WOW! This book had me hooked from the first page! I absolutely loved the magic system in This and the plot/world building and romance per perfectly paced! I couldn’t fault this and I will definitely be pre ordering! I can’t wait to find out what happens next :)

Thank you for the Arc NetGalley

Great from beginning to end. Such a great job from world building to the suspense, romance, drama. I’m already looking forward to the next one!

Rift by CB Woods is a thrilling, slow-burn romantasy that hooked me from the first page. The story follows Astra, a character whose development is as compelling as it is heart-wrenching. From the start, the tension between Astra and Lux builds slowly, creating the perfect enemies-to-lovers arc that’s so satisfying to watch unfold. Their dynamic is filled with suspense, emotion, and chemistry, and the slow-burn romance between them makes each moment feel earned.

The plot is a rollercoaster ride—full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The stakes are high, as Astra and her allies are revealed to be pawns in a larger game orchestrated by the gods, adding layers of intrigue and mystery to the story. The foreshadowing is subtle but well-placed, making it easy to anticipate certain events while still being blindsided by unexpected turns. Each twist kept me guessing, and I couldn’t put the book down.

The unique magic system is another standout element of Rift. It’s rich, intricate, and adds a fresh layer to the world-building. The way magic interacts with the characters and their growth is fascinating and gives the story a unique feel that sets it apart from other fantasy books.

The only downside? The agonizing wait until 2026 for the next book in the series. But even with that looming, I’m already eagerly anticipating the next installment. If you’re a fan of slow-burn romance, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, divine intrigue, and complex world-building, Rift is a must-read.

so grateful to have received an ARC of this book, it did not disappoint!! THE TENSION THE YEARNING ugh yes

the FMC, Astra, is so relatable and also just such a badass all at the same time. she’s trying to find her place in the world, make a difference, find love, navigate her CRAZY family dynamics, control her powers and intuition, and manage anxiety

the BANTER the TENSION the SLOW BURN between her and Lux is just everything - forbidden love AND fated mates done just so well. the spice is not overly descriptive or in your face, so if you are not a huge fan of spice, i feel like you would still love this world!

the world building was rather straight forward without having major info dump paragraphs which i loved, but it felt clunky at times in the beginning that felt confusing for a small percentage of the book. once i hit 30% it was smooth and so action packed that i finished the last 70% in one sitting

i love the astrological vibes, the characters, the dragons and the magic here so i can’t wait to see how these characters grow and continue on their journey

I would like to thank NetGalley, Emrae Publishing and CB Woods for the ARC copy of this book.

Synopsis:
Astra, Princess of the Lunar Court is in exile because of her uncontrolled magic. Years later, her mother calls her back home when the courts are at the brink of war. She agrees to marriage of convenience to attempt to take control of her life and help her kingdom. Adventure ensues.

Rift was a fun adventure into a magical land. The dragons, magic, and unique world building got me interested. The complex family problems, court intrigue, and romance kept me hooked!

I enjoyed the various relationships that we encountered on Astra's journey; a complex mother/daughter who are at odds with another, sisterly bonds, and close friendships. The romance was well developed and interesting. Overall, this was a well paced story that I could not put down. I look forward to reading the next installment!

I would like to thank NetGalley, Emrae Publishing and CB Woods for the ARC copy of this book.

When I saw the tension and yearning in this book had me CLAWING at my kindle, honestly. I’m a slow burn girlie and the burn was burning slowly (in a good way)

This is a great adventure, fantasy, magic, dragons, and the world building was perfect.

The FMC is relatable and strong and the banter is SO good.

I was a bit slow with the first 25% or so of the book but once I hit a certain point I just FLEW and devoured it in less than 2 days

This book had me jumping up and down and screeching like a.....bog witch!

This was the slowest of slow burns! The yearning,the misery, the stolen touches!

It genuinely broke my heart at times and made me legitimately cry with sadness and eventually eventually joy!

Everything about this is perfect: the world is so fascinating and new, the magic is so cool, and the characters are dynamic and are fleshed out - I actually liked all of them, ALL OF THEM! their backgrounds, their personalities, the mystery and tension, everything was written so well!
You can really tell a lot of thought and love went into creating this world.

100% a five star read!
I cannot wait for the rest of the books in this series, novellas and otherwise!

Wow, wow, wow! The world building, the magic, the banter, the suspense! I ate this book up! I feel like this might be the next big thing! I absolutely loved this story so much!!

*Rift* is a stunning romantasy filled with court intrigue, forbidden power, and a love that defies fate. Astra, a fierce Lunar demi-goddess, wants nothing to do with the throne—until she’s forced back into a world of political games, family betrayals, and an arranged marriage that entangles her with the brooding and secretive Luxuros.

The slow-burn romance is *everything*—full of banter, tension, and aching longing. The celestial world-building is lush and immersive, with moonlit forests, glittering courts, and powerful gods pulling the strings. And the twists? Absolutely devastating in the best way.

If you love enemies-to-lovers, fated mates with a twist, and high-stakes drama, *Rift* is an unmissable read.

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

Astra is a Lunar demi-goddess who dreams of a world where of equality and rid of titles. Following a (literal) fiery incident, she is exiled to Ellume by her mother, the Lunar Queen. When she is called home to the Lunar Court by her mother, she is quickly thrust back into a world of politics where she has always felt out of place. She must make the difficult decision to make peace in a world she doesn’t feel she belongs or follow her intuition which has always gotten her in trouble.

A celestial-themed, magical world with political intrigue, bonded pairs (aka Tethers), strong female relationships, and a main character who just wants to make a difference? Sign me up.

I genuinely enjoyed watching the story unfold. I could feel the work that went into creating this world that feels like nothing I have read before. I loved that the main characters are all older, as in 30+ years which is rare in the fantasy world. I loved that the tension, the slow burn, the growth of each character. I loved that none of the characters lost themselves.

Astra is a relatable character despite wielding magic in a fantastical world. She spent her life feeling misunderstood and alone in a world that wasn’t ready for her, overwhelmed with a power that everyone tried to stamp out of her. And despite all the hurdles, all the times she was made to feel small and foolish, she pushed through the pain and made a difference. And when she got pulled back into the world that quickly threw her out years before, she still made a deal to marry the Mecurian King if it meant continuing to better the world. Astra has my heart.

This story explored the complexities of family dynamics, both blood and found families. The relationships were well written, thoughtfully developed.

The relationship between Astra and Luxuros was a slow burn with bickering and yearning and everything in between. They went through all the varying stages of a developing romance and at no point did it feel rushed.

My only issue with Rift was the writing, it felt overworked at times. If my rating was solely based on story this would have been a quick and easy 5 star, but the writing left something to be desired. I think this could easily be fixed with an extra round of edits and a more critical eye to make the story flow a bit better. I will absolutely be following this series because there is no way I’m missing out on the rebellion.