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viivacious's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A bit slow at the start, but I was fully in it once the set ups were done and the story could get going. The characters were likeable so it hits when something happens to them. There were some things I did not see coming, I liked the surprise.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Racial slurs, and Rape
lucdiamant's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
You have to get quite far into this book before you realize what it's doing but it's so worth sticking around to find out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Death of parent
akirokis's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
sarahna's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was so excited to read this new fantasy novel by C.S. Pacat after having adored their captive prince trilogy and have mixed feelings about it. I'm well aware that Dark Rise is a YA series and of course I'm happy to read a slow burn romance between the enemies but my main issue lies with Will as the main character.
Spoilers ahead!!
Will is a predestined boy-savior on the run since his mother's murder and is hunted by Simon, a man who wants to help the dark king rise once again. Throughout the first couple of hundred pages we are lead to believe that he's one of the stewards, a group of ancient knights that wield the power of ancient times. The power of light that fights the dark. Will is the one and only one who can stop the dark king from regaining his throne. C.S. Pacat themselves said that this fantasy story about a war between light and dark isn't at all what it seems and that they want to twist the common hero trope with Will and thus also with the enemy of James St. Clair. So the big twist (SPOILERS) didn't come as a surprise at all when in the last 60 pages it was revealed that Will is actually the dark king himself. Maybe it's just me reading a lot of mysteries but it wasn't a huge surprise. I guess that's why Will's character had to be somewhat bland to make it believable that he is part of both sides at one point as the story progresses.
The other side character's such as Violet, Cyprian and James aren't as bland. I really loved their arcs and backstories. Violet the double lion fighting alongside the stewards instead of the dark and Cyprian the last steward who hasn't drunk from the cup yet still standing! James really shone the most though and I saw lots of parallels to Laurent. Both are devastatingly beautiful, use their words as a weapon and have a tragic backstory that motivate their cruel deeds. Still, James isn't a copy of Laurent. The way he seemingly can't act on his own accord and gets set free when will hands him the collar back is so powerful. In general the book shined when James was in a scene. The dialogue between him and Will were outstanding, the chemistry was practically palpable. Sadly, he barely interacts with the rest of the cast but I'm positive that it was necessary to set up the next two books. <
Kathrine and her sister Elizabeth didn't catch my attention at first but as the last third of the story approached they became more and more important. Kathrine was practically a plot device who gets sacrificed at the end and only Elizabeth matters but since she served more sass and attitude I didn't mind her being the only one left of the lady's line. The insta love between her and Will was just unbelievable to me and I knew that the light that made the tree bloom when they kissed was due to her power. Will never managed to tap into his so there was no other explanation.
Simon's motivation to free the dark king were too cliché but still, the final showdown with Will where his true identity was revealed was exciting. I just wish Simon would've been more of a fleshed out character and more interesting villain. Again, another indicator that Will has to have a stronger tie to the dark king than Simon. When he died it was clear that the next two books would explore the power dynamics of Will and James that have switched and which part of Will will win. The light or the dark?
I also really loved the historical setting in England and the world building as a whole. Everything was well researched and descriptive. The halls and in general what the cast wore was on point. Devon's storyline, being the last unicorn and having a horn that forces the person to tell the truth when stabbed, was original to say the least. I wonder what his role will be in the sequels.
Despite Will being somewhat of a flat character and the big twist being predictable I loved the world building and side characters. Can't wait to read the sequel after this open end!
Spoilers ahead!!
Will is a predestined boy-savior on the run since his mother's murder and is hunted by Simon, a man who wants to help the dark king rise once again. Throughout the first couple of hundred pages we are lead to believe that he's one of the stewards, a group of ancient knights that wield the power of ancient times. The power of light that fights the dark. Will is the one and only one who can stop the dark king from regaining his throne. C.S. Pacat themselves said that this fantasy story about a war between light and dark isn't at all what it seems and that they want to twist the common hero trope with Will and thus also with the enemy of James St. Clair. So the big twist (SPOILERS) didn't come as a surprise at all when in the last 60 pages it was revealed that Will is actually the dark king himself. Maybe it's just me reading a lot of mysteries but it wasn't a huge surprise. I guess that's why Will's character had to be somewhat bland to make it believable that he is part of both sides at one point as the story progresses.
The other side character's such as Violet, Cyprian and James aren't as bland. I really loved their arcs and backstories. Violet the double lion fighting alongside the stewards instead of the dark and Cyprian the last steward who hasn't drunk from the cup yet still standing! James really shone the most though and I saw lots of parallels to Laurent. Both are devastatingly beautiful, use their words as a weapon and have a tragic backstory that motivate their cruel deeds. Still, James isn't a copy of Laurent. The way he seemingly can't act on his own accord and gets set free when will hands him the collar back is so powerful. In general the book shined when James was in a scene. The dialogue between him and Will were outstanding, the chemistry was practically palpable. Sadly, he barely interacts with the rest of the cast but I'm positive that it was necessary to set up the next two books. <
Kathrine and her sister Elizabeth didn't catch my attention at first but as the last third of the story approached they became more and more important. Kathrine was practically a plot device who gets sacrificed at the end and only Elizabeth matters but since she served more sass and attitude I didn't mind her being the only one left of the lady's line. The insta love between her and Will was just unbelievable to me and I knew that the light that made the tree bloom when they kissed was due to her power. Will never managed to tap into his so there was no other explanation.
Simon's motivation to free the dark king were too cliché but still, the final showdown with Will where his true identity was revealed was exciting. I just wish Simon would've been more of a fleshed out character and more interesting villain. Again, another indicator that Will has to have a stronger tie to the dark king than Simon. When he died it was clear that the next two books would explore the power dynamics of Will and James that have switched and which part of Will will win. The light or the dark?
I also really loved the historical setting in England and the world building as a whole. Everything was well researched and descriptive. The halls and in general what the cast wore was on point. Devon's storyline, being the last unicorn and having a horn that forces the person to tell the truth when stabbed, was original to say the least. I wonder what his role will be in the sequels.
Despite Will being somewhat of a flat character and the big twist being predictable I loved the world building and side characters. Can't wait to read the sequel after this open end!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Racial slurs
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