Dark Breaks the Dawn
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4.2 • 55 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
A warrior princess must defend her throne is this haunting and romantic YA duology packed with action and romance from critically acclaimed author of the Defy trilogy, Sara B. Larson.On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless. But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn into the throne much sooner than she expected.In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.In the first book of a remarkable duology, Sara B. Larson sets the stage for her reimagining of Swan Lake -- a lush romance packed with betrayal, intrigue, magic, and adventure.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Larson (the Defy trilogy) deftly weaves fantasy with the best parts of the Swan Lake ballet in this gripping first book of a duology. The kingdoms of the adrolan and the Dorjhalon have been engaged in a bitter war for 10 years, costing thousands of lives. Queen Ilaria now leads the forces of the Light, much to the dismay of her daughter, Evelayn. After Evelayn ascends to adrolan's throne unexpectedly early, following her mother's death, Evelayn grapples with learning how to control her newfound powers and how to be an effective wartime ruler. One of the powers inherent to royals is the ability to assume animal form, something Evelayn struggles with throughout, and her attempts to balance her personal and professional lives is mirrored in the give and take between the adrolan and Dorjhalon. Larson is especially effective in her portrait of Evelayn's need to summon maturity before she thought she would have to, a sweetly innocent romance underscores the bite of betrayal, and the cliffhanger ending will easily build anticipation for the second book. Ages 12 up.
Customer Reviews
Irresistible to Put Down!
I couldn’t seem to stop reading this story, sacrificing even socializing and eating to finish such a good book in under two days! The storyline and plot is wonderfully crafted and suspenseful enough to make the anticipation worth turning every page for. The characters are well-developed, the plot encouraging readers to be well-engaged into the dynamic fictional world. When I was at the library, I checked out the second book along with the first because I knew it would be that good. Now that I have just started the second book-and am already over halfway through-everything is beautifully, yet painstakingly, connected. If the plot wasn’t deep enough in the first book, well buckle-up! Can’t wait to finish the second book tomorrow.
Amazing read!!!
As soon as I finished the first chapter, I knew that there was absolutely no way I was putting this book down until I finished it. The characters and plot had me turning the pages long into the night, and I cannot wait until Bright Burns the Night is released! The characters are amazing, and I fell in love with them immediately. The system of magic is also so unique, and it may be my favorite yet.
STUNNING, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN
Since I was a little girl, I have always been obsessed with the tale of Swan Lake. I remember when my parents took me to see the ballet on my tenth birthday as a surprise and I mostly cried through it (don’t worry they got it on video). So, when looking for a retelling of Swan Lake? I have pretty much looked EVERYWHERE. Then, I just went on a goodreads messaging board and asked them a good book to read for my Swan Lake craving, and they gave me this one.
To say that I loved this book, to say that I was mesmerized by this book? Is an EXTREME understatement. The love and detail that went into this book makes the world that Sarah B Larson has created, 200000x better than any other retelling of Swan Lake I have ever read. The characters-specifically our brilliant protagonist, Evelayn-were elegant, brave, and simply amazing. I was hooked, strapped to a chair, and wide eyed from page one. Evelayn is everything I wanted from a strong female protagonist, and is the fighter in us all.
If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh, cheer, and then ultimately gasp and just sit open mouth and craving the next book? Look no further. This retelling of Swan lake is magical, alluring, and deliciously action packed. Sarah B. Larson has outdone herself and has all her fans shamelessly craving for more.