Untitled

Dark Rise #3

by C.S. Pacat

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Queer, M M Romance, Fiction, Romance

Hardcover

About the author

C.S. Pacat is the USA-Today best-selling author of Dark Rise, the Captive Prince trilogy, and the GLAAD-nominated graphic novels Fence.

Born in Australia and educated at the University of Melbourne, C.S. Pacat has lived in a number of cities, including Tokyo and Perugia, and currently resides and writes in Melbourne.

Reviews

[Ferroh]

Bet: this book will be called “Dark King”

[Flor ):)]

day 741 trying to be a functional human being without having this book in my life

[Sarxian (meirinasoe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needing this book RIGHT NOW after that Dark Heir ending!! Iykyk 😏

Our demands for Book 3 (more to add):
1. Anharion POV chapters
2. James aragases Will's "magic door"
3. Will regains Sarcean's memories
4. Violet betrays Cyprian to serve Will
5. Will and James visiting Sarcean and Anharion’s tomb
6. Flashback on Sarharion pseudo-wedding (ft. the Collar)
7. The Returners were revealed to be coming from the Lady/ the Sun King
8. Cyprian, Visander and Elizabeth GROVEL at Will for forgiveness
9. Will goes on full Dark King but using his powers to save everyone
10. Visander and Philip consummating their marriage honeymoon

[moony ☽]

Your Royal Highness, Queen Pacat,
I implore Your Majesty's graciousness not to extend our wait for this invaluable manuscript by another two years. Your esteemed consideration on this matter would be deeply appreciated.

With the utmost reverence and unwavering loyalty,
Your devoted subject.

[Melanie]

January 6, 2026
Here’s hoping this year is the release 🫩

August 20, 2025
Every day there isn’t an announcement, I look like a straight clown from my initial review 🤡

April 16, 2025
Y’all keep liking this because I’m a fool lol🃏
Gotta watch what I say next time

November 29, 2023
I hope this doesn’t take 2 years again

[Olivia]

I don’t think I’ve ever been as obsessed with a book series as I am with this! I don’t know how I’ll be able to bear the wait until it’s released - Pacat is such a brilliant author I am soo in love with the Dark King Sarcean/Will and James!

My theories:
1. I don’t think Sarcean is super evil, I bet the Sun King is actually the ultimate villain!
-They say Sarcean ordered Anharion and his generals death so that they can be reborn with him, but we know from Kettering that Sarceans army killed themselves…I bet Anharion also killed himself to be reborn with Sarcean.
2. The collar isn’t actually controlling James, James/Anharion is in control of his actions…maybe the collar is influencing his emotions but I don’t think Sarcean ever really controlled him. The collar seems to give James access to Wills power, so maybe it was given for protection (maybe the Sun king ensorcelled Anharion and the DK used the collar to break his control over Anharion?
3. I think Sinclair is actually the Sun King, it’s weird we never got to see his face in 2 books…feels fishy!
4. The lady isn’t actually good. Maybe she was jealous that Sarcean loved Anharion more than her or something but I don’t think her and Sarcean had some truly romantic relationship. I feel like Pacat will throw good/ bad and light/dark on it’s head, so far those of the light don’t really seem very good more like Uber judgemental hypocrites. The stewards can be trusted to use darkness but Will can’t, I thought that line was powerful.
5. I think Sarcean died protecting Anharion - we don’t know how the lady killed him but I feel it’s some kind of torturous thing involved Sarcean and Anharion. The lady feels like a villain to me.

Please include more flashback scenes I am loving them so much! I love Sarcean already, and can’t wait for Will to fully embrace his darkness. I can’t wait for the book and the hopefully happy ending for James and Will! Please don’t make this a tragedy, I won’t be able to bare it!!

If there is any way to get an ARC I would die eternally happy!

[Joey]

Knock, knock.
Please hurry up and exist.

[Ana (Hiatus)]

When is this out? I need an arc. Please, please, please. I can't wait.

My expectations for this can not be any higher!

James and Will should rule the world together. After facing so many betrayals in the previous book, I hope Will embraces himself as the Dark King. That is who he is. Also, who doesn't love a villain origin story or a corruption arc?

[Raaven💖]

I want Will to save James and reunite with his friends. I know people want him to embrace the darkness but that’s not HIM anymore. He shouldn’t be bound like his past just like James shouldn’t. I hope everyone is friends again because the end broke my heart. I hope they are all ok😭

[sashenka 🖤]

STOP 👋 RATING 👋 BOOK 👋 THAT 👋 DOESN'T 👋 EXIST 👋 YET 👋

(i'm slapping people in case you didn't get the emojis)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRUH EXIST ALREADY

[Meaghan Peterman]

would sacrifice my firstborn to get this book in my hands

[Hannah DCamp]

If this cover doesn't have Will completely in profile I'm going to be completely dissatisfied.

[Jay H (Hiatus)]

I want this book in my hands NOWW!!! I will not rest until I get the cover, the name and the release date. If I have to wait two years I might turn Ito a crazy man from misery (I secretly hope she names it The Dark King)

FYI the author posts fanarts for this series every Friday and they are so good.

WILL KEMPER FOREVER>>>>

[Lisa]

Listen, publishers: I do not care how long this book is. Book 2 was edited to absolute perfection, but also I need all the time with each of these characters, and I will need more time after the ending (unlike Kings Rising’s ending).

I cannot wait for this!!

[Nott]

Dear Ms. Mother, I am begging on my knees, bless me with your power and give me this book.

UPD: so, apparently Ms. Mother is really close to finishing writing it, so I'm once again vibrating with anticipation for this book (I never stopped)

UPD2: The harrowing need to know anything about this book is killing me

[Red (Redamancy)]

Honestly, if anyone has a valid reason to burn the world to cinders, it's Will.
That poor boy deserves a hot cup of cocoa, fluffy blankets, hugs, and a lot of therapy

[☂️]

literally trembling like a chihuahua at the thought of knowing more about anharion/sarcean

[trishla ⚡ | YourLocalBookReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait for this book after the ending of Dark Heir!!

I bet it’s called Dark King thoooo

[Kitz]

I will fall in love with you
Over and over again
I don't care how, where, or when
No matter how long it's been, you're mine

Don't tell me you're not the same person
You're always my husband
And I've been waiting, WAITINGGGGG

[Daniela]

Lo mucho que necesito leer la tercera parte, dios mío, que Will le de una paliza a todos por dudar de el, merece algo mejor!, James y el merecen su final feliz

[Riley]

I think about this book at least once a day.

[Devanshi]

EDIT: WHEN, PACAT, WHEN?
____
Respectfully, Pacat, release it already!

[eli.]

i'm afraid i'm gonna read this trilogy when this is published i'll not ruin my (gay) medieval fantasy apologist reputation

[˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚HIATUS˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. If this book is not called "Dark King" I will actually feel bamboozled
2. GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!!! **TRANSFORMS INTO A DOG** BARK BARK WOOF WOOF BARK WOOF BARK AWWOOOOOOOOOO

[✨Arielle (Queen of the stars)✨ on semi-hiatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED THIS BOOK TO SURVIVE 😭

when is it going to come out?!?

[Ray P.]

[13-08-24] My thoughts and hopes for this 3rd book:

So far, we’ve only been *told* about the Dark and the Light— with the Dark King on one side and the Lady and Sun King on the other. Characters are labeled as either good or bad, depending on which side they align with. But the world isn’t that black and white, and C.S. Pacat has shown us this complexity in previous books. For instance, Lions are seen as Dark creatures by the Light, yet Violet, a Lion , is loyal and fights for what she believes is good. Even her brother Tom, another Lion, isn’t necessarily evil —he genuinely believes the Stewards are the bad guys. Plus, the Stewards themselves grow a shadow within, a dark creature, after drinking from the cup. Sarcean’s memories reveal that even the Sun King, representing Light, punishes with darkness, and the Lady has her own questionable actions, as seen through Visander and Sarcean's memories. I genuinely believe that our characters will soon realize there’s no absolute good or evil—just varying shades of gray. Hopefully, they will embrace Will—not for who they’ve been told he is, but for who he has truly shown himself to be.

Alright, here are my wild and far-fetched guesses:

1. Sinclair might actually be the Sun King or some other character connected to “the light side.”
1.1. Or—this is just a REALLY random thought—he could end up using Will as a vessel to fully take over as the Dark King, not just remain as his descendant.
2. Will will die at Violet’s hands, and he’ll let it happen. I’m imagining something like the Kim Dokja-Yoo Joonghyuk fight (if you get the ORV reference—73rd Demon King arc). Will, as the Dark King, asking, BEGGING, Violet to kill him so he doesn’t harm anyone else. She reluctanly does bc, y’know, still cares for him deeply. I mean, if Will's going to die, it HAS to be her and no one else that does the job. That, or either...
2.2. Will sacrifices himself. This would be his “I’m done” moment—a realization that no matter what he does or how hard he tries, everything seems to lead to the end of the world with him as the ruler of darkness and nothingness. He understands the only way to stop the nightmare is by destroying the creator of it: himself.

Having said that, I truly enjoy Will angst. Like yesss, give me the pain, give me the depressed little pathetic gay boy angst that only Will Kempen can deliver. And I say this while absolutely loving Will—I want him to be happy, especially after everything he’s been through. But I admit I like my fave characters to suffer, while I cry for them. But don’t forget to give me the payoff too.
C.S. Pacat you devil I have too many thoughts and won’t sleep right until this book is published. That ending,, THAT ENDING… WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO MY BABIES?

[William]

I think the collar acts as the brand S. Since we know James can’t be marked, the collar was made to ensure his loyalty. Thus, he is not exactly a mindless slave who has no will of his own, but he also can’t turn his back on the DK or betray him. I also think that Anharion really loved Sarcean, and that he turned his back on the Light (probably after knowing the truth about the Sun king/lady). This means that putting the collar on was a sort of insurance policy on Sarcean’s part because he probably had some insecurities about his lover abandoning him. These insecurities (fear of betrayal/rejection) are probably related to the Sun king/Lady plot, who are likely not as good as everyone seems to think. They probably used the DK and betrayed him, which led to him turning evil.

Ultimately, I think Will and Sarcean are two different people. Sarcean became the DK and turned evil, but I think Will will become the DK and do good. This aligns with the whole “what you were is less important than what you can become”. I think having Will turn evil, killing everyone and ruling, would just be backpedaling on the whole story.

I also think that Will, when he fully becomes the DK, will be able to remove the collar. And I think he will remove it because he would want to know that James’ feelings towards him are 100% his own. This move by Will would also align with the fact that he is Will, and not Sarcean, since he would be willing to take the risk of rejection from James, but on the off chance of having something 100% real with him (this scene would likely be extremely romantic for both of them).

In the end, I think Will becomes the DK (but doesn’t turn evil) and that he ends up with James (collar free).

[Mac]

I’m seated. The bookstore employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s "not even out yet" but I’m simply too seated

[Victoria Cleolind]

My theories for the next book cause I simply can not stop thinking of this series. I cannot believe how devastating that second book is and I need the third book


1. Same as a lot of people I think the Sun King/Lady is the actual bad one.
2.The original lion figured out what was going on and changed sides. This is why, throughout the book, it is implied that Sarcean twisted the lion and kind of brought him onto their side despite being valiant creatures.
3. Violet will figure this out or something similar. There is a line where Violet remember as well as the only one talking about saving the world during the big confrontation. I think she learned more from the papers and journal that leads her to this. I think the original lion figured it out and it mirrors Violet figuring it out.
4. Anharion/James knows that Sarcean/Will is the good guy The collar was made to hinder them from fighting the sun king and the Lady, possibly created them. (however I also like the idea that the caller was originally something between Sarcean and Anharion to cement their bond and to share powers. That it doesn't allow control but for the sharing of power)
5. To become a true lion it is about protecting your family or loved ones/ voluntarily giving your powers, not killing them. I think that is why it never worked, it was never about killing them to take the power.
6. Devon was sent by Sarcean to make sure that everything went as plan. He probably knew that Visander was working with the lady and helped Sarcean fight against them. However after all this time and losing his horn he kinda lost track of what he was really supposed to be doing. But he stayed near where the king would rise still hoping to help fight against it.