---
title: "A New Kind of Fantasy: Chance Fribbs’ ‘Rise of Vice’ Champions Hope, Faith and Friendship"
description: Chance Fribbs’ Rise of Vice blends fantasy literature, faith and friendship to offer character-driven storytelling that appeals to genre sceptics
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2025-07-06T11:57:23.000Z
updated: 2026-06-29T08:43:28.985Z
canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/a-new-kind-of-fantasy-chance-fribbs-rise-of-vice-champions-hope-faith-and-friendship
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/nijueqw0rkg.jpg
categories: Fiction
content_type: Book Review
region: Global
publication: Rich Books
---

Fantasy literature has a reputation problem. Mention dragons, multiverse adventures or prophetic destinies and many readers immediately picture endless world-building exposition, incomprehensible magic systems and characters who speak in riddles. What if a fantasy novel existed that prioritised human connection over epic battles, emotional authenticity over magical complexity?

Chance Fribbs’ debut, [*The Guardians Trilogy: Rise of Vice*](https://amzn.to/40H1cNR), suggests that fantasy can offer something different – a story where faith, fate and friendship anchor everything else.

Fribbs’ approach feels perfectly timed for readers who want fantasy that feels grounded in recognisable human experiences. Rather than drowning readers in elaborate world-building, he creates space for the emotional connections that make stories truly memorable.

*Rise of Vice* unfolds in Maeglover, a war-torn realm where [celestial forces collide with human destiny](https://richbooksmagazine.com/article/kenneth-bliss-christian-fantasy-books-gamers). When prophetic upheaval awakens sacred guardians and demonic forces rise, unlikely heroes find themselves connected across dimensions. The premise sounds familiar to fantasy veterans, but Fribbs constructs his multiverse with deliberate restraint – the magical elements serve the emotional story rather than overwhelming it.

The book follows characters whose destinies intertwine through what Between Realms Publishing describes as ‘a narrative driven by faith, loss, transformation and a race against impending darkness’. Rather than getting lost in elaborate magic systems or political machinations, the story centres on how ordinary people respond to extraordinary circumstances.

## Faith, Loss and Finding Your People

What makes *Rise of Vice* potentially appealing to fantasy sceptics lies in its emotional foundation. The book explores themes that resonate regardless of whether you believe in dragons: What happens when your faith is tested? How do you process loss while maintaining hope? Can friendship survive when people change in fundamental ways?

These universal concerns drive the plot forward more than any magical MacGuffin or prophetic destiny. Early readers have responded positively to this approach, with reviewer G. O’Dell noting that Fribbs demonstrates ‘the depth, breadth and precision of the world’ while maintaining his ‘ability to seamlessly follow character arcs as they separate and converge’.

The comparison O’Dell draws is significant: ‘reminds me of novels like *The Lord of the Rings*‘. Coming from an early reader, this suggests Fribbs has managed something difficult – [creating fantasy that honours storytelling traditions](https://richbooksmagazine.com/article/the-power-of-storytelling-neuroscience-the-history-038-the-future-of-books) while remaining accessible to newcomers.

## The Fresh Voice Behind the Magic

Chance Fribbs arrives in fantasy as a debut author with an unusual approach to world-building – he’s actively inviting collaboration. Beyond releasing his debut, Fribbs has extended an invitation to fellow authors to either expand the Guardians universe or publish original fantasy works under the Between Realms Publishing banner.

The invitation reveals something about Fribbs’ confidence in his world-building. Most debut authors guard their fictional universes jealously. Fribbs’ willingness to share suggests he’s created something robust enough to support collaborative expansion – a good sign for readers wondering whether this first book establishes a world worth revisiting.

## Should Fantasy Sceptics Take the Plunge?

The question many readers face is simple: will this work for someone who doesn’t typically enjoy fantasy? *Rise of Vice* seems positioned to satisfy readers looking for that balance. The fantastical elements provide the escape and wonder that make fantasy appealing, while the focus on faith, friendship and personal growth offers the emotional engagement that keeps pages turning.

For book clubs willing to venture into fantasy territory, this debut offers a gentler entry point than many genre staples. The book benefits from what Between Realms Publishing calls ’emotionally grounded character arcs’ – a phrase that should reassure readers who worry about fantasy characters feeling more like chess pieces than people.

## A Sidebar for the Curious

For book clubs considering fantasy for the first time, *Rise of Vice* shares DNA with other fantasy novels that welcome sceptics. Books like Susanna Clarke’s *Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell*, Helene Wecker’s *The Golem and the Jinni* and Alice Hoffman’s *Practical Magic* succeed because they ground fantastical elements in recognisable human experiences.

These titles work for book clubs because they offer [rich discussion material beyond plot mechanics](https://richbooksmagazine.com/article/latin-american-fantasy-literature-reaches-new-heights-as-magical-series-claims-prestigious-award) – themes of identity, belonging, moral complexity and personal growth that translate across genres. *Rise of Vice* appears to follow this tradition, using its multiverse setting to explore questions about faith and friendship that resonate regardless of your fantasy preferences.

The appeal extends beyond traditional fantasy boundaries. Like [other genre-blending works gaining attention](https://richbooksmagazine.com/article/whimsical-horror-evolves-as-literary-publishing-s-most-captivating-new-genre), Fribbs’ debut demonstrates how fantasy elements can enhance rather than overshadow human stories.

## Taking the Leap

Sometimes the book you didn’t expect becomes exactly what you needed. *The Guardians Trilogy: Rise of Vice* offers fantasy elements wrapped around universal themes, world-building that serves character development and the promise of emotional depth alongside magical adventure.

For readers who have avoided fantasy because it seemed too complex, too combat-focused or too removed from human experience, Fribbs’ debut suggests the genre can offer something different. Available now on Amazon, *Rise of Vice* invites readers to discover whether this particular fantasy world might [surprise them with its humanity](https://richbooksmagazine.com/article/it-is-never-too-late-for-magic-first-novel-arrives-after-decades-of-dreaming-the-enchanted-forest).

The real magic isn’t in Fribbs’ multiverse construction – it’s in [creating fantasy that feels genuinely welcoming](https://richbooksmagazine.com/article/the-vault-from-the-author-who-knows-where-the-bodies-are-buried-whirls-wall-street-secrets-in) to readers who thought the genre wasn’t for them. Whether that magic works depends on your willingness to let it.

stories truly memorable. For another perspective on how fantasy can heal and illuminate, see [when fantasy heals](https://richbooksmagazine.com/article/when-fantasy-heals-finding-magic-in-broken-places).