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Riftborn #5
A Murder of Crows: An Urban Fantasy Thriller
A dangerous game of ancient power will push the last raven to the edge of his limits in the fifth installment of this hardboiled fantasy noir series.
Lucas Rurik is used to being on the bad end of a terrible deal. He’s survived wars, seen his entire Guild murdered, and saved reality from certain doom more times than he’d care to count. But none of that has prepared him for the mess he’s currently in.
It seems his nemesis, Dr. Callie Mitchell, has tapped into the deepest magic in the Rift and destroyed an one of the oldest rift-fused beings, tasked with ensuring the balance of power in the universe. No one knows what she’ll do next, and the surviving Ancients seem too distracted by their petty squabbles to take matters into their own all-powerful hands. So it’s once again up to Lucas to poke his nose where it doesn’t belong and attempt to negotiate with beings that most definitely don’t want to be reasoned with.
The clock is ticking, and Lucas will have to tap alliances and use every trick he has up his sleeve to stop a cosmically mighty madwoman on a mission. And time isn’t the only thing working against him. The secrets he uncovers could spell the undoing of everything, both on Earth and in the Rift . . .
A fast-paced, character-driven, quick-quipping tale from the bestselling author of the Hellequin novels, Riftborn is perfect for fans of Lucifer, The Witcher, and the Dresden Files.
Praise for The Last Raven
“McHugh’s pithy prose energizes the narrative, even when there’s no superpower on display, and builds intrigue with gradual reveals of Lucas’ rift-derived skills and backstory. This slick introductory supernatural tale will leave readers eager for a sequel.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The Last Raven has the appeal of a great action movie. There is a nice mystery, a compelling lead, strong support, and enough adrenaline to leave you with a pleasant high afterward. . . . Eagerly looking forward to the next installment.” —The Cosmic Circus
“If you have a friend who loves both speculative fiction novels and thrillers, this is the perfect gift.” —Medium, “10 Chilling Books for Mystery/Thriller Lovers This Winter”
Lucas Rurik is used to being on the bad end of a terrible deal. He’s survived wars, seen his entire Guild murdered, and saved reality from certain doom more times than he’d care to count. But none of that has prepared him for the mess he’s currently in.
It seems his nemesis, Dr. Callie Mitchell, has tapped into the deepest magic in the Rift and destroyed an one of the oldest rift-fused beings, tasked with ensuring the balance of power in the universe. No one knows what she’ll do next, and the surviving Ancients seem too distracted by their petty squabbles to take matters into their own all-powerful hands. So it’s once again up to Lucas to poke his nose where it doesn’t belong and attempt to negotiate with beings that most definitely don’t want to be reasoned with.
The clock is ticking, and Lucas will have to tap alliances and use every trick he has up his sleeve to stop a cosmically mighty madwoman on a mission. And time isn’t the only thing working against him. The secrets he uncovers could spell the undoing of everything, both on Earth and in the Rift . . .
A fast-paced, character-driven, quick-quipping tale from the bestselling author of the Hellequin novels, Riftborn is perfect for fans of Lucifer, The Witcher, and the Dresden Files.
Praise for The Last Raven
“McHugh’s pithy prose energizes the narrative, even when there’s no superpower on display, and builds intrigue with gradual reveals of Lucas’ rift-derived skills and backstory. This slick introductory supernatural tale will leave readers eager for a sequel.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The Last Raven has the appeal of a great action movie. There is a nice mystery, a compelling lead, strong support, and enough adrenaline to leave you with a pleasant high afterward. . . . Eagerly looking forward to the next installment.” —The Cosmic Circus
“If you have a friend who loves both speculative fiction novels and thrillers, this is the perfect gift.” —Medium, “10 Chilling Books for Mystery/Thriller Lovers This Winter”
300 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2026
77 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Steve McHugh
36 books1,900 followersSteve is a bestselling author of Urban Fantasy. His book, Scorched Shadows, was shortlisted for a Gemmell Award for best novel.
Steve was born in a small village called Mexborough, South Yorkshire, but now lives with his wife and three young daughters in Southampton
Steve was born in a small village called Mexborough, South Yorkshire, but now lives with his wife and three young daughters in Southampton
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 29, 2026
The culmination of an enjoyable series. Essentially Ragnarok has come to both Earth and the rift. Countless tears are appearing across the world with all the chaos that comes with them.
The big bad has killed one of the Ancients already and seems to have aims on the rest. Lucas feels somewhat responsible that he hasn't taken care of her previously.
A strong finale.
The big bad has killed one of the Ancients already and seems to have aims on the rest. Lucas feels somewhat responsible that he hasn't taken care of her previously.
A strong finale.
February 5, 2026
Steve McHugh is one of those authors where even a “just good” book is still a great book compared to most of the genre. The Riftborn series took me a little longer to fully click with than his earlier work, but it got stronger with every book, and this finale is easily my favourite of the series.
The connection for me grew gradually. The early books were solid, fun, action heavy urban fantasy with interesting ideas, but I wasn’t fully emotionally locked in yet. As the series progressed and the worldbuilding deepened, I found myself getting more and more invested, and by this book I was fully attached to both the world and the main crew. This very much feels like a series that grew into itself and then absolutely stuck the landing.
The overall story arc builds across the whole book, but the last half really delivers. Big, explosive action, huge stakes, and consequences that feel like they matter on a world level, followed by space to breathe and then a strong emotional payoff and closure for the current story. The ending leaves the world open and imperfect, but moving forward. The story is closed, the future is not, and that is exactly what I want from a series finale.
What really makes this series shine, and especially this book, is the group dynamic. This is found family built out of competent professionals who became something deeper over time. These characters are good people at heart. They ask for help. They offer help. They accept each other, flaws and all. There is emotional openness, communication, and genuine care between them. No toxic “suffer in silence” nonsense, just people who trust each other enough to be honest and vulnerable when it matters.
I also really liked how relationships are handled across the board. Romance exists, but it is never the driving force of the story. It is just part of life. Past relationships don’t automatically become drama. People can move on and still care about each other. No one is expected to wait forever if someone might not come back. The world itself feels very LGBT-normalised. Sexual orientation simply isn’t a big deal. It’s treated as a normal part of who people are, not as conflict or spectacle, and it sits naturally alongside everything else in the story.
One thing I really appreciate about these characters is their balance between softness and ruthlessness. They are kind, loyal, and deeply human with each other.
But when it comes to people who actively harm others, they do not hesitate to end that threat permanently. There is no performative moral angst, just a very clear line between protecting people and stopping villains from ever hurting anyone again.
The worldbuilding also really came together for me here. The deeper dive into the world made everything feel more grounded and real, which in turn made the characters land harder emotionally. Once the world felt fully alive, my investment in the people living in it followed naturally.
Steve McHugh delivers big, explosive action, sharp banter, and a cast you want to spend time with even when everything is falling apart around them. A Murder of Crows is a finale that closes the story without shrinking the world, balances darkness with stubborn hope, and leaves you with characters who feel strong enough to survive whatever comes next. If you want urban fantasy with heart, found family, unapologetic power, and a crew that refuses to stop fighting until things are better, this one is hard to put down and even harder to forget.
The connection for me grew gradually. The early books were solid, fun, action heavy urban fantasy with interesting ideas, but I wasn’t fully emotionally locked in yet. As the series progressed and the worldbuilding deepened, I found myself getting more and more invested, and by this book I was fully attached to both the world and the main crew. This very much feels like a series that grew into itself and then absolutely stuck the landing.
The overall story arc builds across the whole book, but the last half really delivers. Big, explosive action, huge stakes, and consequences that feel like they matter on a world level, followed by space to breathe and then a strong emotional payoff and closure for the current story. The ending leaves the world open and imperfect, but moving forward. The story is closed, the future is not, and that is exactly what I want from a series finale.
What really makes this series shine, and especially this book, is the group dynamic. This is found family built out of competent professionals who became something deeper over time. These characters are good people at heart. They ask for help. They offer help. They accept each other, flaws and all. There is emotional openness, communication, and genuine care between them. No toxic “suffer in silence” nonsense, just people who trust each other enough to be honest and vulnerable when it matters.
I also really liked how relationships are handled across the board. Romance exists, but it is never the driving force of the story. It is just part of life. Past relationships don’t automatically become drama. People can move on and still care about each other. No one is expected to wait forever if someone might not come back. The world itself feels very LGBT-normalised. Sexual orientation simply isn’t a big deal. It’s treated as a normal part of who people are, not as conflict or spectacle, and it sits naturally alongside everything else in the story.
One thing I really appreciate about these characters is their balance between softness and ruthlessness. They are kind, loyal, and deeply human with each other.
But when it comes to people who actively harm others, they do not hesitate to end that threat permanently. There is no performative moral angst, just a very clear line between protecting people and stopping villains from ever hurting anyone again.
The worldbuilding also really came together for me here. The deeper dive into the world made everything feel more grounded and real, which in turn made the characters land harder emotionally. Once the world felt fully alive, my investment in the people living in it followed naturally.
Steve McHugh delivers big, explosive action, sharp banter, and a cast you want to spend time with even when everything is falling apart around them. A Murder of Crows is a finale that closes the story without shrinking the world, balances darkness with stubborn hope, and leaves you with characters who feel strong enough to survive whatever comes next. If you want urban fantasy with heart, found family, unapologetic power, and a crew that refuses to stop fighting until things are better, this one is hard to put down and even harder to forget.
January 30, 2026
Rating: 3.5 stars
This is the 5th (and final) book in the Riftborn series. It's possible that characters in this series will show up in other future stories, books or series...Steve McHugh has proven this to be true. There is plenty of action and intrigue to keep the plot moving forward. The actual ending caught me by surprise, but I'm not totally against it. It seems to leave the door open a crack to allow the readership to hope for future Lucas Rurik adventures.
SUMMARY: Lucas Rurik is used to being on the bad end of a terrible deal. He’s survived wars, seen his entire Guild murdered, and saved reality from certain doom more times than he’d care to count. But none of that has prepared him for the mess he’s currently in. It seems his nemesis, Dr. Callie Mitchell, has tapped into the deepest magic in the Rift and destroyed an Ancient: one of the oldest rift-fused beings, tasked with ensuring the balance of power in the universe. No one knows what she’ll do next, and the surviving Ancients seem too distracted by their petty squabbles to take matters into their own all-powerful hands. So, it’s once again up to Lucas to poke his nose where it doesn’t belong and attempt to negotiate with beings that most definitely don’t want to be reasoned with. The clock is ticking, and Lucas will have to tap alliances and use every trick he has up his sleeve to stop a cosmically mighty madwoman on a mission. And time isn’t the only thing working against him. The secrets he uncovers could spell the undoing of everything, both on Earth and in the Rift.
This is the 5th (and final) book in the Riftborn series. It's possible that characters in this series will show up in other future stories, books or series...Steve McHugh has proven this to be true. There is plenty of action and intrigue to keep the plot moving forward. The actual ending caught me by surprise, but I'm not totally against it. It seems to leave the door open a crack to allow the readership to hope for future Lucas Rurik adventures.
SUMMARY: Lucas Rurik is used to being on the bad end of a terrible deal. He’s survived wars, seen his entire Guild murdered, and saved reality from certain doom more times than he’d care to count. But none of that has prepared him for the mess he’s currently in. It seems his nemesis, Dr. Callie Mitchell, has tapped into the deepest magic in the Rift and destroyed an Ancient: one of the oldest rift-fused beings, tasked with ensuring the balance of power in the universe. No one knows what she’ll do next, and the surviving Ancients seem too distracted by their petty squabbles to take matters into their own all-powerful hands. So, it’s once again up to Lucas to poke his nose where it doesn’t belong and attempt to negotiate with beings that most definitely don’t want to be reasoned with. The clock is ticking, and Lucas will have to tap alliances and use every trick he has up his sleeve to stop a cosmically mighty madwoman on a mission. And time isn’t the only thing working against him. The secrets he uncovers could spell the undoing of everything, both on Earth and in the Rift.
January 20, 2026
In general I am a fan of the author, but he has his ups and downs in quality. I have noticed a trend where the climax of the series disappoints me. Power creep throughout coupled with poor character development of the antagonist leads to a weak payoff. Some of that comes with the territory, Mr. McHugh writes a pulpy power fantasy style story, which I obviously enjoy sometimes or I wouldn't keep buying his books.
This novel however felt particularly distasteful due to the overwhelmingly stupid, insensical, and self defeating decisions made by pretty much every character throughout. The main character knows he's being sidetracked pretty much the whole book, but just accepts it even when events haven't yet forced his hand. There are hundreds of deep cover double agents that are converted in situ without leaks. Nobody ever learns from their mistakes, they just willfully keep throwing themselves into dangerous situations without backup. They keep trusting power structures that have been penetrated and failed multiple times, and then the MC just becomes God because he asks nicely and wins.
This novel however felt particularly distasteful due to the overwhelmingly stupid, insensical, and self defeating decisions made by pretty much every character throughout. The main character knows he's being sidetracked pretty much the whole book, but just accepts it even when events haven't yet forced his hand. There are hundreds of deep cover double agents that are converted in situ without leaks. Nobody ever learns from their mistakes, they just willfully keep throwing themselves into dangerous situations without backup. They keep trusting power structures that have been penetrated and failed multiple times, and then the MC just becomes God because he asks nicely and wins.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2026
Awesome series !
A murder of crows, book 5 in the Riftborn series. Like the previous four was a great read. Well written and entertaining. For me, it was a read in one sitting. Never dull,sometimes emotional, always a pleasure. Highly recommend the series, and Steve McHugh,
the author. Great story as are his other books.
A murder of crows, book 5 in the Riftborn series. Like the previous four was a great read. Well written and entertaining. For me, it was a read in one sitting. Never dull,sometimes emotional, always a pleasure. Highly recommend the series, and Steve McHugh,
the author. Great story as are his other books.
February 2, 2026
A fitting finale
The series is a very strange take in urban fantasy. A lot more philosophical in this concluding book. Overall, an enjoyable read with a lot of interesting characters, very unique magic and monsters and plenty of complexity.
The series is a very strange take in urban fantasy. A lot more philosophical in this concluding book. Overall, an enjoyable read with a lot of interesting characters, very unique magic and monsters and plenty of complexity.
January 22, 2026
not the ending I wanted
Well. It ended. A good ending (try not to spoil it for anyone) but not one I wanted exactly. Still an enjoyable book and as always the action is top-notch.
Well. It ended. A good ending (try not to spoil it for anyone) but not one I wanted exactly. Still an enjoyable book and as always the action is top-notch.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews