Thank you Walker Books for this book in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis:
For generations, the Rangers of Black Water Island have guarded the Old Herd against horrors released by the Rift. Cal West, an apprentice Ranger with a rare scar and even rarer gifts, fights daily to prove he belongs within their ranks. After nine years away, Meg Archer returns to her childhood home only to find the Island is facing a new threat that not even the Rangers are prepared for. Meg and Cal can’t ignore their attraction, but can they face their darkest fears to save the Island from disaster?
Review:
This is my first ever Rachael Craw book and damnnnn it was good. I had heard amazing things about Craw’s work and have a few of her books on my TBR waiting to be read. However I was a bit hesitant as everyone compares Craw to Stiefvater. Stiefvater, in my opinion, a good writer but damn does she take forever to get to the point and her females characters suck at existing, like soul sucking suck. So I was a bit hesitant in picking The Rift up but overall I am glad that I did.
There were some major things that brought the rating down for me and I thought it could have been delivered better. The main killer for me was the lack of explanation at the start. It was almost as though the readers were expected to understand what the hell was going on straight away, with little or no details. I had to keep reading and wonder what the fuck was going on for a while before the science of it all was explained to me. It would have been better if it was touched on a bit more throughout the book rather than ‘oh by the way make sense of this’ right near the end of the book. I know that it was the author’s intent but I feel as though that it didn’t work.
Basically there is an island that has a rift in reality which causes the deer that live there to be slightly different. A pharmaceutical company has discovered that the antlers of the deer can make powerful medicines while the rangers on the island protect the deer within reason and yet align themselves with the pharmaceutical company.
What I loved about The Rift was the unique story line, a mean a rift on a small island isn’t something that you read every day. Actually this is nothing like anything I have ever read before.
The characters were tense yet engaging, the type of characters that you draw you further and further into the book. So basically yes, I’m attached to these characters. They were too realistic not too! Meg and Cal both had different opinions on other people and weren’t silent about it. Which is better than your typical YA story were everyone wants to get along and bake a cherry pie. Meg was determined, fierce and has a great relationship with her mum. Cal was sweet, kind and his pet Reeva was amazing!
Overall the concept was brilliant. The characters were brilliant. The writing was divine! I just need more of an explanation.
Rating: 4/5
ISBN: 9781760650025
Publisher: Walker Books