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A review by barb4ry1
The Last Ranger by J.D.L. Rosell
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.