Oh my god, this book has easily taken a spot in my favourite historical fantasies. There is just something that I love about historical fantasies, especially those set in London, that just pull me in. And Dark Rise is no exception. It grabbed my attention straight from the beginning, in chapter 1.

Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the murders of his mother. When an old servant of his mothers tells him of his destiny to fight beside the Stewards, Will is ushered into a world of magic, where he must train to play a vital role in the upcoming battle against the Dark.
As London is threatened by the Dark King's return, the reborn heroes and villains of a long-forgotten war begin to draw battle lines. But as the young descendants of Light and Dark step into their destined roles, old allegiances and old flames are awakened. Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the Dark from returning to destroy his world.

This is my first CS Pacat book, and I already bought The Captive Prince ebook as I was in the middle of this, because their writing style just captivated me. I never felt lost, I never felt bored, there were SO many twists and turns that I just had to keep reading even when I should not have been. These plot twists honestly feel like ones that even people who CAN guess plot twists won't guess because there is always one bit of vital information out of reach that makes you keep reading.

Also, Will is bisexual, which we love seeing representation (and not to mention that this is a HISTORICAL fantasy which makes it even better!)

Dark Rise in a nutshell is basically gay magic wielders, historical fantasy, London, and dark themes, what else could you want? It is a perfect read for the season with Halloween next month.

If you are looking for well-developed characters, interesting dynamics, powerful friendships, and a book that will give you whiplash from all the twists and turns, Dark Rise is the perfect book for you.