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The Second Artificer
Thaddeus Blackwell opened a door he was never meant to find—and the world paid for it. Thrown across fractured worlds, Thaddeus is pulled into a reality shaped by magic, factions, and at the center of it all, The Lich… waiting to escape. To set the world right, Thaddeus must follow the path of the First Artificer—a myth, a warning, a man who may not be ahead of him at all. As the Rift tightens and timelines repeat, Thaddeus faces a final, impossible inheritance, because the Rift is not a wound; it’s a mirror, and Thaddeus was never the savior of this story. He was its most necessary mistake.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2025
8 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 30, 2025
The writing, the lore, the emotional journey, all of it was spectacular. I am so impressed with Kenan Buchanan’s debut novel. Just wow. You must read it.
June 22, 2025
Okay so… this one caught me off guard.
It starts out a little slow…. not bad, just floaty. Like I was wandering through vibes and lore without knowing where it was taking me. But then suddenly I’m knee-deep in grief, glowing crystal caves, and existential dread, and I didn’t want to come up for air.
The writing is gorgeous. Just the right amount of weird and beautiful. It’s atmospheric in that way where you don’t always know what’s going on, but you feel it. There’s this quiet, creeping intensity that builds as things unfold, and it works so well with the heavy emotions underneath it all.
Thaddeus’s grief felt raw and real. Like, ouch. And the world? Wild. Sci-fi, fantasy, cosmic horror, it blends together in a way that shouldn’t make sense but totally does.
Would I recommend it? Yeah…if you’re into slower burns with lyrical writing, a little sadness, and a lot of strange beauty. Definitely not your typical fantasy, but that’s kind of what made it special.
It starts out a little slow…. not bad, just floaty. Like I was wandering through vibes and lore without knowing where it was taking me. But then suddenly I’m knee-deep in grief, glowing crystal caves, and existential dread, and I didn’t want to come up for air.
The writing is gorgeous. Just the right amount of weird and beautiful. It’s atmospheric in that way where you don’t always know what’s going on, but you feel it. There’s this quiet, creeping intensity that builds as things unfold, and it works so well with the heavy emotions underneath it all.
Thaddeus’s grief felt raw and real. Like, ouch. And the world? Wild. Sci-fi, fantasy, cosmic horror, it blends together in a way that shouldn’t make sense but totally does.
Would I recommend it? Yeah…if you’re into slower burns with lyrical writing, a little sadness, and a lot of strange beauty. Definitely not your typical fantasy, but that’s kind of what made it special.
July 1, 2025
I couldn't put this one down! Beautiful writing, raw emotion, and a twisted magical world!
July 29, 2025
This book had such phenomenal world building, I literally felt like I was living inside. I loved the depiction of the new worlds as well as the characters. As someone who does not read Sci-Fi...this book definitely made me a fan!
July 10, 2025
I just finished this, and it’s horrifying! But in the best possible way. What starts as a straightforward rescue mission quickly unravels into something far more disturbing, as Thaddeus is pulled into a shattered dimension brimming with nightmares. The world-building is nothing short of extraordinary. This book plunges you headfirst into a chilling fusion of science fiction and cosmic horror, where reality decays and sanity teeters on the edge.
From the moment Thaddeus sets out to rescue Evaline, the story spirals into the terrifying unknown—the Rift. But the Rift isn’t just a setting; it’s a sentient, ever-shifting anomaly where time distorts, and logic disintegrates. The imagery is haunting, cinematic, and deeply unsettling. Every hallway, every shadow, every whisper hums with menace. Just when you think you understand what’s going on, the ground shifts beneath your feet.
I was constantly on edge for Benjamin, especially once the Lich appeared. That creature is pure nightmare-fuel, merciless, enigmatic, and deeply terrifying. The sci-fi horror elements hit hard and never let up. The Brothers Grimm, the Dragon King, and the Lucifather with his manipulative demons added layers of mythic dread, each encounter more unsettling than the last.
Yet through all of this chaos, Thaddeus remains the heart of the story. His unwavering resolve anchors the madness. He gives the narrative its heartbeat, even as the universe crumbles around him.
This isn’t just a book..it’s an experience. Visceral, mind-warping, terrifying, and oddly beautiful. I couldn’t look away.
From the moment Thaddeus sets out to rescue Evaline, the story spirals into the terrifying unknown—the Rift. But the Rift isn’t just a setting; it’s a sentient, ever-shifting anomaly where time distorts, and logic disintegrates. The imagery is haunting, cinematic, and deeply unsettling. Every hallway, every shadow, every whisper hums with menace. Just when you think you understand what’s going on, the ground shifts beneath your feet.
I was constantly on edge for Benjamin, especially once the Lich appeared. That creature is pure nightmare-fuel, merciless, enigmatic, and deeply terrifying. The sci-fi horror elements hit hard and never let up. The Brothers Grimm, the Dragon King, and the Lucifather with his manipulative demons added layers of mythic dread, each encounter more unsettling than the last.
Yet through all of this chaos, Thaddeus remains the heart of the story. His unwavering resolve anchors the madness. He gives the narrative its heartbeat, even as the universe crumbles around him.
This isn’t just a book..it’s an experience. Visceral, mind-warping, terrifying, and oddly beautiful. I couldn’t look away.
November 24, 2025
This read was a lot of fun!
For years, Thaddeus Blackwell has been a man consumed, trying to find a way to bring back his beloved Evaline from death. One fateful night, his scientific experiments go awry, tearing a hole in the fabric of reality itself. Thrust into a strange new world, Thaddeus must find a way to survive his dangerous surroundings and discover the truth behind what he has done.
I really loved how all of the genres present in this book complimented each other. Science fiction and fantasy take the forefront, but there is an underlying horror beneath it all that made sense. Buchanan has done a spectacular job blending them together.
The plot really surprised me and had lots of twists and turns I wasn't expecting. I'm not a stranger to portal fantasy and I loved how the author didn't follow all of the tropes that come along with it. He wrote a unique story that really grips you.
Thaddeus was fun to follow around as the main character. He's a man of science, and yet the world he finds himself in doesn't abide by the laws that have dominated his life prior. It was nice to see him progress through this journey and question everything he knows to find inner truth. I also really loved Elias, Casimir, and the Dragon King. They were wonderful supporting characters with personality.
If you like horror, scifi, or fantasy, I really think you should give this one a try!
For years, Thaddeus Blackwell has been a man consumed, trying to find a way to bring back his beloved Evaline from death. One fateful night, his scientific experiments go awry, tearing a hole in the fabric of reality itself. Thrust into a strange new world, Thaddeus must find a way to survive his dangerous surroundings and discover the truth behind what he has done.
I really loved how all of the genres present in this book complimented each other. Science fiction and fantasy take the forefront, but there is an underlying horror beneath it all that made sense. Buchanan has done a spectacular job blending them together.
The plot really surprised me and had lots of twists and turns I wasn't expecting. I'm not a stranger to portal fantasy and I loved how the author didn't follow all of the tropes that come along with it. He wrote a unique story that really grips you.
Thaddeus was fun to follow around as the main character. He's a man of science, and yet the world he finds himself in doesn't abide by the laws that have dominated his life prior. It was nice to see him progress through this journey and question everything he knows to find inner truth. I also really loved Elias, Casimir, and the Dragon King. They were wonderful supporting characters with personality.
If you like horror, scifi, or fantasy, I really think you should give this one a try!
September 15, 2025
Engaging, but felt rushed in places and drawn out in others.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews