Captive Prince

One of the novel’s main concerns is the orientation of power and the value of consent within a strict dynamic or hierarchy. Damen begins the novel stripped of his power, taken to Vere without his consent, and then abused and threatened with sexual assault and death. In the rare moments when he can actively refuse consent, he subverts these dynamics, which usually results in punishment.

However, an extended dynamic is at work in the novel. Even though Laurent holds power over Damen, allowing him to violate Damen’s consent, the Regent has power over Laurent, and both Laurent and the Regent react by ordering punishment when their power is subverted. One difference between Laurent and the Regent is Laurent’s refusal of sexual advances, while the root of his conflict with the Regent originates in the Regent’s sexual abuse of Laurent as a child. Sexuality is a tense topic in Vere, and the nature of power and consent in Captive Prince is often expressed in the way sexuality impacts the novel’s characters.

Though Damen hates Laurent as his oppressor, he’s also attracted to him. Laurent, however, is known for being “frigid” and rejecting sexual advances. While most Veretians see sexual control as a major expression of power, Laurent uses his sexuality in direct contrast to this paradigm, using his own refusal of consent as an expression of power.