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Nightshade Prequel #2
Nightshade - The prequel #2: Oprøret
Ember og Barrow er i en lille gruppe på flugt fra Tearmunn hvor krigerkvinden, Eira, har taget magten over ordenen og lukket mørke kræfter ind. Alistair er besat af tanken om at få Ember tilbage, både til ordenen og som hans brud, og hans sårede følelser gør ham til en farlig modstander. Ember må dog indse at Alistairs kærlighed måske er oprørernes eneste mulighed for at lukke Sprækken til underverdenen og vinde Tearmunn tilbage.
289 pages
First published January 1, 2013
110 people are currently reading
8052 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Cremer
42 books6,659 followersAndrea Cremer also known as Andrea Robertson, is the author of the internationally bestselling Nightshade series. She spent her childhood daydreaming and roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin.
Andrea has always loved writing and has never stopped writing, but she only recently plunged into the deep end of the pool that is professional writing. Before she wrote her first novel, Andrea was a history professor at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. In her books, she strives to bring together her two passions: history and fantasy. Andrea now lives in New York and writes full time.
To contact Andrea, please visit, andreacremer.com
Andrea has always loved writing and has never stopped writing, but she only recently plunged into the deep end of the pool that is professional writing. Before she wrote her first novel, Andrea was a history professor at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. In her books, she strives to bring together her two passions: history and fantasy. Andrea now lives in New York and writes full time.
To contact Andrea, please visit, andreacremer.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
January 31, 2023
2.5 Stars
January 14, 2013
I can't believe this was only a duology. I want more! I need more! Well, I don't really need more but I do want more. Even though the Nightshade series provides you with a enough information to truly understand and appreciate the series, the prequel gives you the opportunity to find out more and exactly how it all came to be? Well, that's what Rift and Rise does. It's the foundation of the story and the whole series in my opinion and it's something I'm so glad I read.
Before starting Rise I wasn't to sure of what to expect and while it doesn't really provide a conclusion to the war - which is completely expected, it does provide you with a new world that is highly fantasising and full of history. One full of characters that are lovable and highly entertaining. Especially Barrow - I'm sorry guys, but even he beats Shay or Ren - SORRY! Just look at his swoon worthy quotes, surely that's enough to swag you to want to read these books;
"By all that lives on earth and in heaven," he said roughly. "There is nothing I want so much as you."
"I would make love to you here, in a bed, in a river. No place would thwart my desire for you."
"When you touch me, I could forget altogether that my body still mends."
See, I told you! Le sigh! I just loved chapter two.
Anyway, the ending is left open and I think it was a great idea to leave it that way, because as you all know, the story continues in Nightshade. It's kind of bittersweet really, in a way, I wanted a happy ending for Barrow and Ember and I don't mean in a relationship way for them. I wanted them to be able to defeat Bosque because of how much they've had to deal with for the war and you just know, they weren't able to defeat him. But mostly I want to know if they did continue to fight or if they died trying? Did they have children or get married? What happened with Agnes and her child? And what happened to Alistair? I find these are the questions I'm asking myself. I almost want to re-read the Nightshade series to see if there's any mention of these characters because I honestly can't remember. Either way Ember, Barrow, Kael, Cian and the gang are characters that are going to stick with me for a long time, and I'd highly recommend this series to any fans of the Nightshade series.
Before starting Rise I wasn't to sure of what to expect and while it doesn't really provide a conclusion to the war - which is completely expected, it does provide you with a new world that is highly fantasising and full of history. One full of characters that are lovable and highly entertaining. Especially Barrow - I'm sorry guys, but even he beats Shay or Ren - SORRY! Just look at his swoon worthy quotes, surely that's enough to swag you to want to read these books;
"By all that lives on earth and in heaven," he said roughly. "There is nothing I want so much as you."
"I would make love to you here, in a bed, in a river. No place would thwart my desire for you."
"When you touch me, I could forget altogether that my body still mends."
See, I told you! Le sigh! I just loved chapter two.
Anyway, the ending is left open and I think it was a great idea to leave it that way, because as you all know, the story continues in Nightshade. It's kind of bittersweet really, in a way, I wanted a happy ending for Barrow and Ember and I don't mean in a relationship way for them. I wanted them to be able to defeat Bosque because of how much they've had to deal with for the war and you just know, they weren't able to defeat him. But mostly I want to know if they did continue to fight or if they died trying? Did they have children or get married? What happened with Agnes and her child? And what happened to Alistair? I find these are the questions I'm asking myself. I almost want to re-read the Nightshade series to see if there's any mention of these characters because I honestly can't remember. Either way Ember, Barrow, Kael, Cian and the gang are characters that are going to stick with me for a long time, and I'd highly recommend this series to any fans of the Nightshade series.
January 31, 2013
*Genre* YA, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.0
*Full review shortly*
I'm kind of disappointed in this book truth be told. I know that it's only a two part prequel to the Nightshade series but I'm feeling that there should be at least one more book to fully explain and explore the Searchers, Guardians, etc.
I seriously loathe Alistair and his actions throughout this book, and I guess that's because of the writing ability of Cremer who loves to get under our skin (IE Ren and the ending of the Nightshade series).
I didn't see where Ember ended up being a strong, likable heroine in the end. It was more like chance and luck than anything else. The book spends LOTS of time with Bosque Mar and Lady Eira as well as the ills that perpetrates the very being of Alistair's soul.
This could be considered the end of the beginning since the next book leaps in time to Calla Tor's story. However, there are a ton of questions I have and I'm not in the minority on this including what happens with Agnes and her baby?
Perhaps in her spare time Cremer can pen a novella that connects the series even further!
*Rating* 3.0
*Full review shortly*
I'm kind of disappointed in this book truth be told. I know that it's only a two part prequel to the Nightshade series but I'm feeling that there should be at least one more book to fully explain and explore the Searchers, Guardians, etc.
I seriously loathe Alistair and his actions throughout this book, and I guess that's because of the writing ability of Cremer who loves to get under our skin (IE Ren and the ending of the Nightshade series).
I didn't see where Ember ended up being a strong, likable heroine in the end. It was more like chance and luck than anything else. The book spends LOTS of time with Bosque Mar and Lady Eira as well as the ills that perpetrates the very being of Alistair's soul.
This could be considered the end of the beginning since the next book leaps in time to Calla Tor's story. However, there are a ton of questions I have and I'm not in the minority on this including what happens with Agnes and her baby?
Perhaps in her spare time Cremer can pen a novella that connects the series even further!
Read
June 14, 2016Loved this book. Really felt the danger. As usual I have a ton of sticky notes. Such great writing and imagery. If you like werewolves or historical knights in shining armor stories then this is for you.
November 19, 2013
Make no mistake I heart ANdrea Cremer and her NIghtshade trilogy and her Rift book, but what the hell happened?! This book was so boring and bland. Nothing Happened!!! It kills me to give this book 2 stars since I Love the previous book so much!!!!
Want to read
August 13, 2012Nightshade Prequel, #3 anyone ? I really hope so, although I still have not read 'Rift' yet and 'Rise' is not even out yet :D
January 12, 2013
Spoilers
Disappointing. I enjoyed the first book in the series but I found this one positively boring. The plot wasn't engrossing at all. For the majority of the book nothing really happened apart from 1. Ember and Barrow running away and hiding 2. Ember wanting to have sex with Barrow, and Barrow turning her down for various reasons (oh and by the end of the book they still hadn't had sex even though one of the arcs was how sexually frustrated they were) 3. Ember whining about her love for Barrow and whinging about everything else in her life 4. Bosque Mar manipulating Eira and Alistair to do his evil bidding… which by the way he did in a cheesy and cartoonish way 5. Alistair and Eira becoming more evil and power hungry. So yea, it was all rather dull. I have to admit I was entertained towards the end when the action kicked in but it didn't make up for the rest of the book which was mediocre at best. The romance, the characters, the action and the plot was for the most part rubbish.
Ember lost what little charm she had and turned into a whiny, pathetic loser. Every other thought she had was about Barrow and her pathetic wuv life - I should believe in the love and romance without having to have the heroine repeatedly think about the hero and how much she loves him — it was irritating. Another thing that bothered me about Ember was how much she hated wearing dresses, I kept rolling my eyes every time she moaned about having to wear a dress. Seriously, the world was in danger of being taken over by evil and demons and she was whinging about having to wear a dress. Why do authors think that heroines who hate wearing dresses equals a strong, brave, profound heroine? It doesn't, it just makes them come across like stuck up, fussy bitches. The only thing I liked about Ember was her relationship with her sister, Agnes.
Barrow was okay, I guess… he was just there. He didn't stand out in any way but I think out of all the love interests in the Nightshade series, he's probably the best (yea, the rest were really bad)… Ren was a giant manslut, Shay was a boring douche and Alistair was a psycho. I just wish Barrow had more to his plank like personality apart from his honour.
The romance was bland but that was to be expected with a cookie cutter heroine and a flat hero. I didn't buy the love they had for each other, it takes more than Ember complaining about her love life for me to be convinced of their passion and connection towards each other. Half way through, I was actually wishing that Ember would end up turning evil and running away with Alistair as that seemed a more exciting prospect than Ember/Barrow's relationship.
Alistair and Eira's POV were the most interesting (though that's not saying much), they were both delusional, desperate and psychotic… it made for half decent reading. However, I wasn't impressed with how easily they were played by Bosque… it was obvious he was manipulating them so he could become more powerful, and I thought it was dumb how Eira and Alistair never doubted or questioned him. I would have had more respect for them both if they acted half as intelligent as they were supposed to be.
The best thing about the book was finding out about the origins of the Elemental cross, the wolves, the seekers or keepers or whatever the hell they're called, the witches and the prophecy… it tied up the Nightshade series quite well.
All in all, I was less than impressed… I liked the ending and the history/backstory to Nightshade but the rubbish plot, unexiciting romance and whiny cliched heroine let the book down.
Disappointing. I enjoyed the first book in the series but I found this one positively boring. The plot wasn't engrossing at all. For the majority of the book nothing really happened apart from 1. Ember and Barrow running away and hiding 2. Ember wanting to have sex with Barrow, and Barrow turning her down for various reasons (oh and by the end of the book they still hadn't had sex even though one of the arcs was how sexually frustrated they were) 3. Ember whining about her love for Barrow and whinging about everything else in her life 4. Bosque Mar manipulating Eira and Alistair to do his evil bidding… which by the way he did in a cheesy and cartoonish way 5. Alistair and Eira becoming more evil and power hungry. So yea, it was all rather dull. I have to admit I was entertained towards the end when the action kicked in but it didn't make up for the rest of the book which was mediocre at best. The romance, the characters, the action and the plot was for the most part rubbish.
Ember lost what little charm she had and turned into a whiny, pathetic loser. Every other thought she had was about Barrow and her pathetic wuv life - I should believe in the love and romance without having to have the heroine repeatedly think about the hero and how much she loves him — it was irritating. Another thing that bothered me about Ember was how much she hated wearing dresses, I kept rolling my eyes every time she moaned about having to wear a dress. Seriously, the world was in danger of being taken over by evil and demons and she was whinging about having to wear a dress. Why do authors think that heroines who hate wearing dresses equals a strong, brave, profound heroine? It doesn't, it just makes them come across like stuck up, fussy bitches. The only thing I liked about Ember was her relationship with her sister, Agnes.
Barrow was okay, I guess… he was just there. He didn't stand out in any way but I think out of all the love interests in the Nightshade series, he's probably the best (yea, the rest were really bad)… Ren was a giant manslut, Shay was a boring douche and Alistair was a psycho. I just wish Barrow had more to his plank like personality apart from his honour.
The romance was bland but that was to be expected with a cookie cutter heroine and a flat hero. I didn't buy the love they had for each other, it takes more than Ember complaining about her love life for me to be convinced of their passion and connection towards each other. Half way through, I was actually wishing that Ember would end up turning evil and running away with Alistair as that seemed a more exciting prospect than Ember/Barrow's relationship.
Alistair and Eira's POV were the most interesting (though that's not saying much), they were both delusional, desperate and psychotic… it made for half decent reading. However, I wasn't impressed with how easily they were played by Bosque… it was obvious he was manipulating them so he could become more powerful, and I thought it was dumb how Eira and Alistair never doubted or questioned him. I would have had more respect for them both if they acted half as intelligent as they were supposed to be.
The best thing about the book was finding out about the origins of the Elemental cross, the wolves, the seekers or keepers or whatever the hell they're called, the witches and the prophecy… it tied up the Nightshade series quite well.
All in all, I was less than impressed… I liked the ending and the history/backstory to Nightshade but the rubbish plot, unexiciting romance and whiny cliched heroine let the book down.
January 2, 2013
Though I really enjoyed the first one in this prequel series, I'm now a bit worried about book two. The teaser chapters (available through MTV's Hollywood Crush site) suggest that this one is going to bring the unnecessary romance and sex drama like WOAH.
May 6, 2013
Fantastic sequel to the prequel. Andrea is an extremely talented writer and really knows her time period. I love Ember and Barrow and Alistair becomes the perfect villain, hardened by unrequited love. We see the origins of the Guardians and Searchers we became so familiar with in the Nightshade trilogy. We see sacrifice and Bosque's evil nature unfolding on every page. And he is the worst kind, infiltrating all that was once good just with a spark of his evil. It is a true play on the wars humankind has fought especially with the prejudices of the Middle Ages. Andrea is both a phenomenal writer and scholar and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
Read
May 15, 2021Dnf at 60%
June 19, 2021
I just love this series and can't wait for the Snakeroot Trilogy - more books about this world! Everytime I pick it up again, it makes me so happy and these two prequels didn't disappoint. To be honest: there could be another prequel. And I could do with another one. How are there only two?
If you like Nightshade and want to get a more in depth view of how it all came together - read these.
And if you don't read these - let me quote this book - "You're simply viewing the world in too limited ways."
Kidding, read what you like but I really recommend this series if you enjoy well thought out, sometimes sarcastic characters fighting their ways through a world of fantasy encounters and dark spells (plus some love).
If you like Nightshade and want to get a more in depth view of how it all came together - read these.
And if you don't read these - let me quote this book - "You're simply viewing the world in too limited ways."
Kidding, read what you like but I really recommend this series if you enjoy well thought out, sometimes sarcastic characters fighting their ways through a world of fantasy encounters and dark spells (plus some love).
January 10, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: An emotional and riveting conclusion to a wonderfully built series.
Opening Sentence: Alistair could remember screaming only once before, at least since he’d become a man.
The Review:
Andrea Cremer knows how to create a world filled with amazement and wonder. One of the reasons why I love her work is mostly due to the lore and culture of her worlds. They are so detailed and realistic, enough so that I always find myself getting lost in them. A favorite series of mine is the Nightshade Prequel. Rise is the second and final book in the prequel series, and it is fantastic.
In an emotional journey, Rise begins shortly after the end of Rift. Ember and Barrow have left Tearmunn after the death of Sorcha. Eira has solidified her alliance with Bosque Mar and have taken actions to rising in power. Alistair is a lover scorn over Ember’s abandonment and is torn between protecting her and accepting his place in Eira and Bosque Mar’s big plan. Nether world evils follow Ember to the ends of the world, thwarting her escape. It results in more problems than one can handle, and she must find a way to save everyone she loves. But will it mean sacrificing Ember or just her dreams?
Ember has grown so much in Rise. She is not the young woman whose father paid to enter Tearmunn. She is no longer the young and wild girl who was headstrong without faults. Now, Ember has responsibilities and desires, loyalty and courage. Ember has faced danger and saved loved ones, many times, and she knows what pain is, emotionally and physically. I enjoyed Ember very much, and I appreciated where Cremer has taken her as a character. I like how she has realistic human feelings, despite the time period that she lives in. They were real and easy to relate to, and I found myself cheering for her the entire way.
Rise brings back many characters, ones that we love and others that we love to hate. There is Barrow, the dark and broody knight that has been quickly won over by Ember. He shows a different side of himself in Rise, and I didn’t think I could love him any more than I already do. Alistair also shows a different side of himself, and he becomes more involved in the storyline which makes it easy to start piecing together this world and that of the Nightshade series. There are also many other characters that evolve to the situations at hand, and it’s amazing how much they have changed to the twists. Each one individually different and interesting to read.
Rise is an amazing follow up to Rift. The characters have a way about them, taking a life of their own through the words on the page. It’s bittersweet to know that this is the end of the prequel series, having only two books to know about, but Cremer also finished the story with providing answers and links to the present day counterparts. Like I’ve said before, Cremer knows how to write a scene and her world-building skills are superb. It’s easy to get lost within the walls of Tearmunn or even outside of them, for I feel like I can take a breathe of air in what feels like a realistic world.
Cremer knows how to take risks in a calculated way. She manages to write stories that are compelling to the reader’s senses and emotions, enough so that she’ll have you wanting more. Cremer talks about different layers of love as well as lust. She also weaves in messages of loyalty, beliefs, and the faith you need because you want to be a part of something big.
Rise is a great way to start the new year. I highly urge you all to read Rise, and if you haven’t read the series, to also pick up Rift and the Nightshade trilogy.
Notable Scene:
“As Ember spoke, her cheeks became wet with tears. “I am so sorry that you lost Toshach. But I cannot regret what he did, for I could not bear to lose you.”
Barrow drew a ragged breath, lowering his eyes, and few tear-drops escaped onto his cheeks.
“I love you,” Ember whispered. No words she’d spoken had ever felt so important or so frightening. “I have loved no one by you.”
Barrow looked at Ember, and she saw that his deep blue eyes were the color of the sea upon which they now sailed.
“Kiss me, Ember.”
FTC Advisory: Philomel/Penguin provided me with a copy of Rise. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: An emotional and riveting conclusion to a wonderfully built series.
Opening Sentence: Alistair could remember screaming only once before, at least since he’d become a man.
The Review:
Andrea Cremer knows how to create a world filled with amazement and wonder. One of the reasons why I love her work is mostly due to the lore and culture of her worlds. They are so detailed and realistic, enough so that I always find myself getting lost in them. A favorite series of mine is the Nightshade Prequel. Rise is the second and final book in the prequel series, and it is fantastic.
In an emotional journey, Rise begins shortly after the end of Rift. Ember and Barrow have left Tearmunn after the death of Sorcha. Eira has solidified her alliance with Bosque Mar and have taken actions to rising in power. Alistair is a lover scorn over Ember’s abandonment and is torn between protecting her and accepting his place in Eira and Bosque Mar’s big plan. Nether world evils follow Ember to the ends of the world, thwarting her escape. It results in more problems than one can handle, and she must find a way to save everyone she loves. But will it mean sacrificing Ember or just her dreams?
Ember has grown so much in Rise. She is not the young woman whose father paid to enter Tearmunn. She is no longer the young and wild girl who was headstrong without faults. Now, Ember has responsibilities and desires, loyalty and courage. Ember has faced danger and saved loved ones, many times, and she knows what pain is, emotionally and physically. I enjoyed Ember very much, and I appreciated where Cremer has taken her as a character. I like how she has realistic human feelings, despite the time period that she lives in. They were real and easy to relate to, and I found myself cheering for her the entire way.
Rise brings back many characters, ones that we love and others that we love to hate. There is Barrow, the dark and broody knight that has been quickly won over by Ember. He shows a different side of himself in Rise, and I didn’t think I could love him any more than I already do. Alistair also shows a different side of himself, and he becomes more involved in the storyline which makes it easy to start piecing together this world and that of the Nightshade series. There are also many other characters that evolve to the situations at hand, and it’s amazing how much they have changed to the twists. Each one individually different and interesting to read.
Rise is an amazing follow up to Rift. The characters have a way about them, taking a life of their own through the words on the page. It’s bittersweet to know that this is the end of the prequel series, having only two books to know about, but Cremer also finished the story with providing answers and links to the present day counterparts. Like I’ve said before, Cremer knows how to write a scene and her world-building skills are superb. It’s easy to get lost within the walls of Tearmunn or even outside of them, for I feel like I can take a breathe of air in what feels like a realistic world.
Cremer knows how to take risks in a calculated way. She manages to write stories that are compelling to the reader’s senses and emotions, enough so that she’ll have you wanting more. Cremer talks about different layers of love as well as lust. She also weaves in messages of loyalty, beliefs, and the faith you need because you want to be a part of something big.
Rise is a great way to start the new year. I highly urge you all to read Rise, and if you haven’t read the series, to also pick up Rift and the Nightshade trilogy.
Notable Scene:
“As Ember spoke, her cheeks became wet with tears. “I am so sorry that you lost Toshach. But I cannot regret what he did, for I could not bear to lose you.”
Barrow drew a ragged breath, lowering his eyes, and few tear-drops escaped onto his cheeks.
“I love you,” Ember whispered. No words she’d spoken had ever felt so important or so frightening. “I have loved no one by you.”
Barrow looked at Ember, and she saw that his deep blue eyes were the color of the sea upon which they now sailed.
“Kiss me, Ember.”
FTC Advisory: Philomel/Penguin provided me with a copy of Rise. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
February 4, 2013
A sequel rich in lore, embedded with deception, magic, danger and fueled by love, RIFT is a must have it, must read book! There's something to be said about an Andrea Cremer story, and that's that I LOVE her writing! I didn't think I'd love this series as much as I loved the Nightshade series, but Andrea proved me wrong with RIFT. Now with RISE all I can say is the same thing I did with RIFT, this is Andrea's best book yet! I am hopelessly in love with the way she creates her world, her incredibly enchanting, and yes dangerous world, and her characters.
There is something about the way Andrea writes her characters that just gets to me, and in a good way. In RISE as has been the case with the rest of Andrea's books I've read and fallen in love with, somewhere during the course of reading the story, her characters cross over from being fictional to becoming real. At least in my mind. I can easily not only visualize Andrea's stunning, and captivating world, but I can clearly picture the characters in their elements. I love that Andrea makes me fall for each of her characters, but I can't help but love them, even the ones I wish I could despise, because she allows me to understand them. She shows me what motivates them, what drives them to make the choices they do. Whether driven by love, devotion, greed, jealousy, the need for power or what ever it is. It's through those realistic emotions that makes each of her characters feel more real. I loved being able to see what motived and drove each of the characters on their quests and their downfalls.
My favorite part of this book was getting into the makings of what becomes the lore and back bone of the Nightshade series. This rich history was nothing less than incredibly enticing. I wanted more! Some things I started to figure out right as things were being revealed, and other things I was shocked by. There is plenty of deception, twists, and shocking discovery that fueled how addiction with this exciting storyline. What really drives this story is love. Andrea Cremer knows how to write sensual, and she does it well.
Yes, I'm a hopeless romantic and I can't get enough of Ember and Barrow. They have this truly dynamic, unbreakable bond that makes me believe in this story's true love (*sigh* who doesn't wnat to believe in true love?). These two are a perfect match for each other, at least in my eyes. Ember is ever the fierce, brave warrior I knew she'd be in this story. Barrow is the one that surprised me the most in this book. I LOVE that he embraces Ember for all she is. He helps her and is there to protect her and do anything for her, but I love that he also allows her to do things on her own, and doesn't smother nor does he try to change her. The two of them together could make me sigh, and laugh all within the same scene.
There are a few other relationships in this book that brought out the emotions and also fueled the twists that take place. I was surprised that I felt that each relationship was not only believable, but just as in-depth as the characters are. Honestly, this story has it all. Strong well rounded characters, a rich history into what started it all, and incredible writing. You don't need to be a wolf fan to pick up this series. If you love magic, danger, adventure and romance than this is a book for you! I highly recommend picking it up!
There is something about the way Andrea writes her characters that just gets to me, and in a good way. In RISE as has been the case with the rest of Andrea's books I've read and fallen in love with, somewhere during the course of reading the story, her characters cross over from being fictional to becoming real. At least in my mind. I can easily not only visualize Andrea's stunning, and captivating world, but I can clearly picture the characters in their elements. I love that Andrea makes me fall for each of her characters, but I can't help but love them, even the ones I wish I could despise, because she allows me to understand them. She shows me what motivates them, what drives them to make the choices they do. Whether driven by love, devotion, greed, jealousy, the need for power or what ever it is. It's through those realistic emotions that makes each of her characters feel more real. I loved being able to see what motived and drove each of the characters on their quests and their downfalls.
My favorite part of this book was getting into the makings of what becomes the lore and back bone of the Nightshade series. This rich history was nothing less than incredibly enticing. I wanted more! Some things I started to figure out right as things were being revealed, and other things I was shocked by. There is plenty of deception, twists, and shocking discovery that fueled how addiction with this exciting storyline. What really drives this story is love. Andrea Cremer knows how to write sensual, and she does it well.
Yes, I'm a hopeless romantic and I can't get enough of Ember and Barrow. They have this truly dynamic, unbreakable bond that makes me believe in this story's true love (*sigh* who doesn't wnat to believe in true love?). These two are a perfect match for each other, at least in my eyes. Ember is ever the fierce, brave warrior I knew she'd be in this story. Barrow is the one that surprised me the most in this book. I LOVE that he embraces Ember for all she is. He helps her and is there to protect her and do anything for her, but I love that he also allows her to do things on her own, and doesn't smother nor does he try to change her. The two of them together could make me sigh, and laugh all within the same scene.
There are a few other relationships in this book that brought out the emotions and also fueled the twists that take place. I was surprised that I felt that each relationship was not only believable, but just as in-depth as the characters are. Honestly, this story has it all. Strong well rounded characters, a rich history into what started it all, and incredible writing. You don't need to be a wolf fan to pick up this series. If you love magic, danger, adventure and romance than this is a book for you! I highly recommend picking it up!
January 17, 2013
Rise renders me speechless.
No, the story didn’t upset me. I like Cremer’s writing style. But with all the scheming and conniving going on, I felt saddened by the deception, lies and betrayals that happened in the book. To me, reading the story was like entering into the fog – I knew the fog would soon pass but while I was in it, I felt taken over by the gloom.
So, what’s the gloom? The gloom is something that I felt and I bet if you read the story, you’d feel it too, but if you run a search for the word “gloom” in Rise, you’ll find that this word has never appeared, not even once, in the entire book. I guess you could say that’s a great example of “show, not tell” here but that’s not the point that I’m trying to make. What I’m trying to say is that I totally felt the helplessness of what Ember suffers and while there are people who are not afraid to die for a good cause, their deaths feel tragic, and I hardly sensed any heroism in the act.
In the story, Bosque Mar, being the Lord of the Nether realm, knows how to exploit weaknesses and satiate the hunger for power of those who have been submissive for almost their entire lives. Many are tempted and in the process, lose the sacred talents that they once cherished the most. It’s chilling to see how far people are willing to go to deal with the devil and I felt sorrowful for the consequences that they have to pay.
Fast-paced, dark and imaginative, Rise offers answers to how the Guardian wolves come about in the Nightshade series. If you’ve been wondering about what may have led to the existence of these ferocious Guardians, you’ll definitely want to get hold of a copy of Rise.
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This is a copy of my review from Leisure Reads.
No, the story didn’t upset me. I like Cremer’s writing style. But with all the scheming and conniving going on, I felt saddened by the deception, lies and betrayals that happened in the book. To me, reading the story was like entering into the fog – I knew the fog would soon pass but while I was in it, I felt taken over by the gloom.
So, what’s the gloom? The gloom is something that I felt and I bet if you read the story, you’d feel it too, but if you run a search for the word “gloom” in Rise, you’ll find that this word has never appeared, not even once, in the entire book. I guess you could say that’s a great example of “show, not tell” here but that’s not the point that I’m trying to make. What I’m trying to say is that I totally felt the helplessness of what Ember suffers and while there are people who are not afraid to die for a good cause, their deaths feel tragic, and I hardly sensed any heroism in the act.
In the story, Bosque Mar, being the Lord of the Nether realm, knows how to exploit weaknesses and satiate the hunger for power of those who have been submissive for almost their entire lives. Many are tempted and in the process, lose the sacred talents that they once cherished the most. It’s chilling to see how far people are willing to go to deal with the devil and I felt sorrowful for the consequences that they have to pay.
Fast-paced, dark and imaginative, Rise offers answers to how the Guardian wolves come about in the Nightshade series. If you’ve been wondering about what may have led to the existence of these ferocious Guardians, you’ll definitely want to get hold of a copy of Rise.
--
This is a copy of my review from Leisure Reads.
April 1, 2013
More like 4.5/5 stars
Wow. What an epic conclusion to this prequel. It gives so much background and insight to the Nightshade series, a series which I've come to loved. Ember was such a fierce and strong MC to read about. I loved how determined and persistence she was to defend those she loved and for what she believed was right.
The only problem I had with this series was the writing style. While Cremer's writing made the story very captivating and addicting, the sort of historical style to it kind of dragged it down for me, as it did with Rift. But if your normally a fan of historical fiction you probably won't find any problem with it.
The love-triangle in this series was probably the best I've read about. Allistar's love for Ember was more desperate and possessive and he really turns into a much more forceful and twisted guy in this book compared to the first. He's the sort of guy you'd have a soft spot for, and can't really blame for his harsh actions. His love was twisted, but I understood why it became that way through his perspective. Barrow is the one Ember wants from the start, and I loved the way their relationship was built over time.
Overall, even though the series wasn't that good of a start with Rift for me, it definitely ended on an epic note with Rise. There were a few slow parts throughout the story, but in all ended up being one action-packed, white-knuckled thrill ride that will tug at your heart-strings. I would say that I want more, but there's really nothing more to add to this prequel. Cremer really summed things up in the ending. I recommend this series to really anyone. Whether you've read the Nightshade series or not I think you'll really come to love this series.
Wow. What an epic conclusion to this prequel. It gives so much background and insight to the Nightshade series, a series which I've come to loved. Ember was such a fierce and strong MC to read about. I loved how determined and persistence she was to defend those she loved and for what she believed was right.
The only problem I had with this series was the writing style. While Cremer's writing made the story very captivating and addicting, the sort of historical style to it kind of dragged it down for me, as it did with Rift. But if your normally a fan of historical fiction you probably won't find any problem with it.
The love-triangle in this series was probably the best I've read about. Allistar's love for Ember was more desperate and possessive and he really turns into a much more forceful and twisted guy in this book compared to the first. He's the sort of guy you'd have a soft spot for, and can't really blame for his harsh actions. His love was twisted, but I understood why it became that way through his perspective. Barrow is the one Ember wants from the start, and I loved the way their relationship was built over time.
Overall, even though the series wasn't that good of a start with Rift for me, it definitely ended on an epic note with Rise. There were a few slow parts throughout the story, but in all ended up being one action-packed, white-knuckled thrill ride that will tug at your heart-strings. I would say that I want more, but there's really nothing more to add to this prequel. Cremer really summed things up in the ending. I recommend this series to really anyone. Whether you've read the Nightshade series or not I think you'll really come to love this series.
January 6, 2013
Most of you know by know how much I love Andrea Cremer. All of her book have been off the charts AMAZING!
What I loved most about this book is the great plot. Once again, the reader is thrown for a ride of a life time with plenty of plot twist to knock you off your seat. Ember is thrown into some hard decisions in which she must play roles in order to accomplish her mission. I like that Ember is really good at this. She is very flexible in changing who and what needs to be done. She is not afraid to take the lead in needed be.
The love interest gets very interesting. The thing with Ember is, even though she can play parts well, her emotions can get the best of her. In the love interest, she doesn't quite watch her feelings. They do get the best of her and well....lets just say this go crazy!!!
Rise is an great fantasy delivering great action with every page. It goes beyond what you think it will be surprising you with every plot twist and turn. An entertaining sensation that will sweep you off your feet, Rise is compelling!
What I loved most about this book is the great plot. Once again, the reader is thrown for a ride of a life time with plenty of plot twist to knock you off your seat. Ember is thrown into some hard decisions in which she must play roles in order to accomplish her mission. I like that Ember is really good at this. She is very flexible in changing who and what needs to be done. She is not afraid to take the lead in needed be.
The love interest gets very interesting. The thing with Ember is, even though she can play parts well, her emotions can get the best of her. In the love interest, she doesn't quite watch her feelings. They do get the best of her and well....lets just say this go crazy!!!
Rise is an great fantasy delivering great action with every page. It goes beyond what you think it will be surprising you with every plot twist and turn. An entertaining sensation that will sweep you off your feet, Rise is compelling!
January 27, 2013
I'm speechless! Rift was an incredible tale weaved in pure excitement, adventure and of course in magic! I'm incredibly disappointed there will not be another in this prequel series because I found myself attached like a obsessed addict to this book and to the story. I can't convey all if the emotions running through my head right now. All I can say is I hope Cremer graces us with her amazing story telling in maybe another Nightshade series. I would absolutely love to see how everything plate out since the end Rise to the beginning of Nightshade! I wish there was an option for more stars cause this book would get 200 if I could give it! One of my all time favorite books!
May 2, 2013
Just read the first chapter of 'Rise'.
Now this... is going to be good.
Liked it better than Rift, but not as much as Nightshade.
What can I say... Ren kind of makes this series.
Definitely a good back story to how the Witches War began, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I'm not really the biggest fan of books that take place in the past, so perhaps that stunted my enjoyment. Either way, it was a good book- but not Andrea Cremer's best.
Now this... is going to be good.
Liked it better than Rift, but not as much as Nightshade.
What can I say... Ren kind of makes this series.
Definitely a good back story to how the Witches War began, but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I'm not really the biggest fan of books that take place in the past, so perhaps that stunted my enjoyment. Either way, it was a good book- but not Andrea Cremer's best.
June 22, 2015
Wow. Andrea Cremer sure likes to let you guess what happens next. A course it is not her fault because you cannot put 600 years into 1 book but still. That's a really ''nice'' way to keep the readers in wait.
This book overall was okay just like Rift but after the 200 page it was kind of boring besides the end. In this book they could at least put an epilogue,right? But in this series I will always be wondering what happens next.
Hopefully Snakeroot will give us some answers. This was my yellow and orange for my rainbow challenge 2015.
This book overall was okay just like Rift but after the 200 page it was kind of boring besides the end. In this book they could at least put an epilogue,right? But in this series I will always be wondering what happens next.
Hopefully Snakeroot will give us some answers. This was my yellow and orange for my rainbow challenge 2015.
September 23, 2019
I loved this book. I read the first book a little bit ago and had to read this one. I couldn’t put this book down. I love Ember and I hate it when she and Barrow get caught by Alistair and Barrow is almost killed. I hate how not long after Alistair leaves then and Ember promises to go to her sister’s house, her sister shows up looking for refuge from Alistair. I hate how Bosque Mar uses Alistair and Eira to destroy the Guard and those who were family. I love that Eira’s sister won’t surrender and take the pledge to Bosque Mar. I love how Ember loves her sister so much she is willing to return to the castle with Bosque Mar and Alistair. I hate how Alistair is so childlike and falls for everything Ember says. I loved this book so much and definitely will be re-reading it. 5 stars.
March 31, 2025
I really liked being able to see what happened at the end of this book. Having already read the rest of the Nightshade series, I have the general knowledge of how that world came to be, but to see those little intricacies come together was fun. There’s also a lot of complex relationships building throughout this book so getting to feel those out as well was nice. I would be very interested to read more stories about what happened between this book and Nightshade, as well as what happens after Snakeroot. Hopefully some day…
May 8, 2019
I thought this book was such a great sequel to Rift. I thought this was full of ma Alistair magic and adventure. I still hate Alistair as a character. His possessiveness towards Ember makes me mad. Every time he talks I'm like quite talking. I love Ember and Borrower's romance. It was so real and amazing. I liked how this ended and now all I have to do is start reading Nightshade and see how it plays out and how this and Rift ties in.
December 3, 2018
3.75 stars
January 10, 2013
Review posted on Dark Faerie Tales.
Andrea Cremer knows how to create a world filled with amazement and wonder. One of the reasons why I love her work is mostly due to the lore and culture of her worlds. They are so detailed and realistic, enough so that I always find myself getting lost in them. A favorite series of mine is the Nightshade Prequel. Rise is the second and final book in the prequel series, and it is fantastic.
In an emotional journey, Rise begins shortly after the end of Rift. Ember and Barrow have left Tearmunn after the death of Sorcha. Eira has solidified her alliance with Bosque Mar and have taken actions to rising in power. Alistair is a lover scorn over Ember’s abandonment and is torn between protecting her and accepting his place in Eira and Bosque Mar’s big plan. Nether world evils follow Ember to the ends of the world, thwarting her escape. It results in more problems than one can handle, and she must find a way to save everyone she loves. But will it mean sacrificing Ember or just her dreams?
Ember has grown so much in Rise. She is not the young woman whose father paid to enter Tearmunn. She is no longer the young and wild girl who was headstrong without faults. Now, Ember has responsibilities and desires, loyalty and courage. Ember has faced danger and saved loved ones, many times, and she knows what pain is, emotionally and physically. I enjoyed Ember very much, and I appreciated where Cremer has taken her as a character. I like how she has realistic human feelings, despite the time period that she lives in. They were real and easy to relate to, and I found myself cheering for her the entire way.
Rise brings back many characters, ones that we love and others that we love to hate. There is Barrow, the dark and broody knight that has been quickly won over by Ember. He shows a different side of himself in Rise, and I didn’t think I could love him any more than I already do. Alistair also shows a different side of himself, and he becomes more involved in the storyline which makes it easy to start piecing together this world and that of the Nightshade series. There are also many other characters that evolve to the situations at hand, and it’s amazing how much they have changed to the twists. Each one individually different and interesting to read.
Rise is an amazing follow up to Rift. The characters have a way about them, taking a life of their own through the words on the page. It’s bittersweet to know that this is the end of the prequel series, having only two books to know about, but Cremer also finished the story with providing answers and links to the present day counterparts. Like I’ve said before, Cremer knows how to write a scene and her world-building skills are superb. It’s easy to get lost within the walls of Tearmunn or even outside of them, for I feel like I can take a breathe of air in what feels like a realistic world.
Cremer knows how to take risks in a calculated way. She manages to write stories that are compelling to the reader’s senses and emotions, enough so that she’ll have you wanting more. Cremer talks about different layers of love as well as lust. She also weaves in messages of loyalty, beliefs, and the faith you need because you want to be a part of something big.
Rise is a great way to start the new year. I highly urge you all to read Rise, and if you haven’t read the series, to also pick up Rift and the Nightshade trilogy.
Andrea Cremer knows how to create a world filled with amazement and wonder. One of the reasons why I love her work is mostly due to the lore and culture of her worlds. They are so detailed and realistic, enough so that I always find myself getting lost in them. A favorite series of mine is the Nightshade Prequel. Rise is the second and final book in the prequel series, and it is fantastic.
In an emotional journey, Rise begins shortly after the end of Rift. Ember and Barrow have left Tearmunn after the death of Sorcha. Eira has solidified her alliance with Bosque Mar and have taken actions to rising in power. Alistair is a lover scorn over Ember’s abandonment and is torn between protecting her and accepting his place in Eira and Bosque Mar’s big plan. Nether world evils follow Ember to the ends of the world, thwarting her escape. It results in more problems than one can handle, and she must find a way to save everyone she loves. But will it mean sacrificing Ember or just her dreams?
Ember has grown so much in Rise. She is not the young woman whose father paid to enter Tearmunn. She is no longer the young and wild girl who was headstrong without faults. Now, Ember has responsibilities and desires, loyalty and courage. Ember has faced danger and saved loved ones, many times, and she knows what pain is, emotionally and physically. I enjoyed Ember very much, and I appreciated where Cremer has taken her as a character. I like how she has realistic human feelings, despite the time period that she lives in. They were real and easy to relate to, and I found myself cheering for her the entire way.
Rise brings back many characters, ones that we love and others that we love to hate. There is Barrow, the dark and broody knight that has been quickly won over by Ember. He shows a different side of himself in Rise, and I didn’t think I could love him any more than I already do. Alistair also shows a different side of himself, and he becomes more involved in the storyline which makes it easy to start piecing together this world and that of the Nightshade series. There are also many other characters that evolve to the situations at hand, and it’s amazing how much they have changed to the twists. Each one individually different and interesting to read.
Rise is an amazing follow up to Rift. The characters have a way about them, taking a life of their own through the words on the page. It’s bittersweet to know that this is the end of the prequel series, having only two books to know about, but Cremer also finished the story with providing answers and links to the present day counterparts. Like I’ve said before, Cremer knows how to write a scene and her world-building skills are superb. It’s easy to get lost within the walls of Tearmunn or even outside of them, for I feel like I can take a breathe of air in what feels like a realistic world.
Cremer knows how to take risks in a calculated way. She manages to write stories that are compelling to the reader’s senses and emotions, enough so that she’ll have you wanting more. Cremer talks about different layers of love as well as lust. She also weaves in messages of loyalty, beliefs, and the faith you need because you want to be a part of something big.
Rise is a great way to start the new year. I highly urge you all to read Rise, and if you haven’t read the series, to also pick up Rift and the Nightshade trilogy.
February 3, 2013
I wanted to give this a 5 star rating, but I just couldn't...because of the ending. I loved this book a great deal. The story picks up right where we left off in Rift; Ember is on the run with Barrow, and Eira is taking control with Bosque at her side. The entire world that Ms. Cremer has created in this series is fantastic and I would read it over and over again. It is very well crafted and inventive, and just when you think you figure things out, there's a twist that takes you by surprise.
I also loved the relationship between Ember and Barrow. It was beautiful and so romantic. I enjoyed reading the scenes where they were together, just the two of them. Ember and Barrow balance each other out, and are perfect together. I was always rooting for Barrow, even in Rift, and I am happy with how their relationship worked out in the end. However, I still strongly dislike Alister, which is how it's suppose to be (at least that's what I assume Ms. Cremer was going for).
But, like I said in the beginning, I just couldn't get over the ending. There was just no feeling of a conclusion. I knew originally this was only supposed to be a duology, but I need and want another book. Granted, I know that , but there could easily be another book. Even though you find out how the two groups came to be in the Nightshade series, I still would like to see the original formation of them. Also, I want to know what happened to some of the characters. Did Ember and Barrow get married? What about Agnes? There's a whole slew of characters that I want more information on. A couple more chapters, or even a epilogue could have done wonders, and I probably would have given the book 5 stars. But, simply because of the ending, I had to go down a star.
This was still a fabulous book, and I highly recommend it. If you loved the Nightshade series, and loved Rift, then you will enjoy this book, but don't expect an ending. It's left open, which in a way is a good thing. Nevertheless, pick this book up if you want a good read that will take you on a fun adventure.
I also loved the relationship between Ember and Barrow. It was beautiful and so romantic. I enjoyed reading the scenes where they were together, just the two of them. Ember and Barrow balance each other out, and are perfect together. I was always rooting for Barrow, even in Rift, and I am happy with how their relationship worked out in the end. However, I still strongly dislike Alister, which is how it's suppose to be (at least that's what I assume Ms. Cremer was going for).
But, like I said in the beginning, I just couldn't get over the ending. There was just no feeling of a conclusion. I knew originally this was only supposed to be a duology, but I need and want another book. Granted, I know that , but there could easily be another book. Even though you find out how the two groups came to be in the Nightshade series, I still would like to see the original formation of them. Also, I want to know what happened to some of the characters. Did Ember and Barrow get married? What about Agnes? There's a whole slew of characters that I want more information on. A couple more chapters, or even a epilogue could have done wonders, and I probably would have given the book 5 stars. But, simply because of the ending, I had to go down a star.
This was still a fabulous book, and I highly recommend it. If you loved the Nightshade series, and loved Rift, then you will enjoy this book, but don't expect an ending. It's left open, which in a way is a good thing. Nevertheless, pick this book up if you want a good read that will take you on a fun adventure.
December 28, 2012
This book. Just wow. I'm actively not even sure what I can say about this book because it was just so action packed and amazing that words are actually failing me right now. If you know me, it is hard for words to fail me, but they seem to be doing a good job right now. Also, you probably shouldn't read this review if you haven't read the first book.
20 Minutes later...
Okay, I'm better now. I spent the last 100 pages of the book just screaming and yelling that "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" (My Dartmouth boys will understand this, not that a single one of them is going to read this.) My dad actually came down stairs asking me what was wrong, and what all the yelling was about. ("MY BOOK DAD! I JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT!" *Dad shrugs then goes back to his room and TV.)
This book picks off probably an hour after the last book left off which was great, and bad at the same time since I didn't have Rift to go back and be like "What was happening again, and who is this random dude?" But no big deal because the idea is still the same Ember and Barrow are on the run from Bosque Mar, Eira and Alastair who have gone dark side because of Mar. I felt that it was a great kicking up point because rather than have to go through what we missed, we started right in the action.
And boy, did this book have action. Right from the beginning, there is no stopping with the new creatures that Ember and the guard have to face including the Kracken, which is pretty intense. I felt that Ember could have been a little stronger, at one point she breaks down into this whimpering mess which seemed a little out of character, but she does a good enough job of holding her own when it comes to fighting for the cause.
I love that Cremer was able to drag me back into this world and keep me engaged in what was going on even thought I had been so long removed from what happened. Although the love triangle of Barrow/Ember/Alastair did come back, I think that things remained obvious as to where Embers affections remained and who it was that she belonged with.
This book left us with plenty of un answered questions and a lead off for book three which I cannot wait to get my hands on.
20 Minutes later...
Okay, I'm better now. I spent the last 100 pages of the book just screaming and yelling that "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" (My Dartmouth boys will understand this, not that a single one of them is going to read this.) My dad actually came down stairs asking me what was wrong, and what all the yelling was about. ("MY BOOK DAD! I JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT!" *Dad shrugs then goes back to his room and TV.)
This book picks off probably an hour after the last book left off which was great, and bad at the same time since I didn't have Rift to go back and be like "What was happening again, and who is this random dude?" But no big deal because the idea is still the same Ember and Barrow are on the run from Bosque Mar, Eira and Alastair who have gone dark side because of Mar. I felt that it was a great kicking up point because rather than have to go through what we missed, we started right in the action.
And boy, did this book have action. Right from the beginning, there is no stopping with the new creatures that Ember and the guard have to face including the Kracken, which is pretty intense. I felt that Ember could have been a little stronger, at one point she breaks down into this whimpering mess which seemed a little out of character, but she does a good enough job of holding her own when it comes to fighting for the cause.
I love that Cremer was able to drag me back into this world and keep me engaged in what was going on even thought I had been so long removed from what happened. Although the love triangle of Barrow/Ember/Alastair did come back, I think that things remained obvious as to where Embers affections remained and who it was that she belonged with.
This book left us with plenty of un answered questions and a lead off for book three which I cannot wait to get my hands on.
April 19, 2015
Andrea Cremer is one author I dearly love. She is not afraid to take risks (e.g., Bloodrose), and although many have still not accepted the damage Cremer has done to them, Cremer continues to bring out compelling stories despite that. Bloodrose was a favourite and it’s with hope that Cremer continues to deliver high levels of action, suspense, and superb storytelling. Rift and Rise were a fantastic prequel duology to the Nightshade trilogy, combining fantasy and historical elements seamlessly in a suspenseful and conflicting origins story.
I read Rise immediately after finishing Rift, and I couldn’t have read this duology any other way. Rift and Rise are basically one novel cut in two so it was only right to go through to the end after reading Act 1. Cremer flooded this book with suspense and drama, battle and conflict, creating a flawless plot for the varied ambitions of the various characters to tread along. I enjoyed learning how the Guardians (the wolves) and the four pieces of the Cross in the Nightshade books came to be – immensely. Rift and Rise were an intriguing prequel duology that kept me waiting for the moment of discovery and origins. I’m already longing for my return to the Nightshade world.
But, uhh, how can I not be excited for Cremer’s Nightshade world-set erotica books? I’m a nearly 20-year-old male with no desire to read erotica AT ALL, but my dear Andrea Cremer had to pull the delicious rabbit out of the hat and tempt me. And because these eroticas are by her and in a world I have come to love in five books, of course I’m going to be tempted. Wolves on wolves: utterly perfect. *laugh maniacally*
Thank you to Philomel via Edelweiss for an e-galley to review.
I read Rise immediately after finishing Rift, and I couldn’t have read this duology any other way. Rift and Rise are basically one novel cut in two so it was only right to go through to the end after reading Act 1. Cremer flooded this book with suspense and drama, battle and conflict, creating a flawless plot for the varied ambitions of the various characters to tread along. I enjoyed learning how the Guardians (the wolves) and the four pieces of the Cross in the Nightshade books came to be – immensely. Rift and Rise were an intriguing prequel duology that kept me waiting for the moment of discovery and origins. I’m already longing for my return to the Nightshade world.
But, uhh, how can I not be excited for Cremer’s Nightshade world-set erotica books? I’m a nearly 20-year-old male with no desire to read erotica AT ALL, but my dear Andrea Cremer had to pull the delicious rabbit out of the hat and tempt me. And because these eroticas are by her and in a world I have come to love in five books, of course I’m going to be tempted. Wolves on wolves: utterly perfect. *laugh maniacally*
Thank you to Philomel via Edelweiss for an e-galley to review.
January 10, 2013
I had fun reading this, but I didn't like it as much as i feel like I could have or wanted to.
I really love the idea of the mythology, but I still feel like I don't entirely understand it. One of my biggest issues with the Nightshade trilogy is that we never really got the best grip on on the background, and I brushed that off hoping it would be explained in the prequels, but I still feel like what got explained was incredibly rushed at the end, and since she did entirely create the mythology, I wanted it to be more detailed and nuanced. Following so many characters rushed a lot of the storylines, I felt like, even though I enjoyed a lot of them.
But the themes in this book of gender roles and agency are so well-executed and gracefully handled, while keeping the historical period in context, which was so cool. I loved that every time Ember tried to excuse Alistair, someone told her no, don't make excuses, his behavior is unacceptable. Honestly, the entire plot line felt like "the moral of this story is don't be a pressed brat because you got friendzoned" which was a+. And I loved Barrow, I loved Ember, I loved the equality of their relationship, I loved her equality among the guards, that nobody had to be dumbed down to play up her badassery, that she was wasn't necessarily more or less badass than the rest of them, she just fit. It was well done.
Mainly I think what I need is some sort of bridge between this time period and the one in nightshade, because I really feel like there are still blanks there.
I really love the idea of the mythology, but I still feel like I don't entirely understand it. One of my biggest issues with the Nightshade trilogy is that we never really got the best grip on on the background, and I brushed that off hoping it would be explained in the prequels, but I still feel like what got explained was incredibly rushed at the end, and since she did entirely create the mythology, I wanted it to be more detailed and nuanced. Following so many characters rushed a lot of the storylines, I felt like, even though I enjoyed a lot of them.
But the themes in this book of gender roles and agency are so well-executed and gracefully handled, while keeping the historical period in context, which was so cool. I loved that every time Ember tried to excuse Alistair, someone told her no, don't make excuses, his behavior is unacceptable. Honestly, the entire plot line felt like "the moral of this story is don't be a pressed brat because you got friendzoned" which was a+. And I loved Barrow, I loved Ember, I loved the equality of their relationship, I loved her equality among the guards, that nobody had to be dumbed down to play up her badassery, that she was wasn't necessarily more or less badass than the rest of them, she just fit. It was well done.
Mainly I think what I need is some sort of bridge between this time period and the one in nightshade, because I really feel like there are still blanks there.
October 13, 2013
What it's about: Rise is the second installment to the prequel series from the Nightshade world, and I recommend reading the first one, Rift, though these can be read before the Nightshade books. Rise jumps right into the action and throws readers into Ember and Barrow's world as they attempt to escape and save their Order. This book is dark, supernatural, and the connection between Ember and Barrow is not only strong but striking. Warning: The darkness will triumph. Otherwise, how will Nightshade's story begin?
Why you should read it: Andrea Cremer is a fabulous YA writer whose books appeal to adults. Her Nightshade books are best sellers, and I love that she went back and gave readers the prequel series to the war. Ember is an awesome heroine, and though I dislike how much the YA series use love triangles, I really felt the connection between Barrow and Ember. I did feel there were a couple of instances where Ember broke down (totally out of character), but in the end she pulled it together. All in all, a very nice fantasy read.
To check out more great recs that released this week head to the HEA Blog:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
Why you should read it: Andrea Cremer is a fabulous YA writer whose books appeal to adults. Her Nightshade books are best sellers, and I love that she went back and gave readers the prequel series to the war. Ember is an awesome heroine, and though I dislike how much the YA series use love triangles, I really felt the connection between Barrow and Ember. I did feel there were a couple of instances where Ember broke down (totally out of character), but in the end she pulled it together. All in all, a very nice fantasy read.
To check out more great recs that released this week head to the HEA Blog:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
January 21, 2013
Although I loved this duology, there were two things that disappointed me as I closed the book: the fact that it WAS a duology and that we wouldn't see more of these fascinating characters, and how this book focused a lot more on the romantic relationships.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for romance. But the thing I found refreshing about Rift was how it wasn't the prominent conflict. In Rise, romance definitely was front and center. I found the relationship between Bosque and Eira very intriguing and much more interesting than Ember and Barrow.
There was just enough creepiness in this story to make my spine tingle, and just enough intrigue to keep me turning pages. I wanted to know more about the wolves Alistair was creating, though I can understand why the narrative shroud it in mystery for so long.
Overall this was a fine finish to the duology, as well as leading into the Nightshade trilogy. However, I can't help but want more.
I will still recommend this for those who enjoyed Rift and hope that they don't mind the romance and sexual tension seeping into the story.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for romance. But the thing I found refreshing about Rift was how it wasn't the prominent conflict. In Rise, romance definitely was front and center. I found the relationship between Bosque and Eira very intriguing and much more interesting than Ember and Barrow.
There was just enough creepiness in this story to make my spine tingle, and just enough intrigue to keep me turning pages. I wanted to know more about the wolves Alistair was creating, though I can understand why the narrative shroud it in mystery for so long.
Overall this was a fine finish to the duology, as well as leading into the Nightshade trilogy. However, I can't help but want more.
I will still recommend this for those who enjoyed Rift and hope that they don't mind the romance and sexual tension seeping into the story.
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