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Entranced

Prince of the Doomed City, Book 1

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Entranced

By: Sylvia Mercedes
Narrated by: Emily Lawrence
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The prince and the librarian....

Clara is an Obligate—a human servant at the Court of Dawn. She doesn’t know why. She knows only that she broke the Pledge and must therefore spend her days obliging the every whim of a capricious fae princess. If she can keep her head down and follow the rules, she might survive to the end of her Obligation, spending her days working in the vast palace library.

But how can she stop devastatingly beautiful Lord Ivor from looking at her in that special way that makes her heart stutter? And how can she avoid the jealous fury of Princess Estrilde, who seeks to claim Lord Ivor for herself?

Most of all, how can she elude the conniving Prince of the Doomed City, who is determined to buy her Obligation for his own dark purposes?

©2022 Sylvia Mercedes (P)2022 Podium Audio Dark Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Romance Royalty Science Fiction & Fantasy Heartfelt
Unique Storyline • Engaging Plot • Exceptional Voice Acting • Likable Hero Characters • Emotional Worldbuilding
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The worldbuilding was incredible — so unique and detailed, I loved it. The magic system was also super unique and interesting, especially for a fae book! I’m not sure why, but I have yet to feel invested in these characters. The Shadow King series gripped me right away with the characters, but I find myself still not caring much at the end of this novel. That said, I will be reading the second novel. I have hopes that I will become invested in the characters and story in time! I was absolutely attached to the troll babies right away, though lol.

Good, but not my favorite

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This review is ridiculously biased even for a perpetual 5 star reviewer, I would know, but in the name of objectivity, you can scroll to the end for the 1 star why no’s (I’m just gonna go ahead and tell you they’re weak, but I tried).

Netflix for Romantic Fantasy Readers >
I spent the last 2 months binge reading all 16 of Sylvia Mercedes’ currently released romantic fantasy books on the market (except the Scarred Mage Trilogy, which I’ve strategically waited to read until after the Prince of the Doomed City series is complete), and I felt like I was starring in a Pringles commercial - her books being the Pringles.

It all started with a Stolen Bride >
I read “The Stolen Mage Bride” first, and was intrigued by how Mercedes’ world-building elements (eg soulmate flowers 😭😭😭) elicited significantly more powerful emotional responses to her characters’ Mordor-like trek to their happily ever after.

Plot >
So, I jumped into the Prince of the Doomed City series next, because I mean come on, the heroine is a determined, fiercely protective librarian on an Enemies to Lovers path with a powerful, broody (for good reason) Prince (of a Doomed City I might add) in a hauntingly dark library with evil books > yes, please!

This is not a TBR book >
The mix of dark (read - scary as hell) elements with the truly likable hero characters, whose brokenness leads to totally justifiable actions, gives this series a permanent place on my bookshelf with many re-reads in its future. Don’t wait to read it, with the Audible available all barriers are gone, and while I hate the torture of waiting for completion, this series is a noswraith waiting to happen on a TBR list.

I don’t need this Audible, but it’s Emily Lawrence soooooo >
I work from home. And I read a lot (esp. this year, currently at 107 since Jan 1st - all romantic fantasy) - to point, I have no commute, which basically, for me, makes this audible totally unnecessary. Emily Lawrence is THE reason I purchased this Audible. Her soul-crushing, fear-inducing, world-shattering performance that was the 7 Venatrix series novels, had me freaking out when I learned she was doing the PotDC series. Her male voices defy believability. I know Sylvia’s writing is clearly responsible for the imagery, but Terryn’s voice!! gosh I hope she does the newly added epilogue to that series 🙏🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🪦 Anyway, who better to voice Prince? Answer, no one. And it was everything I wanted it to be! Surprisingly more actually, because of the epic snark from both Clara and her Prince (she’s oblivious, but, and I may be reading into this quite a bit with the first book, he’s def. hers).

And now for the “Why, no’s” >
1) The set-up
The first book is setting the scene for our H/H. This means world-building, and literally 0 interaction between H/H until later in the book, and I LIVE for H/H moments and dialogue! If you go in knowing that, the end will be that much more satisfying, and it IS satisfying. B1 supporting evidence, look no further than the subj lines of reviews for Book 2. Also, reading “The Stolen Mage Bride” first might help, or it could cause deeper trauma - what can I say, blame Sylvia. Lol.

2) The Audible fine print
I find listening to pretty much all Audibles (except a very select few, very, very select) at 1x speed is completely intolerable. I listened to PotDC at 1.3x speed, which is actually much slower than my normal 1.8+ speed. Also, with this reading, Emily’s emphasis on the first word in a sentence, along with a deep breath in, is pronounced in some places. It was a bit jarring initially, but faded as I got drawn in. Prince’s moments, make it for me. Gonna have these allll on audible, come on books 2,3, and 4!

I will end this review with two words:

“Clara Darling”

Footnote: I have an unpopular opinion on some super trendy books, but they’re only slightly unpopular opinions, not like “how can you even 1 star that tripe?”-type unpopular opinion. But in my defense, I’m in my 30s and I started reading adventure in 2nd grade with Choose Your Own Adventure and then began loving Fantasy fiction with my first Goosebumps from the 4th grade book fair, so I know what I like. I read for the happily ever after; to laugh, smile, and re-experience P&P for the first time.

**This review is brought to you by the feelings of “pissed off” and “justified outrage” that were felt upon seeing a 3 star review with no comment as the 1st review for PotDC B1 Audible on launch day. To quote David from the Creek, “I have never heard someone say so many wrong things, one after the other, consecutively, in a row.”

I better not die before this series ends

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This may be the best narration I’ve ever listened to. Not to mention the creatively written storyline. Nightmare or story?

5* Superb

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So excited to discover more books in this world!! I read the Moonfire Bride/Sunfire King duology and then the newer one with the Trollde King, and this series is the same world! It took me awhile to connect all the dots since I listen to the audiobooks and don’t see names written out, so it was easier to forget if it was all happening in the same kingdoms etc. I think this is centuries later than the Moonfire Bride? Because the Mafati (sp?) are more legend now.
This voice actress is SO GOOD and that’s why I started looking for other books she’s read. You are sucked into the story and into the first person narration so vividly. Going to read the sequel now!

Great Narration and story!!

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I'll admit, I did not like this book at first. I didn't like the voice actress and I was just kind of bored. I kept listening anyway and let me tell you I WAS Entranced!!! It has a slow start but that's just the build up. My friend loved it immediately but it took me a second to get into it, but let me tell you it's completely worth it. The next books are even better!! You won't want to miss out!

Good Start

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I had to stop though because the troll children were really annoying me. I might pick it back up in the future, the world building was so much fun.

Really fun

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I read this book when it was first released and liked it so much, I decided if an audio version ever came out I would get that, too. I am so glad I did. Like many listeners I have my favorite books that I enjoy listening to more than once and those that I never revisit. This title goes in the former category, which I like to refer to as “entertaining” reads - great performance (no wondering which character is speaking because the performer can’t do different voices) and an overall wonderful story with an engaging plot and interesting characters.

Something original from a talented author

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The first several chapters left me not sure if I wanted to finish this one, but I’m glad I stuck it out! Once it got past the first 10 or so chapters it got really good and I binged the first 3 books! (The 4th has been out a few months but no Audible yet - why?) I’m chomping at the bit for the next two books.

The story is so unique and creative and unpredictable! I was excited to read something that wasn’t just another remake of the same basic story that so many books in the genre often are.

I highly recommend this series.

Slow start but worth the wait

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Interesting story line but too much time spent on the monster stuff. More character development and deeper relationships would have been better.

Interesting but too slow for me

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British narrators. Why does she have a British accent anyway? Her love interest doesnt. This is a fantasy world. Also, nothing happens in this book.

British accents should be performed by...

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