As a friend is currently reading the books for the first time I wanted to bring up a topic that hasn't been mentioned on here as far as I'm aware: The relationship between Visander and Devon is censored in the US and UK editions of Dark Heir to fit the YA standard, as stated by CS Pacat in a publishing talk on YouTube. Below is a comparison between the paragraphs with and without censoring. Removed parts are in Italics.
Even tho it's only smaller parts that are being censored, I still find it very upsetting that it had to happen. I do genuinely believe Dark Rise should've been written as an adult fantasy to be able to explore both it's themes and a more direct portrayal of the relationships more.
Chapter Eleven, page 106 on the UK hardcover and Book Addiction AU editions. (I don't have an American copy on hand to give that page number, sorry. 🙏🏼)
US/UK edition:
"I'm left," said Devon. "I'm all that's left."
Visander remembered – kneeling by a sun-dappled stream, scooping up the refreshing water, sensing something behind him. Looking up, he had seen the shy creature watching, a young colt. Their eyes had met; startled, a flash of silver, and it was gone.
"It can't be."
[...]
"Don't," said Devon. "I'm not that young colt I was. I will not bend my head for your bridle, or take your bit between my teeth."
AU edition:
"I'm left," said Devon. "I'm all that's left."
Visander remembered – kneeling by a sun-dappled stream, scooping up the refreshing water, sensing something behind him. Looking up, he had seen the shy creature watching, arched neck and silken mane, a young colt. Their eyes had met; startled, a flash of silver, and it was gone.
Weeks of glimpses, secret visitations, unable to think of anything else until the first momentous touch. He remembered the smooth white neck under his hands, his almost dizzy wonder at being allowed to touch something so pure, the way those white lashes had lowered with pleasure, that silken muzzle tickling his cheek, the nuzzling into his neck–
"It can't be."
[...]
"Don't," said Devon. "I'm not that young colt I was, playing at love in in a glade. I will not bend my head for your bridle, or take your bit between my teeth."
