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moonchildsmonologues 's review for:
Riftborne
by Parker Lennox, Bree Grenwich
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited to dive into this story, as the synopsis promised a story that sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, it ended up not being quite what I’d hoped for.
The writing style didn’t resonate with me, and I struggled to fully immerse myself in the story. The worldbuilding, a critical element in fantasy for me, left a lot of unanswered questions. For instance, I couldn’t quite grasp the distinctions between the Sidhe and the Riftborne, or the reasons behind their war. The story lacked any in-depth exploration of the politics that might have led to it or the ripple effects afterward. The aftermath of the war was only shallowly described, almost as though it were an afterthought, which made it harder to engage with the stakes and conflicts of the story.
Additionally, certain plot choices felt difficult to believe. For example, the protagonist joining the army responsible for the death of her family and the destruction of her homeland, didn’t feel convincing to me. Similarly, certain events seemed to happen simply to advance the plot rather than arising naturally or serving a meaningful purpose within the context of the world or characters.
Adding to this, the MMC came across as having zero depth or personality, making it difficult to root for him or even tolerate his role in the narrative.
And although the FMC is described as being 23 years old, her inner monologue often read more like a teenager’s. Similarly, the romantic progression, marketed as enemies to lovers and slow burn felt rushed and abrupt.
The characters as a whole came across as shallow and underdeveloped, which made it difficult for me to care about them. On top of that, the timeline occasionally felt unclear—sometimes I’d read a paragraph only to realize that events weren’t unfolding over a single day but a longer, unspecified period.
That being said, there were a few positives. The book was a quick and easy read, and the central idea of the story had a lot of potential. The cliffhanger at the end hints at intriguing possibilities for the second book in the series, even if I can already speculate on some of the developments.
Overall, while the concept behind Riftborne was compelling, I found the execution lacking in depth and cohesion, which prevented me from fully enjoying the experience. That said, it might still appeal to readers who prioritize fast-paced plots over intricate worldbuilding or character depth.
I was really excited to dive into this story, as the synopsis promised a story that sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, it ended up not being quite what I’d hoped for.
The writing style didn’t resonate with me, and I struggled to fully immerse myself in the story. The worldbuilding, a critical element in fantasy for me, left a lot of unanswered questions. For instance, I couldn’t quite grasp the distinctions between the Sidhe and the Riftborne, or the reasons behind their war. The story lacked any in-depth exploration of the politics that might have led to it or the ripple effects afterward. The aftermath of the war was only shallowly described, almost as though it were an afterthought, which made it harder to engage with the stakes and conflicts of the story.
Additionally, certain plot choices felt difficult to believe. For example, the protagonist joining the army responsible for the death of her family and the destruction of her homeland, didn’t feel convincing to me. Similarly, certain events seemed to happen simply to advance the plot rather than arising naturally or serving a meaningful purpose within the context of the world or characters.
Adding to this, the MMC came across as having zero depth or personality, making it difficult to root for him or even tolerate his role in the narrative.
And although the FMC is described as being 23 years old, her inner monologue often read more like a teenager’s. Similarly, the romantic progression, marketed as enemies to lovers and slow burn felt rushed and abrupt.
The characters as a whole came across as shallow and underdeveloped, which made it difficult for me to care about them. On top of that, the timeline occasionally felt unclear—sometimes I’d read a paragraph only to realize that events weren’t unfolding over a single day but a longer, unspecified period.
That being said, there were a few positives. The book was a quick and easy read, and the central idea of the story had a lot of potential. The cliffhanger at the end hints at intriguing possibilities for the second book in the series, even if I can already speculate on some of the developments.
Overall, while the concept behind Riftborne was compelling, I found the execution lacking in depth and cohesion, which prevented me from fully enjoying the experience. That said, it might still appeal to readers who prioritize fast-paced plots over intricate worldbuilding or character depth.