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barb4ry1's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
It’s been a while since a book has immersed me as deeply in its story and characters as “The Last Ranger” has. Leiyn Firebrand, a brash ranger of the Titan Wilds, often acts on impulse, giving little thought to her actions. Her ability to handle feral creatures and Titans is admirable, but diplomacy is not her forte. Leiyn loves her life within the ranger’s lodge. When a tragedy strikes, she vows to avenge the fallen.
“The Last Ranger” explores many themes without sacrificing its exciting, character-driven narrative. It takes a look at how the pursuit of justice can slip into vengeance. It touches upon issues of racism and amoral politics. There’s also sorcery, shape-shifters, mysterious magic, non-stop action, and Titans in the mix, so prepare for a thrilling ride.
Leiyn starts as biased against Gastsa, one of the native peoples of the Titan Wilds. There’s a reason for it, a tragic misunderstanding, but still. Her journey centers on overcoming her biases and accepting her true self. Including her magic, she walled deep inside and perceived as a curse. Her deep internal conflict and her animosity towards Gasts are the driving forces behind the narrative. Leiyn’s biased reasoning irked me, but despite her occasional foolishness, I never once stopped rooting for her.
Especially since she has many admirable traits. She is loyal, brave, gifted with an indomitable will, and is curious and competent. Despite her stubbornness, she can adapt and change her perspective when necessary. Of course, she takes a while to arrive at the right conclusions. The way she twists facts to support her worldview can be painful, but it changes.
I loved the approach to magic and world-building in this book. I tend to dislike hard magic systems and sprawling world-building. The author developed these elements organically and kept the magic mysterious. That’s how I prefer it. Speaking of world-building, it’s rather fascinating, with its unique creatures, powers, and Titans. Titans are giant elemental creatures that wreak havoc on the landscape. Think of Titans as forces of nature—inevitable and destructive, yet not inherently malevolent. They play an important role in the story, and their role only grows in the sequel.
I breezed through “The Last Ranger” and its sequel. While The Last Ranger may have some minor flaws, it is addictive and well-written. Highly recommended.
It’s been a while since a book has immersed me as deeply in its story and characters as “The Last Ranger” has. Leiyn Firebrand, a brash ranger of the Titan Wilds, often acts on impulse, giving little thought to her actions. Her ability to handle feral creatures and Titans is admirable, but diplomacy is not her forte. Leiyn loves her life within the ranger’s lodge. When a tragedy strikes, she vows to avenge the fallen.
“The Last Ranger” explores many themes without sacrificing its exciting, character-driven narrative. It takes a look at how the pursuit of justice can slip into vengeance. It touches upon issues of racism and amoral politics. There’s also sorcery, shape-shifters, mysterious magic, non-stop action, and Titans in the mix, so prepare for a thrilling ride.
Leiyn starts as biased against Gastsa, one of the native peoples of the Titan Wilds. There’s a reason for it, a tragic misunderstanding, but still. Her journey centers on overcoming her biases and accepting her true self. Including her magic, she walled deep inside and perceived as a curse. Her deep internal conflict and her animosity towards Gasts are the driving forces behind the narrative. Leiyn’s biased reasoning irked me, but despite her occasional foolishness, I never once stopped rooting for her.
Especially since she has many admirable traits. She is loyal, brave, gifted with an indomitable will, and is curious and competent. Despite her stubbornness, she can adapt and change her perspective when necessary. Of course, she takes a while to arrive at the right conclusions. The way she twists facts to support her worldview can be painful, but it changes.
I loved the approach to magic and world-building in this book. I tend to dislike hard magic systems and sprawling world-building. The author developed these elements organically and kept the magic mysterious. That’s how I prefer it. Speaking of world-building, it’s rather fascinating, with its unique creatures, powers, and Titans. Titans are giant elemental creatures that wreak havoc on the landscape. Think of Titans as forces of nature—inevitable and destructive, yet not inherently malevolent. They play an important role in the story, and their role only grows in the sequel.
I breezed through “The Last Ranger” and its sequel. While The Last Ranger may have some minor flaws, it is addictive and well-written. Highly recommended.
qjig's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this fast paced adventure set in a fascinating world.
Leiyn is a deeply flawed protagonist, due to circumstances of her birth she is able to use magic that she believes is cursed because it is wielded by the natives of the Titan Wilds. Her father raised her to hate the natives and she has suppressed her magic her whole life because of this hatred. She is also rash and quick to anger. Because of this, Leiyn is a difficult protagonist to like at times, but I am not against an unlikeable protagonist. Though she often makes stupid choices, she starts to change over the course of the novel and learn to accept who she is and examine her prejudices. She is forced to spend a significant amount of time with a group of natives and though by the end of the novel she has not become a completely different person, she has made progress and I expect that will be an ongoing development in this series. Through Leiyn, the author invites us to examine our own prejudices, and think about things from a different perspective.
The highlights of the book for me were the world and the magic. I loved how they focused so much on nature, with giant nature spirits called Titans and mysterious sentient beings known as dryvan. The magic is also heavily based in nature and life. Leiyn has shut herself off from the magic her whole life so we don't know a lot about it but she is able to sense the life force of all living things and use it to heal herself and others, as well as presumably many other things we will learn about in future books. The natives of the Titan Wilds are able to awaken and control Titans with the magic so I'm excited to see that in action.
This book is very fast paced. From the beginning of the novel we are running and we don't stop until the end. Despite this there is a good amount of world building and we get periodic flashbacks of Leiyn's history at just the right moments to help us understand her and the choices she makes. There are plenty of actions scenes, which are written very well, and I really enjoyed seeing the bow and arrow as the weapon of choice for our protagonist instead of the usual sword or axe. I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a fast, fun, adventure and I look forward to reading future novels in the series.
Leiyn is a deeply flawed protagonist, due to circumstances of her birth she is able to use magic that she believes is cursed because it is wielded by the natives of the Titan Wilds. Her father raised her to hate the natives and she has suppressed her magic her whole life because of this hatred. She is also rash and quick to anger. Because of this, Leiyn is a difficult protagonist to like at times, but I am not against an unlikeable protagonist. Though she often makes stupid choices, she starts to change over the course of the novel and learn to accept who she is and examine her prejudices. She is forced to spend a significant amount of time with a group of natives and though by the end of the novel she has not become a completely different person, she has made progress and I expect that will be an ongoing development in this series. Through Leiyn, the author invites us to examine our own prejudices, and think about things from a different perspective.
The highlights of the book for me were the world and the magic. I loved how they focused so much on nature, with giant nature spirits called Titans and mysterious sentient beings known as dryvan. The magic is also heavily based in nature and life. Leiyn has shut herself off from the magic her whole life so we don't know a lot about it but she is able to sense the life force of all living things and use it to heal herself and others, as well as presumably many other things we will learn about in future books. The natives of the Titan Wilds are able to awaken and control Titans with the magic so I'm excited to see that in action.
This book is very fast paced. From the beginning of the novel we are running and we don't stop until the end. Despite this there is a good amount of world building and we get periodic flashbacks of Leiyn's history at just the right moments to help us understand her and the choices she makes. There are plenty of actions scenes, which are written very well, and I really enjoyed seeing the bow and arrow as the weapon of choice for our protagonist instead of the usual sword or axe. I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a fast, fun, adventure and I look forward to reading future novels in the series.
ovium_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-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
4.5
From immersive storytelling and lush world-building, The Last Ranger is one of those epic fantasy stories I'm going to recommend a ton. This was an incredible read and so glad I finally decided to give it a go.
From the very start, the world-building is on full display. It pulls you into The Titan Wilds and imagining being a part of the vast and beautiful setting is easy. From the woodlands to the creatures and magical beasts, I was able to fully immerse myself in this world and take it all in.
Our FMC Leiyn is a big part of delivering this story as well. The amount of growth she goes through with her beliefs, prejudices, and internal struggles helps develop an emotional connection with her. By the end, you've seen her change and grow in a very satisfying way.
The magic system here was fantastic. It was cool as a story perspective too as you learn more about it throughout just as Leiyn is as well. She never really accepted it as it was labeled a sin. But as she develops into it, you get to learn more about it as well. The Titans and other magical beasts are interesting as well and can't wait to learn more about them throughout this series.
From the very start, the world-building is on full display. It pulls you into The Titan Wilds and imagining being a part of the vast and beautiful setting is easy. From the woodlands to the creatures and magical beasts, I was able to fully immerse myself in this world and take it all in.
Our FMC Leiyn is a big part of delivering this story as well. The amount of growth she goes through with her beliefs, prejudices, and internal struggles helps develop an emotional connection with her. By the end, you've seen her change and grow in a very satisfying way.
The magic system here was fantastic. It was cool as a story perspective too as you learn more about it throughout just as Leiyn is as well. She never really accepted it as it was labeled a sin. But as she develops into it, you get to learn more about it as well. The Titans and other magical beasts are interesting as well and can't wait to learn more about them throughout this series.
woahno's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up The Last Ranger after looking into the SPFBO finalists. It seemed like it would a be fast paced action adventure and well, that is exactly what it is. This book starts quickly with some big action scenes and a couple twists and doesn't stop to take a breath until part two at around 75 pages in. The shorter chapter page count helps with this as well. There is a lot to like from a technical standpoint here. The structure of the narrative with some sprinkled in flash backs and the bookend outside perspective. The prose is solid, the packaging of the cover and interior illustrations, the character growth and reveals of the larger workings for the series all goes over smoothly.
Leiyn is a good single perspective to have in a lot of ways, she excels in her craft, has some secrets with interesting and intense back story to go over. But where I was lost is how Leiyn is racist toward the Gasts. Everything else seems so cleanly done and this aspect just felt clunky and confusing to me. There is an obvious reason to include this in Leiyn's journey but it I suppose the why just felt so painfully obvious to me that I couldn't handle the racist moments. They were so cringe. And I'm not sure the payoff was worth it. Also, the side characters of our main party are not developed as much as I would like. Batu especially is introduced, given some back story and some simple yet hard to believe motivation for me and then... he blends into the background. He comes and goes as he is needed for the plot. Batu deserved better.
The magic system with the Titans is cool. We get just a tiny glimpse into it though. I really wish this with the Gasts was approached differently and we could have gotten some more from the magic system and maybe some training sequences but alas, that is not the path taken.
Overall, this book was a lot of fun but missed the mark at a few key parts for me.
Leiyn is a good single perspective to have in a lot of ways, she excels in her craft, has some secrets with interesting and intense back story to go over. But where I was lost is how Leiyn is racist toward the Gasts. Everything else seems so cleanly done and this aspect just felt clunky and confusing to me. There is an obvious reason to include this in Leiyn's journey but it I suppose the why just felt so painfully obvious to me that I couldn't handle the racist moments. They were so cringe. And I'm not sure the payoff was worth it. Also, the side characters of our main party are not developed as much as I would like. Batu especially is introduced, given some back story and some simple yet hard to believe motivation for me and then... he blends into the background. He comes and goes as he is needed for the plot. Batu deserved better.
The magic system with the Titans is cool. We get just a tiny glimpse into it though. I really wish this with the Gasts was approached differently and we could have gotten some more from the magic system and maybe some training sequences but alas, that is not the path taken.
Overall, this book was a lot of fun but missed the mark at a few key parts for me.
lisadoeslife_'s review against another edition
5.0
Wow .. this book..!! Mr Rosell really knows how ro build a world and develop characters well. It is a slow build up but not to a point that you feel its dragging its feet. You need the back story and to get to know the characters to really feel that the stakes are high when it all does down!! And oh lord does shit go down!!!!
Leiyn is a complex character and I know people say she's unlikeable but you really need to see things from her perspective before judging. Cows tits she's been through alot
I am so excited to read more from this author and highly recommend
Leiyn is a complex character and I know people say she's unlikeable but you really need to see things from her perspective before judging. Cows tits she's been through alot
I am so excited to read more from this author and highly recommend
theshaggyshepherd's review against another edition
4.0
The Last Ranger by J.D.L. Rosell took me a little bit off guard. I haven’t really been in the mood for epic fantasy for a while so I was worried about having to read it for SPFBO. Though it did take a couple of chapters to really draw me in, I ended up enjoying it a lot by the time I finished it.
Between the smooth prose and the short chapters, it felt like a relatively quick read despite there not being as much excitement as I’m used to from this subgenre. There was a good bit of traveling, which can get boring quickly sometimes, but it was broken up regularly by flashbacks that I loved and world building that I really enjoyed. The awe I felt at the details about this world almost reminded me of the comfort of a cozy read.
While I’m usually a big fan of multi-POV books, I really enjoyed only having one narrator to focus on here. I was able to really get into her head, which was both a pro and a con. I enjoyed seeing the character development but at the same time didn’t actually like the character very much for most of the book because I struggle to connect with hateful MCs. There were some really interesting supporting characters though.
I did struggle a little bit to keep up with the politics here and there, though that straightened out by the end of it. I also wish we could’ve seen a bit more of the magic system, though what we did get was really interesting and added to the awe that I felt about the world. I’m excited to learn more about it in the rest of the series.
So overall, while there were some things that didn’t quite work for me, I had an unexpectedly good time in the end. This was my first book by J.D.L. Rosell and I’m excited to try more.
Between the smooth prose and the short chapters, it felt like a relatively quick read despite there not being as much excitement as I’m used to from this subgenre. There was a good bit of traveling, which can get boring quickly sometimes, but it was broken up regularly by flashbacks that I loved and world building that I really enjoyed. The awe I felt at the details about this world almost reminded me of the comfort of a cozy read.
While I’m usually a big fan of multi-POV books, I really enjoyed only having one narrator to focus on here. I was able to really get into her head, which was both a pro and a con. I enjoyed seeing the character development but at the same time didn’t actually like the character very much for most of the book because I struggle to connect with hateful MCs. There were some really interesting supporting characters though.
I did struggle a little bit to keep up with the politics here and there, though that straightened out by the end of it. I also wish we could’ve seen a bit more of the magic system, though what we did get was really interesting and added to the awe that I felt about the world. I’m excited to learn more about it in the rest of the series.
So overall, while there were some things that didn’t quite work for me, I had an unexpectedly good time in the end. This was my first book by J.D.L. Rosell and I’m excited to try more.
esmayrosalyne's review against another edition
5.0
SPFBO9 Finalist Review
Originally posted on Fantasy Book Critic
9/10
The Last Ranger is one of those epic fantasy books that filled me with wonder and reminded me of why I fell in love with this genre in the first place. It takes all the best elements from some of the most well-beloved stories in the genre, throws in some wholly unique and marvelous new concepts, and somehow blends it all together into an exciting and utterly entrancing story. This is character-driven epic fantasy at its very best.
Leiyn is living her best life as a Ranger of the Titan Wilds, scouting the lands for the dangerous creatures, massive elemental titans, and magical spirits that need to be kept in check. However, when tragedy strikes and she loses everything she has ever held dear, she swears to exact vengeance on those responsible, if she can figure out who they are. And so begins an adventure full of magic, self-discovery, endurance, political conspiracies, unlikely alliances, and most of all, a whole lot of wonder.
The world that we are thrust into is simply breathtaking and the world building feels so incredibly organic and immersive. From the very first page, the lush landscapes and fascinating magical inhabitants just came to life before my eyes, which is an experience I rarely have as someone who struggles to visualise while reading. It did take me a bit to find my footing and get a good grasp on the tense political landscape with its conflicting factions, but that initial level of slight bewilderment only added to the intrigue for me.
I also really loved that the magic system is wonderfully soft and whimsical, yet at the same time it comes at a very high cost. The stakes are very high and actions are proven to have serious consequences, which really kept me on the edge of my seat.
Now, while I personally tend to enjoy flawed and unlikable female protagonists, it did take me a bit to really warm up to Leiyn. All her virtues and vices are on full display, which I personally think makes her a very well-written and almost frustratingly realistic character. She is brash, impulsive, confident, fiercely loyal, slightly self-righteous, and casually yet unapologetically queer. Her own internal prejudices are also extremely strong and it seems almost impossible to imagine how she will ever overcome them, but the character growth that we get to witness over the course of the story is truly magnificent.
Leiyn’s journey starts out as a very single-minded quest for revenge, but along the way, her walls come down and he slowly starts to doubt everything she has been told to believe. It’s a rocky process including much doubt, backtracking, and inner conflict, but that is exactly why her development feels so realistic, satisfying and earned. The themes of racism, colonization, xenophobia and revenge are very delicately handled and seamlessly woven into this narrative, which made the story all the more impactful.
Don’t let those heavy themes scare you off though, because while the author definitely isn’t afraid to go dark, he also manages to maintain a light-hearted and entertaining tone that keeps the story from becoming too bleak or depressing. Leiyn’s story might be harrowing and full of tragedy, but I really appreciated that she does not have to endure it all alone. The strong friendships and unlikely alliances that are established throughout this story are incredibly heartwarming and provide a wonderful counterbalance against all the chaos and destruction.
All in all, I am incredibly impressed with this story and I can’t wait to explore this intriguing world further in the future. Rosell was able to capture my imagination and fill me with wonder like very few other authors can, making this one of the most captivating reading experiences I have had in a long time. If you are in the mood for an engaging epic fantasy adventure with a fierce female lead and some of the most immersive world building you will ever have the pleasure of experiencing, then you have to check out The Last Ranger.
Originally posted on Fantasy Book Critic
9/10
The Last Ranger is one of those epic fantasy books that filled me with wonder and reminded me of why I fell in love with this genre in the first place. It takes all the best elements from some of the most well-beloved stories in the genre, throws in some wholly unique and marvelous new concepts, and somehow blends it all together into an exciting and utterly entrancing story. This is character-driven epic fantasy at its very best.
Leiyn is living her best life as a Ranger of the Titan Wilds, scouting the lands for the dangerous creatures, massive elemental titans, and magical spirits that need to be kept in check. However, when tragedy strikes and she loses everything she has ever held dear, she swears to exact vengeance on those responsible, if she can figure out who they are. And so begins an adventure full of magic, self-discovery, endurance, political conspiracies, unlikely alliances, and most of all, a whole lot of wonder.
The world that we are thrust into is simply breathtaking and the world building feels so incredibly organic and immersive. From the very first page, the lush landscapes and fascinating magical inhabitants just came to life before my eyes, which is an experience I rarely have as someone who struggles to visualise while reading. It did take me a bit to find my footing and get a good grasp on the tense political landscape with its conflicting factions, but that initial level of slight bewilderment only added to the intrigue for me.
I also really loved that the magic system is wonderfully soft and whimsical, yet at the same time it comes at a very high cost. The stakes are very high and actions are proven to have serious consequences, which really kept me on the edge of my seat.
Now, while I personally tend to enjoy flawed and unlikable female protagonists, it did take me a bit to really warm up to Leiyn. All her virtues and vices are on full display, which I personally think makes her a very well-written and almost frustratingly realistic character. She is brash, impulsive, confident, fiercely loyal, slightly self-righteous, and casually yet unapologetically queer. Her own internal prejudices are also extremely strong and it seems almost impossible to imagine how she will ever overcome them, but the character growth that we get to witness over the course of the story is truly magnificent.
Leiyn’s journey starts out as a very single-minded quest for revenge, but along the way, her walls come down and he slowly starts to doubt everything she has been told to believe. It’s a rocky process including much doubt, backtracking, and inner conflict, but that is exactly why her development feels so realistic, satisfying and earned. The themes of racism, colonization, xenophobia and revenge are very delicately handled and seamlessly woven into this narrative, which made the story all the more impactful.
Don’t let those heavy themes scare you off though, because while the author definitely isn’t afraid to go dark, he also manages to maintain a light-hearted and entertaining tone that keeps the story from becoming too bleak or depressing. Leiyn’s story might be harrowing and full of tragedy, but I really appreciated that she does not have to endure it all alone. The strong friendships and unlikely alliances that are established throughout this story are incredibly heartwarming and provide a wonderful counterbalance against all the chaos and destruction.
All in all, I am incredibly impressed with this story and I can’t wait to explore this intriguing world further in the future. Rosell was able to capture my imagination and fill me with wonder like very few other authors can, making this one of the most captivating reading experiences I have had in a long time. If you are in the mood for an engaging epic fantasy adventure with a fierce female lead and some of the most immersive world building you will ever have the pleasure of experiencing, then you have to check out The Last Ranger.
eefera's review against another edition
3.0
Leiyn is a Ranger, raised in the wilds and taught the arts of survival on the edges of a frontier. She and her fellow rangers live in a world full of magic, of massive elemental titans and magical lifeforces. But Leiyn has been taught to revile this magic. To her, it is a curse and a sin, despite the power within her that is kept carefully locked away.
When tragedy strikes and Leiyn is forced to leave behind everything she has known, she will not only be asked to put her skills of survival to the test, but also to challenge deeply held beliefs about everything she thinks she knows.
My favorite part of this book was undoubtedly the magic and the elemental creatures that Rosell built his world around. Using magic has strong consequences, and is something of a vampiric system. The elemental titans that rise from the earth and the water of the world pull on the nostalgic strings of games like Shadow of the Colossus.
There is a fairly balanced cast of characters, although I did find several of them to be less nuanced than I would have liked. Found family is a strong theme in this novel, and that includes a found family that Leiyn must protect out of necessity rather than affection.
The book is written in an easy, accessible style with lots of descriptions of the world and locations that the cast travels through.
I didn't particularly jive with Leiyn as a protagonist, which was one of the reasons I found it difficult to immerse in the story. There were several points where I felt that she leaned more toward plot-driven than character-driven.
The artwork in this book is absolutely stunning, and Rosell's worldbuilding and descriptions lift from the page and come to life in the illustrations. The theme of nature vs. mankind are well done in this story, and Rosell also dives into the struggle of division between ethnicities within the world. Overall, a good, fast-paced read with a lot of familiar archetypes and story arcs, and a beautifully described and utilized magic system.
When tragedy strikes and Leiyn is forced to leave behind everything she has known, she will not only be asked to put her skills of survival to the test, but also to challenge deeply held beliefs about everything she thinks she knows.
My favorite part of this book was undoubtedly the magic and the elemental creatures that Rosell built his world around. Using magic has strong consequences, and is something of a vampiric system. The elemental titans that rise from the earth and the water of the world pull on the nostalgic strings of games like Shadow of the Colossus.
There is a fairly balanced cast of characters, although I did find several of them to be less nuanced than I would have liked. Found family is a strong theme in this novel, and that includes a found family that Leiyn must protect out of necessity rather than affection.
The book is written in an easy, accessible style with lots of descriptions of the world and locations that the cast travels through.
I didn't particularly jive with Leiyn as a protagonist, which was one of the reasons I found it difficult to immerse in the story. There were several points where I felt that she leaned more toward plot-driven than character-driven.
The artwork in this book is absolutely stunning, and Rosell's worldbuilding and descriptions lift from the page and come to life in the illustrations. The theme of nature vs. mankind are well done in this story, and Rosell also dives into the struggle of division between ethnicities within the world. Overall, a good, fast-paced read with a lot of familiar archetypes and story arcs, and a beautifully described and utilized magic system.
tyraleann's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars.
Full review can be found at FanFiAddict: "https://fanfiaddict.com/book-tour-the-last-ranger-ranger-of-the-titan-wilds-1-by-j-d-l-rosell/">here
By far the biggest pro for the book was the sweeping setting of the Titan Wilds. I didn't end up loving the MC but she did improve overall throughout the book and am intrigued to continue her story.
Full review can be found at FanFiAddict: "https://fanfiaddict.com/book-tour-the-last-ranger-ranger-of-the-titan-wilds-1-by-j-d-l-rosell/">here
By far the biggest pro for the book was the sweeping setting of the Titan Wilds. I didn't end up loving the MC but she did improve overall throughout the book and am intrigued to continue her story.