Title: Riftmaker
Author: Phoebe Darqueling
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Riftmaker-Steampunk-Fantasy-Phoebe-Darqueling-ebook/dp/B07KTGKZC6/
Summary
Save his boy, uncover a conspiracy, and master
opposable thumbs—a dog’s work is never done.
Buddy’s favorite thing is curling up for a nap at the foot of
Ethan’s bed. Then he stumbles through a portal to a clockwork city plagued by
chimeras, and everything changes… Well, not everything. Sure, his new human
body comes with magic powers, but he’d still rather nap than face the people of
Excelsior, who harbor both desire and fear when it comes to “the other side.”
He discovers Ethan followed him through the portal and
underwent his own transformation, and it becomes Buddy’s doggone duty to save
him. Buddy finds unlikely allies in an aristocrat with everything on the line,
a mechanic with something to hide, and a musician willing to do anything to
protect her. Using a ramshackle flying machine, the group follows the chimeras
deep into the forest and uncovers a plot that could reshape the worlds on both
sides of the rift.
My Review
5/5 Stars
This is probably the best portal fantasy I’ve ever read.
There were so many character arcs that the story was constantly full of suspense and action. I loved the idea of how the portal changed people into animals and animals into people. Buddy was a loveable character, exhibiting all the traits of a dog even when he was human.
His eagerness to jump into danger made him an interesting main character and funny at times. I think my favorite character in the piece though was Adelaide because of her mystery. We don’t learn much about her until the end of the story and until then, her entire character is solemn and different.
This book also included otherworldly creatures that you don’t read about much in other fiction like chimeras and djinn—which I thought was quite unique and refreshing. If you’re looking for a unique read full of action and suspense, this is the book for you ❤
Author Kayla Krantz 