Rift

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.

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 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.

My book arrived in beautiful condition! You can obviously tell it was previously loved, and there is an old sticker from its past life stuck to it, but other than that I have no complaints!

Rift was a great book that was well written. The story could stand on it's own. However, I wish I'd known it was a prequel before I read the other three. You do get enough facts to know that it was a history and understand how you got to where you are in the end. It was a great ride and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Since this book is so different from the Nightshade books (i.e. no wolves), I don't really consider them part of the same series. That being said, I think I might actually like these two prequels better since they're more in the fantasy genre. My only wish is that there had been more of a romance aspect throughout the story instead of just towards the end.

Very good book! I really enjoyed this book. Having read the Nightshade series I was worried how it would turn out and I was pleasantly surprised. I was able to see a connection to the Nightshade and understand how it all came together.

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*

I fell in love with this series from the first sentence. I couldn't put this book down. I have read reviews from the original Nightshade series and am a little hesitant to read them as I want more Ember and Barrow. Ok, maybe a little less of the love story and more of the battle which is ensuing in this book, but still more adventures with Ember and Barrow. The only thing that was disappointing about this series was that is was written in third person, but maybe that is because the original series is told through the eyes of the main character, Cara. But I still loved the book and would recommend reading the two Nightshade Prequels and form your own opinion, what I like may not be your cup of tea :)

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

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!

I really enjoyed this book, just as much as Andrea's other books. I would recommend this book to any teenage girl who enjoys adventure and romance books. Definitely worth reading.