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 onto 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.

my thoughts:

Dark Breaks the Dawn was my first experience with Sara B. Larson’s writing. While I can acknowledge that the book had its strong points, overall, it didn’t leave a strong impression on me. Being largely unfamiliar with the original Swan Lake narrative, I can’t speak to how faithfully Larson adapted it or how much creative license she took. My main disappointment, however, was the book’s inability to consistently hold my attention.

Despite being a relatively short novel, it took me longer than expected to get through. For a significant portion of the story, the plot felt underdeveloped. Then, when the action finally intensified towards the end, the pacing accelerated so abruptly that I struggled to keep up.

I found the characters likable in theory, but they lacked the depth and development needed for me to form a real emotional connection. Various relationships—familial, friendly, and romantic—were present and should have been engaging, yet they failed to resonate with me. Although there were numerous opportunities to become invested in the characters’ journeys, the execution fell short. It wasn’t until the final scenes that I finally felt a flicker of attachment to anyone in the story.

To be fair, the ending was excellent. It completely shifted the story’s direction and took me by surprise, subverting several predictions I had made. Larson effectively sets the stage for the next (and final) installment, and any reader who reaches the last page will undoubtedly be eager to find out what happens next.

Overall, I feel somewhat conflicted about recommending this book. Part of me wants to reserve final judgment until I’ve read the sequel, as that will ultimately determine whether this duology is worth the time investment. But since that isn’t helpful for now, I’d suggest giving Dark Breaks the Dawn a try if you’re already a fan of the author. If not, you might want to start with one of her other works.

What Others Are Saying About Dark Breaks the Dawn:
The Story Sanctuary’s review: ” Dark Breaks the Dawn earns 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion, and is perfect for fans of high fantasy in the vein of Tolkien.”

All Characters Wanted’s review: “For a series set in a world filled with magic, it’s surprising how boring and forgettable the story and characters ended up being.”