Nakiri's Last Stand: The Battle for Val'Torin

by Brian Holshouser

A winged Guardian named Nakiri is fighting to restore balance and peace among the nine realms of the Crystal Flame. Her demon-like creatures known as the Din, ravaging and tearing through the once beautiful, ancient lands of the Del’Nari’s solar system.
Behind the claws of the evil beings is a necromancer, scheming to devour the solar system with his plague of wicked creatures.
Nakiri recruits Commander Valin on a quest for the Great White dragons of Val’Torin. She soon discovers the planet has lost its coveted magical Mystics, and now sits as a vulnerable target for Draegon’s blood thirsty armies.

Nakiri's Last Stand takes place in the same universe as Gwyn's Kingdom, however, the story of this book series can largely stand on its own.
Recommended age 14+
Perfect for teens looking for a fast, fun, engaging read.
Average Reading 2 hrs

Note to This is a fun, action packed, fast-paced novella meant to read for most in about 2 hours.

Fans of Gwyn's Kingdom will likely appreciate NSL. This is book I of a series.

117 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting, fast-paced, imaginitive read that whisked me off to a far-away galaxy and left me on the edge of my seat with the cliffhanger ending. However, i have to deduct a star because this book did hit on a pet-peeve of mine regarding the overuse of the word "impassively." It was used a a descriptor for the same character, even multiple times a page throughout the book and it was hard to ignore.

[Cris Bentley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not me, hyping up another thing Brian Holshouser wrote? Yeah, I am lol. Nakiri's Last Stand: The Battle of Val'Torin was so amazing I finished it in one sitting. I literally couldn't put it down. The fighting and sci-fi elements had me gripping my seat 🤯 this is a short novella from the series, Gwynns Kingdom, The Electric Moon (which is also freaking amazing!)

I need more of this series right now!! It's so addictive!! 🔥 Also the tension between Nakiri & Valin, will there be more of that? 👀

Thank you for letting me be a Beta/ARC reader Brian! I had so much fun reading this!

[Tyler Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nakiri's Last Stand: The Battle for Val'Torin is an absolute masterpiece! From the first page, I was hooked!

I gave it 5 stars because: The character voices feel authentic and distinct, the dialogue crackles with purpose, and the narrative flows with effortless momentum while still delivering profound thematic resonance. This is writing that respects the reader’s intelligence and rewards close attention.

[Sebastian Micheals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book, the uniqueness of it is incredible, with outstanding writing by the author, alongside the story behind it, with detailed world building and characters, the intricacies blew me away, and being one of my first books read with fixed eyes, I just loved it.

The author is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

An amazing 5-star book. Go grab a copy and enjoy it.

[Jeffrey Abercrombie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, fun, action packed novella. While reading this, you feel like your on go from start to finish. Join in along side the guardian Nakiri and commander Valin in their quest to save Val’Torin from the din. I am looking forward to the next book and seeing where the story goes from here.

[K.W. Bussard · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nakiri’s Last Stand throws you straight into the fire from page one. The capital city of Val’Torin is under siege by the Din and the chaos immediately sets a high-stakes tone. While Commander Valin does everything he can to rally his soldiers, the arrival of Nakiri, a winged Guardian on a dire mission of her own, steals the spotlight. Finding the last of the White Dragons and saving their planets (moons?) rests on her success.

Although this takes place in the same universe as Gwyn’s Kingdom, the tone and setting take a bold step outward into the cosmos. Sci-fi influences blend with the fantasy foundation through Xi-crystals and weaponized power, expanding the scale and giving the story a unique genre-mix feel.

As a fast-paced novella, it delivers action, tension, and a glimpse into a much bigger narrative landscape. It feels like a strong introduction to a larger saga, giving just enough lore and character motivation to hook readers while leaving room to grow in future installments.

Definitely another must read from Brian Holshouser!

[Natrina Felan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly I feel like this book has a TON of potential. If it’s a prequel novella for a bigger story, the length might make a bit more sense. She was shorttttt. But I look forward to seeing where the story goes.

[Samantha Hopewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this novella from Brian! Excellent story with a lot of adventure that leaves you waiting for the next book!
Also, art work on the cover is beautiful!

[Abby Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing! Everything you would want in a fantasy novella

[Russell Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Nakiri’s Last Stand by Brian Holshouser, my first read of 2026. It’s an engaging, fast-paced fantasy novel that should entertain its target audience. I need to state up front that I am not the target demographic and as such am tempering my review to convey my thoughts, but also how I feel it will resonate with the YA audience.

The plot revolves around Nakiri, a winged Guardian of the realms, and her struggle to aid Valin, Commander of the forces defending the planet of Val’Torin from an invasion by the Din, a plague of evil sweeping across the solar system.

The book is full chalk full of action, with a brisk pace that most can finish in a few hours. The amount of world-building Holshouser has accomplished in a novella is impressive and there are neat ties to his novel, Gwyn’s Kingdom for those who have read it.

What can I say about Nakiri, other than she is an absolute powerhouse, earning her legendary status. Her feats of strength are very impressive, and you totally buy that her presence alone is enough to turn the tide of any battle she joins.

I do have some issues with the story, the main one, which has a trickle-down effect, is that the themes, plot and world-building all felt too big to be contained in a novella. To me, the story begged to be a full-length novel and as such much of the character development is truncated and the plot moves rapidly, but almost too rapidly at times. I felt it needed more time to breathe and explore the motivations of each of the characters.

Holshouser himself notes in the copyright page.

"It is a fast-paced, action packed novella, meant to be read in roughly two hours for most readers. The pacing and story is intentionally fast."

I suspect there are many who read this who will have no issue with the rapid pace, but I wanted more character and plot development. I understand there will be sequels which will flesh more details out, but I would have liked to see more here in this book.

Overall, I enjoyed myself while reading the book, and I think the target audience will love it, but because of the issues I noted, it did not rise to the level of a 5-star read for me.

[Timothy Robare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holshouser wrote a fun, quick read. I received an ARC copy. The ending was actually my favorite portion. The last two chapters were extremely fun. It is a quick paced, short read. It is definitely an intriguing premise and an interesting universe that Brian Holshouser has created. If you want a quick paced, quick read this is a great book for it. It could be a little longer and drawn out, but it still functions well as is. The heroine, an angelic like creature 'guardian' is on an interesting journey throughout the book. Between dragons, Din, love/lust, and another guardian, she goes through it all in a short amount of time. There is a lot here that could make for a great series for sure. I am honored to be a part of the journey.

[kenneth m gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this book. I enjoyed it very much. While this novella would be an excellent introduction for younger readers to the worlds of sci-fi and fantasy, I found myself caught up in it. I thought of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and how that began as a story for a younger audience and just kept going. I hope author Brian Holshouser will continue with these characters and the storyline because I am very interested in seeing where he can take it.

[Heart Holshouser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captures your attention right from the first page! I was lucky enough to read the ARC and it is an amazing read leaving you wanting more. The character development is quickly done but powerful as you feel the importance of a mission drive someone to uphold their duty through painful decisions. I was impressed with this read and cannot wait for the next!

[John Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nakiris's Last Stand is legendary starting at Chapter 1. It's a perfect read if you want to experience another world full of mystery and heroism. I'm hooked on how the story line plays out. Hoping Brian will write many more books!!!

[J.A. Bryden · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And so begins Nakiri's Last Stand." A beautifully written story that throws you into the action and makes you feel like you're standing on the battlefield yourself.

[Stories Podcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story! From the first chapter, I felt like I was standing on the battlefield. - J.A

[Harold Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Very engaging!! Just enough for someone that likes to read but doesn't always have the time! Looking forward to the next one.

[Amy A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast, fun, fantastic read!

This story is such an amazing but quick read! The characters are intriguing and the story compelling. If you have read Gwyn's Kingdom: The Electric Moon, this takes place, obviously in the same universe. I can't wait to see where this story goes with additional novellas!!!