Lost Prince Review

Lost Prince (The Trials of Death and Honor #3) by Karolina Wilde
Series: The Trials of Death and Honor #3
on June 30, 2026
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy & Magic
Format: eARC
Source: Provided by author for honest review
Goodreads

I won the trials. I claimed the power I needed. And paid for it with my blood and my heart.
Finally, I am the Ezkai General now.
Bound by ancient laws, feared by enemies across the sea, and haunted by the love I was forced to kill to claim my crown.
Yet winning wasn’t enough.
When I claimed the seat of power, I won another enemy. One worse than death.
My government and military watch my every move.
The new enemy whispers rebellion in the shadows.
And my closest allies are gone. One claimed by the enemy, the other bound in chains.
To secure my rule, I must bond a dragon, punish those who dared betray me, and find a way to free a man condemned for an unforgivable crime before my seat of power crumbles.

Lost Prince is the third book in the Trials of Death & Honor series, a seductive dark fantasy romance saga of broken loyalties, brutal fae, and a woman learning that becoming a monster may be the only way to win.

 Julie’s Review:

What was that ending???? Everything I knew is turned upside down. What was it all for?

I finished this book (or maybe it finished me) several days ago and needed a moment to collect my thoughts. And find my kindle after I tossed it out the window. Because what the seriously?

I devoured the first two books and the second nearly broke my heart. Lost Prince is the third book, and it felt very different than the other two. Where the first two were action-heavy, spice-heavy, and the stakes were always sky high. Ok the third one was definitely here. The aspects of what made the first two books so awesome were still here: revenge quest, high stakes, stubborn stabby FMC who is trying to grow and must overcome her own blocks, banter for days. What was missing: the fast action and events or trials.

This book was moodier, sadder – and of course it was. Phoenix is grieving and feeling completely buried in guilt for what she had to do to win the trials and become the General. With Vera missing, being kept who knows where by the criminal organization she just pissed off, being tortured for information, rescuing her is a must! Jax being arrested for being the General Slayer and definitely facing execution, another source of anguish for our FMC. This book wasn’t just a stepping stone to achieving her goals as much as it was keeping her head, trying not to lose her position (and life) and desperately needing to protect her friends.

The romance subplot was, understandably, less sizzling. She’s too broken to allow herself to fall again, at least not yet. But the banter is bantering and Jax is a flirty devil as usual. Which is why I feel like I missed something – when did Jax fall for Nix? Do I need to re-read something in Blood Queen? I follow where Phoenix starts to feel something for him and continually rejects her own feelings, but Jax kind of surprised me. I’m also a sucker for the he holds her in their shared sleeping space because it’s cold trope.

The ritualistic things involved in General life were.. something. The things required of Generals in their serving for life are tough but understandable in a fae society. But it was heavy on court politics, playing games to convince people to vote your way, etc. I enjoyed the method of mission get Jax out of jail, and that was an important catalyst for both of them. Their deepened connection and Phoenix finally relying on someone other than herself and admitting to needing someone’s help (after all the obnoxious I don’t need yous) was such growth for her!

The plot and pacing, that’s kind of where I struggle with this book. It felt a bit more filler than I wanted. I wanted more of the vibes of the first two books, and this book plot was mostly save Vera and the drive to bond a dragon (because for some reason only bonding a dragon would make Phoenix able to meet her goals, if you say so girlie). Ok let’s talk about the dragon bonding plot. I really appreciated the struggle and the slow burn dragon journey. Salty Scaly Lady was putting Phoenix through some self reflection let me tell you. Everything in this series has been earned through grit, blood, and tears, or not at all.

Then we get to the ending. And Ms. author girly you better make this right in the final book! Because one thing that irks me is when something happens to throw you back to square one. Like what was it all for? The specific event and revenge quest that has been driving Phoenix’s actions across all the books. The loves and losses, so many losses, the fighting, proving, meditating, turning herself inside out to achieve everything. All of it was for a singular purpose. Then that ending just slapped me silly. Please explain! I need to knowwww! This one seriously made me want to throw my book. And I almost threw my book when Vera… no spoilers!

I enjoyed the multiple POVs (but need way more Jax) and the other bombshell dropped in the book (ok there were several). Curious how that one will play out. But it left me the wrong kind of feral at the end, and that’s not the vibe I was seeking. I need resolution from my Traumantasy. Must wait for book 4.

Tropes:

• Revenge quest
• Rescue quest
• Dragon quest
• Bonds
• One tent
• Undying devotion
• Secret identity
• Family secrets
• Court politics
• Grief and Guilt

 

 

Grab the book on Amazon

Read my reviews of the rest of the series:

Vicious Princess Review

Blood Queen Review

 

Thanks to the author’s team for providing this ARC for review. I’m so excited to have been on the ARC team since reading the first book! I can’t wait for book 4!

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