If I hadn't read CS Pacat before I don't think I would've picked up Dark Rise based on that blurb on Goodreads. It's not usually what I gravitate towards. YA, historical setting with magic(?) and the first half of DR was draggy as hell. Thank the heavens in Pacat we trust. Which makes me wonder how many books have I missed out on just cus I don't vibe with the blurb, tags or reviews (mostly the first one). But if something piqued my interest, I do read the first available pages so I don't think I've missed that many. Growing up, the downfall of being a bookworm is that you get really picky (at least and unfortunately I'm that way) and can tell how the story unfolds, can guess the major plot points, can tell early on if the writing is for me or isn't. And I usually do not stick to the same writers (there are some, but few), but I feel like Pacat could write how their local pigeons made some shabby nest somewhere and I would still read it and cheer along. Anyhow, still no news about Dark King? I'm telling you either it got pushed back (again) to early 2027 or it comes out later this fall.


















