Author(s): C.S. Pacat

Young Adult

THE DARK WILL RISE. WHO WILL FALL? WHO WILL STAND? The ancient world of magic is no more. Its heroes are dead, its halls are ruins, and its great battles between Light and Dark are forgotten. Only the Stewards remember. For centuries they have kept vigil, sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns. Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run in London, pursued by the men who killed his mother. When an old servant urges him to seek out the Stewards, Will is ushered into a secret world, where he must train to fight for the Light in the oncoming war. As the Dark King's return looms, reborn warriors begin to draw battle lines. But when the young descendants of Light and Dark step into their destined roles, old allegiances, old enmities and old flames are awakened. Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the calamity that destroyed their world from returning to destroy his own. 

Dark Rise is the first book in a thrilling new YA fantasy series from bestselling Australian author CS Pacat. 

'Beautiful, classical and deliciously dark.' - Jay Kristoff 

'... a YA fantasy that begins breathlessly and rarely lets up ... Dark Rise is perfect for fans of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo or The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.' Books+Publishing 

Review by Fantine;

'Everything I could’ve wanted from the start of a fantastical new young adult trilogy; set in a magicless 1890’s london a dock worker’s past catches up with him and he discovers his place in an ancient world on the brink of war, as does a merchant's daughter who finds herself in the right place at the right time. Both become entangled in the light and dark, as what they discover about the world and themselves may change everything. One of the strongest points of this novel was cost, whether fighting light or dark this was truly a story about existing in the shades of grey. Each action and decision felt like it came at a price, no decision was simple for the character or the reader. Very excited for book 2!'

- Fantine, Bookseller at Collins Moonee Ponds