Dark Rise

Dark Rise follows Will Kempen, a 17-year-old orphan in 1821 England who is pursued by mysterious forces that killed his mother. His path intersects with Violet, a lord's illegitimate daughter who saves him from drowning after a supernatural incident aboard a merchant ship. The two teenagers discover the Stewards, an ancient order dedicated to protecting the world from dark magic and preventing the rise of a legendary Dark King. Will learns he may possess powerful magic tied to an ancient bloodline, leading the Stewards to recruit him for training. Set against the backdrop of historical London, the story combines elements of traditional fantasy with darker themes about power, destiny, and identity. The central conflict pits ancient magic against modern ambitions while exploring questions of fate versus free will.

Readers note Dark Rise hits familiar YA fantasy tropes while adding dark twists. Many point to strong character development, particularly Will and Katherine's arcs, and praise the LGBTQ+ representation. Readers appreciate: - Rich Victorian London atmosphere - Fast-paced action sequences - Unpredictable plot turns - Complex morally grey characters Common criticisms: - Slow first third of book - Confusing magic system explanations - Derivative chosen one storyline - Graphic violence that some find excessive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.91/5 (19,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) StoryGraph: 3.75/5 One reader notes: "The darkness sneaks up on you - what starts as typical YA fantasy becomes something much more brutal." Multiple reviews mention struggling with the pacing early on but finding the second half "unputdownable." Some readers express frustration with cliffhanger ending and compare the tone shift to Red Rising.

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Six criminals navigate betrayal and dangerous magic while attempting an impossible heist in a fantasy world inspired by Dutch merchant culture.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon A clairvoyant in a dystopian London joins an underground resistance against supernatural creatures and corrupt government forces.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown A lowborn miner infiltrates the ruling class of a color-coded society on Mars to bring down the oppressive system from within.

The Black Witch by Laurie Forest A girl from a line of powerful dark witches discovers her people's history of oppression while training at a magical university.

⚔️ C. S. Pacat previously wrote the highly successful Captive Prince trilogy, which began as an online serial before being traditionally published 🌏 The book's 1821 London setting coincides with the final years of the Georgian era, a period known for significant social and cultural transformation in Britain 🔮 The author drew inspiration from classic fantasy coming-of-age stories like The Dark Is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper, which similarly features ancient magic in Britain 👑 The representation of a half-Indian character (Violet) reflects the historical reality of the British-Indian connection during the Georgian period, when the East India Company held significant power 📚 Dark Rise is the first book in a planned trilogy, marking Pacat's first venture into young adult literature after writing primarily for adult audiences