What do you think?
The Less Years #3
The Last Year: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Story
THE SHERIFF WANTS HIS DAUGHTER BACK. AND HE’LL DO ANYTHING TO FIND HER.
After defeating the forces of Less along the lake coast, the nameless son of Magnus and Mariam must now head north, off the map, to find his kidnapped daughter. Taken to the secret city of Ellesmere, it’s a race against the clock to get her back.
But it’s likely going to be a one-way trip.
Because war is brewing in the north, and Less is coming for everyone.
Will the nameless Sheriff arrive in time? Can he trust his unlikely allies? Will he actually find Winter and escape the remote City of Less?Or will he become just another victim of the brutal Less Year?
THE LAST YEAR is a gritty, grim, and violent post-apocalyptic adventure. If you enjoyed dystopian books like The Road, Edge of Collapse, The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, or One Second After then you'll love this brutal series!!
After defeating the forces of Less along the lake coast, the nameless son of Magnus and Mariam must now head north, off the map, to find his kidnapped daughter. Taken to the secret city of Ellesmere, it’s a race against the clock to get her back.
But it’s likely going to be a one-way trip.
Because war is brewing in the north, and Less is coming for everyone.
Will the nameless Sheriff arrive in time? Can he trust his unlikely allies? Will he actually find Winter and escape the remote City of Less?Or will he become just another victim of the brutal Less Year?
THE LAST YEAR is a gritty, grim, and violent post-apocalyptic adventure. If you enjoyed dystopian books like The Road, Edge of Collapse, The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, or One Second After then you'll love this brutal series!!
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2024
About the author
C.K. Oldfield
5 books20 followersChris was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada but grew up in small-town Ontario. After spending his teenage years playing in punk bands and working on an organic farm, he headed off to university where — after dropping out to move to a monastery in Japan — he eventually earned a BA in history.
During his time at university, he had a few pieces of poetry published and wrote a couple of plays that were brought to life on stage. It was there where the idea for The Less Year took root.
After spending a decade traveling the world, Chris returned to writing, eventually diving back into The Less Year with reckless abandon.
When he’s not traveling the world or visiting friends and family in Canada, Chris can be found on his quiet island in Western Sweden.
During his time at university, he had a few pieces of poetry published and wrote a couple of plays that were brought to life on stage. It was there where the idea for The Less Year took root.
After spending a decade traveling the world, Chris returned to writing, eventually diving back into The Less Year with reckless abandon.
When he’s not traveling the world or visiting friends and family in Canada, Chris can be found on his quiet island in Western Sweden.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 10, 2026
Reviewing all three: Less Year, Lost Year, Last Year. These were very good, a bit different from the usual post apocalyptic in that they take place generations after the fall of civilisation, in a hot, climate-wrecked world.
Characterisation is very good. A nonbinary character and gay relationships are presented as quite ordinary and not dwelt upon, which I appreciated. Children are not named until they prove themselves survivors.
People copy books by hand to preserve them, as there are no more printing presses. Survivors live in the northern reaches of the world. Greenland and Iceland are mentioned and so is Ellesmere Island, currently an arctic wilderness but in the overheated world of the Years, it is the home of a possible resurgence of humanity. Maybe. If they don't all take each other out first.
It is, however, quite the most depressing damn trilogy I've read in a long while. The first settlement introduced is called Hope but the story didn't seem to have much! I started hoping that *some* characters would at least survive, but it ends something like Hamlet.*I would also warn that there is considerable animal harm in it, which I always find harder to take than harm to human characters. I'm not sure what that says about me, but watch out, is all.
Nice guys finish last. Though looking back, the viewpoint characters were definitely antiheroes and I'm not sure there was anyone who could be considered nice. Maybe two, and only one of those makes it!
I think the series is complete, though there would be plenty of room for other stories in that world. I'd hope for a bit less blood and despair if there are any more books. I wish there were half stars, as I would probably give this a three-and-a-half. If I thought I would reread it, I would give it a four, but no, too grim.
* Everybody dead. [Not quite, in this case]
There are spoilers in the comments.
Characterisation is very good. A nonbinary character and gay relationships are presented as quite ordinary and not dwelt upon, which I appreciated. Children are not named until they prove themselves survivors.
People copy books by hand to preserve them, as there are no more printing presses. Survivors live in the northern reaches of the world. Greenland and Iceland are mentioned and so is Ellesmere Island, currently an arctic wilderness but in the overheated world of the Years, it is the home of a possible resurgence of humanity. Maybe. If they don't all take each other out first.
It is, however, quite the most depressing damn trilogy I've read in a long while. The first settlement introduced is called Hope but the story didn't seem to have much! I started hoping that *some* characters would at least survive, but it ends something like Hamlet.*I would also warn that there is considerable animal harm in it, which I always find harder to take than harm to human characters. I'm not sure what that says about me, but watch out, is all.
Nice guys finish last. Though looking back, the viewpoint characters were definitely antiheroes and I'm not sure there was anyone who could be considered nice. Maybe two, and only one of those makes it!
I think the series is complete, though there would be plenty of room for other stories in that world. I'd hope for a bit less blood and despair if there are any more books. I wish there were half stars, as I would probably give this a three-and-a-half. If I thought I would reread it, I would give it a four, but no, too grim.
* Everybody dead. [Not quite, in this case]
There are spoilers in the comments.
June 11, 2024
The Last Year by C. K. Oldfield
My 5⭐review and more for The Last Year:
The anticipation and excitement to read The Last Year by Chris had my skeleton wanting to burst out of my skin!
Hope, what does that mean to you?
For Magnus son it is everything, finding his daughter again Winter is the ultimate goal.
If he has to kill everyone in his wake to do so he will.
Old rivals and enemies don't stand a chance .
The war is on the horizon, but who will win the final battle?
This book like most in the series had me shouting out loud and jumping out of my seat!
If I could use profanity without being blocked then I would.
Mr Oldfield, I fudging hate you right now! You have made me cry, scream and fall in love with this book.
My 5⭐review and more for The Last Year:
The anticipation and excitement to read The Last Year by Chris had my skeleton wanting to burst out of my skin!
Hope, what does that mean to you?
For Magnus son it is everything, finding his daughter again Winter is the ultimate goal.
If he has to kill everyone in his wake to do so he will.
Old rivals and enemies don't stand a chance .
The war is on the horizon, but who will win the final battle?
This book like most in the series had me shouting out loud and jumping out of my seat!
If I could use profanity without being blocked then I would.
Mr Oldfield, I fudging hate you right now! You have made me cry, scream and fall in love with this book.
June 30, 2024
Wow, this book is an emotional rollercoaster, especially the third part. Knowing that Oldfield is prepared to kill off any character had me on the edge of my seat the entire book.
The storyline feels quite different from the previous two books; whereas in the first two books the actions of the main characters in the previous books were mostly reactions to events happening to them, in this book they were on a mission. For me this made it the best of the three.
While the author has stated this is an ongoing series of books The Last Year really brings the three books together and has a satisfying ending.
Anyways, I've read these three books in one week, which should already convey how gripping they were :)
The storyline feels quite different from the previous two books; whereas in the first two books the actions of the main characters in the previous books were mostly reactions to events happening to them, in this book they were on a mission. For me this made it the best of the three.
While the author has stated this is an ongoing series of books The Last Year really brings the three books together and has a satisfying ending.
Anyways, I've read these three books in one week, which should already convey how gripping they were :)
September 19, 2024
**Title: A Gripping Tale of Survival and Hope**
C.K. Oldfield’s *The Last Year* plunges readers into a world devastated by a pandemic. Jamie, the resilient protagonist, faces unimaginable loss when her younger brother, Ethan, dies, propelling her into a fierce struggle for survival.
As she navigates this harsh reality, Jamie’s encounters with hostile scavengers test her strength and resourcefulness. The climax, where she leads her group against these threats, showcases her growth from a scared girl to a determined leader.
Her relationship with Alex adds emotional depth, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. The bittersweet ending emphasizes that even in despair, there’s a reason to keep fighting. Oldfield’s powerful storytelling makes this a must-read for fans of the genre.
C.K. Oldfield’s *The Last Year* plunges readers into a world devastated by a pandemic. Jamie, the resilient protagonist, faces unimaginable loss when her younger brother, Ethan, dies, propelling her into a fierce struggle for survival.
As she navigates this harsh reality, Jamie’s encounters with hostile scavengers test her strength and resourcefulness. The climax, where she leads her group against these threats, showcases her growth from a scared girl to a determined leader.
Her relationship with Alex adds emotional depth, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. The bittersweet ending emphasizes that even in despair, there’s a reason to keep fighting. Oldfield’s powerful storytelling makes this a must-read for fans of the genre.
May 27, 2026
“I remember you,” he said again, the words sticking in his throat.
And he did.
He remembered her name, her face. He remembered her family. Her father. He remembered his own father. And love. Family. Mistakes. Violence. So much violence.
It all came back to him, flooding and eroding.
He remembered.
Tears leaked down his cheek. The world around him darkened.
“I remember everything.”
January 5, 2025
Well , fuck! this was incredible, built up my hopes then ripped my heart out then continued to repeat the process the only thing wrong with this book is that it ended. Hopefully we more from this world in the future.
June 5, 2024
Easy five stars, but I may be biased...
June 24, 2024
Beckett’s daughter should have stayed dead and it should have ended with vengeance and being reunited rather than death if the Sheriff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2024
I absolutely love this series, I’m super invested in the characters, the world and what the hell will happen next. I may have shed a tear in this one :)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews