The premise of the book was interesting but sometimes it was hard to stay on the page with such descriptive writing with the emotions and colours. It was easy to get lost the description and loose touch with the plot.
I was excited about the book and what it had to offer, the characters were relatable and had good arcs.

3.75 stars

This book starts a bit slow, but it's hard to put down once it gets going! The world-building is fantastic, the magic system is unique, and the characters are well-developed. It's refreshing to see older main characters, older being 30+, but still older. The slow burn in the book was done so well that I was on the edge of my seat waiting for these two to get together, and the banter *chefs kiss* I am impatiently waiting for book 2!

This is Book 1 of a new Romantacy series (“The Courts Between”). So there’s enemies to lovers with fated mates and royal intrigue. There is a lot going on. It was interesting but also confusing. The magic and world seemed overly complicated and I’m still not sure I fully understand either. Oh and there were a lot of characters. New ones just kept showing up! The plot moved quickly but maybe too quickly. Overall enjoyable but did make my brain hurt a little. 3.5/3.75 stars. ✨

Thanks to NetGalley and Emrae Publishing for this advanced copy. Pub date 2/25/25.

I need book 2 now!! 4.25 🌟

Safe to say I loved this one! It started off slow for me but when I got to around 20-25% in my goodness I was completely hooked. The world building felt unique and unlike anything else I’ve seen in other romantasies, the characters were diverse and multidimensional and the writing was great.

The tension, omg the tension and yearning was excruciating and I absolutely loved it! I think a huge strength of this was the age of the characters (30+) meaning we really did get true yearning from the MCs which was amazing.

The plot was dynamic and kept me on my toes with multiple plot twists I didn’t expect! There was political intrigue, corruption, scheming and it meant that we got a great balance of romance but also a solid plot to go with it.

I will absolutely be buying (or if I’m very lucky, reading the ARC) for book 2! Congratulations CB Woods on an incredible debut, this deserves to be the next bestseller in my eyes! Thank you to Netgalley and Emrae publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

THIS BOOK WAS STUNNING!!
Astra is such an amazing character in this book and I loved her so much! This was honestly such a refreshing read and just so much beautiful world building. The plot was gorgeous and so entertaining. CB Wood's writing is so immersive and easy to read. Astra was just a very refreshing character to follow and she is incredibly strong. she is a very humble character that is easy to relate with.
The slowburn was stunning and had me giddy the entire time. There was no cringy moments with the romance and it was easy to see the feelings of each character and what they wanted. I could go on forever about this book but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I highly recommend everyone go read this book.

Thank you Netgalley and CB Woods for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Dreams don’t do the truth of you justice”

This book has it all. The complex detailed world, unique political system, magic structure and layered detailed characters with a beautiful plot line.

Following Astra as she navigates her world, her role in it and how to fight for the people she loves was such a treat. Following the romance of her and Lux was a slow burn that had me turning page after page. It was flawless: whitty banter, organic growth and just enough spice to keep me hooked. Astra and Lux are some of my favorite ships in quite some time.

While the beginning of the book drops you head first into the world, it is quickly explained and easy to follow. I devoured this read and I cannot wait for the novella and next book in the series. This is a phenomenal five star read for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emrae Publishing, and CB Woods, for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

ＮＥＴＧＡＬＬＥＹ
ＲＥＶＩＥＷ

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
- 30+ year old characters
- fated mates
- celestial world
- planet courts
- engagement of convenience
- forbidden love (he is her betrotheds’ commander)
- corrupt gods
- banter
- slow burn
- complex world building
- female centered society
- secrets and deceit

𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: a few open door scenes

𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
This book has such a unique world with planet courts, an interesting magic-esque system and a story that keeps you on your toes. I really liked the characters, the banter (especially in the second half) and how much there was to uncover and learn alongside the female main character. The concept is super intriguing, and the world has a lot of potential.

That being said, the beginning was a bit rough for me. I almost considered not continuing because I had little to no idea what was going on.
The book throws you right into the middle of everything without much explanation, and while it’s clear that the author knows this world and story inside and out, it just made it quite hard for me to get into the story.
With just how unique the world is, i think maybe a prequel that explains the fundamentals of the world and how certain concepts work, as well as more descriptions and explanations throughout would have helped a lot.
That said I’m glad I stuck with it, because by the second half I was much more familiar with the world, more invested and thus really enjoying it.

overall, I’m definitely looking forward to books two and three!! I just hope the next ones offer a bit more clarity on some of the concepts that still feel a little underexplained.
In general, if you’re into astrology, astronomy, female friendships and political intrigue, you should give this a go!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions are my own.

Lunar demi-goddess Astra dreams of a world where title and rank mean nothing dangerous for someone a heartbeat away from the Lunar Throne. She had been exiled due to her fiery tendencies and beliefs and spent the last three years far away from the court's politics. However, when a mysterious object is found, her intuition earns her a summons, and she goes back to the palace and away from the community she helped build. Once she is back in the court, it is clear her mother only plans to use her as a bargain, so she strikes a deal with the King of Mercury. This deal, however, entangles her with the king’s commander, Luxurious.

I loved this book. I have said that a lot recently, but I am very invested in this world. I love the fantasy world CB Woods has built and the characters she has created. I am so invested in the world's politics and the character's happiness. I am obsessed with how the courts are all based on planets from our world with the most incredible magic system in place. I am so interested in how the Tethers work. I love it compared to how other fantasy world’s fated mates work. I am so excited for the next book because I genuinely cannot wait to see how Astra's story continues or where her sister Lunnelle’s story may go. I also cannot get over the slow-burn romance; I genuinely loved their story, especially the bickering and banter and how protective they are. I loved the world-building in this book, and I loved learning alongside our main character. It is my favorite way to learn about the world. The characters' growth and development are wonderful, and I love how the dynamics change between everyone. I just fell in love with this world and am so sad that I must wait for the next book. So much of it felt so relatable to how I feel now, and I have needed that lately.

🌖Fated Mates
🌗Court Politics
🌘Book 1 in Series
🌑Enemies to Lovers
🌒Priness x Commander
🌓Forbidden Love
🌔Slow Burn

So thank you, NetGalley, Emrae Publishing, and CB Woods, for an early copy of this book for an honest review.

Now, this is one of the easiest 5 stars in my life. Where do I even begin?

I guess... firstly? I AM YELLING AND ABSOLUTELY FERAL FOR THIS BOOK. LIKE EXCUSE ME? WHAT GAVE IT THE RIGHT TO DO THIS TO MY HEART???

I'm sorry for this stream of conscious nonsense, but... I'm SHOOK. I went into this with reasonably high expectations, and it SHATTERED them. God, I just know I'm going to leave stuff out, and for that, I apologize, but I'm gonna do my best.

This is something really special. If I were to liken it to anything, it would be like Sailor Moon meets Game of Thrones meets The Witchlands series by Susan Dennard.

Also, forget Enemies to Lovers. This book. THIS BOOK! It has my favorite trope of all. Idiots to Lovers, which, in my humble opinion, is the infinitely superior trope. I was living my best life reading the words on these pages.

The characters were phenomenal, and I've said it once; I've said it 1,000 times. In this house, we love complex and flawed characters, but we also accept perfect characters too. There was no shortage of either, and I am so grateful for the interesting push and pull of everyone's dynamics.

Lunelle and Ameera have never done a god damned thing wrong in their whole lives, and I live for them.

NAYSAN??? BEST DAD EVER!
Ostera... Girl... I like you, but you are on thin fucking ice.
THE LUNAR ELF QUEEN.
Mirquios!!! What a good guy! I loved all the twists and turns with him, especially with *his* love interest. I'd say more, but spoilers... >:3
ALASTAIR
Oh!!! Also! Lmao poor Arcas just existing and trying his best. I see you, buddy. It'll be okay XD

Finally, Astra and Luxuros, chef's kiss, you perfect pair, you. I have not been this amped about a ship in YEARS. ***Chapter 30*** omg, like I knew, I did know *it* and even though I knew it and saw it coming. I did not care. That is the most angsty, delicious confession ever. I am forever grateful for their bickering, witty banter, protectiveness, NOT possessiveness over each other. I could not have asked for more.

Now, I am in AWE of the lore, world-building, magical system, and socioeconomic/political systems. It's such a cool, rich world.

I have one nitpicky criticism, which is that it was a bit clunky at times, especially in the beginning, but genuinely, it was not enough of an issue to hinder the book as a whole.

I cannot wait for the novella and the second book!!! I just wish this came in a physical copy, but I will happily settle with supporting the author and buy the digital copy as soon as it becomes available.

Exiled for her rebellious nature, Lunar demi-goddess Astra is forced back to court when a mysterious object is discovered, only to find her mother scheming to use her as a political pawn. Determined to seize control of her own fate, Astra strikes a marriage bargain with the Mercuryan King, though her entanglement with his infuriating commander, Luxuros, drags her into a web of secrets, celestial power and looming war. As buried betrayals resurface and the gods watch closely, Astra and Luxuros must navigate deadly politics and forbidden magic before their world is torn apart.

I devoured this book - I simply couldn’t put it down! It’s such a fun, easy read that had me hooked from the very beginning. The world-building, though a bit confusing at times (nothing I couldn’t piece together as the story unfolded), is brilliant. I absolutely loved that the characters are 30+, which isn’t something you often see in fantasy. And the magic? I adored how Astra sees emotions as colours - it made it so easy to understand what she was sensing.

Speaking of Astra, our FMC, she is a fantastic character. She never backs down and is always fighting for the ones she loves. Her development throughout the story is truly heartwarming. Luxuros, our MMC, is an absolute delight and such a tease! I loved their romance - the tension was palpable, and the way they tried (and failed miserably) to fight their feelings made the slow burn even more enjoyable.

I really enjoyed all the side characters too, as they added even more depth to the story, not to mention the engaging family dynamic. The cliffhanger at the end was a bit predictable but still satisfying, and I can’t wait for the next book!

Congratulations CB Woods, for this amazing debut!

Another great start to a new romantasy series! I really enjoyed these characters and this world. Looking forward to more!

3.5 stars

The first book in a series and the author’s debut novel, Rift tells the story of Astra, a rebellious Lunar Demi-Goddess and her determination to restore justice and equality in a universe run by greed and power.

The story takes place in a celestial setting which I found to be very unique. The magic system and powers of the characters were also components I hadn’t come across before. I probably would have liked and benefited from a little more detail in the world building, there was a lot of trying to figure things out along the way and that caused some frustration and reluctance to keep reading. It’s very obvious the author knows her world well, but it shouldn’t be assumed the reader can catch on as quick.

I loved the feminine rage and strong female characters (and of course the male characters.) Even though the characters were well and truly adults from the beginning of the story, they were well-developed.

The enemies to lovers trope was done well and my gosh, the slow burn was a true slow burn! So much angst and tension! And I loved the dreams! If you know, you know.

Overall, a good read that has everything from fantasy to romance to politics and war, not to mention a very unique setting and magic system, with a few plot twists thrown in. I would however recommend it go through another couple of editing sessions as there was a lot of parts that did not flow, seemed to jump and skip information etc also, while the story is written in third person, I got the impression it was once written in first person due to coming across “me” and “we” in the narrator’s section.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emrae Publishing for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this story, once I got fully into it I couldn’t stop reading because I was so intrigued about the history, the characters, relationships, inter court politics and the enemy to lovers plot line. 



While I enjoyed the enemy to lovers plot, I did feel it wasn’t enemy enough for my liking. I wanted them to hate each other more, but that’s just my own personal preference and not a slight on the relationship with Astra and her beau! 



I did leave the book craving more, more information about the courts, more information about the gods, I definitely wanted more history than we get told about at the beginning of the book. I felt like there could have been more world building overall.

The thing I loved the most though were the characters! They literally jumped off the page and I ate every bit of snarky dialogue up! It left no crumbs, every relationship Astra has with her family, friends & love interests were dynamic, interesting and delightfully sarcastic. 


Overall, I liked the book. & I probably will read the second when it comes out, but I’m not about to camp out for it. 
I feel like it’s a great beginner fantasy read, easy to follow and plenty of twists and turns to keep the plot going without any lull.

Wow! The world building, the magic, the banter, the suspense! This book had everything I wanted. I devoured this story so quickly! I absolutely loved this story so much!!

Astra is an exiled fiery princess from the Lunar Court who has made a name for herself in the thriving village of Celene. After an urgent summons from her mother, the icy, detached Queen of the Lunar Court, Astra reluctantly makes her way back home after three years and is thrust into a whirlwind of political plots, a looming war with the Solan court, and is only uncovering more and more mysteries as she tries to uncover the truth about the past. Refusing to follow the predetermined path her mother has laid out for her, Astra ties herself to the King of Mercury in order to pave her own way. Although the Mercurian King surprises Astra by holding the same dreams of a free court, she can't get her mind off his looming Commander, Luxuros, a mysterious man with his own troubled past. Together, they embark on an epic journey to uncover the truth, overthrow the traditions of a long established system that takes advantage of its people, and discover love, identity, and that everything they thought they knew was a lie.

I don't even know where to begin with this stellar novel! I absolutely loved it and was pulled in from the very first page. This was such a refreshing read with original ideas and a world-building that I feel rivals some pretty big current authors like SJM and Jennifer Armentrout. CB Wood's writing is so immersive and dream-like I felt I was right there traversing the Rift with Astra and co. Her descriptions are tantalizing and her magic system is unique and new. Astra is also a very refreshing female lead, she is strong and passionate, but is also selfless and really cares about others. She is a very grounded, real character and I can seeing her being the next It Girl in romantasy.

I really have to give credit to the care with which this novel was written. I feel like nowadays it's really hard to find a romantasy that packs a punch and makes the characters and their world feel real and make sense. The slowburn was beautifully done, it wasn't cheesy, there was so much delicious tension and "will they/won't they", and the payoff was everything I wanted it to be as a reader. The plot is also so well thought-out and goes farther than expected. There were twists and turns and a surprising amount of layers that I wasn't expecting, but delighted to discover. I really appreciate that CB Woods wrote as a "show-er" and not a "tell-er". It was very satisfying to learn how the world worked just by being alongside Astra in her journey rather than just info-dumping. Probably my most favorite thing about her writing.

I also love the complexity of the relationships we see in this book. CB writes a compelling romance, but definitely just as important is the relationship we see between Astra and her mother, the bond between sisters, what truly makes family and that it is not always blood, and also the relationship Astra has with herself and her identity. I can't believe the depth we saw in all of these facets of relationships in just one novel, and it didn't feel rushed or bogged down because of it, but elevated the story even more.

I could really go on and on about everything I loved, but you'll just have to read it to see what I mean! If I had to give a critique (besides having to wait until 2026 for book 2!!) I did feel that at points the explanation of a few things were a little confusing, such as what is Astra actually doing when she is tampering down Solan heat, and I do wish there was more of a moment for Astra's character development where she is like "oh maybe I don't know everything" but honestly these are such minor things that didn't take away from the book at all.

Read this book if you love a truly well-written romantasy story with a fully fleshed out plot and immersive world building that will having you dying for more. This is for fans of slow-burn, political intrigue, adventure, mystery, and all the twists and turns along the way. I can't wait to purchase a physical copy when it comes out, and I'll be anxiously waiting for the sequel!

First let me say, what an interesting and fresh take on Romantasy. Rift has all the things you know and love in Romantasy; fated mates, magic, enemies to lovers. However, instead of elemental magic or dragons or fairies, this book centers around a celestial court system, where each court is a celestial body in the our solar system. Astra is a force to be reckoned with, as she champions change in the celestial courts by dismantling the oppression of the gods and royals, and pushes for equality amongst all people. The journey Astra goes on, with the lies and deceptions she uncovers, and the unlikely allies she makes she makes along the way, make Rift a worth while read.

What a wild ride!
This was enjoyable. I liked Astra's character. Of course I love Lux. Their chemistry was amazing. I even downloaded the bonus epilogue. The concept of the Tether intrigued me. Being pulled and bound to a person when everything in you screams for you to back away. Stolen glances. Gentle touches.
THE TENSION.. immaculate.
Found family was beautiful.
The celestial world I really liked. The different courts were interesting, though I wish we explored them more.
I'm interested to see what's in store for the next installment because I felt this one wrapped up pretty well.
notes:
I felt the worldbuilding could use a bit more development, especially in the beginning and toward the end. It almost was like being thrust into the world, with little to no backstory and reasoning. I just wanted a bit more about the consequences and favors of the magic system. That kind of led me to be confused, especially when the different courts were introduced. Also, there was a scene near the end where Astra recounts the events that her mother wasn't aware of to the Counsel. But in my opinion it was redundant, as she went on, and on about details we already knew about because we've gone through those scenes with her. In that scene, we could have just said "I told my mom everything" or something along those line and it would still make sense.

Astra is the rebellious younger daughter of the Lunar Court and she fit her part so well, running around doing her own thing and letting her sister Lunelle shoulder the responsibility. She’s not selfish though, she’s focused on positive change in her court. She and Lunelle are best friends and their relationship is written so well.
Luxuros is stubborn and tough on Astra but also easy to love.
I loved the cosmic setting of this world, with the planetary theme for the Courts and the Rift, the stream of travel used to go between courts.
The writing was good, straight forward, easy to read, but there was the odd bit here or there that felt a tiny bit out of place - it was written in 3rd person but from Astra’s POV and every so often there was a comment about what Lux was thinking or feeling. Not sure if it was intentional.
I liked the plot, this is a romantasy with so much more happening thanks to the political unrest in the courts. I feel like things made sense and flowed well.

I really enjoyed this - for some reason I wasn’t expecting it to be so politically motivated and I loved that extra layer! I am definitely going to be watching for the next instalment, Rift had an epic feel and I think things will only get bigger in book 2.

Thank you to the author and publishers for allowing me an ARC for this book via NetGalley!

Summary: this books follows a female character who has a gift of fire wielding as she discovers secrets about her court and her family, and makes new friendships along the way. This book details the inner and outer workings of courts, conflicts, and learning about yourself.

What I liked:
- I LOVE a strong FMC. Astra is broody, powerful, and very realistic
- there were plot twists that genuinely had me surprised
- the story is intricate, but not difficult to follow. All loose ends are tied by the end and it’s very satisfying
- the romance aspect is very refreshing and it’s so nice to see relationships that aren’t all fluff
- the characters are multi-dimensional. Every character is unique and vastly different to one another
- the LGBTQ+ representation is written in such a good way. The writing of those characters feels very genuine, and it doesn’t feel like a ‘token’, and as a bi female the representation is so important

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for the next one 👀

Rating: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Rift by C.B. Woods is an immersive fantasy novel that hooked me with its intricate world-building, well-developed characters, and high-stakes tension. The story balances action, intrigue, and emotion in a way that kept me turning pages, eager to uncover the secrets of the Rift and its impact on the characters.

One of the novel’s strongest elements is its character development. The protagonists are flawed yet compelling, making their struggles and triumphs feel earned. I especially appreciated how Woods didn’t shy away from morally complex decisions, forcing the characters to grapple with difficult choices. This added depth and made the story feel more grounded despite its fantastical setting.

The pacing was well-executed, with moments of intense action balanced by quieter, character-driven scenes. The imagery was vivid, pulling me into the world with ease.

If I had one critique, it would be that certain plot points felt a little predictable, but that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. The themes of resilience, identity, and belonging resonated with me.

Overall, Rift was an engaging read that left me eager to explore more of Woods’ work. If you’re a fan of richly detailed fantasy with strong character arcs, this is definitely worth picking up.