The Almost Girl

Riven is a genuinely compelling YA protagonist — a warrior general trying to pass as a high school student is a great setup — and the action-romance crossover audience will find enough here to enjoy. But the world-building logic is uneven, the plot telegraphs its turns early, and Tor.com's blunt verdict that it is 'almost a book' reflects a real gap between the ambition and the execution. A solid airplane read for the target audience, but not a standout in the crowded YA sci-fi space.