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sara_dogs_and_dragons's review
3.0
3.25 - 3.5 stars.
This has a quite slower pace than the previous one. That's why I didn't enjoyed it as much as I wanted to.
Fortunately the characters are still well developed and the story is nice.
This has a quite slower pace than the previous one. That's why I didn't enjoyed it as much as I wanted to.
Fortunately the characters are still well developed and the story is nice.
threerings's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the second part of this story. I'm totally sold on the central romance, so I'm not likely to find any fault with it. Love the female protagonist so much. Unfortunately, I had a high fever when I read this and I don't really remember the ending... Oh well, I'll have to revisit.
-Reread this because the first time I read it, I had pneumonia and a 104 degree fever and didn't remember how it ended at all. This is not as flawless of a romance/adventure as the first book. When reading it NOT out of my head I noticed quite a few plotholes and things that didn't make sense except that they needed to happen for the plot. It's still enjoyable escapism and I still am committed to the central romance. This ends on something of a cliffhanger, though, so I'm fiending for the next book.
-Reread this because the first time I read it, I had pneumonia and a 104 degree fever and didn't remember how it ended at all. This is not as flawless of a romance/adventure as the first book. When reading it NOT out of my head I noticed quite a few plotholes and things that didn't make sense except that they needed to happen for the plot. It's still enjoyable escapism and I still am committed to the central romance. This ends on something of a cliffhanger, though, so I'm fiending for the next book.
takethyme's review against another edition
4.0
[b:The Rift Walker|10790180|The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire, #2)|Clay Griffith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1305038528l/10790180._SY75_.jpg|15702457] was an interesting continuation in the Vampire Empire series. More magic, villains and conspiracies with a gentle reminder this story is not a standalone. [b:The Greyfriar|8140709|The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, #1)|Clay Griffith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1281669917l/8140709._SX50_.jpg|12937172] is a must-read first or you will be lost.
I have to admit that my favorite parts were when Adele and the Greyfriar were together. From the streets of Alexandria to the tropical forests of Africa to the tomb of an Egyptian sarcophagus, this narrative does not lack action. I would love to see this trilogy made into a movie.
I have to admit that my favorite parts were when Adele and the Greyfriar were together. From the streets of Alexandria to the tropical forests of Africa to the tomb of an Egyptian sarcophagus, this narrative does not lack action. I would love to see this trilogy made into a movie.
lsneal's review against another edition
3.0
A fun sequel to the first book i the series, full of all of the Gothic melodrama that made the previous book so enjoyable.
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
5.0
Yup. Phenomenal follow-up. Better than the first, I'd say. All the rousing action, darkness, intrigue and romance as the first, with some added humor (thank you, Nsiri). It's been really interesting to see all the characters grow. Some, like Anhault and Cesare/Flay, you just love more and more. Some, like Kelvin and Mamoru, you enjoy the chance to understand from their POV, but also love to hate. And as for Clark, I hope he's gone for good, but somehow doubt it. Here's to hoping we get more of Nsiri's mother! And Selkirk's role (which I assume is not over yet), was the biggest tragedy to me - we'll see what happens to him now. This book is exactly what I wanted it to be after the first one - complete upkeep of the story without it getting old or overdone. Plus, the dialogue got better. As the plot thickens and the final conflict approaches, I cannot wait to see how everything is wrapped up in the last book!
*Revisiting after finishing the series - this was my favorite of the 3. Interesting, since usually I find the second to be more of a placeholder between start and finish, but the new characters introduced were fantastic and we don't get that in the third book. Plus, the relationship between A&G is both assured and still developing, whereas in the third one, it's almost too set to make it interesting any more. In any case, just an added thought in retrospect.
*Revisiting after finishing the series - this was my favorite of the 3. Interesting, since usually I find the second to be more of a placeholder between start and finish, but the new characters introduced were fantastic and we don't get that in the third book. Plus, the relationship between A&G is both assured and still developing, whereas in the third one, it's almost too set to make it interesting any more. In any case, just an added thought in retrospect.
suzjustsuz's review against another edition
5.0
Hard to imagine topping the first one, but they did. No sophomore slump here. Review to come.
maleficentknits's review against another edition
3.0
this was a bit slow in reading compared to the first book of the series... I'm hoping that the third book in the trilogy will make up for this fact.
mcummings's review against another edition
3.0
I seem to be in the minority here, because I actually enjoyed the first book in the series, Greyfriar, much better. The story telling is still very good in this installment, and if you believe in the world that has been created here, I believe that all of the characters act in an appropriate fashion. And not everything goes our Hero and Heroine's way, and the villains are not stupid. However.... and this may be unfair because it's my fault, I did not realize that this was a Young Adult story, and I wanted more romance in my romance. Our hero and heroine are adults, playing adult roles in a war torn world. When they get together, and may be torn apart relatively quickly, I'd expect more action!
aimee70807's review against another edition
5.0
Gotta love a strong heroine who is backed up by a cast of devoted men. Nearly as delightful as book 1. (I would say it was just as delightful, but the more I learn, the less I can believe they're going to live happily ever after in the end.)
reader_fictions's review against another edition
2.0
Blehhhhh. This is my feeling on finishing this book and on writing this review. I had a BLAST with the first Vampire Empire book. It was so fun and the narration was awesome and I was so excited to binge the whole series. Now, though, I’m bored. Maybe it’s the thirteen hour audiobook curse. Very few audiobooks are good enough to hold my attention past the thirteen hour mark. The first was just over ten, so maybe that’s it. Either way, The Rift Walker was a struggle for me to get through from beginning to end.
Objectively, I don’t think I should have been bored. The world building continues to be excellent. The Griffiths continue to expand on the mythology and to use it in clever ways. It’s awesome. Sure, I have some questions about how the empire quite came to be and its diversity, but on the whole I think this world is fabulous.
There’s also a plot. It’s not like my eyelids are drooping because nothing’s happening. There’s a wedding to happen or not happen and drama and fighting and more fighting and assassinations and all sorts of high octane stuff. The pace ought to be fast. I ought to be clinging to the edge of my seat. However, I’m just not.
Clearly, the problem lies in the characters, because that’s where my problem almost always resides. My problems are twofold. The first issue is that I don’t give a shit about this romance. Like, I don’t unship it, but I also don’t care whether the ship does or does not leave the dock. Adele and Gareth have the feelings for each other, but there’s no passion in it. I don’t feel their connection. It’s a very old-fashioned, very respectful sort of courtship set amidst all the daring and it comes off a big old snoozefest. In The Greyfriar, the romance was minor enough not to bother me, but it’s a much larger part of the novel here. I also still don’t get why Adele was so continually shocked that she, a princess, would be expected to marry for an alliance.
The other more serious issue is that Adele is now such a chosen one. It’s no wonder they got a Buffy actor to narrate these, because she’s Buffy in Egypt. As the books go along, she’s developing more and more mystical vampire fighting powers. She does train a bit, but mostly they just come to her at really convenient times. Even MORE conveniently, she manages to View Spoiler »zap Gareth with her magic vampire-killing powers, along with a bunch of other vampires, and incinerate all but him[/spoilers]. I’ve said it before and will continue to say it: if your plot feels convenient, any suspense will be gone. Though characters are dying left and right, Adele and Gareth are clearly completely safe to the end and I just can’t be bothered. I’m not saying the leads need to die, but I’m not going to be concerned if I don’t think there’s a chance. With the way they both almost died in this book but were miraculously clutched from the jaws of death, I have no fear.
Even James Marsters’ stellar narration could not make me care about The Rift Walker. That’s how out of it I was. I have the third audiobook and I’m seriously thinking about returning it, because I really have no interest. However, I think my parents would enjoy these, so I may gift them to my folks.
Objectively, I don’t think I should have been bored. The world building continues to be excellent. The Griffiths continue to expand on the mythology and to use it in clever ways. It’s awesome. Sure, I have some questions about how the empire quite came to be and its diversity, but on the whole I think this world is fabulous.
There’s also a plot. It’s not like my eyelids are drooping because nothing’s happening. There’s a wedding to happen or not happen and drama and fighting and more fighting and assassinations and all sorts of high octane stuff. The pace ought to be fast. I ought to be clinging to the edge of my seat. However, I’m just not.
Clearly, the problem lies in the characters, because that’s where my problem almost always resides. My problems are twofold. The first issue is that I don’t give a shit about this romance. Like, I don’t unship it, but I also don’t care whether the ship does or does not leave the dock. Adele and Gareth have the feelings for each other, but there’s no passion in it. I don’t feel their connection. It’s a very old-fashioned, very respectful sort of courtship set amidst all the daring and it comes off a big old snoozefest. In The Greyfriar, the romance was minor enough not to bother me, but it’s a much larger part of the novel here. I also still don’t get why Adele was so continually shocked that she, a princess, would be expected to marry for an alliance.
The other more serious issue is that Adele is now such a chosen one. It’s no wonder they got a Buffy actor to narrate these, because she’s Buffy in Egypt. As the books go along, she’s developing more and more mystical vampire fighting powers. She does train a bit, but mostly they just come to her at really convenient times. Even MORE conveniently, she manages to View Spoiler »zap Gareth with her magic vampire-killing powers, along with a bunch of other vampires, and incinerate all but him[/spoilers]. I’ve said it before and will continue to say it: if your plot feels convenient, any suspense will be gone. Though characters are dying left and right, Adele and Gareth are clearly completely safe to the end and I just can’t be bothered. I’m not saying the leads need to die, but I’m not going to be concerned if I don’t think there’s a chance. With the way they both almost died in this book but were miraculously clutched from the jaws of death, I have no fear.
Even James Marsters’ stellar narration could not make me care about The Rift Walker. That’s how out of it I was. I have the third audiobook and I’m seriously thinking about returning it, because I really have no interest. However, I think my parents would enjoy these, so I may gift them to my folks.