Series: Riftborn #1
Author: Steve McHugh
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Released: November 8, 2022
Received: Review Request

Book Summary:

Fantasy meets noir in this thrilling new series by Steve McHugh. Here we have a world torn apart by prejudice and rifts. The rift-fused didn’t ask to be the way they are, yet they certainly are doing their best in this strange new world.

Enter Lucas, a riftborn fighter with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. When FBI and RCU agents begin getting murdered by the dozen – many of them his friends – Lucas is unable to stay out of the fray any longer. It is time to tackle this head-on, which means putting himself in the path of a killer (or worse).

My Review:

I love diving into new series, especially ones I haven’t heard much about. I adore that there are zero expectations, just a fresh start, and a whole new experience. The journey The Last Raven set me upon was no disappointment. This was a thrilling read from start to finish. Also, it feels like it’s been far too long since I read an urban fantasy series (read: no more than a few weeks), so I was happy to come home.

Lucas is what we call a tortured soul. He’s been through hell and back – much of that was before the novel began. It almost feels like salt in the wound after a time. Yet he’s the perfect protagonist for this series, as he is clearly invested in the outcome.

The world itself is fascinating. I have so many questions, enough to keep me looking forward to the next novel in this series. Readers are introduced to the world relatively slowly, but it’s enough to paint a picture over time.

Overall, I enjoyed the vibes and themes of The Last Raven. It really did feel like a merger between fantasy and thriller, with a dash of noir thrown in for good measure. It’s a perfect balance, and I would love to see more of it.

Highlights:

• Urban Fantasy
• Unique magical system
• Detective vibes

Trigger Warnings:

• Prejudice
• Gore/violence

Thanks to Podium for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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