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Rifter #10
His Holy Bones
When John opens a letter addressed to his missing roommate, Kyle, he expects to find a house key, but instead he is swept into a strange realm of magic, mysticism, revolutionaries and assassins. Though he struggles to escape, John is drawn steadily closer to a fate he share with Kyle—to wake the destroyer god, the Rifter, and shatter a world.
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2011
15 people are currently reading
535 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
December 12, 2018
*Spoiler-free review of the entire 10 book series*
I have a lot of feelings about this series now that I'm finished. Was it worth it? YES! Is it my favorite M/M series? No, but it was an extremely memorable and worthwhile read.
I'm not a fantasy reader, and I'm certainly not an epic fantasy reader, but I was immediately sucked into this one. It had a few elements that caught my eye, and I read the first 5 books in the series at a lightning-fast pace. I was sure that this was going to rank as one of my top all-time favorite series. However, things really slowed down for me after that point.
Where other readers really seemed to relish the slower-paced books, 6-9, I grew weary of them. I actually started skimming at bit at the start of book 9 because I was so eager to just move on with it! The ending at book 10 wasn't shocking, but it was clever, and the ending of the series closes very well.
Here are my take-aways/advice for those considering this series:
1) If you think you might like this series, even a little bit, you should read it.
2) Ginn Hale is an extremely talented author. The world-building is TOP NOTCH. I can't state that enough. I actually forgot that these religions weren't things that actually existed outside this story.
3) The novella-length books are rough because each books ends on various degrees of cliffhangers.
4) Most of you will be truly blown away by this series.
5) Books 1-3 are very confusing. Keep reading, even if you are lost.
6) There is NO sex at all. If you need steam, pass this one by.
I'm so happy that I finished that 1500-some odd pages of this series, and I can't wait to see what else this author has to offer.
I have a lot of feelings about this series now that I'm finished. Was it worth it? YES! Is it my favorite M/M series? No, but it was an extremely memorable and worthwhile read.
I'm not a fantasy reader, and I'm certainly not an epic fantasy reader, but I was immediately sucked into this one. It had a few elements that caught my eye, and I read the first 5 books in the series at a lightning-fast pace. I was sure that this was going to rank as one of my top all-time favorite series. However, things really slowed down for me after that point.
Where other readers really seemed to relish the slower-paced books, 6-9, I grew weary of them. I actually started skimming at bit at the start of book 9 because I was so eager to just move on with it! The ending at book 10 wasn't shocking, but it was clever, and the ending of the series closes very well.
Here are my take-aways/advice for those considering this series:
1) If you think you might like this series, even a little bit, you should read it.
2) Ginn Hale is an extremely talented author. The world-building is TOP NOTCH. I can't state that enough. I actually forgot that these religions weren't things that actually existed outside this story.
3) The novella-length books are rough because each books ends on various degrees of cliffhangers.
4) Most of you will be truly blown away by this series.
5) Books 1-3 are very confusing. Keep reading, even if you are lost.
6) There is NO sex at all. If you need steam, pass this one by.
I'm so happy that I finished that 1500-some odd pages of this series, and I can't wait to see what else this author has to offer.
October 17, 2019
Reread 10/16/19
There's not much more I can say about this series that I haven't already said, but I would highly recommend that anyone who hasn't started it yet to take their time with it. Savor it. Otherwise you'll probably miss some truly poignant moments between these characters.
There aren't too many books/series that can captivate me twice but this one did so much so that I found myself not wanting to put it down for the last 3-4 books. Then again, I am a squishy marshmallow when it comes to the concept of destiny and The Rifter embodies all the romance of that trope tenfold. <---see what I did there?
Still highly recommended to high fantasy fans. Ginn Hale can world build like a beast I tell ya.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Dazzlingly Romantic High Fantasy
To say I was consumed by this series is kind of an understatement. It became an addiction and I want to try to explain why. Try, being the operative word.
I’ve had this series in my TBR forever and resisted pulling the trigger because it’s 10 books. TEN. T.E.N.! That’s a commitment especially when all 10 have the exact same blurb. And said blurb is cryptic. I figure there's got to be other people out there like me who are reluctant to commit, so let's see if I can explain without spoiling the whole kit and caboodle.
Imagine, if you will, that you have a roommate who is… weird. He drops in and out, you never know when he’s going to be around, he dresses kind of strangely, carries a knife, comes up with a bunch of money that you’ve NO idea where he, a proclaimed milkman, could’ve gotten a wad of cash from… y’know. Weird. But attractive. And not unpleasant when he’s around either. Said roommate receives a letter and since you’ve not seen him in a few days and legitimately believe he could be either dead or MIA forever thereby stiffing you with the rent, you open it. There’s a key in it and a message with one word: Don’t.
Now, imagine you and your best friends since forever decide to go for a hike in the woods that you’ve been in countless times before. You know these woods and all the landmarks like the back of your hand but today something is amiss. There are strange stones sticking out of places they shouldn’t be and they defy explanation.
One of these stones has a keyhole...
What would you do?
I don’t know about you but I’m using that key. John does and what transpires afterward is a story that was so all-consuming that I could not physically separate myself from my kindle.
So, what you should know:
Expect to be confused. This story jumps around in time and is told from different points of view, sometimes from the past and sometimes from the present. Don't worry. Things start to come together around book 3.
Expect for things to defy logic. Just let Ginn Hale take you on a magical ride where the impossible is possible. Expect to gawp.
The Rifter encompasses years. It’s grand in scope and has multiple characters who are all well developed and will get under your skin.
The central romance will take your breath away. It’s not explicit. There is sex but it’s all either cursory mentions or fade to black, so if you need sex with your romance this may not be the series for you.
It's part friends to lovers, part second chances, part opposites attract and 100% unforgettable.
I got swept away by it because, for me, there’s nothing more romantic than a love that withstands the test of time and space and every other god damn obstacle this narrative threw at them. Through it all they have an unbreakable bond, the I-can’t-live-without-you kind of love that squishy marshmallows like me live and die for, and there were a couple times when I thought I was going to die, my heart was pounding so hard! They earned their HEA a million, kagrillion times over.
As magnificent as the romance is The Rifter is very much a grand adventure, one fans of high fantasy do not want to miss. Ginn Hale crafted a complete world unto her own that’s on par with George R.R. Martin. Minus the dragons. The details are stunning. The creativity is astonishing. Basawar has a distinct language and culture that is layered, complex and complete with beliefs and superstitions.
There is division in those beliefs amongst the cities and where there’s division the likelihood of conflict arises. Friendships are made and lost. Alliances are made and broken. Parts of the narrative are brutal, parts are heartrending but there always seemed to be hope for a better tomorrow and moments of joy. And love not just by the central characters but love for the land, for friends and mentors and some of the secondary characters even find it amongst themselves.
Lastly, expect to be both exhausted and exhilarated and expect to fall in love at least a little bit with these characters and Basawar.
There were so many things that I loved about this story but I think what I loved best was how nothing was black and white. Not the people or the situations they face or their religion and certainly not the relationships they forged. What resonated with me was how large a role the environment plays and how Hale emphasized that even though an ecosystem is resilient there are limitations and they require nurturing.
If you love high fantasy or epic sagas or romance-y romances that make you feel like you've morphed into a pink cloud, then give The Rifter series a try.
There's not much more I can say about this series that I haven't already said, but I would highly recommend that anyone who hasn't started it yet to take their time with it. Savor it. Otherwise you'll probably miss some truly poignant moments between these characters.
There aren't too many books/series that can captivate me twice but this one did so much so that I found myself not wanting to put it down for the last 3-4 books. Then again, I am a squishy marshmallow when it comes to the concept of destiny and The Rifter embodies all the romance of that trope tenfold. <---see what I did there?
Still highly recommended to high fantasy fans. Ginn Hale can world build like a beast I tell ya.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Dazzlingly Romantic High Fantasy
To say I was consumed by this series is kind of an understatement. It became an addiction and I want to try to explain why. Try, being the operative word.
I’ve had this series in my TBR forever and resisted pulling the trigger because it’s 10 books. TEN. T.E.N.! That’s a commitment especially when all 10 have the exact same blurb. And said blurb is cryptic. I figure there's got to be other people out there like me who are reluctant to commit, so let's see if I can explain without spoiling the whole kit and caboodle.
Imagine, if you will, that you have a roommate who is… weird. He drops in and out, you never know when he’s going to be around, he dresses kind of strangely, carries a knife, comes up with a bunch of money that you’ve NO idea where he, a proclaimed milkman, could’ve gotten a wad of cash from… y’know. Weird. But attractive. And not unpleasant when he’s around either. Said roommate receives a letter and since you’ve not seen him in a few days and legitimately believe he could be either dead or MIA forever thereby stiffing you with the rent, you open it. There’s a key in it and a message with one word: Don’t.
Now, imagine you and your best friends since forever decide to go for a hike in the woods that you’ve been in countless times before. You know these woods and all the landmarks like the back of your hand but today something is amiss. There are strange stones sticking out of places they shouldn’t be and they defy explanation.
One of these stones has a keyhole...
What would you do?
I don’t know about you but I’m using that key. John does and what transpires afterward is a story that was so all-consuming that I could not physically separate myself from my kindle.
So, what you should know:
Expect to be confused. This story jumps around in time and is told from different points of view, sometimes from the past and sometimes from the present. Don't worry. Things start to come together around book 3.
Expect for things to defy logic. Just let Ginn Hale take you on a magical ride where the impossible is possible. Expect to gawp.
The Rifter encompasses years. It’s grand in scope and has multiple characters who are all well developed and will get under your skin.
The central romance will take your breath away. It’s not explicit. There is sex but it’s all either cursory mentions or fade to black, so if you need sex with your romance this may not be the series for you.
It's part friends to lovers, part second chances, part opposites attract and 100% unforgettable.
I got swept away by it because, for me, there’s nothing more romantic than a love that withstands the test of time and space and every other god damn obstacle this narrative threw at them. Through it all they have an unbreakable bond, the I-can’t-live-without-you kind of love that squishy marshmallows like me live and die for, and there were a couple times when I thought I was going to die, my heart was pounding so hard! They earned their HEA a million, kagrillion times over.
As magnificent as the romance is The Rifter is very much a grand adventure, one fans of high fantasy do not want to miss. Ginn Hale crafted a complete world unto her own that’s on par with George R.R. Martin. Minus the dragons. The details are stunning. The creativity is astonishing. Basawar has a distinct language and culture that is layered, complex and complete with beliefs and superstitions.
There is division in those beliefs amongst the cities and where there’s division the likelihood of conflict arises. Friendships are made and lost. Alliances are made and broken. Parts of the narrative are brutal, parts are heartrending but there always seemed to be hope for a better tomorrow and moments of joy. And love not just by the central characters but love for the land, for friends and mentors and some of the secondary characters even find it amongst themselves.
Lastly, expect to be both exhausted and exhilarated and expect to fall in love at least a little bit with these characters and Basawar.
There were so many things that I loved about this story but I think what I loved best was how nothing was black and white. Not the people or the situations they face or their religion and certainly not the relationships they forged. What resonated with me was how large a role the environment plays and how Hale emphasized that even though an ecosystem is resilient there are limitations and they require nurturing.
If you love high fantasy or epic sagas or romance-y romances that make you feel like you've morphed into a pink cloud, then give The Rifter series a try.
“Let it go and look to the life you have here and now. That is all any of us can do.”
July 10, 2013
staggeringly brilliant—BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHY.
you will not understand what is happening for a good part of this series as a whole.
but, listen—it's so fucking good, who cares? Scene after scene of thrills, chills, and blood that spills—and, anyway, that's part of the fun, isn't it, waiting for the reveal?
waiting for it all to be made clear, trusting that the author will carefully lead you into a dark forest, along a twisting path, until at last you emerge, blinking in astonishment, into a clearing of perfect sunlight bathing a world of beauty and wonder?
trust the author.
i'm telling you, trust her.
ginn hale delivers, here. this is an astonishing series of works.
she sets it up. and then she fucks your head sideways, until—after many traumas and catastrophes of perfect dramatic conflict—you are permitted that one shining moment of understanding, when all at once the sheer scale of the story you are about to finish is at last utterly and completely known to you, and you say to yourself in the middle of the night you've helplessly sacrificed to finally find out how it all turns out:
"holy fuck—what a story."
***
once you've read this—and not a moment before, mind—visit astrid amara's illustrated rifter cliff notes.
you will not understand what is happening for a good part of this series as a whole.
but, listen—it's so fucking good, who cares? Scene after scene of thrills, chills, and blood that spills—and, anyway, that's part of the fun, isn't it, waiting for the reveal?
waiting for it all to be made clear, trusting that the author will carefully lead you into a dark forest, along a twisting path, until at last you emerge, blinking in astonishment, into a clearing of perfect sunlight bathing a world of beauty and wonder?
trust the author.
i'm telling you, trust her.
ginn hale delivers, here. this is an astonishing series of works.
she sets it up. and then she fucks your head sideways, until—after many traumas and catastrophes of perfect dramatic conflict—you are permitted that one shining moment of understanding, when all at once the sheer scale of the story you are about to finish is at last utterly and completely known to you, and you say to yourself in the middle of the night you've helplessly sacrificed to finally find out how it all turns out:
"holy fuck—what a story."
***
once you've read this—and not a moment before, mind—visit astrid amara's illustrated rifter cliff notes.
February 15, 2021
4.5 Series Stars!!
The scope, the sheer magnitude of the amount of imagination needed to create not only a world but a language, a religion, and a complex culture is beyond impressive. There’s adventure, revenge, betrayal, war, torture, magic, loss, grief, and most importantly, a love that stands not only the test of years of separation but different dimensions and timelines - all of which will challenge your intellect to new levels.
This is beyond ambitious, but Hale pulls it off. Have patience. Fortify yourself with your vices whether they be sugar, alcoholic, or both. Brace yourself for confusion and frustration. Be prepared to be dragged through this possibly reluctantly, and then wholeheartedly over 1300 pages.
Admittedly, I wasn’t always happy about the story because Hale for sure puts her MC’s through their paces, and it’s not fun, cheery, or kind. It’s often full of anguish and pain, but John and Kyle find and cherish the little moments to eke out their own bit of joy and as things evolve, that love only grows stronger. This is full of redemption and second chances and finally, these two get their hard earned, so very well deserved happy ending!
So as usual, this is my very long winded way of saying if you’re looking for something totally original, totally mind blowing in the scope and twists and turns and how time bends and rips two people apart while bringing them back together, then this is the mind trip for you.
I’m rarely moved, but Hale has yet to fail me with her fantastical storytelling! I’m off to finish the rest of her works!
The scope, the sheer magnitude of the amount of imagination needed to create not only a world but a language, a religion, and a complex culture is beyond impressive. There’s adventure, revenge, betrayal, war, torture, magic, loss, grief, and most importantly, a love that stands not only the test of years of separation but different dimensions and timelines - all of which will challenge your intellect to new levels.
This is beyond ambitious, but Hale pulls it off. Have patience. Fortify yourself with your vices whether they be sugar, alcoholic, or both. Brace yourself for confusion and frustration. Be prepared to be dragged through this possibly reluctantly, and then wholeheartedly over 1300 pages.
Admittedly, I wasn’t always happy about the story because Hale for sure puts her MC’s through their paces, and it’s not fun, cheery, or kind. It’s often full of anguish and pain, but John and Kyle find and cherish the little moments to eke out their own bit of joy and as things evolve, that love only grows stronger. This is full of redemption and second chances and finally, these two get their hard earned, so very well deserved happy ending!
So as usual, this is my very long winded way of saying if you’re looking for something totally original, totally mind blowing in the scope and twists and turns and how time bends and rips two people apart while bringing them back together, then this is the mind trip for you.
I’m rarely moved, but Hale has yet to fail me with her fantastical storytelling! I’m off to finish the rest of her works!
February 5, 2016
Ten books and a few days later I emerge...
Victorious? Exhausted, a bit. But, most of all, at peace.
Jahn's journey is a heroic one.
Each step is fraught with both advances and pitfalls. The weaving was clever, insanely addictive as it dragged one to the next installment, the reader falling over a series of cataracts and swept away. Never getting the chance to rest as the next obstacle arises to challenge.
Again, not going to discuss the specifics but recommend that if you enjoy fantasy novels then this might very well be a story you'll love. I DO highly suggest one prepares and sets aside time to make the full journey because interruptions and delays are probably going to be unacceptable. At least, many of my friends seemed to have the same reaction with the Rifter series--non-stop indulging until glutted with the fallen books around you.
Series as a whole: 4 Stars
Satisfaction rating: 5 Stars, this was a great experience which fortunately, unfolded perfectly for me.
October 15, 2013
This is a spoiler free review and overall 5 star rating for the complete Rifter series.
The Blog of Sid Love
Magnificent … An imaginative masterpiece … Mind-blowing …Appalling … Intoxicating … Thought provoking … Genius! I think you get the picture, but really … those words are trite in comparison to the reality of The Rifter. This series is a trip!
The Rifter hinges on the lives of two pivotal characters: John and Kyle, each man from a separate but parallel world, bound by so much more than the power of fate and world ending prophecy. When John crosses over The Shattered Gates into Kyle’s world his presence upsets the foretelling of things and has the potential to change the destiny of a world. Well okay, there’s a LOT more going on but I’d be spoiling if I were to expand. But I will give you a little clue …
“This is the Rifter,” … “Parfir’s most holy incarnation,” … “The divine destroyer. God’s will given form.”
Enter a world of magic and mystery, where talking bones hold the souls of witches and heretics are burned alive. Navigate your way through non-linear time lines and piece together a 10000 piece puzzle that the author reveals ever so meticulously, skilfully and for me …agonizingly. Hale is a master crafter of a vivid realm made fantastical with its crooked streets, stone pathways, and tall towers. The spicy aromas of exotic strange foods (roast dog –anyone?) the scents of pollen, earth and ozone make my senses reel. I’m dizzy with appreciation. Her accounts are utterly breath-taking, making every image crystal clear in my mind.
Now I have some advice for you before you begin this most EPIC of adventures.
Be patient (ha! Says me) there will be questions, so many questions and confusion but trust in Ginn Hale to deliver your answers and give clarity. She will :)
Defend yourself (somehow) from a bigoted culture that will enrage and sicken your soul with their piety and unforgiving brutal acts of torture and harsh judgements.
Delight in the intrigue and plotting of assassins and rebels whose very uprising balances on a razors edge. Revel in the back-stabbing malicious manipulations and downfall of greedy power-hungry men.
Brace for the horrors of war.
Pay attention to the details, it’s all fast, crazy good and totally addictive with so much to discover between the lines.
Anticipate. Watch your blind spot, you are guaranteed to get side swiped, often. The angst is an intense nail-biting experience that will compel and induce your joy, horror and fascination in spades.
And finally, make space in your heart for our heroes. I almost said guard your heart, but it is impossible. I challenge even the most cynical of readers not to be affected by the fierce courage, power, strength and sensuality of these men. Stand by them as they fail miserably, as they love each other desperately, suffer for each other endlessly, sacrifice freely, fight for morality and freedom, and ultimately …win.
“To cling to what is lost, no matter how real it once seemed or once was, will lead only to madness.”
Cheer them on as they destroy their enemies and break world ending prophecy. It’s brutal, it’s heart-breaking, but it’s also exceptional in its touching sensuality. Together our heroes are sweet, sweet perfection!
“Your flesh is my earth. Your blood is my river. Your breath is my sky. Your body, my world. Your will, my life…”
The Rifter is a thousand pages of staggering emotion that will linger for a lifetime. For me it will be treasured and held close forever. Ginn Hale explores every aspect of human nature, confirming AND defying the old saying of ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’. She demonstrates the strength of compassion and the futility of anger, vengeance and war; it doesn’t matter that it exists in another world we are all alike in our mortality – with or without the power to shape the world.
“Strength and courage are as much a part of human nature as weakness and cowardice. I don’t have much of a use for people who choose to be less than they can be.”
This series can be brutal and gruesome but it is balanced with so much goodness. There will be plenty to feed your soul and your heart; but take what you want from it, it’s yours if you want it – Ms Hale is very generous.
The Rifter is the most beautiful piece of fantastical escapism that I have ever read.
Thank you Ginn Hale.
The Blog of Sid Love
Magnificent … An imaginative masterpiece … Mind-blowing …Appalling … Intoxicating … Thought provoking … Genius! I think you get the picture, but really … those words are trite in comparison to the reality of The Rifter. This series is a trip!
The Rifter hinges on the lives of two pivotal characters: John and Kyle, each man from a separate but parallel world, bound by so much more than the power of fate and world ending prophecy. When John crosses over The Shattered Gates into Kyle’s world his presence upsets the foretelling of things and has the potential to change the destiny of a world. Well okay, there’s a LOT more going on but I’d be spoiling if I were to expand. But I will give you a little clue …
“This is the Rifter,” … “Parfir’s most holy incarnation,” … “The divine destroyer. God’s will given form.”
Enter a world of magic and mystery, where talking bones hold the souls of witches and heretics are burned alive. Navigate your way through non-linear time lines and piece together a 10000 piece puzzle that the author reveals ever so meticulously, skilfully and for me …agonizingly. Hale is a master crafter of a vivid realm made fantastical with its crooked streets, stone pathways, and tall towers. The spicy aromas of exotic strange foods (roast dog –anyone?) the scents of pollen, earth and ozone make my senses reel. I’m dizzy with appreciation. Her accounts are utterly breath-taking, making every image crystal clear in my mind.
Now I have some advice for you before you begin this most EPIC of adventures.
Be patient (ha! Says me) there will be questions, so many questions and confusion but trust in Ginn Hale to deliver your answers and give clarity. She will :)
Defend yourself (somehow) from a bigoted culture that will enrage and sicken your soul with their piety and unforgiving brutal acts of torture and harsh judgements.
Delight in the intrigue and plotting of assassins and rebels whose very uprising balances on a razors edge. Revel in the back-stabbing malicious manipulations and downfall of greedy power-hungry men.
Brace for the horrors of war.
Pay attention to the details, it’s all fast, crazy good and totally addictive with so much to discover between the lines.
Anticipate. Watch your blind spot, you are guaranteed to get side swiped, often. The angst is an intense nail-biting experience that will compel and induce your joy, horror and fascination in spades.
And finally, make space in your heart for our heroes. I almost said guard your heart, but it is impossible. I challenge even the most cynical of readers not to be affected by the fierce courage, power, strength and sensuality of these men. Stand by them as they fail miserably, as they love each other desperately, suffer for each other endlessly, sacrifice freely, fight for morality and freedom, and ultimately …win.
“To cling to what is lost, no matter how real it once seemed or once was, will lead only to madness.”
Cheer them on as they destroy their enemies and break world ending prophecy. It’s brutal, it’s heart-breaking, but it’s also exceptional in its touching sensuality. Together our heroes are sweet, sweet perfection!
“Your flesh is my earth. Your blood is my river. Your breath is my sky. Your body, my world. Your will, my life…”
The Rifter is a thousand pages of staggering emotion that will linger for a lifetime. For me it will be treasured and held close forever. Ginn Hale explores every aspect of human nature, confirming AND defying the old saying of ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’. She demonstrates the strength of compassion and the futility of anger, vengeance and war; it doesn’t matter that it exists in another world we are all alike in our mortality – with or without the power to shape the world.
“Strength and courage are as much a part of human nature as weakness and cowardice. I don’t have much of a use for people who choose to be less than they can be.”
This series can be brutal and gruesome but it is balanced with so much goodness. There will be plenty to feed your soul and your heart; but take what you want from it, it’s yours if you want it – Ms Hale is very generous.
The Rifter is the most beautiful piece of fantastical escapism that I have ever read.
Thank you Ginn Hale.
August 26, 2013
**Spoilers Ahead**
”So long as you’re living, never give up…”
A couple of weeks have passed since my journey with Ginn Hale’s Rifter series came to a close. His Holy Bones is the end, the last book. But I still can’t come up with the right words to explain how I feel. It dawned on me this morning that maybe I don’t want to find the words. Have you ever read a book so special that you wanted to keep it all to yourself? But my heart won’t let me do that. You have to experience Ginn Hale’s world and words. Have to! :)
This series is a reading adventure. A journey I will treasure. Characters that I will keep close.
Kahlil and John. My hand goes right over my heart at the mere mention of their names. These men find each other again and again through time and space. The way Ms. Hale stirs, twists, and weaves time is breathtaking! John and Kahlil belong together. Belonged to each other. They were blessed with the gift of truly seeing each other. All the layers, flaws, and changes through their lives. A lifetime of broken time, but filled with pieces that formed a whole picture. I felt like I saw and experienced every little piece of John and Kahlil through their pain and passion. Pieces that made them who they are in the world. Honor, duty, power, and love. But these characters also experienced changes in those qualities and characteristics due to decisions they made over time or the ripples time made in them. They just seemed to understand each other down deep. There for each other through it all --there to remind the other of all the confidence, pride, light, and love in their hearts that they thought they lost or never possessed. I adored watching John, Kyle, Ravishan, and Jath’ibaye live, learn and love.
Quote could spoil the end. Beware.
I don’t miss these characters. Sounds harsh I know. But I don’t miss them because they are folded into a big part of what makes me—ME. The word “whole” holds a lot of power in this series and my life. I’m still working on my complete picture and sense of peace, but this story inspires me to keep looking. Pushes me to keep reaching for connections in people, nature, and faith.
A beautiful story with everything life has to offer. Good and bad. Friendship, war, love, magic, brutality, loyalty and romance. Haha….I can go on and on.
Just read it!
Thank you so much for the words and characters, Ms. Hale. I will forever keep them close to my heart.
July 16, 2020
4.5 stars (also for the whole story)
We’ve reached the end and what a ride it’s been!
This story was nothing like what I was expecting from the blurb, for one thing it had a lot more graphic violence, and it kept me guessing at every turn. Even when my theories were right, the execution took me by surprise more often than not, which is definitely a plus, if you were wondering. 😉
Despite the romance being one of the driving forces of the plot, many times the driving force, this story reads more like a fantasy with gay MCs than a classic romance, the worldbuilding and overarching plot aren’t there just a frame for a love story, they could’ve worked just as well if the main relationship had not been a romantic one. Don’t get me wrong, was a very nice bonus and even if the author didn’t bother to (big spoilers for the entire series inside the spoiler tags)
I was really impressed with how well thought and plotted this story was, I loved the MCs (especially Kyle, I have to admit, John is great, but I have a soft spot for Kyle) and even the secondary characters were usually fleshed out (), but it wasn’t perfect.
To be fair, the author didn’t make it easy on herself, and she got it right most of the time, but there were inconsistencies and things that weren’t fully explained. Maybe the explanation I came up with by myself is the one she was going for, but I would’ve appreciated it being made perfectly clear by the story itself. I had to figure it out after I finished and discuss it with my fellow buddy readers before I could be more or less sure that that particular issue had been solved to my satisfaction and the entire story made sense. (again, HUGE spoiler for the entire story)
It’s not that big of a problem that it ruined my enjoyment of a truly awesome book, it bothered me just enough that if I had to rate the entire story I wouldn’t give it 5 full stars, but it’s really a minor thing, all things considered. I’m happy with the explanation I’ve come up with and now I’m ready for the book hangover to hit me.
We’ve reached the end and what a ride it’s been!
This story was nothing like what I was expecting from the blurb, for one thing it had a lot more graphic violence, and it kept me guessing at every turn. Even when my theories were right, the execution took me by surprise more often than not, which is definitely a plus, if you were wondering. 😉
Despite the romance being one of the driving forces of the plot, many times the driving force, this story reads more like a fantasy with gay MCs than a classic romance, the worldbuilding and overarching plot aren’t there just a frame for a love story, they could’ve worked just as well if the main relationship had not been a romantic one. Don’t get me wrong, was a very nice bonus and even if the author didn’t bother to (big spoilers for the entire series inside the spoiler tags)
I was really impressed with how well thought and plotted this story was, I loved the MCs (especially Kyle, I have to admit, John is great, but I have a soft spot for Kyle) and even the secondary characters were usually fleshed out (), but it wasn’t perfect.
To be fair, the author didn’t make it easy on herself, and she got it right most of the time, but there were inconsistencies and things that weren’t fully explained. Maybe the explanation I came up with by myself is the one she was going for, but I would’ve appreciated it being made perfectly clear by the story itself. I had to figure it out after I finished and discuss it with my fellow buddy readers before I could be more or less sure that that particular issue had been solved to my satisfaction and the entire story made sense. (again, HUGE spoiler for the entire story)
It’s not that big of a problem that it ruined my enjoyment of a truly awesome book, it bothered me just enough that if I had to rate the entire story I wouldn’t give it 5 full stars, but it’s really a minor thing, all things considered. I’m happy with the explanation I’ve come up with and now I’m ready for the book hangover to hit me.
January 7, 2016
I'll start with this: everyone who's read this series has their personal favorite books. For me, nothing compares to the interactions between Kahlil and Jath'ibaye in book 6 and NOTHING tops the EPIC storytelling and "wrapping it all up" in book 10.
Book 10 has one of the single hardest scenes I've ever read in a book. I little bit of myself DIED in that scene. It hurts just thinking about it.
I had my doubts that everything could be settled in just one book. I mean...9 books of questions and 1 book of answers? But it WORKED. Ginn Hale worked it all out! And I'm...floored. I mean, I just...I can't wrap my head around everything I've just read.
I need to decompress. How will I do it? ...I'm starting my reread immediately...
Please, please read this series. I hope that it will WOW you as much as it did me. But, even if it doesn't reduce you to a raving lunatic, I know for sure you'll at least enjoy the storytelling and brilliant writing and mind of Ginn Hale.
January 25, 2016
You know how you read when you're a kid...lost in the world of someone else's imagination (well, and your own too, of course). That completely, deeply absorbed to such an extent you don't hear the class bell ringing or your mother calling you to dinner or the fire engines arriving. That's how these books, this series, was for me. I sank into it like a dream and couldn't wait for each installment. I can't think of the last time that happened to me.
June 15, 2014
****CRUSH ALERT****
Have you ever read something so utterly mind-boggling that you can barely find the words to express how it affected you? Very few stories have impacted me to such a degree. The Rifter soars to the top of the list. Worlds tangle, time shifts, and the complexity of the story will leave you dazed and confused. I can promise you, confusion and frustration will overwhelm you as you begin this epic journey. In return, I can also guarantee it will be worth every bit of aggravation you may have.
I know I am breaking the rules and going backwards, but it’s impossible to start at day one. I couldn't properly explain much of anything at the beginning. Frankly, I had no clue what was going on. I stumbled along for several hundred pages wondering if I should take notes and frequently calling on a friend to clear some of the mud from my eyes. I encourage you to lean on veterans of the series. Buddy reading can be a beautiful thing and it bolstered my courage to forge ahead. I found great comfort in simply knowing I wasn't alone in my ignorance.
To make matters worse, there is much I cannot tell you. Most of it you will have to venture into the unknown and experience the fog firsthand. What I can tell you is that this is a breathtaking mosaic of destined men and their cataclysmic struggle to save one another. Hale’s ability to sneak things in stealth mode is impressive. My focus was heavily on who, what, when and where leaving me vulnerable and I was often blown away, thunderstruck. Just when I calmed my nerves and felt slightly less disoriented, I swiftly found myself sputtering and speechless yet again.
John and Kyle.
They are strangers who may not be strangers after all. Deeply complex men in deeply complex worlds. Once you begin to grasp things (and fret not, you will) you become intoxicated with the ambition to have more answers. Answers will come along with a sea of more questions, and as you fight this tide of knowledge you will sink further into the clutches of The Rifter.
I slowly wandered through the thousand page adventure over several months. I believe most devour the books back to back; but I wanted to savor, to stretch, and soak up every chapter. Now that I am finished I am twitchy, restless, and desperate for more. Greedy, I know. All along I knew it had to come to an end, but I am grieving nevertheless. However, I certainly have no complaints regarding the meticulous climax.
This elaborate labyrinth will take you high and low. Gruesome battles with painstaking horrific details will unnerve you. My tummy tumbled, my heart raced, my breath caught in my throat. I was 110% at Ginn Hale’s mercy. She did not fail me.
I could gush and gush all day….believe me, I have. But allow me to cut straight to the chase.A single key unlocked a thrilling adventure that I will be forever grateful I had the pleasure of taking. The Rifter is a gorgeous masterpiece of raw and rich fantasy literature. Ginn masters the perfect utopia of chilling yet charming. Absolutely brilliant and not to be missed!
*5 holeeeeeeshiznit-my-mind-is-blown stars*
WAIT!!!
Don't miss out on a fabulous giveaway of THE ENTIRE SERIES along with a fun interview with THE Ginn Hale herself!
December 22, 2020
4.5 Stars
This was a very satisfying conclusion to Ginn Hale’s extraordinarily imagined, M/M fantasy, ten-part Rifter series.
Having spent nine previous books observing Hale’s work, as she boldly set the scene and built her plot bit by bit, I can admit that this final chapter was a bit of a masterpiece, and I’m so damn happy with the way everything played out for her main characters, John and Kyle—especially considering how touch-and-go things have been, at many, many points, over the course of the series.
The world-building was phenomenal and the detail given to Basawar and its people (particularly in terms of their language and customs) was remarkably unique. This tends to be the point that lingers most adamantly when I consider what wowed me the most about the series. It seems I am an absolute sucker for an impressively written and immersive fantasy world experience, and Hale is an absolute queen at this.
For those who have not read the series at all, the larger story is one full of war and intrigue, heroism and morality, and a grand and sweeping romance that is simply unforgettable.
I’ve certainly had my ups and downs over the course of the series (finding some of the earlier additions a bit on the slow side and a tad over-complicated), but overall, I was very impressed with this saga on a whole.
Featuring a large cast of characters and a very intricate and layered narrative that crosses time and space, this series is certainly one not to be missed for all lovers of stories set within the M/M fantasy genre.
This was a very satisfying conclusion to Ginn Hale’s extraordinarily imagined, M/M fantasy, ten-part Rifter series.
Having spent nine previous books observing Hale’s work, as she boldly set the scene and built her plot bit by bit, I can admit that this final chapter was a bit of a masterpiece, and I’m so damn happy with the way everything played out for her main characters, John and Kyle—especially considering how touch-and-go things have been, at many, many points, over the course of the series.
The world-building was phenomenal and the detail given to Basawar and its people (particularly in terms of their language and customs) was remarkably unique. This tends to be the point that lingers most adamantly when I consider what wowed me the most about the series. It seems I am an absolute sucker for an impressively written and immersive fantasy world experience, and Hale is an absolute queen at this.
For those who have not read the series at all, the larger story is one full of war and intrigue, heroism and morality, and a grand and sweeping romance that is simply unforgettable.
I’ve certainly had my ups and downs over the course of the series (finding some of the earlier additions a bit on the slow side and a tad over-complicated), but overall, I was very impressed with this saga on a whole.
Featuring a large cast of characters and a very intricate and layered narrative that crosses time and space, this series is certainly one not to be missed for all lovers of stories set within the M/M fantasy genre.
July 18, 2020
4 stars for this section and for the book as a whole.
Edit: I'm knocking this down to an even 4 stars after thinking it over for a couple of days. Because honestly, if I were reading this on my own and didn't have friends to speculate and theorize with, there are too many significant plot holes left hanging for this to be worthy of more than 3 stars. Which is a shame, because it really is such a marvelous story.
CW: Violence, gore, misogyny, mentions of rape (not of the MCs), torture, etc.
Thanks to my BR companions Elena and Rosa for the wonderful discussions and theorizing and head scratching and laughing while reading this. It made a great story even better. :)
Well, here we are at the end of all things. I'm amazed at how many of our theories panned out (though to be honest, we came up with as many theories as possible to cover all bases) and how much was wrapped up. That said, some of the important stuff was left dangling and we had to come up with our own theories to finish explaining all the stuff and some of the continuity errors that cropped up throughout. I think we came up with some good theories that mostly make sense and don't leave our guys stranded in the Void.
I really am amazed at this story. Inconsistencies are going to happen with a story this huge, and I'm willing to overlook some unexplained things for the sake of an otherwise brilliant narrative. The world building is great, the main characters and supporting characters are mostly well-written, and writing is vivid and engaging. It's so rare to find a book that can tell you what's going to happen and then still surprise you when it does happen; my jaw dropped so many times.
What I really enjoyed most was seeing how John, Ravishan and Kyle evolved throughout the book, and how John especially learned to deal with this strange world he was landed in and how that impacted him personally. So many others would just sit in a corner and rock back and forth, but he kept moving forward. He started out as a guy who makes as few waves as possible, and ends up being the guy who started a revolution.
I know I harped on the formatting and editing issues in a few of the reviews. Really, if this were an average M/M fantasy, I wouldn't even mention it because it wouldn't be significant enough to merit comment. But I think this story deserves the best possible presentation, so when those things cropped up they irked me. And it definitely deserves better marketing to reach a wider audience.
Edit: I'm knocking this down to an even 4 stars after thinking it over for a couple of days. Because honestly, if I were reading this on my own and didn't have friends to speculate and theorize with, there are too many significant plot holes left hanging for this to be worthy of more than 3 stars. Which is a shame, because it really is such a marvelous story.
CW: Violence, gore, misogyny, mentions of rape (not of the MCs), torture, etc.
Thanks to my BR companions Elena and Rosa for the wonderful discussions and theorizing and head scratching and laughing while reading this. It made a great story even better. :)
Well, here we are at the end of all things. I'm amazed at how many of our theories panned out (though to be honest, we came up with as many theories as possible to cover all bases) and how much was wrapped up. That said, some of the important stuff was left dangling and we had to come up with our own theories to finish explaining all the stuff and some of the continuity errors that cropped up throughout. I think we came up with some good theories that mostly make sense and don't leave our guys stranded in the Void.
I really am amazed at this story. Inconsistencies are going to happen with a story this huge, and I'm willing to overlook some unexplained things for the sake of an otherwise brilliant narrative. The world building is great, the main characters and supporting characters are mostly well-written, and writing is vivid and engaging. It's so rare to find a book that can tell you what's going to happen and then still surprise you when it does happen; my jaw dropped so many times.
What I really enjoyed most was seeing how John, Ravishan and Kyle evolved throughout the book, and how John especially learned to deal with this strange world he was landed in and how that impacted him personally. So many others would just sit in a corner and rock back and forth, but he kept moving forward. He started out as a guy who makes as few waves as possible, and ends up being the guy who started a revolution.
I know I harped on the formatting and editing issues in a few of the reviews. Really, if this were an average M/M fantasy, I wouldn't even mention it because it wouldn't be significant enough to merit comment. But I think this story deserves the best possible presentation, so when those things cropped up they irked me. And it definitely deserves better marketing to reach a wider audience.
November 8, 2013
So remember the Rifter buddy read that started at the beginning of September? Yep, those are crickets you are hearing over at the Rifter buddy read thread in Best M/M Series group. While most everyone seemed to have dropped off to other reads, I marched on and finished the series. While I had a slow start, I packed books 4-10 in the last couple weeks of October.
The Rifter is a clever story that plays fast and loose with time and space. It's a story that will keep you squinting and wondering what is going on. It's story that rewards patience, as questions are answered but no sooner than necessary. It's a story of love and bond between a Rifter and a Kahlil. The Rifter is served up in 10 novella-sized installments and is really quite good, especially if you are a fan of the fantasy genre.
What did I think? I put it solidly between 3 and 4 stars on my completely undocumented subjective rating scale. It was good enough to keep me going, which says something. It was good enough to keep me interested in the relationship between John & Kyle. And it was good enough for me want to find out how it all ends up. Yeah, it has a lot going for it. Props to Ginn Hale for weaving a clever mulit-layered story across multiple times and worlds. Her writing is quite readable, especially when it comes to the action and other fantastical things described in the world of Basawar. I highly recommended for those who like m/m in a fantasy setting.
I want to give a HUGE thanks to Xing who kindly answered all my "what the heck is going on" questions without spoiling anything.
By the way, I generally don't do gifs, but I saw this and immediately thought of Ravishan stepping out from the gray space.
The Rifter is a clever story that plays fast and loose with time and space. It's a story that will keep you squinting and wondering what is going on. It's story that rewards patience, as questions are answered but no sooner than necessary. It's a story of love and bond between a Rifter and a Kahlil. The Rifter is served up in 10 novella-sized installments and is really quite good, especially if you are a fan of the fantasy genre.
What did I think? I put it solidly between 3 and 4 stars on my completely undocumented subjective rating scale. It was good enough to keep me going, which says something. It was good enough to keep me interested in the relationship between John & Kyle. And it was good enough for me want to find out how it all ends up. Yeah, it has a lot going for it. Props to Ginn Hale for weaving a clever mulit-layered story across multiple times and worlds. Her writing is quite readable, especially when it comes to the action and other fantastical things described in the world of Basawar. I highly recommended for those who like m/m in a fantasy setting.
I want to give a HUGE thanks to Xing who kindly answered all my "what the heck is going on" questions without spoiling anything.
By the way, I generally don't do gifs, but I saw this and immediately thought of Ravishan stepping out from the gray space.
February 3, 2016
I’m going to try and review this series without giving much away, and that’s not easy because I’m tempted to write about all the fascinating and heartbreaking and terrifying things that happen in it, but that would be too revealing, and one of the best things about Rifter is finding your way through the magical maze the author had built.
Because, really, what an epic story! I am blown away by Ginn Hale’s imagination and by the way she cleverly wove all storylines in the plot and played with the time until all puzzle pieces of the past and the future fit perfectly to their designated places.
I lost hours and hours of sleep so I can read, and it was not just curiosity that made me stay awake - I was immersed in the world of Basawar, I lived with the characters while they were trying to figure out who they were, and who their friends and enemies were, who had to sacrifice their dreams so that millions of lives were not destroyed, who driven by love, sometimes, acted recklessly but also fearlessly fought against powerful blood spells and horrific undead creatures.
It won’t be an exaggeration if I said that the book is beyond scary at times – a lot of blood is shed, there’s torture and brutality, there’s destruction and death. But above all, Rifter is a story about love – it’s the love story of two men, it’s a love song about humans, freedom, and the power of nature.
I have rated some of the novellas in the series with 4 stars but, honestly, whatever niggles I might have had, in the end they don’t matter. For the unforgettable journey Rifter took me on, it deserves all the stars.
Favorite quote:
July 17, 2020
I've been rating the other books with 4 stars because I didn't know if Mrs. Hale was going to be able to complete the series in a satisfing and credible way. But I shouldn't have been worried about that. Her writting is excellent as well as the world she has created. So the whole series deserve 5 stars and I will be reading it again in the future because I want to enjoy it again in a calmer way. This time around I was so worried about how everthing was going to end that I devoured it!
If you are a fantasy fan, who love magic, complex worlds with its own religion, language and politics these books would be fantastic for you! But beware, this is dark, really dark, so it's not for faint hearts.
The starting point was promising and I thought is was going to be a lighter read, but it wasn't. For the blurb I thought it was going to be something similar to some mangas I've read like Fushigi Yuugi, but it proved me wrong. This story is really dark and I loved every page of it.
The characters are lovely, they grow through the whole series and that made the story more real. Sometimes the sorrow and loss in the book is overwhelming, not everything that's broken could be reparied, and the characters are confronted with the unfairness of life and have to face the consecuences of their own actions.
Mrs. Hale weaves a complex story and she is really clever decieving the reader many times. Everything you think is going on, is proved wrong once and another time. But at the end, she finish the story and every piece fall into place, if not in a satisfing way for some charactes, in a credible one.
I highly recommend this series, and even more now that's complete (I'm happy I wasn't following it when it was published little by little, I would have died before it was complete). I definetively have found another favourite author!
If you are a fantasy fan, who love magic, complex worlds with its own religion, language and politics these books would be fantastic for you! But beware, this is dark, really dark, so it's not for faint hearts.
The starting point was promising and I thought is was going to be a lighter read, but it wasn't. For the blurb I thought it was going to be something similar to some mangas I've read like Fushigi Yuugi, but it proved me wrong. This story is really dark and I loved every page of it.
The characters are lovely, they grow through the whole series and that made the story more real. Sometimes the sorrow and loss in the book is overwhelming, not everything that's broken could be reparied, and the characters are confronted with the unfairness of life and have to face the consecuences of their own actions.
Mrs. Hale weaves a complex story and she is really clever decieving the reader many times. Everything you think is going on, is proved wrong once and another time. But at the end, she finish the story and every piece fall into place, if not in a satisfing way for some charactes, in a credible one.
I highly recommend this series, and even more now that's complete (I'm happy I wasn't following it when it was published little by little, I would have died before it was complete). I definetively have found another favourite author!
November 8, 2013
How do you write a review for something like the Rifter? How do I even put into words how wonderful and terrifying and beautiful this book* is?
Ginn Hale's worldbuilding is seamless, unrelenting, and at times unspeakably cruel. Because of that, the moments of staggering joy are so beautiful they physically hurt.
The characters are at times selfless, at times selfish, sometimes kind and sometimes literally murderous. But they are all drawn with breathtaking compassion. Ginn Hale doesn't pull punches,and her characters suffer moments of desperate longing and loss--and so does the reader.
The plot is so exquisitely, perfectly crafted. There are twists but they never feel like a stunt. They are elegantly foreshadowed and set in motion.
I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll just say from beginning to end, the Rifter was completely honest and perfect.
*this is a review for the complete serial, not just the final book.
Ginn Hale's worldbuilding is seamless, unrelenting, and at times unspeakably cruel. Because of that, the moments of staggering joy are so beautiful they physically hurt.
The characters are at times selfless, at times selfish, sometimes kind and sometimes literally murderous. But they are all drawn with breathtaking compassion. Ginn Hale doesn't pull punches,and her characters suffer moments of desperate longing and loss--and so does the reader.
The plot is so exquisitely, perfectly crafted. There are twists but they never feel like a stunt. They are elegantly foreshadowed and set in motion.
I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll just say from beginning to end, the Rifter was completely honest and perfect.
*this is a review for the complete serial, not just the final book.
May 14, 2016
If you’re at all hesitating to read this because it is a 10-book series. Don’t. Yes, it’s an investment of time, but they read quickly and you won’t want to stop. That is how deeply you can get immersed in this incredible world this incredible Ginn Hale has dreamed up. The plot is convoluted (the characters move back and forth in time), and there are many questions along the way, but they are answered as you read and all of them certainly by the end of the series. Patience is needed, but it’s well worth it.
John and Kyle, and all their incarnations, go on my list of favorite couples. Ever. More than that, each of them is so well drawn and swoon-worthy. John for his quiet, introverted, scientist-nerdy self— that deep connection he has to the earth— who is thrown into something much more than himself and faces it with bravery and humility. And Kyle who is just simply BadAss.
I’m so sad this is over. This is the best fantasy/alt-uni series I’ve read in a very long time. I’m going to go curl up in my corner now, and start withdrawal. This series will be hard to match or beat.
4.5 stars for this book; 5 stars for the series
June 4, 2016
Wow, so this book ends this mammoth m/m fantasy series. This has been a great if confusing adventure, still not sure how Kalil managed to be in two places at the same time but still ends up in the same universe at the end but who cares?! Such great lovable characters and what incredible angst in this last episode..
'All the pain that he had endured in this life as Kahlil - all of the
loneliness and suffering - had been necessary so that he could be here, now, at this moment. Both his lives seemed to converge to a central purpose.
Whether it was the Rifter, or John, or Jath'ibaye, it no longer mattered. They were all one. At the center of both of Kahlil's lives was his dedication to that single man who was his deity, ward, friend, and lover.'
'All the pain that he had endured in this life as Kahlil - all of the
loneliness and suffering - had been necessary so that he could be here, now, at this moment. Both his lives seemed to converge to a central purpose.
Whether it was the Rifter, or John, or Jath'ibaye, it no longer mattered. They were all one. At the center of both of Kahlil's lives was his dedication to that single man who was his deity, ward, friend, and lover.'
May 11, 2015
I might try and review this later. I'd kind of given up on doing individual reviews for all the books because, well, I just could not spend the time. I needed to keep going. Anything in my life after I really got going on Saturday afternoon went by the wayside. Nothing else mattered. I had to read until it felt like my eyes were bleeding for how tired they were.
So I might try and do a proper review... I might not. I need to decompress. For now, all I can say is that this series, all together, is one of best things I've read. It's frustrating, confusing, confounding, infuriating.
It's also beautiful and inspiring.
Maybe this should be it. Maybe this should just stand as my review. There is nothing I can come up with that will do the series justice. Nothing that I can say that will describe the wonder I felt while in this amazing world. It's hard to trust an author to get you though something like this as a whole person. I'm so glad that I did. I'm so happy to have finished.
I'm so grateful.
A side note: I'm also sorry that I left my buddies in the dust. I'm the worst person to buddy read with, I know this. I read too fast. I have a lot more time to read than most. I don't have the same life responsibilities that others have. But read on girls! I'm here for you to get through the tough parts. Here for you when you get the the end.
So I might try and do a proper review... I might not. I need to decompress. For now, all I can say is that this series, all together, is one of best things I've read. It's frustrating, confusing, confounding, infuriating.
It's also beautiful and inspiring.
Maybe this should be it. Maybe this should just stand as my review. There is nothing I can come up with that will do the series justice. Nothing that I can say that will describe the wonder I felt while in this amazing world. It's hard to trust an author to get you though something like this as a whole person. I'm so glad that I did. I'm so happy to have finished.
I'm so grateful.
A side note: I'm also sorry that I left my buddies in the dust. I'm the worst person to buddy read with, I know this. I read too fast. I have a lot more time to read than most. I don't have the same life responsibilities that others have. But read on girls! I'm here for you to get through the tough parts. Here for you when you get the the end.
April 25, 2013
Book 10 His Holy Bones was the final installment of the Rifter series. This book was difficult and disturbing to read in places, but I was very happy with the ending. It was simply perfect. I was also blown away with how Ginn Hale managed to pull everything together in the end, over the two different time periods. I would definitely recommend this series for epic fantasy lovers!
June 14, 2013
4.5 Stars!
This was a very good ending to a fantastic series. I enjoyed every moment. Hale brings the world of Basawar alive and takes us on an magical adventure through twists and turns, slowly revealing one surprise after another. Everything was described in stunning detail, from the language, the atmosphere, the culture, and the setting.
The structure of the book made everything seem new and exciting. It had me at the edge of my seat anxiously awaiting more answers. Hale cleverly brought two separate timelines into one.
In the final book, I loved
This was a journey that brought fantasy, politics, religion, magic, and love all together in one beautiful story.
Highly recommended for fantasy lovers.
December 15, 2011
Rifter Book Ten: His Holy Bones is finally here. The end of an epic series and it’s both good and bad. The ending is good with a solid happy ending but getting there is a challenge. This episode is filled with blood, torture, pain, suffering, and basically every horrible thing you can imagine that happens. Of course it’s alright in the end but you have to be willing to slog through the blood to get there. Furthermore the story valiantly attempts to tie up the loose ends and give closure to the many subplots going on but I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the choices. I think ultimately the story is simply too big and too convoluted to wrap up so simply but regardless, it remains an epic and masterful tale.
In the last installment of the serial, we pick up where the last book has left off. The battle foreshadowed from the very beginning has occurred and Ravishan has been fatally injured in the fighting. John/Jahn/Jath’ibaye has called down his consider Rifter powers and basically torn the world apart in his effort to save Ravishan, thus ending the fighting since almost everyone is dead or crushed anyway. The story continues from that time point showing what happens to Ravishan, it’s not a spoiler to say he dies since well we’ve known he dies from almost the beginning, and what happens with Fikiri and Laurie/Loshai. The timeline then jumps to the future with Kyle and Jath’ibaye as Kyle attempts to escape from Laurie’s torture room before the showdown between Jath’ibaye and Laurie.
It may sound confusing but it’s not at all. The story is attempting to blend the past events and characters with the future and literally does just that. On the one hand most of the various storylines are tied up somewhat. There is an attempt to show how the past Ravishan blends with the future Kyle, in a rather literal sense. It’s not a horrible idea and fits with the theme of the story so far but it feels like a really easy solution to horrible torture and confusing dual identities. Additionally, I think the explanation about Laurie becoming Loshai is very weak and not well explained – after all, what happened to her? How did she escape after Ravishan’s death and John’s grief? When did Fikiri become all obsessed with her?
I actually have many more questions that arose from this final installment as I can see what the novella is trying to do - obviously give just enough information to close the door on issues but not dwell too long since there is a lot of ground to cover - but I’m not entirely sold on the explanations. In the end I think the story is simply too complicated with too many characters, plot points, and important details that are surfacely addressed while the action with John and Kyle is center stage. On the one hand that’s good because their relationship is the main focus that needs to be addressed and resolved, but it does leave a lot of questions and other issues unresolved.
Having said that this is definitely a fitting end to an epic series. The story feels complete, even if somewhat unresolved and too neatly tied up, the characters are complete and finished. I definitely get the feeling the series knew where it was going from the beginning, which lets the reader trust in the book and the writing without worrying the story is going to go off the rails. It definitely had potential a few times but the restrained hand and consistent focus on the end kept the story on track. The attention to detail is phenomenal and the world building even in this last installment is simply breath taking. The hungry bones are chilling and so well used and portrayed that they are definitely one of my favorite parts of the series as a whole.
Of course no one who’s following the series should skip ahead to this installment but instead read it in order, it’s truly that wonderful and worthwhile. The world building is perhaps some of the best I’ve ever read and what stands out the most to me is the originality. Some of the details are familiar of course but so many more are twisted and turned on their head, created into something new, dark, and compelling. This isn’t a light read but it’s absorbing and I couldn’t put it down each time. The series as a whole shows how you can incorporate dark concepts – endless torture, rape, pain, death, suffering – without overwhelming the story or using them for shock value. Each act in this epic series has a purpose and the pseudo gore is well written without embellishment.
Each installment varies as it’s going to considering the length and scope of the story but this is definitely a series I eagerly recommend to fantasy fans. It’s that amazing. The rating for this installment is above but for the series as a whole…5 stars without a doubt.
In the last installment of the serial, we pick up where the last book has left off. The battle foreshadowed from the very beginning has occurred and Ravishan has been fatally injured in the fighting. John/Jahn/Jath’ibaye has called down his consider Rifter powers and basically torn the world apart in his effort to save Ravishan, thus ending the fighting since almost everyone is dead or crushed anyway. The story continues from that time point showing what happens to Ravishan, it’s not a spoiler to say he dies since well we’ve known he dies from almost the beginning, and what happens with Fikiri and Laurie/Loshai. The timeline then jumps to the future with Kyle and Jath’ibaye as Kyle attempts to escape from Laurie’s torture room before the showdown between Jath’ibaye and Laurie.
It may sound confusing but it’s not at all. The story is attempting to blend the past events and characters with the future and literally does just that. On the one hand most of the various storylines are tied up somewhat. There is an attempt to show how the past Ravishan blends with the future Kyle, in a rather literal sense. It’s not a horrible idea and fits with the theme of the story so far but it feels like a really easy solution to horrible torture and confusing dual identities. Additionally, I think the explanation about Laurie becoming Loshai is very weak and not well explained – after all, what happened to her? How did she escape after Ravishan’s death and John’s grief? When did Fikiri become all obsessed with her?
I actually have many more questions that arose from this final installment as I can see what the novella is trying to do - obviously give just enough information to close the door on issues but not dwell too long since there is a lot of ground to cover - but I’m not entirely sold on the explanations. In the end I think the story is simply too complicated with too many characters, plot points, and important details that are surfacely addressed while the action with John and Kyle is center stage. On the one hand that’s good because their relationship is the main focus that needs to be addressed and resolved, but it does leave a lot of questions and other issues unresolved.
Having said that this is definitely a fitting end to an epic series. The story feels complete, even if somewhat unresolved and too neatly tied up, the characters are complete and finished. I definitely get the feeling the series knew where it was going from the beginning, which lets the reader trust in the book and the writing without worrying the story is going to go off the rails. It definitely had potential a few times but the restrained hand and consistent focus on the end kept the story on track. The attention to detail is phenomenal and the world building even in this last installment is simply breath taking. The hungry bones are chilling and so well used and portrayed that they are definitely one of my favorite parts of the series as a whole.
Of course no one who’s following the series should skip ahead to this installment but instead read it in order, it’s truly that wonderful and worthwhile. The world building is perhaps some of the best I’ve ever read and what stands out the most to me is the originality. Some of the details are familiar of course but so many more are twisted and turned on their head, created into something new, dark, and compelling. This isn’t a light read but it’s absorbing and I couldn’t put it down each time. The series as a whole shows how you can incorporate dark concepts – endless torture, rape, pain, death, suffering – without overwhelming the story or using them for shock value. Each act in this epic series has a purpose and the pseudo gore is well written without embellishment.
Each installment varies as it’s going to considering the length and scope of the story but this is definitely a series I eagerly recommend to fantasy fans. It’s that amazing. The rating for this installment is above but for the series as a whole…5 stars without a doubt.
March 14, 2016
I started reading this series with my lovely friend M'rella and I sort of scooted on ahead of her. Sorry, M'rella, :-(
Ginn Hale's Rifter series has been a big chunk of my life for the past week. I've posted little mini reviews if you will as I've read each book with the intent that I would do an overall review of the series after I finished it. Well, I've finished it and now I have a problem because I've been left speechless. I don't even know where to begin to explain but I'm going to try.
Overall I've ended up giving this series 4 stars and honestly it wasn't because of the first few books. I enjoyed the writing in all of them but my biggest problem especially with books 1 through 3 and to a degree books 4 & 5 was that they simply left me a feeling too confused. The plot on this series is a little more complex than the norm. Not only are we shifting from one world to another there's a whole issue of timelines. This is a story that moves back and forth between present and past and not just one past. Plus because we aren't always on earth at times we have a bit of a language barrier to deal with although thanks to the author including list of characters and basically a mini-dictionary of the language, these things weren't as confusing as they otherwise could have been.
All this makes it seem like 'why the hell would you read these books? Right? Well I have only one answer for that I love a challenge...no seriously what I really love is a really good story. A well crafted tale that leaves me wanting more and indications were that this series would deliver that and for me it did. No matter how confused I may have felt or at times even a little bit frustrated at the end of each book there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to keep reading. Somewhere around book 4, I came to the conclusion that I was just going to read and enjoy and let things fall into place where and when they were ready too this was when I began to really enjoy the story.
I was reminded of when I was a kid in school and we'd have story time and the teacher would read to us. I'd just sit there and take in the words and the story would create itself in my mind. I didn't have to work at it or wonder what happened next or how the story would play out. My mind just went with the flow of the words and it all came together in my head on it's own. it was such a simple thing watching that movie with my mind's eye and I continued to do that when I got old enough to read on my own but somewhere along the way I started trying to figure out the details before they happened to see if I could guess what came next, how things ended and I forgot to just enjoy the words on the page and let them flow around me and spin their tale showing me the story that the author wanted to tell in the way that she wanted it to unfold.
This series was definitely different from what I normally read and I enjoyed the challenge that it offered but now it's time to keep another promise...so it's on to manties...I blame my friends, you know who you are (thankfully this is short read because I have 'A Little Life' promise to keep as well.
Ginn Hale's Rifter series has been a big chunk of my life for the past week. I've posted little mini reviews if you will as I've read each book with the intent that I would do an overall review of the series after I finished it. Well, I've finished it and now I have a problem because I've been left speechless. I don't even know where to begin to explain but I'm going to try.
Overall I've ended up giving this series 4 stars and honestly it wasn't because of the first few books. I enjoyed the writing in all of them but my biggest problem especially with books 1 through 3 and to a degree books 4 & 5 was that they simply left me a feeling too confused. The plot on this series is a little more complex than the norm. Not only are we shifting from one world to another there's a whole issue of timelines. This is a story that moves back and forth between present and past and not just one past. Plus because we aren't always on earth at times we have a bit of a language barrier to deal with although thanks to the author including list of characters and basically a mini-dictionary of the language, these things weren't as confusing as they otherwise could have been.
All this makes it seem like 'why the hell would you read these books? Right? Well I have only one answer for that I love a challenge...no seriously what I really love is a really good story. A well crafted tale that leaves me wanting more and indications were that this series would deliver that and for me it did. No matter how confused I may have felt or at times even a little bit frustrated at the end of each book there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to keep reading. Somewhere around book 4, I came to the conclusion that I was just going to read and enjoy and let things fall into place where and when they were ready too this was when I began to really enjoy the story.
I was reminded of when I was a kid in school and we'd have story time and the teacher would read to us. I'd just sit there and take in the words and the story would create itself in my mind. I didn't have to work at it or wonder what happened next or how the story would play out. My mind just went with the flow of the words and it all came together in my head on it's own. it was such a simple thing watching that movie with my mind's eye and I continued to do that when I got old enough to read on my own but somewhere along the way I started trying to figure out the details before they happened to see if I could guess what came next, how things ended and I forgot to just enjoy the words on the page and let them flow around me and spin their tale showing me the story that the author wanted to tell in the way that she wanted it to unfold.
This series was definitely different from what I normally read and I enjoyed the challenge that it offered but now it's time to keep another promise...so it's on to manties...I blame my friends, you know who you are (thankfully this is short read because I have 'A Little Life' promise to keep as well.
February 7, 2012
THANK YOU, Ginn Hale!!!
For the last two weeks I've only taken breaks from The Rifter to go to work (a lot) and to sleep (very, very little). And oh man, I don't even know from where to begin with all the praising I have in me... Ginn Hale's writing is utterly beautiful, the love story between these two wonderful, mythical men has gotten me on my knees and the way we get to travel trough time and between worlds make my head spin.
This series has left me speechless and now, when I've read all ten books I think I just want to stay in Basawar forests, hillsides and towns for a while strolling and pondering what exactly happened. The truth is that the world of Basawar has sucked me in totally and completely. It is amazing how real Ginn Hale makes it all feel: Basawar's various people with their beliefs and habits, the incredible landscape and spectacular buildings, the bizarre creatures, the compelling action and the sweet, serene moments, when the time seems to stand still.
I was blown away with the Basawar language and names, the prayers in Rathal'pesha and the singsong rhymes between Ravishan and Rousma! So very beautiful! Honestly, I started to have dreams with Basawar words in them after few days. I absolutely loved the way Ginn Hale played with words and created something utterly new and wonderful.
As you can see, I could go on forever with my raving, so it's probably better that I won't even start babbling about John and Kyle. What a journey to get to know them - through different worlds and different times and not in chronological order! John really was something else, but the one I fell desperately in love with was Kyle.
So... if you haven't read these books yet, you really should do it as soon as possible. Believe me. I give 50 stars (10 x 5 stars) for the entire series!
For the last two weeks I've only taken breaks from The Rifter to go to work (a lot) and to sleep (very, very little). And oh man, I don't even know from where to begin with all the praising I have in me... Ginn Hale's writing is utterly beautiful, the love story between these two wonderful, mythical men has gotten me on my knees and the way we get to travel trough time and between worlds make my head spin.
This series has left me speechless and now, when I've read all ten books I think I just want to stay in Basawar forests, hillsides and towns for a while strolling and pondering what exactly happened. The truth is that the world of Basawar has sucked me in totally and completely. It is amazing how real Ginn Hale makes it all feel: Basawar's various people with their beliefs and habits, the incredible landscape and spectacular buildings, the bizarre creatures, the compelling action and the sweet, serene moments, when the time seems to stand still.
I was blown away with the Basawar language and names, the prayers in Rathal'pesha and the singsong rhymes between Ravishan and Rousma! So very beautiful! Honestly, I started to have dreams with Basawar words in them after few days. I absolutely loved the way Ginn Hale played with words and created something utterly new and wonderful.
As you can see, I could go on forever with my raving, so it's probably better that I won't even start babbling about John and Kyle. What a journey to get to know them - through different worlds and different times and not in chronological order! John really was something else, but the one I fell desperately in love with was Kyle.
So... if you haven't read these books yet, you really should do it as soon as possible. Believe me. I give 50 stars (10 x 5 stars) for the entire series!
May 18, 2015
I don't think I could begin to explain to you all my total LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP with this series.
it made my brain hurt. I thought I knew what was happening but MY LORD I really didn't.
You'll guess, you'll suspect, you'll start to think Oh man I am so right. But guess what. You really truly aren't.
If you wanna jump down a Rabbit hole READ THIS SERIES.
My thoughts as i read 10 of these books was why oh why haven't more of my GR friends read these stories. You are missing out my friends. Totally. Missing. Out
The love in these books are TIMELESS. The love made me sigh, and hug myself, and be stunned
The mind fucks. My LORD the mind fucks!
Take the ride people. It is so FREAKING worth it.
Did I find it convoluted, Yes I did. Did it feel like it took me 1 whole year to finish these 10 books. It did. But again so worth it.
I can't even with this series.
Brilliant is all I can say
Mare~Slitsread
it made my brain hurt. I thought I knew what was happening but MY LORD I really didn't.
You'll guess, you'll suspect, you'll start to think Oh man I am so right. But guess what. You really truly aren't.
If you wanna jump down a Rabbit hole READ THIS SERIES.
My thoughts as i read 10 of these books was why oh why haven't more of my GR friends read these stories. You are missing out my friends. Totally. Missing. Out
The love in these books are TIMELESS. The love made me sigh, and hug myself, and be stunned
The mind fucks. My LORD the mind fucks!
Take the ride people. It is so FREAKING worth it.
Did I find it convoluted, Yes I did. Did it feel like it took me 1 whole year to finish these 10 books. It did. But again so worth it.
I can't even with this series.
Brilliant is all I can say
Mare~Slitsread
May 16, 2018
Best series I've ever read.
October 16, 2018
I have such a book hangover with this series. I don't even want to read anything else cuz I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to these two yet.
Full review to come
Full review to come
July 18, 2014
**7/2014 i just edited this review to 5 stars...it should be and I was snobby to not have originally given it that..lol** This review is for the whole shebang, and not just the last installment of the series. I believe I wrote this whole thing spoiler free. Except I did ruin the ending for anyone who hasn't seen Sixth Sense. lol
I have 2 issues.
1.How do you sum up the entire “Rifter” series in one review?
2.How do you even go about explaining this series to someone who knows nothing about it?
This is my dilemma.
”John opens a letter addressed to his missing roommate, Kyle, he expects to find a house key, but instead he is swept into a strange realm of magic…yadda yadda yadda
To be clear, the above blurb that Ginn uses to describe these books does not even remotely cover what you will be getting yourself into when you start reading this.
Here’s how I think the blurb should go. (long winded is more my style)
John lives in rural any town, usa. He has a roommate (Kyle) who mysteriously comes and goes. One day, John opens his roommates mail and finds a key.
Later, John and 2 of his friends (who you will find useless and annoying to the story, but trust me, they are both important so bear with it) find some wicked unearthly rock formations in the woods, and John realizes this weird Key he has fits inside a keyhole in these rocks. (Coincidence?)
Of course, he sticks it in…ehem.
And of course, the roommate (Kyle) realizes that something is amiss and follows John thru the rocks/gate.
John and his 2 friends plummet to an unknown world like nothing they have ever seen. They find shelter and live off the land. Meanwhile, John meets and becomes intrigued by a young man named Ravishan (a priest who lives in a far away temple and can traverse thru something called Grayspace, which enables him to move undetected quickly from point a to b) Ravishan helps the 3 friends, bringing them food and teaching them the foreign language of the land.
John, Laurie and Bill exist in this odd reality for awhile until John hatches a plan to find them true shelter and a way back home.
This is the set up for the 10 books.
This story is incredibly thick with plot and the intertwined paths of characters. I haven’t read anything like it. I admit the beginning was slow going. And as contrived and annoying as I thought the set up was, the actual meat of the series was quite brilliant.
When John, and Kyle pass thru the gate, both pass thru at different times. And it’s hard to imagine how the 2 are going to meet back up, and when...
I had a couple of “Sixth Sense” moments where the author finally drops a bomb and I was like, “OHHHH!” (as I know I was the last one in the theatre to realize that Bruce Willis was dead-sorry for the spoiler, haha- this was the same thing, lol)
If I haven't said so yet, Ginn is amazing. The way she vividly describes places, events and people blow me away.
…”From deep below him, a living warmth radiated up. John drifted into its slow pulse. He belonged here, in this painless place. Nothing died here; nothing lived. There was only beautiful chemistry. Yellow sulfur turned scarlet in the embrace of arsenic. Soft halide crystals blushed in the heat of hydrothermal veins and became brilliant as jewels. Green blooms of phosphates opened like lily pads over aluminum-rich rock…”
And for all the rest of you, who don’t care about story lines, nerdy descriptions and the melding of time and space…I can promise a violent, beautiful and perfectly imperfect love story. Really. It has this too.
“I followed you across the worlds, twice. I am bound to you. I have known since I was a boy that I would be with you. So there’s no point in denying me.”
Many people die. Some almost die. Few come back to life, to die again. Some stay dead…and then some surface like 15 years later. It is pure awesomeness.
Read this <3
I have 2 issues.
1.How do you sum up the entire “Rifter” series in one review?
2.How do you even go about explaining this series to someone who knows nothing about it?
This is my dilemma.
”John opens a letter addressed to his missing roommate, Kyle, he expects to find a house key, but instead he is swept into a strange realm of magic…yadda yadda yadda
To be clear, the above blurb that Ginn uses to describe these books does not even remotely cover what you will be getting yourself into when you start reading this.
Here’s how I think the blurb should go. (long winded is more my style)
John lives in rural any town, usa. He has a roommate (Kyle) who mysteriously comes and goes. One day, John opens his roommates mail and finds a key.
Later, John and 2 of his friends (who you will find useless and annoying to the story, but trust me, they are both important so bear with it) find some wicked unearthly rock formations in the woods, and John realizes this weird Key he has fits inside a keyhole in these rocks. (Coincidence?)
Of course, he sticks it in…ehem.
And of course, the roommate (Kyle) realizes that something is amiss and follows John thru the rocks/gate.
John and his 2 friends plummet to an unknown world like nothing they have ever seen. They find shelter and live off the land. Meanwhile, John meets and becomes intrigued by a young man named Ravishan (a priest who lives in a far away temple and can traverse thru something called Grayspace, which enables him to move undetected quickly from point a to b) Ravishan helps the 3 friends, bringing them food and teaching them the foreign language of the land.
John, Laurie and Bill exist in this odd reality for awhile until John hatches a plan to find them true shelter and a way back home.
This is the set up for the 10 books.
This story is incredibly thick with plot and the intertwined paths of characters. I haven’t read anything like it. I admit the beginning was slow going. And as contrived and annoying as I thought the set up was, the actual meat of the series was quite brilliant.
When John, and Kyle pass thru the gate, both pass thru at different times. And it’s hard to imagine how the 2 are going to meet back up, and when...
I had a couple of “Sixth Sense” moments where the author finally drops a bomb and I was like, “OHHHH!” (as I know I was the last one in the theatre to realize that Bruce Willis was dead-sorry for the spoiler, haha- this was the same thing, lol)
If I haven't said so yet, Ginn is amazing. The way she vividly describes places, events and people blow me away.
…”From deep below him, a living warmth radiated up. John drifted into its slow pulse. He belonged here, in this painless place. Nothing died here; nothing lived. There was only beautiful chemistry. Yellow sulfur turned scarlet in the embrace of arsenic. Soft halide crystals blushed in the heat of hydrothermal veins and became brilliant as jewels. Green blooms of phosphates opened like lily pads over aluminum-rich rock…”
And for all the rest of you, who don’t care about story lines, nerdy descriptions and the melding of time and space…I can promise a violent, beautiful and perfectly imperfect love story. Really. It has this too.
“I followed you across the worlds, twice. I am bound to you. I have known since I was a boy that I would be with you. So there’s no point in denying me.”
Many people die. Some almost die. Few come back to life, to die again. Some stay dead…and then some surface like 15 years later. It is pure awesomeness.
Read this <3
May 23, 2013
I completely got my money's worth of enjoyment out of this series. By the time I was approaching book nine, I didn't want it to end. But the ending was very satisfying.
There was one event in particular which was completely surprising, yet meticulously set up over ten books. There was another, also surprising yet completely set up, which caused me to email a friend who had already finished reading a message whose non-spoilery text consisted of "OH MY GOD!!!!! Also, just opened the part where it shifts POVs and OH MY GOD I KNOW WHERE HE IS."
Now I want to read the whole thing over from the beginning. Due to the unusual structure, it will probably feel like an entirely new experience.
You can buy the whole shebang on e-book at a discount ($30 for the equivalent of four books), or in paper. However, the paper editions are in three volumes, and only two are out. You will probably end up with a mutant half-paper, half-e-book set if you attempt the latter.
http://www.blindeyebooks.com/rifter/
I mentioned before that the series reminded me of P. C. Hodgell. By the end, it also reminded me of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime (first series.) In both, nearly all the seemingly unrelated side stories and apparently unimportant minor characters turn out to be integral to the story as a whole. Also the unusual mix of a dark world with a magic system involving some major body horror, with funny moments and a lot of very likable and even idealistic characters who don’t (necessarily) get crushed under the author’s boot.
These books just kept getting better and better, from an intriguing but somewhat rough start. I’m sure they will reward re-reading.
There was one event in particular which was completely surprising, yet meticulously set up over ten books. There was another, also surprising yet completely set up, which caused me to email a friend who had already finished reading a message whose non-spoilery text consisted of "OH MY GOD!!!!! Also, just opened the part where it shifts POVs and OH MY GOD I KNOW WHERE HE IS."
Now I want to read the whole thing over from the beginning. Due to the unusual structure, it will probably feel like an entirely new experience.
You can buy the whole shebang on e-book at a discount ($30 for the equivalent of four books), or in paper. However, the paper editions are in three volumes, and only two are out. You will probably end up with a mutant half-paper, half-e-book set if you attempt the latter.
http://www.blindeyebooks.com/rifter/
I mentioned before that the series reminded me of P. C. Hodgell. By the end, it also reminded me of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime (first series.) In both, nearly all the seemingly unrelated side stories and apparently unimportant minor characters turn out to be integral to the story as a whole. Also the unusual mix of a dark world with a magic system involving some major body horror, with funny moments and a lot of very likable and even idealistic characters who don’t (necessarily) get crushed under the author’s boot.
These books just kept getting better and better, from an intriguing but somewhat rough start. I’m sure they will reward re-reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews