Will has been on the run since his mother was murdered right in front of him. Hiding and always looking over his shoulder, Will has managed to find himself in London working odd jobs until one day his past catches up to him. It's then that Will finds out that he comes from a very powerful bloodline and that he might be the only one able to defeat the growing ancient evil. Joining the Stewards, the only ones who remember the ancient world of magic and who know what's coming, Will must train and gain allies while uncovering what really happened and how does he fit in this long standing fight.

I had fun with this one, it's a little slow at first but I get it because there was a lot of worldbuilding to do. There are also a lot of clues in this first part to all the big reveals at the end, and since I enjoy unraveling plot and mysteries I liked this bit and was paying close attention. It's a book that deals in complex moralities for all factions and demands focus of the reader. I guessed almost all the big plot twists but there were some I never saw coming, even I you realize things before time the way they're constructed and the road the author takes to get there are such a delight.

Will is a fantastic protagonist, he's not ultra powerful or noble he's someone who relies on wit and cleverness. He's always paying attention, he's manipulative yet very charismatic and easily draws people in. Violet is another standout character, she's strong and moral, dedicated and a great friend. The two of them made sense as the main POVs, both had different things to do and places to be and together they connected the plot points naturally.

What made no sense to me were Katherine's POVs, I understand the author had to get her there somewhere since she had no other connection with the main characters but man was it shoed in and I did not care for her, weakest character. Same with Devon's POV, the book didn't need it.

I do think some events were a little bit too convenient, the plot hinges heavily on people assuming things and not double checking certain details. There are also some plot points that I'm still not too clear on,

like how did Will's "mother" have two kids without him noticing or remembering? How could she tell he was the dark king? Same with James, how did they know he was a reborn?

I'm assuming they'll be answered in the next books.

Characters- 5

Each character had growth and depth to them. They all had their own goals and aspirations outside of not only the main character but their shared goals. Not only that but everyone interacted with each other in a way that made sense for each relationship. You grew with Will and Violet’s friendship so their bond was able to feel more concrete throughout the story. You were able to get into the characters’ heads which made their actions down the line more believable. Because of this it made it easier to relate to certain characters and feel as if their dreams and goals were your own. You rooted for each victory and felt upset at each loss.

Enjoyment- 5

Overall this was a fun read. I would reread it to see the build up with the knowledge I had of what happens in the end. The characters and world was refreshing to read about and nothing ever felt too forced. I was never pushed to the point of frustration with pacing or cliffhangers so it was a steady read. It was enough fantasy where it could be enjoyed by someone who doesn’t read the genre often and enough to keep someone who does stay engaged.

Messages- 5

What I took away from the book was that you are more than who you were and are. The characters were often tied with their identities and destinies and depending on who it was they either defied it or embraced it. Another one being that memory is both a blessing and a curse. It can plague the mind or be comforting as it gets passed down. Another theme that I noticed that was consistent with the book was that there is no solely good or solely evil. Everything had a grey area whether that be the systems in the world or the characters themselves. The author did a good job showcasing all the different aspects and perspectives within the book’s elements.

Plot- 5

There was never a point where I was pushed to frustration with the pacing of the book. The cliffhangers felt right where it was used and didn’t just feel like it was used just for dramatic effect. The only reason why it took me a little longer in the beginning versus the end of the book was because I just started getting back into reading so I had to build up my stamina for a little while. The plot was consistent even if it wasn’t always focused on it. Even though the story was broken down into different perspectives it still centered around the main plot in their own special ways.

Emotional impact- 5

Because these were kids being thrown into a world they didn’t fully understand it was easy to put myself in their shoes. Their fears felt as if it was my own due to the author’s way of describing not only the character’s response to it but the surroundings as well. The author showed the horrors of war in a way that felt real and not just killing characters just for a shock factor solely. The scenes were laid out so that there was tension and suspense not just thrown haphazardly in there. It made sense for the context surrounding it.

Worldbuilding- 5

I will not lie, in the beginning I was a bit lost in world building mostly because I was not familiar with boats and life in 1820’s London. However this was overlooked due to the natural and easy going way the author showcased the Old World and its rules and lore. It was spread throughout the book in digestible pieces that made it easier to immerse myself into the book. The world was consistent and felt lived in, not something just created for the book to talk about. The characters felt like they belonged in the world and it all melted together well. What I also appreciated was that the stories and what the characters knew about the world was slowly introduced throughout the book and not just info dumped. Each time a story was mentioned another element was added or how it was viewed was changed making it not feel repetitive. 

This book was amazing, C.S.Pacat did it again.
The characters are lovable, interesting, don't feel two dimensional at all.
The worldbuilding is interesting so far, and I feel we will explore more in the second book.
The chemistry between Will and James were chemistrying. As someone who read her other series, I believe the yearning will be even better in the second book.
I figured out the plot twist halfway through, but it did not make me lose enjoyment from the story.
I can't wait to read the second book.

A really excellent opening book to a new trilogy. I am really fascinated by the way that Pacat’s book is in conversation with the fantasy I grew up reading (LOTR, Narnia, etc) in the way he sets up an epic conflict of The Light vs The Dark. But then she uses that very familiar setup to ask a really interesting question about what it truly means to be good or evil. 

I absolutely cannot wait to continue the series. 

i would absolutely die for james and violet. i do not feel as strongly about will as everyone else seems to, especially in the last 3 pages. but wow. i loved this

It would be five stars but it feels like it takes simply forever for anything to really get going. But otherwise, oh my god. Oh my god. Fuck. Literally immediately got the next one and started it less than five minutes after finishing dark rise. God help me