Why are more people not taking about this book! The writing and story line are great. It had me smiling and giggling as well as yelling at these characters. It was just so freaking good! Fated mates, Gods, Forbidden love, sassy strong characters, twists and turns. Whatever you are doing … stop and read this book! Seriously. Now.

Romantasy
🖤 Slow burn
✨ Magic
🖤 Witty banter
✨Dragons
🖤 30-40 yr old FMC and MMC
✨ found family
🖤 Celestial theme

There are parts of this book living rent free in my head. Overall a well written Romantasy with great world building
The banter was perfection.
The FMC was determined to make a difference and the amount of care she had for her family was profound. I love Astra's character and how unwilling to give up she was. I love that she is a demi goddess who uses her power for good and only wanted a world without labels, titles and strived for equality. I love that there were strong female characters in this book as damsels in distress can be over rated in books.
I wasn't ready for the ending and honestly I wish the book was longer that's the only reason I didn't add a fifth star. However I will be looking forward to the next book in the series. I feel this was a good debut for CB Woods and look forward to reading more from her.

2.75 ⭐

It was, overall, enjoyable. The world-building is interesting and original, we got adult characters (FMC is 30 and MMC is in his late 30), even the side characters were nice to have around.
But I don't think this book is for me. The enemy side of the enemies to lovers wasn't enough for me (to me, it was more like 'we should hate each other because of what we are, and I'm annoyed by your presence' but nothing more) and the high stakes weren't high enough. But I enjoyed the author's writing, and I think many will enjoy this book more than I did.

3.5 stars!
My favorite parts:
- the celestial setting & magical deities
- main characters who are in their 30's!!
- unique love bonds

What I didn't like:
- the pacing of the story felt convoluted
- very predictable outcome
- a lot of telling but not showing

Overall, I did enjoy this. Most of my issues are me being nitpicky. I wish that Astra and Lux had a bit more chemistry - their connection is explained, but not truly felt. A lot of times the story would jump from one thing to the next. Some moments lacked depth and detail while others were drawn out. Also, Astra's dragon just got completely left out in the last half of the story for some reason. Just a random thing I realized after finishing. I am curious where things will go in the sequel and will likely read it. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I tried so hard to get into this book but something about just felt like I was being kept at arms length. This was hard for me to get into and let alone remember what happened when I would go back to read more

4/5 stars

Ever had a book grab you by the soul and refuse to let go? Rift did that to me. It’s the kind of fantasy that doesn’t just tell a story—it drags you into a world of glittering courts, deadly magic, and characters who keep you guessing at every turn.

Picture this: two rival courts teetering on the edge of war, and caught in the middle is a protagonist who’s forced to play a deadly game of power they never asked to join. The writing? So vivid you can almost taste the tension in the air. The stakes? Sky-high. And the twists? Oh, they’ll leave you reeling.

If you’re into fantasy that’s packed with intrigue, simmering tension, and just the right amount of betrayal, Rift is your next must-read. Trust me, you’ll be hooked from the first page.

Thank you Netgalley and Emrae Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#cbwoodbooks #NetGalley

Astra's mother sits upon the throne but that didn't stop her from being banished years ago when she shared one too many progressive thoughts that undermined her mother's strict rule. Now she has returned but her thoughts are no less contradictory to her family's. She seeks to gain control by using herself as a bargaining tool and agreeing to wed the King of Mercury. This will see her closer to the political upheaval brewing between all the courts but also to the King's commander, Luxuros, who has as much to hide as Astra herself, it soon appears.

Whilst I did love Astra's character and learning about how this world was governed, my understanding and enjoyment did dwindle a little as the book continued. What began as an exciting and fast-paced fantasy read soon became either filled with lots of information harshly thrust at the reader or pages of romantic interludes where feelings were focused on but not a lot actually occurred. I did enjoy what I read and thought this a unique premise, but the pacing was off for me and ultimately ruined my overall love for the story.

first off, thank you to CB woods and netgalley for the ARC!

i really loved this book! i have been in a bit of a reading slump lately and haven't been as interested in my books as usual. but rift really helped get me out of it. i fell in love with the magic system and the lore revolving around the solar system (it scratched my fantasy AND science itches simultaneously). the story was whimsical, tragic, romantic and beautiful. astra is a spicy, firey fmc and i loved diving into her family lore. all of the characters had so much depth and i think the physical representation of empathy being a blessing & a curse for astra was unique and also relatable as somebody who feels so deeply.

some of the political background was confusing for me because it was so in-depth and mildly complicated, but is was also so detailed and always relevant. the writing style flowed beautifully. the slow burn in this story was DEVASTATING and it had me reading for hours at a time wishing desperately for some characters to get together. some of the decisions/choices lux made frustrated me, but was satisfied in the end when his love interest finally won him over (and he won me over completely too). the moments of spice were sparing but i think that allowed those scenes to be so much more impactful and powerful as representations of how strong their bond is.

i will be waiting very impatiently for the second book to be released. such wonderful, impressive and beautiful storytelling and i was genuinely impressed that this was a debut novel! read this book!!!

First, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and CB Woods for the chance to read this incredible ARC of Rift!!

Ok, I’m not great at reviews but I need to stress to everyone how amazing this book was. It had literally everything I look for in a book. It checked every single box. The writing was top tier. The characters were fully rounded, relatable, and had so much depth. The story line was complex, but not overly so. The romance was perfect: full of angst, heat, yearning, and passion. Fated mates and meddling fates? Yes please. There was mystery, subplots, and revealed secrets that all came together in the end perfectly with no string left untied thank goodness, because that drives me crazy. I loved the ending too. No cliff hanger and left me smiling but still wanted more And desperately wondering how this story will end!

I loved Astra and Lux. They’re now in my top character loves. Next to Aragorn and Arwen, Jude and Cardan, Morozko and Vasya. Tessa and Will, Rowan and Aelin. To name a few. Haha. They were perfect.

I think I loved every single character, from Astra’s secretive mother, to Lux’s heartbroken father. Ameera and Lunella. Every single one added such heart and depth and feeling to this story.

One of my favorite little things about this story was Astra’s ability to see emotions as colors. That was incredibly done. All the colors felt so fitting to the emotions and feelings the author had them tied to. I loved it.

I beg you to please pick this book up. You will not regret it. This is exactly the sort of book you search for special editions of so you can had a couple copies in your collection. A paperback to loan and a special edition or two to show off. Plus, I just learned that the Author will have some signed copies available on her Instagram page!! So do yourself a favor and pick one (or two) up!!

I am impatiently and eagerly awaiting the second book! Fortunately we won’t have to wait too long!! Thank goodness!

Rift by CB Woods - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ publish date 25th February 2025

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit confusing at times but the love story at the heart really kept me hooked. The longing and the tension was so well written.

I really liked the FMC. You could really feel the resentment she has towards her mum, the throne & what it represents. I liked that she says what she means, she cares about the realm and its people and she tries not to be ashamed of her gifts despite not being in control.

The MMC Lux is really likeable. He puts those he loves before himself and has a past that even he isn't sure about.

The plot is good. It's really well paced, we learn a lot about all the different courts, the gods / goddesses, and kings & queens.

I did find that I still didn't quite understand the hierarchy all that well. There's so many different kings, queens, goddesses, gods, realms, the nether world, then people ascend but does that mean they die? It did get confusing in parts.

The tension and longing between the FMC & MMC is so well written. You could feel it. The dream scenes were brilliant and romance was one of my favourite parts. There was a scene in chapter 35 that made my heart actually ache. Even the love story of Astra's parents is beautiful.

I liked the side characters. Lunelle and Mirquios really add to the story. I'm excited to see there's a novella coming out about their time in Pluto!

The magic system is really interesting. I really like that Astra can see people's emotions / feelings through colours.

The political intrigue, complicated relations between the rulers & the people, and the relations between realms add to the story.

I am looking forward to continuing the series when the next book is out. I hope we see Lux's past / lineage explored in more detail as this is such an interesting part of the story!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc. This is my own honest review of this book.

Publish date- 24th Feb
Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Rating 3Stars
Romantasy

Tropes
Fated mates
enemies to lovers
Secrets & blood oaths
Celestial world
Strong FMC

This book definitely has uniqueness to it but I just really struggled to get through it. I'm not saying it was awful but it also wasn't amazing… it just didn't hit for me like it has for everyone else.
I did enjoy reading about world building and the love interest within the main characters but not so much anything else.

I loved this book, I need the next one STAT!!
The romance is beautiful, and the fantasy is intriguing and done well.
My only complaint, and the reason why this isn't a complete 5 stars for me, is that it almost feels like the author expects you to have an understanding of the world before getting into the book. Some things could have used an explanation, or a reasoning for going from point A to point B.

. The first few chapters throw a lot of information at you without a larger in depth dive into what that content is. I did genuinely enjoy the writing style ! The characters were well written, I just had a hard time following the plot

So good! Loved the story, the writing, the characters, the build up and more. Wishing I could read it again for the first time and will most definitely be recommending to any and everyone!

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Rift
✒️ C.B. Woods
💫💫💫💫
"Please, Princess. I've bled for you before, and I've no problem doing it again. "

Rift is a celestial romance of a Demi Goddess who wishes for a life outside of the court and politics. Astras' story was so well written and captivating. An incident that involved her magic sent her away to only be brought back for an arranged marriage of convenience to the Mecurian King.

When Astra ventures into her new role, she meets Lux, and the banter is *chefs kiss*. Lux is the MMC that has you kicking and giggling as you read his interactions with Astra. I think it's fairly obvious who the love interest is, but it never feels forced, and the slow burn was a good one (did I actually type that? 😅).

The world building of this book was amazing. There are multiple aspects that all play a part in celestial politics, but not once did I feel lost. The dynamics between found family and friendships were amazing.

Overall, it was a really good book. The ending ties itself up nicely, so I'm interested to see what happens next.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has a really intriguing concept and a refreshing world that I haven’t seen before and I was really excited to dive into it. Unfortunately, my excitement didn’t last that long. I think the story lacked detail and depth which I think would have made such a difference. It felt like we were just skimming over the top of a plot that could have been deeper and more action packed.

I struggled with the overly descriptive writing in the beginning and the plot was very slow, but then towards the last quarter of the book it felt like everything was on fast forward and major plot points were happening but they were just glossed over and on to the next.

Overall, it felt like an underwhelming read, which I’m sad to say because I think this story and world has so much potential.

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!