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The Last Order #1
The Last Order
Lana forms a secret order of women knights to fulfill her father’s final request: find the queen who was thought to be dead and return her to the throne.
Lana Crewe is a strong, fiercely driven seventeen year old living in a village ruled by fear. With their king and queen both dead, strife and division have taken hold. Ruthlessly attacked by an Order called Talons, Lana’s father is fatally stabbed. Before he dies, he imparts upon Lana a directive to save the statue of Saint Peter, and tells her that the queen yet lives. Now it is up to Lana to unravel the mystery of Saint Peter and bring an end to all of the war by finding the queen.
A medieval tale of hope and mystery, The Last Order takes upper teenage angst and spins it on its head. You’ll be gripping this book as hard as it will be gripping you.
Lana Crewe is a strong, fiercely driven seventeen year old living in a village ruled by fear. With their king and queen both dead, strife and division have taken hold. Ruthlessly attacked by an Order called Talons, Lana’s father is fatally stabbed. Before he dies, he imparts upon Lana a directive to save the statue of Saint Peter, and tells her that the queen yet lives. Now it is up to Lana to unravel the mystery of Saint Peter and bring an end to all of the war by finding the queen.
A medieval tale of hope and mystery, The Last Order takes upper teenage angst and spins it on its head. You’ll be gripping this book as hard as it will be gripping you.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2015
5 people are currently reading
1033 people want to read
About the author
Angela Marie Caldwell
1 book211 followersAngela M Caldwell is an author, photographer, and digital filmmaker. She studied video production and photography at Radford University then relocated to Los Angeles for an adventure. After seven years of city life, she moved back to Virginia. Angela loves a good story and she has a broad range of likes when it comes to reading. Just give her characters she can root for and take her on an adventure.
Angela's journey back to the written word is a story of its own with dyslexia keeping her from writing for years.However, she has always been a storyteller at heart. Through the years, she has enjoyed expressing her stories through a variety of forms: photography, painting, music, film-making, and writing.
She lives with her husband and 4 kids, who are her biggest fans. They have one dog, and two cats. Perhaps one day they will have a farm. And her dream of having a horse will be realized.
For more information visit www.angelamcaldwell.com
Angela's journey back to the written word is a story of its own with dyslexia keeping her from writing for years.However, she has always been a storyteller at heart. Through the years, she has enjoyed expressing her stories through a variety of forms: photography, painting, music, film-making, and writing.
She lives with her husband and 4 kids, who are her biggest fans. They have one dog, and two cats. Perhaps one day they will have a farm. And her dream of having a horse will be realized.
For more information visit www.angelamcaldwell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 3, 2015
Oooh, I really enjoyed this book! The synopsis just captured my interest, and the book kept it!
July 8, 2015
As her father lies dying, he sets Lana a task. To find the queen and free the kingdom from the tyranny of orders of knights who are little more than bandits and brigands. As her quest begins she is joined by a motley group of women who have escaped the fighting and are living in the ruins of an old castle.
The Last Order is something of a cross between Robin Hood and Conan the Barbarian. It actually works well for the most part though there are few clunky moments. As a debut novel I'm more than happy to forgive those few missteps and it was well worth the effort.
The Last Order is something of a cross between Robin Hood and Conan the Barbarian. It actually works well for the most part though there are few clunky moments. As a debut novel I'm more than happy to forgive those few missteps and it was well worth the effort.
February 3, 2015
Lana Crewe is a strong, fiercely driven seventeen year old living in a village ruled by fear. Ruthlessly attacked by an Order called Talons, Lana’s father is fatally stabbed. With his dying breath, he tells Lana to save the statue of Saint Peter, and tells her that the queen yet lives. Now it is up to Lana to unravel the mystery of Saint Peter and bring an end to all of the bloodshed by finding the queen. Silas appears at her side but is he an ally or an enemy in disguise?
This is not your average medieval young adult novel and I absolutely LOVED it! I loved the character Lana and as she dealt with the grief of the only father she's ever known, I grieved with her. Lana is filled with strength and insecurity. She doesn't know who to trust, least of all Silas. With each trial, Lana grows more confident and sure of the path she is on. She must sacrifice everything in order to fulfill her father's last wish.
The author does a magnificent job of weaving an intoxicating story and I wanted to dive into the world she created. The plot, characters and dialogue were spot on and in reality, it read like a movie. The action scenes were authentic for the time period and I could close my and see them playing out.
It has been a long time since there was such a strong historical heroine in literature and I loved it! Woman and teenage girls should be inspired to conquer life after reading this book. I want more!
Five stars isn't enough for how I feel about this book! Run, don't walk to your nearest online bookstore and buy this book!!!
This is not your average medieval young adult novel and I absolutely LOVED it! I loved the character Lana and as she dealt with the grief of the only father she's ever known, I grieved with her. Lana is filled with strength and insecurity. She doesn't know who to trust, least of all Silas. With each trial, Lana grows more confident and sure of the path she is on. She must sacrifice everything in order to fulfill her father's last wish.
The author does a magnificent job of weaving an intoxicating story and I wanted to dive into the world she created. The plot, characters and dialogue were spot on and in reality, it read like a movie. The action scenes were authentic for the time period and I could close my and see them playing out.
It has been a long time since there was such a strong historical heroine in literature and I loved it! Woman and teenage girls should be inspired to conquer life after reading this book. I want more!
Five stars isn't enough for how I feel about this book! Run, don't walk to your nearest online bookstore and buy this book!!!
February 6, 2015
My Review :
It has been a while since I have read a stand alone Fantasy book, and Angela's The Last Order did not disappoint ! The story itself is absolutely thrilling and I was hooked from the very first few pages.
Although I was able to guess what was the ending of the story,I never expected it to happen it that way. This is one of those books in which it is not about how the story ends, but more of how to reach the end.
I think the dialogue is something that could have been written better. It was more show than tell. There were many scenes and parts ,especially between Lana and Silas, that could have been more elaborated.
Both of the world building and the character building were done exquisitely. You become entrapped in another era , and join these characters on a journey filled with danger , mystery,trust, hate,and love.
I really enjoyed reading The Last Order and I am looking forward to read more books by Angela!
I give this 4/5 stars and a B- according to my own rating scale.
It has been a while since I have read a stand alone Fantasy book, and Angela's The Last Order did not disappoint ! The story itself is absolutely thrilling and I was hooked from the very first few pages.
Although I was able to guess what was the ending of the story,I never expected it to happen it that way. This is one of those books in which it is not about how the story ends, but more of how to reach the end.
I think the dialogue is something that could have been written better. It was more show than tell. There were many scenes and parts ,especially between Lana and Silas, that could have been more elaborated.
Both of the world building and the character building were done exquisitely. You become entrapped in another era , and join these characters on a journey filled with danger , mystery,trust, hate,and love.
I really enjoyed reading The Last Order and I am looking forward to read more books by Angela!
I give this 4/5 stars and a B- according to my own rating scale.
January 22, 2016
Action-packed and with memorable, resounding characters, Angela Caldwell triumphs with her debut novel, The Last Order.
Young Lana Crewe's humble existence is turned upside down when a corrupt army known as The Talon attacks her village, murdering her adopted father. However, before he dies, he gives Lana cryptic clues that send her questing for answers. Along the way she will encounter allies and traitors, all while rallying a group of female orphans and gypsies to bring down Luther, the tyrannical leader who subjugates her kingdom, a kingdom that longs for its missing queen.
What Lana discovers not only shapes who she is, but what she is. It's a tremendous journey to watch and to experience. Ms. Caldwell's world-building is done with flair and expertise, and I felt like I was part of the action the whole time. However, there were a few parts when the story dragged a little bit, and that is what ultimately cost it its fifth star for me.
Nonetheless, I look forward to reading more from this exciting author!
Young Lana Crewe's humble existence is turned upside down when a corrupt army known as The Talon attacks her village, murdering her adopted father. However, before he dies, he gives Lana cryptic clues that send her questing for answers. Along the way she will encounter allies and traitors, all while rallying a group of female orphans and gypsies to bring down Luther, the tyrannical leader who subjugates her kingdom, a kingdom that longs for its missing queen.
What Lana discovers not only shapes who she is, but what she is. It's a tremendous journey to watch and to experience. Ms. Caldwell's world-building is done with flair and expertise, and I felt like I was part of the action the whole time. However, there were a few parts when the story dragged a little bit, and that is what ultimately cost it its fifth star for me.
Nonetheless, I look forward to reading more from this exciting author!
February 16, 2015
I am not much of a review writer, but couldn't prevent myself from writing one for this book. MAN, I really enjoyed it! It was gripping, constantly full of excitement, and I couldn't put it down. When I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to pick up where I left off!
I felt like the characters had the right amount of depth and the author was a natural at using her words so efficiently. I love that she didn't need to be too wordy, instead choosing to propell the story further.
And what a story! I love how she chose to use so many strong female characters without disrespecting men at all or rendering them inaccurately useless. I respect the balance she chose instead.
I simply can't wait to read what she writes next!
I felt like the characters had the right amount of depth and the author was a natural at using her words so efficiently. I love that she didn't need to be too wordy, instead choosing to propell the story further.
And what a story! I love how she chose to use so many strong female characters without disrespecting men at all or rendering them inaccurately useless. I respect the balance she chose instead.
I simply can't wait to read what she writes next!
May 8, 2015
Badly written
While the story line was good the telling of it was very disjointed. It was hard to follow. The reader had to imagine what the story line was at times. Also, word usage was faulty. It's hard to imagine the author even has a high school education.
While the story line was good the telling of it was very disjointed. It was hard to follow. The reader had to imagine what the story line was at times. Also, word usage was faulty. It's hard to imagine the author even has a high school education.
July 28, 2016
I honestly don't know how I got through this book. No originality, no plot twists, and the story wasn't even coherent. Also, I don't think anyone has read over this book after it was written. SO MANY spelling mistakes, and half finished sentences. Jesus.
November 11, 2014
I got a very early ARC, and I can assure you that this will be an amazing book!
Also- cover coming soon!!! (!!!!!!)
Also- cover coming soon!!! (!!!!!!)
July 20, 2016
*I received a copy of this from YA Bound Book Tours as part of the blog tour.
*Review can be found on The Fox's Hideaway.
My Review!
Fantasy is my favorite genre, so it initially had me interested in this book. But the synopsis really hooked me, the idea that this heroine forms a secret order of women knights. I was all like, yeah girl power go! I was also happy that this was a standalone. And I really liked The Last Order, though I wish it had focused less on the plot and more on the characters.
This was told in 3rd person POV, which actually might have hindered why I didn't connect with the main character that well. Lana Crewe is a strong heroine, fierce and determined and stubborn. A girl who grew up with a loving father who taught her how to fight and how to defend herself. A father who raised her to be independent, something that comes in handy when he dies and leaves her with a puzzle. A puzzle that takes her on a long quest that tests her spirit, heart, and courage. Lana never gave up, even when she wasn't sure what she was doing or how to find the Queen, even when she questioned whether she would be able to fulfill her father's dying wish. And it is that promise that keeps her going, that sheer will and determination. It left her a little detached from the people around her, and she wasn't very trusting. But she had great growth and grew into her own person.
The other characters added a richness to the story, though we don't learn much about them. I wish their relationships with Lana had been more developed, especially with Silas, the love interest. He is the only secondary character who wasn't that one-dimensional. He was also a charming, mysterious guy I wasn't sure I could trust, especially in the beginning. But he became a strong character to balance Lana's. Their romance was sweet, though a little on the underdeveloped side. I definitely could have used more soft scenes between the two of them and more dialogue to open up their relationship. But I did like that it wasn't overdone and that it didn't overpower the story-line.
The novel kicks off with an intense fight scene, and the momentum never loses its speed throughout. I wasn't totally sure what to expect, which left some of the story-line surprising to me. I did figure out the major twist, though that didn't take any enjoyment away from the story. The book was loaded with action, and though I would have liked more quiet scenes to develop characters and relationships, I was never bored. And I kept reading because I wanted to know how it would end.
I really liked this story, and the way it was written immediately drew me in. I'm all about those books that feature heroines, courageous women, and plots to overthrow the powerful and take back what is rightly theirs. The Last Order was a fast-moving story about one girl's journey to figuring out a puzzle that leads her to secrets she never thought possible.
Rating: 3.5 Paw Prints!
*Review can be found on The Fox's Hideaway.
My Review!
Fantasy is my favorite genre, so it initially had me interested in this book. But the synopsis really hooked me, the idea that this heroine forms a secret order of women knights. I was all like, yeah girl power go! I was also happy that this was a standalone. And I really liked The Last Order, though I wish it had focused less on the plot and more on the characters.
This was told in 3rd person POV, which actually might have hindered why I didn't connect with the main character that well. Lana Crewe is a strong heroine, fierce and determined and stubborn. A girl who grew up with a loving father who taught her how to fight and how to defend herself. A father who raised her to be independent, something that comes in handy when he dies and leaves her with a puzzle. A puzzle that takes her on a long quest that tests her spirit, heart, and courage. Lana never gave up, even when she wasn't sure what she was doing or how to find the Queen, even when she questioned whether she would be able to fulfill her father's dying wish. And it is that promise that keeps her going, that sheer will and determination. It left her a little detached from the people around her, and she wasn't very trusting. But she had great growth and grew into her own person.
The other characters added a richness to the story, though we don't learn much about them. I wish their relationships with Lana had been more developed, especially with Silas, the love interest. He is the only secondary character who wasn't that one-dimensional. He was also a charming, mysterious guy I wasn't sure I could trust, especially in the beginning. But he became a strong character to balance Lana's. Their romance was sweet, though a little on the underdeveloped side. I definitely could have used more soft scenes between the two of them and more dialogue to open up their relationship. But I did like that it wasn't overdone and that it didn't overpower the story-line.
The novel kicks off with an intense fight scene, and the momentum never loses its speed throughout. I wasn't totally sure what to expect, which left some of the story-line surprising to me. I did figure out the major twist, though that didn't take any enjoyment away from the story. The book was loaded with action, and though I would have liked more quiet scenes to develop characters and relationships, I was never bored. And I kept reading because I wanted to know how it would end.
I really liked this story, and the way it was written immediately drew me in. I'm all about those books that feature heroines, courageous women, and plots to overthrow the powerful and take back what is rightly theirs. The Last Order was a fast-moving story about one girl's journey to figuring out a puzzle that leads her to secrets she never thought possible.
Rating: 3.5 Paw Prints!
January 22, 2016
To say I loved this book would be an understatement. I'm a sucker for stories about the realms of queens and kings and their quests for power. The stories that take you in a completely new and exciting world. This is the kind of book that can transport you from your own life and make you forget about all of your problems for a few hours. You ARE these characters. The normal things that stress you don't matter because you're in another place fighting for your life and quite possibly the lives of thousands of others. It's exhilarating.
Lana is only seventeen when her village is attacked and her father killed. The evil Talons are conquering land at an alarming rate and all hope seems to be lost. Lana's father uses his dying breaths to send her on a quest that could change it all. She leaves behind everything she knows to go off with an exciting new stranger to find the missing pieces to her father's puzzle. What she finds at the end of her journey will change her life forever.
Lana is a great character as is pretty much every person in the story. The good guys are easy to like and the bad guys are the type that you love to hate. You fall in love with the two young men who are vying for Lana's attention but the love story is only a small part and I appreciated that.
The only thing I had a tiny issue with was the big reveal. I knew it was coming, which was fine, but it built up this anticipation. What would Lana do when she found out this information? What would those close to her think? And then it came out and it seemed very rushed. I could picture everyone just shrugging and saying "makes sense". I would have liked more of an AHA moment as it did diminish the story a bit. That's not to say I didn't still love it, because I definitely did.
Lana is only seventeen when her village is attacked and her father killed. The evil Talons are conquering land at an alarming rate and all hope seems to be lost. Lana's father uses his dying breaths to send her on a quest that could change it all. She leaves behind everything she knows to go off with an exciting new stranger to find the missing pieces to her father's puzzle. What she finds at the end of her journey will change her life forever.
Lana is a great character as is pretty much every person in the story. The good guys are easy to like and the bad guys are the type that you love to hate. You fall in love with the two young men who are vying for Lana's attention but the love story is only a small part and I appreciated that.
The only thing I had a tiny issue with was the big reveal. I knew it was coming, which was fine, but it built up this anticipation. What would Lana do when she found out this information? What would those close to her think? And then it came out and it seemed very rushed. I could picture everyone just shrugging and saying "makes sense". I would have liked more of an AHA moment as it did diminish the story a bit. That's not to say I didn't still love it, because I definitely did.
March 5, 2015
Angela Caldwell's, The Last Order, is a action packed non-stop adventure with a hint of romance. Lana Crewe is a young woman driven by the desire to become a knight. Trained by her father to defend, protect and provide for herself, Lana must put all her training to use when here kingdom comes under attack. She must help protect the kingdom and find the Queen, whom they thought dead, and restore her to the throne. She will help train other women who want to be a part of this Order and help restore the kingdom and defeat Luther, the evil leader of the Talons, who wish to over take all the Orders of the land. Lana finds many new friends along the way that will make a great impact on her life and her desire to carry out her father's last wishes. The Last Order will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The characters are well developed and you feel like you can relate to things they are fighting for. Once you begin this adventure you won't be able to put it down until you reach the end. The Last Order has something for everyone.
The characters are well developed and you feel like you can relate to things they are fighting for. Once you begin this adventure you won't be able to put it down until you reach the end. The Last Order has something for everyone.
February 5, 2015
I received this book from YA Bound Book Tours in return for a fair and honest review.
Lana Crewe has been raised in a quiet village, well away from the troubles that stir in the kingdom. Her adopted father has raised her to think for herself and to be able to look after herself, including teaching her how to hunt and fight with weapons. He has also spent time developing her mind by teaching her strategy, disguised as chess. When their village is attacked, Lana's father is sadly killed but has enough breath to leave her with a job to do and a puzzle to solve.
This is a nicely plotted, well laid out story with characters that are fleshed out and believable. There is a hint of romance between two of the characters but it is all clean so suitable for all ages. The emphasis in this story is the action side of things which makes it an intriguing and intricate book as Lana has to find out just who she can trust and what she needs to do.
Highly recommended for all fans of medieval tales and fantasy adventures.
Lana Crewe has been raised in a quiet village, well away from the troubles that stir in the kingdom. Her adopted father has raised her to think for herself and to be able to look after herself, including teaching her how to hunt and fight with weapons. He has also spent time developing her mind by teaching her strategy, disguised as chess. When their village is attacked, Lana's father is sadly killed but has enough breath to leave her with a job to do and a puzzle to solve.
This is a nicely plotted, well laid out story with characters that are fleshed out and believable. There is a hint of romance between two of the characters but it is all clean so suitable for all ages. The emphasis in this story is the action side of things which makes it an intriguing and intricate book as Lana has to find out just who she can trust and what she needs to do.
Highly recommended for all fans of medieval tales and fantasy adventures.
May 17, 2015
The Last Order was a gripping book that kept me on the edge of my seat as I read through this thriller. The main character is Lana and she is only 17 years old. Lana's kingdom is in chaos as the king and queen are both dead. Lana's father is fatally stabbed and he tells her some important information before he dies. He tells her that the queen is still alive, so Lana sets out on a mission to see what is true and what is not. She knows that she must do whatever it takes to save her kingdom. I loved that this story had a female heroine, who was strong and capable. Lana is not only brave, but very resilient and will never give up. This book is well-written and I enjoyed the scenery in the story. This is one that I would recommend to others!
May 19, 2015
Fast-paced, but not rushed, this novel pulled me in from the beginning. Lana, our heroine, was tough, clever, and relentless in her pursuit to fulfill her father's last request to find the queen. Chess was a reoccurring theme of the book, and Caldwell's plotting of the novel reminded me of a well-played chess match. Characters and elements of the story were brought in at the right times and, as this book was a tale of medieval battles, there were quite a few pawns sacrificed while protecting the more valuable players.
The Last Order is an exciting tale of mystery and chivalry, bolstered by a superb feminine cast.
The Last Order is an exciting tale of mystery and chivalry, bolstered by a superb feminine cast.
February 3, 2015
Adventure to find one’s true worth.
Lana, not your average girly-girl, wants-or rather needs-to set things right, for her father, for her town. But soon finds herself way over her head. She has to learn to trust, read between lies, and release the regret she holds.
My favorite part…the band of gypsies!!! But it’s the simple subplots: the game of chess, family, friendships, and the possibility of love that tie the story up wonderfully.
If you’re a fan of Jennifer A. Nielsen’s "The False Prince"…Lana’s story’s for you!
Lana, not your average girly-girl, wants-or rather needs-to set things right, for her father, for her town. But soon finds herself way over her head. She has to learn to trust, read between lies, and release the regret she holds.
My favorite part…the band of gypsies!!! But it’s the simple subplots: the game of chess, family, friendships, and the possibility of love that tie the story up wonderfully.
If you’re a fan of Jennifer A. Nielsen’s "The False Prince"…Lana’s story’s for you!
February 22, 2015
From the moment I heard the book was about female knights, I had to read it and boy was I not disappointed. Catapulted into the action from the start, you are wrapped into Lana's world, rooting for her, commiserating for her and just willing her on all the way through. I adored her relationship with the other main character Silas, and was immersed into their world effortlessly. Angela's unique skill of storytelling left me gripped to the very end with a twist I never expected. A must read for all ages!
November 5, 2015
The character voices added charm and personality, but the whispered narration of the entire book didn't work for me, mainly during the action scenes. The whispering works great for the drama scenes though.
The story is a bit predictable in some parts, but it has a lot of action that makes it flow better. Lana is the kind of girl who doesn’t wait for help or for a boy to solve her problems. Sometimes we need to be a little patient with her personality. I didn’t connect much with her, because my favorite character is the liar. He’s funny and very charming.
The story is a bit predictable in some parts, but it has a lot of action that makes it flow better. Lana is the kind of girl who doesn’t wait for help or for a boy to solve her problems. Sometimes we need to be a little patient with her personality. I didn’t connect much with her, because my favorite character is the liar. He’s funny and very charming.
March 10, 2015
If you are looking to dive head first into a world of strong, independent, and driven characters look no further. The Last Order has everything you could want and a mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat until it's reveal. Angela's passion and gift for writing flows through the pages. You won't be disappointed!
February 10, 2015
The Last Order takes "I'm not just a little girl to a new level." At seventeen, Lana, bucks gender roles and sets off upon a quest to save the kingdom. It's a wild ride, that is full of adventure, endearing friendships, as Lana races to unlock a mystery that will change the course of the war.
March 16, 2015
I loved this book. It was so intriguing, gripping and and fast paced. from the very beginning it grips your attention and doesn't stop. the characters also make you want to keep reading. I found myself rooting for the characters as I read the book. this is a great book. I highly recommend it! !!!
June 21, 2015
Great, adventurous read.
August 30, 2016
Ms. Caldwell's YA novel, The Last Order, is a solid story. She describes scene well and has deep, developed characters. I really enjoyed the fast paced story.
December 21, 2015
Was drawn to the premise of an order of women warriors - good story complete with great costuming and setting descriptions.
November 3, 2021
The character voices added charm and personality, but the whispered narration of the entire book didn't work for me, mainly during the action scenes. The whispering works great for the drama scenes though.
The story is a bit predictable in some parts, but it has a lot of action that makes it flow better. Lana is the kind of girl who doesn’t wait for help or for a boy to solve her problems. Sometimes we need to be a little patient with her personality. I didn’t connect much with her, because my favorite character is the liar. He’s funny and very charming.
The story is a bit predictable in some parts, but it has a lot of action that makes it flow better. Lana is the kind of girl who doesn’t wait for help or for a boy to solve her problems. Sometimes we need to be a little patient with her personality. I didn’t connect much with her, because my favorite character is the liar. He’s funny and very charming.
August 7, 2017
A strong debut from an exciting storyteller.
February 6, 2015
*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
I love books with strong heroines. That’s something that anyone who reads my reviews would know. Therefore, it’s obvious that when I saw that this book was about a group of women knights, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to see what it was all about. What I got was a pretty interesting story, with a good group of characters.
The heroine of this novel was Lana. She went through so much, but she never lost her determination to fight. Yes, she was tempted to just call it quits, but she never did. Lana grew into a strong leader over the course of this novel, and I liked seeing that. However, at times I didn’t quite like her. She grew into someone who thought that they were always right, and that she didn’t have to explain herself to anyone, thus leading her to come off a bit arrogant. I admired her strength, loyalty, and determination, but her arrogance annoyed me a little.
The side characters in this book weren’t all fully developed. There was Silas, who was Lana’s love interest. He was intriguing, because he never fully revealed his true self, until he needed to. He tied truth and lies into a believable story. However, he was always protective of Lana, and he did ultimately tell the truth. Despite his lying, I liked Silas. He didn’t try to stifle Lana, or make her weak. There was also Bowen, Lana’s friend from her village. He seemed genuinely good, but his wish to make Lana take the easy way out was irritating. He didn’t seem to realize that Lana was a strong woman in her own right,and didn’t need protection. He had feelings for Lana, so I was relieved when this story didn’t turn into a love triangle. There was also Sarah, a woman who had cared for Lana’s father. We didn’t really learn much about her, but I liked that she tried to take care of Lana, when she didn’t have to. Finally, there was Luther. He was the real villain of the story. As a leader of an order of knights, he was doing everything he could to take over the kingdom in which the book was set. He had no qualms about killing, or taking whatever he wanted. And when I found out his relationship to one of the side characters, it made me detest Luther even more. The only problem is that the reasons behind his actions were never explained. The book never showed why Luther was the way he was, or how he got to be that way, and I wish that it would have done so.
The plot of this book was interesting. It was a quest story, mixed with action, adventure, and war. At the beginning of the book, Lana’s village was attacked by Luther’s order, and her father was killed protecting her. However, before he died, he gave Lana a quest to “find the queen”. This led Lana, accompanied by Silas, on a journey through the kingdom. During this, she met a group of women who were thieves, and she reformed them into knights of The Last Order, thus the title of the book. The pace was good, although I did get a bit bored sometimes. Also, the world wasn’t developed as much as it could have been. The setting was medieval, and the backstory of how the kingdom got to be the way it was was interesting. But I would have liked to see more about this world.
Overall, I liked this book. Lana was an interesting and strong heroine to follow, and I really liked Silas and his tricks. Luther was a great villain to hate, but his actions for doing what he did weren’t shown. The plot was fun and adventurous, and I really liked the quest element. I do wish the world had been developed more, however. With all that said, I do recommend this book. If you like reading Young Adult about strong heroines, and don’t mind worlds that aren’t fully developed, I do think it’s worth checking out.
I love books with strong heroines. That’s something that anyone who reads my reviews would know. Therefore, it’s obvious that when I saw that this book was about a group of women knights, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to see what it was all about. What I got was a pretty interesting story, with a good group of characters.
The heroine of this novel was Lana. She went through so much, but she never lost her determination to fight. Yes, she was tempted to just call it quits, but she never did. Lana grew into a strong leader over the course of this novel, and I liked seeing that. However, at times I didn’t quite like her. She grew into someone who thought that they were always right, and that she didn’t have to explain herself to anyone, thus leading her to come off a bit arrogant. I admired her strength, loyalty, and determination, but her arrogance annoyed me a little.
The side characters in this book weren’t all fully developed. There was Silas, who was Lana’s love interest. He was intriguing, because he never fully revealed his true self, until he needed to. He tied truth and lies into a believable story. However, he was always protective of Lana, and he did ultimately tell the truth. Despite his lying, I liked Silas. He didn’t try to stifle Lana, or make her weak. There was also Bowen, Lana’s friend from her village. He seemed genuinely good, but his wish to make Lana take the easy way out was irritating. He didn’t seem to realize that Lana was a strong woman in her own right,and didn’t need protection. He had feelings for Lana, so I was relieved when this story didn’t turn into a love triangle. There was also Sarah, a woman who had cared for Lana’s father. We didn’t really learn much about her, but I liked that she tried to take care of Lana, when she didn’t have to. Finally, there was Luther. He was the real villain of the story. As a leader of an order of knights, he was doing everything he could to take over the kingdom in which the book was set. He had no qualms about killing, or taking whatever he wanted. And when I found out his relationship to one of the side characters, it made me detest Luther even more. The only problem is that the reasons behind his actions were never explained. The book never showed why Luther was the way he was, or how he got to be that way, and I wish that it would have done so.
The plot of this book was interesting. It was a quest story, mixed with action, adventure, and war. At the beginning of the book, Lana’s village was attacked by Luther’s order, and her father was killed protecting her. However, before he died, he gave Lana a quest to “find the queen”. This led Lana, accompanied by Silas, on a journey through the kingdom. During this, she met a group of women who were thieves, and she reformed them into knights of The Last Order, thus the title of the book. The pace was good, although I did get a bit bored sometimes. Also, the world wasn’t developed as much as it could have been. The setting was medieval, and the backstory of how the kingdom got to be the way it was was interesting. But I would have liked to see more about this world.
Overall, I liked this book. Lana was an interesting and strong heroine to follow, and I really liked Silas and his tricks. Luther was a great villain to hate, but his actions for doing what he did weren’t shown. The plot was fun and adventurous, and I really liked the quest element. I do wish the world had been developed more, however. With all that said, I do recommend this book. If you like reading Young Adult about strong heroines, and don’t mind worlds that aren’t fully developed, I do think it’s worth checking out.
March 10, 2015
Angela M. Caldwell’s debut The Last Order is something very different, at least to me. It’s a YA fantasy in which the protagonist is a 17-year-old girl, Lana Crewe. And Lana is no in-tune-with-the-sprites, talks-to-the-animals girl. She’ the embodiment of a warrior spirit, a take-no-prisoners, full-out hard-charging gal who’s much more at home in leather and armor than she is in frilly frocks. And she kicks some serious butt.
The Last Order starts with a bang—or at least a clash of swords—and doesn’t let up until the very last page. Lana’s father, Sir Asher Crewe, a former knight, is mortally wounded during an attack on their peaceful village. His dying words present Lana with a cryptic message, suggesting that the queen, long thought dead, is alive. Her father has left Lana the means to find her. But the clues are in the form of a puzzle, and Lana only has one piece. Trusting her father’s words, Lana sets out to track down the other pieces of the puzzle—a la Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code—which will allow her to find the queen and restore her to the throne of their war-torn kingdom. Her only companion as she begins her quest is a mysterious stranger named Silas, who may or may not be trustworthy.
With Silas, Lana ventures deeper into the heart of enemy territory held by the vicious Luther, who seeks the throne for himself. There Lana discovers a band of gypsy women, and enlists them in her quest, forming them into The Last Order, dedicated to restoring the queen. But Lana is forced to wrestle with her decision to follow her father’s tenuous last order, her conflicted feelings about Silas, and her ability to be honest with and trusting of her companions.
There is an interesting quasi-steampunk element to the novel (Silas has technical skills which provide Lana and her band of female knights with explosives and smoke bombs), and while this sometimes felt just a tad out of sync with the rest of the story, overall it ended up playing well into the plot. The fighting scenes are fast, furious and sometimes bloody, and keep the adrenaline level high. The characterizations were well-fleshed out, and the motivations of the main players were quite clear (when they needed to be—Caldwell has a nice talent for obfuscating her characters motives in order to keep the level of tension and conflict at a peak).
I won’t talk about the novel’s ending, other than to say that the twist Caldwell throws in was a total surprise. I did not see that coming, at all. Nicely played, Angela. And she left things open just enough to provide for a second book if she wanted to revisit these characters later.
A side note: Caldwell is a talented artist and photographer, and she produced the fabulous cover of the novel herself, with the assistance of her father, who provided the artwork for the crown and triquetra. Caldwell outlines the process of creating the cover on her blog http://angelamcaldwell.com/blog-tours... and it’s well worth reading.
My only issues with The Last order were minor—one was that the e-book edition I read had a few typos strewn about; the other was that occasionally I had some difficulty in telling which character was speaking. These were fairly minor when viewed overall. The characters are strong, the story is killer, and the ending, as I said, totally took me off guard. A very strong debut effort by Angela M. Caldwell, and I definitely recommend The Last Order as a fast, enjoyable read. And I look forward to reading her next effort.
The Last Order starts with a bang—or at least a clash of swords—and doesn’t let up until the very last page. Lana’s father, Sir Asher Crewe, a former knight, is mortally wounded during an attack on their peaceful village. His dying words present Lana with a cryptic message, suggesting that the queen, long thought dead, is alive. Her father has left Lana the means to find her. But the clues are in the form of a puzzle, and Lana only has one piece. Trusting her father’s words, Lana sets out to track down the other pieces of the puzzle—a la Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code—which will allow her to find the queen and restore her to the throne of their war-torn kingdom. Her only companion as she begins her quest is a mysterious stranger named Silas, who may or may not be trustworthy.
With Silas, Lana ventures deeper into the heart of enemy territory held by the vicious Luther, who seeks the throne for himself. There Lana discovers a band of gypsy women, and enlists them in her quest, forming them into The Last Order, dedicated to restoring the queen. But Lana is forced to wrestle with her decision to follow her father’s tenuous last order, her conflicted feelings about Silas, and her ability to be honest with and trusting of her companions.
There is an interesting quasi-steampunk element to the novel (Silas has technical skills which provide Lana and her band of female knights with explosives and smoke bombs), and while this sometimes felt just a tad out of sync with the rest of the story, overall it ended up playing well into the plot. The fighting scenes are fast, furious and sometimes bloody, and keep the adrenaline level high. The characterizations were well-fleshed out, and the motivations of the main players were quite clear (when they needed to be—Caldwell has a nice talent for obfuscating her characters motives in order to keep the level of tension and conflict at a peak).
I won’t talk about the novel’s ending, other than to say that the twist Caldwell throws in was a total surprise. I did not see that coming, at all. Nicely played, Angela. And she left things open just enough to provide for a second book if she wanted to revisit these characters later.
A side note: Caldwell is a talented artist and photographer, and she produced the fabulous cover of the novel herself, with the assistance of her father, who provided the artwork for the crown and triquetra. Caldwell outlines the process of creating the cover on her blog http://angelamcaldwell.com/blog-tours... and it’s well worth reading.
My only issues with The Last order were minor—one was that the e-book edition I read had a few typos strewn about; the other was that occasionally I had some difficulty in telling which character was speaking. These were fairly minor when viewed overall. The characters are strong, the story is killer, and the ending, as I said, totally took me off guard. A very strong debut effort by Angela M. Caldwell, and I definitely recommend The Last Order as a fast, enjoyable read. And I look forward to reading her next effort.
February 28, 2015
Overall i thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the imagination and how she made the impossible possible for the time era. An era where women where supposed to be meek here they were strong and had saved a nation. I loved Silas. He was secretive but amazing. Always steadfast and there no matter what. His tricks were so much fun to see and how he supported Lana was great. Bowden i am on the fence about. At times you just loved him and in the end you just felt for him and wished for a better outcome but his story needed to be written and we needed to see his devotion and redemption in Lana’s eyes. Lana is the one I have a hard time with. At times you just love her but others you really just want to smack her upside the head. I think it is more some of her qualities. She is rash to judge people but if anyone dares tries that with her whoa watch out. She is bossy and doesn’t like when others try to suggest things that went against what she believed even if the others thought was right or better she wouldn’t say so. She went forth with blinders on and didn’t care about the consequences to others who may have helped her along the way as long as she got what she wanted. Not that she didn’t care about others she would just set that aside because she had only one goal. Even Silas and his growing feelings she set aside. Alot of times she dismissed him like he was nothing and others she needed him like he was her last breath.
OVerall Lana was a strong stubborn heroine who shows us that anything is possible if you just work hard for that goal. Silas helps her along the way and he was awesome. These two are ahead of their times. Silas you have to love. He is fighting his own demons and his love for Lana. Even when Lana lashes out at him he is there. When she walks away he is there for her and helps her. He is truly a special character and one that she desperately needs. He helps her see her goals through and gives her hope and belief in herself.
When her village is attacked she feels lost and it is Silas who keeps her on her path. He helps her find herself and her confidence again.Helps her open her heart to him and she does trust him. Bowden helps her as well. She sees what he is to her and sees that he is a ally. She also sees that it isn’t that he doesn’t support her but is intimidated by her confidence and strength for she is not like other girls in their era. He supports her and is willing to die to protect her and help her get the kingdom back for the people.
Each character will tug at your heart in one way or another and the cause they fight for will warm your heart and have you root for a good outcome. You will secretly cheer for Silas as well hoping he will win Lana’s heart and that Bowden will find someone special as well.
A story that will show young woman they can achieve any dream with hard work and belief in themselves. That no dream is unattainable. And never to give up no matter what others may think or how hard it may be because good things can happen when you try hard and work for what you believe in and want.
This is a fantastical wonderfully imaginative story of a girl trying to do as her dad’s dying wish was and find the queen who can restore order. Along the way she falls in love, finds out who she is and sees that she can be anything and trust people.
OVerall Lana was a strong stubborn heroine who shows us that anything is possible if you just work hard for that goal. Silas helps her along the way and he was awesome. These two are ahead of their times. Silas you have to love. He is fighting his own demons and his love for Lana. Even when Lana lashes out at him he is there. When she walks away he is there for her and helps her. He is truly a special character and one that she desperately needs. He helps her see her goals through and gives her hope and belief in herself.
When her village is attacked she feels lost and it is Silas who keeps her on her path. He helps her find herself and her confidence again.Helps her open her heart to him and she does trust him. Bowden helps her as well. She sees what he is to her and sees that he is a ally. She also sees that it isn’t that he doesn’t support her but is intimidated by her confidence and strength for she is not like other girls in their era. He supports her and is willing to die to protect her and help her get the kingdom back for the people.
Each character will tug at your heart in one way or another and the cause they fight for will warm your heart and have you root for a good outcome. You will secretly cheer for Silas as well hoping he will win Lana’s heart and that Bowden will find someone special as well.
A story that will show young woman they can achieve any dream with hard work and belief in themselves. That no dream is unattainable. And never to give up no matter what others may think or how hard it may be because good things can happen when you try hard and work for what you believe in and want.
This is a fantastical wonderfully imaginative story of a girl trying to do as her dad’s dying wish was and find the queen who can restore order. Along the way she falls in love, finds out who she is and sees that she can be anything and trust people.
February 10, 2015
What I liked: I really liked the story because of the world building and the way the writing works with the story. It flows brilliantly, and the scenes are never too slow to drag, but nor are they ever too fast-paced to keep up with what is happening. It’s not all battle scenes and big action moments, there are plenty of more mundane moments as well with the characters. Lana is a character who is stubborn and wants to do what she thinks is right, do what her father asked her to do. So she goes out to fulfill his last request of her. There are some interesting twist, but a few of them I saw coming or guessed beforehand because of clues early on in the story that weren’t hard to pick up on. The worldbuilding itself was well done, it wasn’t too complex to understand, rather simple as a whole.
What I didn’t like: I think my expectations for Lana were way too high since she was likened to Merida in Brave. As someone who has seen that movie dozens of times since it’s release I expected more from Lana than I got because of that reference. I didn’t connect with Lana, and maybe it was because of my expectations. I didn’t really get any sense of an emotional connection with Lana or the story. My expectations were just too high because of the summary. I also wanted a more complex worldbuilding than I got, it was too clean cut, too simple for me.
Overall Review: Don’t set your hopes up too high with the expectation that Lana is going to be super fantastic because the summary references Merida. I’ve read a dozen stories with leads like her that I connected to better. That said, I did like and dislike the world building. It was simple, clean cut, and not very confusing to read about and understand, which for me was both a positive and a negative since I’m a big fan of fantasy books. The angst that was promised wasn’t as strong as I was hoping either. While the characters are interesting to read and the story is as well, I was just hoping for a whole lot more than I got. I do look forward to reading the second one just to see where we go after the ending and how everything is going to change.
Recommend?: This was an okay fantasy, and it’s likely lower fantasy because of the worldbuilding being so simple. I was expecting more though so maybe if I hadn’t expected so much I would have enjoyed it more than I did.
What I didn’t like: I think my expectations for Lana were way too high since she was likened to Merida in Brave. As someone who has seen that movie dozens of times since it’s release I expected more from Lana than I got because of that reference. I didn’t connect with Lana, and maybe it was because of my expectations. I didn’t really get any sense of an emotional connection with Lana or the story. My expectations were just too high because of the summary. I also wanted a more complex worldbuilding than I got, it was too clean cut, too simple for me.
Overall Review: Don’t set your hopes up too high with the expectation that Lana is going to be super fantastic because the summary references Merida. I’ve read a dozen stories with leads like her that I connected to better. That said, I did like and dislike the world building. It was simple, clean cut, and not very confusing to read about and understand, which for me was both a positive and a negative since I’m a big fan of fantasy books. The angst that was promised wasn’t as strong as I was hoping either. While the characters are interesting to read and the story is as well, I was just hoping for a whole lot more than I got. I do look forward to reading the second one just to see where we go after the ending and how everything is going to change.
Recommend?: This was an okay fantasy, and it’s likely lower fantasy because of the worldbuilding being so simple. I was expecting more though so maybe if I hadn’t expected so much I would have enjoyed it more than I did.
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