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Glintchasers #2
They Split the Party
It sucks being someone's unfinished business.
The Starbreakers were heroes, until a tragedy broke them apart. Only now, years later, have they begun to make peace with each other. The rest of the world is a different story.
There has been a breakout in the prison known as Oblivion, and now the worst of the worst have been turned loose on an unsuspecting world. Desperate to contain the crisis, the right hand of the king has called the disgraced Starbreakers back into service. After all, they were the ones who put most of these villains away in the first place.
As the Starbreakers scatter to face friends and foes of the past, it's a fight for peace in the kingdom they call home, and a fight to protect the legacy they left behind. It's also exactly the opportunity their enemies have been waiting for.
The Starbreakers were heroes, until a tragedy broke them apart. Only now, years later, have they begun to make peace with each other. The rest of the world is a different story.
There has been a breakout in the prison known as Oblivion, and now the worst of the worst have been turned loose on an unsuspecting world. Desperate to contain the crisis, the right hand of the king has called the disgraced Starbreakers back into service. After all, they were the ones who put most of these villains away in the first place.
As the Starbreakers scatter to face friends and foes of the past, it's a fight for peace in the kingdom they call home, and a fight to protect the legacy they left behind. It's also exactly the opportunity their enemies have been waiting for.
- GenresFantasy
1 pages, Audio CD
Published October 7, 2025
5 people are currently reading
2214 people want to read
About the author
Elijah Menchaca
5 books69 followersElijah Menchaca was born and raised in Bakersfield, California and has been writing and telling stories since he was five. After seeing his first short stories on his grade school classroom's bookshelf, he knew he was destined for greatness. To chase that greatness (and a girl), he attended the University of Louisville where he minored in Creative Writing, discovered a love for Dungeons and Dragons, and got engaged.
Now, based in Ohio, when he isn't exploring the world he's created with more stories, he's making new memories around the virtual table with his old friends, pondering the worlds of fantasy and superheroes on his YouTube channel, and playing the role of devoted partner to a woman far too good for him.
Now, based in Ohio, when he isn't exploring the world he's created with more stories, he's making new memories around the virtual table with his old friends, pondering the worlds of fantasy and superheroes on his YouTube channel, and playing the role of devoted partner to a woman far too good for him.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 26, 2023
This was a really good, unique read! They Split The Party is book 2 in the Glintchasers series and I think I would have enjoyed this one more if I had read book 1 first. That being said, I did really like this book. There was so much packed into this book and it follows so many characters! Overall this was a great read and I will be on the lookout for the first book in this series.
January 1, 2024
Honestly, I have nothing bad to say.
Want a good easy read? They split the party.
Want something to laugh at? They split the party.
Want something to make you feel like you're not making terrible mistakes in life and even if you are it's okay cause well.... We are all human? They split the party.
I loved it, pure and simple and am on the psycho "you have to read this" path.
Want a good easy read? They split the party.
Want something to laugh at? They split the party.
Want something to make you feel like you're not making terrible mistakes in life and even if you are it's okay cause well.... We are all human? They split the party.
I loved it, pure and simple and am on the psycho "you have to read this" path.
September 21, 2023
Just like with the first book, I loved the characters and the writing style. I just wish this story was more focused and covered less ground. Each villain could have had their own book but instead it felt like it was referencing a bunch of stories we’ve never gotten the chance to read. My biggest beef was that one of the early chapters was a flashback but there were absolutely no clues (at least in the audiobook) that it wasn’t linear. So one minute they’re fighting on a bridge, next they’re summoned to see the king and queen, then it says they’ve been sprung from jail and are meeting without the king’s knowledge. I had to listen to those three chapters multiple times and eventually I just gave up, moved on, and then realized it was a flashback. I checked out a little after that and just enjoyed the fight scenes without trying to make too much sense of the plot nuances.
I want to support authors with smaller readerships so I rated it a 4 but it really was more of a 2-3 for me. I do look forward to the next installment in the series and hope it’s more focused like the first book.
I want to support authors with smaller readerships so I rated it a 4 but it really was more of a 2-3 for me. I do look forward to the next installment in the series and hope it’s more focused like the first book.
February 4, 2023
Absolutely love this series. Loved the first one, and the sequel is equally if not more enjoyable than the first.
A mass breakout in Oblivion (the Arkham of this world) has scattered the Starbreakers across the realm to get all the escaped convicts back behind bars. But that's not the only issue they end up having to face as a larger plot begins to take shape as the story goes on.
I loved how each villain was just as unique and interesting as each of our heroes and how each battle added something new and different to the story. We get to see different sides of our heroes and these already vivid characters are given more depth. Also, side characters from the first book are fleshed out and given larger roles in the sequel, and I am SO glad we got to see more of Ruby and Gamma.
There is a lot of plot in this book, so don't blink or you'll miss something important.
I don't know how Menchaca avoided having this novel feel like a series of "monster of the week" episodes, or like there was too much to focus on at one time, but like the puppeteering villain the Starbreakers end up facing, he orchestrates each character's role to the tiniest detail, and like Ink, he weaves every plot point together into a well woven tapestry that is a wonder to behold.
I don't often laugh out loud while reading, but a few of Brass' lines in particular drew out some lols.
His male characters are interesting, but if I'm honest, his female characters are far more intriguing in the sequel. Wings especially - we often see characters who are mothers and wives get cardboard personalities, but she was such a breath of fresh air and an absolute powerhouse. It was also really refreshing to see a leading lad and lady compliment one another's abilities rather than have one always overshadowing the other. You get an amazing sense that these two characters would be lost without the other and they're both given moments to shine and to be in awe of one another.
Can't say enough about this book, but it's become a trend now that when I find out someone plays DnD I ask them two things: 1) What class do you main?
2) Have you read They Met in a Tavern?
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of They Split the Party and this is an honest review.
A mass breakout in Oblivion (the Arkham of this world) has scattered the Starbreakers across the realm to get all the escaped convicts back behind bars. But that's not the only issue they end up having to face as a larger plot begins to take shape as the story goes on.
I loved how each villain was just as unique and interesting as each of our heroes and how each battle added something new and different to the story. We get to see different sides of our heroes and these already vivid characters are given more depth. Also, side characters from the first book are fleshed out and given larger roles in the sequel, and I am SO glad we got to see more of Ruby and Gamma.
There is a lot of plot in this book, so don't blink or you'll miss something important.
I don't know how Menchaca avoided having this novel feel like a series of "monster of the week" episodes, or like there was too much to focus on at one time, but like the puppeteering villain the Starbreakers end up facing, he orchestrates each character's role to the tiniest detail, and like Ink, he weaves every plot point together into a well woven tapestry that is a wonder to behold.
I don't often laugh out loud while reading, but a few of Brass' lines in particular drew out some lols.
His male characters are interesting, but if I'm honest, his female characters are far more intriguing in the sequel. Wings especially - we often see characters who are mothers and wives get cardboard personalities, but she was such a breath of fresh air and an absolute powerhouse. It was also really refreshing to see a leading lad and lady compliment one another's abilities rather than have one always overshadowing the other. You get an amazing sense that these two characters would be lost without the other and they're both given moments to shine and to be in awe of one another.
Can't say enough about this book, but it's become a trend now that when I find out someone plays DnD I ask them two things: 1) What class do you main?
2) Have you read They Met in a Tavern?
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of They Split the Party and this is an honest review.
January 28, 2024
There comes a time for every hero to ask themselves an important question: After all you have seen, after all you have done, now that you have faced your pain, your sins, and your mistakes, can you rise again and find the hope you carried when this all began? You know where you left it, and it knows you have changed; but not so much you don't recognize each other.
The Good: The Five Man Band is back, but not yet together, because it's time for the secondary characters, emotional anchors, and the jam-packed world history to shine! All the goods of Glintchasers #1 returns: razor-fine pacing, pre-established romantic partners who actually love each other, magic spells, fun villains, and fully realized female characters. Even with the ever-expanding cast, no character is wasted and all contribute something important. The multiple perspectives in the book carry the multiple mysteries and histories crashing in convergence. They Split the Party continues the style with short and eventful chapters, suitable for readers that do not have long periods of time to binge-read through pages and pages of slow-burn.
The Bad: Some fights felt a touch bloated only because there are so many, particularly in the second half, but they are still clear in direction and thematic importance.
Final rating, solid 5/5.
Sequels are hard, by their very nature. Sequels following a near-perfect first act are an even harder to pull off, but They Split the Party stands just as tall as it predecessor, if not taller for the captivating story it expands and chases with a brilliant fervor.
The Good: The Five Man Band is back, but not yet together, because it's time for the secondary characters, emotional anchors, and the jam-packed world history to shine! All the goods of Glintchasers #1 returns: razor-fine pacing, pre-established romantic partners who actually love each other, magic spells, fun villains, and fully realized female characters. Even with the ever-expanding cast, no character is wasted and all contribute something important. The multiple perspectives in the book carry the multiple mysteries and histories crashing in convergence. They Split the Party continues the style with short and eventful chapters, suitable for readers that do not have long periods of time to binge-read through pages and pages of slow-burn.
The Bad: Some fights felt a touch bloated only because there are so many, particularly in the second half, but they are still clear in direction and thematic importance.
Final rating, solid 5/5.
Sequels are hard, by their very nature. Sequels following a near-perfect first act are an even harder to pull off, but They Split the Party stands just as tall as it predecessor, if not taller for the captivating story it expands and chases with a brilliant fervor.
March 22, 2025
The most important plot point in this second Starbreakers book is in the title. Having got, briefly, back together again to fight a threat against the whole group in the first book, in this second, the Starbreakers are tasked with recovering criminals who've escaped from a magical prison. To do so, they have to split the party. Lots of exciting fights follow, as they beat a bunch of the enemies and are beaten by others, the moral of the story being that they're stronger together.
I wouldn't go as far as to say that this is lit-RPG, but it's very definitely inspired by fantasy roleplaying games, most obviously Dungeons & Dragons. I'd debated whether I should reread the first one before starting on this second, but didn't in the end, and it all came back pretty quickly. Who our heroes are, their various relationships with each other, and the worldbuilding. There was a glossary, although it would have been more helpful if it had been at the start of the book, rather than the end.
The book is a lot of fun, the fight scenes are fast-paced and well described and I liked the characters. I'd complained that in the previous volume, Snow and Angel had got little characterisation. This time round we see a lot more of them, from their own PoV chapters and it helps us get inside their heads and flesh them out a bit, particularly Angel. Snow remains a bit of an enigma.
I look forward to seeing what the Starbreakers do next.
I wouldn't go as far as to say that this is lit-RPG, but it's very definitely inspired by fantasy roleplaying games, most obviously Dungeons & Dragons. I'd debated whether I should reread the first one before starting on this second, but didn't in the end, and it all came back pretty quickly. Who our heroes are, their various relationships with each other, and the worldbuilding. There was a glossary, although it would have been more helpful if it had been at the start of the book, rather than the end.
The book is a lot of fun, the fight scenes are fast-paced and well described and I liked the characters. I'd complained that in the previous volume, Snow and Angel had got little characterisation. This time round we see a lot more of them, from their own PoV chapters and it helps us get inside their heads and flesh them out a bit, particularly Angel. Snow remains a bit of an enigma.
I look forward to seeing what the Starbreakers do next.
August 25, 2023
An action-packed sequel to They Met in a Tavern. This series has it all: hilarious banter, riveting fight scenes, enchanting spellwork. What I really love about the Glintchasers series though is how it takes a lot of really common fantasy tropes (e.g. the team of teenage heroes who continually save the day, all by themselves), and either turns them on their heads, or goes a step beyond where the trope might end. So in these books, for example, we see what happened when those teenage heroes grew up, got new jobs, started families, etc. And we see the impact all those years of being heroes had on them, years after the fact. Because it’s not all good. And this book does a really great job at addressing that, and seeing how the characters work through that in different ways. Such a fun series, I can’t wait to see what comes next.
December 30, 2023
The fight scenes in this book are amazing.
It reminds me of L.G. Estrella’s two necromancer series but dear lord the fight scenes in this book are AMAZING.
There’s a lot of plot threads being dangled at once here, a sequel clearly being set up as the plot of this book progresses but I was immensely entertained by it all. It all flows together and makes you want to keep going. I especially like how the past of these adventures was woven into the events of the present, giving you the weight of context while not dragging the story down with baggage.
And again, the fight scenes are leagues beyond anything else I’ve read recently.
4.5, lifted to 5 by how gobsmacked I was by the final third of the book.
It reminds me of L.G. Estrella’s two necromancer series but dear lord the fight scenes in this book are AMAZING.
There’s a lot of plot threads being dangled at once here, a sequel clearly being set up as the plot of this book progresses but I was immensely entertained by it all. It all flows together and makes you want to keep going. I especially like how the past of these adventures was woven into the events of the present, giving you the weight of context while not dragging the story down with baggage.
And again, the fight scenes are leagues beyond anything else I’ve read recently.
4.5, lifted to 5 by how gobsmacked I was by the final third of the book.
January 28, 2024
DNF. I was getting bored, read Spice and Wolf vol. 8 and when I tried to return to what must be the climax of the story, the big final battle... I was dreading it. I just didn't care for any of these situations because I really have no sense of scale. Are this fights hard or easy? Is this enemy competent or fodder? What is considered impressive in this setting? What are these nations according to the world? Are city states? massive parts of a continent? The rear end of a fallen Empire? Just some pretentious cities with overly large egos?
But what killed me was. a) 90% of all the convicts were defeated between chapters and only alluded, making the mission feel more like a walk in the part than any serious endeavour and b) all the background adventures were far more compelling than anything in the modern day.
This is a book with too much worldbuilding and not enough and really doesn't know how to space or inflict his plots with any sense of excitement, wonder or enjoyment.
I'm out. I read it because it came as a free audio and boy oh boy I regret it.
But what killed me was. a) 90% of all the convicts were defeated between chapters and only alluded, making the mission feel more like a walk in the part than any serious endeavour and b) all the background adventures were far more compelling than anything in the modern day.
This is a book with too much worldbuilding and not enough and really doesn't know how to space or inflict his plots with any sense of excitement, wonder or enjoyment.
I'm out. I read it because it came as a free audio and boy oh boy I regret it.
October 18, 2024
Mildly entertaining. Plot happens. Characters do things. But nothing really drives either - it feels like the capabilities of each character rise or fall depending on the needs of the plot. There's no consistency and the characters don't feel like people, more like plot devices. And the world never quite becomes its own character. If I had been busier, I wouldn't have finished it but it caught me at a time when I needed mindless distraction.
June 4, 2023
Ah, this was an ARC I was glad to get to read. Fun page turner. If you’re a tabletop RPG player you’ve really got to try this series! The author gets it. I think we’ve probably got a trilogy going here based on where book two went and ended. I’m looking forward to the next one. Don’t worry, this book ends in a good spot for a pause in the story.
February 21, 2024
This book perpetuates abusive marriage as part of its narrative, and I think that is unacceptable. Phoenix and Wings are in an abusive marriage, though Phoenix doesn’t seem to see it. He treats her poorly throughout the entire novel, gaslit her to the point that he controlled her whole self-worth, and nearly killed their child by being irresponsible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2023
A dnd fan read, for sure, but it didn't grab me quite like the first. They do, indeed, split the party, so there's less interaction, which might be the issue.
Plenty of action, though, as they chase down escaped prisoners that the Starbreakers once put away.
Plenty of action, though, as they chase down escaped prisoners that the Starbreakers once put away.
September 15, 2023
This might be my favorite new series!
With a backbone in roleplaying and a heavy nod to the world of DnD, Menchaca brings so much fun to his characters and his stories.
Definitely looking forward to the next one and learning more about the backstories!
With a backbone in roleplaying and a heavy nod to the world of DnD, Menchaca brings so much fun to his characters and his stories.
Definitely looking forward to the next one and learning more about the backstories!
January 5, 2024
Took me a while to get into it (got a bit of a "let's just use this item/person thing we've never referenced before to perfectly solve every problem that happens" vibe at certain points), but I like the battle scenes of everyone fighting together and working with each other
March 5, 2025
I must admit that I preferred the first book, if only because it introduces the characters and the world.
This feels a bit like it is setting up for the final payoff in the next book.
I still enjoyed it a lot and will be reading the final book.
This feels a bit like it is setting up for the final payoff in the next book.
I still enjoyed it a lot and will be reading the final book.
April 3, 2024
Not as engaging as the first book, though the ending did make me interested in continuing the series
July 20, 2024
They split the party and it made no sense why they would specially at the end! I like getting to know them more and also seeing how they work without Snow and with Wings but this book felt like a filler. There was some exposition but like the first book made it look like something was going on and now it is something else and I just want to know what is up with that cult tbh.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews