The Last Celestials

by Becca Mionis

A defeated general. A jaded princess. A really awkward situation.

Orion and Cassiopeia are the last of their kind: an ancient, powerful race of space-dwelling beings known as Celestials. After losing a terrible war against another, deadlier race, Orion appeals to Cassiopeia, hoping she’ll help him save their species. After all, he’s a male, she’s a female… This shouldn’t be complicated, right? Wrong!

Cassiopeia, who has been living like a recluse for centuries, wants absolutely nothing to do with Orion. And not just because he has no manners; there are things she doesn’t want him to know, secrets that drove her to self-exile. So she does the only logical thing she can think of: She runs away to Earth, where she allies herself with a group of young musicians and adopts their easygoing way of life in order to blend in. It’s the perfect hiding place, right? Wrong!

Little does Cassiopeia know, Orion is way better at tracking than he is at romance… though he may have to become good at both if he wants a second chance.

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance

293 pages, Paperback

Published January 14, 2022

Reviews

[Daniëlle Faber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A war between two “alien” races, Celestials & Campions; the latter being the victor. Only two Celestials remain, Cassiopeia and Orion.

The last of their ancient space dwelling kind. A female and a male… So, there is a way to save their species. Right?

Orion seems to think so, but he surely needs to brush up on his manners and seduction skills. Cassiopeia is not interested and well… she has some secrets.

The only logical thing she thinks to do, is run away. And that ends her up on Earth, where she allies herself with a group of young musicians so she can blend in.

Little does she know that Orion isn’t going to give up and he will try and track her down. But if he wants another chance, his romance skills could use a little polish ;)

Lovely story, nice & easy read! I enjoyed the mix of (relatable) characters, their friendships and the way they showed growth. Definitely recommend.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This feel-good, soft sci-fi debut brings together rock music, found family and celestial warfare in a clever, heartfelt and funny way.

After a great war between the Celestials and their lifelong enemies, the Campions, the last man standing, Orion, rushes to find the only other Celestial alive. She just so happens to be female, very beautiful, and completely against any form of match with him. When stubborn Cassiopeia flees to Earth to escape his advances, he is forced to give chase, and both of the last Celestials begin their own adventures.

My favourite things about this book were the characters and the dialogue. The characters - a witty group of wannabe rockstars who befriend Cassiopeia - are relatable and hilariously human in comparison to the tidier, stronger, more orderly Celestials. And the way they interact with each other had a smile on my face throughout most of the novel. I'm a sucker for tropes like enemies to lovers, reluctant heroes, friends to lovers and found family, and they're all in here, done very well.

If you're looking for a light, quick read with cute tropes and splashes of action and adventure, I recommend picking this up.

Thank you to the author for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dani (piggindani_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so you might be thinking this review will be out of this world as it's been so long in the making, but I'm here to shatter your hopes & dreams with just an average review, sorry!

However, what is out of this world is The Last Celestials.
After being defeated by the cruel and deadly race, The Campions,
the race of Celestials is all but extinct save for Cassiopeia, the last female, and Orion, the last male. Sounds perfect, right? Wrong!
Cassiopeia has a secret that leads to her self-exiling, and so when the battle-worn Orion shows up with a less than a romantic proposition, Cassiopeia is left with no choice but to flea.
Landing on Earth, Cass feels she is out of Orion's grasp, but little does she know, Orion is a much better hunter than he is a romancer.

Sci-fi isn't one of my preferred genres, but knowing there was a romance element to this book, I couldn't help but say yes to reading it.
I adore Cass. A strong, fierce celestial, Cass has a hidden vulnerability. A soft, warm edge that makes her a relatable character.
Orion is hilarious. Yes, he's no Romeo, but I love him so much. Quirky but endearing, and yes, his approach was awful, but he won me over, and I was rooting for him from the start.

The relationship between Cass & Orion was brilliant. Full of tension, resistance, and a passion that neither could understand or deny.
I was desperate to know what the secret(s) Cass was hiding, but I feared it would tear these two apart, so on some level, I didn't want myself or Orion to discover the truth. Live in peaceful bliss, as it were. Lol.
It's a beautiful slow-burn sci-fi romance that I love.

Cass and Orion's relationship is only one of several in this book.

Cassiopeia meets the members of Justice for Pluto, Cody, Sasha, Amanda, Nick, and Jason. A punk, rock, indie band? (they have a mix of styles/genres). Anyway, they look after her, and she even moves in with Jason & Cody.
Cass' relationships with Cody & Sasha are my favourite. From strange & tense beginnings, a beautiful friendship blossoms, a bond that will last forever.

And it would be silly of me not to mention, Lidian. Lidian is fabulous.
I will let you discover him for yourself, but his interactions with Orion are some of the best parts of the book, especially when Lidian is sarcastic!

There is action/fighting, but this story is more a Lover, Not a Fighter! Lol

The story flows brilliantly. The descriptions effortlessly conjure magnificent images of the true beauty of Celestials and their home.

I will say there are two issues, but these are minor.

1 - While Cass lives with Cody & Jason, she takes on the archetypal role of being a woman. Cooking, cleaning, etc. I understand why, but it did erk me a little.

2 - "I know we got off on the wrong foot." Orion says this, for me, it's very much a human expression, not something I expected from a Celestial.

I love this book and look forward to more from Becca.

Thank you so much, Becca, for the arc ebook in return for my honest review.

[Rachel E. Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would describe this book as kind of Thor meets Lemonade Mouth meets a rom-com. It was sci-fi, but it was also a love story with a lot of enjoyable tropes.

It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I got going, I was hooked. I always enjoy the kind of alien discovers Earth culture trope, so that was fun. I also thought all the characters were good, even if it took a bit for me to like them (looking at you, Orion).

A few of my favorite things:
•Lidian! The best character in the whole thing to me.
•Nice slow burn romance. Lots of fun to watch it unfold.
•Soft sci-fi. I've never been a huge hard sci-fi fan, so if you like a little less worldbuilding and a little more fun stuff, this is for you.

A few dislikes:
•Could be a little too descriptive in some scenes. But I think that's kind of a preference thing.
•All the parts about repopulating their species made me uncomfortable, but I did know the premise going in, so it shouldn't have surprised me.
•Kinda sus that two guys and a girl are roommates.

Content warnings: Some kissing (mildly spicy), talk of reproduction, and cursing.

But, overall, this was a fun and cute mix of romance and science fiction that worked well together. I look forward to reading more of Becca's work in the future.

[Michelle Bibliovino · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the Celestial War finally ends, the last surviving male rushes to find the last surviving female. It makes sense that they’d want to be together, but Orion finds Cassiopeia is absolutely not in the mood to be wooed. In fact, she’s so put off by his not-so-subtle proposition that she flees to The Living Planet (Earth) to hide from him. Can he win her back and save their species? It will take a peach orchard, a punk rock band and broken hive mind to fix it.

This is a fun story that sets the enemies to lovers trope on its head. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the weighty existence of immortal beings with the everyday time on Earth. Essentially you get a fish out of water story with a grand romance. Cass is complicated and endearing and Orion has a great arc. The heart of the novel is the interpersonal complications and how the characters choose to steer through them.

Thank you to the author for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

[Larissa Lopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED IT! It was super fun to follow Orion and Cassiopeia’s adventures on Earth—especially their relationship with everybody in the band. I even rooted for Cassiopeia to end up with Cody for a while because I just loved him so much! But then Orion started his efforts to win Cassiopeia’s heart and he totally swooned me as well!

I really loved how the whole story played out and I can’t wait to read more from Becca Mionis!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s billed as cute romance, soft sci-fi and that is, indeed, what it is. The Celestials in question are Cassiopeia and Orion, and they are, per the title, the very last of their kind, after a war with another race known as Campions. The Campions are a hive mind of drones essentially, and when Orion encounters Campions who don’t attack in predictable patterns, he sees it as an anomaly. My question is, if the Campions are so predictable, how did they obliterate the more ingenious Celestials? It is mentioned that the Celestials were taken by surprise, crippled by disorganisation, and defeated through their own division, but on some specific level I want to know how, though?
Part of the answer is revealed as hints of the characters’ backstory are seeded throughout the story. I think the reveal was really well done, as what we (and Orion) are led to think in the beginning about Cassiopeia’s motive for her behaviour gets completely flipped, and yet still perfectly fitting in hindsight with how she acts. Though the near-end scene bringing conclusion to this element of the Celestial Campion dynamic seems a bit disconnected, there is a reason for there not being quite as much emphasis on that aspect of the conclusion: because it’s not really the final conclusion. That’s just the Celestial-Campion conflict, sci-fi-through-the-stars, grand setting stuff that effectively comprises the B plot of this novel.

The A plot, the raison d’etre, is the “dislike to lovers” romance of Cassiopeia and Orion. And it’s been so long since I’ve read a romance-centric novel that was actually good that I don’t know how to review one when I see it. So, if you read this review backwards, it might make more sense because now we’re going to talk about the A plot.

When Cassiopeia, fleeing further romantic pursuit by Orion, falls (literally) into the path of an indie rock (sort of) group on their way to Battle of the Bands, it is very much reminiscent of extra-terrestrial entrances we’ve seen before—Thor, Superman, Megamind… okay, maybe not that last one. Point being, the setup is familiar and we think we know how it’s going to go. And there is some predictability—you can’t write a trope without certain elements of it being there that make it that trope—but there is far more charm and unexpected realness to the interaction making it a refreshing and memorable sequence in a sea of other similar opening scenes.

And what gives it its charm and realness? Mionis’ humorous and snappy writing style. She can turn a phrase and make a quick comparison that conveys instant emotion or visuals, setting the tone of the scene or relating a character’s feelings in the midst of action and dialogue without slowing down the pace for more than a heartbeat. The fast pace is actually one of the things I loved (and, eventually, for different reasons, love-hated) about this book. I’m not sure how I feel about the choice to time-jump a year from when Cassiopeia lands with the band to when we see her again and Orion is hot on her trail, but I understand it—it was a smart move, story-wise, to cut out most of Cassiopeia’s experience of that in favour of conveying Orion’s in real-time as he gets close to finding her. That way, we don’t have two sequences of getting used to “earth” culture, because, let’s face it, we’re all familiar with earth culture, unless there are secret ETs among my readers (no judgment if there are).

The group she falls in with is also a highlight—it’s a found-family dimension without feeling forced. Cassiopeia isn’t besties with everyone in Justice for Pluto (superior band name, by the way) and everyone in the group isn’t besties with each other; there’s a realistic dynamic created by everyone’s personalities. Her close friendship with Cody in particular is really heartwarming and Sasha’s protectiveness when Orion rolls up is a great example of a female friends dynamic. I think maybe one of the things that wasn’t served in the story by the super fast pace was that it wasn’t easy differentiating the characters, besides the two I just mentioned. The band members (and honorary member, Cody) are introduced all in a lump because they are all in the same vehicle at the beginning, which is fine, but then it requires a bit more time to effectively individualize them.

For instance, and maybe it was just me, but I went through a good page or two thinking that Amanda was Nick’s sister because she answered the door at his house and I remembered it being mentioned that she was a sister to one of the band members right at the beginning. Well, that scene quickly got problematic if they were siblings, so I had to go back and think about whose sister she was and everything became clear when I deduced she was actually Jason’s sister, not Nick’s. Again, this was probably just me reading it too fast and not registering everything I should, but I think it is at least partially a result of the pace being so quick that there wasn’t a lot of time with some of the secondary characters, making it harder to keep them straight without stopping to think about it.

But then they are secondary characters, and we’re here for Cassiopeia and Orion, amirite? Cassiopeia’s reactions to Orion were refreshingly honest and the way he slowly tries to win her over was a nice change from my most recent forays into romance fiction. The way their minds connect involuntarily speaks of some subconscious level of desire that neither wants to acknowledge, for different reasons, and those scenes were really atmospheric and intimate. Swoon. And while not completely open with one another on every level, they have conversations that feel natural at the stage of their relationship. They have misunderstandings, they have hesitations, they have conflict to work through, including their initial misjudgement of one another, but it never feels like drama for the sake of drama.

That is not to say that they’re both angelic, well-adjusted, non-problematic individuals. No, Orion’s first attempt at “wooing” Cassiopeia goes about as well as Prince Derek’s in The Swan Princess. Cassiopeia, on the other hand, has had some struggles with hubris and a disregard for sentient life that motivates her guilt and avoidance throughout the story, but crops up again near the climax.

Orion also has an unexpectedly dark past, with overtones of the whole “following orders” defense for war crimes. It’s a bit of a conundrum, and one that there isn’t really given an easy answer to. Possibly, again, because the whole Celestial-Campion war is more of the B plot—set dressing, if you will—though it has real repercussions and consequences for the A plot, too, which comes to bear in a beautifully heartbreaking scene of Cassiopeia and Orion facing the scale and devastation of the events that led them to each other. And they kiss. It is a kissing book.

I really like this book for what it is, while seeing beyond to the vast potential of unexplored territory that might have moved it away from romance with a side dish of sci-fi, to sci-fi with a side dish of romance. The fast pace and sparse approach to the outer-space worldbuilding really leaves the stage open for the romance and sweetness of the tone. The setting of the indie rock group with its oddities and struggles is a neat way to give a unique feel, making music and art culture the one that our Celestials encounter specifically, rather than having the experience be lost in the mélange of the mainstream. And did I gasp in disbelief and grin like an idiot when I read the title for Chapter Four, “Nobody Likes the Opening Band,” because someone else listens to iDKHOW? Yes, yes, I did that.

It’s a quick read and Mionis definitely erred on the side of leaving the readers wanting more, rather than over-writing. I definitely want more. I want more of her engaging and amusing writing style, I want more of her inventive science-fiction-y sentient stars and incorporeal entities rocketing through nebulae, I want more of her feel-good relationships and quirky subculture references…

Basically, can her next book be about 800 pages long? Because I would read that without complaint. (Ignores the >800 page To Sleep in a Sea of Stars looking at me in disbelief, given my less-than-patient review of its length.) Seriously.

[Amber Lambda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Cassiopeia and Orion are left as the last of their kind in the aftermath of a galactic war, Orion approaches her with the idea to fix that—and it doesn’t go very well. In an attempt to hide from both Orion and her past, Cassiopeia crash lands on earth. Where she learns a lot from the humans that she’d never thought much about before, including just how far Orion is willing to search for her.

This was a fun story and reminded me somewhat of a space version of Enchanted! I loved seeing Cassiopeia and Orion’s reactions to learning earthy things (especially Orion, he was the best), and comparing them to their own world and experience. Though I didn’t feel particularly close to the side characters, I did enjoy the relationships the two main characters made with them and how it helped them understand one another and themselves more. Overall, the romance was sweet, the plot unfolded at a good pace while keeping mystery throughout, and the world building was interesting. I’d recommend this story to other YA readers who enjoy sci-fi stories blended with real-world settings!

[Christina Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was such a playful and refreshing idea. The mix of lifestyles between the Celestials and the humans was so much fun to read. I found myself smiling through almost every chapter. Being a KC native, I couldn't resist the joy that flew through me when local hotspots were called out from beginning to end.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. It was so nice to read a dystopian-type novel like the ones in the mid-2000s. I thoroughly enjoyed the humor, characters, and ending. It's a slow-burn romance and it is sweet, sassy, and so fun. The character development is fantastic - Lidian is the best character you'll read in a while. Even the characters that aren't super likable in the beginning grow on you by the end. The characters all have unique personalities and traits and reading it was like being in their world. The writing is wonderful and there's just enough description to help you really understand the scenes without being bored. I thought it was a great book and I can't wait to see what the author has in store next!

[Cindy Schott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading The Last Celestials, I could not put it down.
The author put so much attention to detail describing the characters, especially Orion and Cassiopeia. It felt like I was watching them in a movie. I love books that are not the kind of "in-your-face-romance" books, like this one. I can really recommend this book to anyone who likes to laugh out loud while reading and who likes to read something that is lighthearted.

[Cassie The Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

A war had broken out, causing an entire race of celestials to be wiped out - all except two. In fear of their kind's existence, Orion, a warrior who fought in the war, drearily comes to seek out the only other of his kind. A princess who had exiled herself for who knows why is his only hope. When he holds an audience with the princess however...things don't go according to plan. Cassiopeia decides to hide out from Orion and his plans by spotting a planet where human bugs reside.

Meanwhile Orion rethinks his plan and tries to make up with Cassiopeia. Unfortunately, she's left without word. Determined to right his wrongs, he begins to retrace the princesses' steps. Unfortunately, they are not alone. Old enemies lurk and dark secrets begin to emerge.

This was an interesting story that's based in space and Earth. I absolutely loved the world building of this story. The characters were a delight to follow on their journey. My favorite though had to be Cody and Cassiopeia's friendship.

For anyone that likes stories of stars and romance, character building and light scifi, this is a nice paced story that will leave you satisfied.

Thanks to the author for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty!

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[anie · Rating 4 out of 5]

received from author

At end of the war, there were two of their kind left. A recluse of a princess and a warrior.

Orion finds her at her hiding place, informs her of their predicament and suggest they repopulate their race. It doesn't end well for him. :) Cassiopeia is not interested in him and runs. She crash lands on Earth. Luckily there was a band driving not too far away. They take her help her navigate the Earth life. She learns to take care of the house and is even their band manages.

After a while Orion finds her. But he has his work caught up for him. She will not give him the second change easily. :)

It's got all of the ingredients for a good book: aliens, sassy talking sun, Earth band and sweet (and a little bit awkward) romance. :)

[Cay13cay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect blend of sweet, fun, nerdy, and chaotic.

I normaly won't even look at a book that has a love story in it, but this one had me hooked.

This book was well written, entrancing, and perfect for anyone's reading list. The characters are well developed, relatable, and spontaneous. I love a book that releases background knowledge slowly and let's you ponder and guess the path and past of characters.

I can't wait to get my hands on a hard copy now to add to my collection.

I loved this book and the characters. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for something new, fun, and an escape from one world to the next.

[Vanessa Arlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cute, funny, witty and action packed novel was so much fun to read! It follows the last two celestials and dictates their adventures and trials on their journey. Packed with very funny dialog where I was literally laughing out loud and I can say with confidence that now I will always look at inchworms or empanadas with a comical view. Orion has a very dry humor almost like Sheldon from the Big bang theory and Cassiopeia is vastly different which makes for a fun read. Full of action and twists and turns that you don’t see coming and sweet side characters that make you smile. It’s a must read!

[Becca Mionis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm being kind to myself here - I would rate my debut as a 3.5 at best. Wow, I'm really selling it, aren't I? Let me explain. I had the time of my life writing this. It was an old idea that had gotten lodged in my brain a long time ago and had grown and developed as I had, so it was near and dear to my heart. I wrote it for me and I wrote it for my sister, and basically no one else. So I told myself I didn't care how it was received and, of course, that was a lie. I wanted everyone to love it as much as I did. But the thing about your baby is that... it's YOUR BABY. Other people might enjoy it and think it's cute but no one loves that thing like you do.

I am exceedingly blessed and thankful for everyone who has read and gotten even an iota of enjoyment out of this book, but in hindsight, I understand now: this was a first attempt. A much-needed, deeply cherished first attempt that has become my springboard to bigger and better things. I needed to get it out of my system. I recognize its flaws. I love it in spite of its flaws. And I no longer expect anyone to love it the way I do.

Perhaps this is the lesson all authors must learn, regardless of how many books they've written. And I'm thankful that The Last Celestials taught me that. I won't ever say it's bad, because it's not, but I know I can do better and that I will do better.

I also still think (or believe, or hope) that it'll find its intended audience someday. Maybe that's you. I won't tell you not to read it. Please, read it. And let me know if you think I made a fair assessment of it or not. The learning curve is a neverending one. :)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky, RomCom SciFi. Found Family. Multiple POV. Third person. Hiding on earth, but still some fun space travel. Lots of food! Different cultures. Last of their kind. Sentient (and hilarious) Stars. Almost Enemies to Lovers. Indie Music scene/garage band. Love interests have a Psychic connection, almost like a vision. Chapter titles. Book playlist.
Cassiopeia has a lot of baggage to work through and wants to be alone. But Orion is very determined to win her over. 😏
Great debut! Excited to read her newest release!

💕RCRS: 3 (heavier kissing)

🗨 Some Quotes
"She’s harmless. This is going to sound stupid, but I sense… a good soul in her.”
“You sense… a good soul? Holy shit, has she already brainwashed you?”
“No! I don’t think so. I hope not.” Then again, if he were brainwashed, how would he know? “You hope not? Jesus, Cody.”
“I’m not,” he said with as much certainty as possible. “But I still think we should proceed on the premise of innocent until proven guilty.”
“Spoken like a true brainwashee."


"Love is a simple force. It permeates the universe, yet when it’s manifested in corporeal beings it tends to become a lesser version of itself.”


“Sorry? Why be sorry? The day he stops driving me crazy is the day our marriage fails. You remember this, girls: If they don’t drive you crazy, you’re not in love.”

[Shelly with the glasses · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had such a Hallmark feel, I feel like if Hallmark made a sci-fi movie, this would be it and it would be rad. I liked the plot and world, or rather, universe building. The romance sadly didn't cut it for me. It's a hate to love trope which I normally love, but it jumped too quickly and it comes off more like infatuation.

[ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

did i know what to expect when i started it? absolutely not. am i disappointment? god no, far from it. ANOTHER BANGERRR. and they were all so lovable… and let me just say, I LOVE SPACE. also the cover is so pretty. and now i can connect the dots

[mehak · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so cute omg😭😭😭 love love love love love LOOOOVE space so this was literally written for me. i wish there was more to the epilogue bc i wanted to see the band back together😿 but it’s okay this was such an adorable little book

[Allyson Barkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every book Becca writes is a blast. This was sweet and lovely and had just enough mystery and adventure to keep things lively. Each of the characters is so endearing and dynamic. I highly recommend for a fun YA read!

[Teresa Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written. The plot, the characters and the writing all kept me immersed in the story. I enjoyed reading it very, very much. Thank you.