Rift & Rise are to The Nightshade series what The Infernal Devices are to The Mortal Instruments. They are fantastically written, full of intricate details and a fiercely passionate romance. Fans of historical fantasy, like TID or Grave Mercy, will devour these books. It is not at all necessary to have read Nightshade before beginning this series, but now that I've finished, I want to read the rest of the series all over again.