Book Review: Riftborne by Bree Grenwich, Parker Lennox

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Enemies To Lovers
Pages: 426
Format: Ebook | Kindle Unlimited
Rating:

Initial Thoughts

I am nothing if not easily influenced, and after seeing a plethora of TikToks saying that The Ascended is the next six-star read, I wanted to see if it was true. There was a caveat though: before reading The Ascended, it was strongly recommended to read the first two books in the Esprithe Trilogy to truly understand it and feel the full emotional impact.

While not a hard requirement, it seemed like the kind of suggestion worth following. I had come across Riftborne before and it didn’t pique my interest, but I decided to give it a chance anyway.

The Plot (Spoiler-Free!)

Fia Riftborne has a power she can’t control and a temper to match, in a world that doesn’t like her or her kind. She’s Riftborne, which means she once lived in Riftdremar before the rebellion. Her parents and nearly all of her friends are dead. All she has left is her best friend, Osta, and her job at the apothecary.

Everything changes when she loses her temper on two noble girls, nearly killing them. To make matters worse, General Laryk Ashford witnesses the whole thing. He offers her a choice: train under him and join his faction — or die. Even though the Guard was responsible for the death of her friends, Fia knows this opportunity might be her only chance to master her powers.

War is coming, and Fia must decide which side she’s fighting for.

What I Liked

I can’t lie — there’s not much I loved about this book. I didn’t dislike it, but nothing stood out. I did enjoy a few things, like the magic system and how everyone has a “focus.” That was cool. It kind of gave X-Men vibes, since each person’s focus — or power — could be anything.

“Most focuses were ordinary. A farmer might have a certain knack for identifying good soil deposits. A hunter might have a sixth sense when it comes to tracking. Ma could ignite small flames, but there was an entire Guard family who could send the world into a burning blunder.”

I liked the scene where Ashford finally figures out Fia’s focus. His method was clever and a little conniving. I also enjoyed the brief battle scene between Fia and Baelor — it was short but exciting. I actually wish that part had lasted longer.

What Didn’t Work for Me

For most of the book, it felt like not much was happening. A few moments made me think, “Okay, the plot’s picking up!” but those bursts of action were short-lived. The pacing felt stagnant for most of the 400 pages.

As a main character, I found Fia frustrating. She always assumes the worst and seems allergic to having fun. Every time the story had potential for a lighter or exciting moment, she dampened it with hesitation.

I also didn’t feel any chemistry between Fia and Ashford. Their romance felt flat and unconvincing.

The ending seemed rushed and not well developed. It was also a bit cliché, like something I’ve read before.

At times, the writing felt more YA than adult, even though this is meant to be an adult fantasy. The dialogue sometimes sounded more like teenagers than people in their twenties.

Final Thoughts

I probably should have trusted my instincts with this one. When I first read the summary, it didn’t sound like my kind of book. But after seeing all the TikToks recommending it before The Ascended, I gave in.

It wasn’t bad — just not for me. I won’t be picking up the sequel anytime soon, and honestly, this one has made me a little less motivated to start The Ascended. Maybe I’ll get to it eventually.