Before I talk about the summary, please be aware that this review is for the sequel of a book. I will do my best to avoid spoilers for Dark Rise, but at times it’s inevitable. You’ve been warned.

Will and his allies have managed to just survive the Dark’s first assault, but it has come at a cost. A new threat from the past is arising, and the handful of heroes left will have to be strong enough to fight. The group will have to travel to the ancient world in hopes of finding new allies and staving off the new threat that carries some shocking secrets. Will also carries a secret of his own, his true identity. The closer he gets to the truth and James St. Clair, the more dangerous it becomes to keep his secret. Hopefully Will can change his fate and the worlds’.

Like I said at the start, I had a hard time putting this book down once I started it. Something I found helpful was a little summary of the characters. It helped refresh my memory, and didn’t feel like a lot of time had passed since I’d read Dark Rise. Will continues to fascinate me, because of his determination to hide who he is, but also work against his fate at every turn. We get some flashbacks to who Will is, which flesh out a bit more of his backstory and maybe even some of the motivation of what is happening now. I think what I love even more is seeing how each character sees Will from their eyes. There’s respect, love, hatred, and caution all displayed at different points of the book by different characters. I wish I could be more specific without spoiling the book, but just know that it is going to create a sense of frustration. Think of the lump that forms in your throat when you’re angry or agitated. Honestly, I felt that way for most of the book…but because I just wanted to pause and give Will a hug.

Violet and Cyprian were the other two characters that I felt displayed a lot of growth, in a variety of ways. In some ways, both of these characters have suffered some significant loss that helps connect them to Will and makes them eager to take their swords up for him. This brought up some interesting thoughts as I was reading, along the lines of the strength of their trauma bond. They become each other’s anchors through the trauma bond that they’ve formed, which makes what happens at the end of the book hurt so much more.

Something that I feel is emphasised in this book a lot is the fight between a predestined fate and choosing your own path. I think Will and James embody both of these themes really well. Will fights his fate at every turn, horrified and awed by the power that is buried within him. James, on the other hand, has embraced who he is, and what he thinks his fate should be. In combination with everything that happens in this book, it’s safe to say that book three is going to be the culmination of these two ideas, and it’s anyone’s guess how it will ultimately play out.

There is some serious slow burn romance in this book that makes you excited just locking eyes, and while this trope often frustrates me, it really worked well here. Maybe I’m warming up to it, but we do get a lot of heated glances and a kiss in this book, so there is that to look forward to. I could get into so much about this book, honestly, I need a buddy who’s read it so we can scream about it together. This is my second read of 2024, and I hope the rest of these are as amazing as this one. Add it to your TBR, buy it for a friend and buddy read it, because you won’t want to be behind when the third book comes out.

Dark Heir is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Dark Heir? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

In this riveting sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel Dark Rise, Will and his allies have survived the Dark’s first assault, but at a terrible cost.

A new threat from the past is rising, and only a handful of heroes remain to fight. Pursued by dark forces, Will and his allies must leave the safety of the Hall and travel to the heart of the ancient world, making new and dangerous alliances, and revealing the shocking secrets of the past.

But Will is carrying a dark secret of his own—his true identity. Drawn to the beautiful and deadly James St. Clair, Will is pulled ever deeper into the web of the past, and finds himself tempted by the darkness within. As the ancient world threatens to return, can Will and his friends fight their fate? Or will the truths they learn tear their world apart?

Dark Heir is the explosive and highly anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling Dark Rise,from global phenomenon C. S. Pacat.

The post Review: Dark Heir by C.S. Pacat appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Will is a sixteen-year-old dockboy who has found himself running for his life, armed with the growing knowledge of a long forgotten ancient world of light and dark. He’s saved by the Stewards, who want him to fight by his side after the death of his mother, to prevent the Dark King’s return. With London in danger, heroes and reborn villains alike will face off as the long-forgotten war begins anew. Will must stand with the light in order to save everything he knows from a miserable and terrible fate.

You could colour me intrigued when I read the summary of this book. Will is a fascinating character, and the thought of reborn villains was fascinating as well. I feel like the story is set up really well, but feels like a treasure map you only have a piece of. Every chapter uncovers a bit more of the London Will is a part of, as well as the Steward stronghold. The magic of this world is fascinating because it’s not all about inherent magical abilities, but relics as well. The worldbuilding is incredible, and I found myself hooked on wanting to explore every nook and cranny of this world with Will. Although it moves a little slower than many of the recent reads I’ve finished, it builds up a good pace and momentum that keeps you turning the page.

There are a few perspectives outside of Will’s own, and my favourite was definitely Violet’s. Whereas Will was already in dire straits and has a hard time with his new life and the information being thrown at him, Violet’s arc is one where a veil is lifted and there’s a newfound understanding of her position. The other character perspectives help round out the picture a bit more, especially in regard to the Dark King. Each perspective has a key role in what’s happening, but not every character is out to play their part as intended.

I’m not usually one to talk about tropes, but I always love when authors choose a trope and flip it on its head. That certainly happens in this book, and is done in such a way that I was legitimately on edge the entire time. Readers also get to explore predetermined fate and free will, as well as nature vs. nurture. There’s not a lot I can say here without spoilers, but, you will gasp, I guarantee it.

As many of you know, I love a good romance in a fantasy book. In Dark Rise, it’s pretty slow burn and so delightful. I feel like each scene is a delightful exploration of what could happen and draws you in such a way that some of the later parts of the book hurt to get to. The love interests are a little darker than some I’ve read, but still enjoyable.

This book does contain some darker themes and possible triggering subjects, Murder, torture, romantic coercion, and abuse are among some of the more prominent triggers, so approach with caution if you’re sensitive to these subjects. This list is not exhaustive, but are some of the ones that caught my eye.

Overall, I truly loved the start of this trilogy. Pacat is building a world that will keep you on your toes until the very end, and the characters could entice you on one page, and then stick a knife through your heart in the next. Towards the middle of the book the pacing did slow down, but picked back up again at the end. And honestly, that ending. Oof. I’m positive it’s setting up for something stellar in the next book. If Dark Rise sounds like something you want to read, then I highly encourage you to add it to your TBR.

Dark Rise is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Dark Rise? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

In this stunning new fantasy novel from international bestselling 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.

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, and they keep their centuries-long vigil, sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns.

Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. When an old servant 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 oncoming 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, old enmities and old flames 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.

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Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Good Omens meets The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in this defiantly joyful adventure set in California’s San Gabriel Valley, with cursed violins, Faustian bargains, and queer alien courtship over fresh-made donuts.

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman, Isabel Allende, and Sarah Addison Allen, this is a gorgeously written novel about a family searching for the truth hidden in their past and the power they’ve inherited, from the author of the acclaimed and “giddily exciting” (The New York Times Book Review) Brooklyn Brujas series.

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Once Upon a Broken Heart marks the launch of a new series about love, curses, and the lengths that people will go to for happily ever after from Stephanie Garber, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Caraval.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic, comes Certain Dark Things, a pulse-pounding neo-noir that reimagines vampire lore.

Among Thieves by M.J. Kuhn
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A thrilling fantasy debut—a high-stakes heist novel set in a gritty world of magic and malice, and perfect for fans of Six of Crows!

Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales by Soman Chainani
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Soman Chainani respins old stories into fresh fairy tales for a new era and creates a world like no other. These stories know you. They understand you. They reflect you. They are tales for our times. So read on, if you dare. 

Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this stunning new fantasy novel from international bestselling 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.

Gutter Mage by J.S. Kelley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

J.S. Kelley weaves epic fantasy and hardboiled noir in this fast-paced, twisting tale of magic, mystery, and a whole lot of unruly behaviour.

She Who Rides the Storm by Caitlin Sangster
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this atmospheric YA fantasy that is Wicked Saints meets There Will Come a Darkness, four teens are drawn into a high-stakes heist in the perilous tomb of an ancient shapeshifter king.

The Actual Star by Monica Byrne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas meets Octavia Butler’s Earthseed series, as acclaimed author Monica Byrne (The Girl in the Road) spins a brilliant multigenerational saga spanning two thousand years, from the collapse of the ancient Maya to a far-future utopia on the brink of civil war.

The Body Scout by Lincoln Michel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Diamond-sharp and savagely wry, The Body Scout is a timely science fiction thriller debut set in an all-too-possible future.

The Escapement by Lavie Tidhar
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this dazzling new novel evoking Westerns, surrealism, epic fantasy, mythology, and circus extravaganzas, World Fantasy Award winner Lavie Tidhar (Central Station) has created an incomparable dreamscape of dark comedy, heartbreak, hope, and adventure. Chronicling a lone man’s quest in parallel worlds, The Escapement offers the archetypal darkness of Stephen King’s The Gunslinger within the dark whimsy of a child’s imagination.

The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with The Last Legacy, a captivating standalone about family and blood ties, reinventing yourself, and controlling your own destiny.

The All-Consuming World by Cassandra Khaw
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Cassandra Khaw’s debut novel is a page-turning exploration of humans and machines that is perfect for readers of Ann Leckie, Ursula Le Guin, and Kameron Hurley.

From the Neck Up by Aliya Whiteley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The new collection of beautiful, strange and disarming short stories from the award-winning Aliya Whiteley, deftly unpeels the strangeness of everyday life with her trademark wit. Witness the future of farming in a new Ice Age, or the artist bringing life to glass; the many-eyed monsters we carry and the secret cities inside our bodies.

No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

One October morning, Laina gets the news that her brother was shot and killed by Boston cops. But what looks like a case of police brutality soon reveals something much stranger. Monsters are real. And they want everyone to know it. As creatures from myth and legend come out of the shadows, seeking safety through visibility, their emergence sets off a chain of seemingly unrelated events.

What September 2021 fantasy and sci-fi book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September 2021 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The world has truly plunged into a weird state and everything feels topsy-turvy right now. In such tough times, we surely do need something light and fun to keep us light-headed, and what better than graphic novels! Graphic novels are a true gem as they are so often quick and fun to read. Here are some really fun graphic novel recommendations that are sure to bring a smile to your face, and make you giddy with happiness!

Sheets by Brenna Thummler | Goodreads

A lonely girl? The cutest ghost? Messy decisions and funny little misunderstandings? SHEETS has it all and in the cutest way possible. Marjorie is over-burdened and sad and lonely, trying so hard to save her family laundromat business while her father grieves the loss of his wife. There is also the wicked neighbour to look out for, who is constantly trying to acquire the laundromat land for his own business. And then one day, a ghost suddenly appears in the laundromat – cute little Wendell – and it is one fun adventure that unravels! I loved this story so much and it had its fun as well as serious moments in a perfect balance. And the art, the colour palette was simply stunning, clad in pretty pastels. SHEETS is a fun little unique graphic novel that will surely bring a smile to your face.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman | Goodreads

I fell in love with Nick and Charlie and I know you will too when you read Heartstopper. Charlie is openly gay, and he meets Nick, a soft-hearted rugby player on a fateful day. Friendship soon blooms between the two boys as they understand and support each other while Charlie finds himself falling for Nick. Heartstopper is so heartwarming and so adorable that you will want to read all the volumes in one sitting. Nick and Charlie’s story has made my heart melt and swoon. It is one of the cutest graphic novels I’ve come across and has all the right amount of fluff while also glancing at important topics.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang | Goodreads

This graphic novel is going to give you all the feels! Prince Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret from the world, and especially his parents who are hellbent on finding him a wife. Sebastian, though, clad in gorgeous dresses, takes Paris by storm at night as the coveted Lady Crystallia, with his best friend Frances. Soon turning into a fashion icon, Sebastian finds his place but not Frances, who has to remain a secret. Frances, however, dreams of making it big in the industry, creating a name for herself. And she cannot do it if she wants to protect her friend. A colourful little story about finding yourself and not being afraid of who you are, The Prince and The Dressmaker is a hopeful and promising story about love without conditions. With a spectacular colourful palette, the story explores identity, art, young love, and family. And those beautiful dresses? Damn, I would love to own all of them!

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson | Goodreads

Nimona is the most adorable. Period. Nimona is an energetic and young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister, the villain in this story, takes in Nimona as his sidekick, and with their superpower they create havoc. But when a vicious battle erupts, Lord Ballister can only grasp how powerful and unpredictable Nimona and her past is. This story is full of love and hope and friendship, added with a dollop of villainy and mastery. Nimona is a goddamn precious bean and I loved the ending so much. It was simply beautiful and fun with all the needed wickedness and morally grey and notorious characters.

Fence by C. S. Pacat | Goodreads

One of my recent favourite books with the best set of characters is Fence. Illustrated by Johanna the Mad, Fence traces the story of Nicholas, a sloppy fencer with immense skills, who is also the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion. Nicholas only dreams of getting a chance to prove himself as a worthy fencer, get the appropriate training to compete. As he is thrust into the world of fencing and Kings Row private school, he not only has to face his half-brother and #1 fencing champion, but also the mysterious Seiji. The Fencers are bound to give you all the #friendshipgoals, and I love Seiji and Nicholas so much. All the characters and players in the book play such important parts in the growth of each other, and I couldn’t help but be at amazed over each character arc. They made me laugh and giggle, Nicholas made me want to shake some sense into him, and Seiji simply made me swoon. When you read Fence, you will definitely fall in love with all these characters and go on a journey as they train and become better versions of themselves. Plus, the art is fun and the dialogues will simply crack you up!

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill | Goodreads

These little tea dragons are going to bring a wide smile to your faces. First in The Tea Dragon series, we meet Greta who discovers a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, and then ends up in a teashop where she discovers more of them. As she takes a liking to these little creatures and spends more time with the teashop owners, Greta leans more about the art of tea-dragon care and makes a few friends in the way. The second book, The Tea Dragon Festival, explores the story of Rinn and Aedhan, a real dragon, as she helps him come to terms with his feelings of being lost in time while saving the village from an enchanted sleep spell. The third book, The Tea Dragon Tapestry, is the concluding story of Greta. Steeped in diversity and inclusiveness, this series surely has a cute little story aimed at making everyone happy and find their calling, while enjoying the art of creating. Colourful and vibrant, the art is truly eye-catching!

Have you read any of these graphic novels? What are your recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

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