Title: The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire # 2)
Author: Clay & Susan Griffith
Publisher: Pyr
Publication Date: September 2011
Pages: 399
Format: Paperback
Genre: Steampunk / Paranormal
Source: Xmas Gift
Princess Adele struggles with a life of marriage and obligation as her Equatorian Empire and their American Republic allies stand on the brink of war against the vampire clans of the north. However, the alliance's horrific strategy for total victory drives Adele to abandon her duty and embark on a desperate quest to keep her nation from staining its hands with genocide. Reunited with her great love, the mysterious adventurer known to the world as the Greyfriar, Adele is pursued by her own people as well as her vengeful husband, senator Clark. With the human alliance in disarrray, Prince Cesare, lord of the British vampire clan, seizes the initiative and strikes at the very heart of Equatoria.
As Adele labors to bring order to her world, she learns more about the strange powers she exhibited in the north. Her teacher, Mamoru, leads a secret cabal of geomancers who believe Adele is the one who can touch the vast power of the Earth that surges through ley lines and wells up at the rifts where the lines meet. These energies are the key to defeating the enemy of mankind, and if Princess Adele could ever bring this power under her command, she could be death to vampires. But such a victory will also cost the life of Adele's beloved Greyfriar. (Goodreads Synopsis)
Having recently read and loved Greyfriar, I was keen to move on to Rift Walker. There is always some concern starting a second book in a series that it won't live up to its predecessor. Luckily with this book that was not an issue at all.
Rift Walker starts a little slower than Greyfriar, but the action quickly picks up again and the pace increases. Adele and Greyfriar remain strong characters and their relationship continues to develop in this second book. I also enjoyed the way many secondary characters are expanded and brought to the fore this time as it really fleshes out the story as a whole.
We are starting to get an even deeper understanding of both the characters and the world they live in and I think that has set things up beautifully for the final part in the trilogy. I for one will be eagerly awaiting its release later in 2012.
Yes, I confess, I am now madly in love with Greyfriar and he can whisk me away any day - just don't tell my husband!
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