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Rifter #1-3
The Rifter Book One: The Shattered Gates
From the author of Wicked Gentlemen and The Cadeleonian Series comes a new, three-volume novel.
When John opens a letter addressed to his missing roommate, Kyle, he expects to find a house key, but instead he is swept into a strange realm of magic, mysticism, revolutionaries and assassins. Though he struggles to escape, John is drawn steadily closer to the fate he shares with Kyle-to awaken the destroyer god, the Rifter, and shatter a world.
Contains parts 1 to 3 of The Rifter series:
1. The Shattered Gates
2. Servants of the Crossed Gates
3. Black Blades
When John opens a letter addressed to his missing roommate, Kyle, he expects to find a house key, but instead he is swept into a strange realm of magic, mysticism, revolutionaries and assassins. Though he struggles to escape, John is drawn steadily closer to the fate he shares with Kyle-to awaken the destroyer god, the Rifter, and shatter a world.
Contains parts 1 to 3 of The Rifter series:
1. The Shattered Gates
2. Servants of the Crossed Gates
3. Black Blades
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 27, 2012
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349 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 5, 2013
This is a reread for me. Originally, I read The Rifter as 10 different installations. It was more than a roller coaster of emotions for me - it was more like being chained to a wooden rack that gets picked up and ravaged by a tornado. That first time, I flew by each of the ten novellas without paying much attention to detail. So it has been a pleasure to revisit this series, but being able to look at everything with a clinical eye instead of being driven by my emotions and the need to know what happens next.
This book compilation contains the first three volumes of the series. It is probably the least exciting as well, because readers are introduced to the world of Basawar - an alternative to our own earth, which is named Nayeshi. Except instead of the modern day earth we all know and love, Basawar is a violent and destructive world filled with religious persecution, witchcraft, and political strife.
When John, Laurie and Bill are sent to Basawar, they endure repression, illness and isolation. We see how these group of friends are forced to change under the circumstances of this new world. Meanwhile, Kyle's own adventure back to Basawar in order to find John and company leads to its own little twist of events.
I'll admit: I was confused during my first read. I felt like I was missing something when the POV switched from John to Kyle. The language of Basawar kind of got muddled along the way (despite the dictionary at the end of the book). My advice? Read the story carefully. This isn't one of those series where you read the first installment, take a break, then come back to read the second installment several weeks (and books) later. I mean, you can (no one is stopping you!), but it's easy to get derailed; especially if the POV changes with the new installment. With the language, don't freak out over it! When John first learns Basawar, just know that anything important for readers to know will be mentioned in English as well (because John will still "think" in English over the important dialogue). Later, if you get confused with a word here or there, then simply look it up. It certainly isn't something to freak out over.
And if you ARE confused with the plot at first, just know that is perfectly normal. Most people don't really get what's going on completely until halfway into the series (I am basing this on my own experience and through feedback from my GR friends). You know enough to not be frustratingly left in the dark, but the complete picture will reveal itself when all the subtitle puzzle pieces are assembled (you got to love that AHA moment!).
So as usual, Ginn Hale is a masterful creator of worlds. I still remember Basawar vividly months after my initial read. And even though I absolutely hate Basawar due to all the bad shit that happens in the book, it felt very familiar upon reread. I've got to applaud Ginn Hale here - if I ever see her in public, I will hug/tackle her and demand an autograph which will be enshrined at my apartment next to my Buddha.
Characterization also gets an A+. John and Kyle will always have a special place in my heart. And the best part? We are dealing with mature characters! John and Kyle aren't whiny, petty, or impulsively stupid. These are men who have lived through hell and continue to do so in order to survive. John is an ecology major and spent much of his time outdoors back in Nayeshi. I think his time spent in nature gave him a very grounding personality - one that allows him to think before he acts. Kyle is a person who seems to struggle to discover his true personality - an opportunity he didn't have the leisure to explore when he dedicated his live to become Khalil.
While I would classify this series as a romance, just note that there is no explicit sexual encounters between the two. This first compilation has one kiss scene and later installments have off-page or vaguely described sex. So don't read this if you're looking for something to make you feel hot and want to get nekkid (though there's nothing wrong if you do!). :D
What you get when picking up this series is a dark fantasy tale. There is violence of many kinds (burning people alive, war, torture/skinning, massacres, etc.). There is witchcraft and sorcery. There is much regret and guilt. There are just as many confusions as there are revelations. And then there's the beginnings of love. Love that overcomes the boundaries of two worlds, of different timelines and of fate.
Because when the dust is settled and the wash of blood has seeped into the cracks of dirt, there's still something fleetingly beautiful peaking through the gore.
And man, the journey was sure worth it.
This book compilation contains the first three volumes of the series. It is probably the least exciting as well, because readers are introduced to the world of Basawar - an alternative to our own earth, which is named Nayeshi. Except instead of the modern day earth we all know and love, Basawar is a violent and destructive world filled with religious persecution, witchcraft, and political strife.
When John, Laurie and Bill are sent to Basawar, they endure repression, illness and isolation. We see how these group of friends are forced to change under the circumstances of this new world. Meanwhile, Kyle's own adventure back to Basawar in order to find John and company leads to its own little twist of events.
I'll admit: I was confused during my first read. I felt like I was missing something when the POV switched from John to Kyle. The language of Basawar kind of got muddled along the way (despite the dictionary at the end of the book). My advice? Read the story carefully. This isn't one of those series where you read the first installment, take a break, then come back to read the second installment several weeks (and books) later. I mean, you can (no one is stopping you!), but it's easy to get derailed; especially if the POV changes with the new installment. With the language, don't freak out over it! When John first learns Basawar, just know that anything important for readers to know will be mentioned in English as well (because John will still "think" in English over the important dialogue). Later, if you get confused with a word here or there, then simply look it up. It certainly isn't something to freak out over.
And if you ARE confused with the plot at first, just know that is perfectly normal. Most people don't really get what's going on completely until halfway into the series (I am basing this on my own experience and through feedback from my GR friends). You know enough to not be frustratingly left in the dark, but the complete picture will reveal itself when all the subtitle puzzle pieces are assembled (you got to love that AHA moment!).
So as usual, Ginn Hale is a masterful creator of worlds. I still remember Basawar vividly months after my initial read. And even though I absolutely hate Basawar due to all the bad shit that happens in the book, it felt very familiar upon reread. I've got to applaud Ginn Hale here - if I ever see her in public, I will hug/tackle her and demand an autograph which will be enshrined at my apartment next to my Buddha.
Characterization also gets an A+. John and Kyle will always have a special place in my heart. And the best part? We are dealing with mature characters! John and Kyle aren't whiny, petty, or impulsively stupid. These are men who have lived through hell and continue to do so in order to survive. John is an ecology major and spent much of his time outdoors back in Nayeshi. I think his time spent in nature gave him a very grounding personality - one that allows him to think before he acts. Kyle is a person who seems to struggle to discover his true personality - an opportunity he didn't have the leisure to explore when he dedicated his live to become Khalil.
While I would classify this series as a romance, just note that there is no explicit sexual encounters between the two. This first compilation has one kiss scene and later installments have off-page or vaguely described sex. So don't read this if you're looking for something to make you feel hot and want to get nekkid (though there's nothing wrong if you do!). :D
What you get when picking up this series is a dark fantasy tale. There is violence of many kinds (burning people alive, war, torture/skinning, massacres, etc.). There is witchcraft and sorcery. There is much regret and guilt. There are just as many confusions as there are revelations. And then there's the beginnings of love. Love that overcomes the boundaries of two worlds, of different timelines and of fate.
Because when the dust is settled and the wash of blood has seeped into the cracks of dirt, there's still something fleetingly beautiful peaking through the gore.
And man, the journey was sure worth it.
April 15, 2023
The fate of an entire world rests in the hands of an ecology grad student as the Payshmura church searches for the god incarnate, known as the Rifter, in order to destroy those who would oppose them. The Rifter series is a portal fantasy with a complex nonlinear timeline and plot including a corrupt church, revolutionaries, warrior priests, witches, assassins, oracles, mystics, blood and bone magic, supernatural gifts, and queer love.
This was a reread of an old favorite with superb world-building and characters you can’t help but love and root for from the beginning. (Paperback = 3 book/eBook = 10 novellas)
I must have reviewed the eBook version, but this time I grabbed the paperback off my shelf. I wish it was made more clear where the original novellas begin and end. Not that it really matters. I’m really glad I got this series in print before all the copies were sold.
It’s a long slow start, which I’d sorta forgotten. It’s also hard to read because I know the secrets John doesn’t know, and presumably the new reader too. But it’s still really good. It’s been too long since my last reread. I wanted to save it for a proper vacation where I could do nothing but live and breathe this series for a week, but I needed a good comfort read and so I’ve been reading this first book in dribs and drabs on my commute and in between the other books I’m reading and it’s been good like that too. Now I’m looking forward to the next book.
I remember now from my first read, how annoying it is (in the best way) to have to swap such large portions of story from John’s POV to Kyle’s POV. You get sucked into the story, then comes a major plot point, and then we switch to the other timeline. Rinse and repeat. 😂
I’m really just rambling here. Apologies. I do absolutely love this series. Whenever I get asked “what books would you take to a deserted island?� This series is top of my list.
I find myself pouring over the dictionary on the back of Basawar words just for fun and to understand them better, even though I don’t have to. I wish the dictionary was more extensive and that there was more text about the language. Even though I'm bad at learning new languages, I want to know more about this one! The world building is phenomenal. I’ll say it again. And the characters, even the side characters, are rich and nuanced. ♥️ and the best parts are yet to come�
This was a reread of an old favorite with superb world-building and characters you can’t help but love and root for from the beginning. (Paperback = 3 book/eBook = 10 novellas)
I must have reviewed the eBook version, but this time I grabbed the paperback off my shelf. I wish it was made more clear where the original novellas begin and end. Not that it really matters. I’m really glad I got this series in print before all the copies were sold.
It’s a long slow start, which I’d sorta forgotten. It’s also hard to read because I know the secrets John doesn’t know, and presumably the new reader too. But it’s still really good. It’s been too long since my last reread. I wanted to save it for a proper vacation where I could do nothing but live and breathe this series for a week, but I needed a good comfort read and so I’ve been reading this first book in dribs and drabs on my commute and in between the other books I’m reading and it’s been good like that too. Now I’m looking forward to the next book.
I remember now from my first read, how annoying it is (in the best way) to have to swap such large portions of story from John’s POV to Kyle’s POV. You get sucked into the story, then comes a major plot point, and then we switch to the other timeline. Rinse and repeat. 😂
I’m really just rambling here. Apologies. I do absolutely love this series. Whenever I get asked “what books would you take to a deserted island?� This series is top of my list.
I find myself pouring over the dictionary on the back of Basawar words just for fun and to understand them better, even though I don’t have to. I wish the dictionary was more extensive and that there was more text about the language. Even though I'm bad at learning new languages, I want to know more about this one! The world building is phenomenal. I’ll say it again. And the characters, even the side characters, are rich and nuanced. ♥️ and the best parts are yet to come�
July 14, 2014
John's new roommate is a little strange. He has eyelid tattoos. He carries a sword. He claims he's a milkman.
Wow, that was confusing. Good, but confusing. So many different times (moving at different speeds?) and places, and different names for the characters in different settings...
This volume is 1-3 of what looks like 10 novella length installments, and it isn't even a cliffhanger really, so little is resolved.
Wow, that was confusing. Good, but confusing. So many different times (moving at different speeds?) and places, and different names for the characters in different settings...
This volume is 1-3 of what looks like 10 novella length installments, and it isn't even a cliffhanger really, so little is resolved.
May 21, 2018
I’ve been burned by the MM fantasy genre before - not just fantasy with LGBT themes, the actual label of MM fantasy. The genre seems to be broadly pretty rubbish, often so fetishising of gay men it forgets about plot and worldbuilding entirely and often we're just left with reading about a pretty miserable, unhealthy relationship because the author is too focused on getting their rocks off. Which is why I put off reading this for ages. Which I now really regret. This was IMPRESSIVE. This has substance, character, uniqueness and some real thought and effort put into the entire package - so much so that it really stands up by itself as a fantasy novel.
There’s play with timelines in the plot AND the romance, and it’s intriguing and compelling as all hell. It constantly keeps me guessing and engaged in the plot and characters, without making me feel lost and confused. Very different. I also think it’s better to take it in the omnibus rather than each of the 120~ page novellas. (also reviewing this as the omnibus because I pretty much read the first four books in one sitting lol)
I really like John, even though he’s more on the good ol� boy fantasy hero scale of protagonists. I like that his homosexuality is treated casually in the story, even though he’s been transported to a world where it’s ~forbidden. I love his friendships with Laurie and Bill, I love those two and what a balancing, grounding influence they bring in the story. And his relationship with Ravishan is really� interesting, I’m not sure where it’s going (since I assume Kahlil is his love interest in the end) but Ravishan is adorable � I love young, tenacious, talented heroes like him. The romance between John and Ravishan itself has been a really interesting slowburn, too, so I'm really pleased about that and keen to see where this will go!!
and I love that this novel has FEMALE CHARACTERS (unlike SO MUCH M/M FANTASY) � still majority a sausage fest BUT. Kahlil may be my favourite, though, it took me a while to warm to his POV but it’s by FAR the MOST INTERESTING.
The writing is great, Hale's prose does a lot of what I like to read in spec-fic. It’s very evocative of the sights, smells, the feeling of being in an entirely new world � she captures the shifting of the seasons, the weather, the bustle of town life, or out in the wilderness. It was really evocative of places I’ve visited and seen, and that’s pretty powerful writing if I’m able to exactly picture these places (I pictured the temple as monasteries in Georgia and Armenia, and Nurjima as Lisbon since I was flying back while reading and remember the trams vividly LOL) I wish she had spent more time developing John’s life on earth but I enjoy the story so much I don’t mind that she got stuck into it so early.
The major weakness to me, which is very much to me bc I’m picky, is the fantasy names. On the fantasy name scale of ‘taking names right from other cultures on earth� to ‘long-winded exotic sounding nonsense� it’s on the latter side. Vaguely Arabic-sounding with lots of random Hs, lots of Dune-esque apostrophes which I guess are glottal stops?? (JA’AM) The fact that Hale deadset made up her own language and took into consideration conjugations etc is PRETTY AWESOME but the language itself is generic. BUT AGAIN I’m just picky about fantasy language and linguistics LOL. But I think it is what’s stopped me from putting it up there with stuff like Nightrunner or Kushiel’s Legacy. So far.
There’s play with timelines in the plot AND the romance, and it’s intriguing and compelling as all hell. It constantly keeps me guessing and engaged in the plot and characters, without making me feel lost and confused. Very different. I also think it’s better to take it in the omnibus rather than each of the 120~ page novellas. (also reviewing this as the omnibus because I pretty much read the first four books in one sitting lol)
I really like John, even though he’s more on the good ol� boy fantasy hero scale of protagonists. I like that his homosexuality is treated casually in the story, even though he’s been transported to a world where it’s ~forbidden. I love his friendships with Laurie and Bill, I love those two and what a balancing, grounding influence they bring in the story. And his relationship with Ravishan is really� interesting, I’m not sure where it’s going (since I assume Kahlil is his love interest in the end) but Ravishan is adorable � I love young, tenacious, talented heroes like him. The romance between John and Ravishan itself has been a really interesting slowburn, too, so I'm really pleased about that and keen to see where this will go!!
and I love that this novel has FEMALE CHARACTERS (unlike SO MUCH M/M FANTASY) � still majority a sausage fest BUT. Kahlil may be my favourite, though, it took me a while to warm to his POV but it’s by FAR the MOST INTERESTING.
The writing is great, Hale's prose does a lot of what I like to read in spec-fic. It’s very evocative of the sights, smells, the feeling of being in an entirely new world � she captures the shifting of the seasons, the weather, the bustle of town life, or out in the wilderness. It was really evocative of places I’ve visited and seen, and that’s pretty powerful writing if I’m able to exactly picture these places (I pictured the temple as monasteries in Georgia and Armenia, and Nurjima as Lisbon since I was flying back while reading and remember the trams vividly LOL) I wish she had spent more time developing John’s life on earth but I enjoy the story so much I don’t mind that she got stuck into it so early.
The major weakness to me, which is very much to me bc I’m picky, is the fantasy names. On the fantasy name scale of ‘taking names right from other cultures on earth� to ‘long-winded exotic sounding nonsense� it’s on the latter side. Vaguely Arabic-sounding with lots of random Hs, lots of Dune-esque apostrophes which I guess are glottal stops?? (JA’AM) The fact that Hale deadset made up her own language and took into consideration conjugations etc is PRETTY AWESOME but the language itself is generic. BUT AGAIN I’m just picky about fantasy language and linguistics LOL. But I think it is what’s stopped me from putting it up there with stuff like Nightrunner or Kushiel’s Legacy. So far.
June 17, 2023
Che capolavoro ❤️
June 2, 2019
�You can't just stick a key in and then not turn it.�
� Menomale che ho già tutti i dieci libri della serie e che non lo sto leggendo in contemporanea alla pubblicazione perché non ce l'avrei fatta. Non sono mai stata una fan dei cliffhanger perché mi sono sempre sembrati delle enormi paraculate ma qui i esagera. E non sono nemmeno veri e propri cliffhanger, almeno quelli del secondo e terzo libro non lo sono, sono più situazioni tranquille che però ti fanno dire no, ma ti interrompi così? John comunque vive la vita con la stessa ignoranza con cui io vivo la mia. Ravishan gli da un appuntamento dopo che ha cercato, palesemente di flirtare con lui in ogni modo possibili ed immaginabili e lui è ancora completamente all'oscuro. Zero. Nemmeno quando arriva al Viale delle candele, che non per dire ma è palesemente un quartiere a luci rosse sospetta qualcosa.
� Comunque, capisco perché la Hale ha avuto bisogno di 10 libri, questi tre sono pieni di cose confusionarie, personaggi con nomi troppo simili che spesso non riconosci o distingui, idem per i luoghi e l'unica cosa che sono abbastanza sicura di aver capito è il fatto che John e Kyle non sono nella stessa linea temporale. Credo. Nel senso, uno è nel futuro o uno è nel passato, resta da capire quale dei due è nel presente.
� Non voglio e non posso dire troppo su questi primi tre libri visto che nonostante tutto quello che succede non siamo nemmeno a metà serie e che la storia è appena agli inizi. Dico solo che per ora è una serie molto interessante, mantiene viva la curiosità ed i personaggi sembrano tutti ben sfaccettati, spero solo che resti così fino alla fine.
Infine dico solo che John apre i libri scritti in basawar con la stessa finta nonchalance con cui io apro il dizionario di giapponese.
� Menomale che ho già tutti i dieci libri della serie e che non lo sto leggendo in contemporanea alla pubblicazione perché non ce l'avrei fatta. Non sono mai stata una fan dei cliffhanger perché mi sono sempre sembrati delle enormi paraculate ma qui i esagera. E non sono nemmeno veri e propri cliffhanger, almeno quelli del secondo e terzo libro non lo sono, sono più situazioni tranquille che però ti fanno dire no, ma ti interrompi così? John comunque vive la vita con la stessa ignoranza con cui io vivo la mia. Ravishan gli da un appuntamento dopo che ha cercato, palesemente di flirtare con lui in ogni modo possibili ed immaginabili e lui è ancora completamente all'oscuro. Zero. Nemmeno quando arriva al Viale delle candele, che non per dire ma è palesemente un quartiere a luci rosse sospetta qualcosa.
� Comunque, capisco perché la Hale ha avuto bisogno di 10 libri, questi tre sono pieni di cose confusionarie, personaggi con nomi troppo simili che spesso non riconosci o distingui, idem per i luoghi e l'unica cosa che sono abbastanza sicura di aver capito è il fatto che John e Kyle non sono nella stessa linea temporale. Credo. Nel senso, uno è nel futuro o uno è nel passato, resta da capire quale dei due è nel presente.
� Non voglio e non posso dire troppo su questi primi tre libri visto che nonostante tutto quello che succede non siamo nemmeno a metà serie e che la storia è appena agli inizi. Dico solo che per ora è una serie molto interessante, mantiene viva la curiosità ed i personaggi sembrano tutti ben sfaccettati, spero solo che resti così fino alla fine.
Infine dico solo che John apre i libri scritti in basawar con la stessa finta nonchalance con cui io apro il dizionario di giapponese.
July 23, 2015
the Rifter series is confusing and a roller coaster of emotions but I am in awe of this series and Ginn Hale's writing. John or Jahn is in the past trying to keep himself and his two best friends Laurie and Bill alive in this strange world they have found themselves in, and Kyle who has a strong golden bond with John is thrown confused and alone into the future where the world he knew has completely changed. This book shows the audience the beginning and I guess a few years at the end of the novel and the reader finds clues along the way to puzzle together the middle it sounds confusing which it is but also mesmerising and incredible. I have fallen in love with John and Kahil and desperately want them to find one another again. However I'm still not 100% sure what is going on.
I have always loved Hale's work and therefore knew that although this series was long I would enjoy it. this book took me a while to get into as it wasn't an easy read as I had to keep referring to the front and back of the book to understand what was happening and so it takes concentration however the plot and the world that Hale has created is phenomenal. therse characters have my heart and I need to know what is going to happen to them.
I have always loved Hale's work and therefore knew that although this series was long I would enjoy it. this book took me a while to get into as it wasn't an easy read as I had to keep referring to the front and back of the book to understand what was happening and so it takes concentration however the plot and the world that Hale has created is phenomenal. therse characters have my heart and I need to know what is going to happen to them.
November 19, 2013
The strangest thing in John's life is his tattoo'd, knife-bearing roommate--until he opens his roommate's mail to find a key that unlocks a strange, magical, dangerous world. The world of The Rifter is crafted with love: it's complex, robust, and unromanticized, and while I fail to find it particularly compelling it's undeniably real. But more worldbuilding that plot happens in The Shattered Gates, and though the book never drags the series promises to run a little too long. It's the dual narratives that make it worth reading: the protagonists have distinct characters, the alternating timelines give a broad view of the setting, and there's constant mystery and revelation as the two narratives begin to overlap. The Shattered Gates feels self-published--there's typos, stiff phrasing, and it could stand to lose a few hundred pages--but it's engaging and calling it "finely crafted" is something of an understatement. Whether I recommend it hinges on the rest of the series, but I'm enjoying it so far.
February 11, 2025
Okay here's a note for future me because the order of these books is confusing:
You read the paperback version of The Shattered Gates. This version combines books 1-3 of the series, but gives no indication that it does so. So when you're looking for the next book you'll find some places saying it's The Holy Road and some places saying it's Servants of the Crossed Arrows.
Here's how the order goes:
For eBooks:
1. The Shattered Gates (107 pages)
2. Servants of the Crossed Arrows (142 pages)
3. Black Blades (137 pages)
4. Witches' Blood (143 pages)
5. The Holy Road (135 pages)
6. Broken Fortress (165 pages)
7. Enemies and Shadows (127 pages)
8. The Silent City (144 pages)
9. The Iron Temple (134 pages)
10. His Holy Bones (145 pages)
For paperback:
1. The Shattered Gates: Book One of The Rifter (ebooks 1-3)
2. The Holy Road: Book Two of The Rifter (ebooks 4-7)
3. His Sacred Bones: Book Three of The Rifter (ebooks 8-10)
So, since you started with the paperback version of The Shattered Gates, your next read is either the paperback The Holy Road or the eBook Witches' Blood. Good grief!
The book itself is a lot more enjoyable than figuring out how to read it. Graceful worldbuilding, characters you're ready to care about pretty much immediately. The plot is very interesting too. I had no idea what was going on for a while, but I had guesses - the ideal experience. Not too predictable, not too out-of-left-field.
Weirdly, this book is strongest in the middle where most books lag. I wanted a bit more at the end - like, that was a weird place to end it? There seemed to be a much better end point a little sooner. Unless of course that ending event () is going to end up being QUITE significant in fact (one of my pet theories from the first time we met Can't wait!)
Also, as events unfold, I wished we had gotten a bit more of John and Kyle at the beginning to establish their relationship a little more - since obviously it's going to be important down the road. As it is, we have one breakfast at a diner, an exchanged glance at a bath house, and that one night the power went out. The rest has been summarized as them spending a lot of time not paying any attention to each other so it feels like there's not much there to build on what I expect is going to be an awful lot of tension going forward. But we'll see! I am absolutely willing to gloss over that though. They have chemistry.
Anyway, on to the next. Future me, you have ILL'd the paperback Holy Road at the library and requested the ebook Witches' Blood on Libby. We'll see which comes in first.
You read the paperback version of The Shattered Gates. This version combines books 1-3 of the series, but gives no indication that it does so. So when you're looking for the next book you'll find some places saying it's The Holy Road and some places saying it's Servants of the Crossed Arrows.
Here's how the order goes:
For eBooks:
1. The Shattered Gates (107 pages)
2. Servants of the Crossed Arrows (142 pages)
3. Black Blades (137 pages)
4. Witches' Blood (143 pages)
5. The Holy Road (135 pages)
6. Broken Fortress (165 pages)
7. Enemies and Shadows (127 pages)
8. The Silent City (144 pages)
9. The Iron Temple (134 pages)
10. His Holy Bones (145 pages)
For paperback:
1. The Shattered Gates: Book One of The Rifter (ebooks 1-3)
2. The Holy Road: Book Two of The Rifter (ebooks 4-7)
3. His Sacred Bones: Book Three of The Rifter (ebooks 8-10)
So, since you started with the paperback version of The Shattered Gates, your next read is either the paperback The Holy Road or the eBook Witches' Blood. Good grief!
The book itself is a lot more enjoyable than figuring out how to read it. Graceful worldbuilding, characters you're ready to care about pretty much immediately. The plot is very interesting too. I had no idea what was going on for a while, but I had guesses - the ideal experience. Not too predictable, not too out-of-left-field.
Weirdly, this book is strongest in the middle where most books lag. I wanted a bit more at the end - like, that was a weird place to end it? There seemed to be a much better end point a little sooner. Unless of course that ending event () is going to end up being QUITE significant in fact (one of my pet theories from the first time we met Can't wait!)
Also, as events unfold, I wished we had gotten a bit more of John and Kyle at the beginning to establish their relationship a little more - since obviously it's going to be important down the road. As it is, we have one breakfast at a diner, an exchanged glance at a bath house, and that one night the power went out. The rest has been summarized as them spending a lot of time not paying any attention to each other so it feels like there's not much there to build on what I expect is going to be an awful lot of tension going forward. But we'll see! I am absolutely willing to gloss over that though. They have chemistry.
Anyway, on to the next. Future me, you have ILL'd the paperback Holy Road at the library and requested the ebook Witches' Blood on Libby. We'll see which comes in first.
July 31, 2017
7.5/10 if I were being really picky (and I am) but definitely one of the better reads of the year so far.
This is a solid start to the series, and I'll be picking up the next because I'm so pleased to find a writer who isn't deliberately rushing relationships in this genre for the sake of fan-service. Instead, we have a solidly founded fantasy world, plenty of depth and well-balanced build on the details so that we don't get swamped.
Ginn is eloquent, as she was in Wicked Gentleman, but this feels less atmospheric, more plot driven, and has a whole different feel to it. I can't decide which I prefer.
On to the things I'm being picky over.
The skipping backward and forward in time felt jarring. Having such huge sections of the story with the two we begin with apart initially caused some impatience. It worked (just) by building a curiosity to know how things changed so drastically, but it takes time to settle into things as a result. The cross from one world to another was also a little testing - the character's reactions to there being huge crazy stones appear from nowhere felt a little unrealistic, but what the hell, it landed them where the story needed to be, and once there, things were much more entertaining.
Good stuff. Read it.
This is a solid start to the series, and I'll be picking up the next because I'm so pleased to find a writer who isn't deliberately rushing relationships in this genre for the sake of fan-service. Instead, we have a solidly founded fantasy world, plenty of depth and well-balanced build on the details so that we don't get swamped.
Ginn is eloquent, as she was in Wicked Gentleman, but this feels less atmospheric, more plot driven, and has a whole different feel to it. I can't decide which I prefer.
On to the things I'm being picky over.
The skipping backward and forward in time felt jarring. Having such huge sections of the story with the two we begin with apart initially caused some impatience. It worked (just) by building a curiosity to know how things changed so drastically, but it takes time to settle into things as a result. The cross from one world to another was also a little testing - the character's reactions to there being huge crazy stones appear from nowhere felt a little unrealistic, but what the hell, it landed them where the story needed to be, and once there, things were much more entertaining.
Good stuff. Read it.
November 13, 2024
Follows two young men, one from our world and one from a fantasy world, whose lives become entangled. This book is very short, only 100 pages, and I didn't feel I spent enough time with either character to become invested in them, or saw enough of the fantasy world for it to intrigue me. Not feeling compelled to continue with the series at present but may come back to it in future.
June 11, 2025
Review for entire series.
Read this series of books back in 2020. I remember it containing everything I want from an epic, high-fantasy: brain bending plot, fleshed out characters, and immersive world building. Highly recommend if fantasy is your cup of tea, and it’s best to go in completely blind like I did.
Read this series of books back in 2020. I remember it containing everything I want from an epic, high-fantasy: brain bending plot, fleshed out characters, and immersive world building. Highly recommend if fantasy is your cup of tea, and it’s best to go in completely blind like I did.
June 28, 2017
The book is nice, but I can't help but feel that something is missing for it to be a really good book to me. I just can't point my finger towards what that something is.
It does remind me that I had the same kind of feeling with the books, if that is any help to get to figure out the 'something'.
It does remind me that I had the same kind of feeling with the books, if that is any help to get to figure out the 'something'.
May 10, 2017
This sucked me right in! If it were not for other commitments I would have finished this quicker. I cannot wait to read the next one!!
July 8, 2019
Ginn Hale wanted to murder me and she did. Full review is in the last book. All you need to know is that this book series killed me and resurrected me by turns and made me love it.
June 17, 2023
This started off VERY slow for me, which is unusual because normally I devour Ginn Hale's books at high speed. But something didn't really click about the earlier parts - I found Bill and Laurie obnoxious for some reason. Once we got to Khalil's later narrative and deeper into the world things really picked up, though, hence the four stars.
November 18, 2014
I ought to write my individual reviews for each book in the series but I figured that it’s more proper for me to consider each book as part of a whole saga (containing seven arcs) encompassing thirty years in the life of John, a human transported into another realm � a world where his housemate Kyle came from.
The epicness of this series is just beyond me! I enjoyed and loved every second of reading this ten-part series. What I appreciate most though is the fact that as much as possible, the author tried solving all the loopholes in it. What totally bugs me is the conclusion which I would be discussing a little later on.
So John along with his friends (a couple named Laurie and Bill) were accidentally transported into Basawar (think of a Narnia-like world minus the talking animals), the place where his odd housemate Kyle “apparently� came from. Kyle is the “Kahlil� who was destined / ordained to kill John who’s the incarnation of their god. He’s the human seen by the oracle who will be destroying all of Basawar.
The plot of the story thickens as John meets the young handsome priest Ravishan who is training to become the next Kahlil. Meeting Ravishan made their tumultuous entrance into Basawar more bearable but their world is about to get more complicated as John and his friends found themselves under the Bousim household where John was forced to accompany Firiki (The son of the lady in Bousim household) into the doors of Rathal’pesha to train as an ushiri (in contention of becoming a Kahlil). There, John meets Ravishan again and has shown potential to become a priest himself. Due to discrimination, he was relegated as some sort of a medic priest. As the story goes by, John was able to piece everything together coming to the conclusion that Ravishan and his housemate were one and the same, although John first meets Kyle as a Kahlil and this kahlil in training � Ravishan is the guy he fell in love with.
At times, the story tends to be a tad bit confusing because of the interchanging timeline in it especially during the second arc but as it went by, it’s just like reading some sort of backstory although at one point � the past and the present (see, Kyle followed the trio into Basawar) meets (ala Lake House meeting of some sort) and their reunion was truly one for the books.
I actually cried a little for John who is now known as J’aitbaya. I cried because he’s been living in Basawar for 30 years and was still nursing his broken heart from his separation from Ravishan. Although one and the same. Kyle still felt different from Ravishan. It’s like he’s simply a replacement of his young self. But all the same, John still love Ravishan and gave the same affection to Kyle.
Now the question bugging me at the end, is Kyle immortal now like John? After he passed on, he was possessed by the holy bones of the young Ravishan. Did he become immortal himself the way the oracles are immortals? I sure hope so because these two more than deserved to be together especially after what they have gone through.
To conclude this, I wished that more people would read this series because of its exceptional story that you’d regret missing. The humanity in it is truly heartfelt and the way John and Kyle have proven their love and devotion for each other was truly an amazing feat. It’s just so beautiful it almost hurts.
‘tis definitely one of my favorite series � another great feat to achieve by one of my new favorite authors � Ginn Hale who brought us the amazing Wicked Gentleman and the stunning Lord Of The White Hell. Indeed, Hail Ginn Hale!
The epicness of this series is just beyond me! I enjoyed and loved every second of reading this ten-part series. What I appreciate most though is the fact that as much as possible, the author tried solving all the loopholes in it. What totally bugs me is the conclusion which I would be discussing a little later on.
So John along with his friends (a couple named Laurie and Bill) were accidentally transported into Basawar (think of a Narnia-like world minus the talking animals), the place where his odd housemate Kyle “apparently� came from. Kyle is the “Kahlil� who was destined / ordained to kill John who’s the incarnation of their god. He’s the human seen by the oracle who will be destroying all of Basawar.
The plot of the story thickens as John meets the young handsome priest Ravishan who is training to become the next Kahlil. Meeting Ravishan made their tumultuous entrance into Basawar more bearable but their world is about to get more complicated as John and his friends found themselves under the Bousim household where John was forced to accompany Firiki (The son of the lady in Bousim household) into the doors of Rathal’pesha to train as an ushiri (in contention of becoming a Kahlil). There, John meets Ravishan again and has shown potential to become a priest himself. Due to discrimination, he was relegated as some sort of a medic priest. As the story goes by, John was able to piece everything together coming to the conclusion that Ravishan and his housemate were one and the same, although John first meets Kyle as a Kahlil and this kahlil in training � Ravishan is the guy he fell in love with.
At times, the story tends to be a tad bit confusing because of the interchanging timeline in it especially during the second arc but as it went by, it’s just like reading some sort of backstory although at one point � the past and the present (see, Kyle followed the trio into Basawar) meets (ala Lake House meeting of some sort) and their reunion was truly one for the books.
I actually cried a little for John who is now known as J’aitbaya. I cried because he’s been living in Basawar for 30 years and was still nursing his broken heart from his separation from Ravishan. Although one and the same. Kyle still felt different from Ravishan. It’s like he’s simply a replacement of his young self. But all the same, John still love Ravishan and gave the same affection to Kyle.
Now the question bugging me at the end, is Kyle immortal now like John? After he passed on, he was possessed by the holy bones of the young Ravishan. Did he become immortal himself the way the oracles are immortals? I sure hope so because these two more than deserved to be together especially after what they have gone through.
To conclude this, I wished that more people would read this series because of its exceptional story that you’d regret missing. The humanity in it is truly heartfelt and the way John and Kyle have proven their love and devotion for each other was truly an amazing feat. It’s just so beautiful it almost hurts.
‘tis definitely one of my favorite series � another great feat to achieve by one of my new favorite authors � Ginn Hale who brought us the amazing Wicked Gentleman and the stunning Lord Of The White Hell. Indeed, Hail Ginn Hale!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2016
I picked this up from my library's book sale, intrigued by the cover summary but not really knowing what to expect.
Plot summary (mercilessly yanked from the back cover): "When John Toffler opens a letter addressed to his missing roommate, Kyle, he expects to find only a house key. Instead he is swept into a strange realm of magic, mysticism, revolutionaries, and assassins. Though John struggles to find a way home for himself and the two friends he's inadvertently brought into this deadly world, he cannot know that he is bound by blood to a different fate. He and Kyle share a destiny. Together they will wake the destroyer god--the Rifter--and shatter a world."
As for my actual review, all I can say is: wow, this is the best fantasy book I've read in a long time. I loved everything about it. The prose was consistently good/great, surprisingly funny (I laughed out loud multiple times), and the big reveal in the middle of the novel, though semi-obvious in retrospect, caught me completely off guard at the time. I liked every single one of the characters, which is good, because this is definitely a character-driven book. (On that note, it's always nice to find a fantasy series with an LGBT protagonist... though the first book doesn't have much in the way of romance, yet.) And the world building is excellent, both in the minor details and the major ones. I stayed up through the night on more than one occasion because I desperately needed to know what would happen next.
My only complaint is that the ending feels too abrupt. Considering that this was originally a series of 10 e-book novellas, and the first printed volume only collects a few of them, that's understandable. I have already ordered the second and third books from Amazon and they cannot get here fast enough.
Plot summary (mercilessly yanked from the back cover): "When John Toffler opens a letter addressed to his missing roommate, Kyle, he expects to find only a house key. Instead he is swept into a strange realm of magic, mysticism, revolutionaries, and assassins. Though John struggles to find a way home for himself and the two friends he's inadvertently brought into this deadly world, he cannot know that he is bound by blood to a different fate. He and Kyle share a destiny. Together they will wake the destroyer god--the Rifter--and shatter a world."
As for my actual review, all I can say is: wow, this is the best fantasy book I've read in a long time. I loved everything about it. The prose was consistently good/great, surprisingly funny (I laughed out loud multiple times), and the big reveal in the middle of the novel, though semi-obvious in retrospect, caught me completely off guard at the time. I liked every single one of the characters, which is good, because this is definitely a character-driven book. (On that note, it's always nice to find a fantasy series with an LGBT protagonist... though the first book doesn't have much in the way of romance, yet.) And the world building is excellent, both in the minor details and the major ones. I stayed up through the night on more than one occasion because I desperately needed to know what would happen next.
My only complaint is that the ending feels too abrupt. Considering that this was originally a series of 10 e-book novellas, and the first printed volume only collects a few of them, that's understandable. I have already ordered the second and third books from Amazon and they cannot get here fast enough.
October 25, 2016
Any act can have terrible consequences: Even opening a letter addressed to your flat mate. That's what John Toffler, a biology postgrad student, discovers when he suddenly finds himself and his two best friends stranded in a strange world, with completely alien culture and language. John feels responsible, and he'll do any thing to take his two friends back to the world where they belong. But he does not realise that this new world is slowly changing them, and that will also have unexpected consequences�.
So. I love Ginn Hale's books. All of them. They are full of wonderful stories. The Shattered Gates is no exception. In fact, it surpasses my expectations. This book is a cleverly constructed puzzle where the initial confusion is slowly replaced by awe as the pieces slowly fit together. We accompany John and Kyle through this carefully designed maze, and one cannot help to fall in love with the characters and the world created for them. Both John and Kyle are complex characters, both have a heavy baggage from difficult pasts, but they both have the resilience to adapt and strive to survive. Although by the end of this first book one knows the bones of their story, there is this urgent need to know more, what happened to them in between�
I really do not want to spoil the book, because it is an amazing journey and it would be a pity for any reader to be deprived of the sheer wonderment of slowly discover it on one's own. If you love magic, fantasy and fated love stories, you have to read this book. You'll be as hooked on this story as I am right now. Off to the second book!
So. I love Ginn Hale's books. All of them. They are full of wonderful stories. The Shattered Gates is no exception. In fact, it surpasses my expectations. This book is a cleverly constructed puzzle where the initial confusion is slowly replaced by awe as the pieces slowly fit together. We accompany John and Kyle through this carefully designed maze, and one cannot help to fall in love with the characters and the world created for them. Both John and Kyle are complex characters, both have a heavy baggage from difficult pasts, but they both have the resilience to adapt and strive to survive. Although by the end of this first book one knows the bones of their story, there is this urgent need to know more, what happened to them in between�
I really do not want to spoil the book, because it is an amazing journey and it would be a pity for any reader to be deprived of the sheer wonderment of slowly discover it on one's own. If you love magic, fantasy and fated love stories, you have to read this book. You'll be as hooked on this story as I am right now. Off to the second book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2025
Continuing on with the Ginn Hale backlist! Here, Ginn Hale continues with her habit of completely puzzling book numbering systems. This series is ten directly continuous novellas that are all 80 to 120 words long. I’m reviewing them grouped into three collections as they appear on goodreads. So this is a review for The Shattered Gates, Servants of the Crossed Arrows, and Black Blades.
Now on to the actual book rather than the paperwork� this series was recommended by Alexis Hall here for ripping your heart out, being exceptionally brutal, and also being an epic queer fantasy novel. All of which are very good things! Hale’s Rifter series is a portal fantasy, where perfectly ordinary grad student John is plunged into a dark and vicious fantasy world due in part to the machinations of his roommate Kahlil. However, it inevitably turns out that John is not quite as ordinary as he seemed�
This book had interesting worldbuilding, but because Basawar was so grim, it was by necessity less complex than in Hale’s later books. Basawar is brutal theocracy balanced on the edge of ecological catastrophe, where they murder witches slowly in order to extract their bones to make a giant bone construct oracle. To list just one thing. The understated and sweet gay romance balances that out a little, but this is still a mildly dark book.
Recommended, but I think Hale’s later work is probably stronger.
Now on to the actual book rather than the paperwork� this series was recommended by Alexis Hall here for ripping your heart out, being exceptionally brutal, and also being an epic queer fantasy novel. All of which are very good things! Hale’s Rifter series is a portal fantasy, where perfectly ordinary grad student John is plunged into a dark and vicious fantasy world due in part to the machinations of his roommate Kahlil. However, it inevitably turns out that John is not quite as ordinary as he seemed�
This book had interesting worldbuilding, but because Basawar was so grim, it was by necessity less complex than in Hale’s later books. Basawar is brutal theocracy balanced on the edge of ecological catastrophe, where they murder witches slowly in order to extract their bones to make a giant bone construct oracle. To list just one thing. The understated and sweet gay romance balances that out a little, but this is still a mildly dark book.
Recommended, but I think Hale’s later work is probably stronger.
November 15, 2013
Before I can even start reviewing this book, I have to admit that I only got up to page 215 (out of 341). Usually, when I start reading a book, I will also finish it, no matter what. I've been trying to finish this book for a couple of months now, but for some reason I just can't. So, finally, I decided to give up. I really don't know what it is about this book. The beginning was alright. However, the last 100 pages or so that I've read were just so... tiring. What I found extremely confusing were the names of some of the characters and places in this book. The author was really creative in that department, but I just thought it was REALLY annoying. There is a list at the end of the book that tells you about all the names and places, but I just felt like an idiot going back and forth every two pages or so. Want a few examples? Here:
(Titles, Ranks, and Terms of Address)
Usho - Leader of the Payshmura Church
Kahlirash - Military sect (...)
Ushvran - Nun
Rasho - Military Leader (...)
+ 15 more
(Characters)
Esh'illan Anyyd (Nope, no typo there) - A young gaunan allied with Ourath. (Uhm, okay.)
Ji Shir'korud - Dog demon. (One question, why don't you just write dog demon?)
Mosh'sira'in'Bousim - Gaunsho Bousim, aged and weak ruler
+ lots more
If you are equally confused, I recommend you pick a different book for your next read. Sorry, Ginn Hale.
(Titles, Ranks, and Terms of Address)
Usho - Leader of the Payshmura Church
Kahlirash - Military sect (...)
Ushvran - Nun
Rasho - Military Leader (...)
+ 15 more
(Characters)
Esh'illan Anyyd (Nope, no typo there) - A young gaunan allied with Ourath. (Uhm, okay.)
Ji Shir'korud - Dog demon. (One question, why don't you just write dog demon?)
Mosh'sira'in'Bousim - Gaunsho Bousim, aged and weak ruler
+ lots more
If you are equally confused, I recommend you pick a different book for your next read. Sorry, Ginn Hale.
September 30, 2013
Will post a proper review later, when I finish all three books. Just have to say that
1. I've already read this in e-book format, but I'm not a digital reader per se, so I have to say that I missed a shitload of details the first time around because reading from Kindle is not exactly the same as reading a book.
2. One of the things that irritated me about the e-book is that I have to scroll like mad to go to the glossary at the back, and then scroll like mad to get back on the page I was on. Needless to say, I didn't really check the glossary at the back much in the e-book version.
3. WHICH IS A SHAME because the constructed Basawar language (explained at the back of the book or the serial) is actually one of the best things I've ever encountered in a long while. It's not just some new words thrown in together. Ginn Hale actually focuses on sentence structure and conjugation, as well. I definitely missed the layer of Basawar-ness in the story because I didn't bother checking it out.
4. Kahlil is still the best.
5. I ordered my copy from Blind Eye Books directly and they arrived signed by the author. Yep. Guess who's a happy kid right now.
1. I've already read this in e-book format, but I'm not a digital reader per se, so I have to say that I missed a shitload of details the first time around because reading from Kindle is not exactly the same as reading a book.
2. One of the things that irritated me about the e-book is that I have to scroll like mad to go to the glossary at the back, and then scroll like mad to get back on the page I was on. Needless to say, I didn't really check the glossary at the back much in the e-book version.
3. WHICH IS A SHAME because the constructed Basawar language (explained at the back of the book or the serial) is actually one of the best things I've ever encountered in a long while. It's not just some new words thrown in together. Ginn Hale actually focuses on sentence structure and conjugation, as well. I definitely missed the layer of Basawar-ness in the story because I didn't bother checking it out.
4. Kahlil is still the best.
5. I ordered my copy from Blind Eye Books directly and they arrived signed by the author. Yep. Guess who's a happy kid right now.
May 30, 2013
I was sucked in by the premise, a regular Joe from earth who has a weird, knife-wielding roommate whose supposedly a milkman, and before you knew it I was caught up in this fantasy where three friends from Earth end up on a completely different world, following their struggles to survive in both a hostile physical environment, as well as navigate a completely foreign language and culture. Although the story took a bit to really get going, I was intrigued enough to go out and buy book two. There are two timelines/character POVs going on and in the first book you only get comfortable with one before you're jumping into the other which made it a little harder to get into the story and bond with the characters but I was still intrigued enough with the story to go out and buy book two. (Although you can buy the entire series as an e-book).
April 4, 2020
I absolutely loved this book! The setting and the fantasy world that Ginn Hale has created feels new and interesting. The characters and their stories are engaging and you can't wait for what will happen next to the main characters.
There are quite a few names and words in a fictional language that is used in the book, and this can be confusing at first. There is however a good list at the end of the book with all the characters and the common words in the fictional language.
In conclusion this is a really good fantasy books with all the fantasy elements that I like. It has maps, a fictional language and a fantasy world that I find interesting. At the same time it does not feel like a Tolkien wannabee or something like that. It is unique and very good.
There are quite a few names and words in a fictional language that is used in the book, and this can be confusing at first. There is however a good list at the end of the book with all the characters and the common words in the fictional language.
In conclusion this is a really good fantasy books with all the fantasy elements that I like. It has maps, a fictional language and a fantasy world that I find interesting. At the same time it does not feel like a Tolkien wannabee or something like that. It is unique and very good.
February 23, 2015
I'm a big fan of Ginn Hale's more recent stuff, and this shows the same flair for worldbuilding but it doesn't seem quite as polished. Not quite enough character building and depth to match the ambitious worldbuilding (and it is ambitious, right down to the grammar of a constructed language), and leaps within the timelines that gloss over what might be some of the most character-building elements. It's a good story, and interesting, but a little raw.
[I'm actually reading this in the original 10-novella format, but reading them as a collective so it seemed more accurate to record it as a trilogy for the purposes of goodreads.]
[I'm actually reading this in the original 10-novella format, but reading them as a collective so it seemed more accurate to record it as a trilogy for the purposes of goodreads.]
November 13, 2014
I am halfway through the full series. I keep assuming how this story, the relationship between the main characters and so forth is going to play out and I tell you... I keep being plain wrong! Which is a serious feat to do to me. I still wonder what happened to the sister-dog...
Ginn Hale, thank you very much for writing something that contains all I look for in a good lecture; fantasy world, love, passion, conflicts and continuous surprising and believable turns. Oh, and you are responsible I've made a goodreads account at last, just to write this =)
Ginn Hale, thank you very much for writing something that contains all I look for in a good lecture; fantasy world, love, passion, conflicts and continuous surprising and believable turns. Oh, and you are responsible I've made a goodreads account at last, just to write this =)
April 23, 2015
This is a great series, with interesting people and customs. A bit of urban fantasy, the new world mingled with mediaeval and steampunk features and a love story.
There is a jump between times, that I first wasn't very pleased about. You know, when you get to know the characters and then whoop, it's years later and you don't know how they became what they are now and the world looks suddenly different and I'm just, wtf?, did I miss something?
But it all made sense. So rest assured.
On to the next one.
There is a jump between times, that I first wasn't very pleased about. You know, when you get to know the characters and then whoop, it's years later and you don't know how they became what they are now and the world looks suddenly different and I'm just, wtf?, did I miss something?
But it all made sense. So rest assured.
On to the next one.
May 12, 2016
A soft four. Brilliantly rendered otherworld, likeable characters, interesting plot. The opening third of the book was a struggle, I'd admit - Hale is comfortable letting you be confused and forcing you to commit or quit - but by then end of the book, I was fully engaged and ready to dig into Book 2.
February 22, 2016
Ginn Hale is one of my favorite new authors. This is the first volume in a series. I like the worldbuilding, and in particular the way she blends familiar technology into what in other ways resembles a fantasy world.
March 17, 2015
Not enjoying this series as much as Lord of the White Hell, but I did just buy the next one.
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