Review: Prince of the Undying by Karen Kincy
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Introduction:
He’s a necromancer. An abomination. And he’s my ruin. When I hunt down the Prince of the Undying, he’s bleeding out on the battlefield. His forbidden magic violates death itself. With his bare hands, he can revive corpses and command the dead. After I save his life, he falls to one knee and swears undying loyalty to me. We should be enemies, but he’s mine now. He should be untouchable, but I can’t stop touching him. Every time I do, the cold fire of his necromancy tingles over my skin. It’s impossible to deny my fascination with him. Maybe there’s more than magic between us. Heartbreakingly beautiful, he has haunted eyes that betray painful secrets in his past. Once, he was royalty. Now, he has fallen from grace into darkness. He taunts me, telling me he hasn’t defiled me yet. I refuse to confess the that’s exactly what I want from him.
Review:
Reviewed by Dakota Watson
The Prince of Undying is the first installment of the Undying Desires series by Karen Kincy. This book has a lot of great elements to make it the beginning of a great series. The story is set in an alternate reality in Europe after the Italy-Turk War in early 1900s. It was commendable how much the author had researched into how this conflict affected the neighboring countries and the aftermath and chaos of that political division caused in that region. The story’s magical facets are equally praiseworthy. The magical societies, Archmages of Vienna and The Order of Asphodel were great additions to the story.
While the world building of the story was beyond commendable the story itself missed the mark for me. The main stumbling block, in my opinion, lay in the instant attraction between the main characters. Their connection seemed to lack a profound foundation, merely grounded in the allure of each other’s physicality. I wished for a more profound exploration of the emotions that bound them, something beyond the surface-level attraction based solely on their looks.
It would have heightened the narrative allure if the story had unfolded through dual povs, allowing us to intimately witness the intricate tapestry of both Ardis and Wendel’s tumultuous pasts, particularly the latter’s profoundly tragic experiences and abuse growing up.
Ardis, as the female lead, held her own in the story. However, I can’t shake the feeling that the author missed a beat in giving us enough insight into her character’s development. A Chinese American mercenary, raised in a brothel by her prostitute mother, Ardis hinted at a depth and power beyond her outward appearance. Despite this rich background, I found it difficult to form a strong emotional connection with her.
Also I feel I need to talk about Ardis’ sword Chun Yi as the author was indicating it was powerful and important through out the story. Yet, it felt like the significance behind the weapon wasn’t fully explored. I craved a deeper understanding of why the sword was crucial and what magical elements it held.
While the physical intimacy scenes themselves were not lacking, the lack of a deeper emotional connection between the characters left me unable to fully savor them as I had anticipated. A more profound foundation for their attraction beyond mere physical appeal would have undoubtedly enhanced the overall impact of these moments, making them more satisfying and resonant for the reader.
The Prince of Undying delivered a whirlwind of action, spice, and political drama within the magical societies, creating a fast-paced narrative. However, the speed at which the story unfolded left me with mixed feelings. The abundance of events seemed to be crammed into a relatively short book, leading to a sense of rush. It’s evident that the brevity of the book imposed limitations on the depth and intricacy the author could achieve within the storyline.
In conclusion, this book was a good start to the Undying Desires series and has a lot of potential to grow as the story continues.
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