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Kingdom of Oak and Steel #1
The Last Vigilant
The Last Vigilant begins an unmissable new epic fantasy series, where unforgettable characters, intricate conspiracies and ancient magic collide
Shunned by the soldiers he commands, haunted by past tragedies, Sargent Holt Hawley is a broken man. But the child of a powerful ally has gone missing, and war between once peaceful nations is on the horizon. So, he and his squad have been sent to find a the Vigilant. They are a rumored last survivor of an ancient order capable of performing acts of magic, and they've been lost to the world for decades. No one truly expects Hawley to succeed.
When he is forced to abandon his men, he stumbles upon a woman who claims to be the Last Vigilant. Enelda Drake is wizened and out of practice, and she seems a far cry from the heroes of legend. But they will need her powers, and each other, to survive. For nothing in the town of Scarfell is as it seems. Corrupt soldiers and calculating politicians thwart their efforts at every turn.
And there are dark whispers on the wind threatening the arrival of an ancient and powerful enemy. The Last Vigilant is not the only myth returning from the dead.
Shunned by the soldiers he commands, haunted by past tragedies, Sargent Holt Hawley is a broken man. But the child of a powerful ally has gone missing, and war between once peaceful nations is on the horizon. So, he and his squad have been sent to find a the Vigilant. They are a rumored last survivor of an ancient order capable of performing acts of magic, and they've been lost to the world for decades. No one truly expects Hawley to succeed.
When he is forced to abandon his men, he stumbles upon a woman who claims to be the Last Vigilant. Enelda Drake is wizened and out of practice, and she seems a far cry from the heroes of legend. But they will need her powers, and each other, to survive. For nothing in the town of Scarfell is as it seems. Corrupt soldiers and calculating politicians thwart their efforts at every turn.
And there are dark whispers on the wind threatening the arrival of an ancient and powerful enemy. The Last Vigilant is not the only myth returning from the dead.
501 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2025
125 people are currently reading
9088 people want to read
About the author
Mark A. Latham
36 books155 followersMark A. Latham is a writer, editor, history nerd, proud dogfather, frustrated grunge singer and amateur baker from Staffordshire, UK. An immigrant to rural Nottinghamshire, he lives in a very old house (sadly not haunted), and is still regarded in the village as a foreigner.
Formerly the editor of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf magazine, Mark designs tabletop games, and is an author of strange, fantastical and macabre tales.
Formerly the editor of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf magazine, Mark designs tabletop games, and is an author of strange, fantastical and macabre tales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
June 24, 2025
A wonderful tale, using a murder-mystery scenario to great effect set within a well-drawn fantastical world. The characters shone for me, especially the two central characters. I came to care about them, felt immersed in their journey. When a book makes me feel, it's a win for me. This book made me feel.
I loved it and would highly recommend.
I loved it and would highly recommend.
May 10, 2025
The Witcher meets A Tainted Cup.
Sergeant Hawley is a disgraced, cursed soldier. Not of the blood, he is a pariah. He is sent on a mission to find a Vigilant, an old order who used to be the pioneers of justice. Instead, he finds Old Nell, the witch in the woods. It turns out Enelda Drake is more than just an old woman, she is a True Vigilant, the last one left.
Hawley is in for a rude awakening because all the stories and myths may not be so contrived after all and he has his hands full with Enelda.
“I am the seeker after the truth. I am the voice of the meek. I am the sword of justice. I am the healer of the cursed. I am the watcher against the darkness. I am everywhere and nowhere. I am everyone and no one. The gods made me, the gods protect me, and the gods will one day take me.”
We have three perspective.
Mainly Hawley, who is resigned to his fate and angry at everything.
Then Enelda, who is shrewd and observant and keeps too many secrets.
Finally, the archduke’s young ward who is at the centre of the mystery behind disappearing children. She is curious as a cat, daring as a devil.
Hawley and Enelda of course reminded me of grumpy mentor and grumpy protector/apprentice figure similar to the dynamic found in A Tainted Cup.
Iveta is a strong girl, full of mischief and cleverness.
“But then, would you not say,” Enelda pressed, to Hawley’s dismay, “that any law designed to prevent criticism of the law is merely tyranny in disguise?”
Hawley coughed loudly. For the first time that day he felt the pain in his ribs stab sharply beneath the linen wraps. “No, m’lady,” Hawley said. “I wouldn’t say that, neither, ’cause I like my head right here on my shoulders, where it belongs.”
This works well as a standalone, but also sets up for a series with drops of lore and not all the threads wrapped up.
This has such interesting lore, sorcery, and likeable character dynamics.
I was teetering between four and three stars, as, though I had a great time, nothing truly stood out to me. It didn’t grip me, but it didn’t bore me. I think, had the pacing been tighter, especially towards the end, this would have been rounded up.
I would still be interested in picking up the sequel.
Arc gifted by Orbit.
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Sergeant Hawley is a disgraced, cursed soldier. Not of the blood, he is a pariah. He is sent on a mission to find a Vigilant, an old order who used to be the pioneers of justice. Instead, he finds Old Nell, the witch in the woods. It turns out Enelda Drake is more than just an old woman, she is a True Vigilant, the last one left.
Hawley is in for a rude awakening because all the stories and myths may not be so contrived after all and he has his hands full with Enelda.
“I am the seeker after the truth. I am the voice of the meek. I am the sword of justice. I am the healer of the cursed. I am the watcher against the darkness. I am everywhere and nowhere. I am everyone and no one. The gods made me, the gods protect me, and the gods will one day take me.”
We have three perspective.
Mainly Hawley, who is resigned to his fate and angry at everything.
Then Enelda, who is shrewd and observant and keeps too many secrets.
Finally, the archduke’s young ward who is at the centre of the mystery behind disappearing children. She is curious as a cat, daring as a devil.
Hawley and Enelda of course reminded me of grumpy mentor and grumpy protector/apprentice figure similar to the dynamic found in A Tainted Cup.
Iveta is a strong girl, full of mischief and cleverness.
“But then, would you not say,” Enelda pressed, to Hawley’s dismay, “that any law designed to prevent criticism of the law is merely tyranny in disguise?”
Hawley coughed loudly. For the first time that day he felt the pain in his ribs stab sharply beneath the linen wraps. “No, m’lady,” Hawley said. “I wouldn’t say that, neither, ’cause I like my head right here on my shoulders, where it belongs.”
This works well as a standalone, but also sets up for a series with drops of lore and not all the threads wrapped up.
This has such interesting lore, sorcery, and likeable character dynamics.
I was teetering between four and three stars, as, though I had a great time, nothing truly stood out to me. It didn’t grip me, but it didn’t bore me. I think, had the pacing been tighter, especially towards the end, this would have been rounded up.
I would still be interested in picking up the sequel.
Arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
May 31, 2025
5 ✰
Children are disappearing, and an urgent investigation must be carried out to prevent a war.
The Last Vigilant is a brilliant adult fantasy! This story masterfully blends mystery, unsettling disappearances, strange phenomena, and political tension, all set in a dark, richly built medieval world.
The plot is woven with finesse and intelligence, unraveling in a truly remarkable way. Clues are cleverly scattered, only revealing the full truth at the very end. Every reveal was surprising, and each twist was perfectly placed, I was completely speechless! Honestly, my brain felt scrambled, and I just stared at the wall for a few minutes afterward.
The main characters are so endearing, deep, and captivating. An unexpected duo forms, and I truly believe their friendship is one of the pillars of this book. It touched me deeply and made me feel even more connected to the story. I absolutely loved following their journey, they’ve definitely taken a place in my heart, and I know I’ll never forget them! Actually, Enelda reminded me a lot of Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.
The secondary characters are just as interesting and nuanced. What I appreciated is that they aren’t just part of the background. On the contrary, each of them plays an important role or contributes meaningfully to the plot. Some are intriguing, others detestable or ambiguous, making the investigation even more complex…
The pacing is a bit slow at times, but the twists come at just the right moments to keep us on edge. The characters also bring energy and momentum to the story, so I was never bored for a second. Even when I wasn’t reading, I was constantly thinking about the book. I just wanted to dive back into it every chance I got!
After reading the final page, I felt so empty. Now, there’s only one thing I’m waiting for: the sequel!!
──── ⋆⋅༄⋅⋆ ────
• Mystery
• Disappearances
• Political tension
• The Broken MMC
• Redemption
• Forgotten & ancient magic
જ⁀➴ All my thanks to the author, NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this eARC <33
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
This book was absolutely AMAZING!! I was completely invested from start to finish. I fell in love with the characters. They’ll have my heart forever 🤧💗
Review is coming <33
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
⋆ ˚｡⋆ ｐｒｅ－ｒｅａｄ
⤿ Okay book gods, I’ve suffered enough after Swordheart. Let this one slay! This is my last shred of hope before I spiral into a reading slump ✋🏼😫
Children are disappearing, and an urgent investigation must be carried out to prevent a war.
The Last Vigilant is a brilliant adult fantasy! This story masterfully blends mystery, unsettling disappearances, strange phenomena, and political tension, all set in a dark, richly built medieval world.
The plot is woven with finesse and intelligence, unraveling in a truly remarkable way. Clues are cleverly scattered, only revealing the full truth at the very end. Every reveal was surprising, and each twist was perfectly placed, I was completely speechless! Honestly, my brain felt scrambled, and I just stared at the wall for a few minutes afterward.
The main characters are so endearing, deep, and captivating. An unexpected duo forms, and I truly believe their friendship is one of the pillars of this book. It touched me deeply and made me feel even more connected to the story. I absolutely loved following their journey, they’ve definitely taken a place in my heart, and I know I’ll never forget them! Actually, Enelda reminded me a lot of Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.
The secondary characters are just as interesting and nuanced. What I appreciated is that they aren’t just part of the background. On the contrary, each of them plays an important role or contributes meaningfully to the plot. Some are intriguing, others detestable or ambiguous, making the investigation even more complex…
The pacing is a bit slow at times, but the twists come at just the right moments to keep us on edge. The characters also bring energy and momentum to the story, so I was never bored for a second. Even when I wasn’t reading, I was constantly thinking about the book. I just wanted to dive back into it every chance I got!
After reading the final page, I felt so empty. Now, there’s only one thing I’m waiting for: the sequel!!
──── ⋆⋅༄⋅⋆ ────
• Mystery
• Disappearances
• Political tension
• The Broken MMC
• Redemption
• Forgotten & ancient magic
જ⁀➴ All my thanks to the author, NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this eARC <33
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
This book was absolutely AMAZING!! I was completely invested from start to finish. I fell in love with the characters. They’ll have my heart forever 🤧💗
Review is coming <33
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
⋆ ˚｡⋆ ｐｒｅ－ｒｅａｄ
⤿ Okay book gods, I’ve suffered enough after Swordheart. Let this one slay! This is my last shred of hope before I spiral into a reading slump ✋🏼😫
March 14, 2025
Review: This was good from the get go. High action coupled with great characterization. Ignore the cover art as it in no way reflects Hawley.
This is a great mystery novel, and should have been populated within that genre. An ingeneous approach to couple both fantasy and mystery into a complete whole. The merging of the two is flawless and takes you down so many whodunnit roads, that you question your choices when new evidence is revealed.
I loved this book and you will too.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
4.8/5
This is a great mystery novel, and should have been populated within that genre. An ingeneous approach to couple both fantasy and mystery into a complete whole. The merging of the two is flawless and takes you down so many whodunnit roads, that you question your choices when new evidence is revealed.
I loved this book and you will too.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
4.8/5
August 6, 2025
4.25/5
If 'Between Two Fires' and 'The Justice of Kings' had a baby and they added an old version of Morraine Sedai it would look like this.
This book is the definition of "I expected nothing and it gave me everything". I didn't know the author nor heard of the book. I saw the ARC on netgalley and decided to try. Hooked from chapter one.
An old wizard who's less about flashy magic and more about knowledge and her bodyguard who's a monster with a sword and has the entire army he was part of against him because he's not from the Old Blood (simple nepotism, if you're father and his father and so forth weren't soldiers, you're not "one of us").
While I ate this up and can't wait for book 2, there's something that bothered me. The first 10% of the book promises monsters and a fight against the dark powers, and the rest of the book is about the mystery of who's trying to get us there, to that dark power. Which I didn't hate, but we have to wait quite a bit to solve that mystery.
So far this is top3 best surprises of all year.
If 'Between Two Fires' and 'The Justice of Kings' had a baby and they added an old version of Morraine Sedai it would look like this.
This book is the definition of "I expected nothing and it gave me everything". I didn't know the author nor heard of the book. I saw the ARC on netgalley and decided to try. Hooked from chapter one.
An old wizard who's less about flashy magic and more about knowledge and her bodyguard who's a monster with a sword and has the entire army he was part of against him because he's not from the Old Blood (simple nepotism, if you're father and his father and so forth weren't soldiers, you're not "one of us").
While I ate this up and can't wait for book 2, there's something that bothered me. The first 10% of the book promises monsters and a fight against the dark powers, and the rest of the book is about the mystery of who's trying to get us there, to that dark power. Which I didn't hate, but we have to wait quite a bit to solve that mystery.
So far this is top3 best surprises of all year.
August 23, 2025
“You must always look closer. The twists and turns of a life lived are written on men and women like script on parchment. In scars, in bearing, in the lines on the brow, the look in the eyes.”
They say that Sargent Holt Hawley is cursed. They say that the old order of True Vigilants, along with their magical abilities, are gone. Yet when several children, including the son of General Tarasq of Sylvervain, disappear, Archduke Leoric of Scarfell tasks Hawley to take his men and find a True Vigilant to aid them in their search. It is a mission believed to fail but when fleeing the dark and haunted forest of Elderwood, Hawley stumbles upon Enelda Drake, a woman claiming to be a True Vigilant. Together Hawley and Enelda must reach Scarfell, uncover some dark secrets and find those children before a war breaks out.
The Last Vigilant by Mark A. Latham is a dark and twisty tale that contains so much of what I love to find in a book—characters to care for, an epic world with intricate magic, and secrets and mysteries aplenty.
Like a lot of readers, I’m drawn to a stunning cover and the cover of this book, done by Mélanie Delon and Stephanie Hess, immediately caught my eye because I was reminded of The Wheel of Time covers, which happens to be a series I love. The cover brings back all the old school fantasy vibes in such an exciting way and I was relieved to discover that those epic fantasy vibes continued within the worldbuilding. Immediately Latham presents us with a mediaeval setting, a Kingdom with a dark forest, a castle full of secrets and the threat of monsters almost breaking through the Veil from where they were banished to. The threat of Riftborn demons is felt within the first few chapters, despite history being rewritten, many of the legends being lost and those seeking knowledge of the past being called superstitious, heretics and treasonous, Riftborn are still feared, if only in whispers behind closed doors. As the story unfolds other classic epic fantasy elements are played out with a war brewing between the Sylvervain army and Scarfell, corrupt politics and corrupt men, and religion striving for the forefront on all matters. Yet this isn’t just another epic fantasy, much to my delight Latham ambitiously also gives us a mystery.
At the heart of this story are two compelling characters investigating the disappearances of these children—Enelda and Hawley. Immediately the pair reminded me of Ana and Dinios from Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Tainted Cup, another series I adore! Enelda, being the last of the old order of Vigilants who held much authority and respect in her time, finds this new world quite different. She first appears as an eccentric, weakened old crone, having spent decades shut away in her tower but it’s soon made clear how intelligent, perceptive and capable she still is, she still holds many of the abilities a Vigilant should possess. Yet now her position is disregarded by many, her powers seen as necromancy or witchcraft and as she is not indestructible, the world has become a more threatening place. Which is where Hawley steps in. Though he’s often rash with decisions, let’s his temper get the better of him and doubts himself often, not surprising given the way he has been treated on the bad hand he was dealt from early on, he’s still loyal and dutiful. He is a High Company Sargent but not of ‘the blood’ and therefore deemed as cursed by others and secrets of his past overwhelmingly haunt him, but Enelda sees his true self and as she takes him under her wing he learns to become more perceptive, learns more of the old ways.The dynamic between these two is fantastically portrayed, despite their differences and conflicts, there is a deep connection and bond between them. As their friendship grows Hawley goes from just being Enelda’s protector to becoming someone she trusts and feels comfortable to be around.
"The gods care little for the follies of men. But I care, for without exposing such folly, superstition and prejudice make a mockery of justice. Let the gods judge me all they will; let me be the judge of other mortals."
The mystery itself is well played throughout with plenty of characters to be suspicious of and much to puzzle out. The majority of the investigation takes place within the castle of Scarfell and who better than Lady Iveta, being Archduke Leoric’s niece, and having a panache for spying, to know the ins and outs of the castle like no other. By the decree of the King of Aelderland women were no longer allowed to hold positions of power, they could not rule or become soldiers as Lady Aenya, the Warrior Maid Iveta so admires, had once done. Iveta's life feels like an imprisonment and so she gains great knowledge of all the secret tunnels within the castle and is often in places where she should not be and so overhears much. Latham does a superb job of making the disappearance of these children integral to the political worldbuilding and to the characters—from Iveta we learn how the kingdom is starving, how unjust the new order of Vigilants are and how corruption is found in every corner, making her character just as compelling as Enelda and Hawley, to follow. The mystery really did keep me guessing, I was bursting with theories throughout, and some even proved right, but the dark turning ending surprised me and left me curious for what is to come next.
The Last Vigilant is a tale where classic fantasy meets a puzzling mystery and delivers an unputdownable read. This book was a true hidden gem.
“It is a terrible thing, to have your spirit broken. A more terrible thing to break the spirit of those dear to you."
ARC Provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review—Thank you for the copy!
They say that Sargent Holt Hawley is cursed. They say that the old order of True Vigilants, along with their magical abilities, are gone. Yet when several children, including the son of General Tarasq of Sylvervain, disappear, Archduke Leoric of Scarfell tasks Hawley to take his men and find a True Vigilant to aid them in their search. It is a mission believed to fail but when fleeing the dark and haunted forest of Elderwood, Hawley stumbles upon Enelda Drake, a woman claiming to be a True Vigilant. Together Hawley and Enelda must reach Scarfell, uncover some dark secrets and find those children before a war breaks out.
The Last Vigilant by Mark A. Latham is a dark and twisty tale that contains so much of what I love to find in a book—characters to care for, an epic world with intricate magic, and secrets and mysteries aplenty.
Like a lot of readers, I’m drawn to a stunning cover and the cover of this book, done by Mélanie Delon and Stephanie Hess, immediately caught my eye because I was reminded of The Wheel of Time covers, which happens to be a series I love. The cover brings back all the old school fantasy vibes in such an exciting way and I was relieved to discover that those epic fantasy vibes continued within the worldbuilding. Immediately Latham presents us with a mediaeval setting, a Kingdom with a dark forest, a castle full of secrets and the threat of monsters almost breaking through the Veil from where they were banished to. The threat of Riftborn demons is felt within the first few chapters, despite history being rewritten, many of the legends being lost and those seeking knowledge of the past being called superstitious, heretics and treasonous, Riftborn are still feared, if only in whispers behind closed doors. As the story unfolds other classic epic fantasy elements are played out with a war brewing between the Sylvervain army and Scarfell, corrupt politics and corrupt men, and religion striving for the forefront on all matters. Yet this isn’t just another epic fantasy, much to my delight Latham ambitiously also gives us a mystery.
At the heart of this story are two compelling characters investigating the disappearances of these children—Enelda and Hawley. Immediately the pair reminded me of Ana and Dinios from Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Tainted Cup, another series I adore! Enelda, being the last of the old order of Vigilants who held much authority and respect in her time, finds this new world quite different. She first appears as an eccentric, weakened old crone, having spent decades shut away in her tower but it’s soon made clear how intelligent, perceptive and capable she still is, she still holds many of the abilities a Vigilant should possess. Yet now her position is disregarded by many, her powers seen as necromancy or witchcraft and as she is not indestructible, the world has become a more threatening place. Which is where Hawley steps in. Though he’s often rash with decisions, let’s his temper get the better of him and doubts himself often, not surprising given the way he has been treated on the bad hand he was dealt from early on, he’s still loyal and dutiful. He is a High Company Sargent but not of ‘the blood’ and therefore deemed as cursed by others and secrets of his past overwhelmingly haunt him, but Enelda sees his true self and as she takes him under her wing he learns to become more perceptive, learns more of the old ways.The dynamic between these two is fantastically portrayed, despite their differences and conflicts, there is a deep connection and bond between them. As their friendship grows Hawley goes from just being Enelda’s protector to becoming someone she trusts and feels comfortable to be around.
"The gods care little for the follies of men. But I care, for without exposing such folly, superstition and prejudice make a mockery of justice. Let the gods judge me all they will; let me be the judge of other mortals."
The mystery itself is well played throughout with plenty of characters to be suspicious of and much to puzzle out. The majority of the investigation takes place within the castle of Scarfell and who better than Lady Iveta, being Archduke Leoric’s niece, and having a panache for spying, to know the ins and outs of the castle like no other. By the decree of the King of Aelderland women were no longer allowed to hold positions of power, they could not rule or become soldiers as Lady Aenya, the Warrior Maid Iveta so admires, had once done. Iveta's life feels like an imprisonment and so she gains great knowledge of all the secret tunnels within the castle and is often in places where she should not be and so overhears much. Latham does a superb job of making the disappearance of these children integral to the political worldbuilding and to the characters—from Iveta we learn how the kingdom is starving, how unjust the new order of Vigilants are and how corruption is found in every corner, making her character just as compelling as Enelda and Hawley, to follow. The mystery really did keep me guessing, I was bursting with theories throughout, and some even proved right, but the dark turning ending surprised me and left me curious for what is to come next.
The Last Vigilant is a tale where classic fantasy meets a puzzling mystery and delivers an unputdownable read. This book was a true hidden gem.
“It is a terrible thing, to have your spirit broken. A more terrible thing to break the spirit of those dear to you."
ARC Provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review—Thank you for the copy!
Read
April 28, 2025I’m not going to leave a rating for this book because I don’t think it’s fair to the author. This book had good qualities but it’s just not a book meant for me.
I got this book from Netgalley based off the cover because it made me think of Wheel of Time, but this is just a murder mystery like The Tainted Cup. If you enjoy that then you’ll probably enjoy this, however it is a very slow read.
I got this book from Netgalley based off the cover because it made me think of Wheel of Time, but this is just a murder mystery like The Tainted Cup. If you enjoy that then you’ll probably enjoy this, however it is a very slow read.
June 12, 2025
The Last Vigilant
by Mark A. Latham
Kingdom of Oak and Steel #1
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: June 24, 2025
Orbit Books
Ages: 16+
Holt Hawley is sent to find one of the last of the original Vigilants, a legendary order whose magics and skills might be the only way to find missing children, before the mother of one declares war on the kingdom. But nobody, including Holt, expects him to find one, believing they had all died. Then, in a forest of dark rumors and secrets, after his troop is attacked, the last Vigilant finds him.
Enelda Drake is old, her joints stiff, but her mind is keen. She has been hiding from others to train her mind to fight off the corruption from both human and the things that lurk in the Rift, but with the possibility of war and the missing children, she agrees to help him.
Following along the trope of Sherlock Holmes, Drake being Holmes and Holt, Watson, the story has Drake basically degrading Holt when he draws his own conclusions about the issues because she says he is wrong. I didn't like her. She was rude, but Holt felt like a lazy character only there to show how 'smart' Drake was, so that took a lot of enjoyment from the story. Also, these characters closely resembled the MCs from Robert Jackson Bennett's books, and I'm not too fond of them either, but those characters and the stories flowed a lot better and had more 'fantasy' action.
The plot was typical; corruption and backstabbing, but according to the blurb, there was supposed to be magic... Eh... it was touched upon. The 'myths' mentioned, while interesting, didn't pack a punch because they were only talked about here and there in the 'stories' told by the characters. Without action, they didn't feel that important during the rare times they did show up. It felt as if they were written as people, then in later drafts, changed to myths in the attempt to make the story more entertaining. But I was bored.
More situations like the one at the beginning of the story (spoiler) would have added to the suspense and given credit to what the blurb claimed.
There are no adult situations, but there is violence, so this isn't suitable for readers under sixteen.
I guess this is the first of a series, but I won't be looking for the next.
2 Stars
by Mark A. Latham
Kingdom of Oak and Steel #1
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: June 24, 2025
Orbit Books
Ages: 16+
Holt Hawley is sent to find one of the last of the original Vigilants, a legendary order whose magics and skills might be the only way to find missing children, before the mother of one declares war on the kingdom. But nobody, including Holt, expects him to find one, believing they had all died. Then, in a forest of dark rumors and secrets, after his troop is attacked, the last Vigilant finds him.
Enelda Drake is old, her joints stiff, but her mind is keen. She has been hiding from others to train her mind to fight off the corruption from both human and the things that lurk in the Rift, but with the possibility of war and the missing children, she agrees to help him.
Following along the trope of Sherlock Holmes, Drake being Holmes and Holt, Watson, the story has Drake basically degrading Holt when he draws his own conclusions about the issues because she says he is wrong. I didn't like her. She was rude, but Holt felt like a lazy character only there to show how 'smart' Drake was, so that took a lot of enjoyment from the story. Also, these characters closely resembled the MCs from Robert Jackson Bennett's books, and I'm not too fond of them either, but those characters and the stories flowed a lot better and had more 'fantasy' action.
The plot was typical; corruption and backstabbing, but according to the blurb, there was supposed to be magic... Eh... it was touched upon. The 'myths' mentioned, while interesting, didn't pack a punch because they were only talked about here and there in the 'stories' told by the characters. Without action, they didn't feel that important during the rare times they did show up. It felt as if they were written as people, then in later drafts, changed to myths in the attempt to make the story more entertaining. But I was bored.
More situations like the one at the beginning of the story (spoiler) would have added to the suspense and given credit to what the blurb claimed.
There are no adult situations, but there is violence, so this isn't suitable for readers under sixteen.
I guess this is the first of a series, but I won't be looking for the next.
2 Stars
July 20, 2025
I enjoyed this book, it might be a little slow but dont forget its setting up a world and its characters and by the end I think people would be invested in Enelda and Hawley to want to find out what happens next.
I think readers of John Gwynne would enjoy this one.
I think readers of John Gwynne would enjoy this one.
July 4, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 rounded up
A great start to a new series, which I feel will improve as we go alone. While the book does have fantasy elements, it was more of a murder mystery than a straight fantasy. The book started out strong and then kind of had its ups and downs with some parts dragging, but we did get what we needed to know with the plot development. The characters were interesting, with Hawley and Enalda working well together. I do wish there was a little more action throughout as we get a long lull of talk and no show, but the action scenes that were described were pretty gruesome and entertaining. I also wish there was more world building as it was pretty basic, but the political intrigue was done well throughout the book. The ending leaves you on a bit of a cliffhanger, but leaves you interested enough to want to pick up the second in the series, which I will definitely do.
3.5 rounded up
A great start to a new series, which I feel will improve as we go alone. While the book does have fantasy elements, it was more of a murder mystery than a straight fantasy. The book started out strong and then kind of had its ups and downs with some parts dragging, but we did get what we needed to know with the plot development. The characters were interesting, with Hawley and Enalda working well together. I do wish there was a little more action throughout as we get a long lull of talk and no show, but the action scenes that were described were pretty gruesome and entertaining. I also wish there was more world building as it was pretty basic, but the political intrigue was done well throughout the book. The ending leaves you on a bit of a cliffhanger, but leaves you interested enough to want to pick up the second in the series, which I will definitely do.
June 28, 2025
3.5⭐️ but rounding up for Goodreads.
Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC 🤍
This is a pretty decent start for this series. It had me engaged for the first 25% and then from 25% until 60% it felt like it just dragged on with a bunch of information. From 60% until the end it had grabbed my attention back. The only thing that kept this book from being a 4⭐️ is the character development. I’m realllllyyy hoping book 2 has a redemption and gives the characters more depth. 🤞🏽
To keep this spoiler free: this book I can see being a hit for those that are fans of Lies of Locke Lamora and The Tainted Cup.
Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC 🤍
This is a pretty decent start for this series. It had me engaged for the first 25% and then from 25% until 60% it felt like it just dragged on with a bunch of information. From 60% until the end it had grabbed my attention back. The only thing that kept this book from being a 4⭐️ is the character development. I’m realllllyyy hoping book 2 has a redemption and gives the characters more depth. 🤞🏽
To keep this spoiler free: this book I can see being a hit for those that are fans of Lies of Locke Lamora and The Tainted Cup.
July 26, 2025
3,25 ⭐
Un début sympa mais où est l'étincelle cette année sur les nouveautés et lancement de séries en VO ??!! 😭
Un début sympa mais où est l'étincelle cette année sur les nouveautés et lancement de séries en VO ??!! 😭
August 23, 2025
4.25 stars
I really enjoyed this! A great fantasy, murder mystery reminiscent of The Tainted Cup, The Justice of Kings, and Agatha Christie.
I really enjoyed this! A great fantasy, murder mystery reminiscent of The Tainted Cup, The Justice of Kings, and Agatha Christie.
August 7, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
The Last Vigilant is the first book in the epic fantasy series Kingdom of Oak and Steel, written by Mark A. Latham and published by Orbit Books. A small-scale mystery adventure that serves as the introduction to a richly built medieval world, a Holmes-Watson parallel relationship between our two main characters and the political tension that threatens to break the delicate stability of these lands.
Sergeant Hawley is a cursed soldier, not of the blood, a pariah for the rest of his company; they are sent to find a Vigilant, but the rest decide to take the opportunity to get rid of him. Surviving against all odds, he finds Old Nell in the woods; she's Enelda Drake, the last true Vigilant, revealing that more legends might be true, with Hawley taking an oath to protect her while they resolve the mystery behind the children disappearing that are happening in the kingdom.
Latham puts so much effort into fleshing Hawley and Enelda, the pair of main characters; one can't avoid drawing a parallel to Watson and Holmes. Enelda's abilities are much more related to knowledge and observation, with a supernatural touch that is woven into the story; she might be a bit biased due to her time outside of the civilized world, but it's still a powerful asset. In comparison, Hawley is the muscle of the pair; a past tinted by blood that is still persecuting him, his "bad luck" and origin making him not be accepted by the rest of the company. He tries to stick to his word as much as possible, and that means accompanying Enelda and protecting her while they resolve what happened to the children. The dynamic of mentor and grumpy disciple is also something to point.
While it shines less, the secondary cast is also worthy of mention; instead of being part of the background, they actually have a narrative weight, playing crucial roles in the delicate political equilibrium that is part of the fort where our main characters are investigating (and surroundings).
The worldbuilding is interesting, creating a setting based on medieval traditions but adding the magical and legendary touch, which acts as a sort of spice in our mix. The author scatter hints alongside the text, allowing the reader to make their own theories, while our characters are navigating the complex world they are part of.
The pacing is relatively slow, as the author introduces us to the world and its nuances, but it becomes more balanced from the half point to the end.
The Last Vigilant is a really enjoyable epic fantasy novel, perfect if you are looking for a blend that remembers to The Name of the Rose with a dash of The Witcher; a book that acts as the introduction to a bigger world that I hope to continue exploring in subsequent instalments.
The Last Vigilant is the first book in the epic fantasy series Kingdom of Oak and Steel, written by Mark A. Latham and published by Orbit Books. A small-scale mystery adventure that serves as the introduction to a richly built medieval world, a Holmes-Watson parallel relationship between our two main characters and the political tension that threatens to break the delicate stability of these lands.
Sergeant Hawley is a cursed soldier, not of the blood, a pariah for the rest of his company; they are sent to find a Vigilant, but the rest decide to take the opportunity to get rid of him. Surviving against all odds, he finds Old Nell in the woods; she's Enelda Drake, the last true Vigilant, revealing that more legends might be true, with Hawley taking an oath to protect her while they resolve the mystery behind the children disappearing that are happening in the kingdom.
Latham puts so much effort into fleshing Hawley and Enelda, the pair of main characters; one can't avoid drawing a parallel to Watson and Holmes. Enelda's abilities are much more related to knowledge and observation, with a supernatural touch that is woven into the story; she might be a bit biased due to her time outside of the civilized world, but it's still a powerful asset. In comparison, Hawley is the muscle of the pair; a past tinted by blood that is still persecuting him, his "bad luck" and origin making him not be accepted by the rest of the company. He tries to stick to his word as much as possible, and that means accompanying Enelda and protecting her while they resolve what happened to the children. The dynamic of mentor and grumpy disciple is also something to point.
While it shines less, the secondary cast is also worthy of mention; instead of being part of the background, they actually have a narrative weight, playing crucial roles in the delicate political equilibrium that is part of the fort where our main characters are investigating (and surroundings).
The worldbuilding is interesting, creating a setting based on medieval traditions but adding the magical and legendary touch, which acts as a sort of spice in our mix. The author scatter hints alongside the text, allowing the reader to make their own theories, while our characters are navigating the complex world they are part of.
The pacing is relatively slow, as the author introduces us to the world and its nuances, but it becomes more balanced from the half point to the end.
The Last Vigilant is a really enjoyable epic fantasy novel, perfect if you are looking for a blend that remembers to The Name of the Rose with a dash of The Witcher; a book that acts as the introduction to a bigger world that I hope to continue exploring in subsequent instalments.
October 13, 2025
felt very much like it wanted to be the justice of kings, it just wasn't as good at it
August 19, 2025
Many thanks to OrbitBooks for sending me a free copy of the book.
“The last vigilant” is the first book in the epic fantasy series “Kingdom of Oak and Steel” and it was a great debut!
While this book can be a little slow for a fantasy, it’s worth reading it. If you like mysteries and fantasy, this is definitely for you. I must say, I added this on my “to be read” list after seeing the cover; it reminds me a lot of “The wheel of time”. But this is actually nothing like that series.
We have two investigators, Holt Hawley, a Sergeant who is hated by everyone for what he isn’t, and Enelda Drake or old Nell, a retired Vigilant who is one of the best female characters I’ve ever read. I think Ana from “The tainted cup” would adore her. Old Nell reminds me a lot of Gandalf and I love her as much.
These two must travel to Scarfell to find an important boy who disappeared and if he’s not found, war will happen. At the same time, they’ll discover a bigger conspiracy connected to the disappearance of more children, corruption and unscrupulous politicians.
I’ll probably repeat myself, but this was SO GOOD!! A murder mystery set in a fantasy world is something new for me, but it’s a favourite and fascinating genre, especially when it’s done well and I’m surprised for the whole book. “The last vigilant” did exactly this. The book was written so beautifully, with gorgeous details about the worldbuilding, but at the same time it was so easy to read. I must say, we won’t see a lot of this worldbuilding throughout the novel, with more than half happening in the castle from where the boy disappeared, so it’s a locked door mystery, I guess.
As main character, Emelda is spectacular. She is brilliant, powerful, funny, she knows how to take advantage of the fact that she’s old, but not weak. I loved how we saw some glimpses from her world and yet, how little we know about her at this point in the book. There’s more to her persona, more to her powers and her past and I’m very intrigued by her and everything that she is. The author shows us that she has some magic and she use it, but for most of the book, we just see her brain working without making use of her magical abilities. I hope that makes sense. Also, the banter between her and Hawley is to die for!
Hawley is an angry man, but behind that anger, he’s brave, he has strong morals, he cares about the people of the villages and he’s kind. He is what the other men should be. The pair is one of my favourites and I’m so happy to see a young man with an elderly woman, and how much Hawley grows. Emelda is a very positive influence in his life and I love how much chemistry they have. He’s just a good guy trying to do the right thing in an awful world, the more you read, the more you like him.
Besides these two main characters, we have a secondary cast as well. They have a narrative part and they play important roles in the storyline. Each of them is mysterious, has secrets and contributes to the plot of the book.
Besides a mystery set in a fantasy book, “The last vigilant” is grimdark and military part. Together, they blend in an elaborate fantasy tale, about the difference between good and evil, poor and rich, about religion, gods and magic.
The mystery is not easy to solve, the clues spread throughout the whole book, coming together in the end in an intelligent way. I honestly had no clue who is the guilty person and who is actually the puppeteer of the story.
The ending was shocking and we received the answers to most of the questions we had. While the book doesn’t have a cliffhanger, the author makes sure we know that we’ll have more of the story and I can’t wait.
I couldn’t gave it 5 stars just because there were too many names and I found myself confused about who is who. But maybe that’s just because of how I felt in that point.
In the end, “The last vigilant” is a brilliant mystery that had me hooked since the beginning, a great debut, a fast paced fantasy with intriguing worldbuilding and characters, and I’m sure you’ll love it too if you give it a chance.
“The last vigilant” is the first book in the epic fantasy series “Kingdom of Oak and Steel” and it was a great debut!
While this book can be a little slow for a fantasy, it’s worth reading it. If you like mysteries and fantasy, this is definitely for you. I must say, I added this on my “to be read” list after seeing the cover; it reminds me a lot of “The wheel of time”. But this is actually nothing like that series.
We have two investigators, Holt Hawley, a Sergeant who is hated by everyone for what he isn’t, and Enelda Drake or old Nell, a retired Vigilant who is one of the best female characters I’ve ever read. I think Ana from “The tainted cup” would adore her. Old Nell reminds me a lot of Gandalf and I love her as much.
These two must travel to Scarfell to find an important boy who disappeared and if he’s not found, war will happen. At the same time, they’ll discover a bigger conspiracy connected to the disappearance of more children, corruption and unscrupulous politicians.
I’ll probably repeat myself, but this was SO GOOD!! A murder mystery set in a fantasy world is something new for me, but it’s a favourite and fascinating genre, especially when it’s done well and I’m surprised for the whole book. “The last vigilant” did exactly this. The book was written so beautifully, with gorgeous details about the worldbuilding, but at the same time it was so easy to read. I must say, we won’t see a lot of this worldbuilding throughout the novel, with more than half happening in the castle from where the boy disappeared, so it’s a locked door mystery, I guess.
As main character, Emelda is spectacular. She is brilliant, powerful, funny, she knows how to take advantage of the fact that she’s old, but not weak. I loved how we saw some glimpses from her world and yet, how little we know about her at this point in the book. There’s more to her persona, more to her powers and her past and I’m very intrigued by her and everything that she is. The author shows us that she has some magic and she use it, but for most of the book, we just see her brain working without making use of her magical abilities. I hope that makes sense. Also, the banter between her and Hawley is to die for!
Hawley is an angry man, but behind that anger, he’s brave, he has strong morals, he cares about the people of the villages and he’s kind. He is what the other men should be. The pair is one of my favourites and I’m so happy to see a young man with an elderly woman, and how much Hawley grows. Emelda is a very positive influence in his life and I love how much chemistry they have. He’s just a good guy trying to do the right thing in an awful world, the more you read, the more you like him.
Besides these two main characters, we have a secondary cast as well. They have a narrative part and they play important roles in the storyline. Each of them is mysterious, has secrets and contributes to the plot of the book.
Besides a mystery set in a fantasy book, “The last vigilant” is grimdark and military part. Together, they blend in an elaborate fantasy tale, about the difference between good and evil, poor and rich, about religion, gods and magic.
The mystery is not easy to solve, the clues spread throughout the whole book, coming together in the end in an intelligent way. I honestly had no clue who is the guilty person and who is actually the puppeteer of the story.
The ending was shocking and we received the answers to most of the questions we had. While the book doesn’t have a cliffhanger, the author makes sure we know that we’ll have more of the story and I can’t wait.
I couldn’t gave it 5 stars just because there were too many names and I found myself confused about who is who. But maybe that’s just because of how I felt in that point.
In the end, “The last vigilant” is a brilliant mystery that had me hooked since the beginning, a great debut, a fast paced fantasy with intriguing worldbuilding and characters, and I’m sure you’ll love it too if you give it a chance.
June 16, 2025
What happens when you combine elements of epic fantasy with a flair of mystery? You get The Last Vigilant, an ambitious fantasy mystery that captivated me from page one until the last, engrossing moment. There is so much to love about this book!
In a world where Vigilants, those who command great magic, have become nothing but stories of myth and legend, grouped in among tales of gods or things that go bump in the night, a child goes missing. This particular child happens to be a political prisoner and the offspring of the leader of a neighboring nation, meaning that if the child is harmed or lost, it would lead to war. Sargent Holt Hawley and his command are given the task of following whispers of one last remaining vigilant, in the hopes that this vigilant can find the child. Hawley is more shocked than anyone when he actually succeeds in locating her. What follows is a mystery set in a beautifully realized fantasy setting.
Sargent Holt Hawley has been knocked down and kicked around by life. Despite having a command position, he is looked down upon and mistreated by- well, most people, who feel he’s not pure enough of blood. Despite the mistreatment, Hawley is determined to follow the tenets of the Third Company soldiers. He’s made mistakes and is far from perfect, but he has a good heart. It made it easy to cheer for him, to want him to succeed.
When everyone cared only about the missing political prisoner, Hawley noticed the many other children of lesser birth who had also disappeared. He noticed how some of the soldiers treated those they considered beneath them. He noticed quite a lot. He also provided loyalty and strength to Enelda Drake, the last remaining Vigilant. Basically, he was awesome.
Enelda reminded me a bit of Gandalf. She was brilliant and powerful, but never above playing the feeble elderly person, if she thought it would put others off their guard. This felt very Gandalf-esque, although her character was unique in its own right. I loved watching her friendship with Hawley develop. They made a great team.
I have a pet peeve about mysteries. If the clues aren’t there throughout the story, then I’m not going to enjoy the book, no matter how interesting the final reveal is. While I missed most of the clues (I was delightfully off in almost all my suspicions!), they were there in retrospect, and I could then follow the trail to its culmination- and wow, did the ending deliver!
The Last Vigilant provided the best of two genres, mystery and fantasy. I loved the duo of Vigilant Drake and Holt Hawley, and I can’t wait to see what they get up to next!
Thank you to Orbit Books for providing me with a review copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
In a world where Vigilants, those who command great magic, have become nothing but stories of myth and legend, grouped in among tales of gods or things that go bump in the night, a child goes missing. This particular child happens to be a political prisoner and the offspring of the leader of a neighboring nation, meaning that if the child is harmed or lost, it would lead to war. Sargent Holt Hawley and his command are given the task of following whispers of one last remaining vigilant, in the hopes that this vigilant can find the child. Hawley is more shocked than anyone when he actually succeeds in locating her. What follows is a mystery set in a beautifully realized fantasy setting.
Sargent Holt Hawley has been knocked down and kicked around by life. Despite having a command position, he is looked down upon and mistreated by- well, most people, who feel he’s not pure enough of blood. Despite the mistreatment, Hawley is determined to follow the tenets of the Third Company soldiers. He’s made mistakes and is far from perfect, but he has a good heart. It made it easy to cheer for him, to want him to succeed.
When everyone cared only about the missing political prisoner, Hawley noticed the many other children of lesser birth who had also disappeared. He noticed how some of the soldiers treated those they considered beneath them. He noticed quite a lot. He also provided loyalty and strength to Enelda Drake, the last remaining Vigilant. Basically, he was awesome.
Enelda reminded me a bit of Gandalf. She was brilliant and powerful, but never above playing the feeble elderly person, if she thought it would put others off their guard. This felt very Gandalf-esque, although her character was unique in its own right. I loved watching her friendship with Hawley develop. They made a great team.
I have a pet peeve about mysteries. If the clues aren’t there throughout the story, then I’m not going to enjoy the book, no matter how interesting the final reveal is. While I missed most of the clues (I was delightfully off in almost all my suspicions!), they were there in retrospect, and I could then follow the trail to its culmination- and wow, did the ending deliver!
The Last Vigilant provided the best of two genres, mystery and fantasy. I loved the duo of Vigilant Drake and Holt Hawley, and I can’t wait to see what they get up to next!
Thank you to Orbit Books for providing me with a review copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
December 9, 2025
As apt it seems from the blurb, the Last Vigilant is more of a generic Witcher than a name brand competitor. Still, there lies heart within, so I wouldn’t write it off entirely; it’s just a little bland.
Billed as a broken man, Sargent Hawley really wasn’t what I’d’ve expected from a lead. Rather than being pliable, he’s quite stubborn, set in his ways, and particularly flawed, especially in his beliefs, which are often ironclad. Notions of honor, chivalry, and magic rarely seem to break, but bend more than not as Hawley bashes his head against his preconceived notions. There is some character growth, but it didn’t really occur in any of what I would’ve called his problem areas, though perhaps we’re just setting these up as issues for the long-haul.
While I enjoyed the tale, I wouldn’t say the plot really grabbed me, no more so than the characters, at least, which were a mixed bag as well. Enelda Drake, being more than meets the eye, is probably the most complex character. There’s more mystery there than we’ve sussed out from the first book, but that’s what you’d expect from a mentor. I honestly expected her to be fazed out over the course of the tale, and was pleasantly surprised by her continuing inclusion. The aforementioned Hawley we’ve discussed already. Like Hawley, Lady Iveta is a bit stereotypical. A young woman who chafes upon the shackles society has placed on her. But, like Hawley and Enelda, she harbors more than simply meets the eye. So much of her character is tied up in spoilers, so I’ll leave it here.
On the whole, the Last Vigilant is a story driven by its characters. They have their problems, flaws, and rising to meet—if not overcome—these are a focal point of the plot. Still, you routinely encounter less well-developed characters inhabiting the same space. The villains predominantly were base, fanatical, or just evil. No cracks, no questions, no moral qualms. I’m not saying that people like this can’t exist, just that humans are often complicated. And this complication makes for a more dramatic, and relatable, story.
The story within wasn’t the most interesting. It—like the world around it—lacks the variety and development that the characters enjoy. While I was pleasantly pleased with the direction taken approaching the close, the rest of it read more or less as I’d’ve expected. Not necessarily a bad thing, just possessed of nothing to set itself apart. A decent 3-4 star story, a generic setting, interesting and flawed characters: a good start, though I’d have liked to see more.
TL;DR
The theme of this review seems to be that while the Last Vigilant appears to be simply another Witcher clone, there’s more to it than what it first seems. That’s not to say that it’s all new and different. There was quite a lot of fluff. While the setting was interesting, the worldbuilding wasn’t terribly unique or distinctive. While the characters harbored deeper secrets, they remain quite generic otherwise. Overall, I really enjoyed the Last Vigilant, but it wasn’t without its issues. Hopefully the author uses the second installment to further develop the world and its characters, and distance it from “just another Witcher ripoff”. Fingers crossed.
Billed as a broken man, Sargent Hawley really wasn’t what I’d’ve expected from a lead. Rather than being pliable, he’s quite stubborn, set in his ways, and particularly flawed, especially in his beliefs, which are often ironclad. Notions of honor, chivalry, and magic rarely seem to break, but bend more than not as Hawley bashes his head against his preconceived notions. There is some character growth, but it didn’t really occur in any of what I would’ve called his problem areas, though perhaps we’re just setting these up as issues for the long-haul.
While I enjoyed the tale, I wouldn’t say the plot really grabbed me, no more so than the characters, at least, which were a mixed bag as well. Enelda Drake, being more than meets the eye, is probably the most complex character. There’s more mystery there than we’ve sussed out from the first book, but that’s what you’d expect from a mentor. I honestly expected her to be fazed out over the course of the tale, and was pleasantly surprised by her continuing inclusion. The aforementioned Hawley we’ve discussed already. Like Hawley, Lady Iveta is a bit stereotypical. A young woman who chafes upon the shackles society has placed on her. But, like Hawley and Enelda, she harbors more than simply meets the eye. So much of her character is tied up in spoilers, so I’ll leave it here.
On the whole, the Last Vigilant is a story driven by its characters. They have their problems, flaws, and rising to meet—if not overcome—these are a focal point of the plot. Still, you routinely encounter less well-developed characters inhabiting the same space. The villains predominantly were base, fanatical, or just evil. No cracks, no questions, no moral qualms. I’m not saying that people like this can’t exist, just that humans are often complicated. And this complication makes for a more dramatic, and relatable, story.
The story within wasn’t the most interesting. It—like the world around it—lacks the variety and development that the characters enjoy. While I was pleasantly pleased with the direction taken approaching the close, the rest of it read more or less as I’d’ve expected. Not necessarily a bad thing, just possessed of nothing to set itself apart. A decent 3-4 star story, a generic setting, interesting and flawed characters: a good start, though I’d have liked to see more.
TL;DR
The theme of this review seems to be that while the Last Vigilant appears to be simply another Witcher clone, there’s more to it than what it first seems. That’s not to say that it’s all new and different. There was quite a lot of fluff. While the setting was interesting, the worldbuilding wasn’t terribly unique or distinctive. While the characters harbored deeper secrets, they remain quite generic otherwise. Overall, I really enjoyed the Last Vigilant, but it wasn’t without its issues. Hopefully the author uses the second installment to further develop the world and its characters, and distance it from “just another Witcher ripoff”. Fingers crossed.
July 27, 2025
This one blew my socks off.
(Full review to come)
(Full review to come)
July 31, 2025
RTC
Thank you Netgalley and Orbit from Little Brown Book Group UK for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Release date : 24 June 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Orbit from Little Brown Book Group UK for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Release date : 24 June 2025
July 23, 2025
2.5 STARS
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating this so low makes me sad but somehow I had expected something different from this book. It being pitched as an epic fantasy is wrong in my opinion. Yes, we are introduced to an expansive world with many different factions and characters but, in the end, the book solely revolves around uncovering the mystery of some missing children with some politicking sprinkled in between.
The two main characters Holt Hawley and Enelda Drake never really endeared themselves to me and in some way or another, I was constantly annoyed with both of them. Hawley was a broody man loyal to an institution that does not pay him back in gratitude for his loyalty in any way and Drake was an opaque woman who immediately understands every situation she is in but usually does not share her insights with others until way after the fact... The combination of the two of them was frustrating to read about and made it hard to keep picking the book up.
Another thing I disliked or rather I had expected something different from is the setting. After some limited movement in the beginning, the story is rather stationary. I wish I would have been led to expect this to be more of a "murder" mystery instead of being prepared for an epic fantasy story because that dampened my enjoyment a lot if I'm honest and also explains why it took me this long to finish. The pacing generally was a little off and especially the climactic events in the end and how the book wrapped up felt too long-winded.
Still, the story in itself was nice for what it was. I did not enjoy it that much but I think a lot of that is also tied to my expectations and them not being met at all. If you enjoy mysteries and also like reading stories set in a secondary world, this might be totally up your alley. I for one will definitely take a look at the second book and maybe decide to keep reading the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating this so low makes me sad but somehow I had expected something different from this book. It being pitched as an epic fantasy is wrong in my opinion. Yes, we are introduced to an expansive world with many different factions and characters but, in the end, the book solely revolves around uncovering the mystery of some missing children with some politicking sprinkled in between.
The two main characters Holt Hawley and Enelda Drake never really endeared themselves to me and in some way or another, I was constantly annoyed with both of them. Hawley was a broody man loyal to an institution that does not pay him back in gratitude for his loyalty in any way and Drake was an opaque woman who immediately understands every situation she is in but usually does not share her insights with others until way after the fact... The combination of the two of them was frustrating to read about and made it hard to keep picking the book up.
Another thing I disliked or rather I had expected something different from is the setting. After some limited movement in the beginning, the story is rather stationary. I wish I would have been led to expect this to be more of a "murder" mystery instead of being prepared for an epic fantasy story because that dampened my enjoyment a lot if I'm honest and also explains why it took me this long to finish. The pacing generally was a little off and especially the climactic events in the end and how the book wrapped up felt too long-winded.
Still, the story in itself was nice for what it was. I did not enjoy it that much but I think a lot of that is also tied to my expectations and them not being met at all. If you enjoy mysteries and also like reading stories set in a secondary world, this might be totally up your alley. I for one will definitely take a look at the second book and maybe decide to keep reading the story.
April 30, 2025
The Last Vigilant hooked me from the opening chapter and never let go. What Mark A. Latham has crafted here is an homage to the kind of high fantasy that remains my favorite subgenre, infused with just enough grimdark and military flavor to give the fantasy a sense of gritty tension.
Sargent Holt Hawley is the very definition of a flawed, tragic hero. It's made clear from the start that he's fallen from grace, that he's looked down upon (and mistrusted) by his fellow soldiers as a pariah, but Latham does a masterful job of teasing out his backstory. The more you read, the more you come to like him, and the more you wonder and worry about what he's done, because the it really begins to feel like the truth will hurt. As for Enelda Drake, the legendary Last Vigilant, she takes a while to warm up to, what with her need to keep secrets and deny the obvious, but there's a charm to her that only grows as we begin to get glimpses of her vulnerability.
As for villains . . . well, take your pick. There are nobles, clergy, soldiers, and commoners alike who all play the role of antagonist (some with more scene-chewing glee than others), and even those who don't give off big-bad vibes still get under your skin. Yes, I was annoyed and angered at multiple points of the story, but I was also surprised to find myself feeling defensive and protective, wanting to spare our heroes from being knocked down one more time.
I mentioned high, grimdark, and military, but this is also a mystery that fits very well into its fantasy trappings. That mystery element makes for what feels like a slow read, but it's also a smart one . . . and a surprising one. Even when it seems like there's not a lot happening, there's a lot to be learned. Of course, the more answers we get, the more questions we have, but those questions just open the story wider, eventually returning it to its fantasy roots. There are some big reveals, some clever red herrings, and some great twists, and Latham crafts the story so well that you don't even feel cheated or let down when you guess right.
Getting back to the fantasy angle, which is what opens and closes The Last Vigilant, the action, adventure, monsters, and mythology are entirely satisfying. It's an underlined by the mystery, which creates much of the drama, but it all meshes beautifully together to create something familiar and yet fresh at the same time. The climax here is strong, offering answers to big questions and a resolution to the central mystery, and I think that satisfaction is part of what left me so eager for the next installment.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2025/...
Sargent Holt Hawley is the very definition of a flawed, tragic hero. It's made clear from the start that he's fallen from grace, that he's looked down upon (and mistrusted) by his fellow soldiers as a pariah, but Latham does a masterful job of teasing out his backstory. The more you read, the more you come to like him, and the more you wonder and worry about what he's done, because the it really begins to feel like the truth will hurt. As for Enelda Drake, the legendary Last Vigilant, she takes a while to warm up to, what with her need to keep secrets and deny the obvious, but there's a charm to her that only grows as we begin to get glimpses of her vulnerability.
As for villains . . . well, take your pick. There are nobles, clergy, soldiers, and commoners alike who all play the role of antagonist (some with more scene-chewing glee than others), and even those who don't give off big-bad vibes still get under your skin. Yes, I was annoyed and angered at multiple points of the story, but I was also surprised to find myself feeling defensive and protective, wanting to spare our heroes from being knocked down one more time.
I mentioned high, grimdark, and military, but this is also a mystery that fits very well into its fantasy trappings. That mystery element makes for what feels like a slow read, but it's also a smart one . . . and a surprising one. Even when it seems like there's not a lot happening, there's a lot to be learned. Of course, the more answers we get, the more questions we have, but those questions just open the story wider, eventually returning it to its fantasy roots. There are some big reveals, some clever red herrings, and some great twists, and Latham crafts the story so well that you don't even feel cheated or let down when you guess right.
Getting back to the fantasy angle, which is what opens and closes The Last Vigilant, the action, adventure, monsters, and mythology are entirely satisfying. It's an underlined by the mystery, which creates much of the drama, but it all meshes beautifully together to create something familiar and yet fresh at the same time. The climax here is strong, offering answers to big questions and a resolution to the central mystery, and I think that satisfaction is part of what left me so eager for the next installment.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2025/...
August 31, 2025
The Last Vigilant is the 1st book in a new epic fantasy series.
This is a murder mystery with a supernatural thread that's woven through the story. There's political tension and twists aplenty.
Young children are disappearing one of which is the child of a powerful ally, so Sargent Holt Hawley has been sent to find a myth: a vigilant, one of the last survivors of an ancient and powerful order whose magic could be the key to finding the children and avoiding a war.
This is a murder mystery with a supernatural thread that's woven through the story. There's political tension and twists aplenty.
Young children are disappearing one of which is the child of a powerful ally, so Sargent Holt Hawley has been sent to find a myth: a vigilant, one of the last survivors of an ancient and powerful order whose magic could be the key to finding the children and avoiding a war.
August 18, 2025
The Last Vigilant had the potential to be great. A kidnapping/murder mystery set in a fantasy world, Mark A. Latham’s novel presents a story unlike most any I have read. I loved Enelda. I liked Hawley, but the novel didn’t keep my attention as much as I hoped it would. I took the novel little by little rather than consuming it like my life depended on it, and maybe that contributed to my…acceptance of The Last Vigilant rather than any form of excitement. The book has action. It has stakes. It has lore. It has everything that makes a fantasy novel enticing, but for some reason or another, it didn’t capture me.
Firstly, I had to continuously remind myself: This is a fantasy realm, spelling doesn’t matter. I cringed every time I saw “SARGENT” Hawley. It should be “sergeant.” That drove me absolutely batty the entire novel. The military has blamed Hawley for a tragic past event, and it’s heavy on his shoulders. Mostly to get him out of the way, he’s tasked with finding the Vigilant to help solve the dilemma of children going missing. He locates her, and she’s nothing like he expects.
Mysteries surround mysteries—one question answered reveals several others. They confront politicians, librarians, priests, and more in their search for answers, the search for the truth. Enelda is a “Sherlock Holmes” type character, with Hawley as her sidekick/Doctor Watson. She points, he goes, though sometimes not without much grumbling. He has his own ideas for what occurred, and they’re dismissed. But magic swirls, the stakes rise, and things become far more complex than either of them anticipated.
The book is…fine. It’s entertaining, to a certain extent, and I didn’t DISlike it, but I also didn’t like it enough to move the second book to the top of my TBR pile.
Note: I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Firstly, I had to continuously remind myself: This is a fantasy realm, spelling doesn’t matter. I cringed every time I saw “SARGENT” Hawley. It should be “sergeant.” That drove me absolutely batty the entire novel. The military has blamed Hawley for a tragic past event, and it’s heavy on his shoulders. Mostly to get him out of the way, he’s tasked with finding the Vigilant to help solve the dilemma of children going missing. He locates her, and she’s nothing like he expects.
Mysteries surround mysteries—one question answered reveals several others. They confront politicians, librarians, priests, and more in their search for answers, the search for the truth. Enelda is a “Sherlock Holmes” type character, with Hawley as her sidekick/Doctor Watson. She points, he goes, though sometimes not without much grumbling. He has his own ideas for what occurred, and they’re dismissed. But magic swirls, the stakes rise, and things become far more complex than either of them anticipated.
The book is…fine. It’s entertaining, to a certain extent, and I didn’t DISlike it, but I also didn’t like it enough to move the second book to the top of my TBR pile.
Note: I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
August 5, 2025
3.5* - I really appreciated what the author was trying to do with this story but unfortunately it fell short for me on the execution.
The last vigilant combines the elements of a 'whodunnit' mystery, with the styling of an epic fantasy. I found the prospect very exciting and whilst some parts were excellent, it didn't quite come together.
Our story follows Hawley, a disgraced sergeant who finds himself on a mission to search for a Vigilant, a group of people long since presumed dead, who possess greater powers and are closer to the gods.
When Hawley does indeed stumble across the Last Vigilant, Enelda, she isn't quite what they expected but together they find themselves on a quest to uncover the truth about the mysterious disappearances of children across the land.
The premise itself is very intriguing and the writing style is enough to keep you turning the pages, but it did cause some issues.
The world was very well considered, there was plenty lore, heavy politics, and differing cultures. Usually I love to sink my teeth into worlds like these, but in the context of a mystery it made it difficult to follow the story. Usually in epic fantasies we are given time to understand world, but as this story is wrapped up in one book it did mean some of the crucial elements were lost due to lack of understanding surrounding the lore.
Following on, whilst I could recognise the ending was explosive, it was deep routed in the lore and less so in the 'who-dunnit' which is the style we were following for most of the story. It meant despite enjoying the book I didn't benefit from the pay off and actually felt a little cheated from trying to figure out our villain.
I think I would be interested in continuing on with the series if we get more books which it is left open to. I think the more books we get and the more we learn of the world, the more enjoyable these will become.
The last vigilant combines the elements of a 'whodunnit' mystery, with the styling of an epic fantasy. I found the prospect very exciting and whilst some parts were excellent, it didn't quite come together.
Our story follows Hawley, a disgraced sergeant who finds himself on a mission to search for a Vigilant, a group of people long since presumed dead, who possess greater powers and are closer to the gods.
When Hawley does indeed stumble across the Last Vigilant, Enelda, she isn't quite what they expected but together they find themselves on a quest to uncover the truth about the mysterious disappearances of children across the land.
The premise itself is very intriguing and the writing style is enough to keep you turning the pages, but it did cause some issues.
The world was very well considered, there was plenty lore, heavy politics, and differing cultures. Usually I love to sink my teeth into worlds like these, but in the context of a mystery it made it difficult to follow the story. Usually in epic fantasies we are given time to understand world, but as this story is wrapped up in one book it did mean some of the crucial elements were lost due to lack of understanding surrounding the lore.
Following on, whilst I could recognise the ending was explosive, it was deep routed in the lore and less so in the 'who-dunnit' which is the style we were following for most of the story. It meant despite enjoying the book I didn't benefit from the pay off and actually felt a little cheated from trying to figure out our villain.
I think I would be interested in continuing on with the series if we get more books which it is left open to. I think the more books we get and the more we learn of the world, the more enjoyable these will become.
June 23, 2025
This book took me a little while to get in to but by the end I really enjoyed it. Overall, The Last Vigilant is an enjoyable mystery/fantasy, which is one of my favourite combinations in a book. The fantasy starts off fairly light but does pick up more toward the end of the book. I think the characters are well done and I enjoyed learning more about them as the story progressed.
The book follows Holt Hawley and his companions as he investigates cases of missing children, and the politics surrounding the events. Throughout the book you find more about his backstory, how he got where he is today, and how that impacts his current situation which helps better understand why he does what he does. I didn’t particularly like Hawley or Enelda at first but I came to really like both characters by the end of the book.
The book is fairly slow paced but there was always enough going on to keep me invested, and I am interested to see where things will go from here.
Thanks to netgalley for the eARC
The book follows Holt Hawley and his companions as he investigates cases of missing children, and the politics surrounding the events. Throughout the book you find more about his backstory, how he got where he is today, and how that impacts his current situation which helps better understand why he does what he does. I didn’t particularly like Hawley or Enelda at first but I came to really like both characters by the end of the book.
The book is fairly slow paced but there was always enough going on to keep me invested, and I am interested to see where things will go from here.
Thanks to netgalley for the eARC
May 30, 2025
4.5/5 stars rounded up
We primarily follow Sargent Holt Hawley, a disgraced member of the elite Third Company soldiers, on a mission to find the last member of a long-disbanded magical order in hope that they can help solve the mystery of a missing boy and save his kingdom from the brink of war. Hawley knows that no one expects him to succeed on his quest, but he is determined to try despite protestations from his squad. When Hawley stumbles upon an elderly woman named Enelda Drake, who claims to be the last Vigilant, he is not prepared for the world of political intrigue and dark magic that awaits.
The Last Vigilant is a fast-paced blend of high fantasy and mystery that kept me hooked from the very beginning. This book had it all for me - engaging action sequences, thriller-like suspense, surprising plot twists, complex and interesting characters, political intrigue, and epic world-building, I would recommend this book to fans of Richard Swan's Empire of the Wolf trilogy & Marina Lostetter's The Five Penalties series.
Thanks to Orbit for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
We primarily follow Sargent Holt Hawley, a disgraced member of the elite Third Company soldiers, on a mission to find the last member of a long-disbanded magical order in hope that they can help solve the mystery of a missing boy and save his kingdom from the brink of war. Hawley knows that no one expects him to succeed on his quest, but he is determined to try despite protestations from his squad. When Hawley stumbles upon an elderly woman named Enelda Drake, who claims to be the last Vigilant, he is not prepared for the world of political intrigue and dark magic that awaits.
The Last Vigilant is a fast-paced blend of high fantasy and mystery that kept me hooked from the very beginning. This book had it all for me - engaging action sequences, thriller-like suspense, surprising plot twists, complex and interesting characters, political intrigue, and epic world-building, I would recommend this book to fans of Richard Swan's Empire of the Wolf trilogy & Marina Lostetter's The Five Penalties series.
Thanks to Orbit for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
dnf
July 14, 2025The Last Vigilant was compared to The Tainted Cup, which I haven't read, but I knew was a mystery in a fantasy setting. I enjoy mysteries and fantasies and I've read some good ones. The Last Vigilant just failed to hold my attention. I felt like I had to power through 20% of it to get to the meat of the story. By 28% I was glad I had pushed through, but couldn't make myself pick it up again. By 29% I'm bored again and I'm going to call this one a DNF. It's not grabbing me. I don't care about the characters. I find Hawley's name irritating. The world building doesn't make much sense and I don't understand the whole vigilant thing or political background.
I just don't like this book so far and I don't want to spend any more time with it.
DNF at 29%.
I just don't like this book so far and I don't want to spend any more time with it.
DNF at 29%.
August 23, 2025
4.25 stars.
This! This is what I have been wanting lately. A good, chewy fantasy that is all plot and world building with no romance. There's an appendix! With an explanation of the calendars and days of the week!
I loved Hawley and Enelda's friendship. Enelda was amazing. I loved how she managed to maintain her Vigilant persona but how we got to see her flaws as well. Hawley was my favorite kind of gruff, well-meaning soldier type. The side characters were good too! I hope we see more of Iveta in the next book.
I got a little lost in the mystery solving towards the end, but not enough that I didn't enjoy it.
Give me the next one immediately.
This! This is what I have been wanting lately. A good, chewy fantasy that is all plot and world building with no romance. There's an appendix! With an explanation of the calendars and days of the week!
I loved Hawley and Enelda's friendship. Enelda was amazing. I loved how she managed to maintain her Vigilant persona but how we got to see her flaws as well. Hawley was my favorite kind of gruff, well-meaning soldier type. The side characters were good too! I hope we see more of Iveta in the next book.
I got a little lost in the mystery solving towards the end, but not enough that I didn't enjoy it.
Give me the next one immediately.
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