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.

What a fantastic read! The world building is incredible and so detailed. The celestial world is unlike anything I’ve read before. This was incredible and I hated having to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emrea Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

*A huge thank you to C.B Woods, Emrae publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this arc!*

Rift tells the story of Astra, Lunar demigodess and black sheep of her family who has been cast out due to her rebellious nature. When she’s summoned back home to the Lunar Court by her mother, she soon finds herself striking a deal to marry the King of Mercury in order to bring peace and a much needed alliance between the other courts. But then comes the arrival of Luxuros, the kings commander and the bane of Astras existence….

Hello to my new romantasy obsession…I don’t think I will be getting over Astra and Lux for a while! I absolutely love a fated mates trope and the whole tether concept in Rift was in interesting take on it that I loved! The tension and longing between Astra and Lux was amazing and the enemies to lovers build up was done so well it had me second guessing if I was rooting for the right couple! I adored the side characters as well and the whole magical world building involving the celestial courts was a fresh take on fantasy - I haven’t read anything quite like it before!

My only criticism (and it’s minor!) is that sometimes there were so many names thrown at you that it was hard to keep track of who was who. I did find it a little confusing and difficult to get into at first but once I hit the 20% mark I was hooked and couldn’t put it down!
I absolute devoured this one and I can’t wait to see what happens next

The characters were actually all fairly interesting, and the banter between everyone was my favorite part of this story. However the whole story itself felt…overworked? So much world building, yet not enough…once the 70% hit a whole other aspect was introduced and my mind honestly checked out.

3rd PoV
Slow burn romance
Fated mates



Thank you NetGalley, Emrae Publishing, and CB Woods for an ARC of this book.

I loved how unique this magic system and world were. The writing was so well done and it really made you connect with the characters. I could not put it down and I cannot wait for book 2!

Review for Rift by C.B. Woods – ★★★★☆

First, a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have always loved discovering new romantasy books, and Rift truly swept me away with its breathtaking world and intricate storytelling.

This book builds an immersive celestial realm filled with shimmering landscapes, hidden truths, and high-stakes court politics. The magic system is easily one of my favorite aspects—so unique, richly detailed, and seamlessly woven into both the world and the characters' growth. It’s the kind of magic that feels alive, influencing the story in ways that feel fresh and fascinating.

I will say that the beginning took some time to find its rhythm, but once the tension started building, I was completely hooked. The slow-burning romance between Astra and Lux crackles with banter, longing, and just the right amount of push-and-pull. Their dynamic is compelling, layered with both undeniable chemistry and deep emotional stakes.

If you are a fan of enemies-to-lovers romance, fated mates with a twist, and political intrigue, you will find so much to love here. While the slower start kept this from being a five-star read for me, the rich world-building, complex family dynamics, and powerful emotional twists more than made up for it. And that ending? Let’s just say I’ll be counting down the days until the next book!

If you love your fantasy with courtly drama, celestial magic, and romance that burns slow but hits deep, Rift is absolutely worth picking up!

4.5 stars!

This was refreshing. Many of the things I’ve read lately have felt like the same story repeated, but this felt new.

Astra is my favorite type of FMC, who is strong simply because she cares about other people and doesn’t just sit and do as she’s told. Then add in the best type of slow burn romance, intricate world building, and a unique plot.

It did take me just a second to get into it in the beginning, but I suspect it was because of the last book I read putting me in a slump.

I definitely recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Emrae publishing for this eARC!

This book is a solid 4 star for me. The premise, the world, the characters, the plot development, the FMC and the slow burn romance were all brilliantly delivered and executed and I very much look forward to the next book. I found it incredibly refreshing that Astra (and her sister) are both in their 30ties, we don't see enough of that and it feels more relatable, realistic and means that these characters have some actual life experience, so much appreciated! I struggled a bit to get into the story, but once I did, I was fully invested and I feel that the balance of romance and political intrigue was achieved very well. I did however have some issues with the worldbuilding, at points it felt hard to understand and didn't feel presented in a way which was easy to follow. as a seasoned fantasy reader I thought this was such a shame because when after the halfway point of the book I started getting a better understanding and is sort of all comes together, the concept of this world is brilliant (maybe with a re-edit this could be fixed?). Overall, fans of the genre should definitely give this a go, it will not disappoint!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emrae Publishing and CB Woods for the ARC copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Emrae Publishing, and CB Woods for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

This book is beautifully written with such a beautiful and alluring descriptive world setting! It was almost giving me Sailor Moon setting vibes regarding the space, planets, moon, with colorful descriptions of pastels throughout.

The relationship between the FMC (Astra) and MMC (Lux) was a good slow burn development. The first 70% ish of the book was quite predictable to me with the typical and lovable romantasy tropes but the last 20-30% got me confused with the motive and was suddenly info-dumpy that I couldn't care less about the other characters that suddenly popped up last minute into the story. I enjoy that there is world building and lore in this book but that last 20-30% very informative lore of the book should've been spreaded throughout the story or should've been saved for the next books.

Even though that last bit got me confused, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would like to continue reading the next one!

”Make whatever you desire of me. Make me your sunlight, make me your darkest secret. Make an irreparable mess of me.”

“Perhaps it never dies, then–the love we carry when we’re living. How unfathomably horrifying, to be haunted by life even when you’re haunting in death.”

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ / 5

The celestial world brought to life in Rift is absolutely gorgeous, rife with political intrigue, rebellion, and royal family drama. The backdrop to this slow burn romance is a richly-woven exploration of class, democracy, grief, and personal growth. Oh, and there’s dragons!

Astra is a stubborn, headstrong FMC with an independent streak a mile wide. She fumbles her way through multiple tense situations, somehow finding her footing despite always seeming to be the last person in the room to know what’s happening (and why).

The central love story is slow but believable, with a comforting banter between them that brought a smile to my face more than once. There are also strong side characters who keep our leads on their toes and help make everything feel real. I also appreciated the LGBTQIA+ representation, though I would’ve loved to see more of it in the fated category.

This is an incredible debut, there’s no question. I’m intrigued by the world and want to dive back in with the next release. That said, I did spend the first 25% or so a bit confused about the world (more became clearer as the story unfolded) and the scene setting. The use of third person, with a largely female cast to start, made things a bit difficult to follow. And, as a devoted romantasy reader and lover of fated mates as a general trope, some of the elements that seemed meant to be twists were predictable (but still executed with sweetness and care).

The spice is on the milder side and overall light, though there are a few spine-tingling moments.

I highly recommend Rift for those who love plot-driven romantasies with deep world-building and complex female-led political machinations.

📚Fast facts📚
✨ Enemies-to-lovers
✨ Slow burn
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Rich magical world
✨ Courts, demigods, goddesses
✨ Fated mates
✨ Multigenerational family drama
✨ LGBTQIA+ friendly
✨ First in a series (no cliffhanger)
✨ Romantasy MF
✨ Third person, past tense

I am grateful to C.B. Woods, Emrae Publishing, and NetGalley to have received an ARC of this story! This is my honest and unbiased review.

Rift was a very unique romantasy. I very much enjoyed the magic system and world building. Because this was a very complex world, it took a little bit for me to get into the story, but once I did I really enjoyed it.

I especially loved that all the main characters were at least thirty. The tension between Astra and Lux was great, though I did find myself occasionally frustrated with Lux's choices.

This book is written in 3rd person POV but almost entirely from Astra's perspective. It was occasionally a more omniscient narration, but I couldn't tell if that was a stylistic choice or due to Astra's powers.

I'm also not sure how I feel about the conclusion to the main conflict of this book, but that can happen with the first book in a series as there's still a lot to come. I am looking forward to reading the next book to find out more.

Thanks to NetGalley, Emrae Publishing, and CB Woods for the ARC!

I am almost never surprised by the world building in romantasy books. It’s one of the reasons I read them. Life is hectic, so why not sink into a world of sword fighting, dragons, monsters and heroes?
Rift surprised me (in the most amazing way). This world is a complete novelty to me. The characters and their homes are so thoroughly developed I found myself wanting to go visit.
Astra is so likable. She has faults and doubts but they aren’t overblown. She’s a badass but never says she is.
The first time I met Mirq, I thought he was the MMC and I was absolutely ready for it (I was thrilled to find out there is going to be a book in which 𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔!) but then I met Lux and like… Xaden who?
Also… the last 100 or so pages had major twists that had me cheering aloud (sorry to my sleeping husband) and I cannot wait for book two already.
If you’re a lover of Romantasy, do yourself a favor and pick this book up!

There's so much to praise about Rift!

Astra and Lux's story is set within a tale of long-standing conflicts between courts and rebels within them. As war looms, the two of them are on a journey to discover hidden secrets and protect their people.

The world feels richly built and unique. There's so much to discover that it took me some time to settle in, but it really paid off.

What I loved most of all though was the slow burn romance simmering away at the heart of the story! Featuring forbidden love, enemies to lovers, and fated mates - it hit all the right notes of longing, tension, angst and sweetness and was so much fun to read.

Thank you NetGalley, Emrae Publishing and CB Woods for allowing me to read this ARC.

Rift is a celestial gem! It’s so dreamy! The world building makes reading the book feel like resting on a gentle cloud. For me, this read was a bit slow, but in a pleasant way. I found myself pausing at the vibrant, enchanted scenery. I don’t think it’s necessarily a slow read, but I wanted to spend some time playing in the imagery. Each setting was more romantically lovely than the last. It demanded pause to soak in the beauty. Political intrigue was a main trope in this read, and it was done thoroughly. I was fully invested in the way their courts operate.
The FMC offers a balance to this serene world with her fiery, badass personality. She is full of wit and mischief. And she is a fully grown woman. All main characters are over thirty. I found that unique, and refreshing.
I also highly appreciated the representation in this book!
The banter is humorous and addicting. Lux made me blush multiple times. The tension, yearning, and sharp pang of heartache was delicious.

This is a thrilling mix of romance, fantasy, and political intrigue. Astra, a fiery Lunar demi-goddess, is thrown back into a world of betrayal and power struggles, where she must fight for change. The slow-burn romance with Luxuros adds depth, and the world-building is rich, though a bit dense at times. While the pacing takes a moment to settle, once it does, it’s hard to put down. A fantastic read for romantasy fans—I’m excited to see where the series goes next!

Rift is a thrilling and thought-provoking novel that captivates readers with its rich world-building, complex characters, and intense emotional depth. From the very first page, Woods pulls you into a unique universe where tensions run high, and every decision seems to have far-reaching consequences. It was a captivating read, loved it from cover to cover !

Overall i liked this book, i thought the magic was interesting and the love story kept me hooked. I just found it hard to follow at times, not sure if it was the wording or the way the author jumped straight into it. It was written almost if you should know all about the world already.

I will forever be a romantasy fan, nothing can change my mind. I was super excited to receive an ARC for this book. Fated Mates, courts, high stakes. This sounded perfect for me. While there ended up being parts of this book that I absolutely loved, there were some parts that I found it hard to get into.

For the first I want to say 25% of this book I was mostly stuck in a state of confusion. There was so much information thrown at me that I found it hard to absorb. I had a really hard time wanting to really get into this story at first. There was however parts once the story gets a bit more fluent that I was in love with. I found the world building and politics to be super rough but the relationships and character building were amazing. The banter and tension between all the characters really brought this story to life for me.

I am however excited to see this story continue once the next book comes out. While I feel like I struggled with reading this one I am still really interested in where it will go and how the characters will carry on.
Thank you CB Woods, Emrae Publishing and NetGalley for accepting me to ARC read this book!