Captive Prince

Prince Damianos, renamed “Damen” by Jokaste and Adrastus, is the novel’s protagonist. He begins the story as the heir to the Akielon throne but is quickly incapacitated, drugged, and sent to Vere as an enslaved servant to Laurent, the Prince of Vere. As in the Prologue, Damen displays strength and tenacity throughout the novel, though it gradually shifts from physical strength to emotional endurance, since he’s forced to see himself and his people degraded for the Veretians’ enjoyment.

Damen seems willing and able to endure any physical trauma, with the notable exception of sexual penetration, which disturbs him greatly. Part of his issue with this is that sexuality in Captive Prince is framed as a dominating act in sex degrades or shames the person being penetrated. However, Damen’s reluctance to being sexually assaulted forces him to reflect on his own treatment of other Akielons, as is apparent in his decision to not act on his attraction to Laurent. Damen’s story is inherently one of learning both how to pretend to be obedient and how to sympathize with those forced into positions of subservience.

Damen is a dynamic character, learning and developing throughout the novel. In the beginning, he doesn’t understand deception; he sees the world as rigid and fixed, and he perceives the dynamics of slavery as just and good.