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The Rift Saga #1
The Shadow Enemy
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26If you loved the unexpected parallels of rival realms in
The Bridge Kingdom..
.If you loved the symbolism of light vs dark in
Shadow and Bone
...If you love stories with diverse characters and mental health representation...... The
Shadow Enemy
is for you!
In a realm of everlasting sunlight, Princess Mika is a warrior born of prophecy-and burdened by it. She hunts two Dark Princes destined to overthrow her kingdom in the tenth generation-her generation. Still grieving her father's assassination, she vows to protect her disabled brother, the heir to the throne, who withers under the strain of failing magic.
Armed with only a partial prophecy, she embarks on a perilous quest to stop the princes before they drown her world in eternal shadow. When she captures one prince, her thirst for answers unleashes a dangerous grief-driven fury in her. Before she regains control, the prince's brother retaliates by abducting her for leverage. Imprisoned in the very land she sought to destroy, an unforeseen magical bond between her and this prince both surprises and unnerves her. Bound to her enemy by this unexpected tether, Mika must navigate a deadly dance of deception, power, and desire. Is her magic finally awakening-or is it being twisted against her by the very prince she was born to destroy?
To save her brother and her throne, Mika must face the one enemy she fears herself.
In a realm of everlasting sunlight, Princess Mika is a warrior born of prophecy-and burdened by it. She hunts two Dark Princes destined to overthrow her kingdom in the tenth generation-her generation. Still grieving her father's assassination, she vows to protect her disabled brother, the heir to the throne, who withers under the strain of failing magic.
Armed with only a partial prophecy, she embarks on a perilous quest to stop the princes before they drown her world in eternal shadow. When she captures one prince, her thirst for answers unleashes a dangerous grief-driven fury in her. Before she regains control, the prince's brother retaliates by abducting her for leverage. Imprisoned in the very land she sought to destroy, an unforeseen magical bond between her and this prince both surprises and unnerves her. Bound to her enemy by this unexpected tether, Mika must navigate a deadly dance of deception, power, and desire. Is her magic finally awakening-or is it being twisted against her by the very prince she was born to destroy?
To save her brother and her throne, Mika must face the one enemy she fears herself.
- GenresFantasy
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 10, 2026
10 people want to read
About the author
Jane McGarry
7 books83 followersYA writer, voracious reader, wife, mom & cat lover. Visit me at www.janemcgarrybooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5⭐️
Overall, the story is a decent quick read. It has good world building, great pacing, and some solid side characters. But there were some issues. Wren's POV needed more depth. He felt very 2 dimensional. Mika and Lynx's relationship escalated rather quickly.
However, for me, the biggest issue with the story was Mika. For the first half of the story, she is unsufferable. She is constantly angry, rude, and self-centered. When she is disciplined for disobeying orders, she literally responds with, "I'm a princess. You can't lock me up. " 🤦♀️
Luckily, she gets kidnapped and has a reality check.
I did enjoy the ending. No huge cliffhanger, but still a nice twist or tease for the next book.
Thank you for choosing me to be an ARC Reader
Overall, the story is a decent quick read. It has good world building, great pacing, and some solid side characters. But there were some issues. Wren's POV needed more depth. He felt very 2 dimensional. Mika and Lynx's relationship escalated rather quickly.
However, for me, the biggest issue with the story was Mika. For the first half of the story, she is unsufferable. She is constantly angry, rude, and self-centered. When she is disciplined for disobeying orders, she literally responds with, "I'm a princess. You can't lock me up. " 🤦♀️
Luckily, she gets kidnapped and has a reality check.
I did enjoy the ending. No huge cliffhanger, but still a nice twist or tease for the next book.
Thank you for choosing me to be an ARC Reader
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc review
I'm so sad I finished this book in 48hours, I need more!
I absolutely adore Mika. She's sassy, stubborn, strong and sweet. All in one. She grows a lot emotionally and the it was lovely to follow her path and learn about her feelings. The bond with her brother is heartwarming and feels so real.
The worldbuilding is amazing. I could feel the hot wind and sand on impossible places. Or the cold dark forests on the dark side.
Oh and those princes on that dark side... how I went from No to oooh. ;)
A great book and I can't wait to read to next one on this series.
I'm so sad I finished this book in 48hours, I need more!
I absolutely adore Mika. She's sassy, stubborn, strong and sweet. All in one. She grows a lot emotionally and the it was lovely to follow her path and learn about her feelings. The bond with her brother is heartwarming and feels so real.
The worldbuilding is amazing. I could feel the hot wind and sand on impossible places. Or the cold dark forests on the dark side.
Oh and those princes on that dark side... how I went from No to oooh. ;)
A great book and I can't wait to read to next one on this series.
February 6, 2026
Read this ARC and enjoyed it for the most part. Something to consider is that this series is YA and for those starting off their fantasy journey this is a safe place to start without needing a glossary lol. FMC starts off frustratingly immature, but by towards the end you witness her healing, just wish the character development occurred closer to the middle rather than towards the end. The book was a bit stretched out for where it ended and I had hoped the encounters with the “mythical creatures” would have had you on the edge of your seat, but again being YA gotta condense it to keep the attention of younger readers. All in all good plot, characters you grow fond of, and it keeps you wondering what’s next. Sadly this is not a standalone so you’ll have to wait for the next one. Hopefully it’s not a long wait!
Review of advance copy received from Author
>Book Review – The Shadow Enemy
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 1st in the Rift Saga and ends in a cliffhanger. A cruel goddess split the world in half. One half of the world is in constant darkness, yet the people who live there have adapted. The other half of the world is in constant light. The people there have also adapted. There is a deadly rift in between the worlds. Only one bridge attaches the dark side and the light. Neither side trusts the other and don’t realize that the evil goddess has been pitting them against each other,
>Mika and Nafi are twins and part of the ruling family of the light. Nafi is the King and Mika a soldier. She has a horrid temper that she must keep in check, but fails a lot. Their father was recently killed by the Dark people, they believe.
>Wren and Lynx are the princes of the Dark. Their father was also killed by the Light people, they believe. Lynx captures Mika and Nafi has Wren. I found it funny how Lynx has Mika’s temperament. His lack of temper control actually teaches Mika how important it is to stay in control.
>The book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving this book 4 stars. The universe in this story includes magic. The dark and light sides have different magics.
A mage lets the 3 princes and princess know they must find 3 parts of a written prophesy in order to find out what to do next. I enjoyed seeing how each side dealt with living in constant light/dark. I hope the next book develops the royal characters a bit more.
>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 1st in the Rift Saga and ends in a cliffhanger. A cruel goddess split the world in half. One half of the world is in constant darkness, yet the people who live there have adapted. The other half of the world is in constant light. The people there have also adapted. There is a deadly rift in between the worlds. Only one bridge attaches the dark side and the light. Neither side trusts the other and don’t realize that the evil goddess has been pitting them against each other,
>Mika and Nafi are twins and part of the ruling family of the light. Nafi is the King and Mika a soldier. She has a horrid temper that she must keep in check, but fails a lot. Their father was recently killed by the Dark people, they believe.
>Wren and Lynx are the princes of the Dark. Their father was also killed by the Light people, they believe. Lynx captures Mika and Nafi has Wren. I found it funny how Lynx has Mika’s temperament. His lack of temper control actually teaches Mika how important it is to stay in control.
>The book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving this book 4 stars. The universe in this story includes magic. The dark and light sides have different magics.
A mage lets the 3 princes and princess know they must find 3 parts of a written prophesy in order to find out what to do next. I enjoyed seeing how each side dealt with living in constant light/dark. I hope the next book develops the royal characters a bit more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thoughts:
If you're into:
✅Baddass FMC that doesn't need a man to save her
✅A book that deals with the mentions of grieving
✅Dark and Light
✅Forced Proximity
✅Fairly Short Chapters
Then I think this is for you :3
•I love the FMCs relationship with her brother, it does remind me quite a bit of my own. The teasing, the worrying, the way I'd definitely try to capture a dark prince so that my brother doesn't die (so similar)
•The romance dynamic sort of gives enemies to lovers, which although I'm not into its quite nice in this book
•Although I don't exactly like her temperament I can't blame her with all the things she's lost, I'd be fuming too even if im a fairly calm person.
So yes, I do recommend this, and I hope to come back for the second one if there's one in the works :>
If you're into:
✅Baddass FMC that doesn't need a man to save her
✅A book that deals with the mentions of grieving
✅Dark and Light
✅Forced Proximity
✅Fairly Short Chapters
Then I think this is for you :3
•I love the FMCs relationship with her brother, it does remind me quite a bit of my own. The teasing, the worrying, the way I'd definitely try to capture a dark prince so that my brother doesn't die (so similar)
•The romance dynamic sort of gives enemies to lovers, which although I'm not into its quite nice in this book
•Although I don't exactly like her temperament I can't blame her with all the things she's lost, I'd be fuming too even if im a fairly calm person.
So yes, I do recommend this, and I hope to come back for the second one if there's one in the works :>
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reader’s copy.
The Shadow Enemy is a solid YA story that plunges readers into a shattered realm where one side is stuck in unending daylight, and the other forever in shadow. I loved Mika, but felt that Wren’s POV was shallow and not as well thought out or powerful. The world building could’ve used more creative explanations for the monsters and reasons why each kingdom was separated—not just physically, but culturally as well. Additionally, the chemistry between Mika and Lynx—while physically described—did not feel emotionally earned. I still loved the story and the characters were lovable. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a fast paced fantasy and would consider picking up book 2.
The Shadow Enemy is a solid YA story that plunges readers into a shattered realm where one side is stuck in unending daylight, and the other forever in shadow. I loved Mika, but felt that Wren’s POV was shallow and not as well thought out or powerful. The world building could’ve used more creative explanations for the monsters and reasons why each kingdom was separated—not just physically, but culturally as well. Additionally, the chemistry between Mika and Lynx—while physically described—did not feel emotionally earned. I still loved the story and the characters were lovable. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a fast paced fantasy and would consider picking up book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received this as an ARC.
I like this book for the most part. It was an easy read and I polished it off in a day.
It would be a good entrance book into the fantasy genre. No spice so appropriate for teenage readers.
I think it had a lot of potential and I enjoyed the world building. I think it could’ve had a little bit more detail to draw the reader in. I felt like some of the aspects didn’t fit like the addition of monsters, but maybe that is building up for the next book.
I appreciate it when the FMC doesn’t rely on a man to be strong. Mika was tough, but acknowledged her mistakes.
All in all, I would recommend it and I’m definitely interested in reading the second one.
I like this book for the most part. It was an easy read and I polished it off in a day.
It would be a good entrance book into the fantasy genre. No spice so appropriate for teenage readers.
I think it had a lot of potential and I enjoyed the world building. I think it could’ve had a little bit more detail to draw the reader in. I felt like some of the aspects didn’t fit like the addition of monsters, but maybe that is building up for the next book.
I appreciate it when the FMC doesn’t rely on a man to be strong. Mika was tough, but acknowledged her mistakes.
All in all, I would recommend it and I’m definitely interested in reading the second one.
February 12, 2026
The most part I enjoyed reading the story and was an easy read for me. If you are new to fantasy this would be the perfect book to start with.
I’m personally enjoyed world building in stories and wish this had a little more of it to draw the reader in and understand the history a bit more!
The MFCs growth throughout the book drew me in and I just loved the relationship she has with her brother. And how her and one of the MFCs relationships grew throughout the book!
I like that it is a duel point of view so you could really understand the characters from both sides of the rift.
I look forward to reading book two and reading more from this author in the future.
I’m personally enjoyed world building in stories and wish this had a little more of it to draw the reader in and understand the history a bit more!
The MFCs growth throughout the book drew me in and I just loved the relationship she has with her brother. And how her and one of the MFCs relationships grew throughout the book!
I like that it is a duel point of view so you could really understand the characters from both sides of the rift.
I look forward to reading book two and reading more from this author in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
truly enthralling book, cant wait for the next one! emotional roller-coaster, adventurous, love interests
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book. The beginning I was a little concerned about all the different names for things and people.
Once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for the next one. I’m
Once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for the next one. I’m
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews