Riven Shield

by Talia Fen

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2026

About the author

About the author
I am a UK-based author of fantasy and romantasy, drawn to stories of survival, loyalty, and the thin line between humanity and instinct.

When I'm not writing, I can usually be found lost in a book, wandering woodland paths, or spending time with my Husband and Children.

Find me on Socials:

Tiktok: Talia.Fen.Author

Facebook: Talia Fen's Fantasy Forest

Reviews

[charleyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from the indie author, Talia.

First of all, if you love a shifter romance filled with will they won’t they tension, slow burn yearning, and plenty of emotional buildup, then this is absolutely the book for you.

I found the book to be very well written, and even the smallest details added so much to the overall impact of the story. The pacing felt perfect for the length of the book, never rushed or dragging, and it kept me fully invested throughout.

The characters were incredibly lovable, and one of my favourite things was how important the side characters felt. They never seemed like “just” side characters, they each brought something meaningful to the story and made the world feel richer and more complete.

Riven definitely gives off golden retriever energy with just the right touch of broody, which I absolutely loved! But I must say Nolani is my new favourite side character, she's so sweet and kind, I just loved her so much.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and Talia should be incredibly proud of what she has created. This was such a strong and memorable read, and I’m excited to see what she writes next.

[Holly 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible.
It has spice without it overpowering the storyline. The book dives into the backstory of the main characters throughout, giving you a better understanding of them and why they act the way they do.
Without spoiling anything, the book threw me for a curveball at one point and the twist made so much sense but I hadn’t thought about it until it came about in the story.
The story keeps you wanting to come back for more!
I would read this book again and again and I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

This last bit is a slight spoiler in a sense, but the one thing I wish I got a bit more insight into during the book, was at the end, with what Sarah went though, I wish I heard a little more from her, and that whole scenario (not wanting to spoil it) but yeah. 100% worth the read!!!

[Ginareadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMGGGGG! I loved every single minute of this 😍 I read it first as a beta reader and again when it came to kindle. the writing is spectacular, you feel like your right there with the characters. I spoke with talia throughout me reading it and on tt live (which i know you screenshoted 👀) I told her my predictions and by god was my mind blown! I messaged her as soon as I finished it and yes I definitely shouted at her but because I needed more.. better be writing the second book girl 😑 i will definitely be rereading this over and over again, im soo proud of you sweetie! keep smashing it 🖤

[Wildfire2780 Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Riven Shield by Talia Fen

First, a huge thank you to the author for choosing me for the ARC read, what a privilege to dive into this story early!

At first, I wasn’t sure this book was for me, but the more I read, the more I found myself pulled in by the characters, their journey, and the fascinating shifter dynamics.

One thing that surprised me was how early the MMC’s past begins to surface. I wasn’t expecting that level of insight so soon, but it actually helped make the characters feel more layered and understandable. The author explains the characters well, which made it easier to connect with them and understand their motivations as the story progressed.

There is little to no spice, but the tension, the storyline, and the family bonds kept me reading and wanting to know what would happen next. The story focuses more on character relationships, loyalty, and emotional tension rather than romance.

I would probably classify this as leaning toward a young adult fantasy read, especially for readers who enjoy character-driven stories.

Stick with it if the beginning feels a bit slow, the character development and rising tension make the journey worthwhile.

As an indie fantasy story, I also appreciate the care the author put into developing the characters and their relationships. Overall it is a great fantasy read!

[rozcozyreading Cozy Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading anything from talia indie author thanks for accepting me for the arc What an absolutely fantastic book I loved every single page and was gripped from page 1 to the end! I loved the style of writing the characters and the way the story progressed there’s male MMCs FMMC wolf shifters romantic parts and tense parts 5 stars from me would recommend to anyone x

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time reviewing this ARC as I feel like I would give too much away. If you like wolf shifter stories, check this one out on April 7th! Low on the spice, but great story and character building. Definitely made me cry

[Jaqueline Doldersum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. It is so different from other shifter books I have read.
Caelen was raised in a traditional pack. After leaving the pack. She encounterd Riven, the Alpha of the Riven Shield pack. She follows him, to his pack. Because it is not save for her, to be alone.
Which is very different, from how she grew up. Here humans and wolves live together, as one big family.
I love how the story is written. The slowburn between Riven and Caelen.
How they interact with there wolf. Even when they are in their human form.
The twist I didn't see coming. But, had a gut feeling about it. I would definitely recommend this book.
I loved the book. It is so different from other shifter books I have read.

Caelen was raised in a traditional pack. After leaving the pack. She encounterd Riven, the Alpha of the Riven Shield pack. She follows him, to his pack. Because it is not save for her, to be alone.

Which is very different, from how she grew up. Here humans and wolves live together, as one big family.

I love how the story is written. The slowburn between Riven and Caelen.

How they interact with there wolf. Even when they are in their human form.

The twist I didn't see coming. But, had a gut feeling about it. I would definitely recommend this book.


Thank you Talia for having me as an ARC reader.

[Charlotte Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this shifter romance!!!

I'm usually an audiobook girly and seldom eyeball read if I'm totally honest, but this book had me enthralled from the start

I felt like I was part of the story, I felt their feelings every step of the way 🫶

Needless to say I want more from this world and this author, roll on book 2 🙌

[carolyn sim]

Great read

Loved this what an adventure and you never know what will happen next. Definitely recommend if you love wolf stories and want to see those who treat one badly get what they deserve, and of course for love to win overall.

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review will be broken into three parts: the storyline, character development, and the emotional impact.


When I started reading this book, I already had some preconceptions about what the story would be and had formed a general idea of how it might unfold. This story completely blew my mind because it didn’t follow that path—it subverted all my expectations.

Talia explores some very heavy and dark topics, and they are handled extremely well. The nuance in how people might act or react to these situations is portrayed excellently (it’s hard not to give anything away).

As for character development, Talia does it brilliantly. She makes you question characters and feel conflicted about them. I loved the MMC. The FMC tested my patience at times, but it felt realistic. Every character introduced had a role to play in the story.

There were moments when I wanted to throw my tablet—not because I wasn’t enjoying the book, but because the characters were frustrating me. That’s how I know a book is good: it had me ready to scream into the void.

Overall, this book was fantastic, and I would absolutely recommend it to any hardcore wolf-shifter romantasy fan.

[Didi Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very lucky to receive this as an Arc. Thank you so much, Talia!

This is a wolf shifter story with very little spice, but wow… what a story!

We follow Caelen, our FMC, who is strong, resilient, and powerful despite everything she’s been through. I really loved her character. Riven, our MMC, is powerful, dominant, and, of course, very easy to picture as handsome, but he also has a really emotional past that adds so much to his character.

I don’t want to say too much because there are a lot of twists and turns in this one, and it’s definitely better going in without spoilers. But I will say this book took me on an emotional ride — I even cried a couple of times!

Also… the slow burn in this book is so good. The yearning and pining between them had that electric tension that keeps you turning the pages.

The story is really well written with a great plot, and once I got into it, I genuinely couldn’t put it down.

This releases April 7th, and I would definitely recommend ordering it if you enjoy wolf shifter stories!

[Katie Rushworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an arc of Riven Shield and I enjoyed it. I've given it 4 stars. I enjoyed the wolf shifting and the found families of them all in the little community that they had . It was super easy to understand and I read it so quickly, I couldn't put it down to be honest. I would have liked to have kept reading about all the characters. I loved the ending and I'm glad it worked out like that. It also touched on sadder subjects and pulled at the heartstrings. The chapter when Riven was a pup 😭 There was a lot of characters to keep track of and sometimes I did get a bit confused about who was talking just by the way it was written but that is something I struggle with anyway and a me problem
I really appreciate getting this copy early and look forward to reading more by this author

[Samuelsunking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talia Fen did a fantastic job crafting a story that leaves a lasting impression.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy immersive storytelling, strong characters, and emotional depth. Definitely a well-deserved 5-star read, and I can’t wait to read more from this author!