Review: Rift by Andrea Cremer

Rift 
By: Andrea Cremer 
Source: ARC from BEA
Published: August 7th 2012 (Yesterday)

Summary: 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.

Thoughts: Prequels just are not my thing. I can't even remember one that I liked. That's why I was so surprised when I ended up loving Rift. The plot, the characters, the history! Everything in this novel was perfect. It was one that you just can't put down. '

First, Andrea just has this way of writing that makes her books stand out. You want a fight scene? She can write a kick-ass one that will having you falling over your seat in suspense. You want romance? Well this lady can write some heart melting romantic scenes that make you fall in love as her characters do. Andrea Cremer can do it all, it's what I loved about her Nightshade series and it was just as good, if not better in the prequel, Rift. 

Rift also took place in early fifteen century Scotland. Which is completely different then the Nightshade series, and it took me a little while to see the correlation between the two novels that made Rift a prequel. After a few chapters it easier to see how the two mix but Rift is a great novel on it's own. You don't need to read or understand what happens in the Nightshade series to read and enjoy Rift.  

Barrow. He has to be one of my favorite characters that Andrea has created so far. He's strong yet silent, and just perfect. The main character Ember is a great female heroine. She belongs up there with Katniss from the Hunger Games and Tris from Divergent. She knows what she wants and goes for it. You won't find Ember hiding behind a guy, she's fighting along side them. 

Whether you've read the Nightshade series yet or not. Rift is a great novel. Andrea takes you on an adventure in this book that you just don't want to miss.