Manta Recommendation: A Portrait of Pride #ad

Having lost her kingdom, Diana, now a blind maid, is bought by Prince Eisen and is offered her freedom and a way home in exchange for spying on the Crown Prince Felix. Rumors have portrayed him as a frail recluse who immerses himself in his paintings, but she soon learns that he is a sharp, complex person and successfully spying on him may prove to be more difficult than expected. Now stuck between Prince Eisen and Crown Prince Felix, will Diana manage to earn her freedom and return to her homeland, or will she fall victim to the two princes’ power struggle?

Review

I love how the <A Portrait of Pride> adds depth to the typical dark romance trope by having a disabled female lead. All Diana knows about Felix are the rumors that have been said about him and the inferences she makes from interpreting her world via her other senses. She may be determined to fulfill her duties as a spy so that she can return to her homeland, but her lack of sight makes her unable to see the reality of her situation. Felix is far from the reserved, disinterested man she assumes him to be, but she is completely unaware of this because she physically cannot see the literal brutality around her. This disadvantage keeps readers on edge wondering when or if she’ll come to terms with the reality of her situation and whether she’ll be able to keep her life intact.

Felix is also a compelling character because though he has the classic traits of a black flag male lead, his affinity for painting inherently implies the potential for sensitivity, even if the subject and medium is a bit macabre. The reader can see that he’s an earnest aesthete with a passion for art, which gives his character more dimension than if he were portrayed as another tyrant who develops and unhealthy obsession with the female lead. Diana’s blindness and beauty piques his interests immediately and are the main factors keeping her alive. Having been used to living with a target on his back, it’s unsurprising that he is suspicious of Diana, but his intrigue relegates him to allowing her to continue working as a maid even if he is aware that it isn’t out of pure intentions.

Overall

I was hooked onto <A Portrait of Pride> from the first chapter. From the character designs to the unique premise, everything about this Manta exclusive is up my alley, and I can’t wait to see how the complex dynamic between Diana, Felix, and Prince Eisen unfolds. <A Portrait of Pride> is perfect for people who are into obsessive bloodthirsty male leads with devilish looks (and abs for days). This story also falls on the spicy side, so be sure to read the full version on the Manta website.

Read the Full Version here: https://manta.net/en/series/a-portrait-of-pride-full-ver?seriesId=5617

Read the Censored Version here: https://manta.net/en/series/a-portrait-of-pride?seriesId=5669