Friday, July 6, 2012

Feature Friday ARC Review : Rift by Andrea Cremer


*Feature Friday is a meme I came up with to feature YA books that have not been released by reviewing them on The Tattered Page.*

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Expected release date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: Philomel Books
Pages: 431
Source: ARC

The Story:

Chronicling the rise of the Keepers, this is the stunning prequel to Andrea Cremer's internationally bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels.
- via Barnes & Noble

Rating: FIVE GOLD STARS!!!!!

My Review: One word: THRILLING


In the Lowlands of Scotland, AD 1404, shortly after Ember Morrow's sixteenth birthday finds herself embarking on a life-changing journey. Having grown up the youngest daughter of nobleman Edmund Morrow and Lady Ossia Morrow, she has known the life of privilege. But, unlike her sister, Agnes Morrow, who is soon-to-be shipped off and married to a kind, wealthy French count, Ember never warmed up to the idea of having the life of marriage and motherhood that was expected of her.

Lord Morrow, the arrogant man constantly in search of away to expand his land and authority that he was, expected to marry Ember to the son of a well-to-do landholder just as he did her sister. So it is no surprise that Ember's father is enraged when two knights, Alistair Hart and Barrow Hess, come to take her to Tearmunn in the Scottish Highlands. Ember who has awaited the day when the Conatus would come for her as promised on the eve of her birth. Ember's life for her mother's. "Death hovered over mother and unborn child."

Ember is brought to live in Tearmunn to serve Conatus, an elite Guard, where she discovers that the creatures she must put arms against are not of her world. But, their duty is not without a price. As a knight of the Conatus Guard a warrior must vow to forsake comfort of family and love and devote their lives to protecting the innocent against the supernatural evil that infest the world. A price that she is willing to pay without blinking an eye . . . until she beings her training under powerful, brooding Barrow Hess.

Before long, Ember finds herself wedged between the stern, handsome man who must train her to become the warrior she was meant to be, and easy-going Alistair Hart, her oldest and best friend from childhood. The only one who has always encouraged her hopes and dreams of a life beyond being a mother and wife. The young, black haired, blue eyed Master Hart, has kept his promised to come back for Ember after a year away serving as a knight for Conatus Guard. But after Ember's arrival at Tearmunn, Alistair reveals to her secrets that threatens their friendship.

All is tested when a member of the Circle is found to be dabbling in dark magic, involved in the murder of a fellow knight of the Guard. And in league with Bosque Mar, the sinister unearthly being with powers Conatus has never seen.  When the Guard is divided, Ember finds herself having to choose between following the path of darkness and fleeing Tearmunn to devote her life to fighting against knights that were once her comrades.

Rift by Andrea Cremer was an unexpectedly delicious treat that I devoured like no body's business . . . In this thrilling and action packed prequel to the Nightshade trilogy, readers meet a young woman who learns lessons on love, friendship and standing up for what she believes in during a time when woman were expected to behave a certain way. Rift, the story of how the rift between the Searchers and the Keepers came to be, is a must read!

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Rift:

Page 430: Ember pulled his face to hers, kissing him again before she said, "Your strength gives me courage."

He smiled gently. "No, Ember, that is all your strength and none of mine." She balked, but he kissed her, murmuring against her lips, "And that is why I love you." 


***Check out Andrea Cremer's website for more information about her and the Rift: HERE

Happy Reading!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Liebster award! You can find the nomination post here:
http://www.arielavalon.com/2012/07/liebster-award.html

Ashley Correa said...

Thank you! I am honored. =)

Anonymous said...

Hope you don't mind, but I actually nominated you for another award.
http://www.arielavalon.com/2012/07/versatile-blogger-award.html

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