4 Stars

A compelling sequel to Dark Rise, this continues with Will and company racing against time and formidable adversaries to stop the Dark King from fulfilling what he set out to do many centuries ago.

This maintains the high stakes atmosphere, where the task set before these characters is nigh impossible to overcome, bringing harsh revelations, answering some questions while posing new ones to take their place. One can’t help but be filled with feelings of anxiety as this desperate crew works against all odds trying to be the very best versions of themselves and saving each other (as well as the entire world) from annihilation.

The parts I appreciate the most were the separate journeys each of these characters go through - painful discoveries and sacrifices that brutally hone their growth even more. Most alluring is the deeply rooted history that Will and James share from their past lives which blends into their current one, providing an inexplicable pull to each other that can’t be dampened or severed. They’re drawn together with a heady pull of intense attraction and inevitable destiny that’s quite intoxicating.

Running parallel is an intricate thoughtful commentary that continues from the first book as Pacat explores good and evil and the many nuances influencing both. There’s reasonable understandable explanations for every character presented, and I definitely look forward to her concluding this smart, high stakes story. The conclusion can't come soon enough!


Dark Rise Series
1. Dark Rise - 4 Stars
2. Dark Heir - 4 Stars