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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
3.5, don’t get me wrong I REALLY enjoyed this book but, when we got to some of the “big” reveals I felt like I had heard it before and that’s more my fault for reading so much than the book’s fault because it was very original and fun and I will absolutely be reading the next one. The vibes were great, the manic system is cool and the setting and story are obviously very well thought out. This one also just felt like a set up kind of book, just getting the reader ready to read the next one and you better believe I will be.
having finished both this book and the second in the series I do really look back on this quite differently than i did when i first read it (positively). still a quite enjoyable read the first time around but there's a lot of setup that the reader doesn't really understand until the second book. I enjoyed deeply how pacat set up the dichotomy of dark/light and slowly broke it down. the exploration of nature vs. nurture is fascinating and i'm truly excited to see it come to head in book 3.
i think this less after reading book 2, but the whole time i was reading this one i couldn't stop thinking about how james is just laurent in a slightly different font. what does c. s. pacat have for sharp sassy wounded beautiful blonde men.
i think this less after reading book 2, but the whole time i was reading this one i couldn't stop thinking about how james is just laurent in a slightly different font. what does c. s. pacat have for sharp sassy wounded beautiful blonde men.
I was going to give it a 3/3.5 but meh
CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE LAST DIALOGUE?!?!? I didn’t think I would be crying in my room at 2am tho. I mean from the very beginning I had my suspicions abt the development of the plot and all of that but what CS Pacat did to me in that last page should be considered a hate crime
CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE LAST DIALOGUE?!?!? I didn’t think I would be crying in my room at 2am tho. I mean from the very beginning I had my suspicions abt the development of the plot and all of that but what CS Pacat did to me in that last page should be considered a hate crime
adventurous
dark
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not usually a fan of fantasy that is set in the past but god dayyyym AGGHHHHHH WOW I’m so mad there’s not more tik toks about this but I’m so freaking glad I read this so late cause now I just gotta wait two weeks for the sequel!!!!!!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A twist on the classic good vs. evil story? That could be exciting!
While the world is interesting, the book requires a lot of information dumping and world-building, which makes the first half slow. However, once the reader makes it through the slog of the initial setup, the second half proves to be much more exciting.
The characters are fun but classic YA fantasy characters. Violet and Cyprian are straightforward, but they mirror each other in a significant way and actually feel like 17-year-olds. Will and James, however, feel written like they are adults but had to be aged down to fit into the book. So, while the tension and yearning between these two is great, it does make me feel creep in a way YA romance usually doesn't.
While the world is interesting, the book requires a lot of information dumping and world-building, which makes the first half slow. However, once the reader makes it through the slog of the initial setup, the second half proves to be much more exciting.
The characters are fun but classic YA fantasy characters. Violet and Cyprian are straightforward, but they mirror each other in a significant way and actually feel like 17-year-olds. Will and James, however, feel written like they are adults but had to be aged down to fit into the book. So, while the tension and yearning between these two is great, it does make me feel creep in a way YA romance usually doesn't.
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat is a YA dark fantasy set in a world where ancient forces of Light and Dark are rising again. It follows a boy named Will, who discovers he’s part of a hidden legacy tied to this age old battle. As he’s drawn into a secretive world of magic, danger, and rebellion, Will must uncover his true identity and navigate shifting alliances—before darkness takes over.
This is a dark fantasy that totally pulls you in from the start. The world is rich, dangerous, and full of secrets, with an epic clash between Light and Dark brewing in the background.
One of the best parts is how well the main characters are developed and portrayed, they feel real and layered, and you really get invested in their journeys. The story itself is fast-paced and full of twists, with a haunting, mysterious vibe that keeps you turning the pages.
By the end, you’re left completely hooked and seriously craving the next book.
This is a dark fantasy that totally pulls you in from the start. The world is rich, dangerous, and full of secrets, with an epic clash between Light and Dark brewing in the background.
One of the best parts is how well the main characters are developed and portrayed, they feel real and layered, and you really get invested in their journeys. The story itself is fast-paced and full of twists, with a haunting, mysterious vibe that keeps you turning the pages.
By the end, you’re left completely hooked and seriously craving the next book.