I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. It was a bit like every other fantasy/romantasy out there. But I still had a good time reading it.

It was a little slow going in the beginning but got better and better as I got farther into the book. I enjoyed how everything and everyone was described but it was hard for me to keep track of what colors were what emotions which I feel like was a big part of who the FMC was. I loved the romance and how they “tether” to the person they’re destined to be with. I loved the surprise at the end and will definitely be reading the rest of this series once they come out!

Fantasy, romance, slow burn, LGBTQ+ representation and the main characters are in their 30's and 40's? Say less!
The book started off with complex world building and and lots characters and history...it took me a while to sort it all out. But eventually the story picked up, the characters developed and I was hooked all the way till the end. I loved the celestial based world and magic system.
There was a section closer to the end with a ton of information and secrets delved into (confusion reigned!) but it ended on a hopeful-type cliffhanger which has me really looking forward to the 2nd book.

My only real criticism of the writing (and it's probably just a pet peeve on mine) was the areas where the 3rd person POVs would switch mid chapter between the FMC and the MMC. It was usually just a paragraph or two but it jarred me from the flow of the story as I had to double check who was thinking or feeing what at that point.
Overall, great book, I'll be looking for the sequel when it comes out!

Thank you NetGalley and Emrae Publishing for allowing me to read and review an eARC of this book.

Wow. What a book!
Was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did but WOW what a ride! Definitely a new favorite and one I'll be recommending to friends!

Was 100% not expecting to love this as much as I did but WOW.
Cannot recomend this book enough!
The characters, world building, EVERYTHING was phenomenal.

Much love to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Rift in exchange for an honest review.

Astra Leona Aurellis is exiled from the Lunar Court — or she was, until her mother demanded her return. Back home for the first time in years, Astra finds herself a political pawn, her birthday celebration used to strengthen allies within the courts. She longs for a world where royalty and courts don’t hold absolute power—an idea as dangerous as it is treasonous when she’s only one living heartbeat away from ruling herself. When an unexpected opportunity arises to bring that vision to life, she seizes it by faking an engagement to the Mercurian King. When duty calls and he ships out to form an alliance with Pluto, she’s left in the Lunar Court with the kings infuriatingly arrogant and overprotective commander, Luxuros. With war looming, magic stirring, and secrets refusing to stay hidden, Astra is forced to confront truths she never saw coming, and face emotions she never imagined she’d see.

This book blew me away. I honestly expected a typical romantasy, but instead I was hand delivered a celestial kaleidoscope of vivid detail and unique world building. The political system isn’t overwhelming, the magic system is unlike any I’ve read before, and the romance is done in a way I’d have never expected.

🌟“Whoever you are, whatever you are, Astra Leona, the gods did not craft you to hide in the shadow of night.”🌟

I loved reading this story. It pulled me into a world I could easily imagine living and thriving in. The way the world is crafted throughout the novel makes you feel like the author has been there before, witnessed it with her own eyes. It’s so beautifully articulate that it’s hard to imagine it’s not real life. I wasn’t left wondering what the sky looked like, what the fire felt like, how the colors Astra saw floated around the room. Don’t even get me started on the characters. Even side characters had bits of backstory that leave you wanting to know more. The overall timeline gets a little bit blurred when a handful of main characters go to Pluto for a while, but it doesn’t change the pacing of the story. I didn’t notice a single plot hole or inconsistencies throughout the story.

Rift is a story about a girl who defies the gods, changes her world, and doesn’t let anyone or anything stand in her way. This is a mesmerizing and phenomenally written book, especially for a debut author, and she’s now absolutely an automatic-buy-author for me. Highly recommend this to all romantasy lovers out there.

This book was an amazing escape. The courts, the political intrigue, betrayal, and slow burn chemistry was so intriguing. I couldn’t stop turning the page.

The representation was also so well done in this romantasy without taking you out of the story. It felt organic and authentic which shows the skill of the author. Excited for the rest of the series!

Astra, princess and demi goddess, is exiled due to her rebelious heart and uncontrolled magic but after three years she is requested back to the Lunar Court by her cold hearted mother, the Queen Oestera. Lunar Court and Solar Court are on the brink of war so Astra agrees to marry the King of the Mercurian Court as part of a bargain. Astra and the Kings Commander of the Mercurian warriors, Luxuros, need to make allies among the other planets so they go on a little adventure and in the process they seem to fall for each other. There is a lot of world building that takes place but not in a boring way. I feel it is paced nicely throughout the book. It is a very unique world with magic, courts, Gods and Goddess. There is political intrigue, a slow burn romance, found family and of course the complicated family dynamics, high stakes, with a lot of twists and turns. While reading I was really wishing for a list of characters at the beginning of the book. & Because there are around 9 (I think) courts it was hard for me to keep everyone straight at times. I do like that the world is based on the solar system but I still would've enjoyed a map that shows where everything is in relation to the Lunar Court especially when talking about the Above Court. I was just not getting a great visual spacial wise. I did go to the authors website in the hopes of finding some additional resourses but I didn't find anything. I will definitely be taking notes when I do my reread winter 2026 when the second book comes out so I have a better grasp on everything. Overall a great read! It took about 20% before I felt really interested in the storyline but I had read some reviews that advices it might take a few chapters so I kept on reading.

Rift by CB Woods is an incredible journey from start to finish that I couldn’t put down. Astra and Luxuros are both complex, captivating characters who completely drew me into their world. Astra, the fierce and determined protagonist, is someone you can't help but root for as she navigates through a world full of danger, betrayal, and heartache. Her strength, intelligence, and vulnerability make her such a well-rounded character, and I found myself cheering her on every step of the way.

Then there’s Luxuros—swoon! He's the perfect blend of mystery, charm, and power. There’s this incredible tension between him and Astra that kept me turning pages, waiting for their connection to deepen. The chemistry between them is electric and is honestly one of the best parts of the book. Their dynamic is a rollercoaster of emotions, and it was such a thrill to see how their relationship evolved throughout the story.

The world-building in Rift is absolutely stunning. CB Woods has crafted a rich, immersive world that feels both expansive and deeply intricate. The magical elements are woven in so seamlessly that you can’t help but get swept up in the lore and the rules of the world. The pacing is spot on, and there’s never a dull moment. Every twist and turn left me on the edge of my seat.

What I also really loved about this book was how well the themes of power, loyalty, and self-discovery were explored. Both Astra and Luxuros go on journeys that are just as much about their personal growth as they are about external conflicts. It added so much depth to the plot and made the emotional stakes even higher.

Overall, Rift is an unforgettable read that will stay with me for a long time. CB Woods’ writing is sharp, engaging, and filled with emotion. If you’re looking for a book full of magic, tension, and beautifully complex characters, this one is a must-read. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for Rift!

I was truly excited about this book and its premise. It has such a unique system of courts and magic that promised an intricate story.
Unfortunately it couldn’t quite grasp its full potential. I found myself confused and often frustrated by Rift, its characters, and its intricate world that I had so little information on. I seriously wanted to enjoy this, especially given I was provided an ARC, but I just couldn’t.

My biggest issue is with the world building, or lack thereof. For such an interesting premise, I was expecting to be learning about a detailed world, but I felt more like I was grasping at straws and forced to assume things about how the world worked. This was particularly evident with the court system. I really would have found a visual guide useful for the exact breakdown of the courts. Even a text explanation would have helped. Instead, the terms Courts Between, Living Courts, Courts Above, Courts Below, Lunar and Solar Court, Mercurian, etc. were thrown at me and I had NO CLUE how they all fit together. I didn’t know the breakout, if the planets were in the living courts, or the courts between, where the solar and lunar courts fell in that hierarchy. It made attempting to follow the political intricacies of the plot all that much harder because I had no confirmation of what was what.

Alongside that, I grew frustrated with the characters. Aside from Astra, it seemed every character had that intricate knowledge of what was going on and how things worked, except they wouldn’t tell Astra and the reader by extension. Part of this, I understand, was because of the oath revealed at the end, however a late game explanation doesn’t get rid of the frustration I felt the entire novel. Ehlmira felt placed solely as an overly knowledgeable character that didn’t ever actually act, but just told As and Lux everything they needed at that exact moment. Astra, on the other hand, was consistently mad at everything she wasn’t at least partially involved in. Her response to almost everything was anger, and it quickly grew redundant, lacking in emotional depth for a thirty year old woman.

Finally, the pacing felt off. I felt consistently whiplashed between sudden changes in location. Only for the plot then to drag on in one place for what seemed like dozens of repetitive conversations (As just gets angry at everyone each time). Then, in a few more pages the reader is thrown into a sudden plot reveal, or dramatic scene, that seems to end before any sense is actually made of it. The scene where Astra is dreaming at gets taken to the Courts Above felt so jackhammered in I was completely lost as to where, when, and why everything was happening. Dramatic scenes and reveals rushed by that could have been beautifully drawn out and depicted for readers, giving them time to truly grasp what was going on and the impact to the plot. Instead I was rushed through and left to piece things together as, once again, As is dumped somewhere to be mad at things.

There are a few smaller nitpicking things, but those three things are my major critiques here. The need for more worldbuilding, half-fleshed characters, and jolting pacing made for a reading experience where I felt I was doing so much work to piece things together as the reader, and even then I didn’t fully understand things until 97% through the book. It left me frustrated, uninterested in the characters, and disappointed by my lack of knowledge in a world I wanted to love.

There were certainly well written pieces, some reveals that brought back that intrigue in the world, engaging and entertaining banter. I don’t think it was enough for me to overcome my critiques, however.

A sumptuously detailed start to a romantasy series full of intrigue, tension, lore, yearning, and plenty of everything in-between.

The beginning jumps straight to the action, when Astra, a Lunar Princess and second in line for the throne, returns home after being exiled for 3 years. Astra, and the King of Mercury, Mirquios, have the same vision for their courts and lie to everyone about being Tethered (same notion as being fated mates) to secure an arranged marriage for their people.

I love the princess x commander trope, as Luxuros, a Solarian who lost his memory after The Flare and is loyal to the Mercurian Court, is basically her bodyguard. Astra can command flames, which later we learn is sunlight. She can also speak to other people through their minds as well as see auras/colors around people's emotions.

Lux starts to train Astra to control her powers, and as they grow closer, they both try to resist their growing feelings. Lux falls for her first but chooses loyalty to his Court over being with Astra really elevated the slow burn. I do wish there were more sweeping moments of romance in this story.

The truth of the rivalry between the Solar and Lunar Courts finally comes to light towards the end, but it was a bit confusing. The other Tethered royal couple seems like it was more of a convenience than anything. The cliffhanger at the end is a bit anti-climatic but I am curious what happens in the next book.

Immediately slipped into this world— the world building is next level! Astra is a lunar demigoddess but her powers are different than her the rest of her royal family. She is also second born. When we met her she has been exiled to a previously destroyed city due to not getting along with her mom and maybe setting her on fire— but she gets recalled really quickly. Trying to not spoil anything but my goodness this was good! The will they or won’t they tension, the undercurrent of politics, the celestial magic, fated mates, and banter— such a good read!

This quote is playing on repeat in my head: “Whoever you are, Astra Leone, the gods did not craft you to hide in the shadow of night.”

This book delivers exactly what you want out of a romantasy book!

Celestial world building, fated mates, court intrigue, war time politics, familial secrets, this book has everything! The pacing was perfection and the cast of characters were complex, oh and in their 30s! If you're a fan of Fourth Wing or Blood and Ash but are looking for something more, this is the book for you!

"I will not seek the gods' forgiveness - but they will beg for mine."
-- This is hands down the best book I've read in years. If you like enemies-to-lovers banter and revel in watching gods be damned, get on this train now. --

Astra is an outcast revolutionary, seeing the flaws in the ways of the kingdoms that surround her - in the kingdom where she was outcast by her mother, the queen, for not being able to control the forbidden powers within her. When her mother summons her back to be married off for political ties to another kingdom, Astra meets kindred spirits with the same visions of a future where there are no Kings or Queens - instead a thriving community. But fate and the gods in the Courts Above, have other ideas and are at war with one another, exposing long kept secrets that threaten to destroy everything Astra knew to be truth. King Mirquois of Mercury is every bit her political ally - and his commander, Luxuros, is every bit a thorn in her side. With the kingdoms on the brink of war, Astra begins learning more about herself, her powers, her history - and the lies told through generations to restrain her people. With so many ties binding her - to her kingdom, to her family, to the gods, to her people, to the Mercurian King and his commander - there is only so much tension she can take before something snaps. And as her soul becomes tied by fire and smoke to another, she discovers who she truly is and what she is capable of - and the gods will pay.

THIS. BOOK. 🙌 If you're a fan of the Darcy hand flex, Pacey & Joey level banter, Anthony & Kate tension, Hercules & Meg, Thor & Jane, and you love a good toppling of kingdom lore and theocracy, grab this book NOW. You will not be disappointed.

“You hear half of what I say on a good day, Astra.”
“That’s because you’re boring.”
“My gods, you are stubborn.
“I prefer ‘dedicated to my craft’.”
“Have you considered that whatever you call it, it’s extremely off-putting?”
“Have you considered, Commander, that I’m not trying to be on-putting?”

The banter was bantering. The world building was building. The lore was engaging. The characters were enthralling. EVERYTHING about Rift was incredible. Very rarely do I catch myself giddy while reading a book - but it was all over the place with the connections and conversations between all of the characters in this story. There is a small bit of open door spice, but it's not very descriptive and is very tastefully done.

"Whoever you are, whatever you are, Astra Leona, the gods did not craft you to hide in the shadow of night.”
"Make whatever you desire of me, As. Make me your sunlight, make me your darkest secret. Make an irreparable mess of me."

I really enjoyed the slow burn romance. There were a lot of interesting dynamics going on. The characters were compelling the mother-daughter relationship was intriguing and I would definitely recommend this to anybody. i’m looking forward to seeing more from this author in the future.

Rift takes place in a celestial world where you will meet Astra, second in line to the throne of the Lunar court. But Astra is not your typical princess. Exiled to live amongst a community of women, she dreams of a world where the order of things is more equal.

I absolutely adored this book, it is hard to believe it is a debut novel by C.B. Woods because it has become one of the best romantasy books I’ve read! The only downside of reading this story was that I now have to wait for book two. The world building was beautiful and felt different and original, I also loved the magic system. It was fairly easy to grasp and the pacing was excellent.

Most of all I adored the host of characters! It’s not often I enjoy all the side characters nearly as much as the main characters. The FMC and MMC were both very likeable and badass. Their banter and sass was hilarious, I found myself chuckling on more than one occasion. The slow burn and yearning was perfection. I just loved the authentic way their relationships developed throughout the book. There were twists and turns that were not always expected, and the ending was tied up quit nicely.

“If I were a smart man, I’d be on the other side of the universe by now, trying to forget the way you taste. But as you’ve pointed out many, many times, I am not a smart man.”

Tropes:
Slow burn
Yearning
Fake relationships
Forbidden love
Court intrigue
Mystery
Fated mates
Enemies to lovers


Rift is out today the 25th!
Thanks to Netgalley and C.B Woods for providing an ARC for me to review.

I so so so enjoyed reading this book by CB Woods! Book one of I’m not sure how many books, but I hope it never ends. The storytelling it beautiful and flows from one action to another. The characters are so compelling and relatable I felt like I was in this world with them. The tropes include- fake dating, fated mates, and slow burn romance. The spice was just enough. But even on top of that, the plot kept me reading chapter after chapter; I couldn’t put it down! I feel honored that I got to read this early and it may just be put on my list of rereads very soon

"The tether strained, collapsing her entire world into a single gilded thread."

CB Woods has created a very unique world in this romantasy. We follow Astra, a Lunar Princess, as she comes into her own and struggles to separate her own life from the court to do what's best for her people.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Literally couldn't put it down from start to finish. I fell in love with the characters and the world. Lux and Astra are my new fav book couple. The romance was sweet with the most gut-wrenching slow burn torture. Refreshing take on mates and romantasy in general.

Action packed interesting plot. There was an interesting play on dreams and I can't wait to see this explored more. I would re-read, continue the series, and auto-buy any book by this author!

I can tell this will be a super popular book!!! Please push marketing on this I will be ranting and shouting about it haha.

4.25 ⭐️

I throughly enjoyed this book!

CB Woods created a magical celestial world incorporating figures we hear tales and fables about into the story.

The enemies to lovers and forbidden love really hits the spot. The sparks flying between the FMC and MMC were addictive.

There were some great twists and turns, some I had an inclination about but I am okay with that as the story was well thought out and captivating.

It took me a minute to get my head around the writing style and understand the political system but the pay off at the end is so worth it. It’s setting us up ready for the second book.