malmahmeed's review
3.0
I read James' part and I'm happy and excited. Then I get to Tina's part and I wanna DNF it so bad. Then I read James' part and I'm happy and excited..
You get the idea. ಠ_ಠ
Seriously, Tina is the worst. Enough so that I wanted to stop reading. She's toxic and a bully, and the only reason her guild and others (with the exception of SB) put up with her is because she's a tank and the only one who wanted to assume leadership. Tyrant bitch.
YoU vOtEd FoR tHiS.
Shut up! (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
"SB is cool but only so long as Tina's nowhere near by. I swear he'd kill someone and hide the body if he thought it would make her happy. It's not a healthy relationship."
Book 1 SB was my favorite character.
Book 2 SB is a dumbass simp.
James definitely had his flaws, as well, but he was, at the very least, empathetic and smarter in his moves. His arc was also more entertaining to read.
You get the idea. ಠ_ಠ
Seriously, Tina is the worst. Enough so that I wanted to stop reading. She's toxic and a bully, and the only reason her guild and others (with the exception of SB) put up with her is because she's a tank and the only one who wanted to assume leadership. Tyrant bitch.
YoU vOtEd FoR tHiS.
Shut up! (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
"SB is cool but only so long as Tina's nowhere near by. I swear he'd kill someone and hide the body if he thought it would make her happy. It's not a healthy relationship."
Book 1 SB was my favorite character.
Book 2 SB is a dumbass simp.
James definitely had his flaws, as well, but he was, at the very least, empathetic and smarter in his moves. His arc was also more entertaining to read.
thelauramay's review
2.0
Seriously subpar. The main problem is Tina: she's a terrible person, and a terrible leader. She has few IF ANY redeeming qualities. The plot of the first 3/4 of this mammoth book is literally her being an a-hole and everybody else trying to work around her. If she wasn't such a prize
cricklewood's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Setting/Worldbuilding: 10/10
Main characters: 8/10
Side characters: 9/10
Dialogue: 8/10
Plot: 10/10
Technique: 10/10
Prose: 6/10
Romance: 6/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall enjoyment: 10/10
Total: 87
Total: 87/100 (4.35)
OH MY LOOOOOOOOOOORD THAT ENDING!!!!!
Rachel and Travis shine in their typical way in this sequel, particularly when it comes to upping the ante and finally introducing the pantheon of the world. You can see that that their characteristically impeccable story beats all throughout the book too.
Characters are tested, loyalties trialled and stakes are never higher. I will say that I was shocked at the macabre / gruesome / graphic nature of some of the violence in the first half of the book, which was never really part of the authors' MO, but it gets better.
I will say that Tina and Neko annoyed the heck out of me in this book. Neko's dismissive and flippant reactions to things really grated on my nerves, but Tina was EVEN MORE unlikeable than she was in the first book, believe it or not. Her character becomes even more bloodthirsty, impulsive, reckless, trigger-happy, murderous, bossy, but she does get her just desserts.
Anyone else wants to know James' and SilentBlayde's secrets now? It can't be that bad, can it? Can it?
I'm already thinking were going to see much more of the gods going forwards, hm? In classic Rachel Aaron huge-climax fashion.
Romance was meh. Too angsty for my taste and both parties need to grow up and TALK.
3.5 hours remaining on this flight. Do I?
Yeah, why the heck NOT.
TW: genocide, specism, violence, sexual abuse, torture, profanity
Main characters: 8/10
Side characters: 9/10
Dialogue: 8/10
Plot: 10/10
Technique: 10/10
Prose: 6/10
Romance: 6/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall enjoyment: 10/10
Total: 87
Total: 87/100 (4.35)
OH MY LOOOOOOOOOOORD THAT ENDING!!!!!
Rachel and Travis shine in their typical way in this sequel, particularly when it comes to upping the ante and finally introducing the pantheon of the world. You can see that that their characteristically impeccable story beats all throughout the book too.
Characters are tested, loyalties trialled and stakes are never higher. I will say that I was shocked at the macabre / gruesome / graphic nature of some of the violence in the first half of the book, which was never really part of the authors' MO, but it gets better.
I will say that Tina and Neko annoyed the heck out of me in this book. Neko's dismissive and flippant reactions to things really grated on my nerves, but Tina was EVEN MORE unlikeable than she was in the first book, believe it or not. Her character becomes even more bloodthirsty, impulsive, reckless, trigger-happy, murderous, bossy, but she does get her just desserts.
Anyone else wants to know James' and SilentBlayde's secrets now? It can't be that bad, can it? Can it?
I'm already thinking were going to see much more of the gods going forwards, hm? In classic Rachel Aaron huge-climax fashion.
Romance was meh. Too angsty for my taste and both parties need to grow up and TALK.
3.5 hours remaining on this flight. Do I?
Yeah, why the heck NOT.
TW: genocide, specism, violence, sexual abuse, torture, profanity
zageron's review against another edition
3.0
Man the interactions between the siblings were not fun to be a part of. I get the baggage and I get the situation, but Tina was insufferable every time for no reason and James cannot communicate (with her) to save his life. Even the ending left a sour taste. Good story over-all though. And I really do like how "realistic" it really is. Even the sibling interaction is pretty real, considering the situation. I seriously doubt the crystal clear intuition of the reader would carry through to a world like this and very likely even worse shit would go down in real life. (And it certainly wouldn't be readable haha)
nancyotoole's review against another edition
4.0
Brother and sister duo Tina and James are trapped in their favorite video game, and the results are hell. That's because the world of Forever Fantasy Online has always been real, and while players have been completing quests and defeating raid bosses, the NPCs have been stewing in rage. Now, released from an eighty-year imprisonment, the citizens of Forever Fantasy Online are seeking revenge, including in the once peaceful city of Bastion.
Tina will do anything to keep her fellow players alive, taking down any boss that stands in their way. James desires a more diplomatic approach. But with emotions running high, is peace even possible?
I don't read a lot of LitRPG (or fantasy novels that take place within MMORPGs), but the Forever Fantasy Online series makes me want to read more. Last Bastion is the second book and the trilogy, and doesn't have a lot of the pacing issues that the first had. Sure, there are some action sequences that seem to go on for a little too long, but for the most part I was pleased with how things progressed. The authors do a really good job explaining the different perspectives in this admittedly complex situation. Not everyone is equally at fault. There are some genuinely awful people that need to be stopped. But most of the characters in question are just trying to do their best and protect their people.
Last Bastion certainly isn't standalone, although the overall plot of the book is wrapped up by the end . Given how things end, I am really curious to see how Tina and James's story will continue, and look forward to finishing the trilogy when the final book, The Once King, is released.
Tina will do anything to keep her fellow players alive, taking down any boss that stands in their way. James desires a more diplomatic approach. But with emotions running high, is peace even possible?
I don't read a lot of LitRPG (or fantasy novels that take place within MMORPGs), but the Forever Fantasy Online series makes me want to read more. Last Bastion is the second book and the trilogy, and doesn't have a lot of the pacing issues that the first had. Sure, there are some action sequences that seem to go on for a little too long, but for the most part I was pleased with how things progressed. The authors do a really good job explaining the different perspectives in this admittedly complex situation. Not everyone is equally at fault. There are some genuinely awful people that need to be stopped. But most of the characters in question are just trying to do their best and protect their people.
Last Bastion certainly isn't standalone, although the overall plot of the book is wrapped up by the end . Given how things end, I am really curious to see how Tina and James's story will continue, and look forward to finishing the trilogy when the final book, The Once King, is released.
txbookmama's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really long book! I was surprised at how many hours I got for my Audible credit. :)
It's a continuation of the story in which video game players are trapped in the game. This book focused more on Tina / Roxxy and not so much James, which is probably good because James is kind of annoying.
All that time though and we still end up with a cliffhanger! Fortunately Rachel Aaron writes fast.
It's a continuation of the story in which video game players are trapped in the game. This book focused more on Tina / Roxxy and not so much James, which is probably good because James is kind of annoying.
All that time though and we still end up with a cliffhanger! Fortunately Rachel Aaron writes fast.
laligin's review
5.0
All the players (see what I did there?) from book one are back, and this time they have a whole lot more to deal with. Logistics! Ethics! Politics! Consequences! Relationship difficulties! Familial issues! Invading undead!
Relatable AF.
Relatable AF.
nicedragon's review
5.0
Continuing from book 1, book 2 is well written, action packed read with some great characters to root for. The humor/relieve moments are great as I started to expect from the author since reading her other works (Heartstrikers).
In the sea of trash "Isekai" series (currently popular in Japan), FFO is one of the good ones and sure deserves to be put on anyone's "must read list". It doesn't invent anything expecially original but uses the standard tropes of "Isekai" genre to its full potential.
In the sea of trash "Isekai" series (currently popular in Japan), FFO is one of the good ones and sure deserves to be put on anyone's "must read list". It doesn't invent anything expecially original but uses the standard tropes of "Isekai" genre to its full potential.
harmony's review
2.0
The drama between Tina and James has risen to an annoying level and they're honestly both starting to grate on me. The other micro dramas are either resolved or stabilized, it seems, and the majority of the plot centered on the struggle for survival and the war with the undead. The larger plot was okay but I struggled to get invested since I don't like either protagonist much.
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