Review: The Rift Walker

Blurb: 

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.
The Rift Walkeris the second book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternative history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, the Vampire Empire series brings epic politcal themes to life within a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.

Book Details: 

• Paperback: 399 pages
• Publisher: Pyr (September 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616145234

My Review: 
I loved the first book in this series, The Greyfriar, it was vastly different than any vampire book I had read recently. I fell in love with the story so hard. Princess Adele and Prince Gareth are amazingly well crafted characters, it's so easy to like them! Each have a complexity about them, and each chapter gives you one more layer. All of the characters are sharp and intricately created, even King Dmitri, who spends most of his time in a stupor! I think that's a testament to this book and how great the writing is.

My only teeny tiny complaint is Clark. He's the only one I couldn't really "get." I understand he's pompous and full of himself, but I kind of would want to see the human side of him a little more. I'm not saying he's not a great bad guy, but I kind of want to know why he is a bad guy. Is he just selfish and ambitious? Does he have any feelings? Even with that complaint I still like to hate him.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series! I seriously am frothing at the mouth to see what happens next!

this is seriously how i will be if i have to wait too long for the next book!