Riftrider: Fall of The Enclave

by Emily Lankow

Loss is agony, but it is also where we find our greatest strengths.

After her recent job goes terribly wrong, nineteen-year-old Monica is forced to make a quick escape in order to keep from losing the magical artifact she was sent to retrieve; a coveted dagger with the rare ability to open rifts between locations, including other realms. The split-second decision to use the dagger’s magic to escape a perilous pursuit lands Monica in the magical realm of Vhalta, along with an accidental tagalong; a human teenage boy named Finn. Things only get worse when Monica discovers the dagger missing upon their arrival, leaving the two of them stranded.
While Finn becomes enchanted by the fantastical creatures and incredible magic of Vhalta, Monica is haunted by the terrible truth of this place. Much of the realm is governed by The Enclave, a group of radical magic wielders who loathe humans and will turn any who are unfortunate enough to cross their paths into slaves or corpses, a fact that Monica’s mother and twin brother learned the hard way.
Now with her fragile human friend in tow, Monica knows she must find a way to send him home before he suffers the same fate. But her boss has other plans for them. Will Monica be able to find a way to return Finn to his own world, or will her boss’ treacherous plans make her lose Finn too?

385 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2023

About the author

Emily Lankow is the author of The Seven Realms Universe, which includes a pair of interwoven fantasy series that balance heartfelt romance, relationships, and finding a sense of belonging in the unlikeliest of places, with taking risks to protect who and what matters most and overcoming challenges both magical and mundane.

Emily discovered her passion for writing in elementary school, when she entered a young authors’ contest. Her short story placed tenth in the state, illustrating the power stories have to reach and affect total strangers. As an avid reader, the idea of writing stories others could escape into and fall in love with has fueled Emily’s imagination ever since.

Now, Emily is a self-proclaimed Jack-of-all-trades in all things creative. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys painting with acrylics and watercolors, drawing, and crafting sculptures, ball-jointed dolls, and jewelry, as well as making miniatures using whatever materials she can get her hands on.

Emily also enjoys spending time with her husband and their three cats, drinking tea, eating chocolate, doing yoga, and appreciating the many little things that brighten her life.

Reviews

[Candace:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the world building and how each of the main characters have an interesting background! The story wasn’t hard to follow at all! I sometimes have trouble reading fantasies because of how difficult the story is to follow. But reading this piqued my interest! This book is part of a series and ends like a tv show would if you just watched episode 1 of season 1! Nothing is finished yet but you know the story is working up to something big.
One thing I would thing I would like to touch on (but totally not a big deal) I was confused by the relationship of the FMC’s and the MMC’s. It just felt like that relationship had more depth than the sapphic romance did. I know it’s a slow burn, but it felt out of place and lacked chemistry. So I would love to see how that romance blossoms in the next book or so! Other than that, I enjoyed this book and I would definitely read the rest of the series to see how it ends!

[Lez_be_readin_ya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly thank you so much Emily for the ARC!

This book was a great adventure into a fantasy world of multiple realms, the story was entertaining and engaging throughout.

I found that the book focuses more on the relationship between Monica and Finn than the Sapphic relationship, although it is a slow-burn

The connection between the MCs was cute and I enjoyed the dynamics between them all. One of my favourite parts of the book was when Monica took Finn to the bazaar and Finn met the centaur, had me laughing out loud a lot.

I recommend this book for the adventure aspect for sure. I look forward to the next book to see more from the MCs and to watch the relationships grow.

Don't miss out, this book will be released on September 16th 🗓

Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kristie Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave so much more than I ever expected. Monica's character has so much depth, and the relationships that form are so much more than just meeting new people. Finn and Celene both offer her something she didn't know she was missing, and Maal even offers her solace when she doesn't expect it.

A powerful story of adventure and found family!

[Raven DuQuette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this book was awesome! I don’t want to give too much away but it was a wonderful fantasy novel with elements of a modern world thrown in, and just outdid my expectations. The overall plot keeps the reader engaged throughout! Honestly plan to read this again soon to be immersed in this world another time!!

[Mybookmemories · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting, with the story spanning across multiple realms which I found interesting and unique. The relationship between the main characters was genuine and emotional, which I enjoyed. Overall a great fantasy read with an engaging plot.

[MC Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly thank you so much Emily for the ARC.

Overall 2.5

The world-building was interesting, but for the length of the book, I felt that the plot was too simplistic. If it had been a more concise read, I would have rounded up to a 3 out of 5. The friendship between Monica and Finn was cute, but the sort of relationship between Monica and the siren really fell flat for me.

[Shandell Brinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has my heart. You can tell the passion the author put in to writing this, and it was nothing short of amazing. It has great world building, and an intricate magic system that is so cool, and unique. Monica is such a badass female main character, and Finn is so lovable. I will never get enough of him! I felt so many emotions reading this. It’s such an adrenaline rush. This book is creative, heartbreaking, and so much fun to read!

[em reads]

! this review is NOT meant for the author but for my fellow readers ! you’ve been warned
i received this book as an arc from the author and really wanted to like it but ummm… well this is a dnf at 27% which, for a 400 pages book, is a fourth of it and i think i got a good look at what the author was trying to establish. 1) we’ve gotta talk about the goblins… and it went in a very harry potter way: i think in 2023, if you’re even just a little involved in the bookish community, you’ve HEARD of the problems surrounding HP and JKR, one of which being her writing of the goblins, too close for comfort to n@zi propaganda tropes on jewish people. well guess what? this book featured greedy goblins who then try to rob one of our character… and i’ve dnfed this book…. who knows what happens next?
now i’ve gotta say, the world building was interesting and truly reminded me of the mortal instrument by cassandra clare. monica was fine as a MC too and i didn’t mind her so much, she was genuinely ok as far as i know.
and then…. the writing. ummmm… if you didn’t know, our main character’s named monica… i think i read that word way too much in those 27%. those repetitions made the book so hard to read and it needed more editing SO badly. as a display of said writing, here’s the first line: “Monica awoke with a start, drenched in a sheen of sweat so thick that it made the storm from within her nightmare seem far less imaginary.” i’m not an author by any means but one of the most recurring advice is to NOT start a book with your character waking up and i can’t agree more because it feels a little lazy in my very honest opinion.
i can’t talk about the romance since i didn’t see even just a glimpse of it but here’s everything that made me dnf this book😅

[Bryony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for a review.

This is a new series involving magic, politics, epic and strong world building, intimate and complex character relationships. A real slow burner, but with the descriptions thrown in and the amazing characters it pays off really well. There is no real plot development other than the ending that opens up the plot for the rest of the series, but a great set up for it.

We follow Monica who is a human embroiled in the magical realm, she is contracted by a mysterious master who she has to obey or suffer the consequences, all in the search for vengeance for her family. She meets Finn who unwittingly gets involved in the magical world and develops a really strong bond with him. The emotions, good and bad, are palpable and really make the relationship come alive. Throughout the story we are fed tip bits as to how Monica was forced into this world.

The world is another realm, full of danger and unknowns to Finn when he first enters, there is a governing body called The Enclave who instills fear and order and who enslave humans.

Make sure you read the author's synopsis of this book and check it out if you find it appealing!

[Ελένη Καραχανίδη · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me this a clear 5-star. I had a break from fantasy for a while and this book was the best way for a comeback. The fantastic world, the language, the plot and the characters. All so well planned and described. Enjoyed everything so much and such a #pageturner. Loved Monica. Traumatized but yet determined and hard. A girl you want to hug, to stand by her. And really really loved Finn. So passionate and determined. And shy and cute and worried..

I want to thank the writer for providing the ARC and this is my honest review.

[Kristen Schoonover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A job gone wrong and a quick escape finds Monica and her new found friend, Finn, riding the rift between realms thanks to a magical dagger. This book grapples with Monica dealing with the loss of her twin and trying to save Finn and herself from the Enclave. The world building flows easily and the characters are very likeable. I enjoyed this story and can’t wait to see what is next for Monica and Finn.

[Abby Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I loved it! I cannot wait to read more books in this series. It was such a unique story with excellent world building and character development. I feel like it can sometimes be hard to create a world with different names and types of magic in a way readers understand and become immersed in and the author did just that!

Great job and I’m looking forward to reading the next book and seeing what happens next!

[Tammy Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riftrider was such a fun book it has different realms and creatures and the characters are super relatable! I love dahvi and his personality and celene! You really learn to feel for the characters and they go through many trials and tribulations! Finns charisma is just the sweetest and Monica feels like she is alone after she lost her brother! I would highly recommend reading it!

[Copper · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the enthralling world of fantasy literature, "Riftrider" emerges as a captivating tale that sweeps readers away on a multidimensional journey. This spellbinding adventure follows the enigmatic Monica and her steadfast companion, Finn, through a universe where amulets hold the power to traverse between worlds.

"Riftrider" introduces us to a world where the boundaries of reality are blurred, and the very fabric of existence is woven with threads of magic. Monica and Finn share an intriguing dynamic as they navigate this complex multiverse. While their relationship isn't traditional, it is undoubtedly fascinating.

The heart of the narrative lies in the amulets that grant the ability to traverse between worlds. This concept adds a layer of complexity to the story, as Monica and her fellow adventurers explore a multitude of realms, each with its own set of challenges and wonders. The author's world-building skills shine as they craft these diverse landscapes and breathe life into each dimension, offering readers a rich and immersive experience.

While Finn becomes enchanted by the fantastical creatures and incredible magic of Vhalta, Monica is haunted by the grim truth of this place. Vhalta's dominion is largely under the control of The Enclave, a faction of formidable magic practitioners who hold an intense disdain for humanity. Crossing their path often results in a dreadful fate, where unfortunate souls are either ensnared as slaves or meet a brutal demise—a harrowing lesson that Monica's mother and twin brother were forced to learn through tragic experience.

One aspect that has generated discussion is the portrayal of goblins within the story, with claims of antisemitic tropes being invoked. It is important to note that goblins have a long history in mythology and folklore, and this book's representation of goblins is consistent with these traditional depictions. Goblins are often characterized as greedy and territorial beings with nasty tempers, who revel in playing tricks on others but despise being tricked themselves. This portrayal aligns with the established lore surrounding goblins and is not akin to the controversial depiction of goblins as bankers in the Harry Potter series. Therefore, it is my opinion that this portrayal is not antisemitic, but rather a faithful interpretation of goblin mythology.

Character development remains a strong suit of the book, with Monica's growth and evolution as a central focus. Readers will find themselves invested in her transformation as she navigates the challenges and mysteries of the multiverse. The enigmatic Maal continues to be a favorite character, with his mysterious aura and tantalizing secrets that leave readers yearning for more.

While "Riftrider" is a thrilling and imaginative journey through diverse worlds, some readers may find moments where the pacing could be improved, and the plot may meander on occasion. I however relish in a thoroughly detailed story. However, these minor issues do not overshadow the book's numerous strengths.

"Riftrider" is a captivating fantasy novel that invites readers to explore the boundless possibilities of a multiverse. Monica and Finn's intriguing dynamic, combined with the inventive world-building and character development, make this book a compelling read for fantasy enthusiasts. With the promise of more multidimensional adventures to come, fans will eagerly anticipate the next installment in this mesmerizing series.

[Vixen · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANK CHAOS Emily gave me the privilege of providing me with an eARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from the first page to the last. Emily was able to deliver on everything she promised this book would be, with the badass FMC and cinnamon roll MMC, the slow burn plot, and the growth of found family and she did so perfectly. Even though this book is part of a series, Emily wrapped this book up not in a way that made us feel like we missed out on anything, but instead that we had a lot to look forward to in the next book(s). An important personal preference thing I will state in my review that put it over the top for me is the found family trope... coming from my personal experiences, the ability to create characters that come from different roots to blossom into everything everyone dreams a family could be (whether they have it in real life or not) is so inspiring to me. I love the world building in this book; the different realms and how they work (the touches of commentary of Emily's other series), and Emily's ability to paint such vivid images of the world(s) pulling you from real life into everything she created. I love that in reading this book I am able to acknowledge the research and know how Emily has in creating her world (to make fantasy seem a reality), her speaking about well known MYTHICAL creatures (she had the ability to keep true to what we know about goblins, centaurs, sirens, djinn, etc.) but also adding important (LQBTQIA+) topics onto those characters to be in line with current ideals, which is wonderful! I personally want to be taken from the real world when I read (especially fantasy); and the story plot, scenes, characters, etc. is in no way a comparison to the real world. Even though Emily had real world ideas in her books.... she completely pulled me away into the realm and story she created and she did it so naturally. As I stated before, I really enjoyed this book; I love the characters (!!!!!), the realms (Oh how cool it would be to go to them and experience them too), and I really look forward to getting to experience the story continuing in the next books!

[Chhaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ↷
4⭐/5

🌻𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 @𝘉𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

🌻Riftrider dives in a fantasy world of well known Mythical creatures like Sirens, Goblin, Djinn, Centaurs with elements of modern world thrown in it . the adventure of the fantasy world is great and the world building gives it a enthralling special effect. Author's writing was good but I think the book needed one more editing then it would be concise and better .

🌻As for a 400 pages book I was expecting more and better plot . The story has no plot except one in the end to keep its reader hooked for the next book. Although the story is great and I genuinely enjoyed the book.

🌻 The friendship between Monica and Finn was adorable, ut was genuine. However relationship between Monica and siren felt off. But I'm looking forward to see how their relationship will grow in next books in series.

🌻 Overall,The book was a great setup for next book in series and I'm excited read those books and also other books by author . I would definitely recommend it to all the fantasy lovers.

[Gabriel Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Lankow delivers yet another incredible introduction to a new series. Riftrider takes the reader to a place of dreams and magic and perfectly introduces the fantasy genre. We are given hints of what to expect in the future, but for this first book, Fall of the Enclave, we get a good sense of the world present in Riftrider. The interactions between the characters make the book stand out for me. They feel organic and fully fleshed out, especially the interactions between the two main characters. Their banter back and forth is a highlight of the book. Another aspect I like about the Riftrider is its use of mythological creatures. Still, it presents them in a way that is different from how they are typically depicted in other works. It is a fresh take that I enjoy. The book deals with heavy themes and concepts, and the author states that in the beginning pages, they are presented in a manner appropriate to the book and the intended audience. All in all, if you are fans of magic, dreams, complex and flawed characters, quests, and more, this is the book for you

[Gwendafyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book not knowing exactly what to expect, and it was an interesting enough read.

This book was written in third person omniscient POV, which is not my favorite and is difficult for me to read (just a personal preference). The main thing I struggled with in this book was relating to the MMC, Finn. His motivations for being in the story seemed weak or odd to me. While a gender-reversed damsel in distress trope where the man is weepy and needs to be rescued is not bad, personally, I felt he was superfluous besides info dumping.

What I will say is the story was captivating, the world building was deep, and Monica the FMC was extremely compelling. I do wish Finn had not been in the book, though.

If you like urban fantasy, loads of magical creatures, action/adventure, and slow-burn romance, I believe you will like this book.

[Jasmine Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the eARC, Emily!

I dove into this not sure what to expect and ended up enjoying reading this! We had a lot of magic, slow-burn, and politics here and all of it was delivered really well! You can feel Emily's passion in the world she built for us!

I loved Finn & Monica's relationship! Finn was so loveable and Monica was so bada**. I did feel like this book was primarily world-building and there isn't much development - setting up a really great series! I am excited to see what happens next!

[Ayo Ranuh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually 4.5 stars but round to 5.

Excellent relationship with Monica and Finn, sort of like a sibling but also parent/child thing?

And then how well he connected with Celene like a second parent/the older sister's very doting gf it was aww. And on that note, can't wait for how their romance develops in future books

And Dahvi was nice. What a delightful, gay centaur.

I found the plot exciting and I can't wait for more. My only gripe is that it was too short. Minus half star.

[Varsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly interesting read.

The world building was good and the handling of the supernatural & fantasy elements deftly done in the first installment of this series.

The bond between Monica and Finn is endearing and I thoroughly enjoyed the way it unfurled.

I found this a bit too slow of a slow burn for my taste, but it did not in any way impediment the rest of the story.

Looking forward to the next book in the series.
---
Voluntarily reviewed after reading an ARC from the author.

[Chrissy | RantingReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great world building and interesting plot! Thr language is descriptive and immersive, though occasionally it can be distracting from what's happening it does paint very detailed images. The characters feel real and full of life- though Finn's behaviour often made it hard to believe his age (17, but reads closer to 14) he is still charming and memorable. I can't wait to see what danger is in store for Monica next! 3.5 stars

[Cynica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is honestly so good! I was immediately engrossed into the world and completely forgot I was even reading! I loved the plot and MFC was strong and resilient despite all she’s been through which in my opinion made her very relatable. The magic system was easy to follow and I enjoyed all of the thought out details like the “ATMs”! All in all I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next book!

[Louis Rohrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riftrider captured my attention from the beginning. Author, Emily Lankow, had me escaping to different realms. It was captivating to see the relationship grow between characters Monica & Finn as they navigate through their different trials. By the end of the book it left me wanting more. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

[Kelly Mayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I struggled in the beginning to get into the story, it didnt take long to get me swept up. The world building, and characters were written so well, that at times I could picture it all. The plot, the twists and turns, all made for an amazing story and I truly can't wait to get into the next book.

[Brianna Arbelaez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It kept me hooked from beginning to end! To be in the same universe as her other series but meeting some new characters and their world and troubles was terrific! The twists and turns kept me hooked wanting more. I can't wait for the rest of the series!

[jamie rohrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite book so far! This book absolutely took me into a fantasy new realm! I cannot wait to read the next one!

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! I love that it's in the same universe! The characters were fantastic! I loved that it was inclusive to many 😍😍 I can't wait for it to be out in paperback!!!

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to to follow

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4)

The first book of this urban fantasy series quickly introduces the reader to multiple realms, magic, fae, angels and demons. Our FMC (Monica) is a street smart 19-year-old half-human crippled with grief whilst working for the ominous jinn Mal in the hope of raising enough funds to bring her twin brother (murdered by the merciless Enclave) back from the realm of the dead. The MMC (Fin) is an adorably innocent 17-year-old human who tumbles into a world he struggles to understand.

This story is all about the rapid building of a beautifully complex universe, setting up later books in this series. There are twists, turns and emotional exchanges, but at its heart this book is about grief, growth and character development.

Be prepared to be thrown in at the deep-end and to learn on the go. This is perhaps my only frustration with this book. That, despite the knowledge of the FMC, we receive most of the key information as it is reluctantly explained to the MMC- keeping the reader in the dark. This increases the intrigue and suspense of the story, but is a little frustrating for enquiring minds. This is, however, entirely down to person choice, and I am sure many of the questions raised will be answered in book 2.

Despite the occasional swear, I would recommend this book to fantasy-loving teenagers and those who enjoy getting swept up in the whirlwind of teenage emotions and angst.

For transparency, I received this as an e-ARC from the author ahead of the release of the second book. I look forward to supporting the author in the development and promotion of this story. I am confident that the next book will build on this brilliant world and add the details that I need to fully immerse in this series.