NetGalley Review
The Chained Prince - @beccacalderauthor

Released - June 3rd 2025
Dark Romantasy
Available on Kindle Unlimited

This was a fantastic debut novel!
Had me hooked from the prologue, which you ideally want from any book you read. And I am VERY happy to see that this is only book 1 in a trilogy. With Book 2 currently undergoing edits.

Araya made me feel all the feels. The poor girl just wanted to be safe and was taken advantage of because of it. Honestly, it made me upset to be human.
Jaxon - I am looking forward to the pain he will face in the other books. I will definitely be reading them just to see karma in action.
Loren - I am not sure how I feel about him to be honest, I understand his motivations, not easy being tortured and chained up for 25 years.

Even though I read an ARC copy through NetGalley, I am going to be reading it again via Kindle Unlimited. The story is just THAT good.

I was really excited to read The Chained Prince and I think the series has potential. The dynamic of human mages controlling fae and their magic was intriguing and the decisions Araya has to make about her future were complicated and multi-dimensional. It is a really slow burn, and I felt like Araya remains purposefully ignorant about the people around her which was a bit frustrating at times. However, I'm invested in the series and will gladly read the next book when it's available.

Thank you to Becca Calder and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was good, I did enjoy it, I feel like it was setting up for the rest of the series so was a little slow to get into but I would recommend it

“Had (he) really saved her— or had she simply stepped into the only cage that had been left open?”

“The Chained Prince,” by Becca Calder

I really loved this story. The plot was seriously so good. The women are used for reproduction which was horrible and there is slave dynamics. I loved the tension in the romance aspect and the growth of the FMC figuring out which person to be with and who is good for her. I loved the shadow daddy magic, that character was the best and I can’t wait to read more about him in book 2. I just loved the dark themes with the magic system in this book so much. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Mages
-Multiple possible romance partners
-Shadow Daddy
-Fae

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

“…if she gave enough of herself there would be nothing left to regret.”

The Chained Prince is a romantasy featuring fae and humans. The fae are at the mercy of the humans who control and use their own power against them. Araya has been doing everything just to survive including bonding herself to a high powered human, but at what cost. What does it mean for the rest of the fae and even Araya herself. But what if she was destined for so much more and could be tied to the chained male in her dreams? Read The Chained Prince to find out.

You did what you had to. Araya knew time was running out before she would be become breeding female. So when Jaxon comes back into her life she is happy even though he hurt her before. She is now bonded to Jaxon but at what cost?
This is all part of Jacon’s plan to crush the fae for good and he will use Araya to get what he wants. He knows that he can trust her with the prisoner that has been locked away for twenty five years. But Araya wasn’t expecting it to be the fae prince and she recognises him from her dreams. She doesn’t understand what is happening but she knows that she needs to help him.
Loren can’t believe that she is here but this is bad as they will use her against him once they find out she is his mate. He needs to push her away before they figure it out.
But will they find a way to save Loren or are they both doomed? Araya knows that she will never be free from Jaxon he owns her and he will never give up.
Loren knows what he is about to do will have consequences for Araya but he can’t leave her behind now that he has claimed her but will they ever be free?
Will they find a way forward or this there no happy everafter for them?
A great read interesting characters. Their love story doesn’t start off well but I have hope for them.
Can’t wait for the next book.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

The way this book was set up reminded me a lot of ACOTAR. The entire thing felt like a prequel to the good stuff we're all waiting for. While I'm undecided if I'm going to read the next book, I feel like I have to because I put in all that time for very little to happen.

Pros:
There were twists that did surprise me. I really liked the FMC's best friend and I enjoy a good rebellion every once in awhile.

Cons:
The bonding with the "villain" and the FMC not knowing he was the villain until it was too late was slightly predictable. I felt like the book was dragging so it was difficult to get in to.

I absolutely love this book! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. I finished it in a day. “The Chained Prince” is the first book in the Eldergreen Series. An absolute must-read for anyone who loves dark fae romance and romantasy. The book is addictive, emotional, and utterly magical. The characters, Araya and Jaxon, are well written. The world building is detailed without being overwhelming. Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Morally Gray MMC, and Forbidden Romance. Already counting down the days until the next book!

This is a fun story. It’s kept me from losing my sanity through this heatwave. But the pacing and flow is a bit choppy. There were many times I read a chapter and then set the book down, which is odd for me

There are a lot of intolerably horrid humans in this novel, and many blurred lines b/w good and bad people. But I do enjoy the shadows. We love sentient matter.

Thanks #NetGalley for this ARC. I am excited to read the next one

This book was really good! The plot was interesting and i really did not know were it would end! I really cannot wait for the second book :) 5 stars

⭐️ 3 stars
🌶 0.5 spice level

This debut has a strong emotional foundation and compelling world-building, and that prologue...wow this immediately pulled me in. The opening pages were haunting and rich in atmosphere, showing the brutal aftermath of a war between fae and humans. The premise — a fae prince held captive and a human girl caught in a gilded cage of her own — had so much promise. I was truly invested during the first half.

The story builds an intriguing society where magic has been forcibly extracted from the fae and weaponised through rune-binding. Becca Calder’s writing is fluid and vivid, and for such a short novel (just under 300 pages), the author managed to establish an engaging setting and a solid emotional tone. I especially enjoyed the concept of shared dreams between Loren and Araya — and their very first encounter in the prison was charged and captivating.

Side characters like Araya’s best friend Serafina, brought emotional depth, and the tension between Araya and Jaxon was unsettling in the right way, revealing the scars of manipulation and obscured loyalties.

However, I struggled with some elements that became increasingly frustrating as the story progressed:

- Araya’s development: while her trauma and conflicted emotions toward Jaxon were understandable, her inner conflict kept looping without any real evolution. The push and pull between her loyalty to Jaxon and her connection with Loren felt stagnant. Even after she witnessed Jaxon’s capacity for violence and manipulation, she remained drawn to him, which led to repeated patterns and stalled emotional growth.

- Loren’s arc: his suffering and emotional turmoil were genuinely moving. The scenes of his captivity were intense and difficult — in a good way — but his refusal to reveal the truth to Araya (to protect her) led to too many missed opportunities for connection. I longed for a real conversation between them, a moment of clarity, but it never came.

- Romance and pacing: although this is clearly a slow-burn romance and likely the start of a longer journey, the romantic payoff was minimal. After a promising emotional build-up, the two main characters rarely interacted beyond their dreams, and even when they were physically together at the end, the tension between them remained unresolved. It left me feeling emotionally disconnected.

All in all, The Chained Prince is a strong debut with emotional stakes and an immersive world, but I was left wanting more — more development, more tension resolution, and more direct interactions between the main characters. The emotional themes were present, but their execution didn’t fully deliver.

🌿 That said, I truly see the potential in this world and in the emotional themes introduced. I admire the ambition behind the story and the author’s ability to craft such a rich universe in under 300 pages. I hope that the sequel will allow the characters to fully come into their own, and I’d love to see Araya and Loren’s emotional journeys deepen from here.

✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Becca Calder, and Xpresso Book Tours for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wish the author all the best for this series and look forward to seeing how it evolves.

3.5*
Thanks for the ARC NetGalley.
I reeeeeeally wanted this to be great, and I think that the series will be great, but it just felt dragged out for a first novel but also not dragged out.
I just felt like I knew I hated Jaxon for so long, like for the entire book, and it hurt my soul that Araya couldn't grow a back bone...like at all. Ever, like not at all in this book, which makes it real hard to be all "girl power, slay sis", which is how I want to be by the halfway point in a book for sure.
We love sis running that rebel thang, getting them out and protecting her, but AT WHAT COST?! I think I'd rather Seraphina be the FMC, a girls girl, powerhouse, queen. If she gets killed off I may riot.
The storyline and writing are all great, so I guess it's just the pace of the book or maybe where the story is cut for the end of the book that really kinda pissed me off. I get world building and it all made sense, but then I guess just make it a longer first novel (lol plz).

Regardless, gimme the next please.

WOOOW! I started reading and just couldn’t put it down. I want more! I need to see Loren and Araya together again — I got completely hooked on these characters. The world-building is so intriguing, and I’m really looking forward to seeing Araya’s growth and all the discoveries she still has ahead of her. And let’s be real: Jackson is a complete jerk! He’s been a douchebag from the moment he showed up, treating Araya like she’s just a thing. Ugh.

This is the kind of book that would do so well in Brazil. I truly hope it gets published here one day, because fantasy lovers would absolutely devour it! Thank you so much for providing this ARC — it was such a treat to follow this story! And please, if it’s not too much to ask… release the next book soon! 😄💖

Seriously, just read it!

I absolutely loved this book and I need book 2 asap! I'm not ashamed to say that I read it all in one sitting. I really enjoyed the world building, it was done really well. I feel like world building can either bore you to death or captivate you and make you feel like you like in that world, and this book definitely falls in the later category. Arayas story arc both drew me in and frustrated me at the same time. You see her nievety but also see her growth throughout the book. Her relationship with Jaxon makes you feel a whole range of emotions, especially when you see how she gets emotionally abused and manipulated. And don't even get me started on Loren, ugh my heart!! I can't belive the cliffhanger that this book ended on and that I will now have to wait forever for book 2. This is a great read!

The Chained Prince by Becca Calder
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

The Chained Prince by Becca Calder invites readers into a dark and intricate world of fae magic, forbidden bonds, and haunting dreams. With its high-stakes premise and echoes of popular romantasy titles like ACOTAR and The Prison Healer, the novel promises an immersive experience for fans of morally gray characters and slow-burn tension.

The story follows Araya Starwind, a fae mage surviving under the oppressive regime of the New Dominion. To stay safe, she binds herself to the powerful human mage Jaxon Shaw—a protective but controlling figure. When the mysterious fae male from her dreams turns out to be a real, missing prince, Araya is forced into a dangerous web of rebellion, magic, and impossible choices.

While the worldbuilding is rich and the romantic tension carries potential, the execution is uneven. The pacing, particularly in the middle, becomes overly drawn out, and entire chapters feel skippable without sacrificing plot understanding. This affects the momentum of the story, which struggles to maintain urgency and reader engagement.

Perhaps the most polarizing element is Araya herself. While she is written with clear internal conflict and emotional weight, her characterization may leave some readers disconnected. For me, she came across as frustratingly passive and difficult to empathize with—a significant hurdle in a genre where connection to the protagonist is key.

That said, the premise is compelling, and Calder’s writing shines in the darker, dreamlike sequences and magical tension between characters. For readers who enjoy atmospheric romantasy and don’t mind a slower pace, The Chained Prince may still offer an engaging escape.

Though beautifully imagined, The Chained Prince struggles with pacing and a main character who may divide readers. While the story has its moments of intrigue and magic, its emotional payoff is diminished by a narrative that at times feels too drawn out. A fair read for romantasy fans—but not without its flaws.

Wow, what a unique take on fae and humans. In this beautifully imagined world, the fae are beneath the humans. The story has a fresh magic system with fated mates, buried secrets, twists, and betrayals. I can already tell this series is going to own me. I need book 2 now.

This was a unique take on a magic system and I really enjoyed it! In this world, the fae are lower on the totem pole than humans. Araya is such a strong FMC without being annoying or whiny like can happen sometimes and she can really hold her own. There was complexity with her bond and past with Jaxon and then Loren throws a curve ball into the mix as her fated mate. I love a dreamwalker 🤪 The internal battle between what she thinks can help keep her safe and what her heart tells her is right was so interesting. The overall plot never slowed down and I was excited to keep picking this up. I do feel like Serafina and Araya never really hashed out their issues and the ending felt a little rushed but that cliffhanger ending definitely left me wanting book two!!

~ I received this eARC free from NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and Becca Calder! My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~

I want to start off by thanking NetGalley and the author for offering me the ARC for an honest review. To be honest, I wasn’t sure when I read the description how this novel was going to be any different than all the other fae, bonded-mates, etc books out there, but this book was SO good! I appreciate that the author was able to offer up a story that we haven’t necessarily seen before using elements that are so popular. In short, there’s an ongoing battle between human mages and the fae. The mages use fae blood, bones, and their aether to strengthen their own powers. Our MFC Arya was captured as a child, had her ears clipped, and a sigil was tattooed on her hand to severely limit her power, just like all the other fae she knows. Once fae females reach “maturity” they’re often bonded/sold to mages to bear them a child. Think Handmaids Tale meets ACOTAR. Arya’s long-lost teenage love, Jaxon, returns from war and offers her a bond she can’t refuse. Her excitement to be bonded to someone so powerful who can keep her safe and who she loves quickly evaporates. Jaxon pulls Arya into his secret project which involves a the fae prince who has been locked in a deep dark dungeon being tortured and barely kept alive for the past 25years… and it just so happens it’s the same fae male Araya thought was just a fake person she saw in her dreams. OOF. Trying to please her husband to not lose the one thing keeping her safe, Araya pushes herself beyond her limits. Jaxon is beyond manipulative, abusive, and cruel. All in all, I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the second book!!

I absolutely ate this up! Becca's writing is amazingly fluid and easy to read. The magic system was easy to understand, and the characters were very well constructed!!
Ayara grows so much in this book, but I'm sure we'll see so much more from her. Jaxon was a paradox... he had his Rhysand moments, but yes, extremely toxic. And Loren... oh, I know he'll become one of THE book boyfriends!
Loved it, and I can't wait to read the next one 🫠

Thank you, Becca Calder and NetGalley, for giving me this e-ARC in exchange of my honest review.
I'm already signing up for the next one 😅

The Chained Prince by Becca Calder is exactly what I wanted in a dark fae romantasy, broody tension, morally gray choices, and that slow-burn chemistry that keeps you flipping pages way past your bedtime.

Pros:
•The worldbuilding is rich without being overwhelming. I loved the eerie beauty of the fae realms, Becca paints it all in this haunting, gorgeous way that really sets the tone.
•The prince? Dangerous, tortured, and so easy to fall for. If you like your love interests with bite, you’ll be obsessed.
•The tension simmers through nearly every scene. There’s that perfect mix of enemies-to-lovers with just enough softness to make you swoon.

Cons:
•It starts off a bit slow, and I had to push through the first few chapters to really feel invested.
•There were a few moments where I wanted more emotional depth from the main character like, girl, give me just one more inner monologue when he brushes your arm.
•And okay, I’m greedy I wanted a few more steamy scenes than what we got. It teases a lot, but I wanted more of the delivery.

Overall, it’s a dark fantasy escape that scratched the itch, left me wanting book two, and gave me a fae prince to obsess over. Count me in for the next one.