The Rift Walker

Vampire Empire, Book 2

By: Clay Griffith, Susan Griffith

Narrated by: James Marsters

Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

The Rift Walker is the second installment in the Vampire Empire trilogy. Set in a postapocalyptic world, this tale of courage, sacrifice, and heroism takes place against the backdrop of an age of steam and rational humanism, where the social elite have rejected religion and spiritualism as nothing more than quaint superstition. Brutal Vampire Clans rule half the world, keeping human herds for food, and Princess Adele, heir to the throne of Equatoria, is faced with grim choices. War is imminent and her marriage to the odious Senator Clark of America will cement an alliance uniting the Equatorian Empire and the American Republic. This integration of war machines is to be the opening volley in the campaign to reclaim the Northern Hemispheres. Unfortunately, Adele’s betrothed has a bloodthirsty war strategy, one the Princess finds as repulsive as the actions of the vampires they fight.

Moments in advance of the Princess’s marriage to the Senator, the Greyfriar, legendary champion of the human resistance, rescues Adele before vampire assassins can murder her. While on the run from the agents of Prince Cesare, the acting Clan Lord of the Northern Vampires, Adele seeks to discover a way to protect her beloved Equatoria and prevent the genocide Clark intends to implement, all while trying to free herself from an unwanted marriage. Meanwhile, Cesare’s agents have struck deep at the heart of Equatoria and will stop at nothing to keep Adele from ascending to the throne.

Treachery abounds; friendship, loyalties, and allegiances are tested. Will Princess Adele be able - with the help of her beloved Greyfriar; her devoted guard and faithful officer, Anhalt; and her mentor, Mamarou - to turn the tide before human civilization is forever shattered?

©2011 Buzzy Multimedia Publishing Corp. (P)2013 Buzzy Multimedia Publishing

Typical Middle of the series

James Marsters excels as usual in the performance of this book. I bought the book because he was the narrator, but the story is excellent as well. Great plot, very interesting and I'm really looking forward to the final installment. The first book was more interesting of course as it usually happens. This is the usual middle installment that sets the stage for the end.

Excellent continuation

Maybe better than the first. The story continues where The Greyfriar left off. Much deception is taking place within the palace walls, as Adele's wedding with Clark grows near. It seems everyone in power has their own strategy to win the war between vampires and humans, with Adele and Garreth having the most to lose, as she harnesses hidden powers that turn out to be weapons for her cause. James Marsters does an exceptional job of bringing all these colorful characters to life, with his amazing job of male and female voices from various parts of the world.

Buzzy and Marsters Hit Another Homerun!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Rift Walker to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print edition so I really can't compare the two.

Who was your favorite character and why?

King Misiri. He is so over the top but yet in some way very believable. He goes for the gusto. I also like the fact that he is honest in saying that if one of his daughters had done what Adele did he would be incredibly sad but would not be able to speak to her ever again.

What about James Marsters’s performance did you like?

He makes the book feel more like a movie. It is one thing to read about emotion but hearing it in his voice is so visceral, it really connects.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The connection between the two main characters is magnetic

Any additional comments?

Buzzymultimedia continues to produce quality audiobooks and their collaboration with James Marsters is simply stellar. Marsters is so talented an actor that it comes across in every book he has produced with Buzzy, and the people at Buzzy keep picking interesting material that captures one's imagination with exciting, tasteful books that are beyond compare.

Great Series!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Rift Walker to be better than the print version?

This is a great series. Not the same old vampire story -- fresh, original, enticing mythology -- with a fabulous narrator, James Marsters! I can't wait for book 3!

James Marsters is brilliant

What about James Marsters’s performance did you like?

Thank you Mr Marsters for bringing such depth to the characters and the story as a whole.

Well written and read.

Loved the story and the reader is one of the best I've listened to in a long time.

Amazing Fun

These books are so fun, and so fascinating! And James Marsters is hands down my favorite audio book reader!

Captivating story

This was another captivating storyline of Vampires vs Human inter reaction. Has many twists and turns, highs and lows then ending with loose ends to be wondering over for another book to end the tale.

Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!

Where does The Rift Walker rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Adele. I can't help it. She is very feminine and also very strong. Naive in some ways but she has been around politics all her life so she is savvy in some ways as well. Not to mention her stay in the Tower of London and her escape in the first book.

Have you listened to any of James Marsters’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I've heard his other performances in the Dresden Files and also his Macbeth. All excellent but in many ways this is tougher than most because of the diversity of characters. He not only did both male and female voices, young and old, but also African, Persian, German, Indian, French,Japanese and several different types of British accents. This must have been the hardest for him to do but you would never know it while listening. Marsters is amazing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did. I have an Orson Scott Card as well as Game of Thrones waiting in my library but I've been waiting for the Rift Walker and downed it all in one go. Now when is the King Makers coming out?

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed The Greyfriar and was concerned that the second book might not be as good as the first but as it turns out it has all the things I enjoyed the first time around but taken up a few notches. Adele is no fragile Princess waiting to be rescued by a knight on a white charger. She is strong, resourceful, highly resilient and smart enough to know when she needs some help. That masked man at her side is no faultless hero but someone driven to strive to be a better person, to champion the downtrodden and to serve as best he can to aide Adele.

In this book they travel far from the earlier settings of London and Alexandria and it was fun hearing the voices James Marsters came up with when they go the Mountains of the Moon in Africa. My God, he has an incredible range. From a female Persian to an African potentate he nails it every time.

This is my first time downloading an audiobook. I have always purchased hard copies. It was fun getting it instantly but what will I do when I want the book autographed?

Love James Marsters 💙

Great book! High adventure, forbidden romance! Loved it! James Marsters brought the book to life!