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The Last Sanctuary Series #1
The Last Sanctuary
Lily is devastated when her sick grandpa reveals she must leave the small home they share. The next day, a confused Lily awakes in the London Bridge Orphanage, surrounded by danger. With the help of her two roommates, she stumbles upon the ancient world of Ammasaya and a prophecy with catastrophic consequences; three will arrive, one to give, one to die and one to live.
But which part of the prophecy relates to Lily and which to her roommates?
As enchanting as it is deadly, Ammasaya is a place where Lily must battle savage witches, devious goblins and deadly Death Legions to discover secrets of her past that offer clues to her prophesised future. Life at school is no safer with menacing teachers burying secrets with unfathomable consequences.
The Blood Empress lurks in the shadows as her goal of destroying the orphanage draws near. Surrounded by riddles and lies, who can Lily trust?
Out now... The Fall of Refuge... sequel to The Last Sanctuary.
But which part of the prophecy relates to Lily and which to her roommates?
As enchanting as it is deadly, Ammasaya is a place where Lily must battle savage witches, devious goblins and deadly Death Legions to discover secrets of her past that offer clues to her prophesised future. Life at school is no safer with menacing teachers burying secrets with unfathomable consequences.
The Blood Empress lurks in the shadows as her goal of destroying the orphanage draws near. Surrounded by riddles and lies, who can Lily trust?
Out now... The Fall of Refuge... sequel to The Last Sanctuary.
- GenresFantasy
402 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
P.S. Mokha
2 books28 followersP S Mokha was born and raised in London. Like millions of others, he spent his early working life commuting into the city and reading books on trains.
The books often transported him further and to more interesting places than the trains.
The author is currently living in the timeless and rugged beauty of the New Zealand wilds. He is miles away from mains water, street lighting and other distractions so he can concentrate on completing book two of the series.
Out now, The Fall of Refuge...
The books often transported him further and to more interesting places than the trains.
The author is currently living in the timeless and rugged beauty of the New Zealand wilds. He is miles away from mains water, street lighting and other distractions so he can concentrate on completing book two of the series.
Out now, The Fall of Refuge...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
January 19, 2015
I'll start off by saying that I don't usually like to compare books, but with 'The Last Sanctuary' it's hard not to notice similarities between it and Harry Potter. The major ones: Three twelve years olds are sent to a new school where magical type things start happening (although in this book, the students are unaware that magic exists). There's the shy one, the smart one and the hopelessly dumb yet hilarious one. Giant spider. Suspected evil teachers.
But there is one big difference between Harry Potter and The Last Sactuary: I actually enjoyed this book. (Yes, you read correctly, I didn't like Harry Potter. We're a rare breed, but we do exist.)
There was action from beginning to end, twists around every corner, I spent most of the book accusing every single character of being the bad guy.
But my favourite of all would have to be the character of Olivia. Her puns and dimwitted humour had me giggling a few times and most of the time I didn't know whether to hug her, pat her on the head, or slap her. At times I wanted to do all three.
If I had one complaint about this book, it would be that it did seem to run long (especially for a YA book aimed for the preteens). Oh, that and the giant freakin' spider who I was sure to have nightmares of, but thankfully did not. It was so well written that the nursery rhyme 'hush little baby' will haunt me forever.
But there is one big difference between Harry Potter and The Last Sactuary: I actually enjoyed this book. (Yes, you read correctly, I didn't like Harry Potter. We're a rare breed, but we do exist.)
There was action from beginning to end, twists around every corner, I spent most of the book accusing every single character of being the bad guy.
But my favourite of all would have to be the character of Olivia. Her puns and dimwitted humour had me giggling a few times and most of the time I didn't know whether to hug her, pat her on the head, or slap her. At times I wanted to do all three.
If I had one complaint about this book, it would be that it did seem to run long (especially for a YA book aimed for the preteens). Oh, that and the giant freakin' spider who I was sure to have nightmares of, but thankfully did not. It was so well written that the nursery rhyme 'hush little baby' will haunt me forever.
July 16, 2012
The Last Sanctuary is a book full of twists and turns, both big and small, that surprise and delight the reader. Mystery combines with humour, horror, and a touch of sadness pulling the reader into the carefully created world of Ammasaya. An abundance of magical characters bring the pages alive with their exploits and quirky personalities. The reader is kept on their toes as the characters intricately weaved backgrounds are expertly revealed, not only bringing surprise but also the satisfying - Oh, but I thought I had it worked that out - feeling that can only be felt when an exceptional plot has been provided.
Keep the day free as you won't want to put this book down. Can't wait for the sequel!!!!!!!
Keep the day free as you won't want to put this book down. Can't wait for the sequel!!!!!!!
Read
June 10, 2017Disclaimer: This was read as a read for review via one of the several groups I co-moderated in the past.
The Last Sanctuary is a modern fairytale with three girls being whisked away to a private college in London. The school they find themselves in is a kind of wonderland with strange things going on and the potential to lead to other worlds of magic and fun. While not everything in the plot made full sense to me there was enough there to get where everything was headed and this was a fun book on the whole. I personally gave it the three stars because of how it finally settled in with me personally although for children around the reading ages of 9 - 14 this would be a good novel to help them develop their vocabulary and imagination.
The Last Sanctuary is a modern fairytale with three girls being whisked away to a private college in London. The school they find themselves in is a kind of wonderland with strange things going on and the potential to lead to other worlds of magic and fun. While not everything in the plot made full sense to me there was enough there to get where everything was headed and this was a fun book on the whole. I personally gave it the three stars because of how it finally settled in with me personally although for children around the reading ages of 9 - 14 this would be a good novel to help them develop their vocabulary and imagination.
July 11, 2012
This book is an enthralling read. It combines all the elements of a great story, while leading you down a path of intrigue and deception. This delightful story begins with three young girls and as you journey with them in the discovery of their true identities, you are introduced to an amazing world where their destinies will determine the future. There are agreeable and also sinister characters to be wrestled with and just when you think you know the outcome in the plot, it twists and reveals a number of surprises along the way. A great read and a guaranteed page turner!
July 21, 2014
The last sanctuary was better than I thought it was. When I read it, it felt like I was literally in the book. I laughed and even cried, only a few specific books make me cry and this was one of them. This author makes the audience want to know, what's going to happen next, it captures their attention. Some parts of the book makes me feel tingly inside and this only happens when I know the book is really, really good. Overall I think this a wonderful fantasy, mystery book to read, through out the book I felt like I was on a roller-coaster. So very well-written.
October 24, 2013
I haven't actually read this book yet so for the moment the opinions of my daughters 12 and 10 will have to suffice.
To start with my kids read a lot but it's rare for them to talk about what they have read. So when they started talking about "The Last Sanctuary" I knew something was going on. This suspicion was further confirmed when I was asked to intervene and decide which of them should be allowed to keep reading the book. So we have talking about and then fighting over a book.
When I asked them what the book was about they said it was a cross between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. In all honesty their response to this book was similar to their actions when one of the other books is first released.
All this led me to take a look at the stats for "The Last Sanctuary." It turns out my daughters aren't the only ones who also think this is an exceptional book and are waiting for the next book to be released.
There's no shortage of undiscovered writers producing some exceptional work with little recognition. This however seems to be one of the more extreme cases if the literary views of my daughters and other readers are correct.
To start with my kids read a lot but it's rare for them to talk about what they have read. So when they started talking about "The Last Sanctuary" I knew something was going on. This suspicion was further confirmed when I was asked to intervene and decide which of them should be allowed to keep reading the book. So we have talking about and then fighting over a book.
When I asked them what the book was about they said it was a cross between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. In all honesty their response to this book was similar to their actions when one of the other books is first released.
All this led me to take a look at the stats for "The Last Sanctuary." It turns out my daughters aren't the only ones who also think this is an exceptional book and are waiting for the next book to be released.
There's no shortage of undiscovered writers producing some exceptional work with little recognition. This however seems to be one of the more extreme cases if the literary views of my daughters and other readers are correct.
July 29, 2012
What a story! Three orphans, a boarding school, a mystery and a range of strange and bizarre happenings! As the story unfolds the reader gets caught up in the mystery and can’t wait for the riddles to unravel. Although written for teenagers the novel hooks in mature readers who love a mystery and who try to second guess who is on the side of the main characters and who is out to fulfil the prophecy “Three will arrive, one to give, one to die and one to live”. It’s hard to imagine where the story will go in the next chapter of this tale of mystery, fantasy and intrigue!
April 30, 2012
An original story for young teens - NO vampires! I've read and loved lots of vampire-type sagas ie Twilight series, City of Angels series, but it was great to find something a little different. Lots of laugh-out-loud moments and plenty of action as three 12-year-old orphans discover they may be able to save the last of the fairies and goblins from extinction. Now recommending this to all my nieces and nephews. Can't wait for the sequel! Awesome!
January 5, 2015
A different book, not quite like anything in its genre. It's an epic, sweeping tale, but funny, personal and touching without losing sight of the grand stage it’s played out upon.
Although the book is set in London, the protagonists can access a world that rests over ours and matches geographically, but it's not a Discworld either. You have to read it to understand, but basically it’s really really good!
Although the book is set in London, the protagonists can access a world that rests over ours and matches geographically, but it's not a Discworld either. You have to read it to understand, but basically it’s really really good!
July 17, 2012
Enchanting and captivating, I really enjoyed this book. Set in a mystical world intergrated into real life London, it's fantastical with enjoyable characters and an ever thickening plot to keep readers entertained.
Lily, Rose and Olivia get up to some wild adventures in London and Ammasaya and meet lots of interesting characters on the way whilst trying to solve a long covered up mystery.
I great read for preteens that will be enjoyed by teens and adults too.
Lily, Rose and Olivia get up to some wild adventures in London and Ammasaya and meet lots of interesting characters on the way whilst trying to solve a long covered up mystery.
I great read for preteens that will be enjoyed by teens and adults too.
August 23, 2012
Wow. Just. Wow. AMAZING. It was seriosly awesome. Though there should be more lines for Olivia because she is just the best.
June 23, 2013
The last sanctuary
P.S Mohka
Wednesday 19th june 2013
I first read this book at the suggestion of my friends and teachers. I hoped it to be an interesting world to delve into and that belief proved correct although it took a small while for me to sink my teeth into completely .I finished this book within a day do in that respect it was not a difficult to read , helped by the generally simplistic writing style which most young adult books contain and which suits the age that it is aimed towards. Admittedly I myself tend to read more classically written books and haven’t really read this type of book in a long while ( i went through this phase about two years ago )however it was a very pleasant way to re-introduce myself to the genre of myth and fantasy and young adult novels
One of the aspects that I liked about the book was that although moments of gruesomeness were uncommon they were sprinkled throughout like little easter eggs. I don’t like horror but I like torture and the idea that the characters of the blood Empress and the girls school headmaster like to be rather giving in their punishments (of which we only see in after affects from the latter).
Another thing that greatly amused me in this book was the name of the flying pig – dubbed Pigusus .I enjoy puns so this was greatly entertaining for me and I will admit that every-time I read the name I smiled . I love puns even stupid and the names in this book are just hilarious.
I will admit that when the prophecy is first revealed it crossed my mind that one of the girls could die and then be revived and in the end it was said that this may be possible .This is one example of the instances where I could see the plot twists happening .Another instance is that of their beloved caretaker/cleaning lady being the scorpion however I will concede that this is a childrens book and not a novel like the Les Miserables and as such it is more that I have read so much that I could tell versus the book being bad .It is far from being bad it is rather intriguing and the foreshadowing is not annoying.
I do not like annoying foreshadowing like that found in other books and this book has the great and rare ability to foreshadow without it becoming really irritating to me. It also seems to hold another world where there seems a large history. I would probably have enjoyed a small larger overview of the history which is only revealed as a tool to help with plot points and background. The book is fine without this extra history and it would probably encourage me to read the next book as a way of developing a deeper understanding of the history and possibly even biology of the other world and the creatures that lie within that world respectively.
One concept that I thought rather interesting was that the world was made by dragons and yet the balancer-person ( Evagaya) is that of human. I personally side with the dragon of destruction-the red one, and the Empress of blood ( who I know is actually the Blood empress but the empress of blood sounded better in my head and that's how i read it ) I mean I see why it is wrong to destroy a race, such thing is genocide and it isn't something I would personally recommend doing, but I think she would be a very interesting character.I know that she is suppose to represent evil but why she was “evil” to begin with fascinates me. She wanted to be good but she was chosen to be evil and so was. She made the spine crawlers, that takes some intelligence at least I imagine it would as if she made them badly someone would of unmade them . that is unless all the others are idiots which I could totally see.
The main theme seems to be love, something I do not believe in and find annoying in most books as it is mostly portrayed as romantic love. While that is present in the book (in Lilys' grandparents) it is not in such an overwhelming way that I would stop reading .
I did find that sometimes it was hard to remember that the three main characters are twelve because in some way they are very mature however throughout the book there are occasions where I remembered that they were twelve. I liked that they were intelligent twelve year olds and not stupid ones because my brother is twelve and he would, well he’d probably kill them all with a gun but, not act as they did. I myself would have tried to throw nuclear hand grenades at them because it seems to me that the wizards had no contact and didn't know much about human technology. Then again this is just my personal head canon as it wasn't really confirmed and all but then it wasn't really not confirmed so I may have to wait until the next book to find out .
Also another little theory I have is that even though the prophecy goes one to give one to live and one to die, it was sort of the one to die book so maybe the prophecy will work backwards and we will find out the one to live in the next book or maybe it’s all twisted and we will find out the one to give except the one to give is the one that balances and that seems to be the most important one so maybe it will be last. Of course all of these maybes are probably completely off but I like to imagine. Another little theory I have is that the dragons aren't actually responsible for creation rather they are very powerful magical beings and as such all the other magical beings look up to them. Actually that brings me to a question. What is magic. How does magic work. How does saying words while holding a magical wand give you wings and what is the magical wand even made out of. Also if all the three girls are fairy's ( or two out of three) how is that a fair representation of all the magical species. Why can’t a goblin be the breathed on , do they have dragon breath resistant skin or are they just not really a part of the whole thing. Also why do those who have these extra special powers live so long and what does a book have to do with dragons. I mean surely if everything is created by these dragons they aren’t going to create a book that will give lesser beings the power to control them. Or was it the balancer who decided you know what I can control them lets let someone else. OR maybe the successors of the balancer has to find the book and that’s how she appoints her successor. Also how were spine crawler made . It says in the books that the headmistressess' mother was part of their creation but how????
I see that my review for this book is extremely long and more of a rant then a review however i will say this. Although i read the book in a day it was because i was interested and the book was a decent enough book to keep me occupied.It wasn't boring and it wasn't horribly written which is more then i can say for some other books that seem to be popular despite a horrible characters and plot -The others books not this one . the characters fleshed out a little and the plot was busy enough to keep me interested. I would recommend it , even to those who are used to a more complex style of book , I read it so why not you. It is very innocence and childlike and Happy and despite my initial reaction of "well this is boring" it turned out that this book wasn't so boring after all .
Well done Mr.Mohka as you have successfully written the first book that i have actually read for about a month , and thats a lot harder then it sounds because i generally don't find decent books to read and this surprised me in being a decent book . It has decent character development , decent plot a decent length and a very decent writing style. It was satisfactory and not boring
P.S Mohka
Wednesday 19th june 2013
I first read this book at the suggestion of my friends and teachers. I hoped it to be an interesting world to delve into and that belief proved correct although it took a small while for me to sink my teeth into completely .I finished this book within a day do in that respect it was not a difficult to read , helped by the generally simplistic writing style which most young adult books contain and which suits the age that it is aimed towards. Admittedly I myself tend to read more classically written books and haven’t really read this type of book in a long while ( i went through this phase about two years ago )however it was a very pleasant way to re-introduce myself to the genre of myth and fantasy and young adult novels
One of the aspects that I liked about the book was that although moments of gruesomeness were uncommon they were sprinkled throughout like little easter eggs. I don’t like horror but I like torture and the idea that the characters of the blood Empress and the girls school headmaster like to be rather giving in their punishments (of which we only see in after affects from the latter).
Another thing that greatly amused me in this book was the name of the flying pig – dubbed Pigusus .I enjoy puns so this was greatly entertaining for me and I will admit that every-time I read the name I smiled . I love puns even stupid and the names in this book are just hilarious.
I will admit that when the prophecy is first revealed it crossed my mind that one of the girls could die and then be revived and in the end it was said that this may be possible .This is one example of the instances where I could see the plot twists happening .Another instance is that of their beloved caretaker/cleaning lady being the scorpion however I will concede that this is a childrens book and not a novel like the Les Miserables and as such it is more that I have read so much that I could tell versus the book being bad .It is far from being bad it is rather intriguing and the foreshadowing is not annoying.
I do not like annoying foreshadowing like that found in other books and this book has the great and rare ability to foreshadow without it becoming really irritating to me. It also seems to hold another world where there seems a large history. I would probably have enjoyed a small larger overview of the history which is only revealed as a tool to help with plot points and background. The book is fine without this extra history and it would probably encourage me to read the next book as a way of developing a deeper understanding of the history and possibly even biology of the other world and the creatures that lie within that world respectively.
One concept that I thought rather interesting was that the world was made by dragons and yet the balancer-person ( Evagaya) is that of human. I personally side with the dragon of destruction-the red one, and the Empress of blood ( who I know is actually the Blood empress but the empress of blood sounded better in my head and that's how i read it ) I mean I see why it is wrong to destroy a race, such thing is genocide and it isn't something I would personally recommend doing, but I think she would be a very interesting character.I know that she is suppose to represent evil but why she was “evil” to begin with fascinates me. She wanted to be good but she was chosen to be evil and so was. She made the spine crawlers, that takes some intelligence at least I imagine it would as if she made them badly someone would of unmade them . that is unless all the others are idiots which I could totally see.
The main theme seems to be love, something I do not believe in and find annoying in most books as it is mostly portrayed as romantic love. While that is present in the book (in Lilys' grandparents) it is not in such an overwhelming way that I would stop reading .
I did find that sometimes it was hard to remember that the three main characters are twelve because in some way they are very mature however throughout the book there are occasions where I remembered that they were twelve. I liked that they were intelligent twelve year olds and not stupid ones because my brother is twelve and he would, well he’d probably kill them all with a gun but, not act as they did. I myself would have tried to throw nuclear hand grenades at them because it seems to me that the wizards had no contact and didn't know much about human technology. Then again this is just my personal head canon as it wasn't really confirmed and all but then it wasn't really not confirmed so I may have to wait until the next book to find out .
Also another little theory I have is that even though the prophecy goes one to give one to live and one to die, it was sort of the one to die book so maybe the prophecy will work backwards and we will find out the one to live in the next book or maybe it’s all twisted and we will find out the one to give except the one to give is the one that balances and that seems to be the most important one so maybe it will be last. Of course all of these maybes are probably completely off but I like to imagine. Another little theory I have is that the dragons aren't actually responsible for creation rather they are very powerful magical beings and as such all the other magical beings look up to them. Actually that brings me to a question. What is magic. How does magic work. How does saying words while holding a magical wand give you wings and what is the magical wand even made out of. Also if all the three girls are fairy's ( or two out of three) how is that a fair representation of all the magical species. Why can’t a goblin be the breathed on , do they have dragon breath resistant skin or are they just not really a part of the whole thing. Also why do those who have these extra special powers live so long and what does a book have to do with dragons. I mean surely if everything is created by these dragons they aren’t going to create a book that will give lesser beings the power to control them. Or was it the balancer who decided you know what I can control them lets let someone else. OR maybe the successors of the balancer has to find the book and that’s how she appoints her successor. Also how were spine crawler made . It says in the books that the headmistressess' mother was part of their creation but how????
I see that my review for this book is extremely long and more of a rant then a review however i will say this. Although i read the book in a day it was because i was interested and the book was a decent enough book to keep me occupied.It wasn't boring and it wasn't horribly written which is more then i can say for some other books that seem to be popular despite a horrible characters and plot -The others books not this one . the characters fleshed out a little and the plot was busy enough to keep me interested. I would recommend it , even to those who are used to a more complex style of book , I read it so why not you. It is very innocence and childlike and Happy and despite my initial reaction of "well this is boring" it turned out that this book wasn't so boring after all .
Well done Mr.Mohka as you have successfully written the first book that i have actually read for about a month , and thats a lot harder then it sounds because i generally don't find decent books to read and this surprised me in being a decent book . It has decent character development , decent plot a decent length and a very decent writing style. It was satisfactory and not boring
May 20, 2015
The Last Sanctuary is obviously a product of a fair amount of research and plays a lot on what children enjoy reading: magic, including all sorts of magical creatures; different personas for our main characters (shy/loyal, reckless/dumb, smart/sensible), who cannot find anyone trustworthy so are forced to grow up and grow brave; nasty bad guys; poo, nose picking, and, of course, farts. Nasty, stinky, eye watering and possible deadly farts.
That said, to me it was only average. And it wasn't even because of the farts; I actually laughed at some of Olivia's lines. But during many passages, I felt the narrative was rushed, not enough explanations were given and the characters kept jumping to conclusions. Sort of like oh if that isn’t it, then this must be it! and I was like… No!! What about this, and that, and that…
In short, alternatives were not explored; a viable option would appear and the characters would assume it was right. The fact that plenty of times it was the right choice made me feel like the author took the easy way out in those situations.
Also, even though during the course of the book the characters really developed their own voice, there were times where personally I felt they did not sound 12 at all, particularly Rose. But I accept that the whole empowerment thing is very important for the book's audience, certainly much more than any plot or character development issues. However, the fact is I have read books for such audiences before where there was such a balance, so I guess that contributed to me being more critical of this work. I felt like there wasn't proper progression along the narrative, it was a bumpy ride.
There were many things I could point out; I will not get into specifics, since I posted a fair amount of them, if not most, in Book Lair's buddy read topic (feel free to take a look: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...), but my nose twitching afflicted me pretty much from the start. There was something off about the prologue (some things were still unclear by the end of the book); then, when the girls arrived, I felt they accepted the existence of magic way too quickly and easily; the times when death was mentioned, particularly when one of them had a close brush with death, sounded at the same time unemotional and overdramatic; etc, etc.
And then there were so many situations of the sort I described before, about assuming things from the get-go. I simply felt there were not enough facts for alternatives to be dismissed, which left me with a hollow feeling, that there was an end goal in mind so other stuff didn't matter much. Personally, I would prefer some of the side stories to be taken out (and there were SO many of them) and have things properly explained than being handed such a huge book, for middle graders at least, with some things half done.
Things did improve towards the end, where we finally get several explanations, although I saw the plot twist coming from miles away. But those explanations felt crammed in those last chapters. I wish we would have been fed at least some previously, to ease the hollow feeling I had throughout the book.
Alas, for me personally, it is a book worth 2 stars because it was just ok. Despite all the care in the world building, some plot flaws were just too dramatic for me to overlook. But considering the audience, I will give it 3 stars, even though I have doubts that its length is appropriate to attract such readers.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
That said, to me it was only average. And it wasn't even because of the farts; I actually laughed at some of Olivia's lines. But during many passages, I felt the narrative was rushed, not enough explanations were given and the characters kept jumping to conclusions. Sort of like oh if that isn’t it, then this must be it! and I was like… No!! What about this, and that, and that…
In short, alternatives were not explored; a viable option would appear and the characters would assume it was right. The fact that plenty of times it was the right choice made me feel like the author took the easy way out in those situations.
Also, even though during the course of the book the characters really developed their own voice, there were times where personally I felt they did not sound 12 at all, particularly Rose. But I accept that the whole empowerment thing is very important for the book's audience, certainly much more than any plot or character development issues. However, the fact is I have read books for such audiences before where there was such a balance, so I guess that contributed to me being more critical of this work. I felt like there wasn't proper progression along the narrative, it was a bumpy ride.
There were many things I could point out; I will not get into specifics, since I posted a fair amount of them, if not most, in Book Lair's buddy read topic (feel free to take a look: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...), but my nose twitching afflicted me pretty much from the start. There was something off about the prologue (some things were still unclear by the end of the book); then, when the girls arrived, I felt they accepted the existence of magic way too quickly and easily; the times when death was mentioned, particularly when one of them had a close brush with death, sounded at the same time unemotional and overdramatic; etc, etc.
And then there were so many situations of the sort I described before, about assuming things from the get-go. I simply felt there were not enough facts for alternatives to be dismissed, which left me with a hollow feeling, that there was an end goal in mind so other stuff didn't matter much. Personally, I would prefer some of the side stories to be taken out (and there were SO many of them) and have things properly explained than being handed such a huge book, for middle graders at least, with some things half done.
Things did improve towards the end, where we finally get several explanations, although I saw the plot twist coming from miles away. But those explanations felt crammed in those last chapters. I wish we would have been fed at least some previously, to ease the hollow feeling I had throughout the book.
Alas, for me personally, it is a book worth 2 stars because it was just ok. Despite all the care in the world building, some plot flaws were just too dramatic for me to overlook. But considering the audience, I will give it 3 stars, even though I have doubts that its length is appropriate to attract such readers.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2012
This review is also on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
The Last Sanctuary is such a sweet story! I enjoyed it very much. It also has faeries in it which I'm obsessed with =D
The Last Sanctuary by P.S. Mokha is a middle grade fantasy story. It's about three twelve year old girls, (Lily, Olivia, and Rose) who have been orphaned and their adventures trying to find the Hidden Room. On the way, they learn a lot about themselves and get themselves into many dangerous predicaments as well as finding out that they're part of a prophecy "Three will arrive. One to give...One to die...One to Live."
My favourite character was Lily. I could relate a lot to her. She seemed to be the most empathetic. I like the way she's cautious about everything and worried about getting into trouble. She's also aware of everyone's feelings. Rose was great as well. She is the brains behind the group, always working out problems and finding a way out of them. She's the one with a good head on her shoulders. Olivia is the one who's always more worried about her stomach than anything else. Of this, I can relate with her. She's always wanting to eat something and is always snacking. She, to me, seems to be the more funnier one.
I thought the world building was fantastic! The school is set in London but is hidden from the outside world. It sounds ridiculous, but the author made it believable in this book. The description of London is perfect. You can definitely tell the author lived in London. The world of Amassaya was also built beautifully. It actually sounded like a place I'd love to visit. It sounds so magical as it's supposed to.
I found the pacing to be just right for a middle grade book. It's just the right pace to keep the reader interested.
The dialogue was easy to understand. However, there were a few words, and when I say few, I mean about 5 or less, that would probably be a bit difficult for middle graders to understand. Most could be understood using context clues though.
Now I have to talk about the cover - How cool does that cover look!?! I love the faery that's on fire on the cover!!! I don't want to give too much away, but the cover shows some of the main elements of the book. The title of the book also fits the plot as well.
This book left me with a magical feeling. It had perfect comic timing but knew when to be serious. This book definitely made me feel warm =)
I'd definitely recommend this book to all those that are fans of middle grade or YA fantasy.
The Last Sanctuary is such a sweet story! I enjoyed it very much. It also has faeries in it which I'm obsessed with =D
The Last Sanctuary by P.S. Mokha is a middle grade fantasy story. It's about three twelve year old girls, (Lily, Olivia, and Rose) who have been orphaned and their adventures trying to find the Hidden Room. On the way, they learn a lot about themselves and get themselves into many dangerous predicaments as well as finding out that they're part of a prophecy "Three will arrive. One to give...One to die...One to Live."
My favourite character was Lily. I could relate a lot to her. She seemed to be the most empathetic. I like the way she's cautious about everything and worried about getting into trouble. She's also aware of everyone's feelings. Rose was great as well. She is the brains behind the group, always working out problems and finding a way out of them. She's the one with a good head on her shoulders. Olivia is the one who's always more worried about her stomach than anything else. Of this, I can relate with her. She's always wanting to eat something and is always snacking. She, to me, seems to be the more funnier one.
I thought the world building was fantastic! The school is set in London but is hidden from the outside world. It sounds ridiculous, but the author made it believable in this book. The description of London is perfect. You can definitely tell the author lived in London. The world of Amassaya was also built beautifully. It actually sounded like a place I'd love to visit. It sounds so magical as it's supposed to.
I found the pacing to be just right for a middle grade book. It's just the right pace to keep the reader interested.
The dialogue was easy to understand. However, there were a few words, and when I say few, I mean about 5 or less, that would probably be a bit difficult for middle graders to understand. Most could be understood using context clues though.
Now I have to talk about the cover - How cool does that cover look!?! I love the faery that's on fire on the cover!!! I don't want to give too much away, but the cover shows some of the main elements of the book. The title of the book also fits the plot as well.
This book left me with a magical feeling. It had perfect comic timing but knew when to be serious. This book definitely made me feel warm =)
I'd definitely recommend this book to all those that are fans of middle grade or YA fantasy.
August 8, 2012
For as long as I can remember I have loved stories, from a young child they have whispered to me of adventure, the gentle call of mystery, subtly and grace but also of sadness and joy, darkness and light, and I have adored them. Found within them is often the sense of the unrivalled beauty of words and thought. Beauty is something the human race has chased for years upon years, often they haven’t found it, occasionally, very occasionally they have. Beauty is defined as a combination of all the qualities of a person or thing that delight the senses and mind. It comes in many forms, beauty of features, beauty of voice, beauty of soul. Good books have beauty, plain books have only symmetry, and poor books have beauty that has been ravaged, as it is beauty that has been impaired by poor vision and script. The Last Sanctuary is a beautiful book, filled with symmetry and passion that engages and inspires. In any case I have found, to speak plainly, that the Last Sanctuary by P.S Mokha is a book I have enjoyed. The respective characters of Lily, Rose and Olivia have distinct personalities, motivations and desires that speak to readers of the wonders of friendship and love that guide them to care for each other despite whatever havoc or obstacles confront them. Throughout the course of the novel the girls are tested in ways they could never have imagined, they are cast into the unknown, into a world that forces them to reveal their hidden strengths and powers. It’s amazing how their adventures refine them into being who they ultimately are. The book begins with Lily, a young girl about embark upon on adventure that will change her life and those of her best friends. Overnight Lily enters a world that will come to shape her very being, everything she is, has been and ever shall be. Lily and her two best friends; Rose and Olivia are orphans, all of their lives they have grown up with the terrible knowledge that their parents are dead. This knowledge unknown to them is going to have ramifications on all of their lives as a prophecy will implicate them in its dreaded whisper of “Three will arrive, one to live, one to give and one to die.” Magic is weaved into the pages of this thrilling narrative primarily because life is incarnated by the deep loving care that the writing projects in its pages. I would finally like to express how I believe that P.S. Mokha has not just given a book to children but to young, old, and everywhere in-between.
May 6, 2014
An enchanting adventure with a trio of young heroines.
I love contemporary fantasies that set their magic in a modern world, unveiling more and more fantastical elements as you read along. Sometimes the magic is hidden. Other times, you turn a corner and a giant scorpion is in your face. However the fantastical is revealed, it’s always a welcome surprise in The Last Sanctuary. Three special orphans, Lily, Olivia, and Rose are sent to a boarding school that is anything but ordinary, and must uncover its secrets to learn about their past and what it means for their future. The story takes off and it doesn’t slow down, and short chapters mean a constant sense of accomplishment. For the girls, there is always a task to complete, a new world to discover, a treasure to seek, or a deadly creature to avoid.
The book has a delightful sense of humor that keeps the tone fun. Lily, Olivia, and Rose interact great off each other. Each has her own personality, strengths, and weaknesses, and watching how they work as a team to unlock hidden rooms or escape grandmotherly spiders is a treat.
I love not seeing things for what they really are, and only after a closer look, the true nature of the person, place, or object is revealed. Rooms that are only gigantic once you’re inside. Dining halls set in a forest clearing that’s really an elaborately painted room. Moments like these are strewn throughout the book. Sometimes the difference between real and magic is only a matter of perspective.
The characters are fun. The dialogue is believable. The creativity is prevalent. If you’re still on the fence about reading this book, let me say two words that’ll put you over the edge: Unicorn Rodeo.
I love contemporary fantasies that set their magic in a modern world, unveiling more and more fantastical elements as you read along. Sometimes the magic is hidden. Other times, you turn a corner and a giant scorpion is in your face. However the fantastical is revealed, it’s always a welcome surprise in The Last Sanctuary. Three special orphans, Lily, Olivia, and Rose are sent to a boarding school that is anything but ordinary, and must uncover its secrets to learn about their past and what it means for their future. The story takes off and it doesn’t slow down, and short chapters mean a constant sense of accomplishment. For the girls, there is always a task to complete, a new world to discover, a treasure to seek, or a deadly creature to avoid.
The book has a delightful sense of humor that keeps the tone fun. Lily, Olivia, and Rose interact great off each other. Each has her own personality, strengths, and weaknesses, and watching how they work as a team to unlock hidden rooms or escape grandmotherly spiders is a treat.
I love not seeing things for what they really are, and only after a closer look, the true nature of the person, place, or object is revealed. Rooms that are only gigantic once you’re inside. Dining halls set in a forest clearing that’s really an elaborately painted room. Moments like these are strewn throughout the book. Sometimes the difference between real and magic is only a matter of perspective.
The characters are fun. The dialogue is believable. The creativity is prevalent. If you’re still on the fence about reading this book, let me say two words that’ll put you over the edge: Unicorn Rodeo.
September 6, 2012
Looking for that perfect book that means you can put your feet up, get comfortable, and completely and effortlessly loose yourself in a new world? Look no further than The Last Sanctuary by P.S. Mocha. I know, I know, too many books these days don’t fit the quota; but this book, a book that merges an almost childlike innocence and appreciation with the more subtle realities of life, is one of those books that will utterly hook you with its unique voice, ingenuity, and suspense. It will lead you into a world where you have never been before, to tell you a brand new story that will leave you dying to know what will happen next.
This is just one of those rare books that you will always remember, and stands out from the rest, because it has that something ‘else�� that gives a book real soul. I Would unreservedly recommend this book for any age group (within reason). I truly enjoyed this read, and this is the first book in a while to keep me reading throughout the day, forgetting time entirely (when I really probably shouldn’t have been).
Be ready for those delicious moments that make you pause (for a moment of utter satisfaction) and re-read the paragraph (just because it was so good), some great humour that really forces you to seek somebody else out just so you can share it, and the truly great moments that make you want to hit yourself in the head with the book because you just should have seen that plot twist coming.
Don’t worry, this book is easily better than many five-star books on this website.
This is just one of those rare books that you will always remember, and stands out from the rest, because it has that something ‘else�� that gives a book real soul. I Would unreservedly recommend this book for any age group (within reason). I truly enjoyed this read, and this is the first book in a while to keep me reading throughout the day, forgetting time entirely (when I really probably shouldn’t have been).
Be ready for those delicious moments that make you pause (for a moment of utter satisfaction) and re-read the paragraph (just because it was so good), some great humour that really forces you to seek somebody else out just so you can share it, and the truly great moments that make you want to hit yourself in the head with the book because you just should have seen that plot twist coming.
Don’t worry, this book is easily better than many five-star books on this website.
March 6, 2015
Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. Many of the ideas and ingredients were right, and I can understand that others found this book to be exciting and imaginative. I mean there are fairies, magic, mysteries, prophecies, a strange school, enchanted artifacts, talking animals, wizards, other worlds, a host of villains, and some very scary creatures who are trying to kill our main characters. The three girls all have their own voices and goals and are, for the most part, quite likable. But, for me, there were too many ideas and too many plot threads that the author tried to keep going for too many pages.
While the writing was technically good (sentence structure, grammar) the story is ill-paced. There was plenty of excitement, but it never reached out and grabbed me. There were a plethora of characters and although many of them were interesting or had the potential of being interesting, only a few of them were truly pertinent to the story. As a reader, I felt these other characters took away from the story and added very unnecessary pages to the whole book. If the author had cut the ideas by over half and the page length for this first installment by way over half, I think it would have been a charming and enjoyable middle-grade read. As it is, I was confused, frustrated and uninvolved for most of the book.
While the writing was technically good (sentence structure, grammar) the story is ill-paced. There was plenty of excitement, but it never reached out and grabbed me. There were a plethora of characters and although many of them were interesting or had the potential of being interesting, only a few of them were truly pertinent to the story. As a reader, I felt these other characters took away from the story and added very unnecessary pages to the whole book. If the author had cut the ideas by over half and the page length for this first installment by way over half, I think it would have been a charming and enjoyable middle-grade read. As it is, I was confused, frustrated and uninvolved for most of the book.
March 9, 2013
The Last Sanctuary is an amazing story, filled with adventure, humor, mystery and that little bit of horror that really gets your attention. It's well written with a good, well thought out plot line and is easy to follow, in the way you are never confused about how or why things happen, there is always a reason even if it's not told until later on and you are left wondering until then. But it also has twists and turns that keep you on your toes and wanting to read more.
I'm not normally one to read stories about 12 year old girls, mainly because they were normally made for younger kids and just weren't to my taste, but this one was made for an older audience and that really shows. If you are someone who likes adventure, mystery, humor and maybe even a little bit of horror added into all that then I highly recommend this book for you, you may be surprised by just how much you enjoy it.
I'm not normally one to read stories about 12 year old girls, mainly because they were normally made for younger kids and just weren't to my taste, but this one was made for an older audience and that really shows. If you are someone who likes adventure, mystery, humor and maybe even a little bit of horror added into all that then I highly recommend this book for you, you may be surprised by just how much you enjoy it.
May 6, 2014
The last sanctuary is an incredibly well written Novel it puts all the things that should be in a book into it, from what I thought it would be I was totally blown away at how you could put adventure, humour and mystery all into one book.What made me really enjoy it was the fact that there was even a little bit of horror, I myself am not a fan of horror but reading this book it gave me chills and frightened me ,but it made me feel everything it took me into the book made me feel as though I was they just watching but there.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants an adventure story or horror, it has everything for everyone of all ages. What are you waiting for go read this book :P
I recommend this book to anyone who wants an adventure story or horror, it has everything for everyone of all ages. What are you waiting for go read this book :P
July 28, 2012
This book had me reading till late at night and not wanting to put it down. Every time I thought I knew what was coming there was a surprise or twist. This well-written novel transports you to another world and has you following the girls each step of the way with bated breathe as they encounter things you can't even imagine! From a 30yr old Mum who usually reads historical fiction, this was outside my usual but I was hooked in the first few pages!
August 9, 2012
This book is amazing! As soon as I started reading it I could not put it down!! The whole time I felt like I was in the story experiencing every twist and turn and strange findings. The 3 girls characters are genius, all 3 having their own personalities and funny little quirks. This book exceeded all expectations. I have recommended it to everybody I know and anybody who asks about it. This author has created something amazing and truly magical!! I cannot wait for the next book!
September 3, 2012
This was such an intrigueing story about three orphans who went on an amazing adventure to unlock secrets about their past. It never failed to keep me hooked, right from the very first page. I love how it kept me guessing and I never really knew what was going to happen next, it was such a page turner, i didn't want to put it down! It has so much suspense and adventure that really kept me wanting more. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy books, a truely great story!
November 29, 2012
The Last Sanctuary can certainly compete with the Harry Potter series. I can't wait to read the second book!
It's a magical book to read and it absorbed me in the story and the lives/adventures of Lily, Olivia and Rose.
It's a fluently written story wich forms an unity without 'sidepaths' or dull moments.
I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this great book as a giveaway / firstread on goodreads!
It's a magical book to read and it absorbed me in the story and the lives/adventures of Lily, Olivia and Rose.
It's a fluently written story wich forms an unity without 'sidepaths' or dull moments.
I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this great book as a giveaway / firstread on goodreads!
August 23, 2012
The Last Sanctuary is an enthralling read with many twists and turns as you follow the journey of 3 young girls Olivia, Rose and Lily. The scenery captured by Mokha was beautiful whilst discovering the mysterious secrets that lie within the London Bridge Orphanage. I really enjoyed this novel it was a great read, I recommend it to anyone who has a taste for fantasy.
September 3, 2012
The last sanctuary is a great book full of surprise and mystery with a mix of humour and horror, which attract the reader into a magical world where the three orphan Olivia, lily and rose lives. As I read the book I felt like I was in a different world, which made it hard to put the book down. I enjoyed it although the way with interest and passion.
April 19, 2013
A terrific first novel that has the makings of becoming a classic. The last sanctuary is truly an enchanting story that entwines the readers further into mystery and suspense.I believe that this book series can really go far.From the ending of the harry potter series to a book like The last sanctuary, there really is something magnificent on our shelves for young and old readers today.
February 7, 2015
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Last Sanctuary is a well written novel and will take you to a wonderful place of magic. It's about three young girls helping each other to survive and to find out who they really are. Can't wait for the next book.
The Last Sanctuary is a well written novel and will take you to a wonderful place of magic. It's about three young girls helping each other to survive and to find out who they really are. Can't wait for the next book.
March 11, 2013
I loved it.I found it so hard to put the book down, and in the first couple of pages I was hooked. It has an awesome story line and I would recommend it to anyone. :)
October 24, 2012
The Last Sanctuary is a Middle Grade Fantasy book by P.S. Mokha. I thought the setting was fantastic. Modern day London and Amassaya (the other, magical world) are intertwined expertly, and I loved the premise of the dragons! It really is a unique story/world, and I love how it all came together in the end. In terms of pacing, the beginning was a bit slower than the end, and I would have liked to see the beginning with the girls already at the school but that is just a personal preference. It is also the target audience as well as this story really caters to younger readers in it's vivid descriptions and character depictions. I did not expect the twist at the end! I won't say any more of that for fear of spoilers, but I am always pleasantly surprised when a book does that to me! :)
I had a love/hate thing going on with the characters. I think I just found it hard to relate to Lily, Rose and Olivia. I liked Rose the most, but some of the things they did I was sitting there going "what are you doing!?!?" . They did get better by the end of the book, I will say. I think my hesitation had to do with their age, rather than anything else, and I'm sure as the series continues, they will mature and grow. I would have liked to see more depth to the villains as well. They were sufficiently "evil" but I guess I was waiting for the less outright manipulation, and the "why". Time will also tell with this as well, I'm sure!
Overall this was a very fun and enjoyable middle grade fantasy book. :)
I had a love/hate thing going on with the characters. I think I just found it hard to relate to Lily, Rose and Olivia. I liked Rose the most, but some of the things they did I was sitting there going "what are you doing!?!?" . They did get better by the end of the book, I will say. I think my hesitation had to do with their age, rather than anything else, and I'm sure as the series continues, they will mature and grow. I would have liked to see more depth to the villains as well. They were sufficiently "evil" but I guess I was waiting for the less outright manipulation, and the "why". Time will also tell with this as well, I'm sure!
Overall this was a very fun and enjoyable middle grade fantasy book. :)
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