Last Star Standing

by Spaulding Taylor

"A thoroughly entertaining adventure with imaginative action and an appealing hero.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred)
"A deeply addictive read." - SPR editorial review

“Taylor melds original worldbuilding, dramatic flair and a lively, down-to-earth storytelling style, bringing 2094 Earth to vivid life. RECOMMENDED” - US Review of Books

The Kirkus-starred speculative thriller Last Star Standing is set in 2094, when Earth has been conquered by the extra-terrestrial Xirfell.

Aiden, a brilliant yet headstrong outsider, is part of the underground resistance. Undermined by his leader, rejected by his girlfriend, ousted from the inner circle and confronted by betrayal on every side, he recruits a group of overlooked outcasts and stakes everything on one last mission... His courage is unquestionable, but can Aiden control his temperament? And what about the glorious but unreliable Ravene?

Kirkus-starred, Taylor's Last Star Standing has won Third Prize in the Incipere Book Awards (Action/Adventure) and was a finalist in Chanticleer's International Book Award's Cygnus Award, The Eric Hoffer Awards, the International Book Awards, and the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. It lost all its reviews when Unbound, its original publishers, released the copyrights to almost all its fiction authors.



The Enlightened One seemed – or was it only my imagination? – to be gazing directly at me. Pushing swiftly past Petra I extended my hand. He turned, made a strange gesture, almost of benediction, then wired the back of my hand with that thick blackened stump. An instant surge of heat pulsed up my arm and throughout my torso. Then a wild swirl of fuchsia-slashed-with-orange flashed beneath my eyelids, as if the same stars, fiery and spot-lit against the black, had been injected into my brain. My every corpuscle felt fired, an almost intoxicating sensation, especially after the chill of the poison. I half-stumbled, almost squashing a smallish alien, and only saved myself from falling at the last second.

Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2023

Reviews

[Cam Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

We pick up the story with Aiden Tenten, a 30-ish-year-old rebel, captured and being interrogated by an alluring female named Ravene – a high-ranking agent (of all things, the King’s daughter) of the Xirfell regime. Clearly, Aiden and Ravene share some history and surprisingly, a bit of chemistry. This adds immediate intrigue as the reader is forced to piece together the backstory. This is accomplished through the wonderfully addictive, compelling, and sardonic internal monologue of Aiden, a highly flawed, half-indigenous, Australian orphan who was experimented on years earlier, when the Xirfell initially captured Earth, a memory stick implanted into his brain. Australasia is one of the few areas of the planet that wasn’t completely obliterated by the Xirfell so Aiden and his schoolmates from the privileged “Academy” were fortunately shielded and spared. As Aiden’s capture and interrogation progress, we learn about his relationships with a number of his classmates from the Academy (among them Petra, Martin, even Ravene) who form part of the rebellion, and even the Regime itself. These complex and intertwined relationships and past events drive the plot. Aiden clearly has a lot of baggage and some serious character flaws - impulsivity, recklessness, and a “messiah complex” to boot. In trying to find his place within the rebellion and overcome the Xirfell regime, who can he trust and what is he ultimately searching for?

Like all good science fiction/ dystopian novels, there is an abundance of different aliens and life forms, vividly described and well-developed. There are just enough references to modern-day places like Australia, Macedonia, South Africa, and Siberia that help frame the story, provide a context for settings and allude to the extent of destruction that has occurred. And just like many modern-day political regimes, the Xirfell believe that they are in the right: their imposition on Earth a positive that will benefit the citizenry, propaganda, and speeches regularly delivered by the “beneficent” King.

The prose and writing were quite spectacular with clues and helpful pieces of information exposed at just the right times. I chuckled regularly with Aiden's observations and thoughts. A highly imaginative, humorous, and suspenseful sci-fi thriller.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aliens have taken over the Earth. The northern hemisphere was particularly hard hit—London, New York, and Shanghai are all ruins. For some incomprehensible reason, the Xirfell have spared the Australasian Academy, but Aidan has already been expelled from there. He’s a rebel, one of the few things in his life he’s been proud of. That is, until he’s captured by the Xirfell. Then his only hope is a quick death, before he can betray his comrades.

He is tortured and framed for murder, but he is also given inexplicable help in his high-tech alien prison. All during his ordeal, he longs to know what is actually going on behind the scenes, but all he can do is take his best guess and hope. He is told that his televised resistance is lighting fire to the rebellion—that cells are rising up all over poor, occupied Earth—and he has no way of knowing if any of it is true. And meanwhile, the solitary confinement is driving him nuts. He even misses his torturer.

But in all his thirty years, being a rebel is the only thing that’s brought him real purpose. If he can just hang on long enough, maybe he can find out if the rumors of resistance are true…

I generally try to help the books I review find their audiences, so here are some characteristics I noted about the narrative. This one starts in full media res, so I wandered around confused for a time, trying to piece together the clues as to what kind of person Aidan was and how he came to be in his position. You definitely won’t have to sit through a telly prologue. Be prepared for details coming at you fast and furious; there are a plethora of alien races, all with their own distinct characteristics. The dystopian sci-fi is well-developed, and it paints a crumbling human civilization on its very last legs. The character development is sustained. The main character is imprisoned for long stretches of the story, with only his thoughts for company, so we spend a lot of time in his head.

Since the prose is convincing and never rises up to interfere with the tale, if this description sounds like it suits your story preferences, then Last Star Standing will likely satisfy you.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last Star Standing by Spaulding Taylor is an intriguing dystopian thriller with scifi elements. It was compelling and entertaining, and kept me interested from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed the main character, Aiden. I feel he brought a lightness to this story, even though he’s a quite serious character. He’s fighting to save the world, and he feels like a real, live human. The writing of this character pushed this novel forward.

The world building is quite intense in a good way. There are lots of creatures, unusual names, and places to learn. Spaulding Taylor did a great job putting this all together in a cohesive way.

I enjoyed Last Star Standing. This is definitely my type of read and I would recommend giving it a shot.

*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours to review honestly on the blog tour. All Opinions are my own and unbiased.*

[Gordon Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great Sci/Fi Dystopian novel written by a polished writer with great chops that make the tale more interesting. Many dystopian stories are about a rebel growing up to become a leader. Along the way, it’s almost mandatory to spend some time in the autocrat’s jail. Well, this hero starts the story in jail and spends about half the book there. So the action in fifty percent of the book consists of dreams, flashbacks, and narration, the most difficult of plot styles to keep interesting.

The second risk Taylor takes is to make a great deal of the conflict internal to the hero. Once again, most writers mess up this kind of writing with a whole lot of “telling” and not much “showing.” However, if done properly it adds to the complexity of our reaction to the story.

The difference in this book is difficult to figure, but it comes down to that most basic reader response; we have to care. We have to want the main character to succeed. We have to watch his mistakes and his triumphs with the caring concern of proud (and sometimes not so proud) parents.

The tale is set against the background of a great deal of careful but elaborate world-building, especially of the aliens that inhabit Earth. Another interesting technique: these beings are not frightening or beautiful because of reams of physical description. We only get a quick description of what a blundicant looks like. What affects us, though, is the hero’s emotional reaction to the semitransparent skin and the organs shifting repulsively behind it. It is the emotion we remember, not the details.

For the rest, the story has plenty of action, great suspense, and wonderful character development in the hero, providing a depth of conflict and theme rarely seen in Sci-Fi.

This is not a book for those fastidious about form and veracity. At times it’s pretty weird, stretching our suspension of disbelief about as far as even fantasy allows, but never quite going over the edge into “Oh, come on!”

A highly enjoyable story by an expert writer, highly recommended for all Sci-Fi fans.

[Thomas Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last Star Standing is a tale of revolution on a dystopian earth. Our story begins with the narrator, Aiden, captured by the space aliens who have conquered the earth and subjugated humanity. And then things get worse! Aiden is interrogated and tortured to coerce him into betraying the revolution. But an unlikely ally surfaces, and the fun really begins.
This one could have been written by Kilgore Trout. Most of the narrative is in Aiden’s head and very heavy on telling rather than showing, which becomes tedious at times. Additionally, we are inundated with the details of the world that the author has so painstakingly built which can also become somewhat overwhelming. These two aspects have led me to deduct one star. However, there is plenty of action, suspense and intrigue, especially in the latter part of the book. There is also romance of a decidedly adult nature (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). The story ends on a high note, but with some ambiguity, leaving open the possibility of a sequel.

[PAR · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by this author. I was pleasantly excited to find a delightful read. The story is told primarily from the view of our protagonist Aiden. Aliens have taken over the world! North America has been hard hit. Aiden, a rebel has been captured, put in solitary confinement, with his only human contact being torture. Ok now that sounds pretty horrific right. But actually, it is not. The writing in this novel is edgy. The author takes into the mind of Aiden. At times we laugh, other times we cry, and other times we try to help him form his plan of resistance. I enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it. I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Stephen Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book keeps you interested till the end
a very good read

[Trae Yeckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I didn’t think I was going to like it, but by the time I got almost halfway through, I couldn’t put it down!

[Clive Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the years following World War Three, a ruined Earth has been conquered by aliens, whose ruthless regime is enforced by an assortment of life-forms from different galaxies. There are, however, pockets of resistance. The hero of the novel, Aiden, is a member of one of these.
We see events through his eyes or, more accurately, through the memory sliver that has been planted in his brain. His struggle is not just against the alien oppressors, however, but also with his own personality and background; with his doubts about his motives and whether he can trust his comrades.
Like all good science fiction/ dystopian novels, this one is as much about our present as the fictional future. There are clear references to concerns about the way we are treating the planet, to the rise of populist politicians and to the ease with which false news can be spread.
The novel maintains a cracking pace and keeps us guessing right to the end. Who can be trusted? Will Aiden survive? Is the rebellion doomed? At times there are echoes of 1984, but there is also an element of Tolkien in the interactions with the different life forms.
An imaginative and gripping novel. (less)

[Chris Jeffery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful ideas – great rebel vs alien invader novel
I enjoyed so much about this book. The likeable but troubled hero of the rebels, Aiden; the witty descriptions of the various alien creatures; wondering how on earth he’s going to overcome each new challenge. It’s full of the sort of original ideas that made me smile reading Harry Potter, but the steamy relationships and adult language make this one for the grown-ups. A solid plot and a most enjoyable read. Sequel please….

[Heather Barksdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Last Star Standing” begins in the not-so-distant-future after WWIII and after an alien invasion. The aliens, or Xirfell, essentially sweep through the Earth and eradicate a majority of the humans. A few survive, including Aidan, a self-proclaimed genius and member of the rebellion.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. Aidan, as a main character, is entertaining, sarcastic, driven, and absolutely flawed. He manages to get himself into and out of situations through sheer will, luck, and arrogance and I loved that. He’s accused of having a Messiah complex, to which he answers completely with his ego- see full quote above. It sums up a chunk of his personality nicely. Find the rest of the review at heatherlbarksdale.com

I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.

[Bruce Perrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character-Driven Post-Apocalyptic Fiction with a Timeless Theme

Last Star Standing is set on post-apocalyptic earth … although, without a few references to places like Australia, it can be hard to tell. That’s because its cast of characters prominently features non-humans—a ruthless race of conquering aliens, their imported, brutish servants, robots, giant sea creatures, and so on. The humans, when they appear, are often augmented, including our protagonist, Aiden Tenten. And when not enhanced with technology, they are often depicted only as overheard comments in crowd scenes. The result is an earth that feels otherworldly.

The story has a character-driven element, although the starting point in the transformation of our hero is a bit unclear. On one hand, Aiden is insecure about … well, almost everything from his abandonment by his mother as a child to when he was picked for sports at school to his current-day relationships with women. As a result, reputation is everything to him and he’s reckless in his pursuit of fame. But at the same time, he is described as having a messiah complex, a belief that he is destined to save the world. It seems a strange mix of destiny-calling while dealing with imagined slights, but that’s Aiden. As to where his character ends up? Well, that might be too much of a spoiler, but it’s a significant shift.

At a very high level, the plot is based on a well-worn theme as undermanned humans mount a rebellion against their ruthless overlords. To counter the threat, Aiden gathers a band of misfits with conveniently appropriate skills and powers (of course). While the battle between the evil empire and the out-gunned rebels is the general drift, fully the first half of the book does little to advance this plot. Aiden is being held captive, recalling some of his life and his missions. The intent is probably world-building and character development, but it feels somewhat meandering. In the second half, the focus is much clearer, allowing the plot to advance more smoothly (and with greater suspense and intrigue).

The prose is solid, as you might expect from an author with a background as a ghostwriter. One element of his style, however, deserves mention. He frequently inserts two or more distinct thoughts into single sentences with each new idea set off with dashes. “My cost was crippling – for I remained in rude health despite my birth mother’s best efforts – but Duncan Tenten had old-fashioned notions about his ‘line’– the irony being that most lines ended between WWIII and the invasion anyway.” This kind of interposition of ideas can make the text more interesting in moderation, but it can become tiring when overused. And it was, for my tastes.

Overall, the otherworldly feel of post-apocalyptic earth is well developed. And Aiden, as a damaged hero leading a vastly outgunned rebel force, is timeless and well worth the read.

I was given a copy of the book by the author. I elected to write this candid review.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Last Star Standing
Author: Spaulding Taylor

Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 3/5

Of the 19 readers:
17 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
11 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“Cool story with a brash, exciting protagonist. I felt the story was crisply written and really gets going in the second half.” Male reader, aged 55
“A futuristic thriller, well-written with a strong cast of characters. I felt the second half was the strongest as the pacing improved as the story went on. There´s a little bit too much telling and not showing in terms of the post-apocalyptic setting but, other than that, it´s a thrilling novel.” Male reader, aged 34
“There´s nothing better than a solidly written, post-apocalyptic novel with an egotistical hero saving the day. Loved it!” Male reader, aged 66
“A lot of character development in the first half which was a bit plodding. Then it took off in the second half. Lots of suspense, and a host of tantalising characters for the reader to get to know.” Female reader, aged 41

To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted, post-apocalyptic thriller. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aiden Tenten is the main narrator for this sci-fi /dystopian story. It did feel more sci-fi than dystopian but I still enjoyed it, I found it highly entertaining as I followed Aiden from predicament to predicament. The synopsis indicates that earth has been taken over by aliens, Aiden feels it is his job to help overthrow this alien regime and be the person he wants to be.

This is a highly entertaining read, I am not sure if the author had meant this or not. I did find some of the predicaments that Aiden found himself left me sniggering to myself. He is quite a fun character although he does have a serious nature, I mean after all saving the world from aliens is a serious task. It did take me a few chapters to get into this book as I got to grips with the various creatures, the unusual names, places and general feel of the story. It is quite a while, I might add that I sat and read a sci-fi book.

If you break this down to the basics this is a story of a man finding his place, he has beliefs and is true to the cause. He knew life before and can see how the earth has been destroyed more since the aliens took over. Battling against the odds he does a magnificent job of reeling from one situation to the next. He is in essence a loner, but gradually he gains a few loyal friends. Working out who can be trusted and how far others can infiltrate systems keeps him on his toes.

Once I got to grips with the story I found this quite a compelling read. In someway it did remind me of a couple of books I read several years ago. As I mentioned this is more sci-fi, but there are mentions of things that do give it a dystopian feel. An entertaining book with a good pace and one I would recommend reading.

[Michael Leon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last Star Standing by Spaulding Taylor is a dystopian thriller with sci-fi elements.

Earth's invaded by aliens, the Xirfell, in 2084. Naturally, a rebel alliance formed, and a decade on, one of its rebels, the protagonist Aiden Tenten is a prisoner.

The story begins with Aiden's captivity in a high-tech Xirfell cell. Past events blur with the grisly present, jumbling Aiden's perceptions. His distorted memories intertwine with the action in the first half of this novel, providing many details about Aiden's back story. The lengthy introduction had a ‘tell not show’ style, unnecessarily slowing the pace, before Aiden's call to action.

The second half builds suspense and intrigue with Aiden's escape. Taylor introduces a myriad of characters, human and alien, shining a light on their divergent cultures. Aiden enlists a group of outcasts, Bully and Gromeline, who I found the most interesting characters in the story. Told in the First Person's POV, the reader gets a clear picture of Aiden's mindset as he grapples with his dire situation, often with irony and humour.

It took me a while to settle into Taylor's storytelling style, perhaps because the cover gave me the impression the story would be a space opera. However, despite the presence of many aliens, the action takes place on Earth. Hence the setting and world-building didn't soar as high as the unique and imaginative characters.

Overall, Last Star Standing is a well-written and enjoyable read. If you're looking for a story that mixes Ian M Banks's Culture Series and Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you will enjoy this novel.

[Kate Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty-third-century Earth, still in tatters after World War III, is dominated by a Xirfell king who manipulates the remaining human survivors and ET refugees in a 1984-inspired tale. Aiden Tenten, born of an indigenous Australian woman raped by an infamous elite politician, is shaped in his early years by many rejections and disappointments. The attempted abortion by his mother during her pregnancy is soon followed by his adoption. A kindly couple raises him in luxury, but his private school peers scorn him as a "netty," a non-essential terrestrial worker. Though groomed to attend the Academy, a cruel betrayal ruins his bid at an academic career. Each of life's bumps and bruises spawns the development of young Aidan's fiery temperament and his ultimate association in a rebel cell of the human resistance to Xirfell rule. For the first time in his life, Aiden is winning . . .

Read more at US Review of Books: https://www.theusreview.com/reviews-1...

[Phillip Murrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected

The blurb gave me the impression of a lot more action. This was more of a thriller. Had my expectations been properly calibrated, I may have enjoyed it more. Overall, I think I'll pass on any sequels. The rest of my review will contain spoilers.

The Good.
I liked Aiden's conversational tone as the POV character.

Sudan's sneak attack on the King's throat.

The assassination plan and execution of said plan against the Enlightened One. I especially like how salty Petra got with Aiden.

It's set in the future and "history" is mentioned, such as the assassination of Wong Li in2045.

Packing was awesome. Her species was unique.

The Bad.
I'm not a fan of non-linear stories.

The book, especially the first act, dragged on.

The book lost me when Aiden "evolved" into a tester.

The Aiden/Petra/Ravene love triangle. I didn't care, not did I need to be reminded about the sex and their bodies.

The Technical.
The book is first person.

There isn't center justification. The right side is jagged.

There are sex scenes with mild descriptions.

[Margaret Thurgood · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's the appeal of dystopian fiction? to stimulate our imaginations? to worry about how life is changing? to frighten ourselves about a disastrous future? Spaulding Taylor's thrilling science fiction novel, "Last Star Standing" prompts these questions. It starts bleakly: our future world is dead or dying, it has been conquered and is ruled by bizarre aliens. Anti-hero and trouble-maker, Aiden, awaits torture and execution, but he is resourceful and has remarkable gifts. We become part of his thought processes as he tackles extraordinary obstacles, and are stimulated and often amused at his cynicism, as he risks his life in the great rebellion that follows. Hopefulness is the best outcome readers of this genre can usually expect, but from this particular unforgettable saga we achieve satisfaction and inspiration.

[Michael O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last Star Standing is a cracker and a more than welcome addition to my science fiction library. Set in a post apocalyptic world the main character Aiden leads the rebellion against aliens who have taken over our planet. There is an amazing array of these aliens with ingenious names. The plot is edge of your seat stuff, full of clever twists. There is a great sense of humour running through the book, many times I laughed out loud-that said this is serious stuff and honestly gets you thinking as to where we are headed as a planet.
Last Star Standing deserves an Audible outing with a strong narrator, and I'd love to see a movie of it. Now who would play Aiden? . My imagination has been fired up!

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book crafted in a pleasant writing style which takes the reader on the journey of self-
discovery of the main protagonist set in a post-apocalyptic earth under alien rule. Accused by his
opponents of having a messiah complex, Aiden sets out to dethrone the king of the occupying alien
force and realises he can’t do this alone. He is assisted by Bully the loveable sidekick who is more
capable than he thinks - similar to Samwise in Lord of the Rings - and Pavlina a rodent type wise
creature with special powers. The story leaves the reader (at least it left this reader) wanting to
know where this is going to go in a possible second book. I really enjoyed reading it. Well written, good shaping of characters, and the pace was just right.

[Mandy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A FUTURISTIC FIGHT FOR FREEDOM." This is not my typical read but I'm glad I did. A well written, future dystopian world. After WWIII in 2084, the world has been taken over by aliens, Xirfell. They control everything. Enter the Rebellion, a group of humans and aliens that are fighting for their freedom. Aiden is a member of the Rebellion who takes on extreme missions. He is trying to find his place within the Rebellion and trying to prove himself worthy at the same time. A combination of interesting and creative characters have you cheering for the good guys! Will freedom be restored and Xirfell defeated or will aliens rein over earth for the foreseeable future. I definitely recommend a read!

[Liz H]

Last Star Standing is a thrilling science fiction adventure that wastes no time pulling readers into a world where humanity's future hangs by a thread. From the opening chapters, the story builds a strong sense of urgency, combining exciting action with an engaging vision of a conquered Earth struggling to reclaim its freedom.

What I enjoyed most was Aiden's journey from underestimated outsider to determined leader. His resilience and willingness to fight despite betrayal and overwhelming odds make him an easy character to root for. The imaginative world-building, relentless pacing, and satisfying mix of suspense, strategy, and character growth make this a highly entertaining read for fans of dystopian fiction and epic sci-fi adventures.

[Adam Balkwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spaulding Taylor’s science fiction debut is not to be missed under any circumstances! His portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world gives us pause to consider the morality of our current existence, whilst also giving us hope for the future. The writing is packed full of imagery, action, adventure - with just the right amount of romance - whilst avoiding any overt sentimentality in any form. Whilst the image of earth under alien occupation portrayed by Taylor is at times bleak, the ending affords more than a hint of optimism. Tantalisingly, the door is left open for a sequel….

Do not miss this book!

[Victor Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

We find Aiden Tenten in a Xirfell run prison and are introduced to interrogating tactics of alien creatures intent on finding out Aiden's role in the current rebellion. Once he escapes, the adventure begins with unlikely confederates, characters akin to Star Wars and the story akin to Hunger Games. The author provides vivid descriptions of surroundings and the pesky alien characters are entertaining.

[C A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid book

On the surface this book appears to be about earth and aliens and trying to save the earth from the aliens. But it's also about being true to yourself and figuring out where you fit and what's on you and what's on everyone else. And in the vein of good sci-fi you realize the latter as you, in this case , read about the former. The first half ish occasionally drags a bit but all the threads come together at the end.
Full disclosure I won this book in a giveaway.

[Ms J]

A surprisingly human story about a man discovering himself in the midst of a futuristic world including species of all shapes and sizes and complex and interesting stories between them and the remaining humans. Spaulding Taylor manages to weave humanity and fantasy into a really gripping read. Highly recommend!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually read thrillers, and I don't think I've ever read a sci-fi novel before. So it means all the more when I say that I thoroughly enjoyed this. Some great characters, and it really created a world in my head that I can revisit - always a sign of a good novel for me. A good narrative voice, and I particularly loved the second half with Aiden, Bully and Pavlina - what a trio.

[John Volz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable romp! Elements of Doug Adams’ snark, space opera bravado, a supporting (and sometimes antagonistic) cast of odd creatures make this a surprise treat. A dystopian beach read if ever I saw one, and I love a good beach read!

[William Klump · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moments

This first person biopic has its imaginative takes. The rebellion against aliens action is at times very engaging. The narrative drags in places; a prison sequence grinds for pages. Aiden, the narrator protagonist, is neurotic and frequently unlikeable. His sidekick, Bully, heroically steals scenes from him. Despite the bumpiness of it all the tale is worth a read for its creative moments.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Aliens take over the world and humans build a resistance movement to fight back...how cool! Very good premise but falls flat on execution. It was still worth reading, especially if you like post-apocalyptic or want to read about aliens that are different from most mainstream books.

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway, but that didn't affect my rating or review.