Reviews - Dark Rise, Volume 1

5.38k reviews for:

Dark Rise, Volume 1

C.S. Pacat

4.13 AVERAGE

rumplled's review against another edition

3.5

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.

emorgan25's review against another edition

5.0

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.

jsp00n's review against another edition

4.0

This was a fun read, although I found much of the plot a little too ‘light vs dark’ for me. I understand that was the premise of this book, and there were wonderful twists to accompany that duality, but I prefer a book to be more grey throughout. The loss of a star did not come from that, but instead from characters that didn’t seem fully fleshed out. Once again, there was a reason for that (refer to said twists), but it made me feel disconnected from the characters while reading. There seemed to be a lot of unquestioned trust and easy change of allegiances throughout, and although much of that becomes clear through reveals at the end, it still took some substance away from the read. I can see how the next book is set up nicely to answer questions I had and provide a more “grey” experience going forward. As for the understated queerness of it all? Loved it.