Dark Breaks the Dawn

Goodreads Description:    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.

My Thoughts:

-    I enjoyed this one.

-    I love the magic system that Sara created. It is unique, but makes perfect sense, and it isn't over complicated.

-    I really liked Evelayn. She is a doer. She doesn't wait for things to happen, and she doesn't let others do things for her or in her place. She takes care of everything herself, and she really steps up and takes her responsibilities seriously. 

-    On the flip side, I was bugged that Evelayn would push herself too hard. There were people willing to help.

-    There were some slow points in the middle. I didn't like how the battle plans were completely laid out and then we had to read about them be carried out exactly how they were supposed to. I wish there had been variables, or that the plans weren't laid out for me so completely

-    The ending was really good. Even though I know the Swan Lake story, I was still mildly surprised by the ending. 

-    I'm excited to read the next book, and I'm happy that this is just a duology. It could change, but I hope it stays a duology.