Reviews with content warning for Racism - Dark Rise

This is an epic adventure of a book.

Will was told to run by his mother just before she was killed. Now he has been found. Not just from the bad guys, but by the ones that want to stop darkness from happening.

In a time before anyone can remember there was a fight for everything. Good Vs Evil, Light Vs Dark. The light side only just overpowered the Dark King, but before he died, he vowed to return. The Light has kept vigil through the ages.

Now the Dark King is ready to rise. The Stewards of the Light prepare for battle, and Will must decide what to do. Run or fight.

This story does not disappoint. There is action, adventure, romance, friendship, bravery, death. It takes a bit to get to what happened in the past, but it weaves beautifully into the present (1821).
This is the first of the series.

Content Warnings

13m0n5's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

SO GOOD

Content Warnings

katestermonster's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was devastating.

Content Warnings

nicamooch's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

The way this book builds in its entirety is amazing. I admit the first quarter is lot to get through especially, because of all the world building and establishment of characters, even I as a Pacat fan was starting to have my faith waver, BUT faith is restored 110%. Consider the rug pulled from beneath me several times, consider me in pain from this book. I’m so excited for Book 2!

I had to constantly pause the audiobook during chapter 34 lmao. I kept yelling “It’s not his name!” 😂

Also, that ending??? I’ve seen people constantly crying about the ending for this book and now I get it 😭 This is reading Prince’s Gambit for the first time kind of pain, I didn’t expect it to go this direction at all. Only Pacat can write a scene between characters like this and have it feel so tragic in a way unique to itself 😭

Content Warnings

btrz7's review

Go to review page

adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? No

2.75

Not that I didn't enjoy it, but I have to say this was a bit disappointing for the most part. I think part of it is that the story would work better if it was set on a different world, because the way the big Dark King and the battles between good and evil are explained strike me as unbelievable if they are to fit in the history of our world. I know the characters say that "not all history is written and not all that's written has passed" or some such thing, but without some actual in text evidence it's just hard to swallow.
There are three main POV characters, and while I kind of liked Violet and by the end I actually liked Will, I still didn't love any of them and Katherine was just a walking book stock character (naive 19th century lady who liked dresses and frills and is mostly concerned with her reputation has been done before so many times, and this iteration has nothing new).
Now, while I liked the way the book ended and will want to read more, I really don't like this thing where the writer puts you in the head of a character but somehow manages to keep crucial information that the character knows hidden from the reader until some big reveal at the end. If that was the way it was to be, then I'd rather the narration keep off the characters' heads or the character in question not to have a POV.

Content Warnings

More...