Dark Rising has a simple premise: a boy who just lost his mother suddenly learns not only that there is magic out there, but that he could have a role to play in the fight against an ancient evil king being reborn.

Basic. The most standard YA fantasy plot possible. But it really shines in how it subverts expectations.

The main cast is very fleshed out, feeling lively and interesting way beyond our protagonist, Will. Violet is surprisingly compelling in how she refuses to be a genre heroine and James is an absolute delight.

I found the big plot twist very predictable, but the narrative really paved the way for it so it felt most like a secret between story and reader and less like a flat reveal.

Still, I think C.S. Pacat could've made this into an adult series to really explore implications and depth, as many times they made incredibly stupid choices and the narrative felt constrained.