Actual Rating 4.5 stars.
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.
My Initial Reaction...
Tempted by a Rogue Prince was considerably darker and more emotional than the other books in the series, yet somehow equally hot and sexy. I knew Vail's story was going to be great and Felicity did not disappoint.
Note: There are some minor series spoilers in this review.
The Characters...
I've been eagerly waiting for Vail's story (and Bleu's... still waiting on that one) since I started reading this series, because Vail was instantly such a compelling character. I mean, he was tormented and held captive by a spell for FOUR THOUSAND PLUS YEARS, forced to attack the people he loves and do horrible things. And yet, somehow, we already know from the other books that he's not ENTIRELY insane. Notice I stress entirely, because he is crazy. But he does still have a moral compass and a sliver of good that cares and loves. And Felicity captured his slips in and out of sanity so well - I think what I loved most was that they made sense. It wasn't crazy for the sake of crazy, his episodes had triggers and, even when misunderstood from the outside perspective (Rosalind 's), they were clear to me as a reader who had the chance to know what's going on in his mind.
Rosalind was the perfect balance to Vail's insanity, because Rosalind is as calm and collected as I think anyone could be in her situation. I mean, she's been held captive and whipped and tortured for months and she's still so together. Add to that this prophecy she's been living with most of her life that she would meet an elf prince and die shortly thereafter - sorry, but I know I'd be a mess! Oh and did I mention that she just recently killed several people (well witches, demons, etc) for the first time in her life just before getting captured? So I really admired her strength and ability to deal with not just her own situation but the mess that is Vail. And she did so with compassion and understanding. And yet, she has attitude and she can be a total bad ass too. Yep, loving this severely damaged pair ;)
We met a new character in Tempted by a Rogue Prince - an incubi. We didn't get to know him that well because unlike the other books in the series, this book really intensely focused on just these two characters. However, what we did learn excited and intrigued me and I'm betting that's another book in the series I'll love reading.
The Story...
So Tempted by A Rogue Prince takes place a few months after the events of Claimed by a Demon King, where Rosalind was captured by the Demons of the 5th Realm and Vail did his disappearing act again. Because we're with Vail and Rosalind for 95% of this book - two characters entirely out of touch with the rest of the characters I've grown to love - we don't know what's happened on that front for the past several months and I'm dying to know all those details.
But we do know that for Vail and Rosalind the last three months have sucked. She's been imprisoned and tortured. Vail's been wandering, hardly alive and all alone - until he wonders into the fifth realm and is also held captive. So now they're both captive and thrown together when Rosalind is commanded to heal him or suffer the consequences. This is difficult because Vail hates all witches (understandable considering the four thousand years being cruelly used and abused by one) and cannot tolerate their touch without going off the deep end. This leads to some intense interactions between Vail and Rosalind - who are mates. Oh and did I mention that the witch that tortured Vail trapped him by making him believe she was his mate? Talk about an effing confusing situation for the poor guy.
Now, I'm not one for insta-love, but not one book in this series has had that feel to it at all. These characters have to work for their bonds as soul mates and these two have the hardest struggle of all. It gets intense - ranging from torture to sexual tension. You have them needing to get out of this scary as hell situation, Rosalind's prophecy, Vail's insanity and their mate bonds coming together for a seriously fantastic read.
Concluding Sentiments...
I'm crazy about this series and Tempted by a Rogue Prince was another fantastic read. I think it would work fine as a stand alone, though I can't imagine wanting to skip the other books! I can't wait to see what Felicity will do next.