I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of this review.

This is going to be a hard review to write because I’m kind of ambivalent about it. Riven by Mindee Arnett is the first in her new steampunk/epic fantasy series by the same name. It follows Mars, an assassin and spy master, as he goes on what he hopes is his last mission. What he uncovers will shatter all that he has grown to believe and reshape how he sees the world. Riven promised a lot, but the delivery fell flat for me which is why I’m having a hard time nailing down how I feel about the story.

I really enjoyed Mars, Fura, and Katrín. They make a good team, even if their goals don’t align. Mars is our main character, and the story unfolds from his perspective. This is where I struggled the most. For a master spy, he seemed pretty clueless as to what the girls were up to. Despite that, I enjoyed reading as he discovered more about this complex world and where he fit into it. 

Fura and Katrín are a packaged deal. Where one goes the other is sure to follow. Raised as sisters by Fura’s late father, the two have a tight bond. Fura is straight-laced and idealistic where Katrín is more like Mars and sees the world for what it is. The two balance each other well. 

The world-building is detailed, and at times I found myself lost in those details instead of invested into the story. This is a massive world, and there are moments where a lot of information is given without enough time digest it. At times, this upset the pace of the plot which started out intriguing. Mars being assigned as a glorified babysitter and guard to a girl whose father’s assassination was his last assignment gives the story a bit of danger as you always wonder when/if Fura will discover the truth. 

This is quickly lost as Mars becomes involved in Fura’s day-to-day life and the assembly they will be attending where she will be named as the Torvald heir. The first 10-15% of the book is engaging and exciting, then it drolls on for about 60% before finding that sweet spot at the end to keep the plot moving which is why I struggled with this one so much. If not for that first 10-15%, I most likely would have DNFed the book. I’m glad I didn’t though.

Overall, Riven is a sweeping epic fantasy about one girl’s quest to change the world and the assassin who was sent to stop it all. I loved the world-building, even when it slowed the plot down. The intricate magic system, the way it is portrayed is quite similar to steampunk (there are even airships!), which added a little modernity to an otherwise older fantasy trope. If you are a fan of epic fantasies that don’t follow the standard rules, I recommend you give this one a go.