A review by a_reader_obsessed
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat

4.0

4 Stars

”…what someone was is less important than what they could be…”

Pacat deftly delivers on the complexity and nuance as the line separating evil and good blurs.

In this historical alternate reality, a compelling layered tale is told, full of magic and a lost world, with a resurrection of the Dark King, destined to destroy all and rule completely with just a speck of a bare chance of maybe being defeated.

Beware there’s plenty of sacrifice and pain and more death than you could ever want or expect. There’s betrayal and fear and hopelessness too. One wonders how the protagonists will win, let alone survive with everything, including the kitchen sink, stacked against them. However, there’s a common theme here and that’s eschewing convention and tradition which looks to be the one thing that might give an advantage.

Again, the cast may be young, and they certainly don’t have fully formed ideas of who they are or who they should be, but I’m confident they will continue to take on the difficult weighty challenges that will surely come their way.

This first book was shockingly devastating with plenty of twisty angsty reveals, and I’m anxious to see what’s in store next for Will and his friends!


Dark Rise Series
1. Dark Rise - 4 Stars
2. Dark Heir - 4 Stars