Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Sarya is the civilized galaxy's worst nightmare: a Human.
Most days, Sarya doesn't feel like the most terrifying creature in the galaxy.
Most
days, she's got other things on her mind. Like hiding her identity
among the hundreds of alien species roaming the corridors of Watertower
Station. Or making sure her adoptive mother doesn't casually eviscerate
one of their neighbors. Again.
And most days, she can almost
accept that she'll never know the truth--that she'll never know why
humanity was deemed too dangerous to exist. Or whether she really
is--impossibly--the lone survivor of a species destroyed a millennium
ago.
That is, until an encounter with a bounty hunter and a
miles-long kinetic projectile leaves her life and her perspective
shattered.
Thrown into the universe at the helm of a stolen
ship--with the dubious assistance of a rebellious spacesuit, an android
death enthusiast on his sixtieth lifetime, and a ball of fluff with an
IQ in the thousands--Sarya begins to uncover an impossible truth.
What
if humanity's death and her own existence are simply two moves in a
demented cosmic game, one played out by vast alien intellects? Stranger
still, what if these mad gods are offering Sarya a seat at their
table--and a second chance for humanity?
The Last Human is
a sneakily brilliant, gleefully oddball space-opera debut--a masterful
play on perspective, intelligence, and free will, wrapped in a
rollicking journey through a strange and crowded galaxy.
Review:
How vast is the universe? What would it be like to be the literal last human in existence? These are the questions explored in the book, The Last Human, by Zack Jordan. While I thought the world-building and characters were really fun and compelling, the book went off the rails at the middle and didn't really recover.
What I Liked:
World-Building:
The author does a wonderful job of creating a reality with millions of different species. I really enjoyed that each species was assigned an intelligence "tier", which determined what type of jobs someone could have and if they could become a Network citizen.
The space station where Sarya lived also was really well thought out to account for all the different types of beings that would live and interact on it. The architects in this story had to think about how a living space would accommodate so much variety.
Characters:
Sarya:
Sarya is living a lie. She is human, but must claim to be a different life form (because there hasn't been a human sighting in a thousand years). She also has been adopted by a being from a completely different species. Being so raised, she is an interesting mix of defiant, sulky human teen, and a Daughter of a killer hunter. Sarya is tough, resilient, and heart-breakingly lonely. I cheered for her every step of the way.
Shenya The Widow:
Shenya The Widow seems to be a giant killer spider who has adopted Sarya (cool, right?). It was so fascinating to see Shenya's point of view, from how repulsive Sarya looks to her, to her unique views on parenting. This was a really memorable, and fun, character.
The Observer:
Our understanding of The Observer shifts several times over the course of the story. At times, he is a kindly, helpful fellow. Other times, his motives are less than clear. This made him really fascinating. You never knew what his motives were until the very end.
What I Was Mixed About:
Human Exceptionalism:
Of course we all see the human race as pretty awesome, right? But why would the Human Race be put on such a pedestal among millions of species? I didn't think the explanation that the author gave was very convincing. Basically, it was supposed to be because we are just so darn independent! We hate having an authority above us, and that is why we are so dangerous. However, throughout human history authoritarian government systems have been the norm. It's only in the last few hundred years that self-governance has even been attempted. With that in mind, this argument just wasn't convincing.
What I Didn't Like:
Pacing:
This book is a rip roaring adventure...until it's not. The story begins as a fast-paced chase with Sarya being pursued by several different species who want her dead. This is fun. But then, the action comes to a screeching halt, with the introduction of a long, philosophical exploration of sentience and the vastness of space. This is not fun.
Confusing Plot:
This drawn-out study in how humans can't really comprehend the enormity of space is deliberately confusing. Scenes stop abruptly, and then start up again with little explanation as to what just happened (several transitions read, "...and then Sarya's mind explodes"). The author may have done this to show how our puny minds can't possibly understand any of this, but it was frustrating and made me feel stupid.
Plus, as I said earlier, it went on and on, dragging down the plot. I think this could have been edited down and it would have gotten the point across. It would have made for a much more enjoyable reading experience.
Rating:
Release Date: March 24th, 2020
Author: Zack Jordan
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 448 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: An uneven, but interesting book. I would read this from the library.
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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
The land has awoken,
and news of magic's rebirth has traveled across the sea. Jahan, a daring
noble who has been concealing his powers, is finally ready to stop
hiding. Now he returns to the imperial capital, where the use of magic
carries a death sentence. There, he must face his dark past, learn to
embrace his gifts, and prevent an all-out war across the kingdoms.
Review:
The Waking Land, by Callie Bates, was one of my favorite books of 2017. I don't know how I missed reading the next book, The Memory of Fire when it came out last year, but it was equally amazing! Set in a magical world with lots of royal intrigue, the fun characters, story, and ending make this book a winner.
What I Liked:
Setting:
There are lots of books with magic in them, but this world is one of a kind. Elanna, the Caveadear, can literally make the trees walk with her magic that is tied to the land! Jahan has a different sort of magic where he can move between walls, and start fires. I loved the fact that, although many people had magic, they all manifested it differently. This made the story so much more complex.
Also, the different kingdoms, with their varying values and prejudices, made the conflicts all the more realistic. Eren and Caeris, where magic once flourished have been overshadowed by the much larger empire of Paladis, where magic as seen as an abomination. Well, the biggest country makes the rules, so people with magic are in hiding (you don't want to know what happens to sorcerers in Paladis!). I couldn't help but feel the analogy between this fantasy world, and real-life world powers who assert their control over smaller nations.
Characters:
Jahan is the main focus of this book. Normally, I am more drawn to the female characters in these type of books. But the author really shows us Jahan's turmoil and struggles. His backstory is a heart-breaker.
Jahan must really reconcile that he hid his magic while others were being killed for their magical abilities. Was he brave to use his talents secretly to help others, or cowardly to not come forward and help even more? There are no easy answers in this book.
Jahan's family dynamic is so twisted, that it was no wonder he was a troubled soul. So many people used him, rather than protected him as a child, that it was no wonder that he had a difficult time with friendships and love.
Story:
The Waking Land was centered around Elanna, but The Memory of Fire is completely about Jahan. Elanna is a very minor character in this book. While I was annoyed at first, because I wanted to learn even more about Elanna, I now get it (book three will be about Sophy). This narrative choice makes each book very focused on the main character, without the pressure to keep Elanna in every scene. This really could have been a VERY large book with all three novels being parts I, II, and III. But I see the wisdom in breaking them into separate novels. All three books together are 1244 pages long!
Ending:
I really loved the ending of this book. One of my pet peeves with series is that usually book two is just one drawn out cliff-hanger! Not so with The Memory of Fire. The significant plot points are definitely resolved, but we know more is waiting for us. This was very satisfying for me as a reader.
Rating:
Release Date: June 5th, 2019
Author: Callie Bates
Publisher: Del Rey Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 464 Pages
Source: Public Library
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: With an exciting story set in a world of magic, The Memory of Fire was a page-turner! I loved it.
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Please Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
In the stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, following The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya returns to save Russia and the spirit realm, battling enemies both mortal and magic.
Review:
The Winter of The Witch, by Katherine Arden, encompasses everything I love about fantasy novels: imaginative world-building, strong characters, storytelling that uses elements of folktales, and plenty of action sequences to keep those pages turning.
What I Liked:
World-Building:
A good story begins with a rich universe. The Winter of The Witch continues to build on the world the author created in the first two books of the series. On top of the setting of medieval Russia, there many fantastical spirits such as Ded Grib (a mushroom spirit), Lady Midday (a spirit who wanders hayfields causing heatstroke), and Pozhar (a firebird).
One of the most creative aspects of this universe is when Vasya travels on The Midnight Road. This is a never-ending land of all the midnights the world has ever known, spanning locations, climates, and time itself. I loved this!!!
Themes:
One of the central themes of this series is the conflict between old and new religions. As the Christian church is rising in power, people are discouraged from offering tributes to the Chyerti (various spirits found in Russian folklore). This is causing the Chyerti to fade. But the Chyerti play a vital role in protecting those who believe in them.
Vasya believes in both Christianity and the Chyerti. Her task is to find a way to create acceptance between the two belief systems.
Fully Formed Characters:
Vasya, the main character, is a strong female who bristles against the tight constraints that women are subjected to in her society. As the series begins, Vasya's choices are to be married off to make babies, or to join a nunnery. Neither hold any appeal.
Vasya also has the "Sight". She can see Chyerti and makes regular offerings to them. In exchange, she gains protection and learns of dangers to her and her family ahead of time.
I love Vasya because she is so NOT perfect. As she is drawn into an ancient conflict between The Bear (the king of Chaos) and Morozko (the king of death), she doesn't always make the right choices. She also starts to understand that as she uses magic, the power she wields will drive her insane. Can she do what is needed to save Russia and protect her family?
There are no cartoonishly evil or saintly people in this novel.
via GIPHY
As the book progressed, I found myself having empathy for characters such as Father Konstantin (who I originally loathed), and even The Bear. Both characters do truly dispicable things, yet the author gets inside their heads to show the reader how they became who they are. To paraphrase Vasya, "I've done good things, and evil things. But I am neither." That is what makes these characters so complex.
Russian History & Folklore:
I was delighted to read at the end of the book that many of the plot points in The Winter of the Witch are drawn from actual historical events! Russian folklore is also woven into the story to include characters such as Baba Yaga, and Lady Midnight. I loved that the author shows the rich cultural traditions of Russia.
Tension:
This book is definitely a page-turner! Just when you think Vasya is out of danger, another problem pops up (she just can't get a break!). Vasya is either running for her life, fighting her way out of a corner, or fighting her urge to go mad with magical power. There is also tension of the sexual kind as Vasya tries to resist her feelings for The Winter King...
via GIPHY
What I Was Mixed About:
Lack Of A Recap:
This is a pet peeve of mine. When I read a series, I like it when there is a small recap of who the people are with a quick synopsis of what has happened earlier. I often had to work hard at the beginning of this book to remember who everyone was. That said, I would highly recommend re-reading the first two books (The Bear and the Nightingale, and The Girl in the Tower), in order to be able to fully enjoy this book.
Rating:
Release Date: January 9th, 2019
Author: Katherine Arden
Publisher: Del Rey
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 384 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A worthy finish to a wildly creative series. But read the first two books first.
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