natureofjade's review against another edition
4.0
Dreadfully slow start. I started and stopped so many times but once it picked up, it really picked up. I was ready to give it a low rating and move on but I actually enjoyed the book. You just had to be patient and let the story advance.
immanythings's review against another edition
This was a hard read in the beginning. However, it was great toward the end and I am ready for book 2.
rachel_abby_reads's review
3.0
Simon Whitlock is an Inquisitor - sent to investigate claims of magic in the Kingdom. A rift opened at the border of the kingdom, causing all kinds of chaos and disorder, and the response is to deal with all magic harshly: find the source, exterminate, and to some, leave scorched earth behind. Luthor Strong is his apothecary companion - with a secret on the side. They go to the frozen North to investigate claims of werewolves invading the territory. Since all of their recent missions have resulted in the debunking of slight of hand or fraudulent wanna-be's, the expectation is that they'll find the same in the North. Instead, they find that werewolves are real, and frankly not the worst thing happening, by a long shot.
This book has a slightly supernatural Sherlock Holmesian feel. The Inquisitor is trained in investigation (mundane and magical), is brilliant, and perhaps slightly socially awkward (though this is asserted more than demonstrated). His associate is intended to assist in investigation, smoothing social situations when needed, and to perform patch and repair jobs on the Inquisitor. He's a decided Watson.
The book was interesting, and generally inoffensive. There is some violence, and the werewolf transformation is a disturbing process. No sex, and all nudity is in the context of werewolf transformation. Extremely mild language. This book is a set up for more in the series. I may keep reading, but I don't think this series will end up on my book shelves.
This book has a slightly supernatural Sherlock Holmesian feel. The Inquisitor is trained in investigation (mundane and magical), is brilliant, and perhaps slightly socially awkward (though this is asserted more than demonstrated). His associate is intended to assist in investigation, smoothing social situations when needed, and to perform patch and repair jobs on the Inquisitor. He's a decided Watson.
The book was interesting, and generally inoffensive. There is some violence, and the werewolf transformation is a disturbing process. No sex, and all nudity is in the context of werewolf transformation. Extremely mild language. This book is a set up for more in the series. I may keep reading, but I don't think this series will end up on my book shelves.
thistlechaser's review
1.0
After two bad books, I was really hoping for something better. Sadly this book wasn't it. I gave it a longer chance than I usually would, but it just wasn't worth it.
Set in some steam punk-y world, one full of magic and monsters, some inspector guy was tasked with finding the monsters. The main characters had NO personalities, the world was generic and meh. I checked the reviews, which pretty much said the same thing, so I gave up on this one.
Set in some steam punk-y world, one full of magic and monsters, some inspector guy was tasked with finding the monsters. The main characters had NO personalities, the world was generic and meh. I checked the reviews, which pretty much said the same thing, so I gave up on this one.
nixwolfwood's review
4.0
I've been excited about this book for a little while, so I had to get it from Amazon the day it was released. Sara had already listed it as one of her favorite reads for the year, thus far, so I knew I was going to enjoy it. (She's got good taste)
From the beginning I was pulled in to the story. I had no problem adjusting to this new world, and it was quite easy to visualize everything happening. This was wonderfully written and the story itself was fantastic.
My one real issue is there are a few times where a word was used inappropriately. One word, in specific, was used twice. The word "nubile", which means sexual awakening in a young girl. But it was used to explain a newly lit fire that had been just extinguished and a family immigrating to a new town.
I was quite impressed with the take of werewolves in this story. It wasn't something I had read before and I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
4.5/5 Platypires
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/wolves-of-the-northern-rift-by-jon-messenger
From the beginning I was pulled in to the story. I had no problem adjusting to this new world, and it was quite easy to visualize everything happening. This was wonderfully written and the story itself was fantastic.
My one real issue is there are a few times where a word was used inappropriately. One word, in specific, was used twice. The word "nubile", which means sexual awakening in a young girl. But it was used to explain a newly lit fire that had been just extinguished and a family immigrating to a new town.
I was quite impressed with the take of werewolves in this story. It wasn't something I had read before and I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
4.5/5 Platypires
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/wolves-of-the-northern-rift-by-jon-messenger
woolfardis's review
2.0
This review can be found on Amaranthine Reads.
Wolves of the Northern Rift follows Inquisitor Simon and his aide, Luthor the apothecary, as they pursue rumours of magical and supernatural beings that have begun appearing after the Rift opened. Werewolves have been reported attacking a frozen hamlet on the outskirts of civilisation, but what they find might not be the normal hoax they've become used to.
This is a very quick and simple read with a fairly obvious plot; an intriguing story-line that is sadly let down by rather atrocious writing. Billed as steampunk, the only steampunk things we encounter are a pocket watch (standard) and a zeppelin. Aside from that, it is purely a supernatural fantasy novel with sci-fi elements.
The characters are decidedly two-dimensional and really lacking in all areas. There's really nothing to choose between them all and they're inter-changeable at any given moment. All female characters are there to either look pretty, say stupid things or be romantic possibilities for the men.
The humour and dialogue were the worst parts of this book: the humour was so forced and lacking that it was almost funny with how pathetic it really was. The dialogue was some of the worst I've read in a long while: everything was a cliché, everything was attempted humour. It felt so childish and unreal throughout.
The setting is fairly ambiguous, as well, as we never really get a sense other than it's bloody freezing here in this frozen wasteland and it's hardly explored. The book itself is full of The-Gun-That-I-Have-In-My-Right-Hand-Is-Loaded kind of obviousness that continually frustrates you as you read, and clichés are abound. There is a writing rule that runs along the lines of "show don't tell" and sadly everything was trying to be shown and not told that it was all completely forced to the point that we are shown everything, and it is pushed up to our eyes so that we don't miss it completely. I will say that the writing improved slightly as the novel went along, but not enough for it to warrant more than a comment.
It is fine if you're after something incredibly quick and simple to read, though if you're hankering after some steampunk I would give this a relatively wide berth. It's nothing to shout about, but it is a round peg that fits nicely in to the round peg of generic fiction for the masses. I won't be reading the rest of the series as there really wasn't much to hold on to, either.
Wolves of the Northern Rift follows Inquisitor Simon and his aide, Luthor the apothecary, as they pursue rumours of magical and supernatural beings that have begun appearing after the Rift opened. Werewolves have been reported attacking a frozen hamlet on the outskirts of civilisation, but what they find might not be the normal hoax they've become used to.
This is a very quick and simple read with a fairly obvious plot; an intriguing story-line that is sadly let down by rather atrocious writing. Billed as steampunk, the only steampunk things we encounter are a pocket watch (standard) and a zeppelin. Aside from that, it is purely a supernatural fantasy novel with sci-fi elements.
The characters are decidedly two-dimensional and really lacking in all areas. There's really nothing to choose between them all and they're inter-changeable at any given moment. All female characters are there to either look pretty, say stupid things or be romantic possibilities for the men.
The humour and dialogue were the worst parts of this book: the humour was so forced and lacking that it was almost funny with how pathetic it really was. The dialogue was some of the worst I've read in a long while: everything was a cliché, everything was attempted humour. It felt so childish and unreal throughout.
The setting is fairly ambiguous, as well, as we never really get a sense other than it's bloody freezing here in this frozen wasteland and it's hardly explored. The book itself is full of The-Gun-That-I-Have-In-My-Right-Hand-Is-Loaded kind of obviousness that continually frustrates you as you read, and clichés are abound. There is a writing rule that runs along the lines of "show don't tell" and sadly everything was trying to be shown and not told that it was all completely forced to the point that we are shown everything, and it is pushed up to our eyes so that we don't miss it completely. I will say that the writing improved slightly as the novel went along, but not enough for it to warrant more than a comment.
It is fine if you're after something incredibly quick and simple to read, though if you're hankering after some steampunk I would give this a relatively wide berth. It's nothing to shout about, but it is a round peg that fits nicely in to the round peg of generic fiction for the masses. I won't be reading the rest of the series as there really wasn't much to hold on to, either.
jesm98's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this novel. If it were a movie, I am sure it would be steampunk fantasy. It has a nice reveal of the problem in the story, I liked the characters, and I was interested in finding out what happens next.
carlyoc's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book more than I was expecting to, even if it was a little over-the-top steampunk in the beginning; one of those books that mentions top hats, zeppelins, and pocket watches all within the first few paragraphs in case one wasn't enough. As the story progressed, the author was able to build the world without too many references to such obvious cliches, a world where the central government fears the spread of magic entering through a Rift. As a Royal Inquisitor, it is up to Simon and his apprentice Luthor to investigate all alleged instances of magic and destroy any that turn out to be more than hoaxes. But Simon will soon discover, magic has become more deeply rooted in the kingdom than he thought possible and the divide between good and evil is not as simple as it seems.
bcinkoske's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next book. The book presents a different take on magic and how it affects the lives of people with out magic. The book is sort of a Sherlock Holmes meets werewolves. A good mystery with extras.
nixwolfwood's review against another edition
4.0
I've been excited about this book for a little while, so I had to get it from Amazon the day it was released. Sara had already listed it as one of her favorite reads for the year, thus far, so I knew I was going to enjoy it. (She's got good taste)
From the beginning I was pulled in to the story. I had no problem adjusting to this new world, and it was quite easy to visualize everything happening. This was wonderfully written and the story itself was fantastic.
My one real issue is there are a few times where a word was used inappropriately. One word, in specific, was used twice. The word "nubile", which means sexual awakening in a young girl. But it was used to explain a newly lit fire that had been just extinguished and a family immigrating to a new town.
I was quite impressed with the take of werewolves in this story. It wasn't something I had read before and I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
4.5/5 Platypires
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/wolves-of-the-northern-rift-by-jon-messenger
From the beginning I was pulled in to the story. I had no problem adjusting to this new world, and it was quite easy to visualize everything happening. This was wonderfully written and the story itself was fantastic.
My one real issue is there are a few times where a word was used inappropriately. One word, in specific, was used twice. The word "nubile", which means sexual awakening in a young girl. But it was used to explain a newly lit fire that had been just extinguished and a family immigrating to a new town.
I was quite impressed with the take of werewolves in this story. It wasn't something I had read before and I'm very much looking forward to continuing this series.
4.5/5 Platypires
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/wolves-of-the-northern-rift-by-jon-messenger