Title: The Last Ranger
Author: J.D.L. Rosell
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Hardcover / Paperback / Audiobook / Ebook
Release Date: December 2, 2022
Star Rating: 7/10
*Disclaimer*
Everyone is different and likes and dislikes different things. Reading is no exception. One person’s all-time favorite might seem too bland or too high stakes for another. That being said, the opinions of our judges in this contest are just that, opinions. Just because we let a book go, doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It could be your next favorite, who knows?
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can learn more about the contest here.
Today we are reviewing The Last Ranger, which was Fantasy Book Critic’s pick for this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off. You can read their review here. And you can see the finalist spreadsheet here.
Summary
Betrayed. Hunted. Left for dead. But not even death itself can keep the last ranger from vengeance.
Leiyn “Firebrand” is no stranger to a fight. A brash ranger of the Titan Wilds, she takes up her bow to ward against the colossal spirit creatures known as titans, ever a threat to the colonies she has sworn to protect.
But no amount of skill can guard against treachery.
When tragedy strikes the rangers’ lodge, Leiyn vows to avenge the fallen. But if she is to succeed, she must embrace a power within her she has long denied.
Power to move mountains and rivers.
Power over life and death.
She did not choose this path, but Leiyn knows her duty. For if she fails, the legacy of the rangers dies with her—and all the Titan Wilds will fall into shadow.
Our Thoughts
So, what’s our verdict?
Julia
The Last Ranger is finally the one fantasy book that really scratched my itch for bow and arrows! The archery here was very realistic and well described, and I can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed that.
Aside from my personal pet topic, I also loved the characters. The main character is a headstrong woman, who grew up hating a certain group of people. She struggles with the prejudice she grew up with, the different opinions she encounters in her training, and new information that comes to light. Her inner turmoil and development were well done, and I really enjoyed spending my time with both her, and her best friend Isla.
We get to meet more characters along the way, and I loved the classical old “fantasy quest party” feeling I got. I’m always a sucker for a good friendship and interactions that aren’t just rooted in romance, and this book had plenty of that for me. Along with different character types, cultures, loyalties, distrust, and betrayal, it was a good balance.
The worldbuilding was utterly fascinating. I not only loved all the outdoorsy skills (give me more!), but also the magic and wonder in here. We don’t just have magic but different sorts of creatures, myths, religions and more. The world felt big and deep, and I enjoyed learning more about it. I can’t wait to explore even more in later sequels!
An intriguing plot with a mystery at the heart, well done fight scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat, along with actual high stakes, kept me glued to the pages.
There’s a lot of death (of humans and animals alike), so it’s not for the faint of heart. But it’s not an especially gruesome grimdark tale with a lot of gore. It’s just a dark, though mostly classic feeling fantasy.
Kerry
I did enjoy my time with this book, but I must admit Leiyn was an extremely annoying character, though by the end of the book she had grown on me. The things I did like about her were her skills as a ranger, her affinity with nature, and her strength and love for her friend Isla and her mentor Tadeo. However, I felt her hatred and distrust of the Gasts was a bit over the top. I know she’d been indoctrinated by her father in her early childhood to hate them, but considering she’d spent years under Tadeo telling her otherwise, and from whom she’d accepted everything else he taught her, as well as her contact with the Gasts being limited and mostly hearsay; to still believe her father years later felt a bit off. I guess it is easier to hate something if you’re not prepared to open your mind. (Mind you, we see that in real life and has been happening for centuries.)
I did enjoy the magic system in the story as well as the politics, and Leiyn’s growth and acceptance of it was woven through the story beautifully and the other characters really helped move the story along. (I would love to see a story written from the Gast’s POV!)
The worldbuilding is what really sold this story for me—I did a lot of tramping in Aotearoa as a child/young adult and The Last Ranger took me back to those times of embracing and relishing nature in all its seasons. It also shows how insignificant we are in the scheme of things and even with human destruction, nature is all powerful. I for one am not religious but Rosell’s descriptive prose mixed with my own experience one can understand how our ancestors saw that power and force and invented their gods.
Also… giant turtles and krakens!! Couldn’t ask for more!!
Lana
I really enjoyed The Last Ranger. I read along with the audio, which I think was a great way to go as the production was great.
For me it was the worldbuilding and creatures (titans in particular) that fully engrossed me in this classic fantasy feel quest. The world felt vast and “lived in”. It’s beautiful as portrayed on the stunning cover but also feels dark and foreboding. I feel that we were only getting a taste of what is to come and I can’t wait to see where Rosell takes us in this world in future books.
The ensemble cast and depth of characters were well done and reinforced the classic fantasy quest vibes. Enemies turned forced companions, turned friends, is a trope I quite enjoy, especially when there is little to no romance in the story.
The main character, Leiyn, and how tightly she clung to her prejudices did grate on me though. For a good portion of the book, I found myself rolling my eyes or sighing in frustration whenever she was speaking as she was so naive and ignorant. The patience of the others in the party far exceeds my own and it was their stories and characters I wanted to know more about and kept me turning the page. I will say though, that she did grow on me in the end.
The slow burn mystery (of sorts) entwined in this story with the very real high stakes, betrayal, and many twists throughout made it so hard to put the book down.
Many characters were introduced in this story and I’m quite excited to see how they play into the world and story. There were so many elements woven into the story so well. Rosell has created an amazing world. I would read a book just on the history and lore of this world. I need to know more!!!
I will say that this isn’t a fluffy tale. There is grit and sacrifice and at times has some dark themes. I wouldn’t class it as dark fantasy because it still feels classic and epic, but just be aware we follow a ranger protecting her lands. There are epic battle scenes but some loss of human and animal/creature life alike.
The magic in this world is interesting, as are Leiyn’s powers and I look forward to seeing how they develop and evolve throughout her journey.
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And again, you can see the list of all the finalists and their scores here. Our judges are Adawia Asad, Julia Kitvaria Sarene, Kerry Smith, Lana Taylor, Robert Max Freeman, Yaniv Rosenfeld Cohen, and Jennie Ivins (me). If you’d like to learn more about us, including our likes and dislikes, you can read about them here.
Any queries should be directed at me, Jennie Ivins, via DM on Facebook and Twitter.
Julia Kitvaria Sarene