angelarwatts's review
5.0
STORY
Goodreads: you've finished Last Hope! What's next?
Me: time to die
*deep breath* I usually don't get emotional or "fangirly" in reviews, but, why not? Let's freak out a bit.
I literally am struggling for words right now.
Joshua, what did you DO.
The story was absolutely KILLER. I mean, the BEST book out of the series, absolute best. Nonstop action, edge of your seat thrills, heart wrenching scenes... this had it ALL. A TRUE epitome of what a zombie, apoc novel SHOULD be.
The story literally grabs you from page one and repeatedly STABS YOU A BILLION TIMES TILL THE END. What more do you want?
Basically, almost ALL of my greatest fears came true! I loved it! (That was sarcasm!)
Anyway, yes. Truly a moving novel with a thrilling story as the cast races against time, desperate to reach Alaska, with emotions finally breaking and snapping in all directions. Stories are meant to be this bold.
THEMES
That's it that's all I have to say.
SIKE. I'm dead inside with LOTS OF THOUGHTS.
The themes were STELLAR. I JUST. CANNOT EXPLAIN TO YOU.
BEST THEMES:
-brotherhood
-loyalty
-faith!!
-hope!!!
-loveee
-courAGE
-doubting so much and being so afraid because WHO KNOWS WHAT IS TRULY GOOD?? but pushing on anyway
-DOING! HARD! HELLISH! FREAKING! THINGS! as a Christian
-choosing to push forward even when everything is broken
-SELF SACRIFICE IN A CHRISTIAN POV THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU GAG!
-being better than you were before and not letting demons rule you
-EVERY THEME PRESENT
Seriously, the themes in this novel were raw, profound, realistic, moving... just, so, so good. All of them. God's faithfulness... the miracles... absolutely fantastic.
CHARACTERS
GUYS MY FAVORITE DIED? I'M?
Anywayyyy.
The character growth in this series was some of the BEST I've seen in independently published novels in my life.
The arcs, the depth, the growth, the lessons learned, the hearts, the spirits, the courage... the characters were amazing. James, Connor, Tank, Chloe, Alexis, Ana, the KIDS, EVERYONEEEE. EVERYONE came to life SO well.
The antagonists were TERRIBLE but in the best way--still human, you understood them, even the demonic ones... so stunning.
As I mentioned, the emotions were HIGH in this novel and I literally adored it. It hurt so much. All of it. It was an even DEEPER look into a dysto apoc disease stricken America, like digging to the heart of the thing, and DIGGING DEEP. Not just action, violence, ooh zombies kill it! But legit downright realistic "hey, this hurts like hell, but we'll get through, we always do, so freaking let the pain hurt right now but get ready to go forward" AND IT WAS JUST SO RAW AND REAL.
ALSO the kids are just *smothers them in hugs*
Loved the characters basically! Spoilers below!
Emmett.
Troy/Greg.
Y'all I SCREAMED!!!!??? GREG JUST!! TURNS AND BITES TROY AND I LIKE!!! hbdhbhAS! ANYWAY! I LOVED THEM! PRECIOUS SONS! STUPID BUT GOOD!
Connor/Ana.
Tank.
Overall, amazingggg characters. RIP Max though.
CONTENT
Gore, violence, nothing toooo bad? Mild swearing. Mild descriptions of sexual content, nothing major at all. Pretty clean for a zombie series honestly. Tbh? Not sure why I do these content warnings and pretty soon I won't be doing 'em anymore haha.
OVERALL
I! LOVED! THIS! SERIES!
HELP ME.
I am a messssss I loveddddd it. My childrennnn.
If you guys have cold feet, seriously, EVERYTHING pays off for a BANGER of a final novel. I'm reeling.
Goodreads: you've finished Last Hope! What's next?
Me: time to die
*deep breath* I usually don't get emotional or "fangirly" in reviews, but, why not? Let's freak out a bit.
I literally am struggling for words right now.
Joshua, what did you DO.
The story was absolutely KILLER. I mean, the BEST book out of the series, absolute best. Nonstop action, edge of your seat thrills, heart wrenching scenes... this had it ALL. A TRUE epitome of what a zombie, apoc novel SHOULD be.
The story literally grabs you from page one and repeatedly STABS YOU A BILLION TIMES TILL THE END. What more do you want?
Basically, almost ALL of my greatest fears came true! I loved it! (That was sarcasm!)
Anyway, yes. Truly a moving novel with a thrilling story as the cast races against time, desperate to reach Alaska, with emotions finally breaking and snapping in all directions. Stories are meant to be this bold.
THEMES
That's it that's all I have to say.
SIKE. I'm dead inside with LOTS OF THOUGHTS.
The themes were STELLAR. I JUST. CANNOT EXPLAIN TO YOU.
BEST THEMES:
-brotherhood
-loyalty
-faith!!
-hope!!!
-loveee
-courAGE
-doubting so much and being so afraid because WHO KNOWS WHAT IS TRULY GOOD?? but pushing on anyway
-DOING! HARD! HELLISH! FREAKING! THINGS! as a Christian
-choosing to push forward even when everything is broken
-SELF SACRIFICE IN A CHRISTIAN POV THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU GAG!
-being better than you were before and not letting demons rule you
-EVERY THEME PRESENT
Seriously, the themes in this novel were raw, profound, realistic, moving... just, so, so good. All of them. God's faithfulness... the miracles... absolutely fantastic.
CHARACTERS
GUYS MY FAVORITE DIED? I'M?
Anywayyyy.
The character growth in this series was some of the BEST I've seen in independently published novels in my life.
The arcs, the depth, the growth, the lessons learned, the hearts, the spirits, the courage... the characters were amazing. James, Connor, Tank, Chloe, Alexis, Ana, the KIDS, EVERYONEEEE. EVERYONE came to life SO well.
The antagonists were TERRIBLE but in the best way--still human, you understood them, even the demonic ones... so stunning.
As I mentioned, the emotions were HIGH in this novel and I literally adored it. It hurt so much. All of it. It was an even DEEPER look into a dysto apoc disease stricken America, like digging to the heart of the thing, and DIGGING DEEP. Not just action, violence, ooh zombies kill it! But legit downright realistic "hey, this hurts like hell, but we'll get through, we always do, so freaking let the pain hurt right now but get ready to go forward" AND IT WAS JUST SO RAW AND REAL.
ALSO the kids are just *smothers them in hugs*
Loved the characters basically! Spoilers below!
Emmett.
Spoiler
I knew he was gonna die. I knew it after book 1. I knew. The dad character always has to die, it seems, in a dysto or war novel, minus The Patriot, because who can kill Mel Freakin Gibson? ANYWAY like I WAS NOT READY!? EMMETT WaS MY fAVORite DAd ChARacteR and!!! But yes anyway his death... from that point... the writing, prose, depth... literally blew me away, like the trigger literally just shoved everything into overdrive. Wow. I adored Emmett. I miss him. Oof.Troy/Greg.
Spoiler
Vine voice: moTHerTrUCkeR duDE thaT HuRt lIke A ButtCheEk on A StiCk!!!Y'all I SCREAMED!!!!??? GREG JUST!! TURNS AND BITES TROY AND I LIKE!!! hbdhbhAS! ANYWAY! I LOVED THEM! PRECIOUS SONS! STUPID BUT GOOD!
Connor/Ana.
Spoiler
proof that every dysto must end with eVERYONE FINDING LOVE AND PROCREATINGTank.
Spoiler
best for last? Worst for last? Help me? I adored Tank. I started this series by HESITANTLY trying the short freebie, Tanked, and I WAS HOOKED, all thanks to our jerk son, Tank. AND THEN HE JUST!!! YEETS HIMSELF TO JESUS!!!! Anyway, as upset as I am, it was a great death scene, and he saved his bro, and HECK CHLOE IS PREGNANT so okay thenOverall, amazingggg characters. RIP Max though.
CONTENT
Gore, violence, nothing toooo bad? Mild swearing. Mild descriptions of sexual content, nothing major at all. Pretty clean for a zombie series honestly. Tbh? Not sure why I do these content warnings and pretty soon I won't be doing 'em anymore haha.
OVERALL
I! LOVED! THIS! SERIES!
HELP ME.
I am a messssss I loveddddd it. My childrennnn.
If you guys have cold feet, seriously, EVERYTHING pays off for a BANGER of a final novel. I'm reeling.
amia's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Love it!
adamdavidcollings's review
A fantastic conclusion to the series. Tense action with a lot of emotion and a great ending.
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