Official Review: The Last Lumenian by S.G. Blaise
Posted: 18 Dec 2020, 20:10
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Last Lumenian" by S.G. Blaise.]
Teryn warriors are fighting the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction, also known as DLD (Dark Lord of Destruction). DLD is surreptitiously transforming the inhabitants of several planets into his dark servants, who are doing his fighting for him and are practically impossible to kill.
Refugees have fled from these planets and sought protection in Uhna, where they have been forced into camps and abused. Lilla is the 19-year-old princess of Uhna, who is unhappy with the way her planet is being run. She secretly joins the refugee’s rebellion and is working with others, including Arrov, a handsome prince from the planet A’ice, to save the refugees. If caught, she will be arrested for treason.
DLD is now secretly on Uhna and making plans to take over the planet. Some of the Teryns have arrived on the planet to try to forge a coalition with the Uhnans to fight him. The Teryn general, Callum, seems to be drawn to Lilla. The only way DLD can be stopped is with the aid of the last Lumenian, who, unknown to her, is Lilla. Will she accept her duty, discover her powers, and control them in time to influence the outcome of the war?
The Last Lumenian by S.G. Blaise is both a fantasy and science-fiction novel with plenty of romance mixed in. Several planets with futuristic technologies take part in the tale. Magic abounds with an archgod, an archgoddess, mages, healers, shape-shifters, etc. The author’s prose is easy to understand and descriptive, offering the reader a clear mental picture of the story. An example is from page 30 of the book:
“Short black hair frames an intriguing face with prominent cheekbones. A thin scar runs from his jagged eyebrow to his strong jawline. A straight nose perches above lips that are not too thin or fleshy.”
Lots of action and suspense are found in the novel. The reader jumps right into the story at the beginning with Lilla having a panic attack that imperils the refugees’ mission that she and Arrov are undertaking. The novel has a nice oscillation in the action, allowing the readers just enough time to catch their breath before the following high-octane scene occurs. Although it is the first book in the series, most of the questions are resolved by the end, so it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. However, there are several questions left unanswered that should be cleared up in the sequel.
The character development is also superb. The chapters that include Lilla are written from the first-person point of view; all other chapters are written from the third-person point of view. This allows us to get to know her better as well as stay informed of other things pertinent to the story. Lilla is a flawed character, being impetuous, quick to judge, and prone to panic attacks. This makes her seem human and easy to pull for as she is also courageous, loyal, and fights for the weak and oppressed. Her feelings for both Arrov and Callum add more depth to the story.
A distinct theme exists in the novel about treating others respectfully and not disparaging them because they are different. The wealthy people in the tale looked down upon the poor, and the refugees were treated as inconsequential. Everyone could learn from this message.
The only thing I didn’t enjoy about the book was too much talking during one of the suspenseful scenes, which I felt slowed down the action a bit. However, this is just a personal preference and insignificant since it was just noticed on one occasion.
Subsequently, since I found nothing else to dislike, it achieves a rating of four out of four stars. There were occasional profanities; however, other than a few kisses, no sex was encountered in the book. Therefore, it should be appropriate for teenagers and adults. I enthusiastically recommend it to readers who appreciate science fiction, fantasy, and romance novels, especially females.
******
The Last Lumenian
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Teryn warriors are fighting the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction, also known as DLD (Dark Lord of Destruction). DLD is surreptitiously transforming the inhabitants of several planets into his dark servants, who are doing his fighting for him and are practically impossible to kill.
Refugees have fled from these planets and sought protection in Uhna, where they have been forced into camps and abused. Lilla is the 19-year-old princess of Uhna, who is unhappy with the way her planet is being run. She secretly joins the refugee’s rebellion and is working with others, including Arrov, a handsome prince from the planet A’ice, to save the refugees. If caught, she will be arrested for treason.
DLD is now secretly on Uhna and making plans to take over the planet. Some of the Teryns have arrived on the planet to try to forge a coalition with the Uhnans to fight him. The Teryn general, Callum, seems to be drawn to Lilla. The only way DLD can be stopped is with the aid of the last Lumenian, who, unknown to her, is Lilla. Will she accept her duty, discover her powers, and control them in time to influence the outcome of the war?
The Last Lumenian by S.G. Blaise is both a fantasy and science-fiction novel with plenty of romance mixed in. Several planets with futuristic technologies take part in the tale. Magic abounds with an archgod, an archgoddess, mages, healers, shape-shifters, etc. The author’s prose is easy to understand and descriptive, offering the reader a clear mental picture of the story. An example is from page 30 of the book:
“Short black hair frames an intriguing face with prominent cheekbones. A thin scar runs from his jagged eyebrow to his strong jawline. A straight nose perches above lips that are not too thin or fleshy.”
Lots of action and suspense are found in the novel. The reader jumps right into the story at the beginning with Lilla having a panic attack that imperils the refugees’ mission that she and Arrov are undertaking. The novel has a nice oscillation in the action, allowing the readers just enough time to catch their breath before the following high-octane scene occurs. Although it is the first book in the series, most of the questions are resolved by the end, so it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. However, there are several questions left unanswered that should be cleared up in the sequel.
The character development is also superb. The chapters that include Lilla are written from the first-person point of view; all other chapters are written from the third-person point of view. This allows us to get to know her better as well as stay informed of other things pertinent to the story. Lilla is a flawed character, being impetuous, quick to judge, and prone to panic attacks. This makes her seem human and easy to pull for as she is also courageous, loyal, and fights for the weak and oppressed. Her feelings for both Arrov and Callum add more depth to the story.
A distinct theme exists in the novel about treating others respectfully and not disparaging them because they are different. The wealthy people in the tale looked down upon the poor, and the refugees were treated as inconsequential. Everyone could learn from this message.
The only thing I didn’t enjoy about the book was too much talking during one of the suspenseful scenes, which I felt slowed down the action a bit. However, this is just a personal preference and insignificant since it was just noticed on one occasion.
Subsequently, since I found nothing else to dislike, it achieves a rating of four out of four stars. There were occasional profanities; however, other than a few kisses, no sex was encountered in the book. Therefore, it should be appropriate for teenagers and adults. I enthusiastically recommend it to readers who appreciate science fiction, fantasy, and romance novels, especially females.
******
The Last Lumenian
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
