful and Damen is just love-struck so much. And they are wrestling because Laurent splashed ice-cold water over Damen (that's just golden) and overall, I was waiting for this for the whole three books, and here I am now, unable to move on from how happy they are and I just want to be stuck in this moment.
And then he thought about it. ‘Who’s teaching you?’
‘Nikandros,’ said Laurent.
‘Nikandros,’ said Damen.
‘We use a Veretian variation. I don’t take my clothes off.’
Then you’ll never learn effectively. Instead, he found himself frowning, saying, ‘I’m better than Nikandros.’
'Of course, you are Damen!' My kingly baby is the best at everything. I have a feeling that Laurent and Nikandros are becoming BFFs and it looks like Damen doesn't like that. Pfff, like Laurent would ever be interesting in anyone beside Damen. 'Damen, my precious baby, you're safe. Laurent has eyes only for you.'
And now we have to address the scene when they are walking naked through the palace, holding hands!!! Yes, you heard that right! Also, Damen is totally alright with that, while Laurent can't believe what's he doing. However, I'm sure we all remember how nonchalant Laurent was when they were interrupted in the middle of foreplay, while Damen was blushing like a virgin. These two cuties are made for each other 😊😊🧡💙🧡💙😊😊
Damen turned Laurent and kissed him, Laurent’s back against the wall, the kiss like consummation, hard and deep. Laurent made that slight sound again, right into Damen’s mouth.
In the streaked sunlight, they were kissing. He loved the way that Laurent kissed as if Damen was the only person that he had ever kissed, or would ever want to.
Laurent leaned into the gentlest touch as though starved. He stroked along Laurent’s flank, slow, slower. Again.
‘Damen, I—’
‘Really?’ said Damen, rather pleased.
With another lover, it was the moment to speed up in order to reach their peak. Damen slowed further.
‘I want do it slowly, the way you like,’ said Damen, and Laurent closed his eyes.
‘Yes.’
*million heart eyes*
*happy screaming*
Also, that scene... As we already noted, Laurent doesn't care much about being interrupted no matter what kind of state he is in 😆
‘Your Highness, you asked to be notified when the King’s retinue reached the palace. I’m here to inform you that the King of Akielos has arrived.’
‘Thank you, I can be said to be faintly aware of that.’
... because when you're a king you don't come - you arrive 😂 I bet this became their private (or not so private) dirty joke. I can just hear Laurent saying to Damen 'I will make you arrive.'
‘And if the King’s retinue really has arrived, tell his squires that the King’s armor is in the east garden.’
I'm sure that the whole King's guard was gossiping if the King of Akielos and the Prince of Vere really did it in the gardens 🤣🤣🤣
‘Tomorrow, let’s go riding.’
‘We can go riding if I can move tomorrow.’ The words, lazily, long minutes later.
Poor Laurent... we all know how horny Damen is. Laurent will probably need a week-long bed-rest before he will be able to go riding. And who needs horses anyway when you have a stallion in your bed 😏😋
I'm seriously in love with the way my precious babies are in love with each other 🧡💙🧡💙
His smile widened.
Laurent said, ‘What?’
���You were watching the road,’ said Damen.
For the end, I have to share these pics because they are gorgeous and with the minor changes these two could totally be Damen and Laurent.
You might want to open the spoiler in private 😉
First read: 17 Aug 2020 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Re-read: 17 Mar 2022 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 26, 2021
"His smile widened.
Laurent said, ‘What?’
‘You were watching the road,’ said Damen."
It flipping breaks my heart to see how beautifully in love these two people are.
The Summer Palace is as sweet and cute as it gets. Seriously, you couldn't wish for more. I enjoyed it to no end. Seeing Laurent without all of his barriers is so painful and emotional and generally perfect.
‘You didn’t know how afraid I was of you?’
‘Of me? Or of yourself?’
‘Of what was happening between us.’
But--please don't lynch me--in spite of my eagerness to give in to Softie Me (she exists, I can testify to that) I did find myself cringing in a couple of moments. Some mushy stuff I just can't cope with. It's in my nature. Namely, flowers in their hair and talking to statues and well, you get it. I felt that their characterizations, Laurent's especially, had to be a bit bent to allow this explosion of... of sugar to happen. It reads a bit like fanfiction, I guess (please consider that I've never read any of those though so the definition may be imprecise), although the quality of the writing remains astounding as is Pacat's usual. I would give an arm and a leg to write the way C. S. Pacat does. She is a goddess with words.
Anyway, my insensitivity notwithstanding, The Summer Palace was exactly the injection of fluffiness we all needed after the ending of Kings Rising.
Laurent said, ‘What?’
‘You were watching the road,’ said Damen."
It flipping breaks my heart to see how beautifully in love these two people are.
The Summer Palace is as sweet and cute as it gets. Seriously, you couldn't wish for more. I enjoyed it to no end. Seeing Laurent without all of his barriers is so painful and emotional and generally perfect.
‘You didn’t know how afraid I was of you?’
‘Of me? Or of yourself?’
‘Of what was happening between us.’
But--please don't lynch me--in spite of my eagerness to give in to Softie Me (she exists, I can testify to that) I did find myself cringing in a couple of moments. Some mushy stuff I just can't cope with. It's in my nature. Namely, flowers in their hair and talking to statues and well, you get it. I felt that their characterizations, Laurent's especially, had to be a bit bent to allow this explosion of... of sugar to happen. It reads a bit like fanfiction, I guess (please consider that I've never read any of those though so the definition may be imprecise), although the quality of the writing remains astounding as is Pacat's usual. I would give an arm and a leg to write the way C. S. Pacat does. She is a goddess with words.
Anyway, my insensitivity notwithstanding, The Summer Palace was exactly the injection of fluffiness we all needed after the ending of Kings Rising.
![Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 24, 2021
PERFECTION AT ITS FINEST. i want more Damen and Laurent pls 😭
August 21, 2024
‘Hello,’ said Laurent, and Damen couldn’t help the spill of feeling at how close they had come to not having this at all.
I love The Captive Prince series SO MUCH and this short epilogue is SO SWEET. I want to cry. 💙💙💙😭
I honestly hate myself for waiting so long before reading this epilogue (I should have listened to you all those months ago Paige). It's PERFECTION.
Nothing could wash away the past, but this took them both there, touching a painful truth, acknowledging it.
I was expecting a happily ever after showing us how Damen and Laurent were living their life together while ruling their kingdoms, but I was pleased to discover that this was more about them getting acquainted with their own feelings, and trying to make peace with their troubled past. We can see how much they love each other, but they are not simply forgetting the past because of their love, they are not shying away from it, as it is a huge part of them and their strong relationship, and instead, they are trying to heal together.
Damen was smiling; there was delight in seeing Laurent explore himself, a young man who was sweet, teasing, at times unexpectedly earnest. Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them.
This is just the perfect sweet and cute ending of this epic series. I’d forgotten how much I loved Damen and Laurent. They are so cute and perfect together. I don’t think I can ever get enough of them.
For now it was the simple pleasure of Laurent beside him, their hands linked, with only sunlight and fresh air about them.
1. Captive Prince ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Prince's Gambit ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Kings Rising ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 #1 Green but for a Season ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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October 24, 2019
[distant screaming]
June 18, 2018
Reread: 17th June 2018
Ah ... I smell of summer, the fresh sea breeze and sweet sweet summer blossoms. 💙 A heavenly read for the lovers of CaPri. Who knew Laurent can be that romantic and caring at heart! *happy sigh* 😌
Original review: revised edition
This is such an incredible epilogue for Captive Prince Trilogy. Here, we see the glimpses of Laurent and Damen's future. They are planning to rule two countries as one kingdom and relocating their permanent palace to the border, as it should be.
We see how Damen was excited and impatient to meet Laurent, the love of his life, at summer palace which was a work of Damen's mother, the late queen. I love how Laurent submitted to Damen against his domineering mindset. I love how they were able to patch things up between them and that they were able to talk about the worst nightmares of their lives. And Laurent and Damen trying to properly court each other, it was such a sweet and tender moment. 😍 Who knows our frigid, cold prince can be such a hopeless romantic and a caring lover. 😁😉 it was really sweet and loving that Laurent bathed Damen in the baths. And that love making in the king's chamber of summer palace, sweet mother of god, I was a puddled goo. 😊 C.S. Pacat has such good sense of humor and you can see that in the ending of this little novella.
I still really really REALLY wish that I can see at least a novella featuring Laurent's PoV. I really wanna know when exactly he decided to forgive Damen and when he started to have feelings for him and fell in love with him. It'd be a dream come true to get a peek of his enigmatic and mysterious mind. 😌
Such a sweet, lovely summer novella filled with beautiful summer blossoms, fresh sea breeze, a breathtaking view of a cerulean sea and sweetest, most erotic kisses of our Laurent and Damen. 😘
Favorite excerpts from the novella: 💗💜💗
It had felt at times surreal: the wonder of what was newly between them set against the seriousness of their days, the difficulty of those early decisions.
A diffuse excitement at the idea of having the view as their witness stirred in Damen. He felt a momentary connection to the Veretian monarchy’s tradition of public consummation, a possessive desire to see and be seen. It was transgressive and outside the bounds of his own nature, even as the gardens felt private enough that it might be possible.
The restraint was part of it, the competing desires of wanting everything all at once, and wanting to savour each increment.
‘My mother planted these gardens,’ said Damen. His heart was pounding. ‘Do you like them? They’re ours now.’ Saying the word “ours” still felt daring.
Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them.
‘I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his people.’
‘The night you told me about this place, it was the first time that I ever thought about the future. I thought about coming here. I thought about... being with you. It meant something to me that you suggested it. What we had on the ride to Ios, it was already more than I... At the trial, I thought it was enough. I thought I was ready. And then you came.’ ‘In case you wanted me,’ said Damen.
‘You didn’t know how afraid I was of you?’ ‘Of me? Or of yourself?’ ‘Of what was happening between us.’
The number of times that they had made love were still finite enough that Damen could remember each one of them: at Ravenel, the unspoken full of painful secrets; in Karthas, losing themselves in each other; aching sweetness by firelight at a roadside inn at Mellos; the desperation of their first lovemaking after Damen’s recovery.
He loved the way that Laurent kissed, as if Damen was the only person that he had ever kissed, or would ever want to.
5 you were watching the road stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ah ... I smell of summer, the fresh sea breeze and sweet sweet summer blossoms. 💙 A heavenly read for the lovers of CaPri. Who knew Laurent can be that romantic and caring at heart! *happy sigh* 😌
Original review: revised edition
This is such an incredible epilogue for Captive Prince Trilogy. Here, we see the glimpses of Laurent and Damen's future. They are planning to rule two countries as one kingdom and relocating their permanent palace to the border, as it should be.
We see how Damen was excited and impatient to meet Laurent, the love of his life, at summer palace which was a work of Damen's mother, the late queen. I love how Laurent submitted to Damen against his domineering mindset. I love how they were able to patch things up between them and that they were able to talk about the worst nightmares of their lives. And Laurent and Damen trying to properly court each other, it was such a sweet and tender moment. 😍 Who knows our frigid, cold prince can be such a hopeless romantic and a caring lover. 😁😉 it was really sweet and loving that Laurent bathed Damen in the baths. And that love making in the king's chamber of summer palace, sweet mother of god, I was a puddled goo. 😊 C.S. Pacat has such good sense of humor and you can see that in the ending of this little novella.
I still really really REALLY wish that I can see at least a novella featuring Laurent's PoV. I really wanna know when exactly he decided to forgive Damen and when he started to have feelings for him and fell in love with him. It'd be a dream come true to get a peek of his enigmatic and mysterious mind. 😌
Such a sweet, lovely summer novella filled with beautiful summer blossoms, fresh sea breeze, a breathtaking view of a cerulean sea and sweetest, most erotic kisses of our Laurent and Damen. 😘
Favorite excerpts from the novella: 💗💜💗
It had felt at times surreal: the wonder of what was newly between them set against the seriousness of their days, the difficulty of those early decisions.
A diffuse excitement at the idea of having the view as their witness stirred in Damen. He felt a momentary connection to the Veretian monarchy’s tradition of public consummation, a possessive desire to see and be seen. It was transgressive and outside the bounds of his own nature, even as the gardens felt private enough that it might be possible.
The restraint was part of it, the competing desires of wanting everything all at once, and wanting to savour each increment.
‘My mother planted these gardens,’ said Damen. His heart was pounding. ‘Do you like them? They’re ours now.’ Saying the word “ours” still felt daring.
Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them.
‘I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his people.’
‘The night you told me about this place, it was the first time that I ever thought about the future. I thought about coming here. I thought about... being with you. It meant something to me that you suggested it. What we had on the ride to Ios, it was already more than I... At the trial, I thought it was enough. I thought I was ready. And then you came.’ ‘In case you wanted me,’ said Damen.
‘You didn’t know how afraid I was of you?’ ‘Of me? Or of yourself?’ ‘Of what was happening between us.’
The number of times that they had made love were still finite enough that Damen could remember each one of them: at Ravenel, the unspoken full of painful secrets; in Karthas, losing themselves in each other; aching sweetness by firelight at a roadside inn at Mellos; the desperation of their first lovemaking after Damen’s recovery.
He loved the way that Laurent kissed, as if Damen was the only person that he had ever kissed, or would ever want to.
5 you were watching the road stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 29, 2019
Re-Read 2019
There is this from Kings Rising:
‘There’s a summer palace in Ios outside the capital. My mother designed the gardens there. They say it’s built on Artesian foundations.’ He thought of the meandering walks, the delicate, flowering southern orchids, the sprays of orange blossom. ‘It’s cool in summer, and there are fountains, and tracks for riding.’ His pulse beat with uncharacteristic nerves, so that he felt almost shy. ‘When all this is over . . . we could take horses and stay a week in the palace.’ Since their night together in Karthas, he hadn’t dared to speak about the future.
He felt Laurent holding himself carefully, and there was a strange pause. After a moment, Laurent said, softly, ‘I’d like that.’
And the author gave us The Summer Palace . Best epilogue ever.
This was short and sweet. cuteness overload
Laurent plucked a white flower from the low-hanging branches, and lifted his hand to tuck it into Damen’s hair, as if Damen were a youth from the village.
‘Are you courting me?’ said Damen.
This was what was missing from book 3. IMO It should have been included at the end of book 3 that $1.99 for 30 pages was difficult to part with but i really needed closure.
Damen and Laurent's relationship has grown from book 1
Nothing could wash away the past, but this took them both there, touching a painful truth, acknowledging it
I Loved.
‘I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his people.’
"And in our new palace", said Laurent, "on the border?" Damen felt warmth pool in his stomach. "Our new palace."
and
"His smile widened.
Laurent said, ‘What?’
‘You were watching the road,’ said Damen."
There is this from Kings Rising:
‘There’s a summer palace in Ios outside the capital. My mother designed the gardens there. They say it’s built on Artesian foundations.’ He thought of the meandering walks, the delicate, flowering southern orchids, the sprays of orange blossom. ‘It’s cool in summer, and there are fountains, and tracks for riding.’ His pulse beat with uncharacteristic nerves, so that he felt almost shy. ‘When all this is over . . . we could take horses and stay a week in the palace.’ Since their night together in Karthas, he hadn’t dared to speak about the future.
He felt Laurent holding himself carefully, and there was a strange pause. After a moment, Laurent said, softly, ‘I’d like that.’
And the author gave us The Summer Palace . Best epilogue ever.
This was short and sweet. cuteness overload
Laurent plucked a white flower from the low-hanging branches, and lifted his hand to tuck it into Damen’s hair, as if Damen were a youth from the village.
‘Are you courting me?’ said Damen.
This was what was missing from book 3. IMO It should have been included at the end of book 3 that $1.99 for 30 pages was difficult to part with but i really needed closure.
Damen and Laurent's relationship has grown from book 1
Nothing could wash away the past, but this took them both there, touching a painful truth, acknowledging it
I Loved.
‘I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his people.’
"And in our new palace", said Laurent, "on the border?" Damen felt warmth pool in his stomach. "Our new palace."
and
"His smile widened.
Laurent said, ‘What?’
‘You were watching the road,’ said Damen."
December 11, 2018
"It was so close to his own thoughts - that everything he knew was gone, but that this was here, in its place, this one bright thing."
"And in our new palace", said Laurent, "on the border?" Damen felt warmth pool in his stomach. "Our new palace."
"He loved the way that Laurent kissed, as if Damen was the only person that he had ever kissed, or would ever want to."
December 23, 2020
Am I here unceremoniously to complain and fangirl about a book that I read a few months ago?
Why, yes, yes I am.
4 ‘I knelt for you’ ✨
This review will have spoilers! It is basically me fangirling over precious moments in this book. You have been warned.
This novella or epilogue is set at The Summer Palace (surprising, I know) where Laurent and Damen decide to take a vacation shortly after they gain their new 'kingly' status. While this novella was quite literally full of precious moments, it didn’t completely live up to my expectations.
After being on this journey for three books and being feels deep invested in the dynamics and relationship between Damen and Laurent, I wanted more from their romance. I wanted to witness the shift in their dynamics as they address the events from book 1 and Laurent’s actions towards Damen. I wanted to leave my 💙🧡kingly babies🧡💙 in a place where I know their previous actions have been addressed and left in the past. While this may have happened to some degree, it happened mostly off pages and I am not satisfied with it.
However, the events that did transpire in this novella left me ✨weak and yearning.✨
The first thing that needs to be addressed is that Laurent, our frigid prince and our icy king, is literally watching the road for Damen to arrive. If this ain’t true love, I don’t know what is.
And when Laurent speaks to the statue of Damen’s mother about how he will take care of Damen…gosh, it almost killed me with feels. Laurent being vulnerable will never stop punching me in the feels!
Now, let’s switch gears from endearing moments to moments that left me panting and with goosebumps.
The first scene I want to address is when Laurent shows us a hint of vulnerability by opening up to Damen. This scene was just so pure and everything I had been waiting for after being invested in their relationship and this story. And it might not be significant to all of you reading the following quote, but if you know the dynamics between Damen and Laurent, you’ll agree that this scene was utterly pure.
I could literally continue this review by posting each and every single scene from The Summer Palace that I loved, but I want to leave some gems for you to discover if you decide to read this novella so I’m just going to share one more scene, my favorite scene of this novella.
This moment from the book is very near and dear to my heart because it was simply devastating. My wishes of issues and dynamics from book 1 to be addressed between Damen and Laurent were answered in this moment and it left me speechless and with goosebumps. The insecurities, vulnerabilities, hurt feelings, mutual understanding, silent emotions, and erupting chemistry gave birth to this scene in the novella.
If you are wondering that if you are ready or not for this scene, let me tell you that you are not. You will never be even after re-reading the scene if you have been following Damen and Laurent from book 1. The beauty of it is that you don’t want to be okay. You want this scene to utterly break your heart so it can simultaneously mend your heart as well. Brace yourself.
My emotions every time I read this scene:
Overall, this novella was precious and I am grateful the author decided to write it. I desperately want to give this 5 stars, but I can't deny that the way this series wrapped up left things to desire. After investing my emotions, energy, and time in this series, I wanted the ending to be satisfactory and complete, but this made the ending felt incomplete. However, I still treasure this series and all the moments that I got to read this novella!
And just like my every rambling review for this series, I am going to end this one with a fanart as well! So enjoy 😘
Why, yes, yes I am.
4 ‘I knelt for you’ ✨
This review will have spoilers! It is basically me fangirling over precious moments in this book. You have been warned.
This novella or epilogue is set at The Summer Palace (surprising, I know) where Laurent and Damen decide to take a vacation shortly after they gain their new 'kingly' status. While this novella was quite literally full of precious moments, it didn’t completely live up to my expectations.
After being on this journey for three books and being feels deep invested in the dynamics and relationship between Damen and Laurent, I wanted more from their romance. I wanted to witness the shift in their dynamics as they address the events from book 1 and Laurent’s actions towards Damen. I wanted to leave my 💙🧡kingly babies🧡💙 in a place where I know their previous actions have been addressed and left in the past. While this may have happened to some degree, it happened mostly off pages and I am not satisfied with it.
However, the events that did transpire in this novella left me ✨weak and yearning.✨
The first thing that needs to be addressed is that Laurent, our frigid prince and our icy king, is literally watching the road for Damen to arrive. If this ain’t true love, I don’t know what is.
‘All right,’ said Damen, smiling as he thought about his squires rooting around in the east garden for his armour. And then of other things. His smile widened.
Laurent said, ‘What?’
‘You were watching the road,’ said Damen.
And when Laurent speaks to the statue of Damen’s mother about how he will take care of Damen…gosh, it almost killed me with feels. Laurent being vulnerable will never stop punching me in the feels!
‘I’ll take care of your son,’ said Laurent. ‘I’ll protect his kingdom as if it were my own. I’ll give my life for his people.’
Above them, the sun was high and bright, and encouraged a retreat to the shade line. The boughs of the trees around them were heavy with scent. Laurent said, ‘I won’t let him down. I promise you.’
Now, let’s switch gears from endearing moments to moments that left me panting and with goosebumps.
The first scene I want to address is when Laurent shows us a hint of vulnerability by opening up to Damen. This scene was just so pure and everything I had been waiting for after being invested in their relationship and this story. And it might not be significant to all of you reading the following quote, but if you know the dynamics between Damen and Laurent, you’ll agree that this scene was utterly pure.
‘The night you told me about this place, it was the first time that I ever thought about the future. I thought about coming here. I thought about... being with you. It meant something to me that you suggested it. What we had on the ride to Ios, it was already more than I... At the trial, I thought it was enough. I thought I was ready. And then you came.’
‘In case you wanted me,’ said Damen.
‘I thought, I have lost everything and gained you, and I would almost make the trade, if I didn’t know it had happened that way for you, too.’
I could literally continue this review by posting each and every single scene from The Summer Palace that I loved, but I want to leave some gems for you to discover if you decide to read this novella so I’m just going to share one more scene, my favorite scene of this novella.
This moment from the book is very near and dear to my heart because it was simply devastating. My wishes of issues and dynamics from book 1 to be addressed between Damen and Laurent were answered in this moment and it left me speechless and with goosebumps. The insecurities, vulnerabilities, hurt feelings, mutual understanding, silent emotions, and erupting chemistry gave birth to this scene in the novella.
If you are wondering that if you are ready or not for this scene, let me tell you that you are not. You will never be even after re-reading the scene if you have been following Damen and Laurent from book 1. The beauty of it is that you don’t want to be okay. You want this scene to utterly break your heart so it can simultaneously mend your heart as well. Brace yourself.
‘I knelt for you,’ said Damen.
Kiss it. The remembered words when Laurent had forced Damen to his knees, and extended the toe of his boot. Kneel then. Kiss my boot. He thought, Laurent would never do that. Laurent had too much pride.
Deliberately, Laurent went to his knees.
All the breath left Damen. Laurent’s internal struggle was plain. The rise and fall of Laurent’s chest was shallow. His lips were parted, but he didn’t speak. His body was tense. He did not like to be on his knees.
…
Damen extended his foot.
His heart was pounding. Laurent unwound the straps of Damen’s sandal and drew it off—first one, then the other. Beside him was the pitcher, oils, and a sponge that divers would have plucked from the sea.
Slowly, he began to wash Damen’s foot. It was the action of a body slave, something one prince would never do for another.
My emotions every time I read this scene:
Overall, this novella was precious and I am grateful the author decided to write it. I desperately want to give this 5 stars, but I can't deny that the way this series wrapped up left things to desire. After investing my emotions, energy, and time in this series, I wanted the ending to be satisfactory and complete, but this made the ending felt incomplete. However, I still treasure this series and all the moments that I got to read this novella!
And just like my every rambling review for this series, I am going to end this one with a fanart as well! So enjoy 😘
February 7, 2017
I enjoyed the Captive Prince trilogy, but I always felt the end of Kings Rising was a tad unfinished/abrupt. So when a friend told me this short story was available I had to read it.
It's the perfect epilogue to this series. Period.
It's the perfect epilogue to this series. Period.
October 11, 2018
That everything he knew was gone, but that this was here, in its place, this one bright thing.
The Summer Palace takes place after the end of the trilogy, and offers a little glimmer into what happened at the end of Kings Rising, as well as what would come to pass in the months after.
For now it was the simple pleasure of Laurent beside him, their hands linked, with only sunlight and fresh air about them.
I was so eager when I saw that this was a short story specifically about Laurent and Damen, and I could not have been happier with this story... unless it had been 300 pages instead of 30. Or 3,000 pages. That would've been okay, too. I'm so helplessly in love with this ship and I can't imagine ever tiring of these two.
Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them.
With how slow of a burn their romance was, and how difficult and broken Laurent could be, I was so relieved to find the tangible level of tenderness and love between the two of them. Fair warning: this story is honestly just a gradual escalation through precious, steamy, and - at times - angsty flirting and smut, but if you shipped these two even half as hard as I do, you need this story in your life. ❤
His smile widened. Laurent said, "What?"
"You were watching the road," said Damen.
August 12, 2024
:’)
*
➳ my heart has melted.
*
➳ my heart has melted.
September 22, 2021
One of the most stunning "epilogues of sorts" to date.
Dreamy scenario, atmosphere and intimacy.
Damianos, Laurent and all of us deserved this. 💝
November 7, 2020
“Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them."
This is a very apt epilogue for the trilogy and picks up after the events of the king's rising.
This book had a vulnerable touch to it focusing mainly on Laurent and Damen's relationship after the "war". They finally take a break from all the court politics and go to the summer palace (previously mentioned by Damen in the 3rd book) to spend some quality time.
Ahhhhh it just melted my heart! It was as I said so personal and it felt like the series ended here and not with the third book. (though I LOVED the ending of it so much!)
For the fans of the trilogy, this is a must-read for sure!!
*here is a bonus fanart because we love them!*
April 9, 2020
i would die for damen and laurent.
April 2, 2024
Reread April 2024
Without any doubt one of the most memorable epilogues I’ve ever read.
5 stars is not enough. By far!
After the rather abrupt ending of book 3 and all the action and tension, this is pure balm to the soul.
It is true what I said in my original review, about 7 years ago: I never forgot that bathing scene. Even if many other little details were ‘lost in time and space’.
It’s a shame that a conversation about Laurent’s relationship with his uncle never happened. Maybe it would have been too contentious to be brought up? Not sure. But ultimately, it didn’t matter here.
What a glorious ending.
But being super greedy – I really would have loved to see how Damen and Laurent build their kingdom, abolish slavery (something so ingrained in Akielon’s society, how would that have worked?) and build a solid future for themselves.
Original review:
This really is a belated Christmas present, and surely what must be one of the most epic epilogues ever!
I just sat, totally spellbound (again), surrounded by visions of a Roman type villa in the midst of height summer, virtually smelling the “sweet oils”, the heavy scent of pines and exotic flowers, mingling with the mellow sea air. I could see the sun sparkling on gently rolling waves of water in the distance and hear the hum of busy insects and the gentle chirping of crickets and cicadas. C.S Pacat just nails her world building.
But not only the description of the palace is sumptuous. It is what happens between Damen and Laurent that trumps it all. It is the first time after the events in book3 they’ve had the chance to make time and acknowledge their feelings for each other. There are things to be healed that haven’t been mentioned up to this point.
For me the bathing scene eclipses everything else. There were definitely tears (on my side). It is moments like this that remain with you forever. So much said and expressed without one little word. A stroke of genius. The emotion passing between the two men is intense and honest and so wonderful, my heart just whooped with joy.
Laurent has come such a long way. Seeing him open and happy and so in love was one of the most wonderful things. And Damen returns his feelings every little bit. The depth of emotion between these two, their intense and sincere connection was drawn beautifully, sensitively and with a bit of humour.
A MUST read if you have enjoyed the first three books.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Without any doubt one of the most memorable epilogues I’ve ever read.
5 stars is not enough. By far!
After the rather abrupt ending of book 3 and all the action and tension, this is pure balm to the soul.
It is true what I said in my original review, about 7 years ago: I never forgot that bathing scene. Even if many other little details were ‘lost in time and space’.
It’s a shame that a conversation about Laurent’s relationship with his uncle never happened. Maybe it would have been too contentious to be brought up? Not sure. But ultimately, it didn’t matter here.
What a glorious ending.
But being super greedy – I really would have loved to see how Damen and Laurent build their kingdom, abolish slavery (something so ingrained in Akielon’s society, how would that have worked?) and build a solid future for themselves.
Original review:
This really is a belated Christmas present, and surely what must be one of the most epic epilogues ever!
I just sat, totally spellbound (again), surrounded by visions of a Roman type villa in the midst of height summer, virtually smelling the “sweet oils”, the heavy scent of pines and exotic flowers, mingling with the mellow sea air. I could see the sun sparkling on gently rolling waves of water in the distance and hear the hum of busy insects and the gentle chirping of crickets and cicadas. C.S Pacat just nails her world building.
But not only the description of the palace is sumptuous. It is what happens between Damen and Laurent that trumps it all. It is the first time after the events in book3 they’ve had the chance to make time and acknowledge their feelings for each other. There are things to be healed that haven’t been mentioned up to this point.
For me the bathing scene eclipses everything else. There were definitely tears (on my side). It is moments like this that remain with you forever. So much said and expressed without one little word. A stroke of genius. The emotion passing between the two men is intense and honest and so wonderful, my heart just whooped with joy.
Laurent has come such a long way. Seeing him open and happy and so in love was one of the most wonderful things. And Damen returns his feelings every little bit. The depth of emotion between these two, their intense and sincere connection was drawn beautifully, sensitively and with a bit of humour.
A MUST read if you have enjoyed the first three books.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
March 4, 2020
I wasn't wowed.
February 7, 2017
Having made the decision to let Damen in, Laurent had not gone back on it. When the walls went up, it was with Damen inside them.
The Summer Palace is the epilogue we've all been waiting for. And it delivers. Namely, it delivers tons of beautiful depictions of architecture and gardens, stolen kisses behind Akiellon pillars, gushy moments with flowers and statues, and intimate scenes. It also offers a glimpse of a peaceful future between Akielos and Vere which almost had me squeal. Furthermore, the terrible abuse Damen has suffered at Laurent's hand is addressed, which was incredibly important. Albeit jumping onboard this romance in Prince's Gambit, this had always been something that bothered me about their bond, that the wounds of the past had just been painted over instead of carefully mended. The short story also included short introspections, for example about both of their brothers having died in this decade-long power struggle, but mostly, this has been written for those who wanted to plunge into the bliss of two men in love – and that's what you'll get.
It is true that this short story could have done more than it did. Yet after the (slight) disappointment that was Green but for a Season, I had lowered my expectations extensively for this short story, only to be pleasantly surprised by The Summer Palace. It was longer than expected and I enjoyed ever second of it, even took my Kindle to the dentist's, which is like the least romantic place ever, but Damen and Laurent just paint the world a bright pink and make you forget that you're about to get a thorough odontexesis aka tooth cleaning.
Hence, my 5 stars. Enjoy, people!
November 7, 2022
"Are you courting me?"
Este es, sin duda, el mejor relato de todo el libro. ¡Es el epílogo que C. S. Pacat nos debía! Aquí nos encontramos con Damen y Laurant que, por fin, tras todas las intrigas de la corte, las guerras, las puñaladas por la espalda y los planes sucios de quienes querían derrocarlos, pueden pasar un tiempo de paz en el palacio de verano. Allí por fin pueden relajarse, dejar al mundo detrás y concentrarse finalmente en vivir esa relación que han experimentado en medio de ataques, apuros y momentos de tensión.
Todas las escenas entre ellos dos en este relato son increíblemente íntimas, perfectas, spicy y me hicieron morir de amor una y otra vez. Les juro que releería este relato eternamente solo por encontrarme de nuevo con la vulnerabilidad, la intimidad y la felicidad que desprenden Damen y Laurent al saber que por fin no hay nada que los separe, que no hay nada que amenace su relación.
Amé mucho <3.
Este es, sin duda, el mejor relato de todo el libro. ¡Es el epílogo que C. S. Pacat nos debía! Aquí nos encontramos con Damen y Laurant que, por fin, tras todas las intrigas de la corte, las guerras, las puñaladas por la espalda y los planes sucios de quienes querían derrocarlos, pueden pasar un tiempo de paz en el palacio de verano. Allí por fin pueden relajarse, dejar al mundo detrás y concentrarse finalmente en vivir esa relación que han experimentado en medio de ataques, apuros y momentos de tensión.
Todas las escenas entre ellos dos en este relato son increíblemente íntimas, perfectas, spicy y me hicieron morir de amor una y otra vez. Les juro que releería este relato eternamente solo por encontrarme de nuevo con la vulnerabilidad, la intimidad y la felicidad que desprenden Damen y Laurent al saber que por fin no hay nada que los separe, que no hay nada que amenace su relación.
Amé mucho <3.
May 26, 2017
Favorite line: "You were watching the road."
This short 30-page 'after-epilogue,' if you will, was very cute and extremely sweet.
In short, we finally got to see Laurent remove the Veretian stick from his ass for more than 30 consecutive seconds. ;- )
Behold, the cast iron bitch has melted. Slightly. Long live the King.
I found the most touching part to be where Laurent was attending to Damen in the baths, and was washing Damen's previously-injured back. Past hurts that Laurent himself had inflicted upon Damon, back in another life. Before.
I'd rate this one at around 4 stars and definitely recommend it, if you've read the series, as a final chapter to the romance between Damen and Laurent.
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** NOTE: For anyone interested, I found a truly incredible fan art site dedicated to the Captive Prince trilogy, so if you're a fan, do check it out. It's all kinds of amazing. : )
--> https://kyroi.tumblr.com
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Book 1 Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book 2 Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book 3 Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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February 6, 2017
Laurent plucked a white flower from the low-hanging branches, and lifted his hand to tuck it into Damen's hair, as if Damen were a youth from the village.
"Are you courting me?" said Damen.
imagine this: beautiful gay princes who singlehandledly solved a centuries-old feud between two huge kingdoms and who tuck flowers in each other's hair and are in love.
does that sound good to you? because it sure as hell sounds great to me. and this is what this story has given me. and i'm EXPLODING with happiness, it's like my insides are made of glitter. this teeny epilogue filled my heart with absolute joy. the crazed shipper inside of me is feeling so #blessed right now!
the only reason this wasn't a five star was because, despite fulfilling my deepest desires for cheesy endings and allowing me to see damen and laurent's dynamic in a more domestic setting, there were still other things that i was hoping we'd get from this. particularly, i wanted laurent's past to be adressed more - i didn't really like the way it was brushed over in Kings Rising - but we didn't get a single mention to it here. of course, it would've soured the entire mood, but still, this is a huge part of his character and the motif behind a lot of his actions and i just reeeeaaaally want this to be adressed at some point!
but still: baby gays being cute. i wholeheartedly approve of this.
February 10, 2017
LAURENT AND DAMEN OWN MY SOUL. THEY ARE MY BEAUTIFUL BABIES.
I AM SO HAPPY. THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANTED IN AN EPILOGUE.
ALL FANS OF THIS SERIES MUST READ THIS. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
5 / 5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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I AM SO HAPPY. THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANTED IN AN EPILOGUE.
ALL FANS OF THIS SERIES MUST READ THIS. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
5 / 5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
March 15, 2018
This one was a cute little intel of what the future will hold for our King and Prince. Unfortunately, I didn't find it enough; I wanted so, SO much more. In fact, I want one more book where we really get to see how their future will turn out.
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