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The Perfect Prince

by Katrina Michaels

September 4th, 2006

The four Qurilixian Princes have no problem with commitment. In one night, using the power they were born with, they will meet and choose their life mate in a simplistic ceremony involving the removing of masks and the crushing of crystals. With very few words spoken and the shortest, most bizarre courtship in history, they will bond to their women forever. And once bonded, these men don’t let go…

A Perfect Escape…

Nadja Aleksander has everything she could ever want in life, except her freedom. Skipping out on her engagement, to a man her controlling father has chosen for her, Nadja books passage on the first spaceship she can find. Bound for a planet of primitive humanoid males, Nadja plans on finding a simple, hard working man who will allow her to live out her days in total obscurity.

A Perfect Mistake…

Prince Olek of Draig, royal ambassador, is pleased with his refined and blushing bride. When she chooses him to be her life mate, appearing happy in her decision, his heart soars - until the next morning when his new little Princess wants nothing to do with him. Olek doesn’t know what he’s done to upset his alluring bride, but he is determined to reignited the spark that burned the night they met.

 

She Says…

The Perfect Prince is the second book in the Dragon Lord Series. Galaxy Brides, short courtships, dominant shape-shifter Males, strong, independent women used to modern century luxuries - Original, clever, subtly erotic. I really enjoyed this book, particularly the budding and often rocking path Olek and Nadja endured, and eventually overcame.

I loved Olek - he was dominant, endearing, wicked, funny, gentle and possessed a softer edge to him that made him positively shine. Nadja was a perfect Princess for him - she was smart, intelligent, quirky, strong, and fearless. I loved her character enormously, and her inner emotional conflict was entirely plausible and believable.

Pillow carefully slipped more detailed information about the Planet Qurilixian and the troublesome Vars, which solidified the dangerous element nicely. Again, unfortunately, the rapid head-hopping between characters is still prevalent and no less exhausting, but I found Olek and Nadja so endearing I hunched my shoulders and put up with it. The secondary characters - Olek’s brothers and Nadja’s new Princess sisters were once more nicely sprinkled throughout the story, but never detracting from the central characters.

 

technically speaking…

The Perfect Prince would make an outstanding book - a definite keeper - if Pillow only endorsed the Don’t Tell: Show philosophy. As it stands, to be told what the central characters are doing, and why they’re doing it instead of showing us emotional key triggers that spring from one’s actions becomes taxing very quickly. And, on a technical note, I’d love to see a more defined and emotionally detrimental secondary conflict between the central characters instead of repeating - and beating - the original conflict to death. Overall, The Perfect Prince is an enjoyable improvement on The Warrior Prince.