Sci-Fi is a genre that I don't read much. The space aspect is one that I am always apprehensive about but I was pleasantly surprised with The Last Lumenian. This follows the story of a girl named Lilla fighting the battle of oppression of refugees. Lilla is an advocate for justice and with this starts a rebellion for a better world. The elements in the book made this read like a sci-fi-fantasy novel, which made me want to learn even more. I struggled a bit in the beginning with the terminology but the glossary was so helpful! I wish all authors would do that! One of the aspects I loved about Lilla's character was that she suffered from a mental illness, these days its crucial to have inclusivity. I'm so happy this book focused a lot on the anxiety and how she overcame them even thru the adversities thrown her way. Lilla's brave stance was admirable, such a great example for young readers. The romance aspect was pretty great, I am a fan of tension love, this is exactly was was going on between Arrov and Lilla. I was a little bit hesitant about the instalove since it's one of my least favorite tropes but in this case it was well written! The details in the story were gripping, I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and the intricate world building! We had a whole assortment of them but they fit well into the story. The pace and the banter kept me going! I am all about the sarcasm, the dynamic between the characters flowed perfectly with this element! Thank you so much to the author for sending this my way! Can't wait to read more!

4.5/5 intergalactic stars! Fishguts and whalecrap, y’all--this was such a good read!! It has been so long since a sci-fi book engrossed me so fully. From the start, the combined spacey-oceanic atmosphere of the setting felt beautiful and totally unique. The main conflicts were established immediately, providing for the nonstop fast-paced action to unfold into a complex high-stakes plot. Blaise chooses to frame the text in short chapters with addictive endings, which is what ultimately convinced me that this book would make the BEST graphic novel! What is more, Blaise creates gorgeous imagery throughout the narrative, especially during scenes that concern elemental magic, allowing for the story to come to life for me. Complete with pirates, mages, archgods of chaos and dark lords of destruction, The Last Lumenian pretty much has it all! Not to mention a love triangle (who wins Lilla’s heart in the end...friends-to-lovers or enemies-to-lovers? You’ll have to read this one to find out!), a sexy shapeshifter, and quippy dialogue galore! Blaise is especially talented with composing sarcastic, argumentative chemistry between her characters, which also contributed to the addictive quality of the novel! I think my favorite element of the book, though, was the relatable depiction of anxiety and panic attacks. I’m avoiding spoilers here of course, but I gasped aloud at a certain plot twist that had me flipping all the way back to the beginning chapters to complete the connection Blaise had planned from the first moments. I appreciate so much a sci-fi/fantasy author that can successfully employ foreshadowing that left this English Lit teacher shocked and reeling, which does not often happen! Final thoughts: that epic ending has rendered me speechless and I NEEEED a Glenna and Nic spinoff/sidestory!

This book was such a fun read! I really struggled this month with picking up any book and actually sitting down to read it, but I never had this problem The Last Lumenian. It was just an overall fun read that was fast paced and entertaining! So admittedly, Sci-Fi is out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to push myself to read other genres. What really helped me was the glossary in the back. I really wish more writers would include one because it is so hard to keep everything straight in your mind when reading such a diverse group of characters and an intricate setting/plot! The book is set in a galaxy (far. far away) and it immediately made me think of Guardians of the Galaxy (despite my Star Wars reference) so I knew the story would be full of action. The banter between the characters are fun and fast paced. I especially liked Lilla, the main MC. She's such a powerful and strong female lead with an interesting backstory! Her father is king who just married someone Lilla hated. Her connection to her late mother is her magical abilities. If you enjoy enemies to friends trope, then this one is definitely for you! I found myself questioning who I liked and who I could and could not trust. Lilla is a rebel who is fighting against many causes, but most importantly the mistreatment, which hits really close to the real world! I think I empathized with Lilla so much because of her need to make the world better for everyone, especially refugees. Overall, this one was such a fun, easy read! Definitely will get you out of your reading slump.

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars As someone who doesn’t pick up as many science-fiction novels as I should, I was thrilled to read The Last Lumenian as it unites the great elements of sci-fi worlds with the detailed and magical setting of fantasy worldbuilding, as well as my favorite romance trope! My favorite part of the book was definitely the many characters and their relationships. We follow Lilla, who faces the oppression of the refugees her father refuses to care about. As part of a rebellion, she tries to fight for the good and save the people while trying to wear her mask at court. She soon finds out that neither the court nor the rebellion are what they seem to be and takes matters in her own hands. At her side she finds the pilot who has been her partner during the rebel mission and the sassy General from a different world. An enemy that becomes soon an ally. Knowing me, you know I’m not a fan of love triangles, and I quickly feared this constellation would lead to one. Especially since I was already falling head over heels for the latter. However, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the moments of banter and tension between the characters. I loved the fast pace of the story, despite the fact that it took me a while to fully grasp the extent of the detailed and complex worldbuilding. As the story moves forward, we learn more of the worlds and the role the archgods as well as the Last Lumenian are playing and I found myself thrilled to turn the pages to see what will happen next. I definitely recommend this book for lovers of a good sassy romance and epic worldbuilding! Thank you to the author for gifting me an ebook!

Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own. Book: The Last Lumenian Author: S.G. Blaise Book Series: The Last Lumenian Book 1 Rating: 3/5 Recommended For...: young adult readers, science fiction, romance Publication Date: June 18, 2020 Genre: YA Sci-Fi Romance Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, slavery, internment camps, romance) Explanation of CWs: There are scenes and mentions of slavery and internment camps in the book. There is a strong romance plot line in the book. There is also violence and gore throughout the book. Publisher: Indie Published Pages: 316 Synopsis: MOST PRINCESSES NEED SAVING. THIS ONE WILL SAVE YOU. She is a rebel. Lilla is fighting for the refugees's freedom from oppression. The king, her father, lost touch with reality ever since Lilla's mother died. Now everyone else is paying the price. The arrival of Callum, a powerful Teryn general, complicates Lilla's life. His presence leads to conflicted feelings and friction with Arrov, a handsome pilot and fellow rebel. Her life is not what she imagined it to be. Not by far. Meddling gods, love interests and sudden magical abilities have no room in Lilla's world, but that has become her new reality. No matter how hard she pushes them away, it's too late. They all seek to control her anyway. Now the Era War between two ruling archgods forces Lilla to act: accept who she really is magic and all; find true love; fulfill her destiny by defeating the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction before He finds her. The Last Lumenian. Review: Overall, this was an ok book. I liked the message behind it, to stand up for what you think is right, and I liked the romance aspect of it. I thought the book’s premise was really good and the plot kept me interested throughout the book. However, the book is badly written in my opinion. The book immediately jumps into the story without explanation of what’s going on. By page 10 we’re already knee deep into a plot that should have been 150 pages into the book instead. The book is way too fast paced and it does nothing to explain the magic system or the world we’re in. The characters are also not well developed and I didn’t feel anything for anyone. Verdict: It’s ok, but not for me.

That was quite the space adventure! Sci-fi is one of my favorite genres, and I think The Last Lumenian did it justice. It was a fast-paced story, full of mystery and action and with an intricate yet very interesting world-building. This book brought me back to the world of Treasure Planet, the 2002 Disney Film inspired by Treasure Island. While I don’t remember the movie well, I do remember that I loved the sea-adventure vibe mixed with space, which is what we see in The Last Lumenian. It was really fascinating, and the glossary in the book definitely helped me better understand it. The protagonist, Lilla, is a kind-hearted and strong young woman who’s not afraid to stand up for what is right. Yet, despite her strong will, she has her vulnerabilities, which made her all the more believable. Lilla suffers from panic attacks, which is something one doesn’t see often in fantasy or sci-fi but that makes characters more relatable and interesting to read about. I may sound like a broken record, but one of my favorite aspects of a book is the romance and this one has two tropes that I love reading about, friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers, and one that I don’t enjoy unless it’s written well, the love triangle. I found that the triangle was handled really well by the author. Both male characters are the types I usually fall in love with while reading, though my heart led me immediately to one of the two options because I sensed the potential. I do wish we’d seen a slightly slower burn between the characters, but the ship was strong. The ending of the book was satisfying. The issue resolves itself in the span of one book and yet…I feel like I want more set in this world. The Last Lumenian can be read as a standalone, and I greatly appreciate this, but I want to see these characters again. If it happens, I’ll be very excited to see the next chapter.

I'm always hesitant when it comes to intergalactic stories: they're either a hit or miss for me. This one definitely falls into the former category! I was transported to a completely different world from page one, and was wholly immersed. Political intrigue, battles, and romance alternate throughout the story, and you get enough of everything. Can highly recommend!