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starlitpage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
I started out not liking this book for being too edgy for my personal taste, and finished up disliking it because of the lack of conclusion. From the beginning I felt like I was starting in the middle of something and missing context, and I didn't get satisfactory answers by reading on. There was even a prophecy--I love a good prophecy--that only about 1/3 of it happens in the story. There's an interesting story in this world and this premise, but I'm not convinced it's the one I just read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol and Classism
barometz's review
I keep trying and I just don't like urban fantasy. I feel like this book and pretty much all other UF I've read simultaneously have too much going on and not enough.
The scene that was the final nail in the coffin for me was a good example, I think.The main character and his bodyguard were at a bar with the kid they're supposed to be taking care of, looking for information. They all order drinks when they walk in. MC wanders off to find the person who supposedly has the information, gets it, everyone's ready to leave. But then we realize the kid is in the corner on a drug trip because the bartender mixed something into his drink. The bartender's reasoning is that the kid is from the (legitimately awful) magic family that got destroyed at the beginning of the book, and fuck those people--except that the bartender also seems to understand that this child was a victim of that family. There's no reason for him to do it, and the entire scene does nothing but slow the book down; I don't get what we're doing here and I don't really enjoy the opportunity for the bodyguard to commit a little more gratuitous violence (nor do I think it's funny or cute to slip drugs to an abuse victim without their consent!!). Besides these kinds of moments that don't seem to do anything to move the plot, there aren't a lot of spaces to digest what is important, so the entire thing is difficult for me to follow.
There's so much going on that nothing in particular seems important, which seems to be a constant theme with the entire UF genre.
The scene that was the final nail in the coffin for me was a good example, I think.
There's so much going on that nothing in particular seems important, which seems to be a constant theme with the entire UF genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse
heypretty52's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder and Death of parent
so_many_books's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
So many people recommended this book and series to me that I needed to find out for myself what's so great about it. And I did. Because it IS amazing and I thoroughly enjoy myself reading it.
The Last Sun is an urban fantasy with a storyline rivalling epic fantasies. Some aspect I loved about the book:
- Rune is strong but not perfect main character. He also pretends to not care, but he does. A lot.
- Rune and Brand friendship is one of the focus of the book and it's epic and wonderful
- There's a found family. We all love a found family and this one is especially lovable.
- The magic system is confusing, but I didn't mind because it's unique and well-though-out.
- The story is fast paced and there is not one boring moment.
- The subtle romance is so good.
- All supporting characters are lovable.
Rune and Brand are hired to look for a missing scion and they soon learn that there is much more behind the scenes than a simple disappearance and darker force are in play. They get into tricky situations time and time again and there is always something extra happening. While this action-packed nature of the book ensures that there is not a single boring moment, it also makes it hard to keep up. Especially that the world and the magic system is so new. I never thought I would say this but I missed some info-dumping about the world. But that's maybe just me constantly wanting to know every detail.
I enjoyed this book a lot and will definitely read the other published books. I think the story will build up to be one of the best I've read. Can't wait to continue.
The Last Sun is an urban fantasy with a storyline rivalling epic fantasies. Some aspect I loved about the book:
- Rune is strong but not perfect main character. He also pretends to not care, but he does. A lot.
- Rune and Brand friendship is one of the focus of the book and it's epic and wonderful
- There's a found family. We all love a found family and this one is especially lovable.
- The magic system is confusing, but I didn't mind because it's unique and well-though-out.
- The story is fast paced and there is not one boring moment.
- The subtle romance is so good.
- All supporting characters are lovable.
Rune and Brand are hired to look for a missing scion and they soon learn that there is much more behind the scenes than a simple disappearance and darker force are in play. They get into tricky situations time and time again and there is always something extra happening. While this action-packed nature of the book ensures that there is not a single boring moment, it also makes it hard to keep up. Especially that the world and the magic system is so new. I never thought I would say this but I missed some info-dumping about the world. But that's maybe just me constantly wanting to know every detail.
I enjoyed this book a lot and will definitely read the other published books. I think the story will build up to be one of the best I've read. Can't wait to continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
toopunkrockforshul's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Really interesting worldbuilding and many plots weaved throughout. The characters were all really unique and intriguing and I liked the range of relationships that were at the forefront of this book. Excited to read the rest of the series. Some of the twists were a bit predictable and the language a bit clunky at times, which is why it's not 5 stars for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, and Death of parent
kalseng's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
(Upon looking over this review, I recognize that I lead with a lot of criticism. There are things I liked, I promise! I gave it a 3! That's a good book!)
The Last Sun was a fine book, with some structural choices I found annoying. I also found this particular printing layout annoying, with a random blank page thrown in at the end of chapters, sometimes before the last page of the chapter actually concluded. Weird! I also don't find the central romance very compelling, I think. It's fine, but fluffy and kind of... empty.
I am also very distracted by the lack of women. The majority of what few women are present are barely described, except to remark on the weight of one particular character. (To my recollection, there were also few, if any, people of color present.) Queenie is a major character who is regularly mentioned, discussed, and thanked. And I have NO idea what she looks like!
The plot is decidedly interesting, though it lacks the sort of huge, recontextualizing twist that I live for in mystery plots.
I like the world-building, the way magic is described is plenty interesting, and I found most of the characters incredibly likeable. Brand, in particular, stands out as a favorite as the story progresses.
Again, overall, 3/5, good book if you like urban fantasy mystery/thrillers with writing reminiscent of a prestige television show.
The Last Sun was a fine book, with some structural choices I found annoying. I also found this particular printing layout annoying, with a random blank page thrown in at the end of chapters, sometimes before the last page of the chapter actually concluded. Weird! I also don't find the central romance very compelling, I think. It's fine, but fluffy and kind of... empty.
I am also very distracted by the lack of women. The majority of what few women are present are barely described, except to remark on the weight of one particular character. (To my recollection, there were also few, if any, people of color present.) Queenie is a major character who is regularly mentioned, discussed, and thanked. And I have NO idea what she looks like!
The plot is decidedly interesting, though it lacks the sort of huge, recontextualizing twist that I live for in mystery plots.
I like the world-building, the way magic is described is plenty interesting, and I found most of the characters incredibly likeable. Brand, in particular, stands out as a favorite as the story progresses.
Again, overall, 3/5, good book if you like urban fantasy mystery/thrillers with writing reminiscent of a prestige television show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia
liawarsa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Rape and Death of parent
xaniya's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For a book so incredibly dense with action and heavy, deep world building, it felt like glimpsing a city through the window of a bullet train: fast enough for glimpses, rushing from one thing to the next.
I never got bored, but there was so much information and things moving, getting picked up and put down and thrown around, that it's a mystery I ended up finishing this book calmly instead of annoyed by all the loose ends. If anything, Last Sun feels like the longest prologue ever to an action-urban fantasy series.
Still, though fast-paced narrative usually isn't for me, I'm tempted to know what happens next. I like the characters, as quick as I had to be to learn them all (and there are A Lot). Brand is my favorite.
I never got bored, but there was so much information and things moving, getting picked up and put down and thrown around, that it's a mystery I ended up finishing this book calmly instead of annoyed by all the loose ends. If anything, Last Sun feels like the longest prologue ever to an action-urban fantasy series.
Still, though fast-paced narrative usually isn't for me, I'm tempted to know what happens next. I like the characters, as quick as I had to be to learn them all (and there are A Lot). Brand is my favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
vyralvyris's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely adored this book, can't wait to continue the series. The writing is really fun and adds a lot of characterize, the plot is engaging, and I love interesting magic world building.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping
abelh's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail