~ BOOK REVIEW ~ Prime ~ by Carrie Whitethorne

Title: Prime

Series: Riftkeepers #1

Author: Carrie Whitethorne

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: October 3, 2017 

One night. One taste. Pure Magic.

Stressed and tired, Charlotte needs a break. Raising twins single-handedly often takes a toll that even a glass of wine can’t cure.

And when Charlotte is reunited with the gorgeous and captivating Callan McAidh— who showed her what true passion and pleasure really were years ago— Charlotte knows her life is about to be turned upside down once again.

But when Callan reveals the truth about himself, and about her past, Charlotte is catapulted into a world of danger and mystique. Now, it’s up to Charlotte to accept her destiny while holding on to the only man she’s ever loved.

Charlotte soon learns that some legends have dark origins; some so dark it is impossible to evade their touch.

This is a paranormal romance novel with adult themes and language.

~ 4 out of 5 Stars ~

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  I read quite a bit of paranormal, and although this one had fairies, and your typical good vs bad with a human stuck in the middle, the author still somehow found a way to make this book stand out as much more original than the rest.  It kept me fully engaged from beginning to end.

Charlotte’s character was one of my favorites, because she wasn’t your typical damsel human in distress.  She was an exceptionally strong woman that had been successfully raising twins, one with apparent special needs, all while working a full time job.  Even once Callan re-entered her life and turned everything she knew upside down – opening up a whole new world to her and her twins – she never weakened, and her thoughts never swayed from what was most important: her children.  Throughout the book, her life got more and more complicated, and at one point, just about anyone would have broken, but she didn’t.  I love a book with a tough woman!

The world building in this book was also really creative and beautiful.  I suppose it helps that Ireland is already beautiful, but the additional world creation wasn’t overly done, and was easy to believe that those that lived there could easily transition between their world and the human world. I also liked how the “good versus bad” wasn’t necessarily so black and white (with the exception of one truly bad guy).  They’re more like different classes, one viewed as less trustworthy, but necessary for their “job”.  Once Charlotte enters their world, she definitely does her job breaking down those barriers and showing their flaws, and I can see how things are really going to blow up in that regard in future books – and I can’t wait to see it happen.

This book certainly kept me on my toes throughout, where I was sure (likely based on what other books would have done) what was going to happen next, but I was regularly proven wrong.  I have no idea what is in the future for any of these characters, and I look forward to finding out.  I’m sure we’ve only scratched the surface, and this book was the perfect slow (but not too slow) build up of what is going to be a huge upheaval in all worlds involved, and for every character.

The only reason I gave this book 4 instead of 5 stars is because there were times when it was hard to tell who was saying or doing what, and although  the general world building was fantastic, there were times where specific room or building descriptions were more difficult to imagine, so I had to reread them a few times.  However, it was very little distraction from the book as a whole, and will certainly not keep me from moving on to book 2 ASAP to find out what happens next.

Carrie is a mum. An author. A creator of worlds. A dreamer. A friend.

At her childhood home in Yorkshire, Carrie was encouraged to utilize her imagination, to see things for what they could be, and to ask the question “what if?” Her mum introduced her to worlds filled with magic: Barrie, Lewis, Tolkien, Blyton. That magic evolved and continued to inspire her when she discovered Rowling and Sanderson. They all asked the question and explored the possibilities, opening doors to new adventures that would forever change generations to come. 

Even as a child, Carrie preferred creative outlets and writing. But as an adult, Carrie had not yet had that moment of inspiration to begin writing a novel of her own. That all changed one normal morning, on a normal walk to school, when a small boy slipped from the pavement and on to the road. There was no accident. No horror. Just a near miss that later formulated into one question: what if he was able to save himself? Fueled by this question and Carrie’s love of fantasy, European folklore, and mythological creatures, The Riftkeepers emerged. This world answered her question. The series gave birth to characters that took on a life of their own, many telling continued stories in novellas and spinoffs.

When Carrie isn’t writing and annoying her editor with endless typos, she barely sleeps, thinks about her characters, indulges in an unhealthy Facebook addiction, exploring the beauty of the Lake District as her backyard, and contemplating which she loves more: pizza or wine. Definitely wine. Considered to be one of the most boring people she knows, writing her own biography was a definite weakness. Her first draft was rubbish and was picked apart by friends who insisted she was funnier and far more interesting than she gives herself credit. She was no longer allowed to write her own biography, so she provided input.

Carrie now resides in West Cumbria with her husband and two children. They are her inspiration. Her world.

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