Review: Rift Healer

TITLE:  Rift Healer    

AUTHOR:  Diane M Haynes

PUBLISHER:  Crescent Moon Press

GENRE:  YA Fantasy Romance

HEAT LEVEL:  Sweet

LENGTH:  306 Pages

REVIEWER:  Buffy

REVIEW RATING: 4 LIGHTNING BOLTS


Blurb:After a minor earthquake, the enchanted forest in Bidwell, MA, is infested with monster-spewing rifts. Gisele's great nephew, the gifted Micah, and his distant cousin, Selena, arrive to assist. Together with Gisele's summer students, twins Haley and Lacey, they will try to help the magical forest. Much to the consternation of the beautiful Selena, Micah identifies Haley as The One whom he'll share his future. But after witnessing a terrifying display of Micah's Gift, Haley cools to his advances and unexpectedly discovers her own Gift-- she can heal the earth. Monsters, mayhem, and teenage angst follow the small group as they confront evil in the forest and a dangerous prediction that 'one will fall'. Will they heal the rifts in time? Can they save the unicorns? And is Haley really destined to be with Micah?

Review:
This was a pretty fun read.  It’s a fantasy story with a lot of adventure and an interesting variety of magical creatures and more.  The characters felt well developed and I really appreciated that the kids could still be heroic and all with adult guidance present.  So many stories now days make it seem like you have to be independent to be strong, when you can still be strong with help from others – even adults.
I will say that it’s definitely a teenage book.  There’s a big romance element to this story which is bittersweet in regards to the story and the age of its characters.  I met my husband at the age of 15, so I don’t believe that you can’t establish a real and lasting relationship young, but this feels borderline unrealistic.  I think for most it’ll be one of those love or hate things.
The writing could’ve been smoother with some more editing and refining, and a better balance between the romance the adventure, but overall it was pretty good.  It took a bit to get used to and jump into, but once I did, it was a fun read with no cliffhanger ending which I greatly appreciated.
While there are some good and bad with this read, there’s a great plot in a vivid fantasy world.  The ending is complete, but still leaves room for a sequel which is cool and I will be checking that out!


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