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Riders #2
Seeker
When Daryn claimed she was seeing visions during her sophomore year of high school, no one believed the truth.
She wasn’t losing her mind; she was gaining the Sight—the ability to see the future. Daryn embraced her role as a Seeker. The work she did was important. She saved lives.
Until Sebastian.
Sebastian was her first—and worst—mistake.
Since the moment she inadvertently sealed him in a dark dimension with Samrael, the last surviving demon of the Kindred, guilt has plagued her. Daryn knows Sebastian is alive and waiting for help. It’s up to her to rescue him. But now that she needs the Sight more than ever to guide her, the visions have stopped.
Daryn must rely on instincts, intelligence, and blind faith to lead the riders who are counting on her in search of Sebastian. As they delve into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems and where Samrael is steadily amassing power, Daryn faces the ultimate test. Will she have to become evil to destroy evil?
The very fate of humankind may rest in the answer.
She wasn’t losing her mind; she was gaining the Sight—the ability to see the future. Daryn embraced her role as a Seeker. The work she did was important. She saved lives.
Until Sebastian.
Sebastian was her first—and worst—mistake.
Since the moment she inadvertently sealed him in a dark dimension with Samrael, the last surviving demon of the Kindred, guilt has plagued her. Daryn knows Sebastian is alive and waiting for help. It’s up to her to rescue him. But now that she needs the Sight more than ever to guide her, the visions have stopped.
Daryn must rely on instincts, intelligence, and blind faith to lead the riders who are counting on her in search of Sebastian. As they delve into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems and where Samrael is steadily amassing power, Daryn faces the ultimate test. Will she have to become evil to destroy evil?
The very fate of humankind may rest in the answer.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 16, 2017
72 people are currently reading
5232 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Rossi
22 books7,165 followersVeronica Rossi writes fiction for young adults and older ones, too. To date, she has written the post-apocalyptic UNDER THE NEVER SKY series, the RIDERS fantasy duology, and the historical fiction standalone, REBEL SPY. Her latest book, ROAR OF THE TIDES, picks up where the UTNS trilogy left off.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
February 16, 2018
I reckon it was a good enough ending. Gideon is hot. Just sayin' But he's a twat at times as they all act like they are 12 at times!
October 5, 2017
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Seeker by Veronica Rossi
Book Two of the Riders series
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: May 16, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Review copy sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Veronica Rossi's new fantasy adventure in the Riders series—Seeker .
When Daryn claimed she was seeing visions during her sophomore year of high school, no one believed the truth. She wasn't losing her mind, she was gaining the Sight the ability to see the future. If she just paid attention to the visions, they'd provide her with clues and show her how she could help people. Really help them. Daryn embraced her role as a Seeker. The work she did was important. She saved lives.
Until Sebastian.
Sebastian was her first and worst mistake.
Since the moment she inadvertently sealed him in a dark dimension with Samrael the last surviving demon in the Kindred guilt has plagued her. Daryn knows Sebastian is alive and waiting for help. It's up to her to rescue him. But now that she needs the Sight more than ever to guide her, the visions have stopped.
Daryn must rely on her instincts, her intelligence, and on blind faith to lead the riders who are counting on her in search of Sebastian. As they delve into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems and where Samrael is steadily amassing power, Daryn faces the ultimate test. Will she have to become evil to destroy evil? The very fate of humankind rests in the answer.
What I Liked:
Last year, I read and absolutely loved Riders. It was a little slow, and it took me a bit to really get into the story, but I ended up loving it. Seeker has been a highly anticipated sequel/conclusion for me, and I'm so happy that I liked it even more than I liked Riders. This book did not disappoint!
Seeker picks up months after Riders finishes (I think? I can't remember exactly where Riders finishes). Eight months has passed since Bas was taken, Gideon's hand was cut off by Samreal, the epic showdown went down, and Daryn disappeared. But Gideon never stopped looking for Daryn, or Bas, and he and the Rangers find Daryn. With or without help, Gideon, Daryn, Marcus, and Jode are going into the Rift and finding Bas. But finding Bas and bringing him back are two very different tasks, and with Samrael looking for something from Daryn, nothing goes as planned. Bringing Bas home has never been easy, but Gideon and Daryn find out just how far they'll go to find Bas.
One of the best things about this book is that the pacing is faster than the pacing of Riders. I will be the first to say that Riders has a slow start, nearly to the middle of the book. But Seeker starts off quickly and really takes off. Gideon and the gang catch up with Daryn and everything starts rolling. I appreciated the change of pace, and the amount of action this plot had.
I didn't remember a lot of specific details about the ending of Riders, but I remembered Bas's disappearance, and Gideon's hand. I sort of forgot about Daryn, and so when I started reading this book and realized that she had run from Gideon and the others, I was surprised! But things started to make sense fairly quickly. That's another good thing about this book - Rossie brings you up to speed effectively, so even if you're like me and don't remember everything from the previous book's ending, you won't be lost!
Daryn has felt extremely guilty, about Bas's disappearance and Gideon's loss of hand. She blames herself and this is why she ran from them and has been in Wyoming for eight months. But when they catch up with her, she realizes that she has to stop running and she has to actually start trying to do something to save Bas. She and Gideon have a strained relationship, but that's mostly her fault. It was good to see her work out what she wanted with Gideon and how she began making conscious decisions to trust him with her past and her fears.
Gideon! Book boyfriend for life. Seriously, he is so great and definitely my type. He's one of the tall, strong, warrior types, but he is also confident and commanding, a born leader. According to Daryn, he has "bearing", which is very true. He is very clever and perceptive, and he is fiercely loyal and protective. Even when he is angry with Daryn, he is caring and attentive. I actually love his temper - temperamental boys seem to be my thing. Gideon is actually sort of an easygoing temperamental guy, which is an oxymoron, but roll with it.
I adored Jode in this book! I can't remember specifically how I felt about him in Riders, but I liked his humor and his tenacity in this book. Marcus is a quietly deadly guy that I adored as well. The camaraderie between Gideon, Jode, and Marcus is so endearing. I love how solid their friendship is. Even Daryn's relationship with the guys as a whole is so solid and fun to watch.
That's a big part of this book - friendship, and brotherhood. As important as I think friendships are, I think the brotherhood type of friendship is even more important.
The romance was sweet with just a little angst in the beginning. Daryn is ashamed and guilty (because she blames herself for the loss of Gideon's hand). Meanwhile, Gideon thinks that Daryn thinks his prosthetic hand is disgusting and shameful and that she regrets her feelings for him. The two of them skirt around each other, but then they hash things out and the romance is incredibly strong from that point (around one-fourth into the book). Lots of sparks fly between Gideon and Daryn! They're a combustible - and adorable - couple.
I loved the Four Horsemen aspects of the book - the horses, the boys in their armor and weapons, how obvious it is that they embody their title (War, Conquest, Famine, Death). This aspect isn't as big in this book as it was in Riders, but it is still the backbone of this story.
I don't want to say too much about the journey - finding Bas, confronting Samrael, navigating the nightmarish Rift - but it's very intriguing and a little spooky sometimes. Rossi has you questioning everything that you read: was that real? Was it an illusion? And so on. The stakes get really high at the climax, and it seemed clear that something bad would have to give.
The ending is a very good one! Almost a little too good, in terms of Samrael (I didn't really buy that aspect of the ending at all - too neat), but in general, it was a good ending. I will tell you that several characters got a nice (but open-ended!) HEA. Which is good! I liked the ending a lot.
What I Did Not Like:
Like I said above, I didn't totally love the aspect of the ending involving Samrael. It seemed too deus-ex-machina-like, and convenient. I wasn't really buying it, you know? Obviously you'd have to read the book to know what I mean. This one aspect was the only thing that really stuck out to me, in this book! That's always a good sign.
Would I Recommend It:
I recommend this sequel, especially since it's book two of a duology! It is an even better follow-up than its predecessor, and it will leave you content. I recommend the series in general! A fictional take on the Four Horsemen? Good stuff!
Rating:
4 stars. I loved this book! I think I loved Gideon the most (he is definitely on my book boyfriends list!), but this whole book was pretty great. I highly recommend any of Rossi's YA books - she is a very talented storyteller. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
GIVEAWAY: Everyone please go enter my Seeker giveaway! Win a copy of the book and a bracelet. =) It is HERE!
FINALLY!!! A cover and pub date and some info. It feels like forever since I read Riders. I cannot wait to read this book. :D
Seeker by Veronica Rossi
Book Two of the Riders series
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: May 16, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Review copy sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Veronica Rossi's new fantasy adventure in the Riders series—Seeker .
When Daryn claimed she was seeing visions during her sophomore year of high school, no one believed the truth. She wasn't losing her mind, she was gaining the Sight the ability to see the future. If she just paid attention to the visions, they'd provide her with clues and show her how she could help people. Really help them. Daryn embraced her role as a Seeker. The work she did was important. She saved lives.
Until Sebastian.
Sebastian was her first and worst mistake.
Since the moment she inadvertently sealed him in a dark dimension with Samrael the last surviving demon in the Kindred guilt has plagued her. Daryn knows Sebastian is alive and waiting for help. It's up to her to rescue him. But now that she needs the Sight more than ever to guide her, the visions have stopped.
Daryn must rely on her instincts, her intelligence, and on blind faith to lead the riders who are counting on her in search of Sebastian. As they delve into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems and where Samrael is steadily amassing power, Daryn faces the ultimate test. Will she have to become evil to destroy evil? The very fate of humankind rests in the answer.
What I Liked:
Last year, I read and absolutely loved Riders. It was a little slow, and it took me a bit to really get into the story, but I ended up loving it. Seeker has been a highly anticipated sequel/conclusion for me, and I'm so happy that I liked it even more than I liked Riders. This book did not disappoint!
Seeker picks up months after Riders finishes (I think? I can't remember exactly where Riders finishes). Eight months has passed since Bas was taken, Gideon's hand was cut off by Samreal, the epic showdown went down, and Daryn disappeared. But Gideon never stopped looking for Daryn, or Bas, and he and the Rangers find Daryn. With or without help, Gideon, Daryn, Marcus, and Jode are going into the Rift and finding Bas. But finding Bas and bringing him back are two very different tasks, and with Samrael looking for something from Daryn, nothing goes as planned. Bringing Bas home has never been easy, but Gideon and Daryn find out just how far they'll go to find Bas.
One of the best things about this book is that the pacing is faster than the pacing of Riders. I will be the first to say that Riders has a slow start, nearly to the middle of the book. But Seeker starts off quickly and really takes off. Gideon and the gang catch up with Daryn and everything starts rolling. I appreciated the change of pace, and the amount of action this plot had.
I didn't remember a lot of specific details about the ending of Riders, but I remembered Bas's disappearance, and Gideon's hand. I sort of forgot about Daryn, and so when I started reading this book and realized that she had run from Gideon and the others, I was surprised! But things started to make sense fairly quickly. That's another good thing about this book - Rossie brings you up to speed effectively, so even if you're like me and don't remember everything from the previous book's ending, you won't be lost!
Daryn has felt extremely guilty, about Bas's disappearance and Gideon's loss of hand. She blames herself and this is why she ran from them and has been in Wyoming for eight months. But when they catch up with her, she realizes that she has to stop running and she has to actually start trying to do something to save Bas. She and Gideon have a strained relationship, but that's mostly her fault. It was good to see her work out what she wanted with Gideon and how she began making conscious decisions to trust him with her past and her fears.
Gideon! Book boyfriend for life. Seriously, he is so great and definitely my type. He's one of the tall, strong, warrior types, but he is also confident and commanding, a born leader. According to Daryn, he has "bearing", which is very true. He is very clever and perceptive, and he is fiercely loyal and protective. Even when he is angry with Daryn, he is caring and attentive. I actually love his temper - temperamental boys seem to be my thing. Gideon is actually sort of an easygoing temperamental guy, which is an oxymoron, but roll with it.
I adored Jode in this book! I can't remember specifically how I felt about him in Riders, but I liked his humor and his tenacity in this book. Marcus is a quietly deadly guy that I adored as well. The camaraderie between Gideon, Jode, and Marcus is so endearing. I love how solid their friendship is. Even Daryn's relationship with the guys as a whole is so solid and fun to watch.
That's a big part of this book - friendship, and brotherhood. As important as I think friendships are, I think the brotherhood type of friendship is even more important.
The romance was sweet with just a little angst in the beginning. Daryn is ashamed and guilty (because she blames herself for the loss of Gideon's hand). Meanwhile, Gideon thinks that Daryn thinks his prosthetic hand is disgusting and shameful and that she regrets her feelings for him. The two of them skirt around each other, but then they hash things out and the romance is incredibly strong from that point (around one-fourth into the book). Lots of sparks fly between Gideon and Daryn! They're a combustible - and adorable - couple.
I loved the Four Horsemen aspects of the book - the horses, the boys in their armor and weapons, how obvious it is that they embody their title (War, Conquest, Famine, Death). This aspect isn't as big in this book as it was in Riders, but it is still the backbone of this story.
I don't want to say too much about the journey - finding Bas, confronting Samrael, navigating the nightmarish Rift - but it's very intriguing and a little spooky sometimes. Rossi has you questioning everything that you read: was that real? Was it an illusion? And so on. The stakes get really high at the climax, and it seemed clear that something bad would have to give.
The ending is a very good one! Almost a little too good, in terms of Samrael (I didn't really buy that aspect of the ending at all - too neat), but in general, it was a good ending. I will tell you that several characters got a nice (but open-ended!) HEA. Which is good! I liked the ending a lot.
What I Did Not Like:
Like I said above, I didn't totally love the aspect of the ending involving Samrael. It seemed too deus-ex-machina-like, and convenient. I wasn't really buying it, you know? Obviously you'd have to read the book to know what I mean. This one aspect was the only thing that really stuck out to me, in this book! That's always a good sign.
Would I Recommend It:
I recommend this sequel, especially since it's book two of a duology! It is an even better follow-up than its predecessor, and it will leave you content. I recommend the series in general! A fictional take on the Four Horsemen? Good stuff!
Rating:
4 stars. I loved this book! I think I loved Gideon the most (he is definitely on my book boyfriends list!), but this whole book was pretty great. I highly recommend any of Rossi's YA books - she is a very talented storyteller. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
GIVEAWAY: Everyone please go enter my Seeker giveaway! Win a copy of the book and a bracelet. =) It is HERE!
FINALLY!!! A cover and pub date and some info. It feels like forever since I read Riders. I cannot wait to read this book. :D
June 2, 2017
Book trailer for the first book, Riders, posted at the bottom of the review
I really enjoyed this duology. I have always loved to read or watch stuff on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse so I was quick to preorder the first book and then the second when it became available for preorder on Amazon. It had an intriguing, modern twist on the horsemen. I was not a big fan of the seeker character of Daryn in either book but it was not enough to hinder or effect my opinion of the book and it's writing and plot.
Overall, I would recommend this duology to any fantasy/paranormal fan. They are quick reads that offer entertainment on the legendary subjects of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Below is a link to the trailer for the first book of the duology, Riders. Watch it and I am sure you will become interested in the series.
RidersBookTrailer
I really enjoyed this duology. I have always loved to read or watch stuff on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse so I was quick to preorder the first book and then the second when it became available for preorder on Amazon. It had an intriguing, modern twist on the horsemen. I was not a big fan of the seeker character of Daryn in either book but it was not enough to hinder or effect my opinion of the book and it's writing and plot.
Overall, I would recommend this duology to any fantasy/paranormal fan. They are quick reads that offer entertainment on the legendary subjects of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Below is a link to the trailer for the first book of the duology, Riders. Watch it and I am sure you will become interested in the series.
RidersBookTrailer
May 22, 2017
Seeker by Veronica Rossi is book 2 in the Riders series, and it definitely delivered! While I really liked Riders, I feel like Seeker surpassed it. Clearly Rossi hasn't heard of sequel syndrome. All the characters we loved from the first book are back and continued to grow throughout this book. I love being able to see the characters continued development and growth within a series - they feel like real people. While Riders was from the perspective of Gideon, Seeker is more from the perspective of Daryn.
Daryn discovered back in high school that was having visions, and of course, no one believed her. She thought she was losing her mind when in actuality, she was gaining the Sight. The Sight is the ability to see the future. After realizing that if she really paid attention to her visions then she could truly help people - she embraced her role as a Seeker. After what had happened to Sebastian in the first book, she is consumed by her guilt over the ordeal. When she needs her Sight most, she looses her visions, and must now rely on her instincts, intelligence, and her faith to lead the Riders to him. The battle of good vs evil comes to an explosive head at the end of this book!
I feel like the characters really came into their own in this book. While the plot and story carried on, I feel like this sequel was more focused on them. Gideon has evolved a lot from the first book - he's admitted his mistakes and became a stronger person. Normally I'm not a fan of any kind of romance, but his relationship with Daryn blossoms in this sequel and they mesh together so well. Not only do the characters grow individually, but as a group, the Four Horsemen become stronger as a unit. Not only are the Riders themselves great, but the horses all definitely have their own personalities!
If you want paranormal, apocalypse, or a unique story line, then I'd highly recommend this duology!
I give this 5/5 stars!
Thanks to Tor Books for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Daryn discovered back in high school that was having visions, and of course, no one believed her. She thought she was losing her mind when in actuality, she was gaining the Sight. The Sight is the ability to see the future. After realizing that if she really paid attention to her visions then she could truly help people - she embraced her role as a Seeker. After what had happened to Sebastian in the first book, she is consumed by her guilt over the ordeal. When she needs her Sight most, she looses her visions, and must now rely on her instincts, intelligence, and her faith to lead the Riders to him. The battle of good vs evil comes to an explosive head at the end of this book!
I feel like the characters really came into their own in this book. While the plot and story carried on, I feel like this sequel was more focused on them. Gideon has evolved a lot from the first book - he's admitted his mistakes and became a stronger person. Normally I'm not a fan of any kind of romance, but his relationship with Daryn blossoms in this sequel and they mesh together so well. Not only do the characters grow individually, but as a group, the Four Horsemen become stronger as a unit. Not only are the Riders themselves great, but the horses all definitely have their own personalities!
If you want paranormal, apocalypse, or a unique story line, then I'd highly recommend this duology!
I give this 5/5 stars!
Thanks to Tor Books for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
could-not-finish
June 15, 2017 Oh My God, that cover is gorgeous!
May 27, 2017
2.5
Middle book syndrome. But might have been a duology?
Middle book syndrome. But might have been a duology?
never-finished
November 28, 2017I'm putting this down for now. Not sure if I'll try to come back to it. I just can't get past my dislike for Daryn and I'm struggling to connect to the story. I still love the idea of the four riders and their horses but so far this isn't working for me.
May 10, 2017
4.5/5
I don’t know if you guys are aware of this, but Veronica Rossi is one of my favorite authors ever. I have loved everything that she has written, and her Under the Never Sky trilogy holds a special place in my heart. Last year, Riders blew me away even though the writing and style were very different from what I had come to expect from Rossi. To me, it solidified how versatile and original she is as an author. Riders ended on a high note, with an ending that had me clamoring for this sequel. When the publisher was kind enough to offer me a copy, I was quick to jump on this bandwagon, and wow! What a ride it was! Once again, Veronica Rossi has crafted a sequel that does not suffer from sequel syndrome. Instead, it’s a story that builds up on the epicness of the first book, and ends on an explosive note.
One of my favorite parts about reading a novel is always getting to know the characters, and forming an attachment to them. I especially love it when authors take that extra step to develop the characters so much so that they feel like real life people to you. That’s how I felt about the gang in Riders and Seeker. I fell in love with them and their vastly different personalities in the first book, but here, I grew to know them even more, which wound up with me wanting to protect these characters from every source of harm. MY CHILDREN. Gideon, especially, has matured dramatically from the previous book. There was a fiercer strength to him here, that I was proud to see. He was devoted, and fiercely resolute in his goals. He falters throughout the series, but we also see him acknowledge his mistakes, which I found very attractive. I thought Rossi did a stellar job with the male POV here.
We also get Daryn’s POV in Seeker. I really loved her character as well here. After the events that endangered one of the Riders in the previous book, she is hurting, and battling with her sense of guilt. She channels that guilt into going after the villain and saving her friend. Daryn is a fierce heroine, whose vulnerabilities make her a character that’s easy to mesh with, and root for. She has so many admirable qualities, but her willingness to admit when she was wrong was what made her very relatable to me. Her romance with Gideon really blossomed in Seeker, and I shipped them together so much. They are both headstrong characters, but I thought they harmonized each other very well. The romance was slow-burn, sweet, and subtly sexy. Their rapport had me swooning hard. Rossi knows how to write couples that you become obsessed with.
The camaraderie between the Riders was another great element to this series. They’ve become very close friends, and their teasing and banter brought a lightness to the story. I adored these boys, and their relationship with each other, and I wouldn’t be opposed to reading more about them. I also have to mention the horses, especially Gideon’s horse, whose personality is as fiery as he is. I love that he had so much individuality to him, and his relationship with Gideon was endearing. In Seeker, Rossi continues to build up the fantasy world that she introduced readers to in Riders. We also get to see an alternate world, that I found fascinating. We also get more background on Seekers, and their history and role in the world. The plot was much more fast-paced here, and unlike the previous book, it didn’t rely on flashback scenes. It made the book a lot more exciting for me, and I found myself speeding through it. From start to finish, Seeker was an absolutely thrilling ride.
I’m thrilled at the way that Seeker wrapped up. It was everything that I was expecting and so much more. My relationship with YA fantasy has been rather strained lately, but authors like Veronica Rossi and books like Seeker give me hope that it’s not the end of YA fantasy and me.
I don’t know if you guys are aware of this, but Veronica Rossi is one of my favorite authors ever. I have loved everything that she has written, and her Under the Never Sky trilogy holds a special place in my heart. Last year, Riders blew me away even though the writing and style were very different from what I had come to expect from Rossi. To me, it solidified how versatile and original she is as an author. Riders ended on a high note, with an ending that had me clamoring for this sequel. When the publisher was kind enough to offer me a copy, I was quick to jump on this bandwagon, and wow! What a ride it was! Once again, Veronica Rossi has crafted a sequel that does not suffer from sequel syndrome. Instead, it’s a story that builds up on the epicness of the first book, and ends on an explosive note.
One of my favorite parts about reading a novel is always getting to know the characters, and forming an attachment to them. I especially love it when authors take that extra step to develop the characters so much so that they feel like real life people to you. That’s how I felt about the gang in Riders and Seeker. I fell in love with them and their vastly different personalities in the first book, but here, I grew to know them even more, which wound up with me wanting to protect these characters from every source of harm. MY CHILDREN. Gideon, especially, has matured dramatically from the previous book. There was a fiercer strength to him here, that I was proud to see. He was devoted, and fiercely resolute in his goals. He falters throughout the series, but we also see him acknowledge his mistakes, which I found very attractive. I thought Rossi did a stellar job with the male POV here.
We also get Daryn’s POV in Seeker. I really loved her character as well here. After the events that endangered one of the Riders in the previous book, she is hurting, and battling with her sense of guilt. She channels that guilt into going after the villain and saving her friend. Daryn is a fierce heroine, whose vulnerabilities make her a character that’s easy to mesh with, and root for. She has so many admirable qualities, but her willingness to admit when she was wrong was what made her very relatable to me. Her romance with Gideon really blossomed in Seeker, and I shipped them together so much. They are both headstrong characters, but I thought they harmonized each other very well. The romance was slow-burn, sweet, and subtly sexy. Their rapport had me swooning hard. Rossi knows how to write couples that you become obsessed with.
The camaraderie between the Riders was another great element to this series. They’ve become very close friends, and their teasing and banter brought a lightness to the story. I adored these boys, and their relationship with each other, and I wouldn’t be opposed to reading more about them. I also have to mention the horses, especially Gideon’s horse, whose personality is as fiery as he is. I love that he had so much individuality to him, and his relationship with Gideon was endearing. In Seeker, Rossi continues to build up the fantasy world that she introduced readers to in Riders. We also get to see an alternate world, that I found fascinating. We also get more background on Seekers, and their history and role in the world. The plot was much more fast-paced here, and unlike the previous book, it didn’t rely on flashback scenes. It made the book a lot more exciting for me, and I found myself speeding through it. From start to finish, Seeker was an absolutely thrilling ride.
I’m thrilled at the way that Seeker wrapped up. It was everything that I was expecting and so much more. My relationship with YA fantasy has been rather strained lately, but authors like Veronica Rossi and books like Seeker give me hope that it’s not the end of YA fantasy and me.
March 8, 2020
Ugh. This one was worse than the first one. I'm so incredibly disappointed. This book was just bad but I can't bring myself to give it 1 star. The plot was weak at best and by the end, not much made sense. The original premise seemed so interesting but the execution ended up being pretty awful over the course of two books. If you're going to go Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, you kind of have to go hard. Get religious. You can't have one without the other. I'm not even religious and I wanted more religion! You're going to have the Four Horsemen and demons that are fallen angels but no God or the Devil? Really? Blahhhhhh. And what happened to Raoum (spelling? #audiobookproblems) and the other demons? No resolution. What the helllllll was even the rift?! Was it Hell? It should have been. Ughhhh. Painful. Annnnd the timing wasn't laid out well.
Something a little nitpicky about the audiobook, it was hard to tell when there were internal thoughts vs. things they were saying out loud. With Daryn it was a little easier, the narrator semi-whispered them but with Gideon I just had no idea and had to wait for the next few lines to determine whether it was internal or not. So that was kind of awkward.
Second thing, about Hoopla audiobooks specifically, you can't change the speed! This was my first audiobook from Hoopla so I didn't know that you couldn't change it. Listening at normal speed is terrible. I will be switching as many audiobooks as I can from Hoopla to Overdrive/Libby now that I know Hoopla does not have this feature. :(
Something a little nitpicky about the audiobook, it was hard to tell when there were internal thoughts vs. things they were saying out loud. With Daryn it was a little easier, the narrator semi-whispered them but with Gideon I just had no idea and had to wait for the next few lines to determine whether it was internal or not. So that was kind of awkward.
Second thing, about Hoopla audiobooks specifically, you can't change the speed! This was my first audiobook from Hoopla so I didn't know that you couldn't change it. Listening at normal speed is terrible. I will be switching as many audiobooks as I can from Hoopla to Overdrive/Libby now that I know Hoopla does not have this feature. :(
October 4, 2017
I liked this, but not as much as the first book. It felt like a very different story. That said, still a solid duology.
September 26, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Seeker, even more so than its predecessor, Rider. The shift away from the flashback style was a welcome change, and the introduction of two points of view, Daryn and Gideon, added a remarkable depth to the storytelling.
The characters, both primary and secondary, were all captivating, each with their unique backgrounds, struggles, and growth arcs.
Samrael's enigmatic character left me hopeful yet uncertain about his true nature, and I couldn't help but anticipate the possibility of a future novella exploring his story.
Overall, Seeker proved to be an engaging, action-packed, and truly delightful page-turner. My time with this book was thoroughly enjoyable.
The characters, both primary and secondary, were all captivating, each with their unique backgrounds, struggles, and growth arcs.
Samrael's enigmatic character left me hopeful yet uncertain about his true nature, and I couldn't help but anticipate the possibility of a future novella exploring his story.
Overall, Seeker proved to be an engaging, action-packed, and truly delightful page-turner. My time with this book was thoroughly enjoyable.
May 23, 2017
When presented with the chance to read a book featuring the teenage embodiments of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, I jumped at the chance. Riders was a good start to the duology, and I expected Seeker to be just as interesting. This, however, didn’t turn out the way I had hoped.
Seeker was a story that focused much more on Daryn (the Seeker) rather than the guys. This was alright because I liked her as a POV character and we still got POV from Gideon. What I didn’t like was the storyline- this was 352 pages of underwhelming plot. It was so boring! Sure, there was action, monstrous creatures, and a few harrowing moments but I honestly think the first book should have been lengthened by 100 pages, wrapped up the loose ends, and been left as a standalone.
Unfortunately, I feel like the characters lost much of what initially made me like them in the first place. Gideon and Daryn continued to have their awkward relationship and outbursts of emotion, but the other guys were barely present at all. They were scenery and Sebastian didn’t even show up until the end of the book, because if you remember, he went missing in another dimension with the mediocre bad guy from the first book. Did I mention Sebastian developed Stockholm syndrome too? Yeah, he definitely became friends with the bad guy.
Shame on me for putting it so bluntly, but Seeker was wasted reading time. I should have skipped this and had my fond (if vague) memories of Riders left untainted. The four horseman of the apocalypse had much more potential than how they were used in this book and I would love recommendations for other books where they play a major role!
Seeker was a story that focused much more on Daryn (the Seeker) rather than the guys. This was alright because I liked her as a POV character and we still got POV from Gideon. What I didn’t like was the storyline- this was 352 pages of underwhelming plot. It was so boring! Sure, there was action, monstrous creatures, and a few harrowing moments but I honestly think the first book should have been lengthened by 100 pages, wrapped up the loose ends, and been left as a standalone.
Unfortunately, I feel like the characters lost much of what initially made me like them in the first place. Gideon and Daryn continued to have their awkward relationship and outbursts of emotion, but the other guys were barely present at all. They were scenery and Sebastian didn’t even show up until the end of the book, because if you remember, he went missing in another dimension with the mediocre bad guy from the first book. Did I mention Sebastian developed Stockholm syndrome too? Yeah, he definitely became friends with the bad guy.
Shame on me for putting it so bluntly, but Seeker was wasted reading time. I should have skipped this and had my fond (if vague) memories of Riders left untainted. The four horseman of the apocalypse had much more potential than how they were used in this book and I would love recommendations for other books where they play a major role!
August 14, 2017
Horses rising from shadow, fire, ash and light, danger and suspense that had me shucking and jiving, flawed characters that had me eating out of their hands, and a storyline that had me twisting and turning to the end left me with a warm fuzzy feeling and a few chuckles in this paranormal/supernatural romantic fantasy that I highly recommend.
To see more visit fundinmental
To see more visit fundinmental
November 24, 2019
3-3.5 stars
Oof. As a huge fan of Veronica Rossi, I have to say this rating really hurts
What I liked:
-Gideon
-Rossi's writing style (always)
-The romance (swoon!)
What I didn't like:
-The last third or so of the book reeeeally dragged, with no forward momentum or seemingly any purposeful plotting. More preachy than anything. For the record, I was ready to give the book at least 4 stars prior
-I know this series is about the Four Horseman, but I don't remember the first book being so religious. As an atheist, it grated on me
-The development of the series' villain, ugh
Oof. As a huge fan of Veronica Rossi, I have to say this rating really hurts
What I liked:
-Gideon
-Rossi's writing style (always)
-The romance (swoon!)
What I didn't like:
-The last third or so of the book reeeeally dragged, with no forward momentum or seemingly any purposeful plotting. More preachy than anything. For the record, I was ready to give the book at least 4 stars prior
-I know this series is about the Four Horseman, but I don't remember the first book being so religious. As an atheist, it grated on me
-The development of the series' villain, ugh
July 10, 2025
Zoeker
Je kunt wel zeggen dat Veronica Rossi‘s Riders mij enorm heeft verrast. Zodanig dat ik uiteraard ook diens vervolg, Zoeker, wilde lezen. Waarom de titel van deel één overigens niet vertaald is, en deel twee wel, kan ik je helaas niet vertellen. Maar het is wel iets dat direct opvalt. De covers zijn in beide gevallen wel erg mooi, én heel erg passend. Nog wel even een tip: als het erg lang is geleden dat je Riders hebt gelezen, lees dan even de laatste hoofdstukken opnieuw. Er is in Riders best veel gebeurd, en je ontvangt niet echt een duidelijke recap van de gebeurtenissen in het begin van Zoeker.
Twee perspectieven
Nadat ik Riders had uitgelezen wilde ik heel graag meer lezen over deze fantastisch beschreven ruiters. Het enige probleem? Er was aangekondigd dat Zoeker vanuit het perspectief van Daryn geschreven zou worden. En laat ik met haar nou net niet zoveel hebben… Mocht ik daarin niet de enige zijn, dan kan ik je blij maken met het feit dat ik er na één hoofdstuk achter kwam dat het boek niet alléén vanuit haar perspectief verteld wordt; Er wordt gewisseld tussen het perspectief van Daryn en Gideon. Fijn!
De bijzondere dynamiek
Achteraf gezien had ik in Zoeker veel minder problemen met Daryn en was haar verhaal stiekem ook nog wel een beetje interessant. Maar wat ik het fijnst vind aan deze duologie is de band tussen de ruiters (en ook hun paarden trouwens!). Ik hou gewoon van hun bijzondere dynamiek en hun vriendschap. Ik hou er met name van om te lezen over de band tussen Marcus en Gideon, die geen woorden nodig hebben om elkaar te begrijpen.
Eigenlijk vond ik het jammer dat we – wegens overduidelijke redenen in de verhaallijn – niet meer van de dynamiek tussen de ruiters te zien hebben gekregen in Zoeker. Vooral Marcus, Jode en Bas kregen veel minder aandacht, en dat is jammer. Maar dat de personages een mooie groei doormaken is een gegeven. Personages en hun band en groei zijn belangrijke componenten binnen deze duologie.
Opbouw
Qua opbouw heeft het verhaal in Zoeker veel weg van Riders. Niet in de zin van een wisselend perspectief tussen heden en verleden – daar is geen sprake van dit keer. Maar in de zin dat het geen fast-paced verhaal is. Het was voor mij wederom geen boek dat ik in een dag wilde uitlezen, maar wel moeilijker en moeilijker weg kon leggen zodra ik over de helft was. Het verhaal zelf is zeker interessant. Het speelt zich echter wel in een compleet andere wereld af. Een bepaalde ontwikkeling op het eind had van mij nog wel iets beter uitgewerkt mogen worden; Ondanks de grote rol ervan, voelde die ontwikkeling voor mij verwaarloosbaar.
Conclusie
Zoeker heeft in een bepaalde zin eenzelfde karakter als diens voorganger Riders. Ik vond Zoeker iets minder goed dan Riders, maar dat heeft vooral te maken met dat ik meer van de geweldige dynamiek tussen de ruiters had willen zien. Dit kwam namelijk veel meer naar voren in Riders; in Zoeker kwamen Marcus, Jode en Bas minder op de voorgrond. Uiteraard nam ook Daryn veel ruimte in beslag doordat ook vanuit haar perspectief werd geschreven. Dit bleek ik uiteindelijk minder erg te vinden dan ik had verwacht – waarschijnlijk doordat ze een interessant verhaal kreeg -, maar toch las ik liever vanuit Gideons perspectief. Hoe dan ook is het weer een goed boek, en een mooie afsluiter in deze stoere duologie.
Deze recensie verscheen eerst op mijn blog Reviews & Roses. Per 1 november 2024 bestaat dit blog niet meer.
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Recensie volgt op www.reviewsandroses.nl
3,5 sterren
Je kunt wel zeggen dat Veronica Rossi‘s Riders mij enorm heeft verrast. Zodanig dat ik uiteraard ook diens vervolg, Zoeker, wilde lezen. Waarom de titel van deel één overigens niet vertaald is, en deel twee wel, kan ik je helaas niet vertellen. Maar het is wel iets dat direct opvalt. De covers zijn in beide gevallen wel erg mooi, én heel erg passend. Nog wel even een tip: als het erg lang is geleden dat je Riders hebt gelezen, lees dan even de laatste hoofdstukken opnieuw. Er is in Riders best veel gebeurd, en je ontvangt niet echt een duidelijke recap van de gebeurtenissen in het begin van Zoeker.
Twee perspectieven
Nadat ik Riders had uitgelezen wilde ik heel graag meer lezen over deze fantastisch beschreven ruiters. Het enige probleem? Er was aangekondigd dat Zoeker vanuit het perspectief van Daryn geschreven zou worden. En laat ik met haar nou net niet zoveel hebben… Mocht ik daarin niet de enige zijn, dan kan ik je blij maken met het feit dat ik er na één hoofdstuk achter kwam dat het boek niet alléén vanuit haar perspectief verteld wordt; Er wordt gewisseld tussen het perspectief van Daryn en Gideon. Fijn!
De bijzondere dynamiek
Achteraf gezien had ik in Zoeker veel minder problemen met Daryn en was haar verhaal stiekem ook nog wel een beetje interessant. Maar wat ik het fijnst vind aan deze duologie is de band tussen de ruiters (en ook hun paarden trouwens!). Ik hou gewoon van hun bijzondere dynamiek en hun vriendschap. Ik hou er met name van om te lezen over de band tussen Marcus en Gideon, die geen woorden nodig hebben om elkaar te begrijpen.
Eigenlijk vond ik het jammer dat we – wegens overduidelijke redenen in de verhaallijn – niet meer van de dynamiek tussen de ruiters te zien hebben gekregen in Zoeker. Vooral Marcus, Jode en Bas kregen veel minder aandacht, en dat is jammer. Maar dat de personages een mooie groei doormaken is een gegeven. Personages en hun band en groei zijn belangrijke componenten binnen deze duologie.
Opbouw
Qua opbouw heeft het verhaal in Zoeker veel weg van Riders. Niet in de zin van een wisselend perspectief tussen heden en verleden – daar is geen sprake van dit keer. Maar in de zin dat het geen fast-paced verhaal is. Het was voor mij wederom geen boek dat ik in een dag wilde uitlezen, maar wel moeilijker en moeilijker weg kon leggen zodra ik over de helft was. Het verhaal zelf is zeker interessant. Het speelt zich echter wel in een compleet andere wereld af. Een bepaalde ontwikkeling op het eind had van mij nog wel iets beter uitgewerkt mogen worden; Ondanks de grote rol ervan, voelde die ontwikkeling voor mij verwaarloosbaar.
Conclusie
Zoeker heeft in een bepaalde zin eenzelfde karakter als diens voorganger Riders. Ik vond Zoeker iets minder goed dan Riders, maar dat heeft vooral te maken met dat ik meer van de geweldige dynamiek tussen de ruiters had willen zien. Dit kwam namelijk veel meer naar voren in Riders; in Zoeker kwamen Marcus, Jode en Bas minder op de voorgrond. Uiteraard nam ook Daryn veel ruimte in beslag doordat ook vanuit haar perspectief werd geschreven. Dit bleek ik uiteindelijk minder erg te vinden dan ik had verwacht – waarschijnlijk doordat ze een interessant verhaal kreeg -, maar toch las ik liever vanuit Gideons perspectief. Hoe dan ook is het weer een goed boek, en een mooie afsluiter in deze stoere duologie.
Deze recensie verscheen eerst op mijn blog Reviews & Roses. Per 1 november 2024 bestaat dit blog niet meer.
------
Recensie volgt op www.reviewsandroses.nl
3,5 sterren
July 11, 2017
Gosh, this was a bad bad bad book...
While I have to fess up and admit I'm partially to blame (my lazy brain didn't remember anything from the previous book), this was just confusing and overall uninteresting. To be honest, I really felt this book was kind of unnecessary.
While I have to fess up and admit I'm partially to blame (my lazy brain didn't remember anything from the previous book), this was just confusing and overall uninteresting. To be honest, I really felt this book was kind of unnecessary.
May 8, 2017
3.5 stars. My full review can be found on Mary Had a Little Book Blog here.
January 9, 2019
Ich hatte ja zuerst kaum Lust auf das Buch, weil es ja so klang, als würde Daryn allein im Mittelpunkt stehen und mit der konnte ich mich nicht so ganz anfreunden. Doch zum Glück teilt sie sich die Bühne mit Gideon und so war das Buch doch erträglich.
Wirklich umhauen konnte es mich leider nicht. Das lag zum Teil an Daryn, mit der ich noch immer nicht ganz warm wurde. Dann stand mir die Liebesgeschichte am Anfang etwas zu sehr im Mittelpunkt und wie auch im Vorgänger ist das Tempo nicht allzu schnell und ich hatte ständig das Gefühl, auf der Stelle zu treten.
Gideon fand ich wieder ziemlich sympathisch und auch die anderen übrigen Reiter mochte ich sehr gerne - ich hätte aber echt gern noch mehr von ihnen gesehen! Vor allem von ihrem Alltag, der hier wieder sehr kurz kam und nur in Geschichten Erwähnung fand.
Dann die Spannung - die ging zum großen Teil voll an mir vorbei. Die Suche nach Sebastian war schon interessant, aber die gestaltete sich auch langsam und die dramatischen Wendungen kamen auch nicht wirklich überraschend.
Fazit
Insgesamt war "Riders - Feuer und Asche" wirklich angenehm zu lesen, aber es entwickelte sich nur langsam und ich fand es leider kaum spannend.
Wirklich umhauen konnte es mich leider nicht. Das lag zum Teil an Daryn, mit der ich noch immer nicht ganz warm wurde. Dann stand mir die Liebesgeschichte am Anfang etwas zu sehr im Mittelpunkt und wie auch im Vorgänger ist das Tempo nicht allzu schnell und ich hatte ständig das Gefühl, auf der Stelle zu treten.
Gideon fand ich wieder ziemlich sympathisch und auch die anderen übrigen Reiter mochte ich sehr gerne - ich hätte aber echt gern noch mehr von ihnen gesehen! Vor allem von ihrem Alltag, der hier wieder sehr kurz kam und nur in Geschichten Erwähnung fand.
Dann die Spannung - die ging zum großen Teil voll an mir vorbei. Die Suche nach Sebastian war schon interessant, aber die gestaltete sich auch langsam und die dramatischen Wendungen kamen auch nicht wirklich überraschend.
Fazit
Insgesamt war "Riders - Feuer und Asche" wirklich angenehm zu lesen, aber es entwickelte sich nur langsam und ich fand es leider kaum spannend.
May 31, 2017
Review to come!
July 24, 2020
I have to say I was looking for more action in this book but it was not bad. It was no where near as good as the first one but it wasn't horrible. Better RTC
May 14, 2017
5 beautiful stars to this book. For Daryn. For Gideon. For Daryn and Gideon (seriously, OTP). For Bas. For Real. For bonds and things not of this world.
I have a special connection to Riders, because it was the first ARC I ever received. Veronica moderated the Illuminae event here, where I had the opportunity to meet her right before I got married. When she learned I was about to wed, she gave me her last copy of Riders. I was hooked from there.
Evil is its own undoing.
As a Supernatural megafan, the world of Riders is right up my alley.
Cool characters who are bonded by circumstances beyond their control
A supernatural apocalypse
A sizzling romance 🔥
The Rift - which reminds me of purgatory
I love this little duology. It's the perfect taste of the characters and the dynamics set forth by Samreal and his team of demons.
She knows this is my greatest fear. That Gideon, Marcus, and Jode will blame me for what happened to Sebastian.
Riders leaves you on a major cliffhanger and Seeker drops you right back into the action, even though it's been a bit since the events of Riders. Daryn is faced with the guilt of losing Sebastian to the Rift and she will do anything to get him back. I can relate - waiting to know what happened to Bas has been torture!
You can't help but love these characters. Veronica brings them to life and gives you a complete visualization of their amazing weapons and companion horses. They each have a distinct voice and set of character traits, so even the dual POV in the book does not muddy their characters. There are several twisty parts in the story and I was biting my nails every time the team was in the Rift.
98. Letting go of regret. Embracing life, the future, love.
I'd be lying if I said anything but the kissing scenes were my favorite. Veronica was bringing the full force HEAT between Gideon and Daryn and I am all for OTP forever for those two.
I have a special connection to Riders, because it was the first ARC I ever received. Veronica moderated the Illuminae event here, where I had the opportunity to meet her right before I got married. When she learned I was about to wed, she gave me her last copy of Riders. I was hooked from there.
Evil is its own undoing.
As a Supernatural megafan, the world of Riders is right up my alley.
Cool characters who are bonded by circumstances beyond their control
A supernatural apocalypse
A sizzling romance 🔥
The Rift - which reminds me of purgatory
I love this little duology. It's the perfect taste of the characters and the dynamics set forth by Samreal and his team of demons.
She knows this is my greatest fear. That Gideon, Marcus, and Jode will blame me for what happened to Sebastian.
Riders leaves you on a major cliffhanger and Seeker drops you right back into the action, even though it's been a bit since the events of Riders. Daryn is faced with the guilt of losing Sebastian to the Rift and she will do anything to get him back. I can relate - waiting to know what happened to Bas has been torture!
You can't help but love these characters. Veronica brings them to life and gives you a complete visualization of their amazing weapons and companion horses. They each have a distinct voice and set of character traits, so even the dual POV in the book does not muddy their characters. There are several twisty parts in the story and I was biting my nails every time the team was in the Rift.
98. Letting go of regret. Embracing life, the future, love.
I'd be lying if I said anything but the kissing scenes were my favorite. Veronica was bringing the full force HEAT between Gideon and Daryn and I am all for OTP forever for those two.
June 11, 2017
☆☆☆
Last half of the book just didn't do it for me.
It just wasn't fun or interesting anymore.
It's not that my expectations weren't met,
it's just that the plot fell flat.
Of course I wanted it to be good,
however it just wasn't.
The characters weren't the same, the setting seemed different and I had to drag myself to the end. Which is not a good sign.
Last half of the book just didn't do it for me.
It just wasn't fun or interesting anymore.
It's not that my expectations weren't met,
it's just that the plot fell flat.
Of course I wanted it to be good,
however it just wasn't.
The characters weren't the same, the setting seemed different and I had to drag myself to the end. Which is not a good sign.
June 27, 2017
There were a lot more character detail and backstory in this book, which was great! I liked when the group is in the Rift and their belongings keep popping up and each have a backstory. That being said, the plot was anticlimactic for me and mostly what pushed me to finish the book was stubbornness.
July 10, 2017
sigh
I struggled so hard to finish this. Alright, let's be honest. I skimmed and zoned out. The characters lost their pizazz and the overall plot had me baffled. I still never found out why the Riders were called in the first place. One would think that would be a major thing to share, not go on a quest to find someone's instalove.
FRTC.
I struggled so hard to finish this. Alright, let's be honest. I skimmed and zoned out. The characters lost their pizazz and the overall plot had me baffled. I still never found out why the Riders were called in the first place. One would think that would be a major thing to share, not go on a quest to find someone's instalove.
FRTC.
Want to read
October 22, 2014Another book to look forward to!
July 18, 2017
No spoilers in this rapid review. I give it 3.25 stars.
Seeker is a good sequel, yet I didn’t like it as much as Riders. It’s honestly a tough to put a finger on exactly why. I got a little bogged down in the bizarre events that occur when the gang travels to an alternate realm. While there was some action and I understand the group’s mission this time around, it wasn’t quite as exciting as book 1. I always enjoy ‘team assembly mode’ in stories, so it was fun watching Gideon slowly meet the other horsemen and Daryn in Riders. I liked learning the skill set of each rider and watching them begin to function together as a group. Maybe I missed watching their cohesiveness develop.
In the sequel, we find Daryn has spent some time apart from Gideon and the gang. Eventually they’re back together, though, and are racing to correct the things that went terribly wrong at the end of Riders. They have a friend to try to rescue and a bad guy or two to attempt to conquer.
So I mentioned a couple negative aspects above. What about the positives? I always enjoy Rossi’s writing style, and that hasn’t changed. I read very few contemporary novels and found the modern-day elements of this series refreshing. The characters’ strengths, weaknesses, and insecurities (especially Gideon’s and Daryn’s) felt genuine. I enjoyed being in their heads. And I like how the book ended and how Rossi tied up loose ends but left the reader some space to imagine how each character’s future might go.
In some ways, it seems like the aforementioned points should push my rating up closer to 4 stars, but I’m just not feeling it. It took a while to nail down this rating, and in the end I decided not to overthink it and just went with my gut instinct, something that rounds to 3 stars instead of 4.
Yet if you read Riders, I recommend reading the sequel to finish the series out! And if you haven’t started this series yet, I recommend it. Rossi’s take on the four horsemen of the apocalypse is quite interesting, and I especially love the biblical and moral references. Plus, despite the serious subject matter, her characters are often funny and fun. That’s the way Rossi writes!
Check out our other reviews here.
Take a look at our full book recaps here.
Seeker is a good sequel, yet I didn’t like it as much as Riders. It’s honestly a tough to put a finger on exactly why. I got a little bogged down in the bizarre events that occur when the gang travels to an alternate realm. While there was some action and I understand the group’s mission this time around, it wasn’t quite as exciting as book 1. I always enjoy ‘team assembly mode’ in stories, so it was fun watching Gideon slowly meet the other horsemen and Daryn in Riders. I liked learning the skill set of each rider and watching them begin to function together as a group. Maybe I missed watching their cohesiveness develop.
In the sequel, we find Daryn has spent some time apart from Gideon and the gang. Eventually they’re back together, though, and are racing to correct the things that went terribly wrong at the end of Riders. They have a friend to try to rescue and a bad guy or two to attempt to conquer.
So I mentioned a couple negative aspects above. What about the positives? I always enjoy Rossi’s writing style, and that hasn’t changed. I read very few contemporary novels and found the modern-day elements of this series refreshing. The characters’ strengths, weaknesses, and insecurities (especially Gideon’s and Daryn’s) felt genuine. I enjoyed being in their heads. And I like how the book ended and how Rossi tied up loose ends but left the reader some space to imagine how each character’s future might go.
In some ways, it seems like the aforementioned points should push my rating up closer to 4 stars, but I’m just not feeling it. It took a while to nail down this rating, and in the end I decided not to overthink it and just went with my gut instinct, something that rounds to 3 stars instead of 4.
Yet if you read Riders, I recommend reading the sequel to finish the series out! And if you haven’t started this series yet, I recommend it. Rossi’s take on the four horsemen of the apocalypse is quite interesting, and I especially love the biblical and moral references. Plus, despite the serious subject matter, her characters are often funny and fun. That’s the way Rossi writes!
Check out our other reviews here.
Take a look at our full book recaps here.
May 21, 2017
The four horsemen and their Seeker are back in the second book in the Riders duology. Only this time, there's only three of them. Sebastian is stuck in the Rift with Samrael and Daryn feels responsible. The group is somewhat torn apart from the battle they faced in Riders. They must learn to work together again and get Sebastian back. Ego and pride tend to get in the way and nothing they find in the Rift can be trusted. How far will Daryn have to go and how much will she have to compromise to find her way out of the Rift and mend her relationship with Gideon and her parents?
Still very much loving the concept of this book. While this one was a little different than the first, I enjoyed exploring the Rift and watching the group continue to grow. Now that they have had time to seal their kinship, it's about loyalty and trust. Bringing the rest of their unique family together so they all feel whole again... since they all lost something important in the battle against the Kindred in Riders. Their individual, unique personalities really shine and while the first book was through Gideon's eyes only, this time we get to see through Daryn's eyes as well with alternating chapters. If anyone has a love for YA fantasy and supernatural touching on the four horsemen mythology, which I most certainly do, then I recommend this duology. It's been a nice break from my usual reads :)
Still very much loving the concept of this book. While this one was a little different than the first, I enjoyed exploring the Rift and watching the group continue to grow. Now that they have had time to seal their kinship, it's about loyalty and trust. Bringing the rest of their unique family together so they all feel whole again... since they all lost something important in the battle against the Kindred in Riders. Their individual, unique personalities really shine and while the first book was through Gideon's eyes only, this time we get to see through Daryn's eyes as well with alternating chapters. If anyone has a love for YA fantasy and supernatural touching on the four horsemen mythology, which I most certainly do, then I recommend this duology. It's been a nice break from my usual reads :)
June 10, 2017
This book was amazing. Samrael was the guy you loved to hate. The reunion between Gideon, Marcus, Jode, Daryn and Sebastian was overwhelming. I am so happy for the ending that Veronica gave us. A must read for all Veronica Rossi fans.
May 9, 2020
This didn't pick up the way I hoped it would... I wasn't drawn back to the book, I did like the idea of the four Riders, but they were hardly elaborated on, and I couldn't get myself to warm up to Daryn or understand her decisions... unfortunately not my book.
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