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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Police brutality
Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, War
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am telling you, this book is FANTASTIC!
This has instantly become one of my top reads of the year. If not the best, I can easily see it being in the top three!
I can't even, right now.
I couldn't read it fast enough!
My brain can't deal with the cliffhanger.
The idea of having to wait for the next book is going to drive me crazy!
I'm still processing the foreshadowing and that cliffhanger. Truthfully, I highlighted entire sections of my book. Obsessed. Nothing specific has been reinvented here, but the magic system is captivating and comprehensive. The pace and character development are perfect. I will say the MCs appearances don't follow the standard mold, and I find that refreshing. And again, that cliffhanger! This world is about to expand, significantly! I have a feeling we have only just begun to witness the depth of the FMCs power and ability.
The last book to have me worked up like this was Fourth Wing. Like I did with ACOTAR, I'd be binging this series if it were already complete!
Let that sink in for a couple seconds, then run to get Riftborne, because it is that good!
This has instantly become one of my top reads of the year. If not the best, I can easily see it being in the top three!
I can't even, right now.
I couldn't read it fast enough!
My brain can't deal with the cliffhanger.
The idea of having to wait for the next book is going to drive me crazy!
I'm still processing the foreshadowing and that cliffhanger. Truthfully, I highlighted entire sections of my book. Obsessed. Nothing specific has been reinvented here, but the magic system is captivating and comprehensive. The pace and character development are perfect. I will say the MCs appearances don't follow the standard mold, and I find that refreshing. And again, that cliffhanger! This world is about to expand, significantly! I have a feeling we have only just begun to witness the depth of the FMCs power and ability.
The last book to have me worked up like this was Fourth Wing. Like I did with ACOTAR, I'd be binging this series if it were already complete!
Let that sink in for a couple seconds, then run to get Riftborne, because it is that good!
I love a hidden powers trope or when the protagonist needs to learn how to develop or control their powers and Riftborne has all of that and more. Fia’s journey to become stronger and her drive to protect those she loves is heartbreaking at times but always eventful.
Personally, I felt the relationships between characters and their connections seemed superficial. Fia was the one character I did enjoy but felt like she didn’t fit. I could not stop wondering about the power system and how her ability just did not make sense to me. I eventually got my answer... In short I enjoyed this story, but I think I will enjoy book two much, much more.
Recommending to those who are into mental manipulation and shady military boys.
Personally, I felt the relationships between characters and their connections seemed superficial. Fia was the one character I did enjoy but felt like she didn’t fit. I could not stop wondering about the power system and how her ability just did not make sense to me. I eventually got my answer... In short I enjoyed this story, but I think I will enjoy book two much, much more.
Recommending to those who are into mental manipulation and shady military boys.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fia has tried to keep her powers a secret and under control, but that goes out the window when the general sees her use them in a pretty compromising way. She is thrust into the military, which is something she never expected, given that she's part of a group of people that was almost completely wiped out. She must deal with harnessing her powers, interacting with people who hate her because of who she is, the larger situation as a whole, and whatever the heck is going on with the general. 👀👀👀
What a twist at the end! I am curious to see where this story heads.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.
What a twist at the end! I am curious to see where this story heads.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Rating: 4.25/5
I really liked this book! What a great debut to a new series and for an author pair! I have been wanting to get back into reading fantasy, and this was a great way to do that.
I really enjoyed the various topics an themes throughout the book, with a faction of people who are branded due to the sins of their parents and the way they navigate through life because of those brands: the way they are treated, the way they grow up, the jobs they can find, etc. Fia, our FMC is one of these branded, marked for a betrayal that she didn't even commit.
I also really enjoyed the magic system in this book, as I thought that it was unique with powers that were unique. The way the authors spend time explaining how they work made me really buy in to the whole system and made it believable. The variety of powers that people can have and the variety of strengths that they can have adds to the complexity of the system and to the sheer strength of the team of people we spend time with.
The pacing of the book was really well done as well. I never felt bored and was always looking forward to what was coming next, while still being told that there was a jump in time between chapters that helped me buy in to our FMC, her powers, her training, and everything else. Nothing felt rushed and nothing felt too slow.
I enjoyed our MMC, Laryk, as well. I thought that the romance was well done and I liked the way that it built up over time and almost sneaks up on you, but it never felt wrong. I liked that he was willing to train her to control her powers, but wasn't her main trainer for the Faction. Even though he wanted to use her as a weapon, that is a pretty common thing in a fantasy novel and I was okay with it. Especially once he started to show some of his colors and be considerate of her needs. I am withholding being completely on board as it is only the first book and I have learned my lesson too many times lol.
The ensemble cast is really great! From Fia's friendships with the other branded, the trainees that she befriends, and the various leaders she interacts with, I was looking forward to each interaction and learning more about each person. They were all interesting and unique, and I really enjoyed the character work done on each of them. Brava! I am so used to being able to draw parallels between characters of the ensemble of various series, so this was a nice way to break the cycle and have something fresh.
The twist at the end was not what I was expecting, which is pretty unusual for me! I'm pretty good at predicting where things are going, so I am super excited to see where this series is going especially the ramifications of that twist, and I cannot wait for the next book to come out. I will definitely be continuing this series.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
*ARC received from Netgalley - all opinions are my own*
TL;DR: Really enjoyed despite me having a few gripes with the plot! Riftborne would be best suited to those looking for an easier, almost YA, feeling fantasy. Definitely recommend and can’t wait for the sequel!
Review:
If I took away the romance, Riftborne was a very solid 4-star book and a solid start to the series but felt like the romance has potentially let it down a little for me.
As I said, as a purely fantasy book, I loved it! It was a bit of a simpler read but still really enjoyable with some interesting history we’re learning about throughout the book and a magic system that really has my interest. I liked that the authors have given each of the “classes” of powers different manifestations of said powers.
The romance, however, I wasn’t a massive fan of unless General Laryk turns out to not be the intended love interest, which I personally hope he isn’t. He comes across as very cold and unfeeling towards Fia throughout the entire book and on the few occasions where he is showing some sort of feeling for her, it comes across as very power hungry and wanting to own her as opposed to genuine love. I think he could potentially feel like he may have feelings for her but honestly think it’s her power that he’s attracted to and getting to know a way to crack her - Laryk actually mentions something similar during their training sessions. I’m really hoping for a different love interest in the future, especially given certain plot points at the end.
Aside from my issues with the romance, my oly other gripe is how Fia seemingly “gets over” her hatred of the Aossi and just sweeps all the discrimination she and the other Riftborne have faced aside when she meets a handful of people who don’t discriminate against her. Nevermind the fact that she tries to twist it to be “Ma” planting that in her head. Very bizarre that anyone could get over that so quickly.
Overall, despite my couple of flaws with Riftborne, I did thoroughly enjoy reading it and I’m very excited for the next book to see how things progress, especially with the ending happening the way it did!! Definitely recommend!
(Also final, more personal, side note on the romance - the authors state that Laryk is an Xavier to Fia’s Dark Phoenix which doesn’t make things clearer to me as a lover of both the X-Men movies and the comics. Nevermind that that’s a bit of a complicated and contested topic in the fandom so?? Regardless, Laryk hasn’t endeared me to him at all but only time will tell and I have my own theories for what will happen next!)
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Thank you Netgally, Bree Grenwich, and Parker Lennox for the ARC!
This book 😮 it had everything I love. It’s fast paced, gripping, me gasping 😂 the growth within the FMC Fia was on point.
Not to sure about her chemistry of her and MMC but that might just be me 😂
Riftborne made me forget that I was reading and made me feel like part of the story and that ending 😮
I cannot to grab a physical copy as a trophy 🤩
/spoilers/
I got very excited to read this book at the very beginning of it, thanks to the decree put as a first chapter. I thought it really set the scene of the social climate. Unfortunately, 60% in, I still don't understand the world : in what sort of society are we? in what period are we (middle ages, renaissance,...)? I was just lost.
I also thought we should have had another chapter before the first one to get to know our main character before the action starts, but it wouldn't have changed anything because I still don't know Fia as well as I should 60 % in the book.
Now, the fact that I knew who the love interest was from the first chapter made me laugh. It isn't a negative point, but he was introduced so early in the story, I just had to laugh. But we don't know anything about him, so why does Fia want to jump his bones? No idea.
We need to talk about dynamics, especially between Fia and the General : she's supposed to hate him/be afraid of him and yet she talks to him as if he was just an arrogant boy from school. And he just drops his mask almost instantly before her. Where is the yearning? Also, they never really talked so why is there a strong attraction between them? I'm absolutely not on board with this relationship.
Generally, I love when there is a training bit in a book. Here, it just wasn't appealing, like I didn't care. Also, the Lieutenant isn't even respected by his recruits, which is weird I think.
Am I gonna talk about the character of Ma? You know, that unsufferable, selfish, borderline abusive person? No, I won't spend more time thinking about her.
In summary, I just felt left down by this book, who had such good premise.
I got very excited to read this book at the very beginning of it, thanks to the decree put as a first chapter. I thought it really set the scene of the social climate. Unfortunately, 60% in, I still don't understand the world : in what sort of society are we? in what period are we (middle ages, renaissance,...)? I was just lost.
I also thought we should have had another chapter before the first one to get to know our main character before the action starts, but it wouldn't have changed anything because I still don't know Fia as well as I should 60 % in the book.
Now, the fact that I knew who the love interest was from the first chapter made me laugh. It isn't a negative point, but he was introduced so early in the story, I just had to laugh. But we don't know anything about him, so why does Fia want to jump his bones? No idea.
We need to talk about dynamics, especially between Fia and the General : she's supposed to hate him/be afraid of him and yet she talks to him as if he was just an arrogant boy from school. And he just drops his mask almost instantly before her. Where is the yearning? Also, they never really talked so why is there a strong attraction between them? I'm absolutely not on board with this relationship.
Generally, I love when there is a training bit in a book. Here, it just wasn't appealing, like I didn't care. Also, the Lieutenant isn't even respected by his recruits, which is weird I think.
Am I gonna talk about the character of Ma? You know, that unsufferable, selfish, borderline abusive person? No, I won't spend more time thinking about her.
In summary, I just felt left down by this book, who had such good premise.