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The Last Shield
A gender-flipped Die Hard set in a mysterious castle, Cameron Johnston's The Last Shield is an engaging fantasy read, perfect for fans of John Gwynne and Mark Lawrence.The ancient forest realm of Sunweald is bordered on two sides by far mightier nations – a precarious situation. At its centre, the Sunweald Palace is home to the Lord Regent and the heir to the throne, together with numerous precious and powerful artefacts. The Palace is protected by the realm's elite Shields, dedicated to guarding the royal line against all foes.A group of vicious brigands called the Wildwood Reivers have been stealing arcane artefacts and smuggling them across the borders, out of Sunweald. And the objects they most desire are stored in the mystical Wyrm Vault, hidden away deep in the bones of the earth, within the walls of the Palace itself.As political and religious tensions mount, Sunweald's druids prepare to enact rituals for the Summer Solstice – but the Wildwood Reivers and their treacherous allies have other plans. It falls to Briar, the commander of the Shields, to defend the ancient corridors and secret tunnels of the Palace. The odds may be against her, but she'll see every enemy head adorning a spike or she'll die trying…
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2024
55 people are currently reading
1745 people want to read
About the author
Cameron Johnston
21 books585 followersCameron Johnston is a Scottish writer of fantasy and lives in the city of Glasgow. He is a student of Historical European Martial Arts, loves archaeology, history, folklore and mythology, exploring ancient sites and spooky places, and camping out under the stars with a roaring fire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
May 27, 2024
Imagine Die Hard taking place in a castle with loyal bodyguards, epic battles, and touching moments of honour, duty, and an older done-with-everyone’s-crap female protagonist!
SO MUCH FUN!
Briar, Commander of the Shields, has managed to keep Lord Regent Alaric Summerson and his nephew, the king-in-waiting, alive despite many assassination attempts.
However, the Summer Solstice celebrations turns quickly into bloodshed when a brigand called the Wildwood Reivers attack and secretly infiltrate themselves deep within the Palace’s catacombs.
Briar is not to be underestimated. She is clever, shrewd, extremely witty, and will fight tooth and nail to protect those she loves.
“Despite what the bards and boasters tell you, not every battle sees you covered in glory - mostly, you just end up covered in blood and shit and tears. The best you can hope for is that it all belongs to some other poor bastard."
Early on, Briar suffers an injury which makes her question her entire purpose and ability. Pushing past this, recovering physically and mentally, was written deftly with great care and exceeding insight to Briar’s character.
I cannot comment on the accuracy and research Johnston took in writing a disabled character, however he highlighted the differences of Briar’s mindset and experiences at just living and moving around after this injury. Whilst I am not a sensitivity reader, I felt great consideration was taken in writing about this.
They couldn't see the fiery pain inside her, and that was the way she wanted it. The pain she could deal with, mostly, but the disability gnawed at her entire sense of self as a warrior.
Now you might not expect a love story from this, but Briar and Alaric definitely had be some tension and longing between them, but both put duty above any feelings or action. I wasn’t expecting this book to tug on my heart strings! It is very subtle, but just added more tenderness to two characters who seem stone-cold and married to their responsibilities.
This was just amazing! I flew through it! Briar has a strong and funny voice, and Johnston keeps it interesting despite it being a one-woman job.
Plus, there’s a farting, loyal dog. What more could you ask for?
Thank you to Angry Robot for sending me a physical arc in exchange for a review!!
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SO MUCH FUN!
Briar, Commander of the Shields, has managed to keep Lord Regent Alaric Summerson and his nephew, the king-in-waiting, alive despite many assassination attempts.
However, the Summer Solstice celebrations turns quickly into bloodshed when a brigand called the Wildwood Reivers attack and secretly infiltrate themselves deep within the Palace’s catacombs.
Briar is not to be underestimated. She is clever, shrewd, extremely witty, and will fight tooth and nail to protect those she loves.
“Despite what the bards and boasters tell you, not every battle sees you covered in glory - mostly, you just end up covered in blood and shit and tears. The best you can hope for is that it all belongs to some other poor bastard."
Early on, Briar suffers an injury which makes her question her entire purpose and ability. Pushing past this, recovering physically and mentally, was written deftly with great care and exceeding insight to Briar’s character.
I cannot comment on the accuracy and research Johnston took in writing a disabled character, however he highlighted the differences of Briar’s mindset and experiences at just living and moving around after this injury. Whilst I am not a sensitivity reader, I felt great consideration was taken in writing about this.
They couldn't see the fiery pain inside her, and that was the way she wanted it. The pain she could deal with, mostly, but the disability gnawed at her entire sense of self as a warrior.
Now you might not expect a love story from this, but Briar and Alaric definitely had be some tension and longing between them, but both put duty above any feelings or action. I wasn’t expecting this book to tug on my heart strings! It is very subtle, but just added more tenderness to two characters who seem stone-cold and married to their responsibilities.
This was just amazing! I flew through it! Briar has a strong and funny voice, and Johnston keeps it interesting despite it being a one-woman job.
Plus, there’s a farting, loyal dog. What more could you ask for?
Thank you to Angry Robot for sending me a physical arc in exchange for a review!!
Bookstagram
February 8, 2024
4.5 stars
“How much fight can one broken old woman have left in her?"
Briar, Commander of the Shields is about to show you…
Sunweald Palace, home to Lord Regent Alaric Summerson and his nephew, the king-in-waiting, Kester Summerson, prepares for the Summer Solstice celebrations where the Druid rituals bring many travelers for the festivities. However the joyous celebration turns quickly into bloodshed when a brigand called the Wildwood Reivers and their allies attack and secretly infiltrate themselves deep within the Palace’s catacombs. For Sunweald sits between two warring nations, the Holy Wrendal Empire in the West and the Federated Principalities of Ves in the East, and both would do anything to get their hands on what the Palace has hidden away deep underground within its walls—The Wyrm Vault. Inside this vault are artefacts of immense arcane power. The elite Shields are the only defense Sunweald has, it is down to Briar to use all her strength to protect the Regent, the to-be-king and the Vault. Though the odds are stacked immensely against her.
The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston takes the concept of Die Hard, places it in a castle and delivers one hell of a pulse-racing, cinematic fantasy read. This is a novel of honour, duty and fighting tooth and claw to protect the ones you love.
Early on in the novel Briar sustains a rather dire injury causing her to be bed-bound for a considerable period. To say that Briar is strong willed and determined would be a gross understatement, she is an absolute force. Although many times I shouted for her to slow down, accept help, to understand that it is not a weakness to accept that your body can no longer endure what it could before, I understood that is not a Shield’s way. No, for a Shield their strength and ability to defend against enemies is everything and without that they have no purpose, therefore I could follow Briar’s mindset and found her pushing through every ounce of pain and hardship something to root for. Briar’s age is never clearly stated but I imagined her to be in her late 30s to early 40s and over those years of experience and hard graft she has developed a tough exterior, she’s a woman of little soft words and many scowls… basically she’s a character I’d want to keep on my side! Yet there was one who Briar’s affection and warmth did extend to—Regent Alaric. Their unspoken longing actually spoke volumes and I enjoyed that very much.
For all of Briar’s toughness she actually proves a rather good influence on our young king-in-waiting, Kester, who sorely needed someone to fear and respect in equal measures. Kester starts off as a spoiled, rather lazy and utterly clueless young boy. Taking no responsibilities seriously nor having any desire to sit upon the throne and have a whole realm to rule, our Kester focuses more on drinking and the merriment which a royal life brings him. Yet after seeing the brutality and savagery of the Reiver’s attack he begins to realise how his actions affect others, how his cowardice could lead to many dying on his account. Kester became my favourite character, one I could really feel for as having lost both his parents at a young age and having no guidance had left him adrift. Once he was forced to grow, to have real purpose and to fight for survival, he truly shines.
“Despite what the bards and boasters tell you, not every battle sees you covered in glory - mostly, you just end up covered in blood and shit and tears. The best you can hope for is that it all belongs to some other poor bastard."
Johnston’s action scenes were some of my favourite parts of the book. Vividly detailed and cinematic, Johnston paints a picture of Bronze Age Scotland with specific attention to describing the weaponry, armour and combat tactics. I really appreciate when an author can do this, when you can imagine the whole scene playing out because it’s written so well. There is plenty of blood and gore and a particular scene with a severed hand that even made me squirm a little—so yes this is a dark fantasy. The distinction between our heroes and our villains is always made clear, the world is a ruthless place but it is also filled with some good people. I wish I could talk about the villains in more detail because there are plenty of those to hate and seeing them meet grisly ends was rather satisfying, but their identities would spoil the twists that are sprinkled throughout, so I’ll leave that be.
The world also includes much Druid sorcery, necromancy and the Fae, so it is richly filled. Though I wanted a touch more from the fae, more about their history within the land and their powers, for a standalone novel Johnston does a great job of balancing other historical details and political intrigue. Magic is used somewhat sparingly until we reach the climax of the novel where the villains begin to realise they need to up their game if they want to succeed in their plans. Which leads us to the object of everyone’s desires, The Wyrm Vault. Here Johnston cleverly withholds what exactly is inside this vault building up our anticipation as we are always left speculating and know it must be hugely valuable if both the Wrendal and the Ves have spent decades wanting to covet it.
“Glory doesn't keep you warm at night. Glory does not regrow severed limbs and heal broken bones. Seeking glory only gets those around you killed, and even if you survived to bask in it, I promise you would come to regret that sacrifice. My own glory comes from keeping those I care about alive."
At the heart of The Last Shield is one woman’s drive to never give up, to never accept defeat and to push through any hardship with everything you have and I loved that. Johnston delves you into a ruthless, gritty world, hits you with thrilling action and offers you characters you will either root for or hate right down to their core.
ARC provided by Caroline at Angry Robot Books in exchange for an honest review- thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an early ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
The Last Shield will be released on 13th August 2024
“How much fight can one broken old woman have left in her?"
Briar, Commander of the Shields is about to show you…
Sunweald Palace, home to Lord Regent Alaric Summerson and his nephew, the king-in-waiting, Kester Summerson, prepares for the Summer Solstice celebrations where the Druid rituals bring many travelers for the festivities. However the joyous celebration turns quickly into bloodshed when a brigand called the Wildwood Reivers and their allies attack and secretly infiltrate themselves deep within the Palace’s catacombs. For Sunweald sits between two warring nations, the Holy Wrendal Empire in the West and the Federated Principalities of Ves in the East, and both would do anything to get their hands on what the Palace has hidden away deep underground within its walls—The Wyrm Vault. Inside this vault are artefacts of immense arcane power. The elite Shields are the only defense Sunweald has, it is down to Briar to use all her strength to protect the Regent, the to-be-king and the Vault. Though the odds are stacked immensely against her.
The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston takes the concept of Die Hard, places it in a castle and delivers one hell of a pulse-racing, cinematic fantasy read. This is a novel of honour, duty and fighting tooth and claw to protect the ones you love.
Early on in the novel Briar sustains a rather dire injury causing her to be bed-bound for a considerable period. To say that Briar is strong willed and determined would be a gross understatement, she is an absolute force. Although many times I shouted for her to slow down, accept help, to understand that it is not a weakness to accept that your body can no longer endure what it could before, I understood that is not a Shield’s way. No, for a Shield their strength and ability to defend against enemies is everything and without that they have no purpose, therefore I could follow Briar’s mindset and found her pushing through every ounce of pain and hardship something to root for. Briar’s age is never clearly stated but I imagined her to be in her late 30s to early 40s and over those years of experience and hard graft she has developed a tough exterior, she’s a woman of little soft words and many scowls… basically she’s a character I’d want to keep on my side! Yet there was one who Briar’s affection and warmth did extend to—Regent Alaric. Their unspoken longing actually spoke volumes and I enjoyed that very much.
For all of Briar’s toughness she actually proves a rather good influence on our young king-in-waiting, Kester, who sorely needed someone to fear and respect in equal measures. Kester starts off as a spoiled, rather lazy and utterly clueless young boy. Taking no responsibilities seriously nor having any desire to sit upon the throne and have a whole realm to rule, our Kester focuses more on drinking and the merriment which a royal life brings him. Yet after seeing the brutality and savagery of the Reiver’s attack he begins to realise how his actions affect others, how his cowardice could lead to many dying on his account. Kester became my favourite character, one I could really feel for as having lost both his parents at a young age and having no guidance had left him adrift. Once he was forced to grow, to have real purpose and to fight for survival, he truly shines.
“Despite what the bards and boasters tell you, not every battle sees you covered in glory - mostly, you just end up covered in blood and shit and tears. The best you can hope for is that it all belongs to some other poor bastard."
Johnston’s action scenes were some of my favourite parts of the book. Vividly detailed and cinematic, Johnston paints a picture of Bronze Age Scotland with specific attention to describing the weaponry, armour and combat tactics. I really appreciate when an author can do this, when you can imagine the whole scene playing out because it’s written so well. There is plenty of blood and gore and a particular scene with a severed hand that even made me squirm a little—so yes this is a dark fantasy. The distinction between our heroes and our villains is always made clear, the world is a ruthless place but it is also filled with some good people. I wish I could talk about the villains in more detail because there are plenty of those to hate and seeing them meet grisly ends was rather satisfying, but their identities would spoil the twists that are sprinkled throughout, so I’ll leave that be.
The world also includes much Druid sorcery, necromancy and the Fae, so it is richly filled. Though I wanted a touch more from the fae, more about their history within the land and their powers, for a standalone novel Johnston does a great job of balancing other historical details and political intrigue. Magic is used somewhat sparingly until we reach the climax of the novel where the villains begin to realise they need to up their game if they want to succeed in their plans. Which leads us to the object of everyone’s desires, The Wyrm Vault. Here Johnston cleverly withholds what exactly is inside this vault building up our anticipation as we are always left speculating and know it must be hugely valuable if both the Wrendal and the Ves have spent decades wanting to covet it.
“Glory doesn't keep you warm at night. Glory does not regrow severed limbs and heal broken bones. Seeking glory only gets those around you killed, and even if you survived to bask in it, I promise you would come to regret that sacrifice. My own glory comes from keeping those I care about alive."
At the heart of The Last Shield is one woman’s drive to never give up, to never accept defeat and to push through any hardship with everything you have and I loved that. Johnston delves you into a ruthless, gritty world, hits you with thrilling action and offers you characters you will either root for or hate right down to their core.
ARC provided by Caroline at Angry Robot Books in exchange for an honest review- thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an early ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
The Last Shield will be released on 13th August 2024
April 5, 2024
4.5 stars rounded to 5.
Cam Johnston has written some of my favorite fantasy books. From his brilliant debut duology Age of Tyranny to his standalone gem The Maleficent Seven, he always brings the goods when it comes to writing original and exciting stories filled with outstanding characters. Likewise, Johnston's latest book THE LAST SHIELD is also a standalone and I can't tell you how refreshing that is in an industry where trilogies and lengthy series seem to be the norm. It's nice to actually be able to sit back and enjoy a book that you know is going to be a full story with a "no cliffhangers" final resolution at the end. And I have to say that I enjoyed every heart-pounding minute of this one.
Thrill ride doesn't even begin to describe this book and how nonstop the intense action is. From the very first page we are thrown into a devious conspiracy and it doesn't really let up from there as a sinister plot is launched and it falls upon the severely battle-injured main character Briar to protect a bratty and frankly prickish prince and heir to the throne from a seemingly endless group of deadly assassins. Physically hampered though she may be, Briar also knows every secret tunnel and escape route within the palace like the back of her hand and she will need to rely on her cunning, experience, and sheer force of will to deny the conniving scoundrels the prize they want.
Cameron Johnston pulls off a neat trick in this one as I found myself rooting so hard for the main character even though the person she is protecting is in large part one of the most dislikeable characters you will ever encounter in the beginning of this story. However, Briar herself is such a resilient person who is all about loyalty and duty that it's hard not to be fully invested in hoping for her eventual success. She's been through a lot and yet still puts her own pain and challenges to the side in order to protect those she is charged with protecting and bring justice to those who have turned traitor to the kingdom.
I can't say enough great things about THE LAST SHIELD. This is a book that takes you on a thrilling chase filled with dark underground passageways, countless moments of dangerous uncertainty, and some of the most wildly engaging storytelling, period. If you haven't read a Cameron Johnston book yet you are cheating yourself out of one of the most imaginative voices in the genre. The guy quite simply delivers every single time and THE LAST SHIELD only solidifies his place as a huge force to be reckoned with. Preorder this immediately because you aren't going to want to waste one single second to read it once it is officially released in August. This is thoroughly entertaining stuff that will satisfy even the most finicky of readers.
Cam Johnston has written some of my favorite fantasy books. From his brilliant debut duology Age of Tyranny to his standalone gem The Maleficent Seven, he always brings the goods when it comes to writing original and exciting stories filled with outstanding characters. Likewise, Johnston's latest book THE LAST SHIELD is also a standalone and I can't tell you how refreshing that is in an industry where trilogies and lengthy series seem to be the norm. It's nice to actually be able to sit back and enjoy a book that you know is going to be a full story with a "no cliffhangers" final resolution at the end. And I have to say that I enjoyed every heart-pounding minute of this one.
Thrill ride doesn't even begin to describe this book and how nonstop the intense action is. From the very first page we are thrown into a devious conspiracy and it doesn't really let up from there as a sinister plot is launched and it falls upon the severely battle-injured main character Briar to protect a bratty and frankly prickish prince and heir to the throne from a seemingly endless group of deadly assassins. Physically hampered though she may be, Briar also knows every secret tunnel and escape route within the palace like the back of her hand and she will need to rely on her cunning, experience, and sheer force of will to deny the conniving scoundrels the prize they want.
Cameron Johnston pulls off a neat trick in this one as I found myself rooting so hard for the main character even though the person she is protecting is in large part one of the most dislikeable characters you will ever encounter in the beginning of this story. However, Briar herself is such a resilient person who is all about loyalty and duty that it's hard not to be fully invested in hoping for her eventual success. She's been through a lot and yet still puts her own pain and challenges to the side in order to protect those she is charged with protecting and bring justice to those who have turned traitor to the kingdom.
I can't say enough great things about THE LAST SHIELD. This is a book that takes you on a thrilling chase filled with dark underground passageways, countless moments of dangerous uncertainty, and some of the most wildly engaging storytelling, period. If you haven't read a Cameron Johnston book yet you are cheating yourself out of one of the most imaginative voices in the genre. The guy quite simply delivers every single time and THE LAST SHIELD only solidifies his place as a huge force to be reckoned with. Preorder this immediately because you aren't going to want to waste one single second to read it once it is officially released in August. This is thoroughly entertaining stuff that will satisfy even the most finicky of readers.
February 21, 2024
Brilliant fun, inventive and engrossing setting, and bad guys getting exactly what they deserve.
I loved Briar from the start but I'm surprised by how much Kester grew on me. I was fully prepared to despise him throughout the book! But! I didn't!
Loved the mix of magic and fae folk too, and the real sense of history and mythology that permeated every page.
I loved Briar from the start but I'm surprised by how much Kester grew on me. I was fully prepared to despise him throughout the book! But! I didn't!
Loved the mix of magic and fae folk too, and the real sense of history and mythology that permeated every page.
July 18, 2024
Please see my interview with the author on my channel @thedrownedkingdomsaga7847 !
Link below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpH90...
Link below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpH90...
October 30, 2024
The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston was exactly my cup of tea!
We have a female, older main character, who is used to being an exceptional fighter, but then has to struggle with injury.
Her coming to grips with how her whole life and profession changes was a major draw for me. Her character felt like she was written just for me, going on a bout of vengeance, while also trying to rescue her chief and his heir. Never giving up, but being very open to using any trick or cheat available to get her goal, it felt a lot more realistic than so many overly perfect and heroic characters.
There's plenty of banter and fun along the guts and gore, which makes it a very entertaining and satisfying read, from start to finish!
We have a female, older main character, who is used to being an exceptional fighter, but then has to struggle with injury.
Her coming to grips with how her whole life and profession changes was a major draw for me. Her character felt like she was written just for me, going on a bout of vengeance, while also trying to rescue her chief and his heir. Never giving up, but being very open to using any trick or cheat available to get her goal, it felt a lot more realistic than so many overly perfect and heroic characters.
There's plenty of banter and fun along the guts and gore, which makes it a very entertaining and satisfying read, from start to finish!
December 17, 2024
I can not believe I almost quit this book after 1 chapter. For some reason I really didn’t want to read this but I forced myself because I was tired of it looking at me and giving me guilt for pushing it back constantly. I read a chapter and a half, put it down “forever” then 5 minutes later tried again…the very next page is when the action began and it did not let up the entire book. I’ve never read a book with more constant action in my life and I was totally engrossed. It was very graphic and bloody and everything I needed. Plus it had the most bad ass female character you’ll ever read. This is a must read for sure!
September 9, 2024
The Last Shield was a really fun read that feels like a unique premise.
We mostly follow commander Briar, the titular Last Shield, an older and debilitated warrior lacking none of her younger ferocity.
There is a battle early on in the book in which Briar takes a poisoned arrow and undergoes a gruelling recovery, giving her a disability in that her leg no longer has the strength or movement it used to.
Admittedly, a large portion of the first half of the book feels like quite a slow build and I read the first half sporadically, making slower progress and never quite getting into that must-get-back-to-it feeling. However, after this setup, the second half is a complete tour de force where I couldn’t put the book down. I love revenge stories and there is so much juicy comeuppance to enjoy that it felt incredibly satisfying! The book can be gruesome at times and it really is necessary, both to make you hate the bad guys in the first place and to really appreciate them getting what is coming to them.
Despite being serious at times and quite dark, there is humour to this story and it can be quite light hearted or at least gives off a real entertainment vibe. If I had to describe the book in one word, that’s the one I’d use; entertaining.
If it were a movie it would have potential for a cult status, where it wouldn’t be nominated for all the oscars for the depth of storytelling but would have a following of fans for pure action entertainment and fun.
This isn’t to say it’s lacking in depth though, and towards the latter stages, I realised with pleasant recognition that the parts I saw as slower at the start of the book had still impacted me. I cared about the characters; something I sometimes have a hard time with in many books. Briar’s rare moments of vulnerability felt endearing and only added to her resilience.
The side characters of Alaric and Kester, the royal heir, actually felt developed (especially Kester who started off as annoying and ended as someone deserving of respect).
One of the two main villains, Imperatrix, is very much the moustache-twirling villain type, which you can probably guess by name alone, but she added to the vibe of the book. A more morally grey primary antagonist wouldn’t have actually worked so well. We needed to have no sympathy or empathy for the majority of the bad guys here for it to work.
I love castles and I really enjoyed the setting, seeing Briar become a John McClane, Rambo type figure through the hidden tunnels and corridors.
This is a great standalone fantasy that gives a very satisfactory feel, fantastic action with a brilliant protagonist in Briar who really shines throughout. She’s easily made it into my top 10 of favourite fantasy characters! I’m now looking forward to reading The Maleficent Seven, which promises to be just as unique and entertaining.
Give this book a read if you love strong women, amazingly rewarding revenge, castles and fast paced action. You’ll love it!
We mostly follow commander Briar, the titular Last Shield, an older and debilitated warrior lacking none of her younger ferocity.
There is a battle early on in the book in which Briar takes a poisoned arrow and undergoes a gruelling recovery, giving her a disability in that her leg no longer has the strength or movement it used to.
Admittedly, a large portion of the first half of the book feels like quite a slow build and I read the first half sporadically, making slower progress and never quite getting into that must-get-back-to-it feeling. However, after this setup, the second half is a complete tour de force where I couldn’t put the book down. I love revenge stories and there is so much juicy comeuppance to enjoy that it felt incredibly satisfying! The book can be gruesome at times and it really is necessary, both to make you hate the bad guys in the first place and to really appreciate them getting what is coming to them.
Despite being serious at times and quite dark, there is humour to this story and it can be quite light hearted or at least gives off a real entertainment vibe. If I had to describe the book in one word, that’s the one I’d use; entertaining.
If it were a movie it would have potential for a cult status, where it wouldn’t be nominated for all the oscars for the depth of storytelling but would have a following of fans for pure action entertainment and fun.
This isn’t to say it’s lacking in depth though, and towards the latter stages, I realised with pleasant recognition that the parts I saw as slower at the start of the book had still impacted me. I cared about the characters; something I sometimes have a hard time with in many books. Briar’s rare moments of vulnerability felt endearing and only added to her resilience.
The side characters of Alaric and Kester, the royal heir, actually felt developed (especially Kester who started off as annoying and ended as someone deserving of respect).
One of the two main villains, Imperatrix, is very much the moustache-twirling villain type, which you can probably guess by name alone, but she added to the vibe of the book. A more morally grey primary antagonist wouldn’t have actually worked so well. We needed to have no sympathy or empathy for the majority of the bad guys here for it to work.
I love castles and I really enjoyed the setting, seeing Briar become a John McClane, Rambo type figure through the hidden tunnels and corridors.
This is a great standalone fantasy that gives a very satisfactory feel, fantastic action with a brilliant protagonist in Briar who really shines throughout. She’s easily made it into my top 10 of favourite fantasy characters! I’m now looking forward to reading The Maleficent Seven, which promises to be just as unique and entertaining.
Give this book a read if you love strong women, amazingly rewarding revenge, castles and fast paced action. You’ll love it!
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December 16, 2024This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum!
Actual rating: 4.5👑
An eARC was received by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Look, knowing Cameron Johnston‘s work, I was pretty sure I was going to like his latest novel, The Last Shield. I might not have read many of his previous books, but as far as I’m concerned, his name is pretty much a guarantee for a dark, twisted, and fun-as-hell book. The Last Shield delivers magnificently, and even though stories like this aren’t my jam these days, I found myself not only reading during my lunch break but in the evenings too on weekdays, which didn’t happen in a very long time. If you ever need to rekindle your love for the genre, don’t look any further than The Last Shield.
I’m not going to go into the plot as the blurb should give you a fair idea of what to expect. The Last Shield being a Johnston novel, is as dirty as it gets. Not on a super grimdark level dirty tho. The thing about Johnston’s writing is that he knows exactly how much violence and brutality and grit he can use to portray the world’s realities in his book, but it never feels overdone or inserted only for shock value. Johnston knows how to balance out the gory bits so they don’t overwhelm and lose meaning, keeping the reader on edge. A book chockful of violence and all shades of dark stuff doesn’t necessarily make a good grimdark novel IMO. Less is more, my friends.
The Last Shield is basically one long epic battle with all of its horrors, and yet, there are also light moments, little patches of calm and quiet where both the characters and the reader can catch their breath. Not that it helps much, but still. It also doesn’t stop it from being a pageturner, so you might want to make sure you are ready to pull long nights. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. On the plus side, it’s just below 400 pages, so it could be done in a weekend.
What I want to talk about though, are the characters. The plot itself of the book is nothing complicated or new – we’ve seen this before. What makes The Last Shield a great reading experience is its characters. Starting with Briar, our MC, who is the captain of the Shields, an elite group of soldiers who are tasked with guarding the palace, including the Heir and the Regent. Briar is strong, capable, and loyal to a fault. I certainly wouldn’t want to pick a fight with her. Even when she is injured and loses some of the mobility in her left leg. Her character arc with the injury and how she is dealing with the new reality hit close to home on multiple levels. I appreciated how Johnston not only shows how she got injured, but also shows the struggle of recovery and living with the remaining issues – instead of making it magically disappear. I found Briar an intriguing character, with very strong morals and a dirty mouth which is always fun.
I want to say I liked Kester, the heir, but… well… I didn’t particularly, because let’s face it, he is a little entitled shit, but I appreciated his character arc throughout the book. And I know this is going to sound weird, but I wish he had more spotlight. I think his plotline needed much more depth. Not going into details, because spoilers, but this is the reason I’m knocking my score down by half a crown.
I’m also mentioning Imperatrix, our antagonist, whose identity came as a big surprise to me, which is something, as I’m usually good at predicting things. Well done Johnston, you got me there! Also wow, she definitely was something… Again, I’m not spoiling things, let’s just say, Imperatrix would feel right at home in a madhouse. I don’t know why, but crazy characters just tend to be more fun than the hero types.
Before I leave you with a conclusion, let me say a few things about the setting of The Last Shield. We are in a land sometime in the Bronze Age – as the weapons the people use are made of bronze, so you know… – inspired by Great Britain (or shall I say Scotland, specifically) at the time. There are Druids, there are standing stones that have an important role in rituals, and there is a fae-like race mentioned. We don’t learn much about the culture of Sunweald and their rivaling countries, but Johnston is good at painting a picture without going into too much detail. Like, we get enough to understand the politics in the background, and the few rituals that made into the book without making the reader feel like they are missing info. Nonetheless, I would have liked to dive deeper into the culture of the Druids, the religion, etc. but then we know I’m a bit of a junkie for these things. The Last Shield doesn’t have a very deep lore, but it has enough to make it feel real.
So, to close off this already pretty long review – The Last Shield is a book you should have on your 2024 TBR, because it has everything the blurb promises. Action, bloodshed, secret tunnels, and a suicidal mission to save the kingdom from total ruin. It’s exhilarating, it’s fun, and it’s undeniably a Johnston novel through and through. Not one you should miss.
Actual rating: 4.5👑
An eARC was received by the author in exchange for an honest review.
“It was a sad truth that it took so much more effort to create something good than to destroy it. It made the scum of the land feel like big men and granted the weak an illusion of strength and power – but any dimwit could destroy something beautiful.”
Look, knowing Cameron Johnston‘s work, I was pretty sure I was going to like his latest novel, The Last Shield. I might not have read many of his previous books, but as far as I’m concerned, his name is pretty much a guarantee for a dark, twisted, and fun-as-hell book. The Last Shield delivers magnificently, and even though stories like this aren’t my jam these days, I found myself not only reading during my lunch break but in the evenings too on weekdays, which didn’t happen in a very long time. If you ever need to rekindle your love for the genre, don’t look any further than The Last Shield.
I’m not going to go into the plot as the blurb should give you a fair idea of what to expect. The Last Shield being a Johnston novel, is as dirty as it gets. Not on a super grimdark level dirty tho. The thing about Johnston’s writing is that he knows exactly how much violence and brutality and grit he can use to portray the world’s realities in his book, but it never feels overdone or inserted only for shock value. Johnston knows how to balance out the gory bits so they don’t overwhelm and lose meaning, keeping the reader on edge. A book chockful of violence and all shades of dark stuff doesn’t necessarily make a good grimdark novel IMO. Less is more, my friends.
The Last Shield is basically one long epic battle with all of its horrors, and yet, there are also light moments, little patches of calm and quiet where both the characters and the reader can catch their breath. Not that it helps much, but still. It also doesn’t stop it from being a pageturner, so you might want to make sure you are ready to pull long nights. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. On the plus side, it’s just below 400 pages, so it could be done in a weekend.
What I want to talk about though, are the characters. The plot itself of the book is nothing complicated or new – we’ve seen this before. What makes The Last Shield a great reading experience is its characters. Starting with Briar, our MC, who is the captain of the Shields, an elite group of soldiers who are tasked with guarding the palace, including the Heir and the Regent. Briar is strong, capable, and loyal to a fault. I certainly wouldn’t want to pick a fight with her. Even when she is injured and loses some of the mobility in her left leg. Her character arc with the injury and how she is dealing with the new reality hit close to home on multiple levels. I appreciated how Johnston not only shows how she got injured, but also shows the struggle of recovery and living with the remaining issues – instead of making it magically disappear. I found Briar an intriguing character, with very strong morals and a dirty mouth which is always fun.
I want to say I liked Kester, the heir, but… well… I didn’t particularly, because let’s face it, he is a little entitled shit, but I appreciated his character arc throughout the book. And I know this is going to sound weird, but I wish he had more spotlight. I think his plotline needed much more depth. Not going into details, because spoilers, but this is the reason I’m knocking my score down by half a crown.
I’m also mentioning Imperatrix, our antagonist, whose identity came as a big surprise to me, which is something, as I’m usually good at predicting things. Well done Johnston, you got me there! Also wow, she definitely was something… Again, I’m not spoiling things, let’s just say, Imperatrix would feel right at home in a madhouse. I don’t know why, but crazy characters just tend to be more fun than the hero types.
Before I leave you with a conclusion, let me say a few things about the setting of The Last Shield. We are in a land sometime in the Bronze Age – as the weapons the people use are made of bronze, so you know… – inspired by Great Britain (or shall I say Scotland, specifically) at the time. There are Druids, there are standing stones that have an important role in rituals, and there is a fae-like race mentioned. We don’t learn much about the culture of Sunweald and their rivaling countries, but Johnston is good at painting a picture without going into too much detail. Like, we get enough to understand the politics in the background, and the few rituals that made into the book without making the reader feel like they are missing info. Nonetheless, I would have liked to dive deeper into the culture of the Druids, the religion, etc. but then we know I’m a bit of a junkie for these things. The Last Shield doesn’t have a very deep lore, but it has enough to make it feel real.
So, to close off this already pretty long review – The Last Shield is a book you should have on your 2024 TBR, because it has everything the blurb promises. Action, bloodshed, secret tunnels, and a suicidal mission to save the kingdom from total ruin. It’s exhilarating, it’s fun, and it’s undeniably a Johnston novel through and through. Not one you should miss.
December 5, 2024
This was one that I was really looking forward to from when I first saw it and it was described as a genderbent, fantasy Die Hard. I love the Die Hard movies and it just sounded a really interesting theme – a kickass female battling her way through a castle with her weapon of choice against numerous foes. Nothing too complicated, just a good old hack and slash.
That’s kind of what we got here, but overall it's only a small(ish) part of the story, and that was probably my one frustration with The Last Shield, because it just seemed to take a while to get going. You know from the synopsis what to expect from this story, the warrior Briar is going to be battling through the castle corridor by corridor, hallway by hallway, against an enemy of superior numbers, but it took quite some time to get to that point.
Once it did all start up, somewhere around the 40% mark, it didn't really slow down too much until the end, so it kept winding and winding and winding, and then all of a sudden the tension got too much and it snapped and you've got everything kicking off for almost the entire remainder of the book.
Although there was plenty of good, tense action, it wasn't just Briar fighting her way through the castle. There were odd little things that she would do, odd little parts of the castle that she would visit, odd little traps that she would set or traps set for her that she would foil, and I just like the way that she thought about it all and that it wasn't just a case of this invincible warrior winning the day.
Some of the characters, including Briar, also picked up some pretty bad injuries that weren’t just brushed off, and I appreciated how that was integrated into the story, even if it contributed to the slower than expected start. It made it a little bit more realistic, showing how the good guys aren’t always as invulnerable as some stories make them seem.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read.
That’s kind of what we got here, but overall it's only a small(ish) part of the story, and that was probably my one frustration with The Last Shield, because it just seemed to take a while to get going. You know from the synopsis what to expect from this story, the warrior Briar is going to be battling through the castle corridor by corridor, hallway by hallway, against an enemy of superior numbers, but it took quite some time to get to that point.
Once it did all start up, somewhere around the 40% mark, it didn't really slow down too much until the end, so it kept winding and winding and winding, and then all of a sudden the tension got too much and it snapped and you've got everything kicking off for almost the entire remainder of the book.
Although there was plenty of good, tense action, it wasn't just Briar fighting her way through the castle. There were odd little things that she would do, odd little parts of the castle that she would visit, odd little traps that she would set or traps set for her that she would foil, and I just like the way that she thought about it all and that it wasn't just a case of this invincible warrior winning the day.
Some of the characters, including Briar, also picked up some pretty bad injuries that weren’t just brushed off, and I appreciated how that was integrated into the story, even if it contributed to the slower than expected start. It made it a little bit more realistic, showing how the good guys aren’t always as invulnerable as some stories make them seem.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read.
July 23, 2024
I mean, let's face it, if there is a kingdom and a king-ling and a Lord Regent, you can be damn sure there are some funky artifacts hidden somewhere that some grubby hands want to get their mitts on. This is essentially the story - a band of ambitious ingrates ambushing a castle. What could be better than a contained stand-off? Oh, the betrayals and painful lessons and terrible injuries and unbearable losses. Johnston doesn't beat around the bush, he dials the tension up high from page one in this tale that is as fantasy as fantasy gets. A few druids and all. A sect and a vault that have very cool names.
Is it a story that will attempt to bring something unique to the table? Well, no. The focus of the story is on the stand-off, and more so even on Briar, our powerhouse of a female character, the commander of the Shields. Frankly, The Last Shield felt less of an action flick, although, yes, there is a good romp through the tunnels and within the walls. It felt more like a look at Briar's character and what she's like when she has been delivered a blow, and how she behaves and what she feels when faced with adversity. And in that sense, The Last Shield is an ode to her, she's tough as nails and loyal to boot. She's like a rusty railroad nail that you will never be able to pry out.
I absolutely loved her relationship to Lord Regent. It's clear off the page, from the very first interaction in between them, that these two are just head over heels for each other. But these two - they're so bound to their duty that you ain't ever seen two characters more steadfast than Briar and Alaric. Plus, they're older in age than your just out of teenage years characters and thus infinitely a lot more enjoyable to read about.
So, political and religious intrigue it may have, but the whole story stands on its two feet because of the absolute stubbornness of Briar the Shield. Her unshakable resolve and bravery. There is no such thing as unfavorable odds when you know the fighting grounds like the back of your hand.
So, for hard-ass fantasy fans. Will you get fighting action? Yes. Will you receive cunning and grit? Absolutely. Any weird lulls in the story? Nope, none. Mystical and otherworldly stuff? Some, yes. Is there a love story? Also, yes, but not in an annoying, eye-rolling way. I think Johnston does it well in The Last Shield. No sneaky shenanigans, no blabbery pining over raw, open, weeping wound in the heart. Simply the acknowledgement of love, right there, a strong undercurrent. A fresh breath of air in that sense.
Thus, with strong characters and a thrilling, twist-delivering stand-off within castle walls, the action is non-stop. In fact, I will go so far as to say that the storytelling is so strong in this one that I would have loved a tad more dialogue, because the dialogue I did get was full of sass and energy, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Did The Last Shield knock the breath out of me with its absolute awesomeness? Well, no. It was okay, solid. But, I do think Johnston is one I will keep my eye on from now on. As I said, the dialogue in The Last Shield got me most excited, it showed a level of skill that could deliver some greatness. You know, like some people are really good at choosing appropriate gifs for every occasion? Yeah, Johnston did that dialogue really well and I most certainly want me some more of that!
Is it a story that will attempt to bring something unique to the table? Well, no. The focus of the story is on the stand-off, and more so even on Briar, our powerhouse of a female character, the commander of the Shields. Frankly, The Last Shield felt less of an action flick, although, yes, there is a good romp through the tunnels and within the walls. It felt more like a look at Briar's character and what she's like when she has been delivered a blow, and how she behaves and what she feels when faced with adversity. And in that sense, The Last Shield is an ode to her, she's tough as nails and loyal to boot. She's like a rusty railroad nail that you will never be able to pry out.
I absolutely loved her relationship to Lord Regent. It's clear off the page, from the very first interaction in between them, that these two are just head over heels for each other. But these two - they're so bound to their duty that you ain't ever seen two characters more steadfast than Briar and Alaric. Plus, they're older in age than your just out of teenage years characters and thus infinitely a lot more enjoyable to read about.
So, political and religious intrigue it may have, but the whole story stands on its two feet because of the absolute stubbornness of Briar the Shield. Her unshakable resolve and bravery. There is no such thing as unfavorable odds when you know the fighting grounds like the back of your hand.
So, for hard-ass fantasy fans. Will you get fighting action? Yes. Will you receive cunning and grit? Absolutely. Any weird lulls in the story? Nope, none. Mystical and otherworldly stuff? Some, yes. Is there a love story? Also, yes, but not in an annoying, eye-rolling way. I think Johnston does it well in The Last Shield. No sneaky shenanigans, no blabbery pining over raw, open, weeping wound in the heart. Simply the acknowledgement of love, right there, a strong undercurrent. A fresh breath of air in that sense.
Thus, with strong characters and a thrilling, twist-delivering stand-off within castle walls, the action is non-stop. In fact, I will go so far as to say that the storytelling is so strong in this one that I would have loved a tad more dialogue, because the dialogue I did get was full of sass and energy, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Did The Last Shield knock the breath out of me with its absolute awesomeness? Well, no. It was okay, solid. But, I do think Johnston is one I will keep my eye on from now on. As I said, the dialogue in The Last Shield got me most excited, it showed a level of skill that could deliver some greatness. You know, like some people are really good at choosing appropriate gifs for every occasion? Yeah, Johnston did that dialogue really well and I most certainly want me some more of that!
October 16, 2025
It’s not often that you can say a fantasy read was fun, especially when it’s got death, near-fatal wounds, monsters, magic and an epic FMC. Even more surprisingly outwith the peril danger everyone is in there is a love story.
After a near fatal wound Briar attempts to build herself back up to the Shield she used to be. Her trials with her new disability was done really well. She finds herself in a situation where she is the only one who can save the regent and the Prince, she’s just got to kill everyone …
‘In life, only death is certain.’
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
After a near fatal wound Briar attempts to build herself back up to the Shield she used to be. Her trials with her new disability was done really well. She finds herself in a situation where she is the only one who can save the regent and the Prince, she’s just got to kill everyone …
‘In life, only death is certain.’
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2024
In the heart of Sunweald's ancient mysteries, The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston unfolds a riveting tale of valor and defiance. With the pulse-pounding intensity of a gender-flipped Die Hard and the intricate world-building beloved by fans of John Gwynne and Mark Lawrence, this epic is a testament to the unyielding spirit of its heroine, Briar. As she navigates a castle brimming with arcane secrets and political intrigue, every corridor and shadowed passage brings her closer to an inevitable confrontation. Johnston crafts a breathtaking fantasy thrill ride where loyalty is tested, and the fate of a realm hangs by the edge of a sword. Prepare to be ensnared in the battle for Sunweald's soul, where the last shield stands alone but unbroken.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 19, 2024
Oh boy, I should not have trusted the reviews...
The writing, oooofff, it seriously held the pacing back. Scenes that were meant to be thrilling ended up feeling clunky and awkward. I often found myself having to reread passages just to stay in the story, and some sentences were so poorly formatted that they completely pulled me out of the moment. When you’re reading something that’s supposed to be fast-paced and exciting, the last thing you want is to be tripping over the writing. Johnston never managed to get to the fast-paced aspect.
If you’re here for the big event that’s described in the synopsis, you’ll need to wade through about 140 pages of nothing interesting before you get there. By the time the actual event finally happened, I was already checked out. It didn’t grab my attention at all, and I was pretty much over it before it even started.
Then there are the characters and the villain, and oh boy, where do I even begin? The villain is called Imperatrix, which, I’m sorry, is the most corny, mustache-twirling villain name ever. Her endless monologues before every fight were laughably bad, and her reasoning was straight out of a cartoon. She had zero depth, and honestly, that can be said about all the characters. They were so one-dimensional that I couldn’t bring myself to care about what happened to any of them. Also, I swear, if I had to read the phrase “the assassin, Maddox” one more time, I was going to lose it. It felt like the author had that on a hotkey.
To top it all off, the whole plot hinges on a character making a decision that’s completely illogical. If they had made the obvious, logical choice, this entire story wouldn’t have happened. Everything that followed just felt like one big facepalm, and it made it hard to take the plot seriously.
The attempt at worldbuilding was another letdown. There’s so much unnecessary information dumped on the reader, and none of it really added anything to the story. Instead of drawing me into the world, it just made me more frustrated. There’s so much filler in here that I honestly think this would have worked better as a novella.
I want my €12 back that I spent to buy this book.
The writing, oooofff, it seriously held the pacing back. Scenes that were meant to be thrilling ended up feeling clunky and awkward. I often found myself having to reread passages just to stay in the story, and some sentences were so poorly formatted that they completely pulled me out of the moment. When you’re reading something that’s supposed to be fast-paced and exciting, the last thing you want is to be tripping over the writing. Johnston never managed to get to the fast-paced aspect.
If you’re here for the big event that’s described in the synopsis, you’ll need to wade through about 140 pages of nothing interesting before you get there. By the time the actual event finally happened, I was already checked out. It didn’t grab my attention at all, and I was pretty much over it before it even started.
Then there are the characters and the villain, and oh boy, where do I even begin? The villain is called Imperatrix, which, I’m sorry, is the most corny, mustache-twirling villain name ever. Her endless monologues before every fight were laughably bad, and her reasoning was straight out of a cartoon. She had zero depth, and honestly, that can be said about all the characters. They were so one-dimensional that I couldn’t bring myself to care about what happened to any of them. Also, I swear, if I had to read the phrase “the assassin, Maddox” one more time, I was going to lose it. It felt like the author had that on a hotkey.
To top it all off, the whole plot hinges on a character making a decision that’s completely illogical. If they had made the obvious, logical choice, this entire story wouldn’t have happened. Everything that followed just felt like one big facepalm, and it made it hard to take the plot seriously.
The attempt at worldbuilding was another letdown. There’s so much unnecessary information dumped on the reader, and none of it really added anything to the story. Instead of drawing me into the world, it just made me more frustrated. There’s so much filler in here that I honestly think this would have worked better as a novella.
I want my €12 back that I spent to buy this book.
August 13, 2024
I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.
This is a survival fantasy. We have a totally awesome guard who is injured badly protecting her regent and his heir. Briar is the captain of the shields and is formidable. She receives a significant leg injury following an attack at a festival and spends a long time recovering though few expect her to survive. Disillusioned by the thought of being a burden to her regent and no longer able to serve as captain. She makes the decision to leave the castle to go live with her brother. However nefarious forces mean she won’t be able to retire just yet…
Briar is a fantastic character. I’m loving this trend we’re seeing in a few sci-fi and fantasy book lately of older, female characters who have the skills and experience to be believable in their prowess, whilst also being really interesting characters with attitude!
Imagine John Wick but in a fantasy castle setting and with an older, female main character and that will give you a sense of this book. It’s wildly entertaining! This book is often gruesome and extremely violent. Briar has to face a formidable enemy whilst navigating a serious injury and she’s often in real danger.
I really enjoyed this book, it was exciting, fast paced and a great read!
This is a survival fantasy. We have a totally awesome guard who is injured badly protecting her regent and his heir. Briar is the captain of the shields and is formidable. She receives a significant leg injury following an attack at a festival and spends a long time recovering though few expect her to survive. Disillusioned by the thought of being a burden to her regent and no longer able to serve as captain. She makes the decision to leave the castle to go live with her brother. However nefarious forces mean she won’t be able to retire just yet…
Briar is a fantastic character. I’m loving this trend we’re seeing in a few sci-fi and fantasy book lately of older, female characters who have the skills and experience to be believable in their prowess, whilst also being really interesting characters with attitude!
Imagine John Wick but in a fantasy castle setting and with an older, female main character and that will give you a sense of this book. It’s wildly entertaining! This book is often gruesome and extremely violent. Briar has to face a formidable enemy whilst navigating a serious injury and she’s often in real danger.
I really enjoyed this book, it was exciting, fast paced and a great read!
September 28, 2024
Thanks to Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
4.5/5
"She was the sword and shield that protected Sunweald. Her pain mattered not at all. It was far better to be the candle standing against the storm, burning bright for one glorious moment before being snuffed out, than to never try at all."
I think one of the best things you can say about a story is that when you finish, the first thing you think is man, I wish there was more!! That was exactly my reaction after finishing this tale which is just so much fun to read. One of my other favorite things is having older characters who have been through some things. Briar is the commander of the Shields, who provide protection for the realm of Sunweald, and she specifically protects Alaric, the Lord Regent as he shepherds his young nephew towards the day he will take the throne. Unbeknownst to both of them, there is a traitor in their midst working with a powerful sorcerer trying to gain access to some powerful, ancient weapons. Briar is forced to protect the people she loves after the keep is invaded and it's a rollicking ride of secret tunnels, sneak attacks and using all of your wits to defeat a more powerful adversary.
Cameron does a fantastic job of building this world and engaging you in the lives of these characters so quickly, that you easily root for Briar and love it when she begins taking names and kicking ass!! The description of this as a fantasy Die Hard is very apt and there is always a new challenge for Briar as she works to save Alaric and the future king. I would love for Cameron to come back to this world at some point in the future with a new story, it's a terrific fantasy setting!!
4.5/5
"She was the sword and shield that protected Sunweald. Her pain mattered not at all. It was far better to be the candle standing against the storm, burning bright for one glorious moment before being snuffed out, than to never try at all."
I think one of the best things you can say about a story is that when you finish, the first thing you think is man, I wish there was more!! That was exactly my reaction after finishing this tale which is just so much fun to read. One of my other favorite things is having older characters who have been through some things. Briar is the commander of the Shields, who provide protection for the realm of Sunweald, and she specifically protects Alaric, the Lord Regent as he shepherds his young nephew towards the day he will take the throne. Unbeknownst to both of them, there is a traitor in their midst working with a powerful sorcerer trying to gain access to some powerful, ancient weapons. Briar is forced to protect the people she loves after the keep is invaded and it's a rollicking ride of secret tunnels, sneak attacks and using all of your wits to defeat a more powerful adversary.
Cameron does a fantastic job of building this world and engaging you in the lives of these characters so quickly, that you easily root for Briar and love it when she begins taking names and kicking ass!! The description of this as a fantasy Die Hard is very apt and there is always a new challenge for Briar as she works to save Alaric and the future king. I would love for Cameron to come back to this world at some point in the future with a new story, it's a terrific fantasy setting!!
June 21, 2024
Well, what can I say about The Last Shield?
It's just so much fun. It's a thrill a minute full of action, epic battles, honour and duty with a dash of love story which might just tug at your heart strings.
Briar is a great, interesting, intelligent strong female lead character. She's Commander of The Shields, tasked with protecting her Lord and his nephew. But Summer Solstice celebrations turn into a bloodbath and Briar must use all of her talent to protect her loved ones.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.
So all in all, what we have here is an absolute rip-roaring romp that I flew through in two sittings.
I can't recommend this more. You just have to read it.
A massive 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
It's just so much fun. It's a thrill a minute full of action, epic battles, honour and duty with a dash of love story which might just tug at your heart strings.
Briar is a great, interesting, intelligent strong female lead character. She's Commander of The Shields, tasked with protecting her Lord and his nephew. But Summer Solstice celebrations turn into a bloodbath and Briar must use all of her talent to protect her loved ones.
Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up.
So all in all, what we have here is an absolute rip-roaring romp that I flew through in two sittings.
I can't recommend this more. You just have to read it.
A massive 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
August 21, 2024
Libro divertente, che tributa l amore di Cameron per la Scozia e per gli action movie anni 90..
In una terra che ricorda la Scozia ai tempi dell' età del bronzo, il Lord Reggente in attesa che suo nipote salga al potere, oltre che a governare il Regno dalla sua fortezza, difende i misteriosi ma pericolosissimi artefatti magici custoditi nelle profondità della fortezza..
Briar è la sua guardia del corpo, comandante degli Scudi, difensori del castello e del reggente, occupati costantemente a respingere attentati e assassinii..
Cameron è bravo in poche righe a costruire un mondo ricco di fascino da favola, storia e antefatti interessanti, e a riempirlo di personaggi violenti e sanguinari..
La trama è un grande tributo a quei film fantasy anni 80 e 90, unito a tutti gli action movie stile Die-Hard.. Ecco, Briar potrebbe essere un Bruce Willis, uno Steven Seagal, un Mel Gibson, solo in versione donna.. che come in un classico film, solo quando ferita e dopo aver gettato il distintivo, sarà l'unica a risolvere l apocalittica situazione..
Briar non mancherà di divertire e sporcare di sangue e cervella le pagine del libro..
Ma dire questo non è assolutamente un banalizzare o sminuire la qualità della storia. Diverte, intrattiene e appassiona in un attimo, e non lascia tregua fino alla fine, per altro pienamente conclusiva, anche se può far ben sparare in un proseguo della saga..
L'invalidità, la disperazione e la resilienza traspaiono dai sentimenti e dai pensieri di Briar, principale pov del romanzo..
4 stelle e non 5, perché quello che mi è mancato è la portata epica con cui Cameron mi aveva entusiasmato nei tre precedenti libri.. e la mancanza di veri colpi di scena, anche se il romanzo è ben fatto e mi ha catturato fino alla fine, raggiungendo l obiettivo che si era prefisso: divertire!
In una terra che ricorda la Scozia ai tempi dell' età del bronzo, il Lord Reggente in attesa che suo nipote salga al potere, oltre che a governare il Regno dalla sua fortezza, difende i misteriosi ma pericolosissimi artefatti magici custoditi nelle profondità della fortezza..
Briar è la sua guardia del corpo, comandante degli Scudi, difensori del castello e del reggente, occupati costantemente a respingere attentati e assassinii..
Cameron è bravo in poche righe a costruire un mondo ricco di fascino da favola, storia e antefatti interessanti, e a riempirlo di personaggi violenti e sanguinari..
La trama è un grande tributo a quei film fantasy anni 80 e 90, unito a tutti gli action movie stile Die-Hard.. Ecco, Briar potrebbe essere un Bruce Willis, uno Steven Seagal, un Mel Gibson, solo in versione donna.. che come in un classico film, solo quando ferita e dopo aver gettato il distintivo, sarà l'unica a risolvere l apocalittica situazione..
Briar non mancherà di divertire e sporcare di sangue e cervella le pagine del libro..
Ma dire questo non è assolutamente un banalizzare o sminuire la qualità della storia. Diverte, intrattiene e appassiona in un attimo, e non lascia tregua fino alla fine, per altro pienamente conclusiva, anche se può far ben sparare in un proseguo della saga..
L'invalidità, la disperazione e la resilienza traspaiono dai sentimenti e dai pensieri di Briar, principale pov del romanzo..
4 stelle e non 5, perché quello che mi è mancato è la portata epica con cui Cameron mi aveva entusiasmato nei tre precedenti libri.. e la mancanza di veri colpi di scena, anche se il romanzo è ben fatto e mi ha catturato fino alla fine, raggiungendo l obiettivo che si era prefisso: divertire!
May 16, 2024
Fantasy with a romantic subplot?? Me... no thanks ❌ Fantasy with a romantic subplot by Cameron Johnston?? 💳💳💳
I went into this slightly blind, I should have known bc Cameron writes lover boys that I approve of. I giggled and blushed until I was tired. If we have to do romance, then he fell 1st, and permanently harder is what I advocate for. And between responsible adults who are friends and equals 🥲
What I enjoyed in The Last Shield more than the lore, the plot, the fighting sequences, the insults Ms. Briar comes up with, the food descriptions bc I would consider myself a chef, whatever the druids were up to, and even the sexual tension, are the characters. Anything I say will be considered a spoiler, so take my word for it: Briar and Kester will be your faves easily. Especially bc Briar reminds me of our Queen and Mother, Orka and Kester reminds me of Jezel 🥰 if that means anything to you, grab it.
Is it a flex that I have read everything Cameron Johnston has published and liked it??
Grateful to Angry Robot for sending me an eARC ✨🫶🏽
I went into this slightly blind, I should have known bc Cameron writes lover boys that I approve of. I giggled and blushed until I was tired. If we have to do romance, then he fell 1st, and permanently harder is what I advocate for. And between responsible adults who are friends and equals 🥲
What I enjoyed in The Last Shield more than the lore, the plot, the fighting sequences, the insults Ms. Briar comes up with, the food descriptions bc I would consider myself a chef, whatever the druids were up to, and even the sexual tension, are the characters. Anything I say will be considered a spoiler, so take my word for it: Briar and Kester will be your faves easily. Especially bc Briar reminds me of our Queen and Mother, Orka and Kester reminds me of Jezel 🥰 if that means anything to you, grab it.
Is it a flex that I have read everything Cameron Johnston has published and liked it??
Grateful to Angry Robot for sending me an eARC ✨🫶🏽
August 20, 2024
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
Set in an ancient castle with dark, mysterious catacombs hiding dangerous artefacts and even more dangerous conspiracies, Cameron Johnston’s The Last Shield tells a riveting tale of survival, honour, duty, loyalty, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Let me start this off by saying that I had no clue what The Last Shield was about, except for the fact that it featured a strong female protagonist who I was supposedly going to adore. And lo and behold, Briar captured my heart the moment I met her! I mean, an older, prickly, stubborn, done-with-everyone’s-shit commander of the royal guard whose tongue is just as sharp as her weapons… how could I not fall in love?
The story opens with a deceptively comforting and almost cozy vibe in the castle while preparing for the supposedly peaceful Summer Solstice celebration, but the sinister prologue has cued us in about the deadly conspiracies lurking in the shadows. Soon, all hell breaks loose and Briar just manages to save the Lord Regent and King-in-waiting from a devious group of assassins hiding as druids, but she doesn’t get away unscathed; she might now have to live with a permanently injured leg, but you better bet that isn’t going to stop her from doing her duty and wreaking revenge on those who hurt her and her loved ones.
Now, I was expecting The Last Shield to be a fast-paced adventure full of non-stop action, but I think it actually shines brightest in its slower set-up and intimately character-driven storytelling. Briar’s slow recovery from her injury and her messy journey of grief over losing her unbeatable warrior identity and sense of purpose immediately became the highlight of the story for me, and I loved how carefully and authentically her healing process was depicted.
Moreover, the complex interpersonal relationships in The Last Shield really shine, and I was pleasantly surprised by the powerful character arcs of some of the supporting characters. See, I wasn’t expecting to be rooting for the royals here, but both Lord Regent Alaric and his nephew, the prickish prince Kester, proved to be absolute gems. I loved Kester’s journey of growth and independence, and the very subtle romantic tension between Briar and Alaric added an exciting spark to this story that I welcomed with open arms; burning with love and desire, but always held apart by their own duties, this the perfect execution of a strong and mature slow-burn romantic subplot.
Don’t mistake all this for me saying that The Last Shield lacks in action or tension though, because the opposite couldn’t be more true. From the very first page, Johnston sets up the tension and conflict, be that internal, interpersonal, or on a wider political scale, which created a looming sense of dread that kept me on my toes the entire way through. I was especially impressed by the masterful inclusion of some perspectives from the antagonists, which somehow didn’t take away from any of the mystery and intrigue, but only added to the complexity and pulse-pounding suspense.
Not to mention, the isolated setting and uncanny atmosphere of the castle and its catacombs was hauntingly immersive to me, and I loved the unpredictability of the dark sorcery and druidic magic. Some scenes almost leaned into the horror territory, and just the Imperatrix and her diabolical actions alone are pure nightmare material; even though her motivations and logic felt a bit murky to me at times, I also can’t deny that I was just morbidly fascinated and weirdly amused by her level of unhinged villainy.
While the ultimate climax of the story may have felt a bit chaotic and slightly rushed to me, I think The Last Shield is overall one of the stronger fantasy standalones I have read. Though if we ever get a spin-off (about Kester, please and thank you), I would absolutely be first in line. If you have been looking for a character-driven yet action-packed fantasy standalone featuring scarred protagonists, dark sorcery, druidic magic, deadly assassins, exhilarating fights, and a whole lot of heart, then you can’t go wrong with The Last Shield.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Set in an ancient castle with dark, mysterious catacombs hiding dangerous artefacts and even more dangerous conspiracies, Cameron Johnston’s The Last Shield tells a riveting tale of survival, honour, duty, loyalty, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Let me start this off by saying that I had no clue what The Last Shield was about, except for the fact that it featured a strong female protagonist who I was supposedly going to adore. And lo and behold, Briar captured my heart the moment I met her! I mean, an older, prickly, stubborn, done-with-everyone’s-shit commander of the royal guard whose tongue is just as sharp as her weapons… how could I not fall in love?
The story opens with a deceptively comforting and almost cozy vibe in the castle while preparing for the supposedly peaceful Summer Solstice celebration, but the sinister prologue has cued us in about the deadly conspiracies lurking in the shadows. Soon, all hell breaks loose and Briar just manages to save the Lord Regent and King-in-waiting from a devious group of assassins hiding as druids, but she doesn’t get away unscathed; she might now have to live with a permanently injured leg, but you better bet that isn’t going to stop her from doing her duty and wreaking revenge on those who hurt her and her loved ones.
Now, I was expecting The Last Shield to be a fast-paced adventure full of non-stop action, but I think it actually shines brightest in its slower set-up and intimately character-driven storytelling. Briar’s slow recovery from her injury and her messy journey of grief over losing her unbeatable warrior identity and sense of purpose immediately became the highlight of the story for me, and I loved how carefully and authentically her healing process was depicted.
Moreover, the complex interpersonal relationships in The Last Shield really shine, and I was pleasantly surprised by the powerful character arcs of some of the supporting characters. See, I wasn’t expecting to be rooting for the royals here, but both Lord Regent Alaric and his nephew, the prickish prince Kester, proved to be absolute gems. I loved Kester’s journey of growth and independence, and the very subtle romantic tension between Briar and Alaric added an exciting spark to this story that I welcomed with open arms; burning with love and desire, but always held apart by their own duties, this the perfect execution of a strong and mature slow-burn romantic subplot.
Don’t mistake all this for me saying that The Last Shield lacks in action or tension though, because the opposite couldn’t be more true. From the very first page, Johnston sets up the tension and conflict, be that internal, interpersonal, or on a wider political scale, which created a looming sense of dread that kept me on my toes the entire way through. I was especially impressed by the masterful inclusion of some perspectives from the antagonists, which somehow didn’t take away from any of the mystery and intrigue, but only added to the complexity and pulse-pounding suspense.
Not to mention, the isolated setting and uncanny atmosphere of the castle and its catacombs was hauntingly immersive to me, and I loved the unpredictability of the dark sorcery and druidic magic. Some scenes almost leaned into the horror territory, and just the Imperatrix and her diabolical actions alone are pure nightmare material; even though her motivations and logic felt a bit murky to me at times, I also can’t deny that I was just morbidly fascinated and weirdly amused by her level of unhinged villainy.
While the ultimate climax of the story may have felt a bit chaotic and slightly rushed to me, I think The Last Shield is overall one of the stronger fantasy standalones I have read. Though if we ever get a spin-off (about Kester, please and thank you), I would absolutely be first in line. If you have been looking for a character-driven yet action-packed fantasy standalone featuring scarred protagonists, dark sorcery, druidic magic, deadly assassins, exhilarating fights, and a whole lot of heart, then you can’t go wrong with The Last Shield.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 22, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair review (so sorry Angry Robot that this is so late!)
A non-stop entertaining thrill ride, The Last Sheild is a fabulous adaptation of Die Hard that strikes a balance between homage and creating its own story.
Yes, this is an adaptation or homage or perhaps an ode to Die Hard. Do you need to know Die Hard to read it? Absolutely not. Does it make it more fun? I would argue that, yes, it does.
Mainly because there are a lot of nods to the movie. We have someone trained in combat taking on a slew of villains while sneaking through tunnels and planting traps; the reason the castle is being taken over is that the main antagonist is trying to break into vault; there are hostages; one of the hostages the main character is in love with; some villains resemble or act like the terrorists in the movie; and there are some similar deaths to the movie … but there are also vast differences. Obviously, it’s set in a fantasy world, so there is magic and no guns, and the lead-up to the Die Hard aspects are entirely different. For me, who knows Die Hard well enough but is not a fervent fan, I enjoyed the references and allusions to it while also finding the Last Shield story compelling and exciting.
The book is full of fantasy swordplay action. Despite the number of fights and Briar’s injury, it never grows stale. The pacing is quick and the plot is engaging, with villains you really hate and can’t wait to see taken down a notch (or have their heads taken off). There is no sexualized violence in the book, in case you were wondering.
Briar is awesome. She’s stalwart, goal-oriented, quick-thinking, and tough as nails. Yet, she also has a strong moral compass and has flaws. She’s not arrogant, but she is too proud at times to accept help and often beats herself up for things outside her control. She’s a self-made woman in love with a man she can’t have due to their responsibility to the realm, and this deep love + her protective nature makes her endearing. The love story is minimal in its presence on the page, but the way it is woven through the narrative - the lengths Briar will go to save her man - is so well done. We don’t get any YA-like pining, but a few perfectly crafted lines of dialogue that show how much these two have sacrificed and how they are just waiting for their responsibilities to be over so they can finally be together. It’s never even explicitly said, but all of this is apparent in heir first scene together and carries forth throughout the entire novel.
We also have a small coming-of-age with a very unlikable character, which was a great arc, and the other side characters were fun. Because you like the characters, the tension in the book is excellent. The death count in the book is quite high - the book is relatively gory - so you never know who is going to survive. I was honestly on the edge of my seat because though Die Hard has a happy ending (as Christmas movies do!) this book is different enough from the source material that it could go either way. I will not say how the story ends, of course!
The book isn’t as funny as The Maleficient Seven, but it has moments of comedy here and there - all I’ll say is “the shit slide” couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person.
The fantasy world-building is “enough.” It’s not extensive, as this is a standalone novel, but there’s enough of it for you to get the gist of how the world functions. I could have used a bit more on how the magic system worked, I guess, but, in all honestly, I didn't care, as I was having too much fun.
Thank you so much to Angry Robot for the arc copy - I love it!
A non-stop entertaining thrill ride, The Last Sheild is a fabulous adaptation of Die Hard that strikes a balance between homage and creating its own story.
Yes, this is an adaptation or homage or perhaps an ode to Die Hard. Do you need to know Die Hard to read it? Absolutely not. Does it make it more fun? I would argue that, yes, it does.
Mainly because there are a lot of nods to the movie. We have someone trained in combat taking on a slew of villains while sneaking through tunnels and planting traps; the reason the castle is being taken over is that the main antagonist is trying to break into vault; there are hostages; one of the hostages the main character is in love with; some villains resemble or act like the terrorists in the movie; and there are some similar deaths to the movie … but there are also vast differences. Obviously, it’s set in a fantasy world, so there is magic and no guns, and the lead-up to the Die Hard aspects are entirely different. For me, who knows Die Hard well enough but is not a fervent fan, I enjoyed the references and allusions to it while also finding the Last Shield story compelling and exciting.
The book is full of fantasy swordplay action. Despite the number of fights and Briar’s injury, it never grows stale. The pacing is quick and the plot is engaging, with villains you really hate and can’t wait to see taken down a notch (or have their heads taken off). There is no sexualized violence in the book, in case you were wondering.
Briar is awesome. She’s stalwart, goal-oriented, quick-thinking, and tough as nails. Yet, she also has a strong moral compass and has flaws. She’s not arrogant, but she is too proud at times to accept help and often beats herself up for things outside her control. She’s a self-made woman in love with a man she can’t have due to their responsibility to the realm, and this deep love + her protective nature makes her endearing. The love story is minimal in its presence on the page, but the way it is woven through the narrative - the lengths Briar will go to save her man - is so well done. We don’t get any YA-like pining, but a few perfectly crafted lines of dialogue that show how much these two have sacrificed and how they are just waiting for their responsibilities to be over so they can finally be together. It’s never even explicitly said, but all of this is apparent in heir first scene together and carries forth throughout the entire novel.
We also have a small coming-of-age with a very unlikable character, which was a great arc, and the other side characters were fun. Because you like the characters, the tension in the book is excellent. The death count in the book is quite high - the book is relatively gory - so you never know who is going to survive. I was honestly on the edge of my seat because though Die Hard has a happy ending (as Christmas movies do!) this book is different enough from the source material that it could go either way. I will not say how the story ends, of course!
The book isn’t as funny as The Maleficient Seven, but it has moments of comedy here and there - all I’ll say is “the shit slide” couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person.
The fantasy world-building is “enough.” It’s not extensive, as this is a standalone novel, but there’s enough of it for you to get the gist of how the world functions. I could have used a bit more on how the magic system worked, I guess, but, in all honestly, I didn't care, as I was having too much fun.
Thank you so much to Angry Robot for the arc copy - I love it!
February 18, 2025
On the day of the Summer Soltice, Shield Commander Briar saves Lord Regent Alaric Summerson's life by taking a poisoned arrow for him during an ambush by reiver assassins. After months of lying around in bed she is not only bored out of her ever loving mind she is also sure that whatever threat the Lord Regent and in turn Royal Heir faced during the solstice is long gone. Even though she is certainly not fully healed she is determined to accompany both of them to the Winter Solstice feeling she has neglected her duty for far too long, unfortunately after marching for two days straight Briar comes to the conclusion that she is no longer fit for duty and after an argument with Alaric she is determined to leave, passing the command to her second. Little does she know that while she was in bed recovering the reivers have not only infliterated the palace, the have infliterated her Shields and on the evening she plans on the leaving they hatch a truly horrific attack on the people of the Palace, killing everyone not necessary to their plot. Unfortunately for these thirty-five men, they are about to learn a hard lesson; never send in a man to do a woman's job.
I have been waiting for Johnston to write another book since I finished his first two books I want to say last year (I read the Maleficent Seven before his first series) and trust me I have not been patient, so as soon as I saw this up for review on Netgalley I squealed in absolute delight and requested it and basically if it hadn't been for work I would have finished it yesterday. I hate that work interrupts my reading, and to be fair, I wasn't sure I was going to get to finish it over the weekend, so I took tomorrow *off* to read it. If someone took a day off to read a book, that's saying something. Okay, well, this is Goodreads, so we've probably all taken a day off to read, but you get my point. Anyway, not only am I not disappointed this is easily his best book. In this really amazing way where it's like everything he wrote before this was leading up to this amazing story, and it's clear it's only going to get better from here.
If you've read Johnston, you already know that his books are just bloody good rides, so honestly, I'm not going to go too much into that. If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-packed read, this is going to be your book. The pacing is spot on as usual, and the fight scenes are amazingly brutal.
What I am going to talk about his how fucking amazing Briar is. Omg she is literally my hero. She tears through thirty five men with the fury of the gods and she's freaking hilarious while she's doing it. The amount of times she just gets back up and murders someone is inspiring. And she genuinely gets away with this because she's not just the most badass person in the room she's the *smartest*.
And, honestly, this is where Johnston always excels; his heroes are always the most dangerous things in the room, hell on the planet and they are always smarter than the bad guys.They are OP badasses who will slaughter a god, an entire army, or a force of thirty five men if someone hurts someone they care about. He takes vengeance to a whole new level and I'm here for it.
Overall, of course I recommend this book. It is genuinely unputdownable. Unless you have to work in which case I'm sorry.
As always thanks to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the eArc!
I have been waiting for Johnston to write another book since I finished his first two books I want to say last year (I read the Maleficent Seven before his first series) and trust me I have not been patient, so as soon as I saw this up for review on Netgalley I squealed in absolute delight and requested it and basically if it hadn't been for work I would have finished it yesterday. I hate that work interrupts my reading, and to be fair, I wasn't sure I was going to get to finish it over the weekend, so I took tomorrow *off* to read it. If someone took a day off to read a book, that's saying something. Okay, well, this is Goodreads, so we've probably all taken a day off to read, but you get my point. Anyway, not only am I not disappointed this is easily his best book. In this really amazing way where it's like everything he wrote before this was leading up to this amazing story, and it's clear it's only going to get better from here.
If you've read Johnston, you already know that his books are just bloody good rides, so honestly, I'm not going to go too much into that. If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-packed read, this is going to be your book. The pacing is spot on as usual, and the fight scenes are amazingly brutal.
What I am going to talk about his how fucking amazing Briar is. Omg she is literally my hero. She tears through thirty five men with the fury of the gods and she's freaking hilarious while she's doing it. The amount of times she just gets back up and murders someone is inspiring. And she genuinely gets away with this because she's not just the most badass person in the room she's the *smartest*.
And, honestly, this is where Johnston always excels; his heroes are always the most dangerous things in the room, hell on the planet and they are always smarter than the bad guys.They are OP badasses who will slaughter a god, an entire army, or a force of thirty five men if someone hurts someone they care about. He takes vengeance to a whole new level and I'm here for it.
Overall, of course I recommend this book. It is genuinely unputdownable. Unless you have to work in which case I'm sorry.
As always thanks to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the eArc!
April 24, 2025
Way better than average (so not a 3) but not a 5 due to its very slow beginning. I feel a 3.5 is the right score, but since that's not possible and since Johnston really nails the heroic attitude character, I'll happily grant 4 stars.
A very slow start had me almost bowing out around 30+ pages in - not promising. I'm glad I stayed though, as momentum built and heroism shone. Pages after I almost quit things grew exciting and dangerous and they really never stopped. The story is a consistent build and it does ultimately deliver on the 'DIE HARD in a castle' blurb that enticed me to read this title before the duology of Johnston's I actually bought first to read, lol. (This start had me so disillusioned I was quite worried about reading the duology honestly - now I am not and will gladly read them.)
I really appreciate the well-built hero Briar, Commander of Shields, the elite soldiers who protect rulers and realm. She is a great character who aptly displays all the characteristics of a great hero, personally and professionally. I would read more of her, though by this story's end she's not quite in the condition to carry on a series. I have no idea if a series is intended, though the story leaves it totally open for continuation. Perhaps another primary character of this book will carry on in any next.
Another wonderfully written character was the young princeling who is transformed from spoiled arrogant brat to caring, heroic, leader. Johnston did this very well and nicely believable.
It was fun picturing some of the scenes of the movie DIE HARD in my memory whilst reading this swords and spells version. Outside that slow start, which needs a cut-down, this is an enjoyable book!
A very slow start had me almost bowing out around 30+ pages in - not promising. I'm glad I stayed though, as momentum built and heroism shone. Pages after I almost quit things grew exciting and dangerous and they really never stopped. The story is a consistent build and it does ultimately deliver on the 'DIE HARD in a castle' blurb that enticed me to read this title before the duology of Johnston's I actually bought first to read, lol. (This start had me so disillusioned I was quite worried about reading the duology honestly - now I am not and will gladly read them.)
I really appreciate the well-built hero Briar, Commander of Shields, the elite soldiers who protect rulers and realm. She is a great character who aptly displays all the characteristics of a great hero, personally and professionally. I would read more of her, though by this story's end she's not quite in the condition to carry on a series. I have no idea if a series is intended, though the story leaves it totally open for continuation. Perhaps another primary character of this book will carry on in any next.
Another wonderfully written character was the young princeling who is transformed from spoiled arrogant brat to caring, heroic, leader. Johnston did this very well and nicely believable.
It was fun picturing some of the scenes of the movie DIE HARD in my memory whilst reading this swords and spells version. Outside that slow start, which needs a cut-down, this is an enjoyable book!
July 29, 2024
5 🌟
1 🌶️
Holy smokes, what a fun read! When the description said a gender-flipped "Die Hard," it wasn't lying! Briar is such a badass; that is the only way to describe her; she truly kicked butt and took names. The good guys were good, and the bad guys were horribly bad, but it worked. The excitement keeps you invested and I read this book so quickly. I could not put it down; I had to know how Briar would fight her way out and rescue Alaric. It was an honest read about how our lives change when we experience a life-altering injury. She must learn to acclimate to her body's new reality (coupled with Briar's aging body) while the rest of the world carries on as normal. It was a teeth-clenching, eye-popping action book that left you flipping pages and sitting on the edge of your seat. There was humor, a bit of romance, and a whole lot of fighting with a good amount of gore. But if the gore is not there the story would not have worked as well as it does. It concluded fantastically and was so much fun. I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Do you know how some people consider "Die Hard" a Christmas film? It makes me want to start a holiday for a yearly read of "The Last Shield" just to re-acquaint myself with Briar. She's unforgettable and awesome.
Thank you, NetGalley and Angry Robot, for the eArc. The opinions are mine.
1 🌶️
Holy smokes, what a fun read! When the description said a gender-flipped "Die Hard," it wasn't lying! Briar is such a badass; that is the only way to describe her; she truly kicked butt and took names. The good guys were good, and the bad guys were horribly bad, but it worked. The excitement keeps you invested and I read this book so quickly. I could not put it down; I had to know how Briar would fight her way out and rescue Alaric. It was an honest read about how our lives change when we experience a life-altering injury. She must learn to acclimate to her body's new reality (coupled with Briar's aging body) while the rest of the world carries on as normal. It was a teeth-clenching, eye-popping action book that left you flipping pages and sitting on the edge of your seat. There was humor, a bit of romance, and a whole lot of fighting with a good amount of gore. But if the gore is not there the story would not have worked as well as it does. It concluded fantastically and was so much fun. I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Do you know how some people consider "Die Hard" a Christmas film? It makes me want to start a holiday for a yearly read of "The Last Shield" just to re-acquaint myself with Briar. She's unforgettable and awesome.
Thank you, NetGalley and Angry Robot, for the eArc. The opinions are mine.
August 12, 2024
How much fight can one broken old woman have left in her?
Oh you sweet summer fool. People doubted Briar because she was older, she had been injured, she could no longer physically carry out her beloved duties. This didn't mean that she wasn't a fierce warrior because she went full Red Ross and swiftly became a nightmare. I absolutely loved following her as she tried to save the crown.
The character growth for all of our main characters was so good and felt natural. I was so invested in this story. The crows were my highlight! And the dog. Don't worry, the dog survived (and got a treat and many scritches).
This was just such an exciting and enjoyable read. It was violent and gory at points but in a 'good for her' way. I had a good time.
I was kindly gifted a copy of this book from the publishers but this review is entirely my own opinion
Oh you sweet summer fool. People doubted Briar because she was older, she had been injured, she could no longer physically carry out her beloved duties. This didn't mean that she wasn't a fierce warrior because she went full Red Ross and swiftly became a nightmare. I absolutely loved following her as she tried to save the crown.
The character growth for all of our main characters was so good and felt natural. I was so invested in this story. The crows were my highlight! And the dog. Don't worry, the dog survived (and got a treat and many scritches).
This was just such an exciting and enjoyable read. It was violent and gory at points but in a 'good for her' way. I had a good time.
I was kindly gifted a copy of this book from the publishers but this review is entirely my own opinion
January 3, 2025
This was an absolutely amazing read, easy 5 stars....
A kind of Gender flip Die Hard, but instead of machine guns and explosives it's Swords, battle axes and a bucket of p*ss.
Briar is a cracking protagonist, surly, bad tempered, old fashioned and quite literally hard as nails. After a heroic act leaves her injured and a fraction of her old self, she finds herself in a palace overrun with bad guys and a horrible sorceress, with hostages to save and bad guys all around it would've been a hard ask for her old self, but now crippled as she is, it's gotta be impossible? But Briar doesn't care, she's taking it to the bad guys hard, one bloody kill at a time.......
Now I have a sword and buckler, Ho Ho Ho Ho
A kind of Gender flip Die Hard, but instead of machine guns and explosives it's Swords, battle axes and a bucket of p*ss.
Briar is a cracking protagonist, surly, bad tempered, old fashioned and quite literally hard as nails. After a heroic act leaves her injured and a fraction of her old self, she finds herself in a palace overrun with bad guys and a horrible sorceress, with hostages to save and bad guys all around it would've been a hard ask for her old self, but now crippled as she is, it's gotta be impossible? But Briar doesn't care, she's taking it to the bad guys hard, one bloody kill at a time.......
Now I have a sword and buckler, Ho Ho Ho Ho
March 26, 2025
Thank you Angry Robot for the free paperback!
If you love (fictional) violence, you'll love this book. Fucking PHENOMENAL. I was absolutely obsessed with the way Briar went about taking her revenge. I'm putting her up there with the vengeful likes of FANG RUNIN from The Poppy War. And I LOVE Fang Runin.
There truly is nothing like reading about a woman singlehandedly fighting and murdering her way through a horde of traitors to protect the throne. Did I mention she did it singlehandedly? Briar got shit DONE, and with a bad leg too!
I was obsessed with how fast-paced this book ended up being. It took a bit for it to pick up but once it did, I felt like I was swept up in a hyperactive whirlwind that didn't drop me off until the very last page. Just the way I like it.
If you love (fictional) violence, you'll love this book. Fucking PHENOMENAL. I was absolutely obsessed with the way Briar went about taking her revenge. I'm putting her up there with the vengeful likes of FANG RUNIN from The Poppy War. And I LOVE Fang Runin.
There truly is nothing like reading about a woman singlehandedly fighting and murdering her way through a horde of traitors to protect the throne. Did I mention she did it singlehandedly? Briar got shit DONE, and with a bad leg too!
I was obsessed with how fast-paced this book ended up being. It took a bit for it to pick up but once it did, I felt like I was swept up in a hyperactive whirlwind that didn't drop me off until the very last page. Just the way I like it.
May 11, 2024
This needs to be made into a movie as soon as possible. Die Hard meets Under Siege meets Xena: Warrior Princess all wrapped up in a crumbling old castle and Celtic-inspired setting.
Briar's determination, endurance, and sheer badassdom reminded me of Ellen Ripley, Sarah Connor, Furiosa and Red Sonja.
The Last Shield is an amazing epic of endurance and willpower, action and adventure.
Briar's determination, endurance, and sheer badassdom reminded me of Ellen Ripley, Sarah Connor, Furiosa and Red Sonja.
The Last Shield is an amazing epic of endurance and willpower, action and adventure.
September 6, 2024
Die hard in a castle. Great fun.
October 19, 2024
Loved this! It will be joining The Maleficent Seven on my re-read shelf. Cameron Johnston is now two for two for me. I'm planning to pick up his Age of Tyranny books soon!
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