Riftside 1

A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure

By: Cassius Lange, Henrik Saetre

Narrated by: Justin Thomas James, Jessica Threet, Jeff Hays

Ash Aldrich thought life couldn’t get any more dangerous than scavenging monsters to keep his family’s forge alive—until he bonded with a bloodthirsty soul weapon that just wouldn’t shut up.

Decades after the rifts appeared, the humans of Noros have finally managed to fight the monster incursions to a standstill, building protective settlements around each new rift. Beyond the rifts lies Riftside, a world filled with monsters, valuable resources, and the rare gems used to turn humans into classed adventurers.

Ash has given years of his life to being a scavenger, fighting monsters and hauling their carcasses, and supporting those stronger than him, all while saving up mind gems that would one day make him a classed adventurer. But the world doesn’t wait, and neither do the monsters.

The rifts have begun changing and evolving, just like the monsters on the other side, and the fragile balance between survival and annihilation has never been closer to shattering. Armed with a murderous, self-destructive soul hammer, Ash will finally join the fight along his newfound friends and fight to call a piece of this new world his.
It’s time to make the monsters fear humanity.

If you like Ultimate Level 1, Primal Hunter, or He Who Fights with Monsters, then you’ll love Riftside.

No mercy. No second chances. Just strength, steel, and survival.
Head Riftside today.

©2025 Quest Forge (P)2025 Soundbooth Theater

Fantastic

Such a good book great balance of emotion humor and action. Fun world building and really great characters! The power system is intriguing I can't wait to jump into the next book!

love it

I need the second book already I need to know what happens next, it is so great

Solid Story, Stellar Narration

Overall, Riftside 1 is a solid read, and I’d have no hesitation recommending it. While it didn’t fully align with my personal preferences, it still delivered an enjoyable experience.

That said, I don’t think it’s fair to compare it to titles like Primal Hunter or He Who Fights With Monsters. Those books hit about 90–95% of what I look for in terms of story and plot—they’re much closer to my ideal. Riftside 1, by contrast, landed around 70% for me. It didn’t quite check all the boxes I typically seek out as a listener, but it’s still a well-crafted book with plenty to appreciate.

Really enjoyed this

The story was awesome and the world building was great. The take on the progression system was unique but easy to understand.

The narrations were great (though one of the characters sounded a bit like the cookie monster from Sesame Street. lol)

I am looking forward to the next book!

Well told tale. Some affects hinder listening.

Really enjoyed this one. Plot, world-building and characters were all excellent.

The Protagonist's "companion" gets annoying, but overall, well done.

Some of the sound affects / edits make listening difficult. Not sure why sound engineers would allow such variations in sound level.