What do you think?
Rate this book
The Call of the Rift #1
Flight
Philip Pullman meets Avatar in a new epic fantasy series
Seventeen-year-old Kateiko doesn’t want to be Rin anymore — not if it means sacrificing lives to protect the dead. Her only way out is to join another tribe, a one-way trek through the coastal rainforest. Killing a colonial soldier in the woods isn’t part of the plan. Neither is spending the winter with Tiernan, an immigrant who keeps a sword with his carpentry tools. His log cabin leaks and his stories about other worlds raise more questions than they answer.
Then the air spirit Suriel, long thought dormant, resurrects a war. For Kateiko, protecting other tribes in her confederacy is atonement. For Tiernan, war is a return to the military life he’s desperate to forget.
Leaving Tiernan means losing the one man Kateiko trusts. Staying with him means abandoning colonists to a death sentence. In a region tainted by prejudice and on the brink of civil war, she has to decide what’s worth dying — or killing — for.
Seventeen-year-old Kateiko doesn’t want to be Rin anymore — not if it means sacrificing lives to protect the dead. Her only way out is to join another tribe, a one-way trek through the coastal rainforest. Killing a colonial soldier in the woods isn’t part of the plan. Neither is spending the winter with Tiernan, an immigrant who keeps a sword with his carpentry tools. His log cabin leaks and his stories about other worlds raise more questions than they answer.
Then the air spirit Suriel, long thought dormant, resurrects a war. For Kateiko, protecting other tribes in her confederacy is atonement. For Tiernan, war is a return to the military life he’s desperate to forget.
Leaving Tiernan means losing the one man Kateiko trusts. Staying with him means abandoning colonists to a death sentence. In a region tainted by prejudice and on the brink of civil war, she has to decide what’s worth dying — or killing — for.
472 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2018
8 people are currently reading
693 people want to read
About the author
Jae Waller
5 books39 followersJae Waller grew up in a lumber town in northern British Columbia, Canada. She has a joint BFA in creative writing and fine art from the University of Northern British Columbia and Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Most interesting past job: streetside florist with a charity for unhoused people in Vancouver.
Now living in Melbourne, Australia, she works as a novelist and freelance artist.
Now living in Melbourne, Australia, she works as a novelist and freelance artist.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 1, 2019
Hello! This book is an alt-historic fantasy that draws on lesser-known threads of Canadian history, so I (the author) am here to provide some context. It’s set circa the late 1600s in the early colonial period. You’ll meet three major cultures in this novel:
-the Aikoto Confederacy, based on the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
-Sverbians, based on Vikings who temporarily settled in eastern Canada circa 1000 AD.
-Ferish, based on Spanish conquistadors who explored western Canada possibly as early as the 1500s.
I grew up near the coastal rainforest where Flight is set. In university I studied Aboriginal art under a Haida/Nisga’a woodcarver and a Mohawk multimedia artist, where I learned about combining traditional and contemporary art, and I began looking for ways to apply those lessons to my creative writing. The result was Flight, which uses a twist on historic fiction to explore modern effects of colonialism.
Of course, writing outside one’s lane is a tricky business. So I developed the Aikoto to have similar technology as Northwest Coast peoples, heavily derived from the climate (canoes, fishing weirs, wood architecture, etc.), but in the interest of avoiding cultural appropriation, they have unique cultural practices and spirituality. Here’s what you will not see in this novel:
-real indigenous languages
-real historic people, places, or events
-traditional rituals, songs, or dances
-traditional symbols or designs
-spirits or creatures from indigenous legends
If you’d like to learn about indigenous peoples in Canada, here’s a few #ownvoices novels I highly recommend:
Son of a Trickster - Eden Robinson
The Marrow Thieves - Cherie Dimaline
Indian Horse - Richard Wagamese
Moon of the Crusted Snow - Waubgeshig Rice
-the Aikoto Confederacy, based on the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
-Sverbians, based on Vikings who temporarily settled in eastern Canada circa 1000 AD.
-Ferish, based on Spanish conquistadors who explored western Canada possibly as early as the 1500s.
I grew up near the coastal rainforest where Flight is set. In university I studied Aboriginal art under a Haida/Nisga’a woodcarver and a Mohawk multimedia artist, where I learned about combining traditional and contemporary art, and I began looking for ways to apply those lessons to my creative writing. The result was Flight, which uses a twist on historic fiction to explore modern effects of colonialism.
Of course, writing outside one’s lane is a tricky business. So I developed the Aikoto to have similar technology as Northwest Coast peoples, heavily derived from the climate (canoes, fishing weirs, wood architecture, etc.), but in the interest of avoiding cultural appropriation, they have unique cultural practices and spirituality. Here’s what you will not see in this novel:
-real indigenous languages
-real historic people, places, or events
-traditional rituals, songs, or dances
-traditional symbols or designs
-spirits or creatures from indigenous legends
If you’d like to learn about indigenous peoples in Canada, here’s a few #ownvoices novels I highly recommend:
Son of a Trickster - Eden Robinson
The Marrow Thieves - Cherie Dimaline
Indian Horse - Richard Wagamese
Moon of the Crusted Snow - Waubgeshig Rice
February 17, 2018
The first sensation I had when I started reading Call of the rift: Flight, has been that there were too many nouns, like the author had wanted to explain too much in few pages. It made me struggle to understand all the relationships between the characters. In addition to this, the book is about a new and interesting mythology, which is a good thing, but added to the confusion of names in the first chapter, it made it hard for me at first to understand what this book was about.
Thankfully, after these first moments of confusion, the real action starts to kick in, the characters are less confused and I was finally hooked to the story.
The main character is Kateiko, a brave seventeen girl with the power to control water, who’s struggling to find her place in a little Rin community that is too narrow minded. She decides to leave to find other people of her kind, and starts a journey which brings her through many adventures.
She experiences love, betrayal, loss, refusal, racial harassment.. but she keeps going, open minded and strong. What I’ve loved most about her is that she’s not the unbreakable heroine that always wins, the super-woman. She cries, makes mistakes, falls in love with the wrong man and tries to do the right thing anyway.
She’s fragile yet strong, and this is what has made me truly appreciate this book.
Bonus points to the secondary characters, well described and full of flaws (which is what makes them so interesting).
My personal favorites were Parr, because of his tormented mind and complexity, and Airedain, because every time he was on the scene, he made me smile with his attitude.
Another thing I’ve really appreciated, like I’ve already said, is the unusual mythology choice. I have to admit that when the name Suriel popped out though, it reminded me of the one in the A Court of Mist and Fury series by Sarah J. Maas, but after a first moment of confusion it was perfectly fine, as it was used to name a completely different mythological creature.
The plot twists were utterly unexpected. It’s a big book, and at the beginning I was afraid that at a certain point I would have grown tired of it, or that there would have been boring parts. I was wrong. It’s so interesting and different from the last fantasy books I’ve read that it truly has kept me hooked from chapter three to the final page.
So I give this book 5 out of 5, and I strongly recommend it to everyone who wants to read something different from the ordinary fantasy or YA novels.
Thankfully, after these first moments of confusion, the real action starts to kick in, the characters are less confused and I was finally hooked to the story.
The main character is Kateiko, a brave seventeen girl with the power to control water, who’s struggling to find her place in a little Rin community that is too narrow minded. She decides to leave to find other people of her kind, and starts a journey which brings her through many adventures.
She experiences love, betrayal, loss, refusal, racial harassment.. but she keeps going, open minded and strong. What I’ve loved most about her is that she’s not the unbreakable heroine that always wins, the super-woman. She cries, makes mistakes, falls in love with the wrong man and tries to do the right thing anyway.
She’s fragile yet strong, and this is what has made me truly appreciate this book.
Bonus points to the secondary characters, well described and full of flaws (which is what makes them so interesting).
My personal favorites were Parr, because of his tormented mind and complexity, and Airedain, because every time he was on the scene, he made me smile with his attitude.
Another thing I’ve really appreciated, like I’ve already said, is the unusual mythology choice. I have to admit that when the name Suriel popped out though, it reminded me of the one in the A Court of Mist and Fury series by Sarah J. Maas, but after a first moment of confusion it was perfectly fine, as it was used to name a completely different mythological creature.
The plot twists were utterly unexpected. It’s a big book, and at the beginning I was afraid that at a certain point I would have grown tired of it, or that there would have been boring parts. I was wrong. It’s so interesting and different from the last fantasy books I’ve read that it truly has kept me hooked from chapter three to the final page.
So I give this book 5 out of 5, and I strongly recommend it to everyone who wants to read something different from the ordinary fantasy or YA novels.
January 30, 2018
I really love this. It's one of those few books I've finished and thought 'What do I do now? I have nothing left to read!' - while simulataneously looking at a pile I have yet to start.
It's a world that pulled me in and refused to let go. Flight opens in Anwen Bel, a place surrounded by wasteland, where the buried dead wash back up to shore. It's similar to our own with a rich history of conflicts and prejudices, and the cruelty of it reminds me of Game of Thrones at times. Thrones is clearly a huge influence here, but the first person narrative reads a lot like the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss, and I get a lot of other similarities too, such as the outsiders' attitude to Kako and her people and the moments of playfulness between the brutality. The prose sings as it unravels the intricate mythologies and histories of the world, and before you know it, it's like you've been living there the entire time.
The characters are excellently realised: Kako is a strongwilled woman in a society she feels suffocated in, a modern woman in a time of patriarchal traditions. She's at the stage in her life where she's not a child but not quite an adult either, and we realise this with her as she ventures out into a threatening landscape to eventually find that perhaps, for all its faults and suffocating traditions, home isn't so bad after all. The mood of the book is lifted at times by a scattering of humour between Kako and the supporting characters: Airedain, a mischief-maker, Fendul and Nili, her childhood friends, and Tiernan, the mysterious 'burning man'.
The ending is well rounded, but tantalisingly open. I am fully invested in this series now, and I cannot wait to re-enter the world Jae Waller has so skilfully created.
It's a world that pulled me in and refused to let go. Flight opens in Anwen Bel, a place surrounded by wasteland, where the buried dead wash back up to shore. It's similar to our own with a rich history of conflicts and prejudices, and the cruelty of it reminds me of Game of Thrones at times. Thrones is clearly a huge influence here, but the first person narrative reads a lot like the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss, and I get a lot of other similarities too, such as the outsiders' attitude to Kako and her people and the moments of playfulness between the brutality. The prose sings as it unravels the intricate mythologies and histories of the world, and before you know it, it's like you've been living there the entire time.
The characters are excellently realised: Kako is a strongwilled woman in a society she feels suffocated in, a modern woman in a time of patriarchal traditions. She's at the stage in her life where she's not a child but not quite an adult either, and we realise this with her as she ventures out into a threatening landscape to eventually find that perhaps, for all its faults and suffocating traditions, home isn't so bad after all. The mood of the book is lifted at times by a scattering of humour between Kako and the supporting characters: Airedain, a mischief-maker, Fendul and Nili, her childhood friends, and Tiernan, the mysterious 'burning man'.
The ending is well rounded, but tantalisingly open. I am fully invested in this series now, and I cannot wait to re-enter the world Jae Waller has so skilfully created.
February 22, 2018
DNF:
I was apprehensive to read a book that comps AVATAR but is supposed to come from the perspective of a young Indigenous teen. That's the first thing. And it ends up being the last thing too.
The second thing: this is marketed as Teen Fiction/YA but does not read like YA at all. Our first person narrator is 17, but only sounds seventeen in her dialogue. Her narrative reads like adult fiction. I mean, some teens will like this, but I found it difficult to sink into.
The third thing: I stopped reading around the 100 page mark because I was bored. The pacing is way off in the first 50 pages (mostly all backstory so we know about this culture and history Waller is half borrowing from real life and half making up). And the book does not pick up in the first 100 pages. For me, this is a major problem.
The last thing I'll mention: I'm uncomfortable with the Indigenous characters, and how much this reflects the colonial history of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit in Canada--but then how the fantasy stuff included are like some major, major cliches that are attached to Indigenous people in colonial society today. For example, Waller's main character can control water because of course Indigenous' peoples' magic must be connected to the earth. Another example: Waller's Indigenous characters can shapeshift into animals, which just feels way too much like if you're Indigenous you must have a spirit animal! It just... ugh... I had major struggles here in terms of how Indigenous characters are represented. Mostly, I feel Waller's Indigenous magic/worldbuilding takes the easy path, and by doing so, replicates stereotypes. And that's just not fun.
I was apprehensive to read a book that comps AVATAR but is supposed to come from the perspective of a young Indigenous teen. That's the first thing. And it ends up being the last thing too.
The second thing: this is marketed as Teen Fiction/YA but does not read like YA at all. Our first person narrator is 17, but only sounds seventeen in her dialogue. Her narrative reads like adult fiction. I mean, some teens will like this, but I found it difficult to sink into.
The third thing: I stopped reading around the 100 page mark because I was bored. The pacing is way off in the first 50 pages (mostly all backstory so we know about this culture and history Waller is half borrowing from real life and half making up). And the book does not pick up in the first 100 pages. For me, this is a major problem.
The last thing I'll mention: I'm uncomfortable with the Indigenous characters, and how much this reflects the colonial history of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit in Canada--but then how the fantasy stuff included are like some major, major cliches that are attached to Indigenous people in colonial society today. For example, Waller's main character can control water because of course Indigenous' peoples' magic must be connected to the earth. Another example: Waller's Indigenous characters can shapeshift into animals, which just feels way too much like if you're Indigenous you must have a spirit animal! It just... ugh... I had major struggles here in terms of how Indigenous characters are represented. Mostly, I feel Waller's Indigenous magic/worldbuilding takes the easy path, and by doing so, replicates stereotypes. And that's just not fun.
January 2, 2018
I'm not much of a fantasy fan. I don't go out of my way to read fantasy books or even watch fantasy movies. I read Harry Potter when I was a kid, but I never finished the series or the films (blasphemy, I know). I dabbled into Lord of the Rings and Eragon and the Sword of Truth, but ultimately found myself dissatisfied with how unrealistic they were. I consider Jae Waller’s Flight hard fantasy and after reading it, I was compelled to read A Song of Ice and Fire, which I found had a similar sober approach to magic and the supernatural.
That’s what caught my attention about this book: how analogous it was to real life, to the real world as we know it. For me, the resounding themes are the clashing and melding of cultures, anti-colonialism, growing up and leaving home, and building and navigating adult relationships. The main character Kateiko is a girl native to a land colonized by foreign white settlers, who her people sometimes trade and align with peacefully, but at other times their relations are hostile and break out into all out war. Reading about a strong and defiant minority character is refreshing to me as a person of color, especially because Waller tactfully presents the challenges they would have faced during the colonial era. In the midst of that racial tension is internal strife between the distinct tribes of the natives. The history of the interaction of these peoples is as intricate and complicated as the real history between Native Americans and European settlers, Waller's inspiration. The political and social aspects of the plot may be a bit confusing for some people, but that’s part of the appeal for me--the complexity. In the center of it all is the main character Kateiko as she tries to navigate and unravel and stitch together these disparate factions in order to prevent another war from breaking out that would cost the lives not just her own people, but everyone’s. When you read this story, you can tell a lot of delicate and mindful work was put into crafting this realistic, almost historic setting, and then Waller blends in characters that can control the elements of nature (like water, fire, and air; earth has yet to make an appearance) and can transform into animals, and can tear apart the fabric of reality and open gateways to alternate dimensions. Yeah. For some readers the magical and fantastic aspects of the story will be the hook, for me it was the social and political aspects.
But enough about the setting, the main character and narrator Kateiko (referred to as Kako by many characters and henceforth by me) is seventeen years old at the start of the story and like many teenagers, resents her family. In her case it’s for some very valid reasons I personally relate with (won’t spoil) and I think will resonate with a lot of readers too. Kako follows in her older cousin's footsteps and sets out on a journey to join another tribe. On the way, the plot drops (what I consider) the YA label and becomes a delightfully harrowing adventure packed to the brim with narrow survival, crippling injuries, life and death fights (of both the magical and weapon-based variety), abject murder and betrayal, mature (but tasteful) romance, substance abuse, and epic bloody battles. No worries, though, in terms of how explicit things get, think Vikings and Avatar, not Spartacus. I would say don’t get attached to any characters, because Waller may just kill them off, but you can’t help but get attached anyway. Kako herself is smart, tough, self-reliant, adamant, serious, resourceful, cool, quick on her feet, and best of all (to me) rebellious. A warrior in every sense of the word, she carries around a dagger and flail (a refreshingly original weapon for a main character), in addition to the ability to control water and ice, and knows how to use them all to lethal effect. At times, she is aloof and withdrawn, and has a dry sense of sarcasm, all of which appeal to me, but I admit may turn off some readers. However, don’t worry, she is also loving, sensitive, protective, and caring of others, and at times even vulnerable. She’s not perfect and the consequences of her mistakes heavily affect the plot and other characters. Overall, she’s a strong but flawed character, with so much room to grow, even by the end of the book. It’s refreshing for me to see a such a dynamic character. By the end of the story, you’ll wish you had a friend like her watching your back and you’ll feel ready to return the favor. The cast of the characters that support and work against Kako is incredibly diverse, but I won’t go into detail about them so I don’t spoil anything. Worth mentioning is a particularly realistic and sober romance that I found original and engaging to read. It doesn’t follow the arc you’d typically expect of YA romance and I think that’s a good thing.
Finally, I have to note just how well the story is written. Kako is an astute and keen observer, and a hunter-gatherer indigenous to her land, so she is closely tied to her environment. Through Kako’s eyes, Waller describes nature in such a way that will leave you amazed. Nothing is neglected--not the plants, the earth, the sky, the weather, or the animals. Even the characters that occupy this world are easily imagined and brought to life by Waller’s adept and detailed descriptions. It’s almost a cinematic experience. The story and world of Flight is as much an homage to the nature of the Pacific Northwest as to the people that have lived there for thousands of years. If you’re a conscientious person that believes in harmony between cultures, the rights of native peoples, and respect for the environment, you owe it to yourself to read this story. I highly recommend it.
That’s what caught my attention about this book: how analogous it was to real life, to the real world as we know it. For me, the resounding themes are the clashing and melding of cultures, anti-colonialism, growing up and leaving home, and building and navigating adult relationships. The main character Kateiko is a girl native to a land colonized by foreign white settlers, who her people sometimes trade and align with peacefully, but at other times their relations are hostile and break out into all out war. Reading about a strong and defiant minority character is refreshing to me as a person of color, especially because Waller tactfully presents the challenges they would have faced during the colonial era. In the midst of that racial tension is internal strife between the distinct tribes of the natives. The history of the interaction of these peoples is as intricate and complicated as the real history between Native Americans and European settlers, Waller's inspiration. The political and social aspects of the plot may be a bit confusing for some people, but that’s part of the appeal for me--the complexity. In the center of it all is the main character Kateiko as she tries to navigate and unravel and stitch together these disparate factions in order to prevent another war from breaking out that would cost the lives not just her own people, but everyone’s. When you read this story, you can tell a lot of delicate and mindful work was put into crafting this realistic, almost historic setting, and then Waller blends in characters that can control the elements of nature (like water, fire, and air; earth has yet to make an appearance) and can transform into animals, and can tear apart the fabric of reality and open gateways to alternate dimensions. Yeah. For some readers the magical and fantastic aspects of the story will be the hook, for me it was the social and political aspects.
But enough about the setting, the main character and narrator Kateiko (referred to as Kako by many characters and henceforth by me) is seventeen years old at the start of the story and like many teenagers, resents her family. In her case it’s for some very valid reasons I personally relate with (won’t spoil) and I think will resonate with a lot of readers too. Kako follows in her older cousin's footsteps and sets out on a journey to join another tribe. On the way, the plot drops (what I consider) the YA label and becomes a delightfully harrowing adventure packed to the brim with narrow survival, crippling injuries, life and death fights (of both the magical and weapon-based variety), abject murder and betrayal, mature (but tasteful) romance, substance abuse, and epic bloody battles. No worries, though, in terms of how explicit things get, think Vikings and Avatar, not Spartacus. I would say don’t get attached to any characters, because Waller may just kill them off, but you can’t help but get attached anyway. Kako herself is smart, tough, self-reliant, adamant, serious, resourceful, cool, quick on her feet, and best of all (to me) rebellious. A warrior in every sense of the word, she carries around a dagger and flail (a refreshingly original weapon for a main character), in addition to the ability to control water and ice, and knows how to use them all to lethal effect. At times, she is aloof and withdrawn, and has a dry sense of sarcasm, all of which appeal to me, but I admit may turn off some readers. However, don’t worry, she is also loving, sensitive, protective, and caring of others, and at times even vulnerable. She’s not perfect and the consequences of her mistakes heavily affect the plot and other characters. Overall, she’s a strong but flawed character, with so much room to grow, even by the end of the book. It’s refreshing for me to see a such a dynamic character. By the end of the story, you’ll wish you had a friend like her watching your back and you’ll feel ready to return the favor. The cast of the characters that support and work against Kako is incredibly diverse, but I won’t go into detail about them so I don’t spoil anything. Worth mentioning is a particularly realistic and sober romance that I found original and engaging to read. It doesn’t follow the arc you’d typically expect of YA romance and I think that’s a good thing.
Finally, I have to note just how well the story is written. Kako is an astute and keen observer, and a hunter-gatherer indigenous to her land, so she is closely tied to her environment. Through Kako’s eyes, Waller describes nature in such a way that will leave you amazed. Nothing is neglected--not the plants, the earth, the sky, the weather, or the animals. Even the characters that occupy this world are easily imagined and brought to life by Waller’s adept and detailed descriptions. It’s almost a cinematic experience. The story and world of Flight is as much an homage to the nature of the Pacific Northwest as to the people that have lived there for thousands of years. If you’re a conscientious person that believes in harmony between cultures, the rights of native peoples, and respect for the environment, you owe it to yourself to read this story. I highly recommend it.
Read
March 16, 2018So after 3 days of reading and 50 % I decided to DNF this book.
I received it against a honest review by Edelweiss.
The thing is this book is not bad, the world building is quite interesting and well done. There is magic, a lot of history, and you know that the author did some research. I have American Native vibes while reading this book (sadly I don"t know if any of it is acurate)
The characters are not bad either, Kateiko is a strong female and independant women, which I like a lot.
Sadly, I wasn't into the story, nothing really happened, and after 50% of the book I didn't know what the author wanted or where she was going with her story that the main reason while I DNF it.
I received it against a honest review by Edelweiss.
The thing is this book is not bad, the world building is quite interesting and well done. There is magic, a lot of history, and you know that the author did some research. I have American Native vibes while reading this book (sadly I don"t know if any of it is acurate)
The characters are not bad either, Kateiko is a strong female and independant women, which I like a lot.
Sadly, I wasn't into the story, nothing really happened, and after 50% of the book I didn't know what the author wanted or where she was going with her story that the main reason while I DNF it.
June 27, 2019
Holy hell why is this book so low key!? So I know books with indigenous folklore or cultures can be very full for people or sit in that relatively unpopular "paranormal magical realism" genres but this book was FANTASTIC! All the characters were so enjoyable to read about and the mystery had me legit guessing the whole book! I am absolutely picking up the sequel when it comes out
May 7, 2018
Review to come.
*Review copy provided by ECW Press in exchange for my honest opinion.
*Review copy provided by ECW Press in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 2, 2018
Boy, you thought YOU had problems as a teenager. Meet Kateiko, a native indigenous girl and water caller (think magic water powers), who is desperate to escape her dwindling clan (the Rin) and limited choice of husbands. Determination drives her from the shelter of the Rin and out into a world which is both stunning and terrifying. And that’s all before the previously dormant air spirit wakes up and makes everything ten times worse.
Flight is a fantastic coming-of-age fantasy with strong historical roots, diverse characters, rich cultures and just the right amount of politics. It left me with characters I wanted to punch, characters I wanted to hug, food I wanted to try, and thoughts I had never considered. Most importantly, it left me wanting more.
I’d first like to commend the descriptive style. This was the real hook for me. Waller’s narration manages to combine both the horrors of reality with the wonders of magic, making this one of the most grounded, most REAL fantasy novels I have ever read. There is certainly no lack of blood, sweat or tears.
The overall tone of the book is despairing. It goes with the territory, so to speak; shit is going down and ‘brightsides’ are far and few. However, the richness of the characters keeps you afloat. Even during the darkest moments of the book, it’s a comfort to have all these well-formed people to laugh and cry with. I had an instant connection with nearly every character that was introduced. And yes, that even includes the ones I wanted to punch.
Kateiko herself is the cherry on top of Waller’s triple-decker character sundae. She is a strong, driven individual, who holds her own, no matter what the battlefield or who her opponent. She is the perfect balance between idealistic and realistic, but perhaps what draws me to her is how real she is. She is human. She is a teenager. She makes mistakes. How she deals with the consequences of those mistakes are what make her such a great character.
Throwing all fantasy aside, it’s worth mentioning that the issues and themes faced by characters in Flight draw a strong parallel to those of the real world.
I recommended this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy or alt-historical fiction, particularly if you interested in the prospect of real world issues, historical or current, dealt with in a complex fantasy setting.
If you are a fantasy nut, Flight is an absolute must for your 2018 reading list.
Flight is a fantastic coming-of-age fantasy with strong historical roots, diverse characters, rich cultures and just the right amount of politics. It left me with characters I wanted to punch, characters I wanted to hug, food I wanted to try, and thoughts I had never considered. Most importantly, it left me wanting more.
I’d first like to commend the descriptive style. This was the real hook for me. Waller’s narration manages to combine both the horrors of reality with the wonders of magic, making this one of the most grounded, most REAL fantasy novels I have ever read. There is certainly no lack of blood, sweat or tears.
The overall tone of the book is despairing. It goes with the territory, so to speak; shit is going down and ‘brightsides’ are far and few. However, the richness of the characters keeps you afloat. Even during the darkest moments of the book, it’s a comfort to have all these well-formed people to laugh and cry with. I had an instant connection with nearly every character that was introduced. And yes, that even includes the ones I wanted to punch.
Kateiko herself is the cherry on top of Waller’s triple-decker character sundae. She is a strong, driven individual, who holds her own, no matter what the battlefield or who her opponent. She is the perfect balance between idealistic and realistic, but perhaps what draws me to her is how real she is. She is human. She is a teenager. She makes mistakes. How she deals with the consequences of those mistakes are what make her such a great character.
Throwing all fantasy aside, it’s worth mentioning that the issues and themes faced by characters in Flight draw a strong parallel to those of the real world.
I recommended this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy or alt-historical fiction, particularly if you interested in the prospect of real world issues, historical or current, dealt with in a complex fantasy setting.
If you are a fantasy nut, Flight is an absolute must for your 2018 reading list.
January 15, 2018
This is one of my favourite books. The setting is immersive, the cultures are interesting, the characters are relatable, and the plotline leaves the reader wanting more. Finding fantasy books with all of these elements is hard enough, but I think what really sets Flight apart is the characters. They aren’t just your run-of-the-mill protagonists, who may be a bit dumb at times but overall do everything as well as they could. These characters are overwhelmingly human. They make really bad choices at times, and those choices have severe consequences, but I’m always convicted with the feeling that I wouldn’t have done any better. This book takes place in a fantasy world, but it feels -so real-! In addition to these authentic protagonists, there’s also some really cool side characters (keep your eyes out for Rhonos and Falwen!) who mostly keep to the background, and yet add so much to the story; as well as a very mysterious villain.
While I’m always drawn to the characters of a story more than anything else, I’ll give a shout-out to some other aspects of this novel as well. The narration is beautifully descriptive and down-to-earth. You can see the beauty of Anwen Bel, hear the screams of the Skaarnaht riots, be chilled by the fog of Se Ji Ainu, feel the body heat of the crowd at the spring equinox festival. Throughout the book, the viewpoint character mentions the daily chores that keep her occupied, and we learn about daily life in different cultures in history. This is just the first book in a planned series of five, and it may take that long to resolve the complex plot elements introduced in this book. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series! ^_^
While I’m always drawn to the characters of a story more than anything else, I’ll give a shout-out to some other aspects of this novel as well. The narration is beautifully descriptive and down-to-earth. You can see the beauty of Anwen Bel, hear the screams of the Skaarnaht riots, be chilled by the fog of Se Ji Ainu, feel the body heat of the crowd at the spring equinox festival. Throughout the book, the viewpoint character mentions the daily chores that keep her occupied, and we learn about daily life in different cultures in history. This is just the first book in a planned series of five, and it may take that long to resolve the complex plot elements introduced in this book. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series! ^_^
August 21, 2018
Very detailed world-building with realistic characters. It was fun to read a setting I haven't explored before.
Want to read
October 19, 2024DNF.
I loaned this from Hoopla as a bonus borrow, I think I got less than an hour into this book before the loan lapsed and I don’t care to loan it again.
1) The narration was flat and uninteresting
2) Author throws a bunch of names at you at the start and no hook. I kept spacing out because nothing interesting was happening and I was getting a verbal dumpage of so many words with no context or definition behind them.
Don’t think I would’ve enjoyed 17.5 hours of that.
I loaned this from Hoopla as a bonus borrow, I think I got less than an hour into this book before the loan lapsed and I don’t care to loan it again.
1) The narration was flat and uninteresting
2) Author throws a bunch of names at you at the start and no hook. I kept spacing out because nothing interesting was happening and I was getting a verbal dumpage of so many words with no context or definition behind them.
Don’t think I would’ve enjoyed 17.5 hours of that.
March 23, 2019
(Disclaimers: Jae Waller is an internet acquaintance of mine, with whom I became acquainted before reading the book. Also, I am not authorised to speak on the portrayal of the indigenous cultures in the book - particularly not to what extent the handling is appropriative/exploitative vs. respectful - and as a result I will be ignoring that aspect entirely. I will mention that colonialism is portrayed but not apparently condoned. I will also mention that while magic is not unique to any one culture in the book, the type and distribution varies between demographics. Make your own judgements on whether that's a problem - or better yet, ask a Native Canadian, ideally one from the Northwest Coast.)
Though I can't comment on the real-world impact of the portrayal, I can happily judge the handling of culture in general in a fantasy context. There's a lot to love about Flight - the characterisation, the dialogue which manages to be informal without feeling overly anachronistic - but the cultural complexity is easily my favourite aspect. It isn't just that each culture feels real and distinct, or the complex ways in which they interact - it's in the way the characters each individually interact with their cultures (and others'). No character is a stereotype of their culture. A culture's values, religion, &c. shape those of the characters belonging to them, but do not determine them. The writing style makes it a pleasant and easy read, but it's this depth that makes it an interesting one.
There was one aspect that I liked less, though it might be a matter of personal preference. Slightly veiled spoilers follow:
This is a relatively minor quibble, though, and overall I enjoyed the book very much and am quite looking forwards to reading the rest of the series when it comes out.
Selling points: cultural diversity; fantasy violence treated with appropriate seriousness; likeable characters; magic.
Warning points: graphic death of unnamed horses; not a whole lot of diversity in terms of anything other than culture, despite lots of characters in varying degrees of minorness (I'm holding out hope that Iannah will be confirmed queer in a sequel, but as of now there's nothing, nor was disability visible even in the background); casual alcoholism (called out once, but not seriously addressed).
Though I can't comment on the real-world impact of the portrayal, I can happily judge the handling of culture in general in a fantasy context. There's a lot to love about Flight - the characterisation, the dialogue which manages to be informal without feeling overly anachronistic - but the cultural complexity is easily my favourite aspect. It isn't just that each culture feels real and distinct, or the complex ways in which they interact - it's in the way the characters each individually interact with their cultures (and others'). No character is a stereotype of their culture. A culture's values, religion, &c. shape those of the characters belonging to them, but do not determine them. The writing style makes it a pleasant and easy read, but it's this depth that makes it an interesting one.
There was one aspect that I liked less, though it might be a matter of personal preference. Slightly veiled spoilers follow:
This is a relatively minor quibble, though, and overall I enjoyed the book very much and am quite looking forwards to reading the rest of the series when it comes out.
Selling points: cultural diversity; fantasy violence treated with appropriate seriousness; likeable characters; magic.
Warning points: graphic death of unnamed horses; not a whole lot of diversity in terms of anything other than culture, despite lots of characters in varying degrees of minorness (I'm holding out hope that Iannah will be confirmed queer in a sequel, but as of now there's nothing, nor was disability visible even in the background); casual alcoholism (called out once, but not seriously addressed).
April 3, 2018
What a captivating read!
While the beginning of the story was admittedly a bit slow, I was hooked once I got through the first third of it!
I’m not sure what exactly other reviewers on here mean by the whole “native people= magic” thing; there's actually more white people using magic than native people. Hell, the colonizers even have a whole university dedicated to studying it!
I also liked how each of the characters seemed to have layers to them; depth.
**Mild Spoiler** I’ll admit, after the story started bringing up parallel worlds, splitting timelines, temporal mages, etc. I was a little caught off guard.
Can’t wait for the next book!
While the beginning of the story was admittedly a bit slow, I was hooked once I got through the first third of it!
I’m not sure what exactly other reviewers on here mean by the whole “native people= magic” thing; there's actually more white people using magic than native people. Hell, the colonizers even have a whole university dedicated to studying it!
I also liked how each of the characters seemed to have layers to them; depth.
**Mild Spoiler** I’ll admit, after the story started bringing up parallel worlds, splitting timelines, temporal mages, etc. I was a little caught off guard.
Can’t wait for the next book!
March 11, 2018
I second the review above about the gross colonialism and cultural appropriation. Magic indigenous people? Oh, wait, they are a fantasy race. That just happens to based on real events and real culture. Even if colonialism wasn't an ongoing and destructive force in the geographical area she "reimagines" this is in poor taste.
Indigenous cultures are not for white girls to fetishize.
Indigenous cultures are not for white girls to fetishize.
May 24, 2020
The Call of the Rift: Flight by Jae Waller is the first book in an alternate-historical fantasy about Kateiko, a young Rin girl on the cusp of adulthood. This beautiful story is full of lush descriptions and roughly based on lesser-known legends and myths of the indigineous people of Canada. The Call of the Rift: Flight will take the reader on a journey of self-discovery, adventure, and romance as one girl finds her destiny.
Kateiko, aka Kako, is an easy to like character. Having spent her entire life in the Rin-joyeun, Kako longs for more. She has a wandering heart, missing the only family she has left, a cousin who married into a sister tribe across the ruined divide. Against the wishes of her guardian. Kako leaves the Rin to start a journey she never imagined. Kako is fierce and determined, loyal and kind. She is also naive. This naivete leaves her open for manipulation by those she readily trusts. My heart broke for her over and over again as she made choices she would soon regret.
There are many characters that come into Kako’s life as she journeys, but two in particular are my favorites. Tiernan is a Sverbian mage, a former soldier, and probably the most important in terms of Kako’s transformation. He comes off as a bitter man, a hermit living alone in his cabin in the woods. Kako owes her life to him and his neighbor who is a healer. He offers to allow her to stay with him while she heals, and he teaches her the languages of the surrounding towns. I like Tiernan, he’s unusually kind, and I think he sees a little of himself in the young Kako.
The other character that stole my heart was Airedain, an Iyo (a sister tribe to Kako’s Rin) boy around her age. Like Kako, Airedain is finding his own way of life in the nearby city. While Tiernan can be described as Kako’s conscience, Airedain is the devil on her shoulder. He is a terrible influence, yet he is also the closest thing she has to home. He reminds her of her people. I have a feeling this boy will become important as the series develops.
The plot of the story really is a journey for Kako. When she arrives on the other side of the divide, she is running from her people and the “ghosts” she sees when she uses her water gift. She refuses to attune to her spirit animal (a wolf for those interested). Arriving on the other side though, she realizes that it isn’t just in her joyeun that she sees the spirit world, but anytime she calls her gift a rift appears. It’s an interesting twist to the story. War is also brewing, a saidu wants the knowledge Kako has about the Rift, and it will cost her everything.
While I had an arc of this one lying around, I wound up purchasing the audiobook. I had a hard time with some of the names and words Kako used, and it became a distraction for me. Listening made a world of difference. Sera-Lys McArthur drew me in with her melodic voice. Her tone and inflection allowed me to know instantly who Kako was interacting with. I’ve already purchased the sequel. I enjoyed her so much!
Overall The Call of the Rift: Flight is a solid start to the series. I loved Kako’s journey, which truly came full circle. Each person she encounters is a fully-fleshed out character. The world-building is phenomenal! I felt as if I’d truly stepped back in time to early colonial Canada. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys alternate history and fantasy.
Kateiko, aka Kako, is an easy to like character. Having spent her entire life in the Rin-joyeun, Kako longs for more. She has a wandering heart, missing the only family she has left, a cousin who married into a sister tribe across the ruined divide. Against the wishes of her guardian. Kako leaves the Rin to start a journey she never imagined. Kako is fierce and determined, loyal and kind. She is also naive. This naivete leaves her open for manipulation by those she readily trusts. My heart broke for her over and over again as she made choices she would soon regret.
There are many characters that come into Kako’s life as she journeys, but two in particular are my favorites. Tiernan is a Sverbian mage, a former soldier, and probably the most important in terms of Kako’s transformation. He comes off as a bitter man, a hermit living alone in his cabin in the woods. Kako owes her life to him and his neighbor who is a healer. He offers to allow her to stay with him while she heals, and he teaches her the languages of the surrounding towns. I like Tiernan, he’s unusually kind, and I think he sees a little of himself in the young Kako.
The other character that stole my heart was Airedain, an Iyo (a sister tribe to Kako’s Rin) boy around her age. Like Kako, Airedain is finding his own way of life in the nearby city. While Tiernan can be described as Kako’s conscience, Airedain is the devil on her shoulder. He is a terrible influence, yet he is also the closest thing she has to home. He reminds her of her people. I have a feeling this boy will become important as the series develops.
The plot of the story really is a journey for Kako. When she arrives on the other side of the divide, she is running from her people and the “ghosts” she sees when she uses her water gift. She refuses to attune to her spirit animal (a wolf for those interested). Arriving on the other side though, she realizes that it isn’t just in her joyeun that she sees the spirit world, but anytime she calls her gift a rift appears. It’s an interesting twist to the story. War is also brewing, a saidu wants the knowledge Kako has about the Rift, and it will cost her everything.
While I had an arc of this one lying around, I wound up purchasing the audiobook. I had a hard time with some of the names and words Kako used, and it became a distraction for me. Listening made a world of difference. Sera-Lys McArthur drew me in with her melodic voice. Her tone and inflection allowed me to know instantly who Kako was interacting with. I’ve already purchased the sequel. I enjoyed her so much!
Overall The Call of the Rift: Flight is a solid start to the series. I loved Kako’s journey, which truly came full circle. Each person she encounters is a fully-fleshed out character. The world-building is phenomenal! I felt as if I’d truly stepped back in time to early colonial Canada. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys alternate history and fantasy.
May 1, 2020
A complex character journey in a very developed alternate world.
See full review at https://tbrnext.com/2020/05/01/the-ca...
17 year old Kako is frustrated with her tribe, the Rin, for their ancient way of life, and their seclusion from the rest of the world. Wanting out, she leaves to seek marriage in a neighboring tribe with whom none of the Rin have been in contact with for many years. Trouble meets her on the way, and her plans are rerouted while she heals both physically and emotionally. But the world is more complex and different than she'd expected, and Kako is no longer sure of what she wants from life, nor of who she wants to be. Aimless, she drifts between tribal life and exploring the native settlers' cultures, meeting and making friends from vastly different lifestyles. Kako is on a journey from adolescence to adulthood, trying to find herself, love, and the truth of her people's history, while bumbling her way through.
The world building was very well developed. To put it simply, it was set in a time similar to when the European nations were settling in America, living alongside the Native Americans. Neither society trusts the other, but their lives are intertwined whether they will it or not. The writing was very descriptive in a way that enhanced the story rather than bogging it down with details. It was a very immersive experience.
Magic had its place in this world. Several tribespeople could control water. Some settlers had other skills, such as fire control or healing. And then there were the spirits, who usually stayed out of human affairs, but had a powerful control over parts of nature, which didn't bode well for humans.
The characters Kako interacted with were fleshed out and had their own backstories and mini plots. The book was very deep and thorough throughout. It disturbed me that Kako kept falling in love with older men. Men who were nearly twice her age. I understand that her culture is different, more tribal and ancient, where modern marriage habits aren't their norm. But it still bothered me.
I don't know where Kako will settle or how she'll live out her life. Neither does she at the end of this first book. But her journey felt as deep and twisted and as real as anyone growing up and figuring themselves out. Kako was a strong and complex woman, and this book was a fantastic immersive experience. I'd compare it somewhat to Tess of the Road.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
See full review at https://tbrnext.com/2020/05/01/the-ca...
17 year old Kako is frustrated with her tribe, the Rin, for their ancient way of life, and their seclusion from the rest of the world. Wanting out, she leaves to seek marriage in a neighboring tribe with whom none of the Rin have been in contact with for many years. Trouble meets her on the way, and her plans are rerouted while she heals both physically and emotionally. But the world is more complex and different than she'd expected, and Kako is no longer sure of what she wants from life, nor of who she wants to be. Aimless, she drifts between tribal life and exploring the native settlers' cultures, meeting and making friends from vastly different lifestyles. Kako is on a journey from adolescence to adulthood, trying to find herself, love, and the truth of her people's history, while bumbling her way through.
The world building was very well developed. To put it simply, it was set in a time similar to when the European nations were settling in America, living alongside the Native Americans. Neither society trusts the other, but their lives are intertwined whether they will it or not. The writing was very descriptive in a way that enhanced the story rather than bogging it down with details. It was a very immersive experience.
Magic had its place in this world. Several tribespeople could control water. Some settlers had other skills, such as fire control or healing. And then there were the spirits, who usually stayed out of human affairs, but had a powerful control over parts of nature, which didn't bode well for humans.
The characters Kako interacted with were fleshed out and had their own backstories and mini plots. The book was very deep and thorough throughout. It disturbed me that Kako kept falling in love with older men. Men who were nearly twice her age. I understand that her culture is different, more tribal and ancient, where modern marriage habits aren't their norm. But it still bothered me.
I don't know where Kako will settle or how she'll live out her life. Neither does she at the end of this first book. But her journey felt as deep and twisted and as real as anyone growing up and figuring themselves out. Kako was a strong and complex woman, and this book was a fantastic immersive experience. I'd compare it somewhat to Tess of the Road.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2023
4.7 out of 5 stars
The Call Of The Rift: Flight by Jae Waller is an immersive and gripping YA epic fantasy novel.
At close to 500 pages it isn’t a quick read, but is certainly enjoyable. The first 50 pages I must admit weren’t of the best quality. This may have been to set the scene as there was a lot of heavy backstories, but unfortunately it just didn’t really work for me at first. Although, it really does get better if you stick with it.
The pacing was a little inconsistent – nothing too bad, just sometimes it was slow and then sometimes it jumped and sped up quite a lot. The way our main character, Kateiko, was presented was also a little inconsistent and I felt that at some points the personality of Kateiko was lost.
I thought Kateiko’s personality most of the time is what made me enjoy the story the most. I also really enjoyed reading about her relationship with Tiernan which I thought kept things really interesting. The world and complete realistic sense of community that was created in this book was absolutely incredible!
I really loved the setting and how it was all presented and described – it painted a really vivid picture. The setting and history of the world was well-developed and complex which was just brilliant!
The final 150 pages or so were incredible! The writing quality was fantastic, and I really loved how everything was tied together. If only it was that good at the beginning, as I bet a lot of people would stop reading when the pace got slow. I’m certainly glad I stuck with it!
Thank you Jae for my copy.
The Call Of The Rift: Flight by Jae Waller is an immersive and gripping YA epic fantasy novel.
At close to 500 pages it isn’t a quick read, but is certainly enjoyable. The first 50 pages I must admit weren’t of the best quality. This may have been to set the scene as there was a lot of heavy backstories, but unfortunately it just didn’t really work for me at first. Although, it really does get better if you stick with it.
The pacing was a little inconsistent – nothing too bad, just sometimes it was slow and then sometimes it jumped and sped up quite a lot. The way our main character, Kateiko, was presented was also a little inconsistent and I felt that at some points the personality of Kateiko was lost.
I thought Kateiko’s personality most of the time is what made me enjoy the story the most. I also really enjoyed reading about her relationship with Tiernan which I thought kept things really interesting. The world and complete realistic sense of community that was created in this book was absolutely incredible!
I really loved the setting and how it was all presented and described – it painted a really vivid picture. The setting and history of the world was well-developed and complex which was just brilliant!
The final 150 pages or so were incredible! The writing quality was fantastic, and I really loved how everything was tied together. If only it was that good at the beginning, as I bet a lot of people would stop reading when the pace got slow. I’m certainly glad I stuck with it!
Thank you Jae for my copy.
September 6, 2018
This is a complicated fantasy set in a world very much like the Pacific Northwest during the first century after Contact. It makes excellent use of mythological themes and folklore drawn from indigenous tribes of the region. The heroine, Kakeiko, is an antayul, a water-bringer, who can draw water into or out of a wide variety of materials and sources, whether to put out a fire or dry wet clothing. She is also a shape-changer, as are all of her people, and that plays an important part in her efforts to forestall a war between her own people and related tribesmen and another between all of them and the white settlements, and yet another between factions among the whites. All involve a supernatural being called Suriel, who controls the wind and can call down extremely destructive storms on those who oppose or displease him. But what does Suriel actually want? And who is really behind the attacks on various settlements and structures on all sides? What does the fire mage called Tiernan have to do with it, and will Kakeiko be able to build a relationship with him in spite of their bone-deep differences? Complex, richly detailed, involving, and intriguing. I look forward to the sequel, as this is intended to be the first volume in a trilogy.
January 4, 2024
The Call of the Rift series by Jae Waller review (books 1 & 2)❄️ NO SPOILERS
Kateiko Rin and her best friend Nili leave their only remaining family to seek a better life for themselves. The only way to do so is marry into another tribe. So they venture through the coastal rainforest in search of their new lives. However, killing a colonial soldier wasn't the plan. Neither was meeting Tiernan whose stories about a rift between their world and another offers more questions than answers.
For anyone who hasn't read this series before but loves the concept of parallel universes, this is the series for you.
The Call of the Rift follows the two versions of the protagonist Kateiko Rin: the warrior (books 1 & 2) and the healer (books 3 & 4). With book 5 where the two versions of herself meet.
If you like:
- intricate world building
- magical realism
- flawed and morally grey characters
- cultural diversity
- disability representation
- unrequited love
- accurate depiction of mental illness and,
- a clash between 'for the greater good' and 'every life matters' mindset
then this is the book for you.
For more reviews like this please join me @lillianhelenewriter
Kateiko Rin and her best friend Nili leave their only remaining family to seek a better life for themselves. The only way to do so is marry into another tribe. So they venture through the coastal rainforest in search of their new lives. However, killing a colonial soldier wasn't the plan. Neither was meeting Tiernan whose stories about a rift between their world and another offers more questions than answers.
For anyone who hasn't read this series before but loves the concept of parallel universes, this is the series for you.
The Call of the Rift follows the two versions of the protagonist Kateiko Rin: the warrior (books 1 & 2) and the healer (books 3 & 4). With book 5 where the two versions of herself meet.
If you like:
- intricate world building
- magical realism
- flawed and morally grey characters
- cultural diversity
- disability representation
- unrequited love
- accurate depiction of mental illness and,
- a clash between 'for the greater good' and 'every life matters' mindset
then this is the book for you.
For more reviews like this please join me @lillianhelenewriter
November 12, 2019
DNF
Initially, the book looked pretty good, and I was excited for the characters...
But they were all... meh
The only one I really liked was Fendul and he disappeared for basically the whole book.
This book took wayyy too long to gain momentum and I really struggled to reach halfway.
The main problem I had with this book was the relationships - some of them made no sense at all. For example, the relationship between the main character and Tiernan was friendly for most of the time and he cared for her when she was sick and all that.
Don't even get me started on Parr.
Initially, the book looked pretty good, and I was excited for the characters...
But they were all... meh
The only one I really liked was Fendul and he disappeared for basically the whole book.
This book took wayyy too long to gain momentum and I really struggled to reach halfway.
The main problem I had with this book was the relationships - some of them made no sense at all. For example, the relationship between the main character and Tiernan was friendly for most of the time and he cared for her when she was sick and all that.
Don't even get me started on Parr.
dnf
August 14, 2018DNF at 48%
so. I really don't have much to say behind my decision.
I was expecting a really whimsical and amazing fantasy, but what I got wasn't really that. The writing's not terrible and I think Jae Waller is actually very talented and admirable for venturing into First Nations storytelling, but the thing with The Call of the Rift for me is that it falls flat. The story isn't very compelling and I realized I was forcing myself to read the book because I felt obligated to.
And that's not part of the fun of reading.
Hence me putting it down and moving on.
I'm kind of disappointed, not going to lie, but oh well.
so. I really don't have much to say behind my decision.
I was expecting a really whimsical and amazing fantasy, but what I got wasn't really that. The writing's not terrible and I think Jae Waller is actually very talented and admirable for venturing into First Nations storytelling, but the thing with The Call of the Rift for me is that it falls flat. The story isn't very compelling and I realized I was forcing myself to read the book because I felt obligated to.
And that's not part of the fun of reading.
Hence me putting it down and moving on.
I'm kind of disappointed, not going to lie, but oh well.
dnf
June 12, 2018I received this book in exchange for an honest review from ECW Press.
I don't often DNF books and if I do, I plan to revisit them at a later date.
I'm not sure if I will pick this up again because I really tried with this one. For something that is listed and sold as a Teen book, it didn't feel accessible like a teen book and I'm not usually one for high fantasy. The pacing was also incredibly slow and I found myself going back and trying to reread things because it couldn't hold my interest.
I don't often DNF books and if I do, I plan to revisit them at a later date.
I'm not sure if I will pick this up again because I really tried with this one. For something that is listed and sold as a Teen book, it didn't feel accessible like a teen book and I'm not usually one for high fantasy. The pacing was also incredibly slow and I found myself going back and trying to reread things because it couldn't hold my interest.
August 7, 2018
I do not usually read fantasy books, they have to be very compelling. I found it difficult to get interested in the story, and found it hard to follow at times. I just lost interest and did not finish it.
My husband gave it a try and found the same. The overall plot looked interesting but it didn't work for me.
My husband gave it a try and found the same. The overall plot looked interesting but it didn't work for me.
December 20, 2019
This is a fantastic book about coming of age in the midst of colonialism. It combines aspects of supernatural fantasy with historical fiction. There are moments of beauty, horror, love, and painful admixtures of all three. I plan to read the sequel soon as I can't wait to find out what happens next.
July 6, 2019
The setting is beautifully described, I could taste the salt spray and feel the warmth of the fire while reading through the story. I am looking forward to seeing the story continue into the next book in the series.
July 16, 2018
Nope.
November 9, 2018
not quite what I'd usually read, but my sisters persuaded me to and it was really good!
August 21, 2019
An little slow
October 12, 2021
It started out with so much potential. But ended up terribly!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews