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The Rift

Rachael Craw (Goodreads Author)

3.97 · Rating details · 316 ratings · 114 reviews

When the Rift opens, death follows.

For generations, the Rangers of Black Water Island have guarded the Old Herd against horrors released by the Rift. Cal West, an apprentice Ranger with a rare scar and even rarer gifts, fights daily to prove he belongs within their ranks. After nine years away, Meg Archer returns to her childhood home only to find the Island is facing a ne ...more

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Paperback, 368 pages

Published November 1st 2018 by Walker Books Australia

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Great Kiwi YA & MG

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· 316 ratings · 114 reviews

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Jan 07, 2019 Khrys ♡《TheWaffleGirl》 rated it really liked it

Shelves: in-exchange-for-review, 2019-reads

Woah. That was...woah.

I wasn’t expecting this, but I got so much Stiefvater vibes from this book! I am amazed lol.

“When the Rift opens, death follows.”

What’s this about??

For generations, the Rangers of Black Water Island have protected the sacred creatures of their land from the horrors caused by the Rift. Cal West, an apprentice ranger with rare abilities, is fighting hard every day to prove to other rangers that he belongs as one of them. Meg Archer, an old friend, returns to Black Wat ...more

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Jan 02, 2019 Kelly (Diva Booknerd) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: walker-books, loveozya, lovenzya

★★★★☆

Black Water Island is immersed in tradition, a millennia since The Rift emerged causing the mountain to fracture. The residents of Black Water are isolated from the mainland, without television or internet access to maintain the fragile ecosystem of the island. Every four years, hunters descent on the intimate pastoral community to participate in The Cull, the resident generational Rangers responsible for the Old Herd while young deer are harvested by Nutris Pharmaceuticals for their medici ★★★★☆

Black Water Island is immersed in tradition, a millennia since The Rift emerged causing the mountain to fracture. The residents of Black Water are isolated from the mainland, without television or internet access to maintain the fragile ecosystem of the island. Every four years, hunters descent on the intimate pastoral community to participate in The Cull, the resident generational Rangers responsible for the Old Herd while young deer are harvested by Nutris Pharmaceuticals for their medicinal properties.

The narrative centralises upon the intimate, isolated Black Water Island and the community, the reluctant agreement with Nutris Pharmaceuticals, the Rangers and unscrupulous corporation. Fisherman's son Cal West is a Ranger, his appointed position a rarity among the Ranger ranks, the position considered hereditary and a right of passage among the generations of Black Water residents. Cal carries the Sight, an ability to sense distress among the Old Herd he is sworn to protect.

Meg Archer is returning to Black Water Island, nine years after moving to the mainland with her mother, a cancer survivor. Growing up on the island, Meg was determined to join the ranks of the prestigious Rangers, her father elevated to Sargent and carrying the honoured tradition from his predecessor. Meg and Cal were once childhood friends, inseparable as they explored their island home. After a tragic incident upon the mountain, Meg was removed from the island and assumed Cal had been taken by protective services, the young boy orphaned and alone. Having returned, Meg is now torn between her attraction towards Cal and her resentment, as he remained on the island and trained as a Ranger. Their tentative reconnection bound by the scars they share.

I really enjoyed the intense connection between Meg and Cal. Cal able to connect to the Old Herd through the ability of Sight comes with a hefty consequence, he can also sense death. Through touch, he feels the life force of those around him, especially within Meg's vicinity.

The Black Water Island is majestic, separated by the Rift and ley lines that thrum with positive energy and spirituality. The premise is fascinating, a blend of fantasy and intricately woven magical realism. The Rift is a tear in the atmosphere to another dimension beyond the island, Rift Hounds appear as apparitions and materialising throughout the mountain as large, savage beasts. The Rangers entered into a reluctant agreement with Nutris Pharmaceuticals who farm the island for antlers from the low lying Herd to create a potent medicinal concoction known as Actaeon’s Bane. Like all large corporations, they have a stranglehold on the community in exchange for maintaining the island and providing an income for the residents. Corruption and underhandedness result in Nutris Pharmaceuticals demanding more than the island can provide, creating a deadly atmosphere and with The Rift only moments from opening, alliances will be fractured and secrets revealed.

What surprised me most was how beautifully atmospheric The Rift is. The writing holds a stillness and spiritual like quality rarely seen in fantasy young adult novels. That quiet intensity slowly lured me in and held me captive. The Rift is wildly imagined and beautifully portrayed, a new direction for Rachael Craw that will no doubt enchant international audiences. She's outdone herself. ...more

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May 07, 2018 Lily rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, young-adult, urban-and-paranormal-fantasy, aussie-lit, loveozya-lovenzya, action-adventure, mythology-and-folklore, mf-relationship, friendship, favourites

Daaaaaaaaaaaamn....

So, just to give you a bit of an idea how much I adored this book, when I read this it had been literally months since I’d managed to read anything at all because my mental health has been so bad lately and focusing on anything for any sort of extended period of time has been pretty much impossible. And yet, despite this, I managed to devour this beauty in a single sitting. I sat down to read and suddenly I was on the last page and I was literally like what the hell Rachael ho Daaaaaaaaaaaamn....

So, just to give you a bit of an idea how much I adored this book, when I read this it had been literally months since I’d managed to read anything at all because my mental health has been so bad lately and focusing on anything for any sort of extended period of time has been pretty much impossible. And yet, despite this, I managed to devour this beauty in a single sitting. I sat down to read and suddenly I was on the last page and I was literally like what the hell Rachael how do you do this? How are you just this good at sucking me in to a world and a story that I completely lose track of time and cannot stop reading?

Perfect for fans of Maggie Steifvater’s works, this is the ideal standalone book for readers who enjoy paranormal fantasy and magical realism. There is so much to love in this dark, creepy and wildly atmospheric story that is positively brimming with magic and mystery.

For generations, The Rangers of the mysterious and isolated Black Water Island have been tasked with protecting a mythical deer herd against the horrors of The Rift, an interdimensional tear between worlds through which ferocious monsters escape to hunt and kill. After a horrible accident when she was only a child that led to her leaving her childhood home for the mainland, Meg Archer is finally returning. But Black Water Island is not as she remembers and there is a new danger looming in the shadows.

This is such an intensely captivating narrative, completely different in style and genre to Craw’s epic ‘Spark’ trilogy. And honestly, Rachael has really levelled up her writing (which I did not think was possible because I adore her 'Spark' trilogy more than pretty much anything else), not just technically speaking but also stylistically. This book is so completely breathtaking and utterly compelling and just, far out my friends, I love it so much. It's also very risky in a lot of ways, not the least because you are quite literally launched head first into this incredible world of supernatural monsters and magical gifts and deadly secrets with no background information whatsoever and no idea what is going on. It is the sort of book that demands that you sit down, pay attention and just come along for the ride. And what. a. ride.

It’s so completely, breathtakingly magical and utterly compelling and oh so deliciously imaginative.

An absolute must read, trust me on this. ...more

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Dec 30, 2018 Jeann (Happy Indulgence) rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

What an incredibly unique and whimsical read about an island filled with ley lines, and the Rangers that live on it containing mystical powers! This one caught my surprise and I was soon swept up in the beautiful descriptions of Black Rock island, of the supernatural creatures living on it, and of Cal and Meg's story.

As others have mentioned, it definitely has a Stiefvater vibe to it, where you as the reader are left to experience the story without giving anything directly away. I got a bit con ...more

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Oct 15, 2019 Nemo (The Moonlight Library) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: source-purchased, sts, format-physical, audience-young-adult, books-i-own, source-home-library, stand-alone, genre-fantasy, the-tempest-of-my-eyes, publisher-walker-books

Check out the original review for a guest post by Rachael Craw as part of The Rift blog tour!

I received this book in a YA Chronicles subscription box some months prior to the announcement of this blog tour, which I then eagerly signed up for. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about this book since I discovered it in my subscription box, and I was so excited to read about this story that seemed to draw on some things that I was already really into: Greek myths, Gothic atmospheres, isolated isla Check out the original review for a guest post by Rachael Craw as part of The Rift blog tour!

I received this book in a YA Chronicles subscription box some months prior to the announcement of this blog tour, which I then eagerly signed up for. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about this book since I discovered it in my subscription box, and I was so excited to read about this story that seemed to draw on some things that I was already really into: Greek myths, Gothic atmospheres, isolated islands, animal bonds, a group of people referred to as 'Rangers'.

In the subscription box, Craw had written a note that revealed one of her favourite books isThe Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, and that she was inspired by the gothic atmosphere of that novel. I can completely see the similarities, or maybe inspirations, of that wonderful novel in Craw's lushly atmospheric, timeless, violent story about dangerous magical animals and the people who love and live with them.

Craw's novel is so lovingly filled with imaginative descriptions of the scenery it's like a love letter to the Gothic atmosphere: the ethereal herd of magical deer who occupy this mountainous, magical, isolated island; and the outdoorsy Rangers who monitor the slopes and protect the herd from the deadly and unpredictable Rift Hounds. I could clearly see the forest in my head - and maybe it's because I live in a cool temperate, or oceanic, climate with amazing rainforests and mountains, that I could so clearly envision the eerie, beautiful forest setting. It's the same climate as New Zealand (where Craw is from) and the Pacific North West (where I think the book may be set), so together I think I might be the perfect audience for this book's setting.

I loved less the 'romance' aspect. I found that because Meg and Cal didn't realise their feelings were mutual, that resulted in the infatuations seeming a bit childish (stemming from their shared childhood and trauma and compounded by intense jealousies) and rather un-romantic. I think that if they had realised it earlier, they were still too busy to do anything and besides, they suffered from enough of their own physical and mental trauma that they couldn't do anything about it anyway, so the sexual tension would have been more real and realised for me.

I do have to mention that I love a good stand-alone, when the world is absolutely going to shit and the characters are at the end of their desperate tether, and the whole thing feels like an Armageddon (normally the kind of thing reserved for later books in a series). I loved the build up to the climax in this book, both the physical actions taken that made me feel like I was there as the storm raged and the ground shook, and Meg and Cal's own internal realisations and the hints left behind afterwards.

Overall this book was pretty special, filled with imaginative and lush worldbuilding and setting descriptions, interesting and varied characters with individual motivations that you can really admire and even love a little, and it's definitely got a very special place in my heart. ...more

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May 30, 2018 Tash rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, young-adult

I have many thoughts on this book. In some ways it's classic Craw but in other way it will surprise you . Will re-read closer to publication since this book is not out until November. ...more

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Nov 14, 2018 Steph Cuthbert rated it it was amazing

Shelves: loveozya, young-adult, read-in-2018

This is Rachael Craw like you’ve never seen before. Her writing has always been stellar, and there are moments that are so Rachael in their cringing hilarity eg parental over sharing, however there’s a real level-up in the ambition and maturity of The Rift.
While I was reading, I kept thinking two things:
1. The setting of Black Water is so vivid.
2. This is so Stiefvater.
I absolutely loved the Spark trilogy (I promise I’m not going to have a rant comparing Spark and The Rift), but the setting wa ...more

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Jun 27, 2018 Sass rated it it was amazing

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK.
Coherent review later maybe.

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Dec 12, 2018 Kirsti rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned

OK, so I started this like two weeks ago and I couldn't get into it AT ALL. I read twenty pages and put it aside and read other things. Finally, I gritted my teeth and sat down and forced myself to keep reading- and at some point it was no longer forced. I really started that magical forget you're reading and just fall into the story mode. I've only recently moved and set up my book room properly, so in my chair with my slightly ironic deer blanket, I was completely comfortable and this made thi ...more

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Mar 07, 2019 Meghan rated it it was amazing

I devoured this book! The Rift is an addictive, wonderful, warm, beautiful book. If it weren’t for animals & bugs & wilderness & dirt & how much I love wifi I too would want to live on Black Water Island 😂

Craw describes the island in such a way that’s equal parts beautiful & scary with vicious feral dogs that rip people apart, majestic deer, & this community that bands together to preserve & protect their natural surroundings.

The main characters Meg & Cal were wonderful. I loved that their alter ...more

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Aug 24, 2019 Jackie rated it it was ok

Shelves: arcs, 2019-reads, paranormal

No matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t get into this one.

Normally I start my reviews with a brief summary of the book but I genuinely have no idea what was going on and to attempt to write about what I thought it was would be a nightmare.

It almost had this kind of ‘Stranger Things’ element to it (I think?) with the rift itself holding these dog like creatures inside that had the power to give psychic like gifts to those who survive a bite and then there’s a magic deer who is in charge of e ...more

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Jul 21, 2018 Trisha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dual-narrators, grief-loss, review, rso-review, action, secrets, family, friendship, sickness, survival

Strong world-building, worthy pair of heroes and potential lovers, and a fast-paced narrative.

Will there be more?

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Dec 17, 2018 NicoleHasRead rated it it was amazing

Invisible hellhounds, mythical deer, ley lines, a secret society of rangers, an evil corporation and reunited childhood friends. This combination makes for an unputdownable (it's a word!) read. ...more

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Aug 26, 2019 Lulai rated it liked it

I am the only one who was very confused by the world building ?

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Aug 31, 2019 Trish rated it it was amazing

An imaginative story that held my attention the whole time. Loved this and will be recommending it to my students.

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Jan 02, 2019 Blue rated it really liked it

This is my first ever Rachael Craw book and damnnnn it was good. I had heard amazing things about Craw’s work and have a few of her books on my TBR waiting to be read. However I was a bit hesitant as everyone compares Craw to Stiefvater. Stiefvater, in my opinion, a good writer but damn does she take forever to get to the point and her females characters suck at existing, like soul sucking suck. So I was a bit hesitant in picking The Rift up but overall I am glad that I did.
There were some majo This is my first ever Rachael Craw book and damnnnn it was good. I had heard amazing things about Craw’s work and have a few of her books on my TBR waiting to be read. However I was a bit hesitant as everyone compares Craw to Stiefvater. Stiefvater, in my opinion, a good writer but damn does she take forever to get to the point and her females characters suck at existing, like soul sucking suck. So I was a bit hesitant in picking The Rift up but overall I am glad that I did.
There were some major things that brought the rating down for me and I thought it could have been delivered better. The main killer for me was the lack of explanation at the start. It was almost as though the readers were expected to understand what the hell was going on straight away, with little or no details. I had to keep reading and wonder what the fuck was going on for a while before the science of it all was explained to me. It would have been better if it was touched on a bit more throughout the book rather than ‘oh by the way make sense of this’ right near the end of the book. I know that it was the author’s intent but I feel as though that it didn’t work.
Basically there is an island that has a rift in reality which causes the deer that live there to be slightly different. A pharmaceutical company has discovered that the antlers of the deer can make powerful medicines while the rangers on the island protect the deer within reason and yet align themselves with the pharmaceutical company.
What I loved about The Rift was the unique story line, a mean a rift on a small island isn’t something that you read every day. Actually this is nothing like anything I have ever read before.
The characters were tense yet engaging, the type of characters that you draw you further and further into the book. So basically yes, I’m attached to these characters. They were too realistic not too! Meg and Cal both had different opinions on other people and weren’t silent about it. Which is better than your typical YA story were everyone wants to get along and bake a cherry pie. Meg was determined, fierce and has a great relationship with her mum. Cal was sweet, kind and his pet Reeva was amazing!
Overall the concept was brilliant. The characters were brilliant. The writing was divine! I just need more of an explanation.
...more

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Sep 13, 2019 Kendra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a beautifully-crafted, -imagined, and -written novel. On an island that is home to a dimensional rift, the deer have magic in their antlers, the land is full of surprises, and the threat of giant Rift Hounds looms. Culled yearly, the deer are cared for by rangers who are often gifted with special sight, healing, and hearing powers. When Meg, a young woman, returns home to the island after many years away, she arrives at the same time as those who hunt the deer for a pharmaceutical compan ...more

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Dec 23, 2018 Sue rated it it was amazing

Tomorrow, when your teen rolls her eyes at receiving a Christmas book token from Aunt Alison (spare a thought for the poor woman, no one knows what to buy a teen), tell her to spend it on Rachael Craw's The Rift. She'll read it and discover books are still cool, and so is her mum. Win win! This book has everything - action, angst, romance (eventually), and the beautifully drawn world of Black Water Island (where ley lines and magnetism mess with electronics, so … no phones). She'll love the two ...more

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Dec 13, 2018 Penny Poppleton rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018

I bought this book this morning at my local bookshop and literally couldn’t put it down. I want to reread it as soon as I can—I feel like there was so much I missed—but it really ticked a whole bunch of boxes for me, from magic forested islands to the complexity of rituals against capitalism to two teens with hormones aiming truer than arrows. A+ book.

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Nov 20, 2018 Courtney (courtneyandherbooks) rated it really liked it

This was so original. The tension it created felt like a rubber band getting pulled tighter and tighter until SNAP! 8.5/10

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Jan 05, 2019 Katya de Becerra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: i-loved-this-i-loved-this-a-lot, yearn-to-own-or-mine-already, high-hopes-are-made-of-this, blew-my-mind, fav-authors, unusual-things, scifi-and-more, covers-to-die-for

The Rift is something... Out of this world!

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Jan 11, 2019 Melinda Szymanik rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this. 4.5 stars. A cool critique of modern corporate interests, wrapped in a plot shaped by mythology and fantasy. There is danger, doubt and drama with a pair of protagonists struggling with physical and emotional scars and damage. Throw in some romance (nicely handled) and an unexpected twist or two, and this makes for a thrilling ride. My only quibble is the few plot threads left dangling at the end. Will there be more to come about Blackwater Island?

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Apr 10, 2019 Janelle Dazzlepants rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, sci-fi, young-adult, urban-fantasy, paranormal, library-book

CW: animal death, hunting

I loved loved LOVED this world! It’s unlike a lot of fantasy and urban fantasy out there, a curious mix of dimensional rifts, an isolated foggy island, hellhounds, psychic abilities, bonded familiars, and a magical herd of deer. They’re all things that sound like they shouldn’t go together but they just do.

The writing is atmospheric, eerie, and unsettling. The island doesn’t feel quite right in a “they’re not telling us the whole story” way. There are things about Black CW: animal death, hunting

I loved loved LOVED this world! It’s unlike a lot of fantasy and urban fantasy out there, a curious mix of dimensional rifts, an isolated foggy island, hellhounds, psychic abilities, bonded familiars, and a magical herd of deer. They’re all things that sound like they shouldn’t go together but they just do.

The writing is atmospheric, eerie, and unsettling. The island doesn’t feel quite right in a “they’re not telling us the whole story” way. There are things about Black Water Island that conflict with what we understand as right and normal, but every resident on this island just accepts it as right and normal. Pair this with geographical and technological isolation and it’s a recipe for a tense and creepy time.

One of the remarkable things about this story is it could be set anywhere. While the author hails from New Zealand (as do I), this island feels like it could be off the coast of New Zealand, Australia, or the Puget Sound. There are no colloquialisms or landmarks that attribute it to a certain region, which a) adds to the feeling of isolation and b) makes it accessible for readers around the world.

I enjoyed the characters and always love the “childhood friend returns all grown up” trope. While Meg was a bit unhelpful and a mess at times, I enjoyed her and Cal and their uneasy friendship/unresolved feelings. However, the real showstoppers here were the bonded familiars! There’s nothing more beautiful and simultaneously tragic than an animal guide that can speak to you, cares for you, but unfortunately won’t share the same lifespan as you. ;__;

I’ve flailed above about how much I loved the mythology and speculative elements of this world, but ultimately I needed it to be a liiiiiittle more fleshed out. It’s healthy to finish a specfic novel with a few questions, but I left with some major questions about the first ranger, lodestones, and the rift stone, which I felt indicated minor lacking in world-building. (And unfortunately it can be a problem with standalones)

But overall, this was an absolutely stunning dark gem of a book! It blends sci-fi and fantastical folklore elements in such an eerie and beautiful way, and it’s truly one of the most unique worlds that I’ve read in years. It’s dark, it’s unsettling, it’s eerie, it’s tense, and it’s a damn good time. I want more!

Representation: physical disfigurement/burns, black side characters, side character cancer survivor, threads of PTSD ...more

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Jul 25, 2019 Annie Deo rated it it was amazing

Originally posted at my blog.

--

This has to be one of the most creative and unique books I've ever read - the author's pitch is 'mythology and dimensional rifts and mutant space dogs', and that's not even the tip of the iceberg! There's also a running theme of the importance of environmental conservation and it's amazing how naturally this nestles in alongside the paranormal aspects of the story. It's easy to see why 'The Rift' is a finalist in The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young A ...more

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Dec 12, 2018 Weaving Fiction ( Sj ) rated it really liked it

MY RATING: ★★★★
WARNINGS: Grusome scenes, prejudice, injuries
FROM: Walker Books Australia

WHAT I LIKED
-Cal, Meg, Bren, Rilke, Joss, Reeva, Fallon
-the ‘familiars’
-the deer

WHAT I WAS MEH ABOUT
-the pacing
-Cora & Seargent
-the ending

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Sep 09, 2018 Fleur Ferris rated it it was amazing

Masterful and brilliant! Beautiful world building, stunning writing, a cracking plot, perfectly paced and hot romantic tension. Craw has outdone herself.

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Jan 23, 2019 Amy Chiles rated it really liked it

This review was originally posted on my blog On A Crafty Adventure

After following Rachael on social media I became curious about her newest novel - The Rift. It seemed totally different to her previous offerings and I was intrigued. I have just finished the novel and I must say that I am sad to say goodbye to these characters, they are very well written and have found a place in my heart. I am sure I am not alone in having my fingers and toes crossed for a follow-up.

The Rift is a Young Adult fan This review was originally posted on my blog On A Crafty Adventure

After following Rachael on social media I became curious about her newest novel - The Rift. It seemed totally different to her previous offerings and I was intrigued. I have just finished the novel and I must say that I am sad to say goodbye to these characters, they are very well written and have found a place in my heart. I am sure I am not alone in having my fingers and toes crossed for a follow-up.

The Rift is a Young Adult fantasy novel set on Black Water Island. The island is laced with magical ley lines and is home to the Old Herd, deer who's horns have amazing healing powers and can communicate to the Rangers who protect them through telepathy. These Rangers live on the island and ensure that none of the ancient Old Herd are hurt by Rift Hounds, other-worldly demon dogs who can only be seen by those who have Rift Sight. These hounds appear when the moon is full and the Rift on the island opens.

Cal is an apprentice Ranger who has an unusual set of powers that came about from a Hound bite when he was young. Meg was injured at the same time as Cal but has lived on the Mainland until recently. As Meg returns, tensions arise from the Head Ranger's dealings with Nutris - a pharmaceutical company trying to capitalize on the powerful deer horn.
Meg has always wanted to be a Ranger but has no training, Cal is being pushed into something he doesn't want, and Meg and Cal have a connection that is more than electric. They must work through physical and psychological wounds to save the Head Ranger and the Old Herd as the Rift opens for its most dangerous time yet.

This novel dives straight into the intricacies of Black Water Island and the first third of the book feels like you are running to catch up with the story. The world is well constructed and conjures beautiful imagery of New Zealand-esque scenery - with thermal pools and a rugged, harsh landscape. The fantasy-side of the story takes a little to get your head around, but it doesn't make it any less mind-blowing. As I read the book, I was transported to the island and I could clearly see everything in my mind. It takes a great wordsmith to bring a world to life, and Rachael does this so well.

I loved the characters of Meg and Cal. They are both so intense and physically and mentally scarred which creates a broody mood that is eased by Meg's humor and quick wit. Meg is a great female lead who isn't afraid to get dirty and shows plenty of courage. There is a bit of PG romance that compliments the intense action plot well. The novel really ramps up on the tension-scale and has some great twists that surprised me. I did feel that one of the major plot lines was left unresolved, hence the request for a sequel.

I could go on and on but I won't. You will just have to find out yourself. The Rift gets a huge go-and-read-this-now tick from me!
...more

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Apr 17, 2019 Aimee rated it it was amazing

This review and others bookish fun can be found on my website: www.readingsumpton.com

I need more! This book was incredible and I need more!

I honestly wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did! I don't really know what I was excepting, but this book took me back to the feeling of reading The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater for the first time and it was amazing! I knew it was going to be one of my new favourite books when I got about 3/4 of the way through and was frantically googling if the This review and others bookish fun can be found on my website: www.readingsumpton.com

I need more! This book was incredible and I need more!

I honestly wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did! I don't really know what I was excepting, but this book took me back to the feeling of reading The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater for the first time and it was amazing! I knew it was going to be one of my new favourite books when I got about 3/4 of the way through and was frantically googling if there was a sequel in the works! Please, please, please let there be a sequel in the works!

The Rift by Rachael Craw is told from two different points of view. That of Cal West, an apprentice Ranger with rare abilities living on Blackwater Island and responsible for the safety of an ancient herd of deer, coveted for their antlers magical healing properties. And Meg Archer, the daughter of the Master Ranger swept away to the mainland by her mother to live a "normal life" after a terrible childhood accident. Upon Megs return to the island the pair must navigate their way through their growing attraction for one another all while facing their greatest fears to save the island and the Old Herd from disaster.

This book took the term "magical realism" and ran like hell with it! It felt incredibly magical and rich. The world building was so atmospheric and engaging, I could have looked up from my book and been on Black Water Island, surrounded by thrumming lay lines, hell hounds and ancient mythical deer, and I wouldn't have been surprised. The pacing of the plot was brilliant, I was never once bored with the story and ended up burning through this book in a matter of hours.

The characters were really likeable and despite possessing rare, magical abilities, they still felt completely authentic and real. The slow burn romance was perfection and the interactions between Cal, Meg and other minor characters was really fun and enjoyable.

Overall, The Rift was incredibly whimsical and original. It felt a little murky and confusing to start with, but the more I read, the more clear everything became, and I was able to understand the dynamics of the world and how the characters fit into it. Despite this, I couldn't bring myself to deduct any stars from this review. I really, truly, LOVED this book and I will definitely be reading any future sequels. Now, excuse me while I go to the store and purchase every other book Rachael Craw has ever written. ...more

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Aug 24, 2019 Liz rated it it was amazing

Childhood trauma, family secrets, the chill of death, zombie deer, and the occasional nod to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It must be another Rachel Craw book! Inspired by Greek mythology, The Rift takes place on Black Water Island, where generations of Rangers have guarded the Old Herd against what lies beyond the Rift. Cal West, an apprentice Ranger, struggles with finding his place amongst the rangers. Meg Archer, daughter of the Head Ranger, returns to Black Water Island with her mother, Cora, a Childhood trauma, family secrets, the chill of death, zombie deer, and the occasional nod to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It must be another Rachel Craw book! Inspired by Greek mythology, The Rift takes place on Black Water Island, where generations of Rangers have guarded the Old Herd against what lies beyond the Rift. Cal West, an apprentice Ranger, struggles with finding his place amongst the rangers. Meg Archer, daughter of the Head Ranger, returns to Black Water Island with her mother, Cora, after living on the mainland for nine years. Having a shared traumatic childhood experience that left them both emotionally and physically scarred, Cal and Meg are both drawn together and kept apart. But any chance of reconciling their shared past is put on hold, as a new threat emerges.

The Rift is a third person present tense narrative shared by Cal and Meg. Splitting the narration between the two protagonists amps up the tension, as the reader becomes privy to the inner thoughts of Cal and Meg, who spend much of the story dancing around each other as they try to reconcile their past while navigating an other-worldly pull they both feel towards one another. Both characters are trying grapple with their own sense of identity and purpose, as Cal has spent the past nine years under the scrutiny of Megs’ father, Sargent, while Meg feels like an outlier in her own home.

As with the Spark series, Rachael Craw has created an intense connection between her two protagonists (warning: high levels of swoon!), the intensity of which is tempered by ensemble of supporting characters. Rilke is a stand-out character, the daughter of a Ranger, and a fellow apprentice along with her brother, Rilke can more than hold her own amongst her male counterparts, and is quick to call out her fellow rangers on their BS. Reeva, a crow and Cal’s familiar, dishes out all kinds of sass to Cal while also being his fiercest protector.

The Rift covers heavy-hitting issues of childhood trauma, family conflict and grief, while also infusing hope and humour throughout. ...more

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Oct 25, 2018 Mistress Bast rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

4 1/2 stars.

Rachael Craw, wonderfully, doesn't tell the reader what is going on. Nor does she explain the mechanics of the magic/science of the world at the beginning of the story. Instead she invites the reader into a comfortable confusion and a path of discovery.

There is an island that has a rift in reality which causes electromagnetic interference that makes the deer herd that lives there... different. There is a pharmaceutical company that has discovered how to make powerful medicines from ...more

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About Rachael Craw

Rachael Craw

422 followers

Rachael is a reader, dreamer, joker, singer, believer, writer and lover of words.

Author of award winning #Spark, #Stray & #Shield available in AU & NZ, published by Walker Books Australia. #TheRift is out now AU/NZ with WBA and set for release in USA/Canada October 2019 with Candlewick Press.

She lives in NZ and teaches part time while writing her next novel.

#Griffindor
#Buffy
#Supernatural
#Speculati ...more