Dark Rise (Dark Rise, 1)

Product Description
* Instant New York Times Bestseller * Indie Bestseller *
In this stunning new fantasy novel from international bestselling author C. S. Pacat, heroes and villains of a long-forgotten war are reborn and begin to draw new battle lines. This epic fantasy with high-stakes romance will sit perfectly on shelves next to beloved fantasy novels like the Infernal Devices series, the Shadow and Bone trilogy, and the Red Queen series.
Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. Then an old servant tells him of his destiny to fight beside the Stewards, who have sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns. Will is thrust into a world of magic, where he starts training for a vital role in the oncoming battle against the Dark.
As London is threatened and old enmities are awakened, Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the fate that destroyed their world from returning to destroy his own.
Like V.E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic and Shelby Mahurin’s Serpent & Dove, Dark Rise is more than just high intrigue fantasy—it’s fast-paced, action-packed, and completely surprising. Readers will love exploring the rich setting of nineteenth-century London. This thrilling story of friendship, deception, loyalty, and betrayal is sure to find a passionate audience of readers.
From School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up-In this breakneck historical fantasy, Will is on the run after his mother is murdered in their home. He hides himself working the London docks, a plan that only holds for so long before he's kidnapped to be delivered to a mysterious man named Simon. Violet, a white and Indian girl who desperately wants to make a place for herself in Simon's inner circle, finds herself guarding the hold where Will is being locked away. As the world of the Stewards of Light and the Dark King's Lions are slowly revealed, Will and Violet will have to reckon with their place in a story centuries in the making. The Dark King promised he would return one day, and little do the Stewards know that his followers have that resurrection well underway-all they need is a sacrifice. While the worldbuilding is not the most inventive, it is organically grown, easy to follow, and populated with wonderfully three-dimensional characters. The shifting points of view and plot twists help maintain the novel's breakneck pace, but also means many relationships and reveals happen off-page. Pacat's writing paints an immersive 1821 London, but characters are her greatest strength. Will is white and bisexual, with both girl and boy love interests; his romance will have readers eagerly awaiting the sequel. VERDICT Good versus evil is the bread and butter of the fantasy genre, and this one is a great recommendation for anyone who enjoyed Cassandra Clare's historical Shadowhunters.-Emmy Neal, Lake Forest Lib., ILα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
“A story rendered with devastatingly brilliant detail.
Dark Rise pulls you by the hand into a dangerous, mighty world. You won’t be able to look away.” -- Chloe Gong,
New York Times Bestselling Author of
These Violent Delights
“A propulsive new fantasy. I simply couldn’t put it down.” -- V.E. Schwab,
New York Times bestselling author of
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
"Intricate and immersive. A wonderfully tangled adventure story with a Chosen One who keeps you guessing." -- Rainbow Rowell, bestselling author of the Simon Snow Trilogy
“Beautiful, classical, and deliciously dark.” -- Jay Kristoff,
New York Times bestselling author of
Empire of the Vampire
“Abundant action and a profusion of plot twists fuel an adrenalized pace” --
Publishers Weekly
“Classic . . .Pacat’s writing is atmospheric and full of intriguing, complex characters.” --
Kirkus Reviews
“A taut, captivating fantasy worth every ounce of the hype.” --
Popsugar