Reality Rift (Dark Shepherd #2) Out Now — Deluxe Prize Draw

Reality Rift is out now — Dark Shepherd continues without a pause

January 16, 2026 — Sci-fi author and artist Fred Gambino has released Reality Rift, the second book in his Dark Shepherd trilogy. If you missed our earlier conversation with Fred, you can catch the full feature interview here: Fred Gambino interview on Fix Gaming Channel. We also spoke with him about Dark Shepherd and the future of sci-fi art.

Alongside the standard editions, NewCon Press has also produced a Deluxe Edition limited to 28 copies, featuring additional images and a limited edition print. Deluxe buyers are entered into an end-of-month prize draw (end of January 2026), where one winner receives one of four original A3 pencil drawings used as limited edition prints. At the time of writing, Fred says one copy remains.

Synopsis (provided by the author)

Reality Rift is my second book in the Dark Shepherd trilogy. It picks up from Book One without a break, with young female protagonist Breel and the rest of our heroes finding themselves stranded in unknown space, their spacecraft badly damaged. They should be dead already, but unless they hurry, they very soon will be.

With new characters and a deadly trek through an alien base, Reality Rift is an action-packed space opera romp.

As with the first edition, Reality Rift is available as a Kindle and paperback from Amazon and as paperback and hardback from NewCon Press.

In addition, NewCon Press has produced a lavish deluxe edition limited to 28 copies, which includes more images and a limited edition print. Buyers of the deluxe edition will be entered into a prize draw, and the winner will receive one of the four original A3 pencil drawings. There is one copy left.

The prize draw will be held at the end of January 2026.

Where to buy

• Reality Rift (Dark Shepherd #2) — NewCon Press / Amazon
• Dark Shepherd (Book One) — NewCon Press / Amazon

More from Fred

• fredgambino.co.uk
• ArtStation
• YouTube

Pencil artwork print shared by Fred Gambino.

Pencil artwork print shared by Fred Gambino.

Pencil artwork print shared by Fred Gambino.

Related reading

• Fred Gambino — interview and feature