Reviews

Dark Rise, Volume 1 by C.S. Pacat

jjbeingobsessedwithbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

Really good and tense and everything it needed to be to capture my attention. The ending kinda shocked me but didn’t at the same time 

builtempires's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

“Kindness is never a mistake.”

This book was an odd experience; I struggled to get into it at first and it took me weeks to get through the first half (it didn’t help that I was in a reading slump). The second half was a lot better, I finally got into the story and I flew through it, but there’s something about it that didn’t wholly work for me.

Will is a weird character, it’s like you’re always at an arm’s length from him and I wonder if it was purposeful since the author obfuscates some events in favor of the plot twist. I don’t dislike him and I’m actually curious to see if we get to know him better.

I liked James a lot, I found him really compelling and fun, especially as we learn more about him. His dynamic with Will is fascinating and it gets more complex at the end, I really want to know where the author takes their story. I liked Violet too, she was a great character with an interesting conflict driving her actions. Katherine was completely useless, I’m still wondering why she was even there. Her POV chapters were the worst to get through. Not to mention whatever that was with Will. 

I heard good things about the sequel so I’m excited to read it, the ending set up a lot of interesting dynamics and questions and there’s so much potential for a stronger book. I’m sad I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I wanted to because I love Captive Prince by this author but I hope the sequel makes me change my mind!

itisclara's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

4.25

OMG THE ENDING!!! I can’t wait to read book 2!!! I have so many questions and I need answers!! 
The first 200 pages were a little slow for my liking, but the pace was picking up after that. The characters were interesting, I do hope we get a little more of their respective backstories in book 2 and maybe some more insight into their emotions and thought processes. The ending was amazing, but I hope that things get explained more (such as
how long Will has known or suspected his secret, why Katherine ended up as Simons fiancée, etc.
). I’m certain the second book is gonna be even better than the first.

cardaerie's review against another edition

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4.0

Dios. Mío. La que he liado para ponerle la puntuación. CÓMO PUEDE SER QUE HAYA UN PEDAZO PLOT TWIST EN EL ÚLTIMO CINCO POR CIENTO. Es como «Oye, ¿recuerdas todo lo que te he contado? ¿Sí? Pues quiero que lo olvides todo porque era todo mentira». MIRA QUE OS LO DIJE EH. MIRA QUE DIJE «VERÁS QUE WILL ES EL REY OSCURO Y KATHERINE LA DAMA». PUES TOMA, ANDA. Es que si ves las ilustraciones TIENE SENTIDO PORQUE KATHERINE ES LIT IGUAL A LA DAMA QUE YO SIEMPRE ME CONFUNDÍA. También tengo la idea de que Violet podría ser el campeón pero i guess will see it in the next one UF UF UF. Es que ahora tengo muchísimas ganas de continuar.

ENCIMA la despedida de Violet y Cyprian, por dios. Por favor, que se reencuentren pronto.

LO QUE NO ME ESPERABA ERA QUQE CATHERINE SE MURIERA. WAS ACTUALLY SO SO SO SURPRISED I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. Tú verás ahora cómo le explica todo esto a Violet, Cyprian y SOBRE TODO a Elisabeth, porque vamos... Tela, telita.

ENCIMA. ENCIMA. POR SI NO ERA SUFICIENTE. JAMES. POR DIOS.
«—Sé que mataste a Simon —le dijo James—. No creo que vayas a hacerme daño».


«—Durante toda mi vida, lo único que todos han querido ha sido poseerme —le dijo James—. El único que me ha dejado libre has sido tú».


«—Tú me hiciste creer que podía ser derrotado. Tú me hiciste creer… —James se detuvo—. El salvador. No pensé que me salvarías. —Su sonrisa fue dolorosa—. Creí que Simon traería de vuelta al Rey Oscuro. Creí que el Collar se cerraría alrededor de mi garganta. Nunca pensé que tendría la libertad de escoger mi futuro. Pero la tengo. —En el silencio de la habitación, sus palabras se enroscaron alrededor de los latidos del corazón de Will—. Simon y su padre… soñaban con gobernar un mundo oscuro, y me dijeron que habría un lugar para mí a su lado. Pero yo no quiero seguirlos. Estoy aquí para seguirte a ti».


ES QUE MENUDA PENA. No quiero ni imaginarme cuando se entere de que Will es el rey oscuro. Como Will no se lo diga pronto vamos a tener un problema. Es que encima ahora parece que a Will se le ha soltado un tornillo y me da mucho miedo lo que pueda ocurrir ufufuf.

En otras noticias... tengo ganas de ver qué pasa con Devon y Tom. Sobre todo con Devon, qué hace ahora. Y Tom porque es el hermano de Violet y quiero ver tanto el reencuentro, como el cómo se toma Tom todo.

Y BUENO. QUE YA ESTÁ. ME MUERO.

emmas_reads_'s review against another edition

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dark fast-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

i may have predicted every plot twist, but i genuinely didn’t care because this book was very readable. i’m left wondering where the plot is going to go, so i’m sincerely hoping that the second book doesn’t suffer from middle-book-syndrome.

ALSO: slim to none romance? in my fantasy? how’d you know, Pacat (i’m very aware this series has romance in it, i picked up because i was told there was queer romance)

franticscribbles's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? Yes

4.5

anormalbookgirl's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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

5.0

cosycouchpotato's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

king_jack's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

shinizzel's review against another edition

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4.0

Slow start with a lot of mysteries to unfold in the following book. Can't wait for more to happen though! I gotta see more of the characters and especially of JAMES