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The Last Contender
What would you pay for freedom?
Your body?
Wynn is a carpenter in a small town in Northern Rhosan, but after he is torn from his family by ruthless Victors, he'll have to learn to survive beneath their rule. When he is forced to hunt with the silent, stoic Dyfan, the two men forge a bond that might be enough to shelter them from a life of violence and cruelty.
Your people?
Basia and Danae are the children of nobles in the elegant, educated Phecean Confederacy. When Basia starts to discover just how horrifying the lives of slaves in her country are, she’s faced with a terrible choice: does she step up to reshape her home at the risk of losing her closest friend, or does she keep quiet and let nothing change? Dealing with the difficulties of her budding gender identity would be hard enough without the lives of millions on her shoulders.
Your mind?
Deep in the Tundra’s frozen heart, the daughter of a medicine woman learns to make poison. The dreams it gives her are full of blood, war, and terrible purpose, but when Iniabi’s village is raided by foreign soldiers, it’s all she can do to stay alive. Iniabi will have to use all the Tundra has taught her as destiny pulls her across the continent, but when it comes to the fate of her people, it’s not enough just to survive.
Your body?
Wynn is a carpenter in a small town in Northern Rhosan, but after he is torn from his family by ruthless Victors, he'll have to learn to survive beneath their rule. When he is forced to hunt with the silent, stoic Dyfan, the two men forge a bond that might be enough to shelter them from a life of violence and cruelty.
Your people?
Basia and Danae are the children of nobles in the elegant, educated Phecean Confederacy. When Basia starts to discover just how horrifying the lives of slaves in her country are, she’s faced with a terrible choice: does she step up to reshape her home at the risk of losing her closest friend, or does she keep quiet and let nothing change? Dealing with the difficulties of her budding gender identity would be hard enough without the lives of millions on her shoulders.
Your mind?
Deep in the Tundra’s frozen heart, the daughter of a medicine woman learns to make poison. The dreams it gives her are full of blood, war, and terrible purpose, but when Iniabi’s village is raided by foreign soldiers, it’s all she can do to stay alive. Iniabi will have to use all the Tundra has taught her as destiny pulls her across the continent, but when it comes to the fate of her people, it’s not enough just to survive.
775 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2022
8 people are currently reading
1751 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 29, 2023
"Epic" is an understatement for the scope of this book.
The authors have crafted a rich, complex world and populated it with a diverse cast of characters we get to see develop (and in several cases, grow up) over years. Getting to know these characters, particularly the five from whose POVs the story is told, over a long timespan makes them feel intimately familiar to the reader by the end of the book. The world they live in is gritty and often violent, as are the lives some of them lead, with the story containing a number of brutal elements, so do mind the trigger warnings.
The plot, spanning years as well as countries, is woven from separate threads that only just begin to come together by the end of this book. At times the pace was a little too slow, some parts of the story dragged out a little too long, but never to the extent that I got bored.
This entire novel feels a little like a long prologue, with the main story just about to kick off at the end. I absolutely can't wait to see what's next.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
The authors have crafted a rich, complex world and populated it with a diverse cast of characters we get to see develop (and in several cases, grow up) over years. Getting to know these characters, particularly the five from whose POVs the story is told, over a long timespan makes them feel intimately familiar to the reader by the end of the book. The world they live in is gritty and often violent, as are the lives some of them lead, with the story containing a number of brutal elements, so do mind the trigger warnings.
The plot, spanning years as well as countries, is woven from separate threads that only just begin to come together by the end of this book. At times the pace was a little too slow, some parts of the story dragged out a little too long, but never to the extent that I got bored.
This entire novel feels a little like a long prologue, with the main story just about to kick off at the end. I absolutely can't wait to see what's next.
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
December 11, 2022
I was lucky to receive this as an e-ARC! L&S Fables has previously published fantasy, but never on this epic a scale, and I am happy to say that they handle the longer story and larger world with perfection.
The story follows several characters and their own separate personal journeys. I loved how character-driven this story was, as all L&S Fables books are. The authors are great at making sympathetic, lovable characters, even when they do terrible things.
My favorite stories were that of Iniabi, the daughter of a medicine woman who uses her knowledge of drugs and poison to survive with pirates after her home is destroyed, and Wynn, a man sold into slavery and forced to compete in gladiator tournaments.
Iniabi’s story was definitely the most action-packed, and I was very invested in her relationship with the pirates, and the conflict involved with the captain’s addiction.
Wynn had the sweetest story, a beautiful romance with a fellow gladiator fighter, Dyfan. It’s heartbreaking but also heartwarming, and was beautifully written. I wanted them to escape so bad and was always looking forward to reading about them.
The other stories were also wonderful, as the noblewoman Basia comes out as trans and starts to question the injustices in her society, causing conflict with her best friend. It can be hard to sympathize with the noble people’s perspectives after reading about the brutality faced by those they have power over, but I think this was handled well, and Basia’s conflict felt realistic based on her upbringing.
The worldbuilding was great; I enjoyed the worldbuilding in these authors’ other books but the epic scale of this story allowed for greater depth, which was quite welcome and was never made boring. There are several different cultures involved and the authors do well at making them feel distinct.
There’s a lot of emotion and heart, and even though it’s playing the long game (it’s only the first in a series), it doesn’t seem to drag like other epic fantasies tend to.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend it to any enjoyers of queer characters, in depth world building, epic stories, and character driven works.
The story follows several characters and their own separate personal journeys. I loved how character-driven this story was, as all L&S Fables books are. The authors are great at making sympathetic, lovable characters, even when they do terrible things.
My favorite stories were that of Iniabi, the daughter of a medicine woman who uses her knowledge of drugs and poison to survive with pirates after her home is destroyed, and Wynn, a man sold into slavery and forced to compete in gladiator tournaments.
Iniabi’s story was definitely the most action-packed, and I was very invested in her relationship with the pirates, and the conflict involved with the captain’s addiction.
Wynn had the sweetest story, a beautiful romance with a fellow gladiator fighter, Dyfan. It’s heartbreaking but also heartwarming, and was beautifully written. I wanted them to escape so bad and was always looking forward to reading about them.
The other stories were also wonderful, as the noblewoman Basia comes out as trans and starts to question the injustices in her society, causing conflict with her best friend. It can be hard to sympathize with the noble people’s perspectives after reading about the brutality faced by those they have power over, but I think this was handled well, and Basia’s conflict felt realistic based on her upbringing.
The worldbuilding was great; I enjoyed the worldbuilding in these authors’ other books but the epic scale of this story allowed for greater depth, which was quite welcome and was never made boring. There are several different cultures involved and the authors do well at making them feel distinct.
There’s a lot of emotion and heart, and even though it’s playing the long game (it’s only the first in a series), it doesn’t seem to drag like other epic fantasies tend to.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend it to any enjoyers of queer characters, in depth world building, epic stories, and character driven works.
December 18, 2022
The Last Contender is a high fantasy book with a great queer representation, but be aware of the trigger warnings. This book heavily deals with slavery, so there’s a lot of violence, death, and sexual abuse.
The miltuple POVs really add a lot to the story - it’s interesting to read from contrasting characters (slavers/slave).
We see the story from 5 POV:
Luce - a general of Lirian army
Wynn - an Emaian slave taken to Rhosan to fight in the pits, he has a romantic arc with another pit fighter
Iniabi - an Emaian who escaped slavery, and is now fighting to survive
Danae - a child of Phecea’s councilor
Basia - also from Phecea, a noble
I noticed the book deals with discovering your identity - who you are, when you loose your home? Your freedom? There’s also a trans rep (Basia), and I think her journey is written very well.
An the ending - I’m like where is the second book?! I need it now!
Overall, I’m giving it 4*, there were two minor things that slightly bothered me.
First - each chapter tells you, how long it is set before the Proclamation, but sometimes the chapters are not set chronologically, so one chapter can be like x years before, and the next y years before.
When I read the chapter I kind of get why they’re set like that, but sometimes it was bit confusing.
The second minor thing - this is just my opinion - I think some chapters actually weren’t that important, and could be cut out. I binged like 60% of the book in the past two days, and sometimes it felt like the pacing dragged a bit. I can see that the authors wanted to give the characters a solid background, but with five povs, it became a bit too long. I just prefer a bit faster paced book, so take this with a grain of salt.
This was my first book from these authors, but it was really good, and I can’t wait for the next book. I’m especially interested to see Iniabi’s, and Wynn’s journey.
Thank you to Pride book tours and the authors for a copy of this book.
The miltuple POVs really add a lot to the story - it’s interesting to read from contrasting characters (slavers/slave).
We see the story from 5 POV:
Luce - a general of Lirian army
Wynn - an Emaian slave taken to Rhosan to fight in the pits, he has a romantic arc with another pit fighter
Iniabi - an Emaian who escaped slavery, and is now fighting to survive
Danae - a child of Phecea’s councilor
Basia - also from Phecea, a noble
I noticed the book deals with discovering your identity - who you are, when you loose your home? Your freedom? There’s also a trans rep (Basia), and I think her journey is written very well.
An the ending - I’m like where is the second book?! I need it now!
Overall, I’m giving it 4*, there were two minor things that slightly bothered me.
First - each chapter tells you, how long it is set before the Proclamation, but sometimes the chapters are not set chronologically, so one chapter can be like x years before, and the next y years before.
When I read the chapter I kind of get why they’re set like that, but sometimes it was bit confusing.
The second minor thing - this is just my opinion - I think some chapters actually weren’t that important, and could be cut out. I binged like 60% of the book in the past two days, and sometimes it felt like the pacing dragged a bit. I can see that the authors wanted to give the characters a solid background, but with five povs, it became a bit too long. I just prefer a bit faster paced book, so take this with a grain of salt.
This was my first book from these authors, but it was really good, and I can’t wait for the next book. I’m especially interested to see Iniabi’s, and Wynn’s journey.
Thank you to Pride book tours and the authors for a copy of this book.
December 3, 2022
Mulle meeldis see raamat, aga sellest räägib ka sellele antud 4*. Ma ei osanud alguses sellest midagi oodata, sest no fantaasia ja sellega on mul so-so suhe. Nüüd aga ei jõua ma ära oodata triloogia teist osa ja ilmselt soovin ma seda raamatut oma riiulile ka pärisraamatuna.
Mu lemmiktegelased olid raudselt Wynn ja Dyfan, kes olid pit fighterid. Nende slow burn romance oli nii armas ja ma olen siiani valmis neid kõige halva eest kaitsma.
Lugema asudes ajas mind alguses veidi segadusse storyline’ide rohkus, aga edasi lugedes harjusin ära ja enam ei häirinud. Siin oli kohe raamatu alguses olemas ka nimede ja kohanimede hääldused, millest ma teinekord (eriti fantaasiat) lugedes puudust tunnen.
See, kuidas raamat lõppes 😱... Nagu kuidas ma elan teadmatuses uue raamatu ilmumiseni?!
Mulle meeldis selle raamatu diversity. Siin oli palju erinevaid LGBTQ+ esindajaid. Lisaks puudutas ka muid olulisi teemasi.
Soovitan lugeda? Muidugi, kui sulle meeldib fantaasia. Vaatasin, et Goodreadsis öeldi selle kohta ka Queer Game of Thrones. Selle kohta ei oska kaasa rääkida, sest pole vaadanud ega ka lugenud, aga no et te siis teate.
•
English 🇺🇸
I liked this book. At first I didn’t know what to expect, because I have so-so relationships with fantasy. But now I can’t wait for the second book of the trilogy.
I loved Wynn and Dyfan. They were pit fighters. Honestly.. Their slow burn romance was so cute and I’m ready to protect them at all cost.
At first I was a little bit confused because there were so many storylines. But when I got used to it, it didn’t bother me anymore.
But the end of the book.. Oh my! HOW should I live until the next book??
Do I recommend? Yes, if you like fantasy. I saw some reviews in Goodreads where they said it was Queer Game of Thrones. So you know 😄 I haven't read nor watched it so I don’t know.
•
Thank you, PrideBookTours for the e-copy!
Mu lemmiktegelased olid raudselt Wynn ja Dyfan, kes olid pit fighterid. Nende slow burn romance oli nii armas ja ma olen siiani valmis neid kõige halva eest kaitsma.
Lugema asudes ajas mind alguses veidi segadusse storyline’ide rohkus, aga edasi lugedes harjusin ära ja enam ei häirinud. Siin oli kohe raamatu alguses olemas ka nimede ja kohanimede hääldused, millest ma teinekord (eriti fantaasiat) lugedes puudust tunnen.
See, kuidas raamat lõppes 😱... Nagu kuidas ma elan teadmatuses uue raamatu ilmumiseni?!
Mulle meeldis selle raamatu diversity. Siin oli palju erinevaid LGBTQ+ esindajaid. Lisaks puudutas ka muid olulisi teemasi.
Soovitan lugeda? Muidugi, kui sulle meeldib fantaasia. Vaatasin, et Goodreadsis öeldi selle kohta ka Queer Game of Thrones. Selle kohta ei oska kaasa rääkida, sest pole vaadanud ega ka lugenud, aga no et te siis teate.
•
English 🇺🇸
I liked this book. At first I didn’t know what to expect, because I have so-so relationships with fantasy. But now I can’t wait for the second book of the trilogy.
I loved Wynn and Dyfan. They were pit fighters. Honestly.. Their slow burn romance was so cute and I’m ready to protect them at all cost.
At first I was a little bit confused because there were so many storylines. But when I got used to it, it didn’t bother me anymore.
But the end of the book.. Oh my! HOW should I live until the next book??
Do I recommend? Yes, if you like fantasy. I saw some reviews in Goodreads where they said it was Queer Game of Thrones. So you know 😄 I haven't read nor watched it so I don’t know.
•
Thank you, PrideBookTours for the e-copy!
January 9, 2023
4 ⭐ CW: violence, chattel slavery, torture, whipping, on page rape, suicide, descriptions of blood and gore, addiction, sexual content
The Last Contender by Liv Savell and Sterling D'Este is book one in The Song of the Lost series. This is an epic fantasy, meaning lots of characters and different plots, and very little to no actual magic. Think Game of Thrones minus the dragons and more character driven.
We are on the continent of Illyah where we follow different countries. Liria: we follow Luce, a commander in the Lirian army. Liria started enslaving the Emai and trading them to other countries. Liria feels threatened by lack of new slaves and lack of resources. They are conservative and believe they are better than everyone. Phecea: a country of people who love the arts, but also uses Emain slaves. Here we follow Danae and her best friend as they grow up together and deal with their feelings about the enslaved Emai. Rhosan: a religious country that labels their slaves Defeated and the enslavers Victors. The Victors force the Defeated to fight each other in pit fights and to breed. We follow Wynn and Dyfan, two Defeated trying to be in love despite the odds. The Emai: a tribal people in the Tundra. We follow Iniabi, an ex-slave and ex-pirate who has returned to the Emai and become their warrior leader. She's a badass lesbian.
I really liked spending time with almost all of these characters. The only one I didn't like was Luce. Iniabi is definitely my favorite, her growth has been the best throughout the book. She's kind of our Arya. I loved the sweet, but doomed relationship of Wynn and Dyfan. Forced into brutality, they do what they can to give each other softness and comfort even though it has consequences. I thought Danae's relationship with her best friend was compelling and examines privilege. I loved this queer normative world! This is the first epic fantasy I've ever read where characters angrily correct pronouns, has nonbinary characters, and trans characters.
The only thing that was a little weird at first was that the enslaved Emains are very pale and white while the Pheceans are described as brown, but race seems to have little to do with it. I also wish there had been a little more political intrigue. That cliffhanger was rough, so I don't know how I'm going to wait for book two! Go check out L & S Fables!
The Last Contender by Liv Savell and Sterling D'Este is book one in The Song of the Lost series. This is an epic fantasy, meaning lots of characters and different plots, and very little to no actual magic. Think Game of Thrones minus the dragons and more character driven.
We are on the continent of Illyah where we follow different countries. Liria: we follow Luce, a commander in the Lirian army. Liria started enslaving the Emai and trading them to other countries. Liria feels threatened by lack of new slaves and lack of resources. They are conservative and believe they are better than everyone. Phecea: a country of people who love the arts, but also uses Emain slaves. Here we follow Danae and her best friend as they grow up together and deal with their feelings about the enslaved Emai. Rhosan: a religious country that labels their slaves Defeated and the enslavers Victors. The Victors force the Defeated to fight each other in pit fights and to breed. We follow Wynn and Dyfan, two Defeated trying to be in love despite the odds. The Emai: a tribal people in the Tundra. We follow Iniabi, an ex-slave and ex-pirate who has returned to the Emai and become their warrior leader. She's a badass lesbian.
I really liked spending time with almost all of these characters. The only one I didn't like was Luce. Iniabi is definitely my favorite, her growth has been the best throughout the book. She's kind of our Arya. I loved the sweet, but doomed relationship of Wynn and Dyfan. Forced into brutality, they do what they can to give each other softness and comfort even though it has consequences. I thought Danae's relationship with her best friend was compelling and examines privilege. I loved this queer normative world! This is the first epic fantasy I've ever read where characters angrily correct pronouns, has nonbinary characters, and trans characters.
The only thing that was a little weird at first was that the enslaved Emains are very pale and white while the Pheceans are described as brown, but race seems to have little to do with it. I also wish there had been a little more political intrigue. That cliffhanger was rough, so I don't know how I'm going to wait for book two! Go check out L & S Fables!
November 30, 2022
A fine story, as always! These two authors continue to make great progress as writers, and it shows in their stories as well! This time, in an Epic Fantasy spanning many places with many characters. This is done very well, and there wasn't any difficulty in keeping track of the various strands of the story. The book is well-paced and easy to read.
The core of this book is of course the characters. They feel like real people, with emotions, growth and struggles that feel real and important. Danae and Biton as wholesome friends create a very personal story for one example, which lends a bright air to the story that I can't help but love. They have understandable struggles, and perhaps because they are so relatable they must be my favourite characters. Self-perception, learning, competency and growth are all things that people may see in themselves and appreciate, but those things are also difficult and may be doubted. - Hence the importance of that story.
Another example of this must be Luce and Camilla, which represent honour and heart, warm and true. - And a reminder that nothing is ever completely black and white. Although I don't want to say more since that might spoil parts of the story!
That isn't to say that all is perfect for any of these characters or those that I haven't mentioned. There is drama, there is conflict, there is bloodshed, and there is loss. It is explored how one can handle loss, and approach the desire of right action, and justice. Important questions all, yet often with no clear answers.
So, all in all, my impression is that of a great book. We have humour, and hope, we have sorrow, and we have conflict. The characters both annoy (in a good way), anger me, they make me feel both sad and hopeful. Powerful characters, that's the main strength of this book as in the authors' earlier works. Be they wholesome or cold, be it a story of hope or one of sorrow, the emotion is well-displayed and it is what called to me the most, alongside some very vivid descriptions. The personal journeys of the characters are engaging, and with that in mind, this book is definitely worth a read.
The core of this book is of course the characters. They feel like real people, with emotions, growth and struggles that feel real and important. Danae and Biton as wholesome friends create a very personal story for one example, which lends a bright air to the story that I can't help but love. They have understandable struggles, and perhaps because they are so relatable they must be my favourite characters. Self-perception, learning, competency and growth are all things that people may see in themselves and appreciate, but those things are also difficult and may be doubted. - Hence the importance of that story.
Another example of this must be Luce and Camilla, which represent honour and heart, warm and true. - And a reminder that nothing is ever completely black and white. Although I don't want to say more since that might spoil parts of the story!
That isn't to say that all is perfect for any of these characters or those that I haven't mentioned. There is drama, there is conflict, there is bloodshed, and there is loss. It is explored how one can handle loss, and approach the desire of right action, and justice. Important questions all, yet often with no clear answers.
So, all in all, my impression is that of a great book. We have humour, and hope, we have sorrow, and we have conflict. The characters both annoy (in a good way), anger me, they make me feel both sad and hopeful. Powerful characters, that's the main strength of this book as in the authors' earlier works. Be they wholesome or cold, be it a story of hope or one of sorrow, the emotion is well-displayed and it is what called to me the most, alongside some very vivid descriptions. The personal journeys of the characters are engaging, and with that in mind, this book is definitely worth a read.
December 4, 2022
The Last Contender is a truly spectacular opener to a new epic fantasy series The Song of the Lost. Spanning years and told through four separate storylines all racing towards a single event called “the Proclamation”, the book is vast and complex following several characters from different nations, lives, and sexualities.
The heart of the story lies with Wynn, a Rhosan carpenter turned slave after being captured so his wife and son can flee. As he is forced to fight by his owner in gladiator-like competitions, he finds comfort in a younger man Dyfan, a bred slave and fellow fighter. This slow-burn romance is the most tender, sweet, and heartbreaking story of the book as these two men defy their circumstance to find love and solace.
The spirit of the story lies in the Tundra with Iniabi, the daughter of her tribe’s medicine woman, who escapes capture as her home is destroyed and her people made into slaves. In the most action-packed story of the book, her fight for survival finds her among pirates as she learns skills she needs to free her people and bloody to her enemies as she foresaw in her visions.
The soul of the story lies with Basia and Danae, two noble children best friends in the Phecean Confederacy. As they grow to fill their places in society, Basia’s burgeoning gender identity and conscientious insight into the plight of slaves threaten to drive a wedge between their friendship. Theirs is a story of friendship and humanity set against the backdrop of war with the very nation that drives their slave trade.
And lastly, the shadow of the story lies with Luce, a lowborn military man who only wants to support his family and to bring glory to his country. His nation of Liria demands domination of all others and is the driver of the main conflict of the book, but he is a conflicting character as he never comes across as the villain because he only seeks to fulfill the duty his loyalty demands.
The Last Contender is an earnest epic fantasy full of heart, action, and queerness. Its triumph is in its character work and compelling storytelling style. And as the book ends, it will leave you yearning for the sequel.
*I was provided an ebook copy as part of its book tour.
The heart of the story lies with Wynn, a Rhosan carpenter turned slave after being captured so his wife and son can flee. As he is forced to fight by his owner in gladiator-like competitions, he finds comfort in a younger man Dyfan, a bred slave and fellow fighter. This slow-burn romance is the most tender, sweet, and heartbreaking story of the book as these two men defy their circumstance to find love and solace.
The spirit of the story lies in the Tundra with Iniabi, the daughter of her tribe’s medicine woman, who escapes capture as her home is destroyed and her people made into slaves. In the most action-packed story of the book, her fight for survival finds her among pirates as she learns skills she needs to free her people and bloody to her enemies as she foresaw in her visions.
The soul of the story lies with Basia and Danae, two noble children best friends in the Phecean Confederacy. As they grow to fill their places in society, Basia’s burgeoning gender identity and conscientious insight into the plight of slaves threaten to drive a wedge between their friendship. Theirs is a story of friendship and humanity set against the backdrop of war with the very nation that drives their slave trade.
And lastly, the shadow of the story lies with Luce, a lowborn military man who only wants to support his family and to bring glory to his country. His nation of Liria demands domination of all others and is the driver of the main conflict of the book, but he is a conflicting character as he never comes across as the villain because he only seeks to fulfill the duty his loyalty demands.
The Last Contender is an earnest epic fantasy full of heart, action, and queerness. Its triumph is in its character work and compelling storytelling style. And as the book ends, it will leave you yearning for the sequel.
*I was provided an ebook copy as part of its book tour.
April 1, 2023
In the Tundra the Emai live peacefully until one day Lirian soldiers come to take them and sell them into slavery. Iniabi is left to die after her people are taken and fights hard to survive. In Liria Luce is a soldier who wants nothing more than to be able to serve his country and take care of his family. In Phecea Basia and Danea are two noble children who grow from childhood to adulthood as best friends. Basia notices the mistreatment of the Emai slaves and wants to help them but doesn't know if Danea will help or hinder her. All this while struggling with her own identity and Liria threatening war. And in Northern Rhosan Wynn’s village is raided and he is captured and enslaved as a pit fighter. There he meets Dyfan, who was born into slavery, and the two form a bond that will help them survive.
I am going to start this by saying this is probably the longest book i've ever read. But because there were 4 separate storylines and multiple POVs it didn't feel that long. At first I did struggle with characters and keeping things straight but that got easier as it went. And being somewhat familiar with Illygad from other books by the author did help me. That being said, the story was so immersive that I flew through the second half of the book. Each chapter is labeled XX before the proclamation and I thought I knew what it was going to be but was happily surprised to be wrong. However, one thing that I didn't understand was Wynn’s story. All of the other three seemed to be intertwined despite never meeting because of the war, but Rhosan doesn't even seem to be a part of that at all. I will be patient though and see how it all plays out in the next book. Can't wait.
Rating 4 stars
*I received a review copy from BookSirens for my voluntary and honest review.
I am going to start this by saying this is probably the longest book i've ever read. But because there were 4 separate storylines and multiple POVs it didn't feel that long. At first I did struggle with characters and keeping things straight but that got easier as it went. And being somewhat familiar with Illygad from other books by the author did help me. That being said, the story was so immersive that I flew through the second half of the book. Each chapter is labeled XX before the proclamation and I thought I knew what it was going to be but was happily surprised to be wrong. However, one thing that I didn't understand was Wynn’s story. All of the other three seemed to be intertwined despite never meeting because of the war, but Rhosan doesn't even seem to be a part of that at all. I will be patient though and see how it all plays out in the next book. Can't wait.
Rating 4 stars
*I received a review copy from BookSirens for my voluntary and honest review.
December 1, 2022
Get ready for quite the ride. This book is way better than a queer game of thrones. As an epic fantasy, it boasts a unique and well developed world, magical elements, large scale battles and conflicts, compelling characters, devious villains, as well as romance and steamy scenes, all done in an inclusive manner that encompasses LGBT+ viewpoints that were done well and handled with so much respect. There isn’t more you can ask from a book of this kind, I enjoyed every minute.
The story is woven through a variety of perspectives from people who are located throughout the different (and original) cultures present in this world. These different threads fit in so well with each other and tell the tale from every possible angle. I became attached to the characters easily and cheered for their victories and lamented their failures, it was hard to put it down once I started reading. As other reviews have touched on, almost any perspective you might want to hear from personally is encompassed within be it trans, lesbian, straight, or even mentally unstable. These characters are vibrant, raw, and real. Dialogue is something that matters in particular to me, and I thought it was done expertly in this book.
The cultures in this world are vibrant and wonderful, leading me to label the world building as flawless; each has history, politics, traditions, and is distinct with its own flair. IMO, there’s nothing that could have been done to make this world seem more real.
The themes that get touched on in the stories that are told are extremely relevant today. Even though done through a fantastical viewpoint, it was nonetheless capable of capturing the importance therein. These topics include slavery, colonization, trans rights, women’s rights and women facing misogyny, abuse, and many others.
DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED
The story is woven through a variety of perspectives from people who are located throughout the different (and original) cultures present in this world. These different threads fit in so well with each other and tell the tale from every possible angle. I became attached to the characters easily and cheered for their victories and lamented their failures, it was hard to put it down once I started reading. As other reviews have touched on, almost any perspective you might want to hear from personally is encompassed within be it trans, lesbian, straight, or even mentally unstable. These characters are vibrant, raw, and real. Dialogue is something that matters in particular to me, and I thought it was done expertly in this book.
The cultures in this world are vibrant and wonderful, leading me to label the world building as flawless; each has history, politics, traditions, and is distinct with its own flair. IMO, there’s nothing that could have been done to make this world seem more real.
The themes that get touched on in the stories that are told are extremely relevant today. Even though done through a fantastical viewpoint, it was nonetheless capable of capturing the importance therein. These topics include slavery, colonization, trans rights, women’s rights and women facing misogyny, abuse, and many others.
DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED
January 14, 2023
I love this book.
I came across it by sheer luck on instagram and I liked the synopsis, and the fact that it had queer characters, so I bought it and mAN was I right to do it.
My favorite part are the characters, all of them. I love how different and unique all of them are, and how they're flawed and imperfect and deeply human. By their way of thinking you can know which one of them is narrating at any given moment, and it's so character driven! I could read them just thinking about themselves and their families and friends and their stuff forever. I also love their character development; I won't say anything more as I don't want to spoil anything, but I just love them! Even Luce, who's terribly wrong in his way of thinking; he's such an interesting character. I love the way they're written.
Especially Wynn and Dyfan (I'm OBSSESSED) and their dangerous, BEAUTIFUL relationship, and Basia my brave girl.
I also really liked the timing of the chapters even if it was a bit confusing, as it creates an excitement for this event that's coming up and you don't know what it is and you WANT to know.
I like this world and these cultures and I can't wait to go back to them. I can't wait to see more of my babies, and I swear to God, THAT ENDING. When is the sequel coming out? I can't wait!!
I came across it by sheer luck on instagram and I liked the synopsis, and the fact that it had queer characters, so I bought it and mAN was I right to do it.
My favorite part are the characters, all of them. I love how different and unique all of them are, and how they're flawed and imperfect and deeply human. By their way of thinking you can know which one of them is narrating at any given moment, and it's so character driven! I could read them just thinking about themselves and their families and friends and their stuff forever. I also love their character development; I won't say anything more as I don't want to spoil anything, but I just love them! Even Luce, who's terribly wrong in his way of thinking; he's such an interesting character. I love the way they're written.
Especially Wynn and Dyfan (I'm OBSSESSED) and their dangerous, BEAUTIFUL relationship, and Basia my brave girl.
I also really liked the timing of the chapters even if it was a bit confusing, as it creates an excitement for this event that's coming up and you don't know what it is and you WANT to know.
I like this world and these cultures and I can't wait to go back to them. I can't wait to see more of my babies, and I swear to God, THAT ENDING. When is the sequel coming out? I can't wait!!
Want to read
March 8, 2023I received this e-book in a Goodreads Giveaway, so I'm obligated to read it. However, maybe I'm not the fantasy person I thought I was. I am only 14 pages in, but I am so confused.
Everybody else who has reviewed this book has loved it, so I'll give it the old college try, but it's bad when I have time to read and think, "Hmm, fantasy fiction or Inside the Third Reich?" And I really really would rather read ItTR.
Everybody else who has reviewed this book has loved it, so I'll give it the old college try, but it's bad when I have time to read and think, "Hmm, fantasy fiction or Inside the Third Reich?" And I really really would rather read ItTR.
June 3, 2023
I loved this book, I loved the main characters and their stories, their individual struggles. It was one of those books, which not only can you not put down, you also feel drawn to it, the story just pulls at you, in a way that only some books do. The story told is wonderful, each of the different perspectives is marvelously done, you sympathize with them, encourage them, sometimes laugh at them, and sometimes are frustrated at their actions, but you still understand the reasons why they made those actions. Some of the stories told are more hopeful than others, and some parts are more hopeful than others. The mixture of tone and themes are wonderfully combined.
January 7, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Very intriguing character-driven story with multiple POVs. Each character has an emotional, heartwarming, tragic, and epic journey that the reader is glad to be part of! Very interesting world-building that keeps you interested in the story from beginning to end!
Very intriguing character-driven story with multiple POVs. Each character has an emotional, heartwarming, tragic, and epic journey that the reader is glad to be part of! Very interesting world-building that keeps you interested in the story from beginning to end!
January 21, 2023
Thank you to the author and Nerdy Book Tours for sending me a copy of this fascinating read! The Last Contender is Book 1 of the Song of the Lost series with heart warming characters set in a tough world.
This is a multiple POV story set in times of war. It was fascinating to learn both sides of the war, humanising them to an extent. We got to see invaders taking victims as slaves and learn more about their lives.
I enjoyed watching the characters learn to adapt to their new environment and it was endearing to see them struggle and adapt at different stages. Wynn’s story was my favourite of them all.
The representation in the story was beautifully written and depicted. The story was filled with emotional points that made the read endearing and I loved watching the characters grow.
The ending was very intriguing and I am very excited for the sequel.
This is a multiple POV story set in times of war. It was fascinating to learn both sides of the war, humanising them to an extent. We got to see invaders taking victims as slaves and learn more about their lives.
I enjoyed watching the characters learn to adapt to their new environment and it was endearing to see them struggle and adapt at different stages. Wynn’s story was my favourite of them all.
The representation in the story was beautifully written and depicted. The story was filled with emotional points that made the read endearing and I loved watching the characters grow.
The ending was very intriguing and I am very excited for the sequel.
December 15, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the authors. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Last Contender
Author: Liv Savell and Sterling D’Este
Book Series: Song of the Lost Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Sapphic couple, polyamory relationship, transgender, bisexual
Recommended For: fantasy, epic fantasy, queer, Game of Thrones like, Robin Hobb like
Publication Date: November 30, 2022
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Age Relevance: 17+ (Religion mentioned Romance Sexual content Death Slavery Colonialism Gore blood vomit Animal attack (dog bites and attacks human) Animal violence (hitting dog) Grief Pregnancy Forced birth Violence weapons Rape mentioned Language slight Sickness)
Explanation of Above: There is religion mentioned throughout the book, but it’s more of a mythology kind of religion and there is religious persecution mentioned and shown. There is some small romance and sexual content. Death and gore is shown in graphic detail sometimes with blood and vomit. There are themes and showings of slavery, colonialism, and grief. There are animal attacks with dog bites and attacks on humans and animal violence at the dogs from humans and some mentioned other animal death and violence. Pregnancy is mentioned and slight shown. There are mentions of forced birth. There is a lot of violence in this book, a lot with weapons, and rape is mentioned as well. There is some cursing and slight sickness mentioned and shown.
Publisher: L&S Fables
Pages: 775
Synopsis: What would you pay for freedom? Your body? Wynn is a carpenter in a small town in Northern Rhosan, but after he is torn from his family by ruthless Victors, he'll have to learn to survive beneath their rule. When he is forced to hunt with the silent, stoic Dyfan, the two men forge a bond that might be enough to shelter them from a life of violence and cruelty. Your people? Basia and Danae are the children of nobles in the elegant, educated Phecean Confederacy. When Basia starts to discover just how horrifying the lives of slaves in her country are, she’s faced with a terrible choice: does she step up to reshape her home at the risk of losing her closest friend, or does she keep quiet and let nothing change? Dealing with the difficulties of her budding gender identity would be hard enough without the lives of millions on her shoulders. Your mind? Deep in the Tundra’s frozen heart, the daughter of a medicine woman learns to make poison. The dreams it gives her are full of blood, war, and terrible purpose, but when Iniabi’s village is raided by foreign soldiers, it’s all she can do to stay alive. Iniabi will have to use all the Tundra has taught her as destiny pulls her across the continent, but when it comes to the fate of her people, it’s not enough just to survive.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part. This book is very Game of Thrones/Robin Hobb feeling and if you’re a fan of that vibe than you’re gonna love this one! This book had great character arcs and I loved how the stories are a bit interconnected and that the motives of each character (whether on the good or bad team) make the lines blurred for the reader. The character development is absolutely amazing and it definitely shows as the author’s strong suit. The book is a wonderful beginning to an epic series.
The only issues I had with the book is that I wished for a bit more world building to help me imagine the areas. I also had a little bit of issue with the Multi POV and the way the stories were presented. There is something in the book that is going to happen and the reader is constantly seeing snippets of historical events set years before said event. However, each chapter is different in how far back we are in history and that method can leave the reader a bit confused. There are a couple of instances where there are POV switches mid chapter as well and that is also a little confusing. There is also a whole cast of characters, which can be daunting for readers at first if they’re not prepared.
Verdict: It was good! I can’t wait for more!
Book: The Last Contender
Author: Liv Savell and Sterling D’Este
Book Series: Song of the Lost Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Sapphic couple, polyamory relationship, transgender, bisexual
Recommended For: fantasy, epic fantasy, queer, Game of Thrones like, Robin Hobb like
Publication Date: November 30, 2022
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Age Relevance: 17+ (Religion mentioned Romance Sexual content Death Slavery Colonialism Gore blood vomit Animal attack (dog bites and attacks human) Animal violence (hitting dog) Grief Pregnancy Forced birth Violence weapons Rape mentioned Language slight Sickness)
Explanation of Above: There is religion mentioned throughout the book, but it’s more of a mythology kind of religion and there is religious persecution mentioned and shown. There is some small romance and sexual content. Death and gore is shown in graphic detail sometimes with blood and vomit. There are themes and showings of slavery, colonialism, and grief. There are animal attacks with dog bites and attacks on humans and animal violence at the dogs from humans and some mentioned other animal death and violence. Pregnancy is mentioned and slight shown. There are mentions of forced birth. There is a lot of violence in this book, a lot with weapons, and rape is mentioned as well. There is some cursing and slight sickness mentioned and shown.
Publisher: L&S Fables
Pages: 775
Synopsis: What would you pay for freedom? Your body? Wynn is a carpenter in a small town in Northern Rhosan, but after he is torn from his family by ruthless Victors, he'll have to learn to survive beneath their rule. When he is forced to hunt with the silent, stoic Dyfan, the two men forge a bond that might be enough to shelter them from a life of violence and cruelty. Your people? Basia and Danae are the children of nobles in the elegant, educated Phecean Confederacy. When Basia starts to discover just how horrifying the lives of slaves in her country are, she’s faced with a terrible choice: does she step up to reshape her home at the risk of losing her closest friend, or does she keep quiet and let nothing change? Dealing with the difficulties of her budding gender identity would be hard enough without the lives of millions on her shoulders. Your mind? Deep in the Tundra’s frozen heart, the daughter of a medicine woman learns to make poison. The dreams it gives her are full of blood, war, and terrible purpose, but when Iniabi’s village is raided by foreign soldiers, it’s all she can do to stay alive. Iniabi will have to use all the Tundra has taught her as destiny pulls her across the continent, but when it comes to the fate of her people, it’s not enough just to survive.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part. This book is very Game of Thrones/Robin Hobb feeling and if you’re a fan of that vibe than you’re gonna love this one! This book had great character arcs and I loved how the stories are a bit interconnected and that the motives of each character (whether on the good or bad team) make the lines blurred for the reader. The character development is absolutely amazing and it definitely shows as the author’s strong suit. The book is a wonderful beginning to an epic series.
The only issues I had with the book is that I wished for a bit more world building to help me imagine the areas. I also had a little bit of issue with the Multi POV and the way the stories were presented. There is something in the book that is going to happen and the reader is constantly seeing snippets of historical events set years before said event. However, each chapter is different in how far back we are in history and that method can leave the reader a bit confused. There are a couple of instances where there are POV switches mid chapter as well and that is also a little confusing. There is also a whole cast of characters, which can be daunting for readers at first if they’re not prepared.
Verdict: It was good! I can’t wait for more!
October 6, 2024
3.5 stars
**Thank you Liv Savell & Sterling D’Este for providing me a review copy in exchange of an honest review. This, by any means, did not affect or influence my review.**
The Last Contender follows the story of multiple characters—Iniabi, Danae, Basia, Lucilius, Wynn, and Dyfan. It was set in their respective different states—Dyfan and Wynn in Rhosan, Danae and Basia in Phecea, Lucilius in Liria, and Iniabi in The Emai. They have different yet somehow interconnected stories. And it was written in switching points of view between these characters.
This has been a surprising read. It exceeded my expectations in some areas, but also fell short in others.
The characters are well fleshed out. They are all complex and have compelling stories to tell. I loved how it deeply explores the characters’ complex emotions, relationships, and sexuality. And how it was able to juggle doing so for all its main characters. It felt like no character was left behind in terms of how their personalities and narratives were explored.
One of the characters I liked most was Iniabi. I admire Iniabi’s grit and will to survive. Her growth and character development were really interesting to witness.
The world-building is a source of both its strength and weakness. It was a rich, multifaceted and multi-layered world. I loved how we got to see many different sides of their societies and how detailed those were. We got to see how many elements, such as politics, culture, and religion affect the lives of these characters in many ways.
On the contrary, the world-building also was really confusing, and I had a hard time immersing myself in it. There were just so many names of peoples and places I had a hard time remembering and keeping up with especially on the start.
I also had a hard time understanding the timeline. It’s like we were moving back and forth within the timeline, and it was utterly confusing that I kind of just gave up keeping track of it along with the names at the beginning of each chapter. The pacing was also a bit inconsistent for me. There were times when it felt slow, and others when it wasn’t.
I would recommend for those into epic fantasy or those looking for inclusive and diverse stories. I wouldn’t recommend for those not into those things and those not into books with multiple main characters and lengthy ones.
Read full review here
**Thank you Liv Savell & Sterling D’Este for providing me a review copy in exchange of an honest review. This, by any means, did not affect or influence my review.**
The Last Contender follows the story of multiple characters—Iniabi, Danae, Basia, Lucilius, Wynn, and Dyfan. It was set in their respective different states—Dyfan and Wynn in Rhosan, Danae and Basia in Phecea, Lucilius in Liria, and Iniabi in The Emai. They have different yet somehow interconnected stories. And it was written in switching points of view between these characters.
This has been a surprising read. It exceeded my expectations in some areas, but also fell short in others.
The characters are well fleshed out. They are all complex and have compelling stories to tell. I loved how it deeply explores the characters’ complex emotions, relationships, and sexuality. And how it was able to juggle doing so for all its main characters. It felt like no character was left behind in terms of how their personalities and narratives were explored.
One of the characters I liked most was Iniabi. I admire Iniabi’s grit and will to survive. Her growth and character development were really interesting to witness.
The world-building is a source of both its strength and weakness. It was a rich, multifaceted and multi-layered world. I loved how we got to see many different sides of their societies and how detailed those were. We got to see how many elements, such as politics, culture, and religion affect the lives of these characters in many ways.
On the contrary, the world-building also was really confusing, and I had a hard time immersing myself in it. There were just so many names of peoples and places I had a hard time remembering and keeping up with especially on the start.
I also had a hard time understanding the timeline. It’s like we were moving back and forth within the timeline, and it was utterly confusing that I kind of just gave up keeping track of it along with the names at the beginning of each chapter. The pacing was also a bit inconsistent for me. There were times when it felt slow, and others when it wasn’t.
I would recommend for those into epic fantasy or those looking for inclusive and diverse stories. I wouldn’t recommend for those not into those things and those not into books with multiple main characters and lengthy ones.
Read full review here
October 30, 2022
Loved this book! It delivers fantasy and queer representation in the best ways! I’ll be discussing it (spoiler free) on an upcoming episode of Your Rainbow Reads podcast, so check that out to hear more of my praise for this book.
www.yourrainbowreads.com
www.yourrainbowreads.com
October 16, 2022
Excellent Queer Epic Fantasy. I really enjoyed all the representation in this book, as POV characters not just side or background characters!!
This book is definitely an EPIC fantasy. It's long, with lots of plot lines and world building, focusing around the struggle for freedom and the costly wars slavery causes.
I would have to say my favorite characters in this book are Wynn and Dyfan, the Pit Fighters. Think sort of like... Gladiator fighters, but in a cold, mountainous setting. They have a love story that is a slow burn, and really intense fight scenes.
Thankfully there are two children growing up in 'civilized' Phecea who have really cute/sweet moments of childhood so that kinda evens out the intensity of the boys.
Iniabi is just a crazy bitch, but you're rooting for her for sure!!
This book is written in the same setting as earlier books by these authors, but you don't have to read their previous books to get this one, as it's set 30 or so years into the past, so you don't need to know anything about their other work to read this one.
This book is definitely an EPIC fantasy. It's long, with lots of plot lines and world building, focusing around the struggle for freedom and the costly wars slavery causes.
I would have to say my favorite characters in this book are Wynn and Dyfan, the Pit Fighters. Think sort of like... Gladiator fighters, but in a cold, mountainous setting. They have a love story that is a slow burn, and really intense fight scenes.
Thankfully there are two children growing up in 'civilized' Phecea who have really cute/sweet moments of childhood so that kinda evens out the intensity of the boys.
Iniabi is just a crazy bitch, but you're rooting for her for sure!!
This book is written in the same setting as earlier books by these authors, but you don't have to read their previous books to get this one, as it's set 30 or so years into the past, so you don't need to know anything about their other work to read this one.
November 30, 2022
Epic, Queer Game of Thrones!!!
The Last Contender is an intense epic fantasy on par with Game of Thrones or Priory of the Orange Tree. Though, my favorite characters are still alive, so that is definitely a bonus! The queer representation throughout is just so beautifully done. There are lesbian, bi, gay, trans, and non-binary characters, and each is handled really respectfully.
The world-building throughout is astounding. There are four separate cultures each painted in beautiful detail, and they're really different from some of the things I've seen before. I've never read a book with a confederacy instead of like a kingdom for one of the main countries, and the Emai (the people who live on the Tundra) feel really unique. There is magic, though I'd call this low fantasy.
The prose is descriptive and engaging, and though this is written by two different people, it blends into a seamless narrative.
Okay, as for the plot: There are four main storylines weaving throughout the book, three of which take place in neighboring countries and one that takes place far away (though the way the book ends makes me think they're going to end up tied together next book!).
*****(minor) SPOILERS*****
Wynn and Dyfan are these two guys stuck in a gladiator-like situation in the far-off continent. Their lives are really difficult, but I loved their relationship. They're just so understanding of each other!
Iniabi is a girl from the Emaian tribes (think Inuit). After her home is destroyed, she ends up just trying to survive—she spends some time scraping by in a village, ends up on a pirate ship, and then lands back among her people where she starts a revolution to keep her people from being taken as slaves. She is seriously strong and impressive and intense! She also has a queer relationship in the second half of the book.
Basia and Danae are precious! They're two noble kids living in Phecea, one of the countries that uses Iniabi's people as slaves. Basia's story centers around her like realization and acceptance of her gender (she's trans) and then the Society, a group of colorful characters working to free slaves. Danae is her best friend and the future Councilor of their part of Phecea. She's super close to Basia, but struggles at first with her more revolutionary tendencies. I love watching the two of them grow up and take on injustice!
Luce is kind of the bad guy in the book, but he's not actually a bad person. He's this family guy who's trying to serve his country, only that country insists on waging war and capturing the Emai. As much as you wish he wouldn't, you understand why he does what he does.
All told, I loved this book. I can not wait for the next one to come out!
The Last Contender is an intense epic fantasy on par with Game of Thrones or Priory of the Orange Tree. Though, my favorite characters are still alive, so that is definitely a bonus! The queer representation throughout is just so beautifully done. There are lesbian, bi, gay, trans, and non-binary characters, and each is handled really respectfully.
The world-building throughout is astounding. There are four separate cultures each painted in beautiful detail, and they're really different from some of the things I've seen before. I've never read a book with a confederacy instead of like a kingdom for one of the main countries, and the Emai (the people who live on the Tundra) feel really unique. There is magic, though I'd call this low fantasy.
The prose is descriptive and engaging, and though this is written by two different people, it blends into a seamless narrative.
Okay, as for the plot: There are four main storylines weaving throughout the book, three of which take place in neighboring countries and one that takes place far away (though the way the book ends makes me think they're going to end up tied together next book!).
*****(minor) SPOILERS*****
Wynn and Dyfan are these two guys stuck in a gladiator-like situation in the far-off continent. Their lives are really difficult, but I loved their relationship. They're just so understanding of each other!
Iniabi is a girl from the Emaian tribes (think Inuit). After her home is destroyed, she ends up just trying to survive—she spends some time scraping by in a village, ends up on a pirate ship, and then lands back among her people where she starts a revolution to keep her people from being taken as slaves. She is seriously strong and impressive and intense! She also has a queer relationship in the second half of the book.
Basia and Danae are precious! They're two noble kids living in Phecea, one of the countries that uses Iniabi's people as slaves. Basia's story centers around her like realization and acceptance of her gender (she's trans) and then the Society, a group of colorful characters working to free slaves. Danae is her best friend and the future Councilor of their part of Phecea. She's super close to Basia, but struggles at first with her more revolutionary tendencies. I love watching the two of them grow up and take on injustice!
Luce is kind of the bad guy in the book, but he's not actually a bad person. He's this family guy who's trying to serve his country, only that country insists on waging war and capturing the Emai. As much as you wish he wouldn't, you understand why he does what he does.
All told, I loved this book. I can not wait for the next one to come out!
March 14, 2023
What do you do when your home, your lands and everything you knew, are inflitrated by enemy forces? When you're being forced to work as a slave for the rest of your life? When even though you're priviledged, you're faced with a difficult choice?
This book has so many good elements, I don't even know where to start. Due to it being a high fantasy, the world-building is precise, not confusing, and really interesting; the different customs and diverse ways of living etc. What also surprised me was the ample use of Greek names (for people and for places), which was done with respect and it obviously had a preparation and research beforehand, and as a Greek I admire that very much. Furthermore, it is a story about war, slavery and survival, having really strong moments that was a punch in the gut. Finally, the queer representation is all the more present in this book, and it's articulated amazingly!
Character-wise, I loved a lot of them, individually and collectively as a companionship. Firstly, Iniabi had such strength; both physically but mostly emotionally. She had been through so much, but still she kept fighting, and let's just say that the book has an immense plot-twist in the end regarding her. The friendhip between Danae and Basia was a unique one, with its ups and down, but at the end of the day, they helped each other because of the love they had as a family. Lastly, what can I say about Wynn and Dyfan. A complex relationship for sure, but one worth fighting for.
I loved the book, I'm so looking forward to the next one, especially after the last chapter, which I will not say in order to let you enjoy the book!
Thank you @pridebooktours for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion!
This book has so many good elements, I don't even know where to start. Due to it being a high fantasy, the world-building is precise, not confusing, and really interesting; the different customs and diverse ways of living etc. What also surprised me was the ample use of Greek names (for people and for places), which was done with respect and it obviously had a preparation and research beforehand, and as a Greek I admire that very much. Furthermore, it is a story about war, slavery and survival, having really strong moments that was a punch in the gut. Finally, the queer representation is all the more present in this book, and it's articulated amazingly!
Character-wise, I loved a lot of them, individually and collectively as a companionship. Firstly, Iniabi had such strength; both physically but mostly emotionally. She had been through so much, but still she kept fighting, and let's just say that the book has an immense plot-twist in the end regarding her. The friendhip between Danae and Basia was a unique one, with its ups and down, but at the end of the day, they helped each other because of the love they had as a family. Lastly, what can I say about Wynn and Dyfan. A complex relationship for sure, but one worth fighting for.
I loved the book, I'm so looking forward to the next one, especially after the last chapter, which I will not say in order to let you enjoy the book!
Thank you @pridebooktours for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion!
December 25, 2023
This book has appeal, especially with the amount of LGBTQ+ characters, but it is unbelievably boring. Boring in a way I’m not used to. There are almost way too many characters to follow. You don’t become attached to any of them and begin to not care about what happens to them. I think the reason for that is simply the fact that there are too many characters to follow. The events of the book can become exciting at times and awful at others (strong depictions of slavery), but in all I never found myself excited to keep reading after the first ten percent of the book. I wanted to love this book, but it felt like a chore to read. I also know that many readers tend to dislike constant switched POV or too many characters to follow, so it’s a very specific method to make it work. It also felt too much “build-up” of the characters without enough happening to make it thrilling to read. Too often I felt I was reading the characters prologue to actually get to the story. I definitely see potential, but this book didn’t quite hit the mark just yet.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 26, 2023
This story has a good premise and I really enjoyed the characters. In addition, the world building was excellent. While it was entertaining I had trouble with the constantly changing timeline and large cast of characters. I ended up with a little list so that I could remember, but would have loved if there was a little index with the character's names at the beginning (I know some fantasy books do that and I find it very helpful).
This was a good book especially for readers that enjoy a game of thrones esque novel.
This was a good book especially for readers that enjoy a game of thrones esque novel.
June 11, 2023
The comfortability of this world having its perfectly accepting view of anyone in the lgbtq community is without parallel. Liv and Sterling make me believe the world has been accepting of these things throughout its existence and will always be that way. People seem to be able to be themselves without reservation and it is liberating to read something that seems so real and tangible.
The only dislike I have is that it is fantasy and the real world I live in isn’t that way.
Nonetheless, thank you Liv and Sterling.
The only dislike I have is that it is fantasy and the real world I live in isn’t that way.
Nonetheless, thank you Liv and Sterling.
April 21, 2024
The Last Contender is definitely an epic fantasy book! Think Game of Thrones, but with less death. It is not for the feint of heart, as it is a 700 page book. It has tons of world building, many POV characters, and is a heavily character driven story line. It has a large queer cast, POV characters not side characters! And it will definitely make you hate some characters and adore others. For sure read the content warning/trigger warnings as this is not a light, fluffy book. However, it's got a great story and I'm really excited for the second book in the series to come out this July!
November 30, 2022
Queer epic fantasy with everything you want! Pirates, gladiators, revolution and lust and bloodshed! Like a queer game of thrones, but less main characters die!
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July 11, 2023I made it 50% through and then things got busy with all of my jobs so I had to put this down. Planning to come back to this one asap!!
November 10, 2024
Ended up DNF'ing because it really isn't my thing. There's a lot of violence, and a lot of GoT wannabe vibes, I hate GoT and Martin's writing style. There's a lot of going through and fro in time and location and though location wise it's clear enough, in terms of timeline it gets way too confusing and messy and I had to go back and forth through the chapters to check which event took place before. Plus, it continuously felt like we were never going to get to the point, within the story, so I got really bored. Although the worldbuilding was excellent at some points, there was a moment when the word 'café' was introduced - as an establishment where people went to have some drinks and eat some nibbles - and it drove me out of my mind. It's a pet peeve of mine, that if you're going to write a fantasy that takes place somewhere other than our world, and you build up that world to the point you invent religions and deities and whatnot, please, please do not use the kind of terms that are typical to our world. For me, this is the sure way to throw me out of the book, and then I just couldn't stop thinking about it and the entire worldbuilding just kept crumbling and was no longer credible in my eyes...
November 30, 2022
The Last Contender is the first book in an epic fantasy trilogy. It follows the plot lines of 4 sets of characters, interwoven through the struggle of war, slavery, and doing what is right in your heart even when it is difficult or dangerous.
The Last Contender represents the following POV Characters: Gay, Bi, Lesbian, Pan, Trans, PTSD
This book is a dark fantasy, with lots of world building, character growth, and epic fight scenes and battles.
Content Warning: Violence, Gore, Child Abuse, Racial Violence, Sexual Violence, Dead Name (not condoned), Sex, Cursing/Language
The Last Contender represents the following POV Characters: Gay, Bi, Lesbian, Pan, Trans, PTSD
This book is a dark fantasy, with lots of world building, character growth, and epic fight scenes and battles.
Content Warning: Violence, Gore, Child Abuse, Racial Violence, Sexual Violence, Dead Name (not condoned), Sex, Cursing/Language
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