The Dawn of Dissent

by Sydney O'Bryant

In a world where you are either a Solar or Lunar, rich or poor, righteous or sinful, treacherous underworlds can be a haven. After all, the demands under the Holy Empire of Solen are high. Its subjects are given the choice of stealing, slaving, or starving, left only with their anger at the lavish lives of the nobility and stories of ruthlessly pursued enemies.

Naturally, when a thief discovers three such enemies have fallen into his lap, he instinctively plots to ensnare and deliver them to his criminal overlords. The princess is clueless, the prince arrogant, and the witch distracted with her illegal arts. His task should be an easy one.

However, unlikely friendships, bitter rivalries, and unrest gathering on the horizon bring long buried pasts to the surface. In this dark fantasy debut inspired by the upheaval and extravagance of eighteenth century history, a thief will make a decision that may cost him dearly, and set his nation on a course from which there is no going back.

446 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2025

About the author

Sydney O’Bryant is a fantasy author born in California in the United States of America before moving to North Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. She is currently studying BA Anthropology and Archaeology at Durham University. ‘The Dawn of Dissent’ is her first self-published novel.

Reviews

[Christina Moonsammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you Sydney O’ Bryant for allowing me to be an ARC reader for Dawn of Dissent.

I would categorize this as a historical dark fantasy. The storyline captures you within the first few chapters, learning about the rich Solars and the lesser affluent Lunars. You’re then catapulted on a ride between revolution, unrest, rivalries and unlikely friendships. This is a perfect choice for dark fantasy readers that enjoy storylines that have more meaningful depth to the overall course of the story. While it was a bit of a slow burn, the storyline quickly picks up, enrapturing you to keep reading to find out what happens next! I would recommend you put this on your TBR.

[AudreyOBonsu · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW: 💕

A big thank you to Sydney for allowing me to read her book it was so beautifully written that I'm so impressed it's her first book!

This book is a beautifully gripping fantasy that immediately pulls you into a kingdom on the brink of upheaval. The depth of characters and the world she created was such a pleasure to read! With elements of political unrest, slow burns, political intrigue, the story reads exceptionally well with both aspects of historical fiction and dark fantasy.

All in all, The Dawn of Dissent delivers greatly and it's perfect for readers who crave immersive worlds, morally complex characters, and fantasy that doesn't shy away from its shadows.💕

I gave it as a 3.9( however I can't go halves on Goodreads)

[Readwithzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a captivating necromantic historical fantasy, you’re taken on a journey of rivalry, tension, rebellion and political unrest.

The world is so well built and the characters have so much depth and add so many layers, such a well balanced book.

The atmospheric scenes in these pages, the complex motives and feelings behind choices and unusual friendships that are made is so realistic and compelling, it pulls u in from the start.

This story is for the action lovers and the reader that are looking for more books with political intrigue,found family, depth and such high stakes.

What an amazingly written book, looking forward to read more from you Sydney!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book, it was such a fun ride.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Book Review 📖

First of all I would like to thank Sydney O'Bryant for reaching out and offering me an ARC of 'The Dawn of Dissent' in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

'The Dawn of Dissent' is an atmospheric and captivating novel that draws you straight into a kingdom teetering on the edge of revolt. It’s a fantasy novel filled with necromancy, dark intrigue, and bursts of violence, yet it carries the immersive, textured feel of historical fiction. The world feels lived-in, rich with tension and history that lingers behind every page.

The characters are a real strength of the story. Each one is distinct and complex, driven by motives that feel genuine. As their stories begin to intertwine, the book gains momentum, building toward a series of powerful and action-packed moments that keep the tension high.

Overall, 'The Dawn of Dissent' is a darkly rich, action-packed book full of political tension, rebellion, and heart. It is perfect for readers who enjoy fantasy with grit and depth.

[fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. The writing feels confident, intricate, and poetic in all the right ways. O’Bryant’s prose has a maturity and intelligence that instantly pulls you in. The plot itself is compelling, full of tension and momentum, and the pacing kept me engaged throughout.

The multiple POVs were a strong choice, adding depth and variety to the story’s world. I found Eadgar’s character particularly captivating, and the necromancy elements were really interesting as well.

The Dawn of Dissent is action-packed, thoughtful, and layered.

[Jessica Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ARC Book Review⭐️

Thank you so much for allowing me to read an ARC copy.

Dark Fantasy is not my normal go-to, yet I found myself completely engrossed in the plot from the first few pages. Sydney’s world was rich, and her characters were so fascinating; I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what was going to happen, how these lives were all going to intertwine. The lore between the Solars and Lunars, the history, the stakes, everything captivated me. I’m already craving the second book.

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel, with Sydney’s writing being so strong, but it makes me so excited to see where she’s going to take these characters next.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review! ⚔️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was such a good way to end October! This book had dark historical fantasy, necromancy, tension, action, rebellion, political unrest and so much more.

From the first chapter, I will pulled into the world the writer made. Each chapter peels back another layer of this world— especially the people and the divisions between them.

I loved the characters. They have flaws and they’re complex— we see both the good and bad in them.

If you love dark historical fantasy with action-packed scenes, I recommend reading this!

Thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC. I can’t wait to read more 🤍

All thoughts and opinions my own.

[Sarah corrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to Sydney O’Bryant for giving me the opportunity to read an arc of her book. It’s truly impressive that this is her first novel! I would also like to clarify that all opinions are my own.

As soon as I picked up ‘The Dawn Of Dissent’ I was immediately pulled into a world filled with magic and political intrigue. There are many twists and turns, and it perfectly combines history with dark fantasy.

The characters are probably my favourite aspect of the book. They are all well written, each one is very distinct and incredibly interesting.

Now, this is an honest review, so I won’t lie and say I loved everything about this novel. For the most part, the pacing was fast but consistent, however at times (especially during a time skip) i found it confusing and had to flick back to figure things out. If it weren’t for this, my rating would be a lot higher, but this is just my personal opinion.

Overall, this book is action packed and filled with twists and turns. I’d seriously recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy or historical fiction. I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of the series once it is released!

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, first of all I would like to say that this is my first ARC review. Ive never written out any reviews before (only chose my rating and moved on) so please, bear with me. First I would love to thank the author for allowing me to review The Dawn of Dissent early and for creating an exciting description that really drew me in. However, once I started reading it was difficult to stay hooked and I unfortunately dnf'd at 26%. The first 50 pages had so much info dump that I was often so confused just going from paragraph to paragraph. DoD, like most fantasy novels, has its own words that are made up for this fantasy world... But if they arent explained at some point, in some way, how am I ever to know what is being talked about. I understand that some things could have been explained later on but, in my opinion, if I am 100 pages in and still do not understand what is being said then I dont have any interest in continuing.


Thank you again to the author for letting me review your book, Im sorry that it wasnt for me.

[Leah Partch · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for an epic adventure in a fully-developed fantasy world with more than a hint of darkness, this is the book for you! The action unfolds at a good pace as rogues, a witch, and an exiled prince and princess team up to fight against the empire taking over Celestia.

There is a large cast of characters, each with distinctive skills and personalities, and the interaction among them is full of humour, levity, and emotional weight. It is particularly fun to see each character set down a path that inevitably leads toward the other characters. And the different factions in this world create tension and conflict that keep the reader engaged. Fantasy readers will be thrilled to see all the elements--lively taverns, a band of unlikely allies, intriguing missions, and a threatening antagonistic force--incorporated in this story.

To top it all off, there's lots of lovely language and rich description to bring the world of Celestia alive in this wonderfully woven tale.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing writing style and world building!! I was instantly invested and had to stop myself from reading too much because I wanted it to last longer. I can't wait for the next books!!!

[alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED IT !