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Vessel of Souls #1
The Rift
Is death really the end? or can people come back...
Rachael Taylor has returned from the grave with no memory of who she is or which of the two worlds she exists in is real. In one world she is a teenager living what is considered the normal life. In the other she is tormented night and day in a burning city. When strange creatures start to invade both worlds, she must discover what she is before everything collapses.
The Rift is a Young Adult Paranormal/ Horror novel in the series Vessel of Souls. It follows the life of Rachael Taylor and the people and creatures that appear in it.
Rachael Taylor has returned from the grave with no memory of who she is or which of the two worlds she exists in is real. In one world she is a teenager living what is considered the normal life. In the other she is tormented night and day in a burning city. When strange creatures start to invade both worlds, she must discover what she is before everything collapses.
The Rift is a Young Adult Paranormal/ Horror novel in the series Vessel of Souls. It follows the life of Rachael Taylor and the people and creatures that appear in it.
- GenresFantasy
391 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2013
346 people want to read
About the author
S.K.N. Hammerstone
3 books28 followersI have been reading for longer than I can remember and probably writing for about the same amount of time.
My favorite genre is paranormal, and not the light kind. The dark and wickedly evil kind.
I have a thing for angels, but not necessarily demons.
I think prophecy and seers and everything to do with the future is fascinating.
Vampires must be bloodthirsty and viscous and werewolves must change on the full moon.
I was born under the cancer sign and am considered a moon child which is probably why I do my best thinking at night.
I am usually an epic fail at poetry and rarely try to write it but if you are curious to see the atrocity that is my attempts, there are two poems in my writing.
My favorite colors are black, ruby red, and deep green.
I am always willing to talk so pm me, friend me, follow me, or comment on something on my page whenever you want.
cogito ergo sum
My favorite genre is paranormal, and not the light kind. The dark and wickedly evil kind.
I have a thing for angels, but not necessarily demons.
I think prophecy and seers and everything to do with the future is fascinating.
Vampires must be bloodthirsty and viscous and werewolves must change on the full moon.
I was born under the cancer sign and am considered a moon child which is probably why I do my best thinking at night.
I am usually an epic fail at poetry and rarely try to write it but if you are curious to see the atrocity that is my attempts, there are two poems in my writing.
My favorite colors are black, ruby red, and deep green.
I am always willing to talk so pm me, friend me, follow me, or comment on something on my page whenever you want.
cogito ergo sum
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 24, 2013
The Rift is a bold novel that blends high-voltage teenage hormones with an epic war between valiant angels and bloodthirsty demons. The story grows in scope from a confused teen's high school blunders to an international bloodbath that takes the term "scorched earth" literally. There's action a-plenty and a broad cast of characters, all with their own secrets and motivations.
I'm not usually a fan of YA fiction and I did find the protagonist's frequent commentary a bit snarky and heavy on the sarcasm. There were also a few plot holes that left me scratching my head, but I'm not one to nitpick. The book ends with a doozy of a cliffhanger and the next books promises to be quite a throwdown. SKN Hammerstone is a fresh voice in the YA world and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next tale that leaps out of her imagination.
I'm not usually a fan of YA fiction and I did find the protagonist's frequent commentary a bit snarky and heavy on the sarcasm. There were also a few plot holes that left me scratching my head, but I'm not one to nitpick. The book ends with a doozy of a cliffhanger and the next books promises to be quite a throwdown. SKN Hammerstone is a fresh voice in the YA world and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next tale that leaps out of her imagination.
June 22, 2013
I downloaded this book for free on Amazon and I was really looking forward to reading it. It was definitely a different read for me cause I’m not one for YA paranormal but I have to say since I started reading them I am glad this was the first one I read. I give props to the author on writing about going in between different types of worlds that isn’t easy and she did a nice job going between both. The beginning to me came off as a troubled girl who is suicidal and I thought I knew exactly where it was going but boy was I wrong because it took a turn I didn’t see coming. One thing I disliked and loved at the same time was how there were so many unanswered questions in the beginning about the life of the main character and all the secrets and you hope they’ll be answered and when they are at least for me it made me appreciate the story all the more..some of the revelations blew my mind and I got to a point where I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know then and there the answer to a question I’d be dying to know. I thought the main character Rachael was portrayed as a typical young teen in the beginning who slowly develops into a girl searching for an identity literally and in life. To me at times it was a blend of the show Supernatural, and the movies Twilight and I Am Number Four based off of certain elements they all give. I did get confused a bit in certain parts and I wasn’t a fan of all the choices that were made by the characters in the book but again it made me appreciate what they author was going for. During moments of the book I almost felt I was reading a different book compared to when it first started out just because the changes the characters go though. Who doesn’t love a good Angel and Demon brawl? Wasn’t entirely a fan of the whole love triangle which is the reason behind my Twilight reference then again I’m as indecisive as they come so I could kind of relate. I don’t know how anyone can say the author isn’t descriptive in this book. Just reading it I learned a lot more about angels then I knew and it flowed nicely with the nature of what it was about. I am not one for spoilers but I will say that the ending leaves you with as many questions as you had when you read the first couple chapters in the beginning only difference here is if you want the answers to them you’d have to read the second book and I for one am looking forward to it. I very much enjoyed this book, it was a delightful surprise for me and I look forward to reading the sequel and other works the author has. I recommend this book to not just YA paranormal or even Angels and Demon fans but to anyone looking to expand their horizons and read something you normally wouldn’t.
December 19, 2024
This started out really interesting and kept me reading. I wanted to know what was going on, as there is quite a mystery set up from the outset and I liked that. I think overall, the story had potential, but it fell off for me due to the actual writing. The characters were undeveloped, I had no attachments to anyone, there was almost no description at any point in the book, the revelations came in the form of one overwhelming paragraph that felt more like the author's notes than any kind of natural speech, etc.
I don't know any men who act or think the way the men in this book did. The romance was not shown / developed. The plot was confusing and didn't hang together right. And the whole book was lacking in basic research. For example:
The entourage arrive in London and stay at a vaguely swank hotel, then walk next-door to a train station that will take them 'to the English Channel'. In reality, there is no train that goes 'to the English Channel'. I assume they've gone to King's Cross Station, but as soon as they pull out of the station, they're in 'the English countryside', which is not possible.
They get OFF the train 'at the Channel' and then buy a ticket at a booth presumably just sitting on the seaside for the ferry across the Channel. In reality, the train goes UNDER the Channel. You can easily look this up online.
They travel first class on everything, yet the tickets are idealistically cheap. £120 for all three of them to go on the train? The ferry over the Channel resembled a cruise ship. I'm not sure how big the author thinks the Channel is. The waters sound like they're going over the full-on Atlantic Ocean. It somehow turns from day to night in the journey across the water. But this journey should only take about an hour.
The people following them can't get another boat across (and obviously don't know about the Chunnel!). They don't know what to do because apparently there's no hotel anywhere near where they are, 'at the Channel'. In actual fact, the docking spot for the boat over the Channel would be Dover. There are hotels.
When they arrive at 'a town in France' (it should be Calais), they hire a car and start driving and the full description of France is them stopping at a street-side bakery run by a man named Pierre. The stereotypes were incredible.
They're in a huge hurry and MUST get to Sicily ASAP, so they have to drive from France to Italy STAT!!! So...they drive through Switzerland before going to Italy? But...France and Italy are connected.
Another thing I found baffling was lines like: 'He was wearing sunglasses, presumably to protect his eyes from the sun'.
Also, the angel of death was incredibly whiny and didn't seem like a powerful angel at all. And I don't understand how someone can stab him and kill him. He's DEATH. And why would he go to Hell? What wrong did he do? He did his job. Plus, he had to buy a plane ticket from NY to London. He couldn't just appear places. What happens if there's a delay in his flight when he has to reap someone's soul?
Anyway. I'm very sorry, I really am. I just found this book very hard to take.
I don't know any men who act or think the way the men in this book did. The romance was not shown / developed. The plot was confusing and didn't hang together right. And the whole book was lacking in basic research. For example:
The entourage arrive in London and stay at a vaguely swank hotel, then walk next-door to a train station that will take them 'to the English Channel'. In reality, there is no train that goes 'to the English Channel'. I assume they've gone to King's Cross Station, but as soon as they pull out of the station, they're in 'the English countryside', which is not possible.
They get OFF the train 'at the Channel' and then buy a ticket at a booth presumably just sitting on the seaside for the ferry across the Channel. In reality, the train goes UNDER the Channel. You can easily look this up online.
They travel first class on everything, yet the tickets are idealistically cheap. £120 for all three of them to go on the train? The ferry over the Channel resembled a cruise ship. I'm not sure how big the author thinks the Channel is. The waters sound like they're going over the full-on Atlantic Ocean. It somehow turns from day to night in the journey across the water. But this journey should only take about an hour.
The people following them can't get another boat across (and obviously don't know about the Chunnel!). They don't know what to do because apparently there's no hotel anywhere near where they are, 'at the Channel'. In actual fact, the docking spot for the boat over the Channel would be Dover. There are hotels.
When they arrive at 'a town in France' (it should be Calais), they hire a car and start driving and the full description of France is them stopping at a street-side bakery run by a man named Pierre. The stereotypes were incredible.
They're in a huge hurry and MUST get to Sicily ASAP, so they have to drive from France to Italy STAT!!! So...they drive through Switzerland before going to Italy? But...France and Italy are connected.
Another thing I found baffling was lines like: 'He was wearing sunglasses, presumably to protect his eyes from the sun'.
Also, the angel of death was incredibly whiny and didn't seem like a powerful angel at all. And I don't understand how someone can stab him and kill him. He's DEATH. And why would he go to Hell? What wrong did he do? He did his job. Plus, he had to buy a plane ticket from NY to London. He couldn't just appear places. What happens if there's a delay in his flight when he has to reap someone's soul?
Anyway. I'm very sorry, I really am. I just found this book very hard to take.
September 23, 2013
I have to admit that I was originally going to give this book a four out of five stars. The beginning, to me, felt more explanation than anything and fell a bit flat in my eyes. However, at some point, the story began to run away with me. It turned from explanation to action to deception to WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO END!!! I am officially obsessed now with how the story will play out in the future.
Now, to tell you a little bit about the story.
Rachael Taylor attempts to commit suicide at the beginning of this novel, and succeeds, but it seems something or someone of a higher power out there doesn't want her to go just yet, since she makes a miraculous recovery and ends up in the hospital. The bad news, she has no recollection of why she got there, how she got there, or who she is. This is aggravating to anyone in that situation, right?
Well, how about if everyone was trying to keep you from remembering. Or at least telling you that you had to remember for yourself?
Rachael goes on a reluctant hunt to find out what has happened to her to make her want to welcome death so easily, but what she ends up finding out will not necessarily make her happy. In fact, she might wish she was still clueless.
Because the truth of the matter is, her life is involved in something much, much bigger than herself. And I mean GIGANTIC!!
So, after being sent to an asylum by her bleep of a mother, weirder things start to happen to her. Things involving people with glowing red eyes, guardian angels, and a strange woman named Elizabeth.
Can she handle the destiny that will soon be handed to her? Or will something happen to deter that destiny from becoming reality?
Again must gush about this book. I love it. It gets faster as you read farther and farther into the book, and I must admit that I read it in a day.
Totally recommended for anyone who loves books with angels and demons as the main characters.
Now, to tell you a little bit about the story.
Rachael Taylor attempts to commit suicide at the beginning of this novel, and succeeds, but it seems something or someone of a higher power out there doesn't want her to go just yet, since she makes a miraculous recovery and ends up in the hospital. The bad news, she has no recollection of why she got there, how she got there, or who she is. This is aggravating to anyone in that situation, right?
Well, how about if everyone was trying to keep you from remembering. Or at least telling you that you had to remember for yourself?
Rachael goes on a reluctant hunt to find out what has happened to her to make her want to welcome death so easily, but what she ends up finding out will not necessarily make her happy. In fact, she might wish she was still clueless.
Because the truth of the matter is, her life is involved in something much, much bigger than herself. And I mean GIGANTIC!!
So, after being sent to an asylum by her bleep of a mother, weirder things start to happen to her. Things involving people with glowing red eyes, guardian angels, and a strange woman named Elizabeth.
Can she handle the destiny that will soon be handed to her? Or will something happen to deter that destiny from becoming reality?
Again must gush about this book. I love it. It gets faster as you read farther and farther into the book, and I must admit that I read it in a day.
Totally recommended for anyone who loves books with angels and demons as the main characters.
September 6, 2013
The first night I started reading this book I read 146 pages. Now for some of you that may seem like a walk in the park, but for me, with a full time job and going to college online, that's saying something. I couldn't put The Rift down.
I'm not one to give reviews where I basically just write my own synopsis of what I just read. Writers work hard on their synopsis's and I think, being a writer myself, what writers want to know from reviews and what other readers want to know is...did I like the book or not.
Well, from what I said above, 146 pages in one night, with a busy schedule, I think you've gathered that, yes, I did.
That being said I did have some issues with the story. There were portions of the story where I felt lost. This could just be me, but I found myself confused about some of the information that was being conveyed.
The ending was also a bit of a twist for me. I'm still not sure if I like the POV it was presented in or not. I'm unsure if I find it clever or just plain confusing.
But really, the author is very creative and other than those tiny issues, this was a great read.
If I'm unsure about how I feel about a book (do I give it 3 stars or 4) when I put it down I try not to post my review until I take the next day to think it over. If I keep thinking about the characters and the story, then that story has had an impact on me. Today I thought about Rachel, Jesse, and Joshua...a lot.
I would recommend this book, for sure, especially if you're into paranormal and if you're a sucker for a love triangle like I am.
Bravo S.K.N! You have a brilliant mind!
I'm not one to give reviews where I basically just write my own synopsis of what I just read. Writers work hard on their synopsis's and I think, being a writer myself, what writers want to know from reviews and what other readers want to know is...did I like the book or not.
Well, from what I said above, 146 pages in one night, with a busy schedule, I think you've gathered that, yes, I did.
That being said I did have some issues with the story. There were portions of the story where I felt lost. This could just be me, but I found myself confused about some of the information that was being conveyed.
The ending was also a bit of a twist for me. I'm still not sure if I like the POV it was presented in or not. I'm unsure if I find it clever or just plain confusing.
But really, the author is very creative and other than those tiny issues, this was a great read.
If I'm unsure about how I feel about a book (do I give it 3 stars or 4) when I put it down I try not to post my review until I take the next day to think it over. If I keep thinking about the characters and the story, then that story has had an impact on me. Today I thought about Rachel, Jesse, and Joshua...a lot.
I would recommend this book, for sure, especially if you're into paranormal and if you're a sucker for a love triangle like I am.
Bravo S.K.N! You have a brilliant mind!
July 14, 2013
So I recieved this book yesterday...and...I finished it yesterday. I told myself I would read a little and then put it down...but I guess the book had a mind of it's own. This book is our June book of the month in one of my groups...and lets just say I really enjoyed it.
At first I was confused, because the main character Rachael, is dead...but not dead. So you can see how confusing it could be. As the book went along, I understand it more. I am not going to give a blurb of this book, because honestly...you can read the one provided for the book. This book took me through a jurney with Rachael, Jessie, and Joshua. I enjoyed being apart of there lives for a day. This book was so addicting. It was glued to my hands. I gave this book 4 stars, because there were some spelling and grammer mistakes, that I just couldn't over look... Other then that the book was amazing. I am excited for book 2, because the way book 1 ended, I have a lot of questions.
I would like to say thanks to the author, for providing the group with a copy of this book to read. This is a well written book, and I really enjoyed every bit of it! This is something I will definitely read again!
At first I was confused, because the main character Rachael, is dead...but not dead. So you can see how confusing it could be. As the book went along, I understand it more. I am not going to give a blurb of this book, because honestly...you can read the one provided for the book. This book took me through a jurney with Rachael, Jessie, and Joshua. I enjoyed being apart of there lives for a day. This book was so addicting. It was glued to my hands. I gave this book 4 stars, because there were some spelling and grammer mistakes, that I just couldn't over look... Other then that the book was amazing. I am excited for book 2, because the way book 1 ended, I have a lot of questions.
I would like to say thanks to the author, for providing the group with a copy of this book to read. This is a well written book, and I really enjoyed every bit of it! This is something I will definitely read again!
fuckery
March 6, 2014I forget now how I got to this book on Amazon but after skimming a few reviews, I used Amazon's Look Inside function to decide for myself whether or not it would interest me. A paranormal horror? Hmmm...
Honestly, it wasn't so horribly written that my brain froze. (But then, I once had the misfortune to read something much, much worse.) Yes, there were errors (some glaring and some not) and odd paragraph structuring. Still, despite the awkwardness in the writing, the storyline seemed intriguing and I was curious as to the exact nature of Rachael's back-from-the-dead experience and what role her supposed rescuer really played.
So I wishlisted this book and logged onto GR to read the author's profile. Alas, I got no further than a certain blog post. And that blog post was enough to put a kabash on this book.
A most definite NWTR. Pass.
Honestly, it wasn't so horribly written that my brain froze. (But then, I once had the misfortune to read something much, much worse.) Yes, there were errors (some glaring and some not) and odd paragraph structuring. Still, despite the awkwardness in the writing, the storyline seemed intriguing and I was curious as to the exact nature of Rachael's back-from-the-dead experience and what role her supposed rescuer really played.
So I wishlisted this book and logged onto GR to read the author's profile. Alas, I got no further than a certain blog post. And that blog post was enough to put a kabash on this book.
A most definite NWTR. Pass.
April 3, 2013
This book has everything that appeals to me what with its brace of angels and demons. High school student, Rachel dies yet she exists in two words simultaneously. That really blew me away.
The story is surreal and magical. There are weird creatures that spring out from the two worlds. The City of Chaos I loved--it sounded like hell to me and I found that to be very intriguing. I found each character vivid and well-drawn. And boy, are these interesting characters! I had no idea what was going to happen next. Yet if I occasionally had questions, I put them aside as the story pulled me in again and again.
The end is a killer because I was left wanting more! This is the first in the series and I am very glad.
The Rift is fine stuff and I'm glad I read it.
The story is surreal and magical. There are weird creatures that spring out from the two worlds. The City of Chaos I loved--it sounded like hell to me and I found that to be very intriguing. I found each character vivid and well-drawn. And boy, are these interesting characters! I had no idea what was going to happen next. Yet if I occasionally had questions, I put them aside as the story pulled me in again and again.
The end is a killer because I was left wanting more! This is the first in the series and I am very glad.
The Rift is fine stuff and I'm glad I read it.
June 21, 2013
Great book. Chapter 25 was a real treat, what with the two timelines -- one in the present, the other from her memories.
I had a little trouble understanding the language, but that may be because of the American English (we are used to British English here in India). Also, the book could've ended less abruptly.
I really thought that the author is breaking the fourth wall in the last chapter, but this way, there's more mystery to it.
All in all, great book; it leaves a lot to look out for in the rest of the series.
I had a little trouble understanding the language, but that may be because of the American English (we are used to British English here in India). Also, the book could've ended less abruptly.
I really thought that the author is breaking the fourth wall in the last chapter, but this way, there's more mystery to it.
All in all, great book; it leaves a lot to look out for in the rest of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2013
First, I would like to say that this is not the genre I usually read but I was intrigued by the description. It is one of those YA or New Adult novels involving angels and demons. I found it surprisingly entertaining. This author has an amazing imagination. It could use a bit of editing, but it doesn't distract from the story. The characters were well developed and the story moved at a good pace with many twists and turns. If you like this kind of book, I would highly recommend it.
August 14, 2013
The Rift is a fast paced young adult novel about angels, demons and a girl named Rachael. It didn't take long to get through this book. There were a few slight mistakes but not enough to ruin my reading pleasure or take away the desire to read the authors future books. Enjoyable overall.
May 18, 2013
Good book. I wonder if a continuation is in the works...
June 18, 2013
Once I started reading this book, I had to continue reading it! I really liked Rachael throughout the book and it really shows how easily people can be manipulated!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews