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Calluvia's Royalty #4
Prince's Master
A prince and a villain incapable of love: it wasn't supposed to be a love story...
Separated from his family after an assassination attempt, Prince Eridan is rescued by the reclusive Order of monks who control High Hronthar, an isolated school for telepaths. Eridan believes he’s an ordinary orphan, one of hundreds of initiates of the Order trying to survive in a nest of intrigue, rivalry, and corruption, but he’s more important than he knows.
When Castien Idhron, the most powerful man in the Order, claims Eridan as his apprentice, Eridan’s confused and wary. Corrupt, heartless, and calculating, Castien plays with the lives of those around him as if they’re just a game. Eridan’s just another pawn.
Eridan despises his Master, and yet he finds himself craving his attention and approval like a drug he can’t live without.
Castien has never understood the concepts of kindness and love, but to his displeasure, his insolent apprentice has a way of getting under his skin like nothing else.
Will the master manipulator win the game, or will he play himself?
This book contains explicit content, a teacher-student MM relationship, power imbalance, age difference (35/21).
Separated from his family after an assassination attempt, Prince Eridan is rescued by the reclusive Order of monks who control High Hronthar, an isolated school for telepaths. Eridan believes he’s an ordinary orphan, one of hundreds of initiates of the Order trying to survive in a nest of intrigue, rivalry, and corruption, but he’s more important than he knows.
When Castien Idhron, the most powerful man in the Order, claims Eridan as his apprentice, Eridan’s confused and wary. Corrupt, heartless, and calculating, Castien plays with the lives of those around him as if they’re just a game. Eridan’s just another pawn.
Eridan despises his Master, and yet he finds himself craving his attention and approval like a drug he can’t live without.
Castien has never understood the concepts of kindness and love, but to his displeasure, his insolent apprentice has a way of getting under his skin like nothing else.
Will the master manipulator win the game, or will he play himself?
This book contains explicit content, a teacher-student MM relationship, power imbalance, age difference (35/21).
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 878 reviews
August 1, 2020
*4.5 stars*
Why is this series so addictive?? It doesn't make sense, but I could NOT put Prince's Master down.
Ah, the magic of Alessandra Hazard. She throws in time jumps, a million POVs, a plot that is fairly confusing (don't read this as a stand-alone), but she has me, hook, line, and sinker. She grabs onto me with her sexy little stories of magic and mind-tricks and grumpy, grumpy masters and doesn't let me go. She is a sorceress, I swear.
If you wanted Castien Idhron's story and were curious about him from the previous books, you will adore this story. True, there is sooooo much denial happening and so much manipulation, but I love a closed-off, hard-to-read male MC (yes, probably a huge internal flaw of mine... let's ignore that). The story kept me wanting to read more and more, and I just couldn't get enough of the dynamic between Castien and Eridan.
And the sex... gah! Just one squirm-in-your-seat scene after another. *sigh*, Alessandra Hazard just gets me.
Is this book technically perfect? No, not even close. Do I care? No, not even close.
My only question is when is the next one coming out?
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
Why is this series so addictive?? It doesn't make sense, but I could NOT put Prince's Master down.
Ah, the magic of Alessandra Hazard. She throws in time jumps, a million POVs, a plot that is fairly confusing (don't read this as a stand-alone), but she has me, hook, line, and sinker. She grabs onto me with her sexy little stories of magic and mind-tricks and grumpy, grumpy masters and doesn't let me go. She is a sorceress, I swear.
If you wanted Castien Idhron's story and were curious about him from the previous books, you will adore this story. True, there is sooooo much denial happening and so much manipulation, but I love a closed-off, hard-to-read male MC (yes, probably a huge internal flaw of mine... let's ignore that). The story kept me wanting to read more and more, and I just couldn't get enough of the dynamic between Castien and Eridan.
And the sex... gah! Just one squirm-in-your-seat scene after another. *sigh*, Alessandra Hazard just gets me.
Is this book technically perfect? No, not even close. Do I care? No, not even close.
My only question is when is the next one coming out?
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
December 29, 2021
Third-read: 29.12.2021
After I had read AH's newest release, I felt like re-reading this one as well...
Second-read: 13.07.2021
Don't give me that look. I can't help it. Sometimes you just need a little AH's writing in your life.
Re-read: 22.03.2021
You can't blame me for wanting to re-read this one. I didn't remember that it was that long, but it was still an enjoyable read.
It's almost been two freaking months since I've read a book. Two months! A lot has been going in my life, and most if it hasn't been good - a week and a half ago I lost my oldest brother, this is the second time I've lost a brother - so I've struggled with concentration and focus and reading just wasn't possible. It was only fitting that a book by this author was what I would start with when starting to read again.
The fourth book in the series centers around Master Castien Idhron (14 years older than Eridan), the High Adept of the High Hronthar, the Grandmaster of the P’gni Order, the Head Mind Healer: this man holds many titles, and Castien's apprentice, Eridan (18, turns 19, turns 20, turns 21, turns 22?), a Class 5 telepath. Castien's one of the most powerful men on the planet, got promoted after the death of his predecessor. Eridan grows up believing his family gave him up, feeling terribly alone and isolated, which probably has something to do with the fact that he becomes very attached to his cold and ruthless Master Idhron. He just can't help wanting him, needing him, even if his Master has warned him that he doesn't care for emotions.
Overall, it's not shocking that I like this book. I mean, it's got a hot, sexy, powerful, alpha male anti-hero, a cute, sassy apprentice, a plot and sexy times. I do absolutely love anti-heroes, I do. This book is better than book two and three, though does not beat book one. I did however, not like the epilogue all that much. It just didn't fit. Also, I'm a little confused as to Castien's age. He should technically be way older when Eridan's eighteen, as Castien was seventeen when Eri was three, so something must've gone wrong when writing this... I do very much want more of this series, of this couple, but mostly I need more Harry as the little glimpse we're getting of him isn't enough...
Facts:
Other Characters:
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult?) Science Fiction/Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series, (It Can Be Read As A Standalone, But I Advice Against It), Book Four.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Castien Idhron.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes.
Will I read this again in the future? - Probably.
Rating - 3.5 stars.
Review before reading:
An anti-hero? Count me in ;) Please come out soon!
After I had read AH's newest release, I felt like re-reading this one as well...
Second-read: 13.07.2021
Don't give me that look. I can't help it. Sometimes you just need a little AH's writing in your life.
Re-read: 22.03.2021
You can't blame me for wanting to re-read this one. I didn't remember that it was that long, but it was still an enjoyable read.
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*I Do Love Anti-Heroes*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
It's almost been two freaking months since I've read a book. Two months! A lot has been going in my life, and most if it hasn't been good - a week and a half ago I lost my oldest brother, this is the second time I've lost a brother - so I've struggled with concentration and focus and reading just wasn't possible. It was only fitting that a book by this author was what I would start with when starting to read again.
The fourth book in the series centers around Master Castien Idhron (14 years older than Eridan), the High Adept of the High Hronthar, the Grandmaster of the P’gni Order, the Head Mind Healer: this man holds many titles, and Castien's apprentice, Eridan (18, turns 19, turns 20, turns 21, turns 22?), a Class 5 telepath. Castien's one of the most powerful men on the planet, got promoted after the death of his predecessor. Eridan grows up believing his family gave him up, feeling terribly alone and isolated, which probably has something to do with the fact that he becomes very attached to his cold and ruthless Master Idhron. He just can't help wanting him, needing him, even if his Master has warned him that he doesn't care for emotions.
Overall, it's not shocking that I like this book. I mean, it's got a hot, sexy, powerful, alpha male anti-hero, a cute, sassy apprentice, a plot and sexy times. I do absolutely love anti-heroes, I do. This book is better than book two and three, though does not beat book one. I did however, not like the epilogue all that much. It just didn't fit. Also, I'm a little confused as to Castien's age. He should technically be way older when Eridan's eighteen, as Castien was seventeen when Eri was three, so something must've gone wrong when writing this... I do very much want more of this series, of this couple, but mostly I need more Harry as the little glimpse we're getting of him isn't enough...
Facts:
Other Characters:
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult?) Science Fiction/Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series, (It Can Be Read As A Standalone, But I Advice Against It), Book Four.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Castien Idhron.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes.
Will I read this again in the future? - Probably.
Rating - 3.5 stars.
Review before reading:
An anti-hero? Count me in ;) Please come out soon!
January 29, 2022
⭐ 2 “All the stars for Castien, but the rest? *crickets*” stars ⭐
I didn’t exactly hate this, but I also didn’t particularly enjoy it. Which was a letdown in and of itself, since this was the story I was the most hyped for in the entire series.
Truthfully, if I were to describe the experience in a single word:
Some were good. Most others… questionable at best.
**********************************
Right off the bat, I just couldn’t get behind the main character in this one, so my irritation for a good chunk of the book was guaranteed. However, I also think my hype for it ended up playing to my disadvantage—proving once more that building up too many expectations can be a sure path to disappointment.
Or paralyzing boredom. Whichever descriptor you feel is more fitting, really.
But at last, let the hot take begin!
🚨 WARNING: This is first and foremost a Eridan Slander Zone 🚨
To kick things off, THE POSITIVES.
(Because even I’m not that much of a grinch)
— The Build-Up.
Perhaps an unpopular take—more unpopular than my rating, that is—, but I appreciated the slow progression of their relationship. Their dynamic was established in the span of almost two decades, and we see the transition from plain aversion into a genuine, if not exactly demonstrative, kind of affection.
Was it boring at times and padded by what I refer to as “Space Vatican Politics”? Yes.
Did I mind it much? Not really.Or more specifically, not yet at that point.
Am I scrambling to find some highlights in order to not come across as too negative?
Some questions are better left unanswered.
Secondly and truly The Best Part of the entire book…
— The Love Interest Castien.
And I loved him for it 🥰
Although when I use “love interest”, that’s because it’s not even fair to call him an MC considering how little of the story was actually narrated by him. Yet despite getting one measly chapter and a half told from his POV —more on that later—, I’d still advise some physical therapy because he carried the whole book on his back. We’re talking Atlas levels of spinal injuries here.
At first, his antics irritated me and even drove me to mild stages of dislike, but this guy truly came through, pulled a one-eighty and became one of my all-time favorite AH characters. I’m a very vindictive reader, as some of you might already know, so I ended the story being half-convinced the author had jedi-mind tricked me into falling for Castien’s emotionally stunted ass.
There’s no other explanation, and if there is, I refuse to hear it.
It was all about the smallest gestures with him, compliments passing as jabs and smug actions attempting to disguise the extent of his attachment to Eridan. He might’ve been as emotionless as Robocop and with the charisma of a soggy potato, but Castien still had the audacity to turn into a complex and incredibly appealing character.
(Besides commanding and sexy as hell)
Thirdly, let’s get real...
—TheHorizontal Macarena Dynamic.
The overarching theme past the midway point. A riveting and gripping(as in gorilla grip) narrative.
From the D/S vibes, a byproduct of the apprentice/master dynamic, to Eridan kneeling at Castien’s feet and kissing his ring (he went 🧎♀️🧎♀️ and I echo the sentiment) and then Castien petting Eridan like a kitten and being the right amount of condescending—the outward power imbalance between them was never downplayed and it added that extra spiceall the rest of the book was sorely missing 💩
And since I should probably touch on the romance too, that wasn’t bad either. I had trouble fully connecting with the couple after the setup finally reached its conclusion—which, spoilers for my own review, tends to happen when you dislike one half of the equation—, but by the end it was hard for even an embittered hag like me to resist. The soft moments hit hard, especially when delivered by such a stoic figure as Castien, and it was confronted by these scenes in particular that I found myself swooning, aww-ing, andreluctantly cheering them on.
Besides, there were also those instances of getting inside each other’s heads and making it sound as filthy as possible.
If he ain’t probing your temporal lobe and giving you literal mind-shattering orgasms, then he needs to step up his game.
Fourth, and to wrap up this frankly flimsy section of positives...
— The Epilogue.
Cue a multitude of Hallelujahs and a choir of angels. FINALLY an epilogue focused on the main couple, and told from Castien’s POV no less. His perspective was one I kept lusting for throughout the entire book, so saying this pleased me would be an understatement.
Now, switching into the more meaty part of this review...
THE NEGATIVES
— The Joy-Sucking Pacing And Meddling Cast.
The Experience™ in a nutshell.
Let me come out and say: it DRAGGED. Past the halfway point, and after the obligatory separation for drama’s sake, the focus shifted into Space Vatican Politics and served to shine a spot on why I never really care for anything apart from the romances in AH’s books. The subtlety and nuance? pull out those milk cartoons ‘cause those bitches went missing.
Everyone except Ksar acted like a damn fool and I was this close to canceling their asses on the Calluvian equivalent of Twitter. Harry making a cameo was cute—what’s new?—, and there was a big event, without spoiling things, involving my favorite couple in the series (*cough* Ksar and Seyn *cough*) that kept me from entering a boredom-induce coma. Yet that little fact didn’t make my suffering and emotional scarring disappear when it came to the multitude of other cameos.
As the very real quote says...
But ceasing my snoring to further elaborate on...
— What in The Needless POV hell?!
My reaction every time one of these irrelevant ass extras started hogging the spotlight.
I swear everyone and their auntie had a gratuitous POV in this book. The brother, the secretary, even the grandma (who wasn’t even mentioned until she was suddenly narrating the book, by the way).
By comparison, it became even more glaringly obvious that Castien continued to be absent. The guy had a combined 10 pages of perspective in the whole book. Meanwhile, the senile granny got two whole chapters. Make it make sense!!!
Frolicking forward…
— Seyn, I mean Eridan.
My thoughts on the man:
He had no business being that cocky with absolutely no proof to back it up.
Eridan was a poor man’s version of the MC from the second book in the series, Seyn. The personification of the “We have McDonald's at home” meme, the pixelated screenshot of a 4k original, the vanilla unmodded Skyrim of NPCs. I can continue with the comparisons for years, believe me. Because he was Seyn… but awful—dumber, less witty, and with a proclivity to whine without doing anything to change his situation. Eridan didn’t make decisions about his life, he just had things happen to him instead.
The fact that the POVs were such a mess and I was stuck reading from his perspective for most of the book also didn’t help.
Castien was intriguing, complex, and someone whose brain I wanted to dissect inentirely not at all creepy ways. On the other hand, Eridan was someone I would’ve paid major bucks to shut up. We get it, you’re bratty and that’s your only personality trait. You have a self-lubricating asshole and went from not touching your dick for eighteen years to being horny 24/7.
Basically…
Discount Seyn Eridan: 😃👋
Me, with zero hesitation:
You can call me a hater... it would be accurate.
Indeed, whatever his supposed accomplishments were, both Seyn from this same series and Tristan from Just a Bit Wrong did it better. And on this hill I will die.
Finally, parkouring my way into the last point...
— For A Conniving Mastermind, Where Was Castien’s Masterminding?
I know, I know. I listed the guy as one of my positives, so why in the everloving holy galactic separation of church and state is he showing up here too? You see, for a man who was supposedly pulling all the shadowy strings throughout the entire series, Castien was simply incompetent.
Hot, dominant, possessive, 10/10 would let him hit it and quit it? Absolutely. But what he was NOT was someone who actually elicited the levels of begrudging respect and fear I was expecting.
👇 Boiling it down 👇
The book: Castien is powerful, conniving, and pretty much a galactic puppet master.
Me, having read the actual story:
He was fascinating to me, but a mastermind? Not sure about that one, chief.
To those who don't believe me, read the SPOILERY section to further explore my disappointment.
(Aka a girl is not done ranting)
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
As it stood, all Castien did to showcase his “badassery” was hit CTRL+ALT+DEL on Eridan’s memory a few times, rewrite his biology (he really went and stopped Eridan's self-lubricating asshole from lubricating… only to fuck him without lube afterward 💀), and then manipulated a few people behind the scenes without any actual on-page details elaborating on it. We were assured he was busy plotting, scheming and twisting the outcome of entire planets, but in reality?
He spent the entire story sitting around in his study glaring at Eridan and attending, which I counted, a total of two (2) council meetings–where he gave no actual input either.
🤩 A completelyuseless useful king, ain't that right? 🤩
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
END OF SPOILERS (and review)
**********************
I can’t be bothered with proper Closing Thoughts after my extensive rant, so I’ll just say:
‘Twas a disappointment. There were a few saving graces, but overall a lot of my investment quickly Houdini-ed its way out. Which meant that physically, I was reading this book, yet mentally I checked the fuck out.
Either way, more power to those who loved it!
**********************
Calluvia Series by Alessandra Hazard
That Alien Feeling — 4 ⭐
The Irresistible Poison — 3.5 ⭐
Once Upon a Time — 3.3 ⭐
Prince’s Master — 2 ⭐
Dearly Despised— TBR.
I didn’t exactly hate this, but I also didn’t particularly enjoy it. Which was a letdown in and of itself, since this was the story I was the most hyped for in the entire series.
Truthfully, if I were to describe the experience in a single word:
Some were good. Most others… questionable at best.
**********************************
Right off the bat, I just couldn’t get behind the main character in this one, so my irritation for a good chunk of the book was guaranteed. However, I also think my hype for it ended up playing to my disadvantage—proving once more that building up too many expectations can be a sure path to disappointment.
Or paralyzing boredom. Whichever descriptor you feel is more fitting, really.
But at last, let the hot take begin!
🚨 WARNING: This is first and foremost a Eridan Slander Zone 🚨
To kick things off, THE POSITIVES.
(Because even I’m not that much of a grinch)
— The Build-Up.
Perhaps an unpopular take—more unpopular than my rating, that is—, but I appreciated the slow progression of their relationship. Their dynamic was established in the span of almost two decades, and we see the transition from plain aversion into a genuine, if not exactly demonstrative, kind of affection.
Was it boring at times and padded by what I refer to as “Space Vatican Politics”? Yes.
Did I mind it much? Not really.
Am I scrambling to find some highlights in order to not come across as too negative?
Some questions are better left unanswered.
Secondly and truly The Best Part of the entire book…
— The Love Interest Castien.
And I loved him for it 🥰
Although when I use “love interest”, that’s because it’s not even fair to call him an MC considering how little of the story was actually narrated by him. Yet despite getting one measly chapter and a half told from his POV —more on that later—, I’d still advise some physical therapy because he carried the whole book on his back. We’re talking Atlas levels of spinal injuries here.
At first, his antics irritated me and even drove me to mild stages of dislike, but this guy truly came through, pulled a one-eighty and became one of my all-time favorite AH characters. I’m a very vindictive reader, as some of you might already know, so I ended the story being half-convinced the author had jedi-mind tricked me into falling for Castien’s emotionally stunted ass.
There’s no other explanation, and if there is, I refuse to hear it.
It was all about the smallest gestures with him, compliments passing as jabs and smug actions attempting to disguise the extent of his attachment to Eridan. He might’ve been as emotionless as Robocop and with the charisma of a soggy potato, but Castien still had the audacity to turn into a complex and incredibly appealing character.
(Besides commanding and sexy as hell)
Thirdly, let’s get real...
—The
The overarching theme past the midway point. A riveting and gripping
From the D/S vibes, a byproduct of the apprentice/master dynamic, to Eridan kneeling at Castien’s feet and kissing his ring (he went 🧎♀️🧎♀️ and I echo the sentiment) and then Castien petting Eridan like a kitten and being the right amount of condescending—the outward power imbalance between them was never downplayed and it added that extra spice
And since I should probably touch on the romance too, that wasn’t bad either. I had trouble fully connecting with the couple after the setup finally reached its conclusion—which, spoilers for my own review, tends to happen when you dislike one half of the equation—, but by the end it was hard for even an embittered hag like me to resist. The soft moments hit hard, especially when delivered by such a stoic figure as Castien, and it was confronted by these scenes in particular that I found myself swooning, aww-ing, and
Besides, there were also those instances of getting inside each other’s heads and making it sound as filthy as possible.
If he ain’t probing your temporal lobe and giving you literal mind-shattering orgasms, then he needs to step up his game.
Fourth, and to wrap up this frankly flimsy section of positives...
— The Epilogue.
Cue a multitude of Hallelujahs and a choir of angels. FINALLY an epilogue focused on the main couple, and told from Castien’s POV no less. His perspective was one I kept lusting for throughout the entire book, so saying this pleased me would be an understatement.
Now, switching into the more meaty part of this review...
THE NEGATIVES
— The Joy-Sucking Pacing And Meddling Cast.
The Experience™ in a nutshell.
Let me come out and say: it DRAGGED. Past the halfway point, and after the obligatory separation for drama’s sake, the focus shifted into Space Vatican Politics and served to shine a spot on why I never really care for anything apart from the romances in AH’s books. The subtlety and nuance? pull out those milk cartoons ‘cause those bitches went missing.
Everyone except Ksar acted like a damn fool and I was this close to canceling their asses on the Calluvian equivalent of Twitter. Harry making a cameo was cute—what’s new?—, and there was a big event, without spoiling things, involving my favorite couple in the series (*cough* Ksar and Seyn *cough*) that kept me from entering a boredom-induce coma. Yet that little fact didn’t make my suffering and emotional scarring disappear when it came to the multitude of other cameos.
As the very real quote says...
But ceasing my snoring to further elaborate on...
— What in The Needless POV hell?!
My reaction every time one of these irrelevant ass extras started hogging the spotlight.
I swear everyone and their auntie had a gratuitous POV in this book. The brother, the secretary, even the grandma (who wasn’t even mentioned until she was suddenly narrating the book, by the way).
By comparison, it became even more glaringly obvious that Castien continued to be absent. The guy had a combined 10 pages of perspective in the whole book. Meanwhile, the senile granny got two whole chapters. Make it make sense!!!
Frolicking forward…
— Seyn, I mean Eridan.
My thoughts on the man:
He had no business being that cocky with absolutely no proof to back it up.
Eridan was a poor man’s version of the MC from the second book in the series, Seyn. The personification of the “We have McDonald's at home” meme, the pixelated screenshot of a 4k original, the vanilla unmodded Skyrim of NPCs. I can continue with the comparisons for years, believe me. Because he was Seyn… but awful—dumber, less witty, and with a proclivity to whine without doing anything to change his situation. Eridan didn’t make decisions about his life, he just had things happen to him instead.
The fact that the POVs were such a mess and I was stuck reading from his perspective for most of the book also didn’t help.
Castien was intriguing, complex, and someone whose brain I wanted to dissect in
Basically…
Me, with zero hesitation:
You can call me a hater... it would be accurate.
Indeed, whatever his supposed accomplishments were, both Seyn from this same series and Tristan from Just a Bit Wrong did it better. And on this hill I will die.
Finally, parkouring my way into the last point...
— For A Conniving Mastermind, Where Was Castien’s Masterminding?
I know, I know. I listed the guy as one of my positives, so why in the everloving holy galactic separation of church and state is he showing up here too? You see, for a man who was supposedly pulling all the shadowy strings throughout the entire series, Castien was simply incompetent.
Hot, dominant, possessive, 10/10 would let him hit it and quit it? Absolutely. But what he was NOT was someone who actually elicited the levels of begrudging respect and fear I was expecting.
👇 Boiling it down 👇
The book: Castien is powerful, conniving, and pretty much a galactic puppet master.
Me, having read the actual story:
He was fascinating to me, but a mastermind? Not sure about that one, chief.
To those who don't believe me, read the SPOILERY section to further explore my disappointment.
(Aka a girl is not done ranting)
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
As it stood, all Castien did to showcase his “badassery” was hit CTRL+ALT+DEL on Eridan’s memory a few times, rewrite his biology (he really went and stopped Eridan's self-lubricating asshole from lubricating… only to fuck him without lube afterward 💀), and then manipulated a few people behind the scenes without any actual on-page details elaborating on it. We were assured he was busy plotting, scheming and twisting the outcome of entire planets, but in reality?
He spent the entire story sitting around in his study glaring at Eridan and attending, which I counted, a total of two (2) council meetings–where he gave no actual input either.
🤩 A completely
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
🚨
END OF SPOILERS (and review)
**********************
I can’t be bothered with proper Closing Thoughts after my extensive rant, so I’ll just say:
‘Twas a disappointment. There were a few saving graces, but overall a lot of my investment quickly Houdini-ed its way out. Which meant that physically, I was reading this book, yet mentally I checked the fuck out.
Either way, more power to those who loved it!
**********************
Calluvia Series by Alessandra Hazard
That Alien Feeling — 4 ⭐
The Irresistible Poison — 3.5 ⭐
Once Upon a Time — 3.3 ⭐
Prince’s Master — 2 ⭐
Dearly Despised— TBR.
October 28, 2021
you know your boyfriend is a psycho when you say “i love you” to him and his reply is:
“i think it would not be inaccurate to say that the sentiment is returned.”
my dude Castien was so hungry for power he sacrificed most of his emotions. 🤣 what a character!
i honestly found him hot as hell from the beginning, but throughout the book i sort of both loved & hated him at the same time, because of how he treated Eridan at times.
it seemed like Eridan was just begging for crumbs of affection and care… Eridan just wanted to be loved so bad. 🥺
but slowly it became clear that Castien just shows his care & love for someone differently than most people.
sure, he’s manipulative, a little bit of a sociopath, cold-hearted and only finds you even remotely interesting if he can actually use you to achieve his goals, BUT i really did feel like he loved Eridan in his own way even before anything romantic or sexual happened between them.
he was also possessive as fuck.🥰
“you are mine,” Castien said, sucking a hickey into his neck. “you will always be only mine. i will kill anyone who touches you.”
Eridan shivered. coming from any other man, that would have sounded like melodramatic exaggeration. coming from Castien, it was just a statement of fact.
when bae is willing to kill for you >>>>
this fucking book also made me CRY. i swear i sobbed like an absolute lunatic when the memory erasing happened…🤣🙄
anyways this book was great! honestly i can’t say enough good things about this series. SO excited for the other books to come out!
“i think it would not be inaccurate to say that the sentiment is returned.”
my dude Castien was so hungry for power he sacrificed most of his emotions. 🤣 what a character!
i honestly found him hot as hell from the beginning, but throughout the book i sort of both loved & hated him at the same time, because of how he treated Eridan at times.
it seemed like Eridan was just begging for crumbs of affection and care… Eridan just wanted to be loved so bad. 🥺
but slowly it became clear that Castien just shows his care & love for someone differently than most people.
sure, he’s manipulative, a little bit of a sociopath, cold-hearted and only finds you even remotely interesting if he can actually use you to achieve his goals, BUT i really did feel like he loved Eridan in his own way even before anything romantic or sexual happened between them.
he was also possessive as fuck.🥰
“you are mine,” Castien said, sucking a hickey into his neck. “you will always be only mine. i will kill anyone who touches you.”
Eridan shivered. coming from any other man, that would have sounded like melodramatic exaggeration. coming from Castien, it was just a statement of fact.
when bae is willing to kill for you >>>>
this fucking book also made me CRY. i swear i sobbed like an absolute lunatic when the memory erasing happened…🤣🙄
anyways this book was great! honestly i can’t say enough good things about this series. SO excited for the other books to come out!
June 21, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the intrigue, plotting, and power play maneuvering in this latest story in the "Calluvia's Royalty" series.
However, if you're looking for tons of romance and feels, this was most definitely *not* that book, mainly due to the fact that Master Castien Idhron had his emotions on Alcatraz-level lockdown.
I loved how, as the story began, we got a backfill of information as to how Eridan and his brother's princely lives were irrevocably changed for nearly two decades, which wasn't thoroughly fleshed out in the last book.
I could have completely done without all of the self-lubrication talk of Eridan being a "throwback", but did appreciate how Hazard once again turned the telepathic act of mingling minds into something much steamier than I would've previously thought possible.
My favorite parts of the book didn't come until around 85% in, when Eridan finally realized that his Master might not be capable of providing him with even the bare minimum of what he needed, but said Master also began to realize that maybe his regimented life and ambitions may no longer be enough for him anymore, either.
So if the idea of a young, rebellious, exiled prince falling deeply in love with a seemingly-unfeeling, power-hungry leader in a group of planet-dominating telepaths sounds interesting to you, this might be a book that you would also enjoy.
I'd rate it at around 4.25 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who has already read the first three books in the series.
** Note: These stories are extremely interlinked, so in my opinion, I don't believe that they should be read as standalone books.
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August 19, 2021
4.5 stars ☆
overall thoughts:
💫 get you someone who confesses to you in a ‘Castien way’:
At last, Idhron said stiffly, “I find that I dislike living in a world where you do not remember me.” Something rueful and self-deprecating appeared in his telepathic presence. “Apparently, I am that selfish. I need you to need me. Therefore, calling your… love for me unrequited is not accurate. It is very much requited.”
what i thought was interesting about their relationship was how i didn’t need Castien to say i love you to Eridan for me to believe it bc his actions spoke volumes. the scene when ? it was so powerful and the first scene in the book that i believed he genuinely did love Eridan in his own way. alsoo, just seeing Castien become more soft towards Eridan made me sob.
💫 Castien’s development was amazing. 😭 one of my favorites from AH’s books i’ve read so far, just after Ksar (they’re maybe a tie for me at this point 👀). it’s hard to explain how characters such as Castien and Ksar have development bc it’s more subtle and you have to realize they have their own version of doing it but let’s just say, in the end, i felt their love towards Eridan and Seyn. 🥺
💫 i had a bit more trouble with Eridan’s character bc, if you take away Castien + the romance from the equation, he was just okay to me. i liked him in the beginning, grew annoyed in the middle and i thought he became likable again towards the end but, although him and Seyn are the “bratty” characters, i found Seyn to be more tolerable. 😅 i’m only bringing up Ksar/Seyn here bc i personally find their dynamic to be similar as theirs.
💫 if i’m being honest, i didn’t like the first half. i had to force myself to get through it bc, as much as i love slow burn/push and pull in a romance, it didn’t work for me here bc of how Eridan was desperate for Castien’s love/attention and the way Castien just casted him aside like he was nothing and kept rejecting him? i felt sad for Eridan and wanted him to stand up to Castien rather than not being able to resist him; however, talk about a 180 switch bc the scene from the moment until the end was nearly perfection and it’s 5-star worthy for that alone. 😭🤍
overall thoughts:
💫 get you someone who confesses to you in a ‘Castien way’:
At last, Idhron said stiffly, “I find that I dislike living in a world where you do not remember me.” Something rueful and self-deprecating appeared in his telepathic presence. “Apparently, I am that selfish. I need you to need me. Therefore, calling your… love for me unrequited is not accurate. It is very much requited.”
what i thought was interesting about their relationship was how i didn’t need Castien to say i love you to Eridan for me to believe it bc his actions spoke volumes. the scene when ? it was so powerful and the first scene in the book that i believed he genuinely did love Eridan in his own way. alsoo, just seeing Castien become more soft towards Eridan made me sob.
💫 Castien’s development was amazing. 😭 one of my favorites from AH’s books i’ve read so far, just after Ksar (they’re maybe a tie for me at this point 👀). it’s hard to explain how characters such as Castien and Ksar have development bc it’s more subtle and you have to realize they have their own version of doing it but let’s just say, in the end, i felt their love towards Eridan and Seyn. 🥺
💫 i had a bit more trouble with Eridan’s character bc, if you take away Castien + the romance from the equation, he was just okay to me. i liked him in the beginning, grew annoyed in the middle and i thought he became likable again towards the end but, although him and Seyn are the “bratty” characters, i found Seyn to be more tolerable. 😅 i’m only bringing up Ksar/Seyn here bc i personally find their dynamic to be similar as theirs.
💫 if i’m being honest, i didn’t like the first half. i had to force myself to get through it bc, as much as i love slow burn/push and pull in a romance, it didn’t work for me here bc of how Eridan was desperate for Castien’s love/attention and the way Castien just casted him aside like he was nothing and kept rejecting him? i felt sad for Eridan and wanted him to stand up to Castien rather than not being able to resist him; however, talk about a 180 switch bc the scene from the moment until the end was nearly perfection and it’s 5-star worthy for that alone. 😭🤍
March 18, 2022
First reread: December 12, 2021
→ entirely to blame on Illicit by AH and this reread has confirmed my suspicions. This book is definitely my favorite of AH. Castien and Eridan are something truly pure and utterly magnificent, heartwarming and just SO BLOODY GOOD.
Original review:
Original rating: 4 stars ⭐
I'll be damned. I was so not expecting to like this THIS MUCH, to be infatuated with characters so much so that tears escaped me at one point and bloody hell, I was giddy and squealing like blushing little girl!
I'm laughing at myself because I didn't finish The book before this series in Calluvia which is obviously a mistake as it spoiled every single thing I knew, sooooo don't sing the song of stupidity kids and read books in order! but regardless of the extensive world building and a thoroughly crafted setting in a fantastic-ish series didn't hinder my enjoyment and although confused me, just made me even more attentive.
I have to say, not only was I pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it, but I was surprised at the writing as well (and that's definitely because I've been combing though her backlist) but I feel like, if comparing (not that it even needs to be) Straight Boys series from the very first book, to this book recently released in 2020, wow, Alessandra has come a long way.
Her writing has immensely improved, her characters are even more bearable (although the same can't be said for Zaid), her plot is so well intact and you can see she put in a lot of time and effort for the way it was crafted.
The storyline was unique and it literally trembled me in awe. I love how this book and our characters had spent years in each other's embtace without being together, learning to know each other inside out and reading Eridan being an affectionate hoe for his Master literally made me melt!
But it's so interesting and I'm grateful that even when the book transpired though a span of years, this book didn't hinder in enjoyment. It didn't feel slow or too fast, it didn't bore me or slapped me insta love.
Honestly, I'm proud of Alessandra for this book.
She didn't just nail the chemistry our two character shared and the way I felt the tension through the screen! She made me care for them, ache for them. At first, I was surprised at who our MCs were going to be, but then it made sense and watching it transpire even through words, I have never felt more giddy!
Ugk. The banter between them was ROMANCE FOR THE GODS! Eridan's sassy ass attitude and Castien fumming embrace who was always two seconds away from loosing his shit that Eridan pulled had me WEAK!
And as much as Castien will chop my tongue for saying so, he is so whipped and wrapped around Eridan's itty bitty pinkie, that man is in pieces for him, and would burn the world for his insolent little brat.
I really did want to give this book 5 stars and almost did so, I still want to give it 4.5, but I'm hesitant because although I love this book to pieces, the Third Act Conflict (don't be surprised, it's Alessandra people) I didn't mind it that much (yes I actually said that. maybe it was me who was brainwashed because Mariam not screaming over third act conflict????) It didn't mind me as much as it broke my heart and had tears spring to my eyes. The only reason I'm hesitanting is beacuse I feel like the Third Act Conflict was stretched a bit too long, a bit too far. I needed MORE from Alessandra's last chapter of reconsilance. That's the reason why I'm dropping a star.
The question was, did the bad outweigh the good?
Regardless, I read this book in 1 sitting and I was utterly captivated, indulgent and mesmerized by our characters and their sweet, sweet romance.
initial reactions:
oh you cruel, cruel writer Mrs Alessandra Hazard.
Reread # 2: March 18, 2022
Castien Idhorn is a man of absolute beautiful. How can someone so wrong, feel so right.
→ entirely to blame on Illicit by AH and this reread has confirmed my suspicions. This book is definitely my favorite of AH. Castien and Eridan are something truly pure and utterly magnificent, heartwarming and just SO BLOODY GOOD.
Original review:
Original rating: 4 stars ⭐
He wanted more. He wanted everything. He wanted to be his Master’s world in the same terrible, unfair way his Master was his.
I'll be damned. I was so not expecting to like this THIS MUCH, to be infatuated with characters so much so that tears escaped me at one point and bloody hell, I was giddy and squealing like blushing little girl!
I'm laughing at myself because I didn't finish The book before this series in Calluvia which is obviously a mistake as it spoiled every single thing I knew, sooooo don't sing the song of stupidity kids and read books in order! but regardless of the extensive world building and a thoroughly crafted setting in a fantastic-ish series didn't hinder my enjoyment and although confused me, just made me even more attentive.
I have to say, not only was I pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it, but I was surprised at the writing as well (and that's definitely because I've been combing though her backlist) but I feel like, if comparing (not that it even needs to be) Straight Boys series from the very first book, to this book recently released in 2020, wow, Alessandra has come a long way.
Her writing has immensely improved, her characters are even more bearable (although the same can't be said for Zaid), her plot is so well intact and you can see she put in a lot of time and effort for the way it was crafted.
He’s a two-faced snake, Eridan realized, looking at Idhron with a mix of fascination and disgust. A liar, and an excellent one.
The storyline was unique and it literally trembled me in awe. I love how this book and our characters had spent years in each other's embtace without being together, learning to know each other inside out and reading Eridan being an affectionate hoe for his Master literally made me melt!
But it's so interesting and I'm grateful that even when the book transpired though a span of years, this book didn't hinder in enjoyment. It didn't feel slow or too fast, it didn't bore me or slapped me insta love.
Honestly, I'm proud of Alessandra for this book.
“Every telepath has an area of their brain dedicated to telepathy,” Idhron said.
Eridan nodded, glad that he actually knew what Idhron was talking about. “Yes, the atheus.”
“Indeed,” Idhron said, and for the first time since Eridan had met him, there was something like faint approval in his gaze.
Eridan scowled, annoyed with himself for feeling a little pleased.
She didn't just nail the chemistry our two character shared and the way I felt the tension through the screen! She made me care for them, ache for them. At first, I was surprised at who our MCs were going to be, but then it made sense and watching it transpire even through words, I have never felt more giddy!
Eridan did as he was told and folded his hands in his lap, the picture of a perfect apprentice.
Judging by Idhron’s narrowed eyes, he only managed to make him suspicious.
Ugk. The banter between them was ROMANCE FOR THE GODS! Eridan's sassy ass attitude and Castien fumming embrace who was always two seconds away from loosing his shit that Eridan pulled had me WEAK!
“Your progress in most subjects has been satisfactory,” Castien said.
Eridan’s lips twitched. Satisfactory meant “good” in Castien-speak.
“With a few notable exceptions,” his Master added.
Eridan pouted, which earned him a flat look.
“Your mind-reading ability isn’t where I would like it to be,” Castien said. “And you are still abysmal at meditating without me.”
“But Master,” Eridan said. “It’s not my fault I can’t focus without you guiding me. It’s a condition; it’s not something I made up!”
Castien gave him a pinched look. “You are going to milk this for all you can, are you not?”
Eridan grinned.
And as much as Castien will chop my tongue for saying so, he is so whipped and wrapped around Eridan's itty bitty pinkie, that man is in pieces for him, and would burn the world for his insolent little brat.
“You talk too much,” Castien said into his cheek, his hands still cradling Eridan’s face. “You talk too much, and you are excellent at irritating me. I must be insane to actually like it.”
I really did want to give this book 5 stars and almost did so, I still want to give it 4.5, but I'm hesitant because although I love this book to pieces, the Third Act Conflict (don't be surprised, it's Alessandra people) I didn't mind it that much (yes I actually said that. maybe it was me who was brainwashed because Mariam not screaming over third act conflict????) It didn't mind me as much as it broke my heart and had tears spring to my eyes. The only reason I'm hesitanting is beacuse I feel like the Third Act Conflict was stretched a bit too long, a bit too far. I needed MORE from Alessandra's last chapter of reconsilance. That's the reason why I'm dropping a star.
The question was, did the bad outweigh the good?
Regardless, I read this book in 1 sitting and I was utterly captivated, indulgent and mesmerized by our characters and their sweet, sweet romance.
initial reactions:
oh you cruel, cruel writer Mrs Alessandra Hazard.
Reread # 2: March 18, 2022
Castien Idhorn is a man of absolute beautiful. How can someone so wrong, feel so right.
April 30, 2022
****4.5 rating***
"“I find that I dislike living in a world where you do not remember me.” Something rueful and self-deprecating appeared in his telepathic presence. “Apparently, I am that selfish. I need you to need me. Therefore, calling your… love for me unrequited is not accurate. It is very much requited.”"-Castien
Hi there, my name is Mila and I am a simp for Eridan and Castien.
Yes, I am.
Indeed.
Haha. No but really I loved this book, its probably by far my favorite in the series. I was very much intrigued by the High Adept who I think first appeared in Ksar's book. He was such a mysterious figure and I was more captivated by him in Jamil's story. In Prince's Master , we finally meet this enigmatic character that is Castien. He is self-composed, disciplined, distant and somewhat cold when you are first introduced to him. However, one character seems to be able to affect Castien in a manner that no one else can, that is Eridan the "lost prince".
They have a teacher/student relationship but that turns into something more as the years pass and Eridan finally becomes his "apprentice".
What I really loved about this book was the complicated relationship dynamic between these two. Eridan is much younger than Castien, so I enjoyed how AH portrayed the age gap in this story. Eridan is young, stubborn and somewhat naïve at first but we see that is indeed not the case as the years pass. The character development improves as he ages.
Eridan's jealousy and possessiveness of his "Master" was fun to read about. At first he cannot stand Castien but he finds any excuse to get close to him. He even gets jealous of Javier, the service boy and we all know what Eridan did when he was alone and thought about his "Master"😏.
I also enjoyed their "merges" or as I would like to call their constant "mindfucking". They got very close and deep telepathically 😏. Castien seemed to enjoy those moments lol and so did Eridan who was always aroused and high after haha.
Eridan is not the only one who is possessive and jealous, Castien our emotionally stunted monk is also very territorial when it comes to his dear "apprentice". I guess its the side effect of having actual feelings for someone 😂 .
There is lots of angst in this thanks to our emotionally unavailable Castien, but I enjoyed it. I loved that such a strong character who basically hates everyone else cannot seem to let go of Eridan no matter how hard he tried. Somethings are just meant to be sir.
No matter how sociopathic Castien first comes across as, he is anything but. He is vulnerable, cares about Eridan deeply, always protects him when he can especially from that creepy Grandmaster, and so much more. He loves Eri in his own way and that was the cherry on top for me to truly love this book.
Warrehn and Samir are next and I cannot wait to see how the romance will blossom between those two, it definitely feels like an enemies-to-lovers story. So I cannot wait for it.
May 20th seems to be when all the good books drop so it better hurry up😤.
"“I find that I dislike living in a world where you do not remember me.” Something rueful and self-deprecating appeared in his telepathic presence. “Apparently, I am that selfish. I need you to need me. Therefore, calling your… love for me unrequited is not accurate. It is very much requited.”"-Castien
Hi there, my name is Mila and I am a simp for Eridan and Castien.
Yes, I am.
Indeed.
Haha. No but really I loved this book, its probably by far my favorite in the series. I was very much intrigued by the High Adept who I think first appeared in Ksar's book. He was such a mysterious figure and I was more captivated by him in Jamil's story. In Prince's Master , we finally meet this enigmatic character that is Castien. He is self-composed, disciplined, distant and somewhat cold when you are first introduced to him. However, one character seems to be able to affect Castien in a manner that no one else can, that is Eridan the "lost prince".
They have a teacher/student relationship but that turns into something more as the years pass and Eridan finally becomes his "apprentice".
What I really loved about this book was the complicated relationship dynamic between these two. Eridan is much younger than Castien, so I enjoyed how AH portrayed the age gap in this story. Eridan is young, stubborn and somewhat naïve at first but we see that is indeed not the case as the years pass. The character development improves as he ages.
Eridan's jealousy and possessiveness of his "Master" was fun to read about. At first he cannot stand Castien but he finds any excuse to get close to him. He even gets jealous of Javier, the service boy and we all know what Eridan did when he was alone and thought about his "Master"😏.
I also enjoyed their "merges" or as I would like to call their constant "mindfucking". They got very close and deep telepathically 😏. Castien seemed to enjoy those moments lol and so did Eridan who was always aroused and high after haha.
Eridan is not the only one who is possessive and jealous, Castien our emotionally stunted monk is also very territorial when it comes to his dear "apprentice". I guess its the side effect of having actual feelings for someone 😂 .
There is lots of angst in this thanks to our emotionally unavailable Castien, but I enjoyed it. I loved that such a strong character who basically hates everyone else cannot seem to let go of Eridan no matter how hard he tried. Somethings are just meant to be sir.
No matter how sociopathic Castien first comes across as, he is anything but. He is vulnerable, cares about Eridan deeply, always protects him when he can especially from that creepy Grandmaster, and so much more. He loves Eri in his own way and that was the cherry on top for me to truly love this book.
Warrehn and Samir are next and I cannot wait to see how the romance will blossom between those two, it definitely feels like an enemies-to-lovers story. So I cannot wait for it.
May 20th seems to be when all the good books drop so it better hurry up😤.
June 26, 2020
Rating
3.75 – 4 ‘apprentice mine’ 🌟
Review
Alessandra Hazard never fails to entertain me with her books or make me swoon over the couples in the books! Just the fact that I have pretty much read all her books (and there are a lot of them) is a good indication that I always look forward to reading M/M romances by her.
It’s not because her works are literary masterpieces or have a well-thought out plots, but it’s because she never fails to deliver on what she promises – well done M/M opposites attract tropes with swoon-worthy chemistry between MCs topped with captivating writing with moderate angst and drama. Prince’s Master was no different.
Castien Idhron didn’t like children. They were loud, obnoxious, and whiny: qualities he had no patience for.
Prince’s Master is set in the same world as her Calluvia’s Royalty series, but it is the first book in her new Masters series. It starts with a seventeen-year-old Castien Idhron being entrusted with the life of a three-year-old prince of the Fifth Grand Clan, one of the twelve royal families of their planet. Castien being the cold, emotionless, and heartless bastard that he is, erases the prince’s memories and gives him a new identity of Eridan so he can later use the prince as a pawn to attain more political power.
Castien wasn’t a good man. Eridan had been right to suspect him of being a cold-hearted, manipulative bastard; he was that, and more. The better Eridan had come to know him, the more confirmation of Castien’s ruthlessness he had gotten.
Castien promptly hands over the three year old to the Overseer to start an education to become a telepath and continues to avoid Eridan until Eridan is eighteen years old when series of events result in Castien officially claiming Eridan as his apprentice. Cold and ruthless Castien is easily irritated by Eridan, who wears his emotions on his sleeve, especially when Eridan’s actions start chipping at the powerful reputation Castien has managed to build in the Order. This leads to hostility and animosity between two, but also something more intense, attraction.
Castien’s mind wrapped around him tightly, shielding him from others, and Eridan almost sobbed from how good it felt after so long. “Master,” he whispered with parched lips, falling against a broad chest and clinging.
Castien and Eridan’s story was literally years in the making and normally I don’t like when the build-up is stretched out too long, but I thought it was well done and appropriate for this book. The journey of their hostility slowly turning to mutual attraction and more was very gratifying. I also don’t like when one MC is very dependent and clingy to the other MC, but Eridan is an exception. I loved how much Eridan needed his Master and how Castien was possessive of his apprentice and his need to be everything Eridan wants. It was so warming and entertaining to read how the ‘insolent spoiled brat’ Eridan managed to make ‘cold and sociopathic’ Castien feel for him.
His Master had always taken care of him…The question was, did the bad outweigh the good?
There are two prominent reasons why this wasn’t a perfect read for me though. First, Castien and Eridan’s relationship was intense and steamy, but the level of steaminess wasn’t as high as other Alessandra Hazard’s books. After all the buildup for their relationship, I just expected a little more when they gave into their desires. Second, for all the self-doubt and restrictions that Castien made Eridan live through, I wanted more groveling from Castien at the end. Overall, this was still an entertaining read and a great addition to the books in this world! The combination of age-gap romance, the taboo aspect of their relationship, and the opposites attract trope was well done.
3.75 – 4 ‘apprentice mine’ 🌟
Review
Alessandra Hazard never fails to entertain me with her books or make me swoon over the couples in the books! Just the fact that I have pretty much read all her books (and there are a lot of them) is a good indication that I always look forward to reading M/M romances by her.
It’s not because her works are literary masterpieces or have a well-thought out plots, but it’s because she never fails to deliver on what she promises – well done M/M opposites attract tropes with swoon-worthy chemistry between MCs topped with captivating writing with moderate angst and drama. Prince’s Master was no different.
Castien Idhron didn’t like children. They were loud, obnoxious, and whiny: qualities he had no patience for.
Prince’s Master is set in the same world as her Calluvia’s Royalty series, but it is the first book in her new Masters series. It starts with a seventeen-year-old Castien Idhron being entrusted with the life of a three-year-old prince of the Fifth Grand Clan, one of the twelve royal families of their planet. Castien being the cold, emotionless, and heartless bastard that he is, erases the prince’s memories and gives him a new identity of Eridan so he can later use the prince as a pawn to attain more political power.
Castien wasn’t a good man. Eridan had been right to suspect him of being a cold-hearted, manipulative bastard; he was that, and more. The better Eridan had come to know him, the more confirmation of Castien’s ruthlessness he had gotten.
Castien promptly hands over the three year old to the Overseer to start an education to become a telepath and continues to avoid Eridan until Eridan is eighteen years old when series of events result in Castien officially claiming Eridan as his apprentice. Cold and ruthless Castien is easily irritated by Eridan, who wears his emotions on his sleeve, especially when Eridan’s actions start chipping at the powerful reputation Castien has managed to build in the Order. This leads to hostility and animosity between two, but also something more intense, attraction.
Castien’s mind wrapped around him tightly, shielding him from others, and Eridan almost sobbed from how good it felt after so long. “Master,” he whispered with parched lips, falling against a broad chest and clinging.
Castien and Eridan’s story was literally years in the making and normally I don’t like when the build-up is stretched out too long, but I thought it was well done and appropriate for this book. The journey of their hostility slowly turning to mutual attraction and more was very gratifying. I also don’t like when one MC is very dependent and clingy to the other MC, but Eridan is an exception. I loved how much Eridan needed his Master and how Castien was possessive of his apprentice and his need to be everything Eridan wants. It was so warming and entertaining to read how the ‘insolent spoiled brat’ Eridan managed to make ‘cold and sociopathic’ Castien feel for him.
His Master had always taken care of him…The question was, did the bad outweigh the good?
There are two prominent reasons why this wasn’t a perfect read for me though. First, Castien and Eridan’s relationship was intense and steamy, but the level of steaminess wasn’t as high as other Alessandra Hazard’s books. After all the buildup for their relationship, I just expected a little more when they gave into their desires. Second, for all the self-doubt and restrictions that Castien made Eridan live through, I wanted more groveling from Castien at the end. Overall, this was still an entertaining read and a great addition to the books in this world! The combination of age-gap romance, the taboo aspect of their relationship, and the opposites attract trope was well done.
July 20, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the intrigue, plotting, and power play maneuvering in this latest story in the "Calluvia's Royalty" series.
However, if you're looking for tons of romance and feels, this was most definitely *not* that book, mainly due to the fact that Master Castien Idhron had his emotions on Alcatraz-level lockdown.
I loved how, as the story began, we got a backfill of information as to how Eridan and his brother's princely lives were irrevocably changed for nearly two decades, which wasn't thoroughly fleshed out in the last book.
I could have completely done without all of the self-lubrication talk of Eridan being a "throwback", but did appreciate how Hazard once again turned the telepathic act of mingling minds into something much steamier than I would've previously thought possible.
My favorite parts of the book didn't come until around 85% in, when Eridan finally realized that his Master might not be capable of providing him with even the bare minimum of what he needed, but said Master also began to realize that maybe his regimented life and ambitions may no longer be enough for him anymore, either.
So if the idea of a young, rebellious, exiled prince falling deeply in love with a seemingly-unfeeling, power-hungry leader in a group of planet-dominating telepaths sounds interesting to you, this might be a book that you would also enjoy.
I'd rate it at around 4.25 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who has already read the first three books in the series.
** Note: These stories are extremely interlinked, so in my opinion, I don't believe that they should be read as standalone books.
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September 16, 2021
3 stars ⭐️ I think I'm in the minority here, and probably, it's me, not the book.
I'm not in a mood to enjoy this story. Because of the early book where Jamil and Rohan’s story took place, Castien and Eriden didn't give me the potential to read their story.
I just wasn't impressed with their characters, and I don't know the exact reason why I didn't love Castien and Eriden. But the whole time I was having a feeling that something was really off of their whole chemistry, and the drowning feeling I was having all the time prompted me to give this a 3-star.
It was not unlikable but not likable enough to make me adore the characters. I always compared them to other couples in the series. For it, I've to blame myself.
I'm not in a mood to enjoy this story. Because of the early book where Jamil and Rohan’s story took place, Castien and Eriden didn't give me the potential to read their story.
I just wasn't impressed with their characters, and I don't know the exact reason why I didn't love Castien and Eriden. But the whole time I was having a feeling that something was really off of their whole chemistry, and the drowning feeling I was having all the time prompted me to give this a 3-star.
It was not unlikable but not likable enough to make me adore the characters. I always compared them to other couples in the series. For it, I've to blame myself.
August 22, 2021
This was amazingly hot with soft BDSM vibes. A royal brat and his ACTUAL Master? Calling him Master always, including during sex? Yes please!
Castien is an asshole without emotions. He actually eliminated his emotions because they are distracting. Then why is he constantly getting distracted by his annoying gorgeous apprentice? Why does he cave when the brat pouts? Why does he feel such possessiveness?
Eridan grew up with the Order. He never had any friends. The other children hated him. The only person in his life is his Master. HIS Master. The only person who cares. Well, he doesn’t really care, but he gives him attention. He takes care of him. And Eridan is so happy with his Master. Until he finds out the truth.
I absolutely adored them, fucked up dynamic and all. I even cried a little.
🔥🔥🔥💔❤️❤️
“You are mine,” Castien said, sucking a hickey into his neck. “You will always be only mine. I will kill anyone who touches you.” Eridan shivered. Coming from any other man, that would have sounded like melodramatic exaggeration. Coming from Castien, it was just a statement of fact.
My two niggles:
- the repetitiveness with the other books, especially through the gossip news column, which was just annoying.
- the epilogue was disappointingly normal and domestic.
😂🤷♀️
Still 5 stars because I couldn’t put it down.
Castien is an asshole without emotions. He actually eliminated his emotions because they are distracting. Then why is he constantly getting distracted by his annoying gorgeous apprentice? Why does he cave when the brat pouts? Why does he feel such possessiveness?
Eridan grew up with the Order. He never had any friends. The other children hated him. The only person in his life is his Master. HIS Master. The only person who cares. Well, he doesn’t really care, but he gives him attention. He takes care of him. And Eridan is so happy with his Master. Until he finds out the truth.
I absolutely adored them, fucked up dynamic and all. I even cried a little.
🔥🔥🔥💔❤️❤️
“You are mine,” Castien said, sucking a hickey into his neck. “You will always be only mine. I will kill anyone who touches you.” Eridan shivered. Coming from any other man, that would have sounded like melodramatic exaggeration. Coming from Castien, it was just a statement of fact.
My two niggles:
- the repetitiveness with the other books, especially through the gossip news column, which was just annoying.
- the epilogue was disappointingly normal and domestic.
😂🤷♀️
Still 5 stars because I couldn’t put it down.
June 13, 2020
Can't wait!
This gives me Just a Bit Wrong vibes. Or maybe Just a Bit Ruthless vibes? And the cover gives me fantasy & magic vibes!
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UPDATED June 10th: I was right that this book ended up reminding me of Just a Bit Ruthless. It's as good, probably better! It's essentially a teacher/student relationship, a very deep, intense one. It's slow burn, but the wait for sex was totally worth it!! This is my favorite Alessandra Hazard book now. Loved this so much, Castien and Eridan were perfect for each other. Their sheer chemistry and longing was amazing. And the epilogue was adorable!
Now I don't know what book I'm looking forward to more: Warrehn's or Zaid's.
ps. heh I think I'll never be able to hear the word "Master" without thinking about Castien.
This gives me Just a Bit Wrong vibes. Or maybe Just a Bit Ruthless vibes? And the cover gives me fantasy & magic vibes!
------
UPDATED June 10th: I was right that this book ended up reminding me of Just a Bit Ruthless. It's as good, probably better! It's essentially a teacher/student relationship, a very deep, intense one. It's slow burn, but the wait for sex was totally worth it!! This is my favorite Alessandra Hazard book now. Loved this so much, Castien and Eridan were perfect for each other. Their sheer chemistry and longing was amazing. And the epilogue was adorable!
Now I don't know what book I'm looking forward to more: Warrehn's or Zaid's.
ps. heh I think I'll never be able to hear the word "Master" without thinking about Castien.
August 28, 2020
I remember at the end of the third book, it said that the fourth in this series would be about Castien and Eridan and I wondered how on earth this author would redeem Castien enough for us to like him as well as his and Eridan's apparent love story.
Now, the author didn't exactly redeem Castien, but in a similar way to the second book with Ksar, she made Castien a bit of a lovable bastard. Or at least, lovable with Eridan.
In this we get the origins of how Eridan came to be with Castien as the master to Eridan's apprentice in the first place.
See, Eridan is actually the younger brother of Warrehn who we meet briefly in Book 3 as close friends with Rohan, Jamil's LI. And Warrehn is the crown prince of the 5th grand clan, and Eridan is his younger brother, also a prince.
When Warrehn overhears their guards talking about kill Warrehn and his little brother, he runs, all of 10 years old, with his 3-year-old brother Eridan, and along the way they run into a 17-year-old Castien who is in a flying helicopter-type deal that only seats one...and so Warrehn asks only that Castien take his younger brother, who can sit in Castien's lap in the small flying vehicle.
Thus how Eridan ends up in the Order. He only sees Castien once before he is 18, and once he is 18, circumstances arise in which Castien basically has to take on Eridan, only he does so on a trial basis...
We get to understand in this one why Castien seems so horrible, and how he has become so powerful, and what he did to attain that power.
At first, they both hate each other. But over time, Eridan...slowly gains attachment to Castien, which slowly turns into more over time. Castien seems to not be affected by Eridan, to not gain feelings, but as time goes by, as the story goes by, we see how wrong that is.
These two go through some rollercoasters. Castien doesn't make things easy, that's for sure, and Eridan is a force of nature on his own. And when it finally comes to light who Warrehn is, and thus who Eridan is, things change and get more complicated for these two. Add in Castien's apparent lack of feelings, as well as apparent manipulations and scheming, and yeah, these two have a rough road before they get their HEA, which does come.
And seeing these two get to where they are from where they started is amazing, and I loved reading their journey. And no, I didn't hate Castien....of course this author could take a seemingly unredeemable bastard of character and make them redeemable in some ways, and make them likable somehow...I felt like Eridan, finding myself liking Castien even though I had no idea why. For most of this, Castien seems like an unfeeling bastard.
But then...there are times...times where he clearly shows he cares about Eridan despite it all, despite the odds, and eventually, that he loves Eridan, and that...well, of course I loved that Eridan was everything to Castien and basically the only one he loved and *swoon* I love me some of that, you know...when an asshole character who is shitty to everyone else is wonderful (eventually) and affectionate and loving with that one character. Gets me every time.
And of course the UST was amazing in this, which made when they gave in all the sweeter. So. Damn. HOT.
I HIGHLY recommend this. I absolutely loved it. I loved Castien and Eridan together, and they were definitely imperfect men perfect for each other. I cannot wait for the next in this series (Warrehn gets his HEA, woot woot!) and the next in the Masters series. Bring it!
Two massive thumbs up!
Now, the author didn't exactly redeem Castien, but in a similar way to the second book with Ksar, she made Castien a bit of a lovable bastard. Or at least, lovable with Eridan.
In this we get the origins of how Eridan came to be with Castien as the master to Eridan's apprentice in the first place.
See, Eridan is actually the younger brother of Warrehn who we meet briefly in Book 3 as close friends with Rohan, Jamil's LI. And Warrehn is the crown prince of the 5th grand clan, and Eridan is his younger brother, also a prince.
When Warrehn overhears their guards talking about kill Warrehn and his little brother, he runs, all of 10 years old, with his 3-year-old brother Eridan, and along the way they run into a 17-year-old Castien who is in a flying helicopter-type deal that only seats one...and so Warrehn asks only that Castien take his younger brother, who can sit in Castien's lap in the small flying vehicle.
Thus how Eridan ends up in the Order. He only sees Castien once before he is 18, and once he is 18, circumstances arise in which Castien basically has to take on Eridan, only he does so on a trial basis...
We get to understand in this one why Castien seems so horrible, and how he has become so powerful, and what he did to attain that power.
At first, they both hate each other. But over time, Eridan...slowly gains attachment to Castien, which slowly turns into more over time. Castien seems to not be affected by Eridan, to not gain feelings, but as time goes by, as the story goes by, we see how wrong that is.
These two go through some rollercoasters. Castien doesn't make things easy, that's for sure, and Eridan is a force of nature on his own. And when it finally comes to light who Warrehn is, and thus who Eridan is, things change and get more complicated for these two. Add in Castien's apparent lack of feelings, as well as apparent manipulations and scheming, and yeah, these two have a rough road before they get their HEA, which does come.
And seeing these two get to where they are from where they started is amazing, and I loved reading their journey. And no, I didn't hate Castien....of course this author could take a seemingly unredeemable bastard of character and make them redeemable in some ways, and make them likable somehow...I felt like Eridan, finding myself liking Castien even though I had no idea why. For most of this, Castien seems like an unfeeling bastard.
But then...there are times...times where he clearly shows he cares about Eridan despite it all, despite the odds, and eventually, that he loves Eridan, and that...well, of course I loved that Eridan was everything to Castien and basically the only one he loved and *swoon* I love me some of that, you know...when an asshole character who is shitty to everyone else is wonderful (eventually) and affectionate and loving with that one character. Gets me every time.
And of course the UST was amazing in this, which made when they gave in all the sweeter. So. Damn. HOT.
I HIGHLY recommend this. I absolutely loved it. I loved Castien and Eridan together, and they were definitely imperfect men perfect for each other. I cannot wait for the next in this series (Warrehn gets his HEA, woot woot!) and the next in the Masters series. Bring it!
Two massive thumbs up!
June 14, 2020
“I FIND THAT I DISLIKE LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE YOU DO NOT REMEMBER ME.”
nobody can write anti heroes like alessandra does and certainly nobody can make me feel so many things like she does.
The whole plot its sensational I enjoyed it a lot and I think the rhythm for such a long book it's very good personally never felt it heavy.
Eridan surprised me in a very good way, even with his submissive side with his master he was so strong and never take less than what he deserve.
His smartness, god I love the way he really learnt and learnt and grown up in someone so perceptive and nothing foolish.
And what can I say about Castien? I love him to no one's surprise lol I've always love the way alessandra write anti heroes, the obsessive and territorial type always makes me weak and someone so powerful and ruthless like Castien is a win.
Ok now the thing tha bothers me the most; the lacking POV of Castien. every new chapter I was hoping to read it in his POV but never happen until it happens and yes it's beautiful but very short.
I love how in this series each new book it's bigger better and just more captivating.
I can't wait for Warrehn’s one because I've adore him so far and what about the new book "Unnatural" G O D alessandra is gonna give us an omegaverse series I can't believe it I'm so excited.
thank you Alessandra for giving us so much, never stop writing ♡
June 14, 2020
4,5 stars for Eridan and Castien!
This series gets better with every book, even though my favorite still is Jamil and Rohan, 😍😍😍! But this was excellent, it had a good story and a good storyline, it explains the world in the High Hronthar profoundly and considering this is a spinoff in a series based on that world, I think is an excellent start.
Eridan was a lovely character who, to my liking, had his expectations right, he just couldn't help his nature and couldn't help Castien's attentions, even if they were minimal. Castien was not as bad as I thought he would be, I think that disappointed me a little bit, I've been hating him the whole series but in here I liked him and understood him, wich is ok but I was hoping for evil.
Still I really liked it, couldn't put it down and I NEED WARREHN'S BOOK, the author said is for next year and I'm breaking! With this one she doesn't explain very well who is gonna be his counterpart, but I think it's the kid Warrehn stopped of almost being king. Dunno, can't wait! 😍😍
This series gets better with every book, even though my favorite still is Jamil and Rohan, 😍😍😍! But this was excellent, it had a good story and a good storyline, it explains the world in the High Hronthar profoundly and considering this is a spinoff in a series based on that world, I think is an excellent start.
Eridan was a lovely character who, to my liking, had his expectations right, he just couldn't help his nature and couldn't help Castien's attentions, even if they were minimal. Castien was not as bad as I thought he would be, I think that disappointed me a little bit, I've been hating him the whole series but in here I liked him and understood him, wich is ok but I was hoping for evil.
Still I really liked it, couldn't put it down and I NEED WARREHN'S BOOK, the author said is for next year and I'm breaking! With this one she doesn't explain very well who is gonna be his counterpart, but I think it's the kid Warrehn stopped of almost being king. Dunno, can't wait! 😍😍
May 24, 2021
“You are mine,” Castien said, sucking a hickey into his neck. “You will always be only mine. I will kill anyone who touches you.”
I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this one much more than book three. In fact...it might be my favorite one yet? Maybe? I don’t know. I can’t decide. But it was good and I was all in. In lieu of an actual review, not that my usual reviews are all that structured, here are some random thoughts and feelings:
✅ I said this in my review of book two...I’m the worlds biggest sucker for a cold hearted, morally grey, grumpy, possibly psychotic or sociopathic, ass who is only soft for his guy. Sucks me in every time. This one takes that to the extreme. Think Ksar from book two or Rutledge from her, “Straight Guys,” series and crank it up a few notches. Then you’ll have Castien. I wouldn’t say in his case he was a sociopath or psychotic but he had his feelings on lockdown and was COLD. For Eridan though? He was...slightly warmer..eventually. Whatever. It worked for Eridan. And me. 😂
✅ The shouldn’t want you, gotta have you, need you, all consuming, needy, craving, lust, love that I was missing in book three was back in this one. The dynamics were different because of Castien and how he didn’t feel things the same way. But they were there. It was kind of a slower burn for an Alessandra Hazard book. But the tension was thick and when they did get together? Worth it!! 🔥🔥🔥
✅ I love Castien. That is all.
⚠️ Still too much rehashing for my liking. Just throwing that out there. She does way too much of it in this series and it drives me nuts. Every book has multiple scenes that you’ve already read from other books. I know why she does it. To explain what was happening in this couple’s story during a particular part of the timeline because they overlap. And you do get more info out of it. But I don’t care for it. I like the new things it brings between the current couple but not all the retelling of the events you already know.
⚠️ I thought the plot was more interesting and less convoluted than book three but it was still overly detailed in places and vague in others. It was fine.
⚠️ Greedy me still wants more time with her guys when they finally settle down at the end! Why can’t we just get a chapter or two of them just being together. This will be a forever wish of mine with her books.
I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this one much more than book three. In fact...it might be my favorite one yet? Maybe? I don’t know. I can’t decide. But it was good and I was all in. In lieu of an actual review, not that my usual reviews are all that structured, here are some random thoughts and feelings:
✅ I said this in my review of book two...I’m the worlds biggest sucker for a cold hearted, morally grey, grumpy, possibly psychotic or sociopathic, ass who is only soft for his guy. Sucks me in every time. This one takes that to the extreme. Think Ksar from book two or Rutledge from her, “Straight Guys,” series and crank it up a few notches. Then you’ll have Castien. I wouldn’t say in his case he was a sociopath or psychotic but he had his feelings on lockdown and was COLD. For Eridan though? He was...slightly warmer..eventually. Whatever. It worked for Eridan. And me. 😂
✅ The shouldn’t want you, gotta have you, need you, all consuming, needy, craving, lust, love that I was missing in book three was back in this one. The dynamics were different because of Castien and how he didn’t feel things the same way. But they were there. It was kind of a slower burn for an Alessandra Hazard book. But the tension was thick and when they did get together? Worth it!! 🔥🔥🔥
✅ I love Castien. That is all.
⚠️ Still too much rehashing for my liking. Just throwing that out there. She does way too much of it in this series and it drives me nuts. Every book has multiple scenes that you’ve already read from other books. I know why she does it. To explain what was happening in this couple’s story during a particular part of the timeline because they overlap. And you do get more info out of it. But I don’t care for it. I like the new things it brings between the current couple but not all the retelling of the events you already know.
⚠️ I thought the plot was more interesting and less convoluted than book three but it was still overly detailed in places and vague in others. It was fine.
⚠️ Greedy me still wants more time with her guys when they finally settle down at the end! Why can’t we just get a chapter or two of them just being together. This will be a forever wish of mine with her books.
July 22, 2020
Castien: a “cold, heartless and manipulative bastard” and definitely not a good man.
“Emotions are a liability, and I have eradicated most of them.”
Eridan: “too emotional, too temperamental, too proud, too squeamish.”
Ruled by his feelings and cute with his cheeky charm. 14 years younger than Castien.
Two very very different men.
We met Castien Idhron as a highly influential man with a powerful, telepathic mind in previous books. He was always distant and ice-cold. Of course, this is exactly what makes this book interesting. Who is the man that cracks those stony walls? How does he do it?
Well, it’s certainly a very lengthy procedure, and I couldn’t help feeling utterly sorry for Eridan. He gets shot down again and again (and again) when he seeks his master’s closeness. The thing is, he’s fully aware what he is letting himself in for, and yet he can’t give up.
Alessandra Hazard does a very good job of showing how Eridan relentlessly chips away at the frozen walls Castien has skillfully put up around him, and it was fun seeing the hairline cracks developing into big fat ravines.
Although we only get Eridan’s POV we know that Castien is affected by the young man, and that it gets continually harder and harder to resist him. They have, after all, highly compatible minds, a thing I really loved in book 3, too, which is so intimate it’s virtually more intense than sex.
The plot, interestingly, does not follow what one might have expected.
A couple of surprising and very welcome plot twists added a good bit of tension in the last third of the book, and I was left wondering how on earth this could ‘work out’.
Needless to say, it does and in a very nice way, but don’t expect Castien to change into a knight in shining armour! (Ha!)
This was another fun instalment in this series.
I really enjoyed all the books so far and will be looking forward to more!
“Emotions are a liability, and I have eradicated most of them.”
Eridan: “too emotional, too temperamental, too proud, too squeamish.”
Ruled by his feelings and cute with his cheeky charm. 14 years younger than Castien.
Two very very different men.
We met Castien Idhron as a highly influential man with a powerful, telepathic mind in previous books. He was always distant and ice-cold. Of course, this is exactly what makes this book interesting. Who is the man that cracks those stony walls? How does he do it?
Well, it’s certainly a very lengthy procedure, and I couldn’t help feeling utterly sorry for Eridan. He gets shot down again and again (and again) when he seeks his master’s closeness. The thing is, he’s fully aware what he is letting himself in for, and yet he can’t give up.
Alessandra Hazard does a very good job of showing how Eridan relentlessly chips away at the frozen walls Castien has skillfully put up around him, and it was fun seeing the hairline cracks developing into big fat ravines.
Although we only get Eridan’s POV we know that Castien is affected by the young man, and that it gets continually harder and harder to resist him. They have, after all, highly compatible minds, a thing I really loved in book 3, too, which is so intimate it’s virtually more intense than sex.
The plot, interestingly, does not follow what one might have expected.
A couple of surprising and very welcome plot twists added a good bit of tension in the last third of the book, and I was left wondering how on earth this could ‘work out’.
Needless to say, it does and in a very nice way, but don’t expect Castien to change into a knight in shining armour! (Ha!)
This was another fun instalment in this series.
I really enjoyed all the books so far and will be looking forward to more!
July 1, 2024
DNF
I am sick of the top that sleeps around but doesn’t allow the virgin bottom that is 12 years younger than him to have sex with other people because he is ‘possessive’ 🙄
I am sick of the top that sleeps around but doesn’t allow the virgin bottom that is 12 years younger than him to have sex with other people because he is ‘possessive’ 🙄
July 23, 2024
The heartless Master of the Order and his orphan apprentice. Who really is one of the lost princes presumed ded. Hot and a perfect bit angsty.
August 23, 2020
I have a bit of a conundrum here. Prince's Master is an integral part of this series and the storytelling was really well done and it was interwoven quite well with the rest of the series. However, I didn't enjoy the first 80% at all. In fact, I kind of hated it. Castien was not a sympathetic character, and I never got past Eridan being more than Castien's pawn...until I did, and then whoa. Here I was, ready to give this story 2 stars and then BAM! Castien actually shows a little humanity, and we get to see who he really is.
Now, I don't want you to think that Castien does a total 180, and all of a sudden everything is kittens and rainbows, because he doesn't and it isn't. That would be hella unrealistic, even for a sci-fi novel. What he does do, though, is show that he's not totally that sociopath he's aspired to be all his life. Maybe someday he'll relearn how to deal with his emotions.
Until then, Prince's Master takes emotionally unavailable to a whole new level.
Castien Idhron is a member of the High Hronthar Order, a group of telepaths who are the equivalent of a powerful religious sect and essentially hold all the real power on Calluvia. Everyone thinks they are a selfless group of monks who are just looking out for everyone's interests, while reality is extremely different (very much like the major religions here, today, except it's just ONE). They are power hungry, greedy people, who manipulate everyone around them for their own gain, and have been doing so for a thousand years.
Castien takes it even further. He has spent his entire life training his telepathic abilities to become stronger, so that he can gain more power and he is a master manipulator, even among his peers in the Order. Two decades ago, Castien rescued a toddler prince from those that meant him harm and he brought the child to the initiates to be raised among them and has kept the boy's identity secret - even from the boy - and bided his time for the right moment when the prince would be a useful tool. Such an upstanding good guy, Castien is...not.
Eridan was an emotionally starved child and then young man. He has longed for someone to love him, to protect him, to want him, but all of that was always withheld, to the point I think he would have latched onto anyone that showed him even the slightest favor, which is exactly what happened, at first.
After years being Castien's apprentice, Eridan might know the score, but he is an emotional being at heart, and that means he makes some awful choices when it comes to himself, because his self-worth is, frankly, lacking. Or at least that's how it seemed for a big portion of the book. Eridan, however, is stronger than I gave him credit for. The fortitude he shows later makes it clear that I was wrong, at least about him. Hell, I was wrong about so much.
And while, I think, Eridan could do better than a man who is so incapable of feeling deep emotion that he's essentially a sociopath, someone better than a man who blamed Eirdan when others victimized him, Castien did actually care. It took me a long time to see it, but he really did. He just didn't want to and he did his level best to push Eridan away.
For the first 80%, though, I wanted to strangle Castien. He was cold and often cruel. Once his resolve started to weaken, I was able to look back and see that, while he aspired to be as unfeeling as a sociopath, he wasn't naturally so.
He won me over, dammit.
Now, I don't want you to think that Castien does a total 180, and all of a sudden everything is kittens and rainbows, because he doesn't and it isn't. That would be hella unrealistic, even for a sci-fi novel. What he does do, though, is show that he's not totally that sociopath he's aspired to be all his life. Maybe someday he'll relearn how to deal with his emotions.
Until then, Prince's Master takes emotionally unavailable to a whole new level.
Castien Idhron is a member of the High Hronthar Order, a group of telepaths who are the equivalent of a powerful religious sect and essentially hold all the real power on Calluvia. Everyone thinks they are a selfless group of monks who are just looking out for everyone's interests, while reality is extremely different (very much like the major religions here, today, except it's just ONE). They are power hungry, greedy people, who manipulate everyone around them for their own gain, and have been doing so for a thousand years.
Castien takes it even further. He has spent his entire life training his telepathic abilities to become stronger, so that he can gain more power and he is a master manipulator, even among his peers in the Order. Two decades ago, Castien rescued a toddler prince from those that meant him harm and he brought the child to the initiates to be raised among them and has kept the boy's identity secret - even from the boy - and bided his time for the right moment when the prince would be a useful tool. Such an upstanding good guy, Castien is...not.
Eridan was an emotionally starved child and then young man. He has longed for someone to love him, to protect him, to want him, but all of that was always withheld, to the point I think he would have latched onto anyone that showed him even the slightest favor, which is exactly what happened, at first.
After years being Castien's apprentice, Eridan might know the score, but he is an emotional being at heart, and that means he makes some awful choices when it comes to himself, because his self-worth is, frankly, lacking. Or at least that's how it seemed for a big portion of the book. Eridan, however, is stronger than I gave him credit for. The fortitude he shows later makes it clear that I was wrong, at least about him. Hell, I was wrong about so much.
And while, I think, Eridan could do better than a man who is so incapable of feeling deep emotion that he's essentially a sociopath, someone better than a man who blamed Eirdan when others victimized him, Castien did actually care. It took me a long time to see it, but he really did. He just didn't want to and he did his level best to push Eridan away.
For the first 80%, though, I wanted to strangle Castien. He was cold and often cruel. Once his resolve started to weaken, I was able to look back and see that, while he aspired to be as unfeeling as a sociopath, he wasn't naturally so.
"I tried to be kind. To do the ‘right’ thing. But kindness does not come naturally to me. I am a selfish man.”
He won me over, dammit.
June 26, 2020
4.5 😍Loved-this-anti-hero-sci-fi-royalty-romance Stars!! 💕🤩 Honestly speaking despite how much I had loved the previous book, I had forgotten the nitty gritty of the mind games 😳, mind pleasures😍 and political warfare the book had unleashed, so after doing a quick re-read I jumped into this and was immediately hooked.😳
Castien Idhron is an unlikable man, even he knows that. That is a small price compared to his ambition. Even at 17, when he's a Master Acolyte in the Order his goal of world domination in not far from his focus. When he is given the responsibility of rescuing a 3 year old toddler (Prince Eridan), he immediately grasps the value of the life he is saving and plans for a future no one could even fathom at the time. Eridan grows up in the Order like other orphaned boys and girls not knowing his true identity, except the knowledge that he was pre-selected by Master Idhron when he was just a child. Fast forward a few years Eridan, now an Apprentice under Master Castien Idhron (now a Grandmaster and High Adept of the High Hronthar) is unlike any other apprentice at the Order, he's emotional, chatty and too attached to his "Master". Much as he tries to fight his neediness and attraction towards Castien, knowing that his unemotional Master can never reciprocate, he is helpless💞. When his identity is disclosed finally and Castien's plan unravels, can Eridan forgive his Master for the part he played in keeping him unaware of his destiny? 💔Can Castien look beyond his political ambitions and accept that emotions can be a weakness, but they still make him happy and content? 💘
This book takes a deep dive into The Order; the different classes, the power struggle and of course the mind games😳. I liked how Ms. Hazard has built this world and the more we know, the more complex it gets 😬. This book also has a little bit of the Stockholm Syndrome going on where Eridan knows that Castien is an immoral person, but he is his immoral person so he doesn't care 😍. The book is steamy but not like the previous two books, and obviously there is lot of mental intimacy ❤️which in some ways is even more steamy than regular sex 😉
All in all, this is another gem from Ms. Hazard. Highly recommended!! 👍👍 (But this is not a standalone, the stories in the series are all interconnected with some overlap) Looking forward to Warrehn's story😍 But 2021??!! Really??!! 😱😱
Castien Idhron is an unlikable man, even he knows that. That is a small price compared to his ambition. Even at 17, when he's a Master Acolyte in the Order his goal of world domination in not far from his focus. When he is given the responsibility of rescuing a 3 year old toddler (Prince Eridan), he immediately grasps the value of the life he is saving and plans for a future no one could even fathom at the time. Eridan grows up in the Order like other orphaned boys and girls not knowing his true identity, except the knowledge that he was pre-selected by Master Idhron when he was just a child. Fast forward a few years Eridan, now an Apprentice under Master Castien Idhron (now a Grandmaster and High Adept of the High Hronthar) is unlike any other apprentice at the Order, he's emotional, chatty and too attached to his "Master". Much as he tries to fight his neediness and attraction towards Castien, knowing that his unemotional Master can never reciprocate, he is helpless💞. When his identity is disclosed finally and Castien's plan unravels, can Eridan forgive his Master for the part he played in keeping him unaware of his destiny? 💔Can Castien look beyond his political ambitions and accept that emotions can be a weakness, but they still make him happy and content? 💘
This book takes a deep dive into The Order; the different classes, the power struggle and of course the mind games😳. I liked how Ms. Hazard has built this world and the more we know, the more complex it gets 😬. This book also has a little bit of the Stockholm Syndrome going on where Eridan knows that Castien is an immoral person, but he is his immoral person so he doesn't care 😍. The book is steamy but not like the previous two books, and obviously there is lot of mental intimacy ❤️which in some ways is even more steamy than regular sex 😉
All in all, this is another gem from Ms. Hazard. Highly recommended!! 👍👍 (But this is not a standalone, the stories in the series are all interconnected with some overlap) Looking forward to Warrehn's story😍 But 2021??!! Really??!! 😱😱
May 24, 2021
content warning: rape, grooming
This is a story about a Master and an apprentice. This is a story about their unlikely romance and their rise to power. Master Castien is someone who's devoid of emotions while his apprentice Ediran is someone who's run by his emotions. Castien is a master manipulator through and through but the moment he claimed Ediran as his apprentice, who exactly manipulates the other? You see, Ediran is not the usual submissive apprentice.
I lived. I gagged. Arguably the best one from this series but definitely one of the best reads this year for me. I'm just a sucker for characters who build their walls up high and sturdy while the other character is busy destroying those said walls. For some reason, I loved Castien and his highly questionable deeds. Also, I loved Ediran because he's relentless and knows how to bite and snap back. I have this huge grin on my face every time these two fight. This story was supposed to be a 4 stars read but damn the last chapters killed me. So heartwarming for both characters. There was relief that finally made everything so satisfying. Alessandra Hazard write these characters and this complex world so well. For a book with a whopping 350 pages, I didn't get tired reading this. A slow slow slow burn romance with a hefty reward in the end.
a quick ranking for the Calluvia stories:
1. Prince's Master - 5 stars
2. That Irresistible Poison - 5 stars
3. That Alien Feeling - 4 stars, highly enjoyed this but wasn't as intense as the others
4. Once Upon a Time - 3 stars, def intense but didn't enjoyed that much
He wanted more. He wanted everything. He wanted to be his Master's world in the same terrible, unfair way his Master was his.
This is a story about a Master and an apprentice. This is a story about their unlikely romance and their rise to power. Master Castien is someone who's devoid of emotions while his apprentice Ediran is someone who's run by his emotions. Castien is a master manipulator through and through but the moment he claimed Ediran as his apprentice, who exactly manipulates the other? You see, Ediran is not the usual submissive apprentice.
"Don't pretend to be a good man, Master. You're not. You're selfish, and you take what you want. And you want me."
I lived. I gagged. Arguably the best one from this series but definitely one of the best reads this year for me. I'm just a sucker for characters who build their walls up high and sturdy while the other character is busy destroying those said walls. For some reason, I loved Castien and his highly questionable deeds. Also, I loved Ediran because he's relentless and knows how to bite and snap back. I have this huge grin on my face every time these two fight. This story was supposed to be a 4 stars read but damn the last chapters killed me. So heartwarming for both characters. There was relief that finally made everything so satisfying. Alessandra Hazard write these characters and this complex world so well. For a book with a whopping 350 pages, I didn't get tired reading this. A slow slow slow burn romance with a hefty reward in the end.
"You are mine," Castien said, sucking a hickey into his neck. "You will always be only mine. I will kill anyone who touches you."
a quick ranking for the Calluvia stories:
1. Prince's Master - 5 stars
2. That Irresistible Poison - 5 stars
3. That Alien Feeling - 4 stars, highly enjoyed this but wasn't as intense as the others
4. Once Upon a Time - 3 stars, def intense but didn't enjoyed that much
June 17, 2020
I just love Alessandra Hazard's books.
Her books are pretty pointless, and by that I mean that you will not learn anything from them, you will not finish reading and think "I learned a great lesson in life" or something, and that is completely okay, not all books have to be politically correct or have intellectual content, her books are just fun, hot and honestly I love how her characters are needy, raw and full of emotions.
This book is about Eri and Castien, the book starts with Castien finding two children lost in the woods, the older one passes the youngest child into Castien's ship and asks him to take care of him because he is the prince of one of the great clans and soon after that the older child runs away ...
Castien finds himself stuck with this child and really confirms that that child is Prince Eri, Castien is a greedy son of a cookie so he takes Prince Eri to the Order, a secret association in which he is a member and although he has only 17 years old, he already has a respectful position. Castien intends to make Eri take the place as king when he is 25 and thus have permanent support and everything else he wants from this clan, but when emotions start to emerge Castien sees that maybe this plan is not so easy.
We see the relationship between them developing over the years, yes, years and i was here for it. I think this was the book with the most pages I read from Alessandra Hazard, normally her books are shorter but I was so into the story that I didn't care. I need more books from her! Also, I want her books on Audible, why none of her books was an audiobook? Aff, I need it and for now!
Rating: 4.5 Stars.
Steam: 7 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
Her books are pretty pointless, and by that I mean that you will not learn anything from them, you will not finish reading and think "I learned a great lesson in life" or something, and that is completely okay, not all books have to be politically correct or have intellectual content, her books are just fun, hot and honestly I love how her characters are needy, raw and full of emotions.
This book is about Eri and Castien, the book starts with Castien finding two children lost in the woods, the older one passes the youngest child into Castien's ship and asks him to take care of him because he is the prince of one of the great clans and soon after that the older child runs away ...
Castien finds himself stuck with this child and really confirms that that child is Prince Eri, Castien is a greedy son of a cookie so he takes Prince Eri to the Order, a secret association in which he is a member and although he has only 17 years old, he already has a respectful position. Castien intends to make Eri take the place as king when he is 25 and thus have permanent support and everything else he wants from this clan, but when emotions start to emerge Castien sees that maybe this plan is not so easy.
We see the relationship between them developing over the years, yes, years and i was here for it. I think this was the book with the most pages I read from Alessandra Hazard, normally her books are shorter but I was so into the story that I didn't care. I need more books from her! Also, I want her books on Audible, why none of her books was an audiobook? Aff, I need it and for now!
Rating: 4.5 Stars.
Steam: 7 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
May 25, 2022
5 ★'s
this is definitely my favourite of all the ah books i've binged on this week bc holy shit. it was an intense rollercoaster w the plot interwoven so beautifully and oh god the romance and the tension and that angst chef's kiss
i could feel how Eridan's opinion of Castien went from:
to:
and it was a beautiful ride. i literally completed the book in one sitting bc i was so drawn to the characters and the intense way in which ah managed to capture the feelings and emotions of the mc's.
the banter and the chemistry was to, quite literally, die for. my head hurts bc of how intensely i felt every emotion that the character's were feeling. and Castien's love confession?? i cannot-
overall, this is def the best ah book so far, i loved it sm that i don't think i'll be able to read anything now for sometime.
this is definitely my favourite of all the ah books i've binged on this week bc holy shit. it was an intense rollercoaster w the plot interwoven so beautifully and oh god the romance and the tension and that angst chef's kiss
i could feel how Eridan's opinion of Castien went from:
He's a two-faced snake, Eridan realised, looking at Idhron with a mix of fascination and disgust. A liar, and an excellent one.
to:
He wanted more. He wanted everything. He wanted to be his Master's world in the same terrible, unfair way his Master was his.
and it was a beautiful ride. i literally completed the book in one sitting bc i was so drawn to the characters and the intense way in which ah managed to capture the feelings and emotions of the mc's.
the banter and the chemistry was to, quite literally, die for. my head hurts bc of how intensely i felt every emotion that the character's were feeling. and Castien's love confession?? i cannot-
At last, Idhron said stiffly, "I find that I dislike living in a world where you do not remember me." Something rueful and self-deprecating appeared in his telepathic presence. "Apparently, I am that selfish. I need you to need me. Therefore, calling your… love for me unrequited is not accurate. It is very much requited."
overall, this is def the best ah book so far, i loved it sm that i don't think i'll be able to read anything now for sometime.
"You are mine," Castien said, sucking a hickey into his neck. "You will always be only mine. I will kill anyone who touches you."
February 21, 2024
Great addition to the Calluvian universe, even though I enjoyed the plot more than the romance itself.
First things first: no, don’t read it as a standalone. You wouldn’t appreciate the intricate plot and world building, and you wouldn’t know half of the characters involved.
This book focuses on the cold, powerful Castien Idrhon, Grandmaster of the High Hronthar (very powerful telepaths who live in an isolated,in a monastery-like area of Calluvia). And Eridan, his apprentice, who - as everybody already guessed if they’d read the previous books- is one of the long lost princes of the Fifth Grand Clan.
What I thoroughly enjoyed: the plot, the scheming, the politics, and the way it’s interwoven with the previous books.
And I grew to love Castien, who’s very closed off, but so very interesting. His only weakness is Eridan, his apprentice.
Eridan is… idk. I wasn’t overly fond of him tbh. I know that these books usually depict a codependent/obsessive relationship, but I didn’t actually “feel” why Eridan chose to fixate on his Master. On top of that, we constantly get reminded that he’s a “throwback”, permanently leaking and dripping and getting moist around the object of his desires (this will sound weird if you haven’t read the series, I know, but trust me, it kind of makes sense…), so his fixation is depicted like some kind of biological quirk.
I loved the sex scenes, when Castien finally gave in to his wants, but the relationship itself only felt “real” to me in the last 10-15%.
Still, the excellent writing and the plot are good enough to rate it with 4 stars, despite the fact that the romance part fell a bit flat, especially when compared to the last 2 books.
First things first: no, don’t read it as a standalone. You wouldn’t appreciate the intricate plot and world building, and you wouldn’t know half of the characters involved.
This book focuses on the cold, powerful Castien Idrhon, Grandmaster of the High Hronthar (very powerful telepaths who live in an isolated,in a monastery-like area of Calluvia). And Eridan, his apprentice, who - as everybody already guessed if they’d read the previous books- is one of the long lost princes of the Fifth Grand Clan.
What I thoroughly enjoyed: the plot, the scheming, the politics, and the way it’s interwoven with the previous books.
And I grew to love Castien, who’s very closed off, but so very interesting. His only weakness is Eridan, his apprentice.
Eridan is… idk. I wasn’t overly fond of him tbh. I know that these books usually depict a codependent/obsessive relationship, but I didn’t actually “feel” why Eridan chose to fixate on his Master. On top of that, we constantly get reminded that he’s a “throwback”, permanently leaking and dripping and getting moist around the object of his desires (this will sound weird if you haven’t read the series, I know, but trust me, it kind of makes sense…), so his fixation is depicted like some kind of biological quirk.
I loved the sex scenes, when Castien finally gave in to his wants, but the relationship itself only felt “real” to me in the last 10-15%.
Still, the excellent writing and the plot are good enough to rate it with 4 stars, despite the fact that the romance part fell a bit flat, especially when compared to the last 2 books.
August 17, 2021
I loved this one so much i don't even know where to start. this probably sounds bad but my love for asshole male leads is just unreal so naturally i loved the heck out of Castien. his reluctant affection towards Eridan was everything. his general lack of guilt, remorse and empathy?! u bet i drooled every time he did something morally questionable. it was so satisfying to watch him fall despite his disgust towards feeling/expressing emotions. when his eyes glistened that one time, i stg i shed tears of my own.
Eriden on the other hand was such a cute little bean. him not understanding why he has a superiority complex was just hilarious. i felt like giving him a tight hug at times because it was so clear he just wanted to belong and feel loved.
and the epilogue was the cutest thing ever but wish it was a tad bit longer.
“Frankly, I am not sure what love is. But you are the only thing—the only person—I care about deeply. The only person more important to me than my Order.”
Eriden on the other hand was such a cute little bean. him not understanding why he has a superiority complex was just hilarious. i felt like giving him a tight hug at times because it was so clear he just wanted to belong and feel loved.
and the epilogue was the cutest thing ever but wish it was a tad bit longer.
May 9, 2022
UGH this was perfection 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻
My *only* hangup is that the ending was wrapped up REALLY abruptly when a certain Master ~abruptly~ changed his entire personality (imho) and went after Edrian. Like I know they were both having a rough go of it but STILL just seemed like a real quick turn around.
This series is SO addicting!! I can’t wait for book 5 to come out 🫶🏻🪐👽🌀
You should read this book if you like
The rest of the series
Age gaps
D/ s dynamics
Teacher-student
alien mind sex 😵💫😵💫😵💫
My *only* hangup is that the ending was wrapped up REALLY abruptly when a certain Master ~abruptly~ changed his entire personality (imho) and went after Edrian. Like I know they were both having a rough go of it but STILL just seemed like a real quick turn around.
This series is SO addicting!! I can’t wait for book 5 to come out 🫶🏻🪐👽🌀
You should read this book if you like
The rest of the series
Age gaps
D/ s dynamics
Teacher-student
alien mind sex 😵💫😵💫😵💫
July 12, 2023
4.5 stars.
I love this book.
I love this series
This is AH at her best imo.
The politics and the world building here were great
The characters were well written
The romance burned perfectly slow. It suited the characters to a T.
I loved that Castien stayed a douche even after he acknowledged his feelings 😂
My baby Ksar also makes a cameo. LOVE HIM.
I love this book.
I love this series
This is AH at her best imo.
The politics and the world building here were great
The characters were well written
The romance burned perfectly slow. It suited the characters to a T.
I loved that Castien stayed a douche even after he acknowledged his feelings 😂
My baby Ksar also makes a cameo. LOVE HIM.
June 15, 2020
And the Calluvia series is back, and this time it's with the most manipulative anti hero who finally meets his match! Ms Hazard has a knack for taking the absolute worst character and peeling all the layers to the bright center within. From previous books High Adept Castien Idhron seemed so evil and even corrupt, but those robes of his hid way more than cunning mind and secrets, they protected the man who locked away his emotions so deep that it took love so strong and immeasurable to break through. Eridan's journey was even tougher but he needed to go through it all to see Castien and all that he was and wasn't. Eri was all the emotions that Castien wasn't, and together they completed each other.
The story was told through multiple POVs spanning decades and showed different stages of both Eri and Castien's lives, how their emotions evolved and strengthened. There were timelines that overlapped with previous books explaining certain events that until now were a little murky. Now everything made sense. I loved reading about life in High Hronthar, all the ins and outs of adepts's lives and what it took to become a Master. Ms Hazard wrote an engrossing story with vivid descriptions and sharp refreshing dialogues.
We saw Castien through Eli's eyes since Castien only had POV on two occasions: in the beginning and in the end, and the difference was astounding. There was so much angst but at the same time so much love and quiet affection. It was quite something to see a strong emotionally distant man to show his emotions, the smallest gesture to indicate the greatest turmoil, the formal stiff words to express most ardent tenderness. I loved it aaaaaaaaaallllllll!!!!!!!! Well paced, emotionally intense, rich on intrigue and with an amazing cast of characters the story was so worth the wait!
The story was told through multiple POVs spanning decades and showed different stages of both Eri and Castien's lives, how their emotions evolved and strengthened. There were timelines that overlapped with previous books explaining certain events that until now were a little murky. Now everything made sense. I loved reading about life in High Hronthar, all the ins and outs of adepts's lives and what it took to become a Master. Ms Hazard wrote an engrossing story with vivid descriptions and sharp refreshing dialogues.
We saw Castien through Eli's eyes since Castien only had POV on two occasions: in the beginning and in the end, and the difference was astounding. There was so much angst but at the same time so much love and quiet affection. It was quite something to see a strong emotionally distant man to show his emotions, the smallest gesture to indicate the greatest turmoil, the formal stiff words to express most ardent tenderness. I loved it aaaaaaaaaallllllll!!!!!!!! Well paced, emotionally intense, rich on intrigue and with an amazing cast of characters the story was so worth the wait!
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