Rift (Nightshade Prequels)

In the Nightshade series, Andrea Cremer gave us the Guardians, humans with wolf spirits who can shift into wolf form to protect against unnatural evil beings. But how were the Guardians created? If you ever asked yourself that question, I think you are going to like this new prequel series that starts with Rift.Ember is being collected to pay a debt that was owed for her very life to begin. In order to save her and her mother, her father made a deal for a special healer to send his daughter for service to a secretive sect of the church. When they come to collect, her father is distraught (having better plans to marry her off for his own political influence), but Ember is actually excited to leave the future life of a wife and a mother. She knows there is more out there for her. When she arrives, she is shocked to learn just how much is out there... but not surprised enough to leave.After the initiation where Ember chooses her path as a hunter, it is the prey that changes her life. Horrible supernatural creatures threaten innocent people, and they are responsible for keeping innocents safe. When her mentor is chosen, she is first nervous then excited to learn it is to be Barrow, a man whose mere presence leaves her longing. But it is his expertise and strength on the battlefield that has her excited to train with him. What none of them expected, however, is the horrible evil that is brewing right under their noses. And the worst part of that evil is its ability to corrupt good hunters with warped ideas of how the means can justify the ends. Now the hunters who refuse to ever side with evil may be hunted themselves, by the very people they trust the most.This was a phenomenal prequel, and I have to say I think it was even better than the first series! I always loved the pack dynamic and how the wolf side played into everyone's lives, but this connection to the Knights Templar and the hunting of so many kinds of evil is just too interesting! I think it adds this additional layer of intrigue that makes me appreciate the original series even more. I know there is a second book out there to this prequel series, but I hope Cremer will keep going with it! It reminds me of Sarwat Chadda's Devil's Kiss, especially with the strong female hunter role who struggles to balance being a woman, being a hunter, and how that job is societally unacceptable for women. It makes for one heck of a leading lady!Having read about this history behind the Guardians, the Searchers, and the Keepers, I now wonder how I read that original series without knowing this information. It seems so vital to the story! In fact, I think I would suggest someone to read this series before Nightshade if they haven't already read those books. I think this story is really exciting and will help your understanding of the Guardians even more. Although, maybe it will reveal TOO much from the original series? I guess it is your call! But whatever you do, don't skip any of Cremer's books!

This is a must read for any fan. And if you're like me and read Nightshade, Wolfsbane and Bloodrose first, it helps clear up a lot of confusion and info left dangling in front of our face with no answers. This book, once you get farther in, will definitely help reveal the origins of some of the characters like the Keepers, the Seekers, the Weavers, The Strikers, The Healers and even some of the Guardians` powers. You have to really pay attention to catch some of the hidden history. It also gives you an insight to Eira, the first keeper, and Cian, Shane`s ancestor. This is a must read for any Nightshade fan. Though I would recommend that you read Nightshade, Wolfsbane and Bloodrose before you read Rift. It makes more sense that way and it gives you more revelations as to the missing info.

As an adult who finds YA novels in this genre a fun, charming read, I come to them with certain expectations. I don't expect them to be completely accurate but they must not insult the intelligence of the YA I used to be. They must contain something original and snappy. The characters must be charming, and again, original.Unfortunately, I was totally let down. You see, I would have gone cheeringly along with a new rider being able to go at a trot and then a gallop on her first day. It is clearly set in a pre-industrial world and she is a 'special' heroine. I would go along with being able to ride from village to village because of the magic that exists in the story. I would even have skipped along with being able to smith, pound, cool and polish a small metal weapon in a single night. But I do draw the line at throwing the heroine into battle with a weapon she got two days before and had used once. These characters that do that are military men used to battle. It insults the reader and the characters, as well as demeans the set up by throwing a character into a situation like this. Someone this green would be more a hinderance than a help. Compounding all these errors just made my brain cramp.The writer does herself no favors by repeating the same reaction of her heroine to just about everything. All she does in blush, she doesn't stutter or any gulp or anything else that could happen when you are embarrassed. Not to draw in a totally adult book, but the same problem appears in 50 Shades of Grey. I am a writer myself, so I understand how easy it is to have a set reaction for any situation your character bumps into. But really, this too, insults the reader. You get a case of the dreaded "Said-pox". In this case, her cheeks turned pink, her cheeks heated. Nearly as bad as some romance novels, the old fashioned bodice rippers.I hope that her other books are better because I feel robbed with this one and will not try again...

I bought this book because i enjoyed the nightshade series. When I picked up the prequel I didn't realize I had signed up for something that takes places hundreds of years before the original series so I was a little let down. I started to read the book and found it hard to get through the first couple of chapters. However, once I got past a lot of the set up I really started to enjoy this book. I wound up enjoying it so much that when it was over I was dying to read the next one.

Rift was very pleasantly unexpected. Even though it didn't contain any werewolves i still enjoyed it. Though the entire time i kept thinking of Ren and Shay in Nightshade because of Allistairs puppy love for Ember his entire life and the expected love of the newcomer Barrow. It was exciting, thrilling at best with the action, drama, romance, and secrets yet to be discovered. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy read set in the 'olden days'. Even if you still have yet to read Nightshade, you should still read this because already knowing the truth behind the lies will come in handy.

I liked this more than any of the Nightshades books - color me shocked because I loved those books, and I really couldn't see how the story could get better, but it did. What I really loved about Rift, the first of a prequel series, was that it got a little medieval. That took the feel from paranormal to fantasy, and I LOVED it! There wasn't a hint of a werewolf though, so rabid wolf-loving readers should approach Rift with that knowledge I think, in order to stave off potential disappointment. I'm sure they are coming, but you'll have to wait a while longer.I really connected very well with the heroine, Ember. She begins Rift under the heel of her overbearing and rather disgusting father... forced into suitable pursuits for a young noble girl, like needle craft, while she tries very hard not to wreck her fancy gowns. All the while, she sneaks off into the middle of nowhere to practice wielding a sword. Her one beacon of hope is that since birth she has been promised to a shadowy branch of the church called Conatus... she doesn't know a lot about them, but she fantasizes about what her life could be like with a little more freedom.When Ember is summoned to begin her service in Conatus, her father blusters about and threatens them with all kinds of hot air, to try and keep power over her and see her married off to a nice boy; it was delightful to read how easily the knights of Conatus just shrugged him off. One knight in particular immediately made note of himself... Barrow Hess. Oh, Barrow. You may have a slightly strange name, but I'd love to... *blush/swoon*... where was I?! He will absolutely push his way into your top ten book boyfriend list. Yes, he is a first grade kick ass knight, and he steps up to become Ember's mentor. If I've never mentioned how much I love a good mentor/mentee relationship, now is the time I cite the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, and the Covenant series by Jennifer Armentrout. *wink* Forbidden hotness & self-denial in spades, as you fill find here. The romance that was woven into Rift was toe-curlingly good. It was gently done - executed in the style of Jane Austen, in terms of lingering looks, uncertainty and pounding hearts - and it built magnificently to two simply delicious scenes that pretty much reduced me to a limp, satisfied, wreck of a reader.I really enjoyed reading about Ember's transition from stubborn & determined new recruit to a woman not to be messed with. She is tenacious, slightly naive, and a joy to read. She picks up some knightly skills, bizarre but awesome weapons (which I had to Google to see if I had imagined them correctly), and the best horse that I've read since Kiki in Magic Study by Maria V Snyder... this one doesn't talk, but he munches thoughtfully on Ember's braid.Of course, being as this is a prequel book there are certain plot points that readers know will happen in the future. It lends a serious sense of impending doom to the read that would be otherwise quite difficult to create. I found it fascinating to see how the character of Bosque Mar from the Nightshade series made his mark on Rift. For much of the book, I really could have been reading about an entirely different world, due to the difference in time setting (AD 1400 rather than present day); when the shift happened to join the Rift world up with the Nightshade world, it was done very well and with a good deal of subtle horror.The future for Ember and Barrow is uncertain, but I can't wait to find out what's in store for them. Oh the wait for Rise, the next book in the series, is going to be a painful one. *sigh*

Let me just start by saying WOW! I absolutely devoured this book in about 2 days.Rift is a prequel to the Nightshade series, going back to the beginning of the witch wars. Although it is probably not necessary to read Nightshade first, I would reccomend that you do (although there were times in the book when I also wished I didn't already know how it was ultimately going to end!)Rift is set in Scotland in the 1400's and is told from the perspective of Ember Morrow, a 16 year old girl who is to enter into the service of Conatus, a mysterious secret order who saved both her and her mother from dying during child birth. Ember is desperate to breakaway from her father, who believes she should be learning to sew and play music, when all she really wants is to learn how to use a sword.On joining Conatus, Ember learns the true nature of the order and their task of keeping the creatures of the Otherworld from harming people. Ember becomes a Knight and her training is undertaken by Barrow, a Knight with a fearsome reptutation. I absolutely loved Barrow and the relationship that forms between him and Ember.Also serving at Conatus is one of Ember's oldest friends Alastair. Although they have been friends since childhood and she views him as a brother, he has other ideas. Alastair feels he has a claim on Ember and often treats her like something that belongs to him. I have to say he is my least favourite character and I often wanted to slap him!Throughout the book we also follow the story of twin sisters Eira and Cian, the first two woman to become Knights of Conatus. They are both fearsome warriors, but Eira dilikes the interference of the church and seeks a way to remove the power of the Bishop over Conatus. This leads her down a road from which there is no return, and will forever change the path of Conatus.Cannot wait for the sequel to Rift

Great books. Great i could not put them down. Enjoyed the storyline and the characters. Wud recommend to anyone who enjoys these kind of books

I had high expectations for this book, and I wasn't sure if I was going to be disappointed with it, which is usually the case when I have so high expectations. I love and adore the Nightshade trilogy and I will have to say I ended up loving this book even more than those!You need to read this book! Even if you did not like the Nightshade trilogy!

Brilliant book, as expected!