Review: Dark Breaks the Dawn (Dark Breaks the Dawn #1) by Sara B. Larson

Dark Breaks the Dawn

(Dark Breaks the Dawn #1)

by Sara B. Larson

May 30, 2017

307 pages

Goodreads   Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

After a thousand years of peace, the battle between Light and Dark has resumed.

On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Éadrolan, 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 shape-shift, and rely on the alluring, but mysterious Lord Tanvir. Not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.
 

Review

I struggled with the first hundred pages or so of Dark Breaks the Dawn but I was determined to read it. I love the idea of a Swan Lake retelling. I'm glad I stuck to the book till its end because the story definitely picked up in intensity.

A few things I didn't quite enjoy include the slow pacing and the descriptions that felt a little too heavy at times. I skimmed over some passages of the book and I don't think I missed anything particularly essential to the plot. What I really liked about Dark Breaks the Dawn was the ominous and foreboding feel to the story. The chilling atmosphere was ever so present with the survival of an entire species at stake. As the story went on, we really get a sense of just how high those stakes are.

There was something compelling about Dark Breaks the Dawn that had me wanting to see the book through. It was the politics. The behind-the-scene scheming and possible backstabbing had me dying to find out who'd come out the winning side. All fates were shrouded in mystery until a final reveal and clash of powers. Those short moments were a real nail-biter!

I hate saying this but I wasn't 100% behind the romance. Perhaps it was just me being picky but I didn't feel any excitement for Evelayn and Tanvir. I wanted a little bit more on page interactions instead of the individual off-hand thoughts. However, they were a sweet pair and I could see readers rooting for them.

 

I quite enjoyed the multiple POVs though it won't be for everyone; namely because no indications are given to when the switches happen. It wasn't a deal-breaker for me. In fact, I liked being inside the different characters' heads. It allowed me to see the world on a different scale and to better understand it.

Despite the lack of initial interest (which is probably a case of it's me, not you), I do look forward to reading the finale. I hope Bright Burns the Night will be more fast-paced and action-packed than Dark Breaks the Dawn.

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own and not affected in any way.