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A review by nytephoenyx
Rift by Andrea Cremer
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I still loved this book. Romance or not (and yeah, I still think the romantic storyline was ridiculous), the world Cremer created is fascinating and hits the points I want. Rift isn't necessarily the book I'd recommend to everyone, but the good and evil storyline with a female protagonist who has a good feel for her own abilities and owns her life path... right up my alley. Still 5 stars.
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Original Review (July 2018): 5 stars
I found myself waffling back and forth about this book, because on one hand, I really enjoyed the medieval world near the Scottish highlands. And on the other hand, I hated the love story. I always hate the love story, why do I always hate the love story?
The thing is, the world building is incredible. It's dark and shadowy and the friendships are good. The love story pops up at all the wrong moments - in the training montage, in the battle scenes, and in moments of mourning. The love story reduces the two men involved (one good, one evil, who guessed?) to flat, uninteresting blobs carrying swords. Whyyy.
But if you pull them out of it, it's a good book. I love good vs. evil medieval fantasies. I will read that trope over and over again. There are other side characters who are really fantastic. My absolute favorite was Saoirse, who was a woman warrior who found her place among men long before the start of the book. I'm actually still quite made about her....
Anyways, I really liked Rift, but it's the kind of 'like' where I want to complain about the handful of small things I didn't like because I wanted a perfect book. But read it! Read it if you like medieval fantasy. The first book is Western European, but they're headed east....
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Original Review (July 2018): 5 stars
I found myself waffling back and forth about this book, because on one hand, I really enjoyed the medieval world near the Scottish highlands. And on the other hand, I hated the love story. I always hate the love story, why do I always hate the love story?
The thing is, the world building is incredible. It's dark and shadowy and the friendships are good. The love story pops up at all the wrong moments - in the training montage, in the battle scenes, and in moments of mourning. The love story reduces the two men involved (one good, one evil, who guessed?) to flat, uninteresting blobs carrying swords. Whyyy.
But if you pull them out of it, it's a good book. I love good vs. evil medieval fantasies. I will read that trope over and over again. There are other side characters who are really fantastic. My absolute favorite was Saoirse, who was a woman warrior who found her place among men long before the start of the book. I'm actually still quite made about her....
Anyways, I really liked Rift, but it's the kind of 'like' where I want to complain about the handful of small things I didn't like because I wanted a perfect book. But read it! Read it if you like medieval fantasy. The first book is Western European, but they're headed east....
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual assault
Minor: War