The Last to Go

by A.D. Lyall

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE THE LAST OF HUMANITY IN A DYING WORLD...? Most of the Earth's population is gone. Many of those who survive have been turned into predatorial scarecrows that stand silent in the fields by day, while bringing death in the dark of night.
Despite the global devastation, Icarus and Charlton maintain a semblance of normal life on their sugarcane farm, bonding with other survivors in their community.
Icarus longs to return to the south and find his sense of belonging, in opposition to Charlton's desire to remain on the farm, creating tension between them.
With the unexpected arrival of a charming and manipulative ex-soldier named Adam, conflicts arise while dark secrets brew beneath the surface of false hopes.
As the crows encroach upon the farmhouse, Icarus and Charlton navigate their relationship and survival in an unprecedented situation, learning what it means to be human in a dying world...
"A thought-provoking book by a new author skilled in engaging narrative and plot... A very cool read..." Travis, Indie Book reviewer

156 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2023

Reviews

[Lula Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read and perfect for Halloween! I was expecting an action-packed zombie novel, but Lyall goes deeper with a more subtle story with a lot of heart, focusing on the relationships between the main characters as they battle to survive. There are also themes of community, inclusion and what happens to us after catastrophe - does our humanity remain or do we turn feral? The zombies or 'crows' are always lurking and Lyall creates a sense of tension and foreboding. Throw in striking Queensland canefields landscapes and intriguing characters and I was gripped. Looking forward to the next book in this trilogy from this new Australian writing talent.

[Talei V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I work with the authors brother, and he told me about this book.
It was good!
As it drew towards the end, I was completely sucked in. The tension was built well. I had about ten pages to the end and I thought it was going to go one way and it went another way. Completely.
Dammit!
The intensity of the characters, their situations, the world around them , this new world they have had to adapt to. Their relationships they have and the emotional turmoil of love, truth, and choices we make. Scary.

It's not just a dystopian story of a virus that ruins humanity and there are survivors against the once human crows/scarecrows.
It's humanity at its worst and best.

Great read, great story.

[Scott]

This one wasn’t for me.

[Chuck McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gritty and emotional post-apocalyptic tale with a distinctly Australian flavour. The publisher, Shawline, has recently gone into receivership largely due to predatory treatment of its authors, so readers will be unable to purchase directly from the publisher; however, I'd encourage people to track down copies of this book through the author, as it's a cracking read.