Dark Rise

Dark Rise, Book 1

By: C. S. Pacat

Narrated by: Christian Coulson

Instant New York Times Best Seller
Indie Best Seller

In this stunning new fantasy novel from international best-selling 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. Listeners will love exploring the rich setting of 19th-century London. This thrilling story of friendship, deception, loyalty, and betrayal is sure to find a passionate audience of listeners.

©2021 C. S. Pacat (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Screamed the whole book

Holy hades Batman this was a RIDE! Oh my gosh I could touch the wood of the ship and the stone of the hall, everything described in glorious prose. GAH THE CHARACTERS!!! I would die for Violet and has anyone formed a Protect Will Kempen club because I desperately need to join. Bad Kitty - JAMES U MAGNIFICENT BASTARD my god I am. Obsessed. The entire plot turned on its head in the most wonderful way in the last few chapters and I was shrieking in a freezer remembering clues that I didn’t realize were clues and gods. This is a well written, brilliantly paced ode to classic fantasy along the lines of Tolkien and Lewis while remaining something Pacat’s own. Coulson’s narration is top notch (and he’s the cute Tom Riddle from hp 2?? Mind. Blown.) 10/10 want to buy more copies in the hope that somehow that will make book two come out faster.

Incredible Narration

The narrator was incredible, he really enhanced the story and transports you to the fantasy setting. 10/10

10/10

Definitely one of the best books I’ve read in quite some time. The ending really got me and I cannot wait for the next book.

I thought I had it all figured out.

I didnt. I read the reviews new there was gonna be a huge plot twist and thought I had it figured out, and then the last 1-2 hours happened and kept happening.

I was screaming the whole time. So good, loved every minute, I am devastated.

Great fantasy story with some great twists

I really enjoyed this book. The beginning started off kind of slow for me, but the pace quickly picked up after chapter 5. Couldn’t stop after that. Great fantasy story with great twists.

Subverts All Expectations

I realized a few chapters in that I wasn’t really enjoying this book. “Darkness” and “Light” fighting eachother in an epoch? There’s no way I’ll appreciate this. I’ve never been a fan of good vs evil stories that have to label who the baddies are.
I was wrong. This story takes every expectation and twists down unexpected alleyways and corridors. I’ve not felt a YA novel to be so fantastically brilliant since Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix.
I look forward to hearing more stories from this author.

Waiting for the sequel

I was enjoying the story enough that I didn't even notice coworkers talking to me, even with just one earbud in. It's definitely engaging. However, not gonna lie, the ending made me soooooo mad. Can't even call it an ending, but hearing the end credits suddenly in that painful moment just... *shakes fist*

I wasn’t ready.

The author slips twist into the story with subtlety that I often found myself caught off guard with pleasure, horror, or fascinating interest. This was not the book I was expecting, but pleasantly so, and I look forward to more by this author.

Quite the emotional roller coaster

At first it seemed like a casual fantasy read, and then things started to pick up. It would get me hooked on a character or concept, and threaten convincingly to rip it away and bring it back. I just finished the book and am still trying to recover from the ending. Despite it being a bit predictable, I missed almost every clue and the ending fairly ruined me. I think I will be needing several days to recover from the damage. I went so quickly from so ANGRY at one character to terror of what might happen to another to joy at an outcome, straight back to rage and frustration so frequently and quickly. All in all: excellent book, emotionally damaging

I don't know how I'm going to survive

The sequel comes out later this year. I don't know how i'm going to survive the wait.

The narrator is excellent.