Author: Rachael Craw
Age: Young Adult
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Publication Date: October 8, 2019
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Hardcover
Purchase: Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle | Audible | B&N
Synopsis:
As corporate greed is pitted against supernatural forces, two young friends must try to protect the precious Old Herd -- and their island itself.
For generations, the rangers of Black Water Island have guarded the Old Herd against the horrors released by the Rift. And Cal West, an apprentice ranger, fights daily to prove he belongs within their ranks. But even greater challenges await with the return of his childhood friend Meg Archer and the onset of a new threat that not even the rangers are prepared for. Now Meg and Cal, while struggling with their mutual attraction, must face their darkest fears to save the island from disaster. In a possible near future where Big Pharma is pitted against ancient traditions and the supernatural, Rachael Craw's gripping and brutal tale, inspired by Greek mythology, will immerse readers and leave them intoxicated by its richly imagined world.
My Rating:
My Thoughts:
I started out giving this a 3.5 star rating, but after some thinking I'm giving this a solid 4 star rating. It took me a good 100 pages to really be pulled into the story. I almost gave up several times because of the slow start, but after those first 100 pages I was really pulled into the story and all it offered.
The story follows two main characters from : Cal West who is an apprentice ranger with rare abilities and Meg Archer who returns to Black Water Island after 9 years of being away. These two are old friends who get reunited only to find that they have to save their island.
This book had a good mix of action, drama and romance. Definitely well balanced read. The writing, as I mentioned earlier, was a bit confusing every now and then, but I got used to the style once I became engrossed in the story. The fantasy aspect comes in with the creatures that are around Black Waters such as hellhounds you can't see, mythical deers and magic.
This was a slow start, but once it picked up it was fast. I loved how I could really connect with both Cal and Meg. They were really great protagonist. I enjoyed reading from both their points of view and seeing how they saved the day.
Overall, this was a good read and I'm glad I kept reading and didn't give up on it. Definitely a one-sitter.
Author Interview
ND: Top 3 authors that you enjoy reading from?
RC: Katherine Arden, Laini Taylor and Elizabeth Knox
ND: What is your favorite genre to read?
RC: Sci-fi/Fantasy
ND: What is your least favorite genre to read?
RC: Crime
ND: How long does it take you to come up with a solid idea for a story?
RC: The initial idea may come all of a sudden, sometimes in a dream, then the development takes me many months. I write my way into the story, often using visual cues, images or scenes that I picture in my mind almost cinematically. The plot is slowly discovered by writing from inside the skin of my characters and seeing the world through their eyes.
ND: Of all the novels you've written, who is your favorite character?
RC: This is sooooo hard. Aunt Miriam from the Spark trilogy. She is the most like me. To read more about the Spark trilogy, click here: https://rachaelcraw.com/books/
ND: Favorite book you've read this year so far?
RC: The Bear And The Nightingale trilogy.
ND: What does your writing routine look like?
RC: I pour a diet coke. I make sure my headphones are charged. I check my socials. I re-read my last couple of paragraphs. I write … or bang my head on my laptop and weep into my diet coke, depending on how things are going.
About the Author
Giveaway is open to International
Must be 13+ to Enter
5 Winners will receive a Copy of THE RIFT by Rachael Craw
Ends October 28, 2019
Big thank you to JeanBookNerd for having me on board of yet another awesome blog tour!