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.

Nooooooo I can't wait until the next book I need it now!! This was such a fun read I could barely put the book down!

⚔️ PLOT: 5/5

The only complaint I could find in this book was that it was too short! The way it ended culminated in a slightly anti-climatic way, but the story was so intriguing! Powerful shadows with a mind of their own, enslaved fae, power hungry humans, a prince locked away for 25 years, dream walking, and so much more!!!

The magic system was very interesting too, using bones of fae mixed with blood to be able to amplify power, as well as humans bonding to fae to access their power as well. Very unique and interesting!

✒️ WRITING: 4/5

The writing was overall really good! The only thing I noticed is at times there were sentences repeated really close together that did not need to be said more than once, and I also was annoyed by how often Jaxon called Araya "Starling". I get it's a nickname but it was a bit too much for my taste, almost making it cringey.

I thought that the descriptions of things and the POV switches were very smooth and well done.

💗 CHARACTERS & ROMANCE: 4/5

Araya was a bit childish/weak as a main character for my taste and I was more drawn to her friend's character as she felt stronger and more interesting. I can tell Araya will become more built up as a MC in the sequel based on her role in the story. Jaxon was unbearable from chapter 1, which is why the spicy scenes drove me crazy because I was like "noooo don't do it" the whole time. That being said, he was a well written character and played his role perfectly in the story. Love Loren and I am excited to see what he brings to the table in book 2!!



Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!!!

Thanks to the ARC team for an advance copy!

This is a really interesting dark fantasy/somewhat romance and the first part of a series - so no HEA in sight. The story is compelling - <spoiler>the FMC is a "halfblood" fae who has lived since childhood in the New Dominion, where humans have taken power from fae and subjugated them, forcing the women to serve as breeding stock to keep making more fae to steal magic from. The FMC is then bound to her childhood friend, a human who has ulterior motives in taking her bond - he wants to use her magic and skills to be able to command the shadows and further increase his power. But in the prison is the fae prince, who's been imprisoned for 25 years - and he's actually her mate.</spoiler>

We go on quite an adventure throughout this book, with tons of secrecy, lies, and manipulation. You don't know who to trust at first, and that makes the reading even more fun. My only issue is that it feels like a verrry slow burn on any interesting romance or big plot movements - we go back and forth within the same small world for most of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much, and I can't wait for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC opportunity!

I cannot wait for book 2; this one had me captivated from the very beginning! It was the perfect dark romantasy! A must read for lovers of the genre! I struggled to put it down, perfectly engaging and drawing you into the story. This is one you do not want to miss!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this. This is a dark/fantasy/romance with fated mates, rebels, secrets and magical bonds!! Don’t listen to the people who say it’s a love triangle because it’s not!! More of a hostage situation. This world is set up where humans and fae are against each other. The humans have taken over and have controlled the fae. They keep them controlled by having their real names (holds a lot of power). They have also stolen their power. The males are worked to death and the females are used to bare half human, half fae children. The FMC, Araya, accepts a bond to save herself, but it’s more of an abusive relationship. The MMC, Loren, also know as the chained prince, has been imprisoned by the humans for 25 years. He hasn’t thought about escaping until he met Araya!! Side note: I hate Jaxon and if I ever see him it’s on site!!! I never liked him from the start. After that cliffhanger, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Just wow!

Fated mates. A love triangle with a twist. Magical Bonds. Emotional rollercoaster.

This story does not feel like anything I’ve read before. It’s unique to say the least. Fae vs. Human with a twist. The Fae are the prisoners and are physically forced into submission. Women are bonded to mage to strengthen the men and used for breeding. This was a brilliantly written dark world.

I did not want this to end. More please. I was enthralled!!!

Thank you for the incredible opportunity to receive the ARC.

This book was a great surprise. I read it all in one sitting. It hooked me right away and keep me inviting the whole way.

I really like the magic, the world building and the characters. This was great. Now I just need book 2 . . . Please

Thank you to Becca Calder, Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for the eARC

I was invested from page one of the prologue. The story was well developed and easy to follow. The humans have stolen the magic of the fae and regulate everything they do with it. The FMC, Araya, accepts a bond in order to save herself, but not all is as it seems. The chained prince, Loren, has been imprisoned by the humans for 25 years and will do anything to escape. This book was well written and easy to follow but kept your attention well. There’s fated mates, magic, and betrayal. What more could you ask for?

This book is beyond amazing. I was hooked from the first chapter and was up late reading it because I couldn’t put it down. You will connect with these characters and you will feel their pain which will break your heart. It kinda ends on a cliffhanger and now I am dying to read the second book when it comes out. I would give this ten stars if I could.

The Chained Prince grabbed my interest with its title and gripping summary. The story wastes no time pulling readers in with high-stakes political tension and the continuing war. The opening was strong, instantly immersing me in a world that felt alive and fraught with danger.

The magic system was imaginative and added a fun layer to the story, though I’ll admit I got a little lost at times. This may be due to the heavy world-building n the first few chapters. Still, the complexity added depth, and I appreciated the ambition behind it.

Jaxon was a standout character. The author did a phenomenal job making him likeable and charismatic, only to slowly peel back the layers and reveal his true nature by the end—a twist that hit hard and was executed brilliantly. I hate him so much. Araya’s arc, in particular, was deeply emotional. The novel handles some intense themes with care and honesty, and her journey is both powerful and heartbreaking.

If I had one personal gripe, it’s that I wanted more time with Araya and Loren. Their relationship is the epitome of a slow burn, which worked in some ways, but I found myself craving more moments between them. Which yes, means I cannot wait for the second book.

Overall, The Chained Prince is a compelling, emotionally rich fantasy with solid world-building, memorable characters, and a satisfying narrative punch. Highly recommend for fans of morally gray characters and magic-driven political intrigue.

Thank you to Netgalley, Becca Calder, and the publisher for this arc!

This book was one of my biggest surprises of the year. It was a short read so I was pleasantly surprised by how much world building, character development and plot that the author managed to pack into the pages. The main characters were so well written. The book features DA and I really felt that the main character's emotion and inner dialogue realistically embodied what really DA survivors go through, I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite the fact that the author put me through the emotional wringer. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Very much looking forward to the next in this promising series.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This honest review hurts because I DNF at 6%. I know, I know—6% doesn’t seem like much, but sometimes that’s all it takes.

Right away, I found the writing overly wordy—strangely enough to say about a book, but there was too many words for too little payoff, and the plot just took forever to actually go anywhere. The author takes the long way around when a more concise route would’ve done the job better. It’s disappointing, too, because the premise had real promise. Unfortunately, this one just isn’t for me.

I appreciated that this story felt more realistic than many of the other "magical oppression" books. It felt very centred on how the oppressor (in this case, humans) not only destroys using something like genocide but also destroys a culture with forced and practiced assimilation.

This author also wrote trauma very well. The abusive relationship was messy and confusing. I also found the MMC to be interesting cause they didn't immediately shy away from his trauma once he "escaped." Additionally, this book explores themes that are not overshadowed by the blossoming romance, which we can likely expect to see in the future.

I look forward to seeing what they do with the next book.

I give this book a four out of five stars Jaxson is my new crush. I like the tension between him and the main character. It was everything you want in a fantasy romance plus the twist at the end really left me wanting more and I can’t wait for the sequel!

I devoured The Chained Prince in one sitting….it’s that addictive. Becca Calder gives us a dark and gripping romantasy with a fast-paced plot, a fascinating magic system, and characters who are complex and flawed…but you still root for them.

This story is rich with twists and turns that keep you hooked from start to finish. I especially loved the way the slow-burn romance simmered beneath the surface, promising more to come. If you love true fated mates, dark worldbuilding, and emotionally layered characters, you’re in for a treat.

That said, this is definitely a darker read, so be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.

I can’t wait to see how the characters and relationships develop in the rest of the series. An amazing start to this series, well done, Becca Calder!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Becca Calder, Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review .

Emotional wreckage (check triggers), magical bonds, a complicated love triangle, trauma, fated mates and a toxic villain were all in this dark Romantasy and made The Chained Prince so good!

I loved Araya Starborn as the FMC, she is complicated, strong, flawed and irrevocably trapped due to events out of her control. I just wanted to fix everything for her and ached at every traumatic event that she was put through. I also very rarely instantly loathe a main character, but I did and I cannot wait to see them hopefully get their ass handed to them as the series continues. That sort of reader empathy is only felt due to great writing. The twist on shadow magic was so unique and intriguing.

The devastatingly toxic element to the love triangle that ensnares Araya made it very emotional to read key events that led to where she is left at the end. I can’t wait to see her character develop and how this triangle plays out in Book 2. It’s an instant add to TBR

I loved this! I read it in an afternoon; it was so hard to put down. I really liked the characters, and it felt different from a lot of the cookie cutter romance fantasy I have been consuming. Love!