REVIEW: As the Shadow Rises by Katy Rose Pool

**I received an eARC from the author (thank you, Katy!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**

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Book: As the Shadow Rises (The Age of Darkness #2) by Katy Rose Pool

Release Date: September 1, 2020

My Rating: 4.25 stars

Rep: mlm protagonists

Summary: Six of Crows meets Graceling with a dash of Winter is Coming in this second installment of the action-packed and swoon-worthy Age of Darkness series!

The Last Prophet has been found, yet he sees destruction ahead.

In this sequel to the critically-acclaimed There Will Come a Darkness, kingdoms have begun to fall to a doomsday cult, the magical Graced are being persecuted, and an ancient power threatens to break free. But with the world hurtling toward its prophesized end, Anton’s haunting vision reveals the dangerous beginnings of a plan to stop the Age of Darkness.

As Jude, Keeper of the Order of the Last Light, returns home in disgrace, his quest to aid the Prophet is complicated by his growing feelings for Anton. Meanwhile, the assassin known as the Pale Hand will stop at nothing to find her undead sister before she dies for good, even if it means letting the world burn. And in Nazirah, Hassan, the kingdom-less Prince, forms a risky pact to try to regain his throne. When the forces of light and darkness collide in the City of Mercy, old wounds are reopened, new alliances are tested, and the end of the world begins.

Read my review of book one, There Will Come a Darkness.

A birthright is not a destiny. What must you surrender to meet yours?

There Will Come a Darkness was such a standout read for me last year, and I was so excited for the sequel. Thank you again to the author for sending me an eARC! This book certainly lived up to the wait. As the Shadow Rises delves into a world on the precipice of an age of darkness and the characters who are trying to stop it.

Warning, this review will have spoilers for book one!

After the events of the last book, the characters are yet again separated. We follow the same five as they go along their respective paths: Anton and Jude are back at Kerameikos Fort, where Jude is facing a tribunal and Anton is coming to terms with his destiny as the Prophet. Meanwhile, Ephyra continues to search for Eleazar’s chalice to save Beru; she eventually teams up with a group of legendary thieves. However, Beru has run from Ephyra, instead trying to make a life for herself while she can. Hassan is trying to regain his throne but is unsure about the costs he’s willing to pay to do so.

As before, I adored how well all of the narratives were intertwined. I usually find multiple points of view to be unbalanced, but Pool masters the switch between each character’s head space masterfully. I enjoyed every single character’s chapters (albeit some more than others at times). It was also really interesting following the characters and their journeys, especially how they manage to end up all together again despite being separated for a second time. Their fates are intertwined whether they like it or not.

As for the plot, there are four different plot lines since Anton and Jude follow the same one. All four different plots are fast-paced, and I was invested in every single one. There’s still the threat of the Hierophant hanging over their heads as well as new obstacles popping up all over the place. I can’t really say much more because of spoilers, but this book was much more action-packed than the first book.

Let’s talk about our protagonists! I absolutely loved seeing them again. All of the character arcs were so good too. Anton is only just now starting to come around to his destiny; unfortunately, at the same time, Jude begins to doubt himself, especially in his position as Keeper. I loved Beru and Ephyra’s sister dynamic as well. Even though Beru has cut her off, Ephyra is still so willing to do anything for her, maybe to the point of her own destruction. Hassan wants his throne back, but how far exactly is he willing to go? We also get to meet some new characters as well as see some characters we thought we had left behind already.

“Don’t comfort me.”
“I can threaten you, if you prefer.”

The world is expanded; more secrets are unveiled, particularly surrounding the seven Prophets and the graces they bestowed. I found the mythology incredibly engrossing, and I was shocked by one reveal in particular. The Age of Darkness may be coming sooner than we think…

I’ll admit, I found most of the romances to be superfluous but Jude and Anton…the yearning of it all honestly. I really liked how LGB relationships are normalized in this world. Jude is agonizing over his feelings for Anton, not because he has feelings for another boy, but rather because he’s duty bound to protect him.

Anyways, the last 10% was amazing, and I’m still not over it. And book three is so far away!

As the Shadow Rises was an amazing sequel. The characters all had such great arcs, and their separate journeys tied into each other so well. If you haven’t picked this series up yet, now’s the time! I definitely recommend it if you like prophetic fantasies or ensemble casts.

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About the Author: Katy is a writer living in Berkeley, California. She grew up in Los Angeles, where her screenwriter father taught her about three act structure, characterization, and inciting incidents all before she could tie her shoes. Katy studied history and English at UC Berkeley. She enjoys breakfast sandwiches, fancy cocktails, rooting for the Golden State Warriors, and books that set her on fire.

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