Servants of the Crossed Arrows (Rifter #2) in A Shot of Ginn

Dec 17, 2012 DayDreamer rated it really liked it

Shelves: want-more, lgbtqa, easy-read, short-m-m, arrogant-mofo, proofs-for-my-masochism, absofuckinglutely-nuts, magic, 2015-summer, author-ginn-hale

Read in December, 2012
Read in August, 2015

I remembered most of the first part but with this I drew a complete blank. It was new to me but still awesome. Things are moving right along and I can't bring myself to go back to the other book I have to finish. ...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Bookwatcher rated it liked it

Shelves: magic, glbt-gay, fantasy

First of all I want to say I will keep reading this serie, but this is not a 5 stars story in my modest opinion.

Positive aspects of The Rifter so far
Great main characters
Perfect world building (not just a "simple" fantasy story, but a very complex one with even a language created ad hoc for it)
VERY interesting know more about their society. The first book don't explain much, with this one much more was explained.

Negative aspects, and the reason I gave 3 not 5 stars
The description of the feast gr ...more

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Nov 07, 2014 Arch Bala rated it it was amazing

Shelves: supernatural, not-here, 5-stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 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 auth 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!
...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, glbt, rainbow-gay

Just a note: the author handles time as if it were putty in her hands. Even if the timeline is not simple and linear, the transition between two points in time or just the passing of time is always smooth and you don't feel like you're jerked forward or backward. The story is very interesting! ...more

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Jan 12, 2014 Serena.. Sery-ously? rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014, eng-2014

Se non mi laureo alla specialistica la colpa è anche della Hale.

Cosa è riuscita a creare questa donna!!

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Apr 11, 2011 orannia rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Four and a half stars. I finished this Part this morning and I kept thinking (and speculating :) about it while grocery shopping. When do we get our hands on Part III?

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Jun 29, 2011 Brad rated it it was amazing

I continue to be fascinated as this story gets deeper and deeper. As a writer, I'm dying to see how such a long story arc will be shaped. Like lots of other reviewers on here, I don't yet know where this is going, but with such a long format story, I don't expect to know everything yet. What's captured me is the thorough world-building. I'm having a captivating time exploring this fully realized setting with Kahlil and other well-developed characters. Lead on, Ginn! ...more

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